Adult Education
The Adult Education Committee provides support and direction for education activities of the Church other than the Church School, which is under the jurisdiction of the Children's Ministries Committee. Adult Education provides a liaison and coordination function with Bible study groups, youth activities, men's and women's ministries. In addition, the Committee usually provides the program for the Wednesday evening Lenten series; organizes and conducts a number of after-church adult education programs throughout the year.

The Committee usually works with the ministerial staff in developing two or three special programs each year, usually involving a distinguished visitor who leads a program on Saturday and participates in the Church service on Sunday. We would be interested in suggestions concerning topics and presenters.

Building & Grounds
The Building & Grounds Committee is responsible for recommending policies for the maintenance of all Church buildings and grounds, including a plan for capital improvements to the facilities, in accordance with policies set by the Council.  The semi-annual work bee is under the supervision and coordination of this committee.

Caring Ministries
The Caring Ministries Committee, whose elected members are part of the Diaconate, takes on the important areas of personal needs of individual church members. In general, the committee oversees the visiting, caring, and prayer cares of our church family. It gives dedicated people the opportunity to share their time and compassionate talents with someone who may need concrete help and/or may want some support, a cheerful voice or written message, a warm and friendly encounter.

Ongoing programs include oversight and organization of the following activities: church social gatherings such as coffee hour on Sunday morning, the Lunch Bunch, the Saturday Night Suppers, and the Retirees Luncheon held twice a year; the visiting of homebound church family members, as well as those who are sick, in recovery, or in mourning; the donation of flowers for the altar and later delivery to someone in need of the cheer and beauty these flowers bring; Helping Hands, who prepare and deliver casseroles to those in need and who obtain and serve refreshments following memorial services.

The committee's most extended and active organization is the Prayer Care Tree, whose members agree to pray or meditate for those who wish or need our prayers. The committee continues its challenge of involving as many church family members as possible in its activities and outreach and of finding out about and meeting the needs of others.

Christian Outreach
The Christian Outreach Committee is responsible for sponsoring and recommending the mission program for the Church in both domestic and foreign fields and inter-church relations, the special concerns of the Church and to see that the Church is duly and properly represented in all meetings of the Susquehanna Association of the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ and of the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ., Inc., as well as the Area Congregations Together.

Children's Ministries
Our mission in the Children's Ministries program is to ensure that children come to know their church as a safe place to worship, learn about God and our Church, and develop a strong faith community.

The Children's Ministries Committee oversees the Christian Education program for children and youth from infant through grade 8, including the curriculum, the procurement and training of Church School teachers, the maintenance of the Church School Library, teaching aids, and equipment.  The Children's Ministries Committee represents the selection committee for the hiring of Children's Ministries staff, and shall be responsible for their guidance and direction.  In addition, they assist in the planning and implementation of special Church School programs and fellowship activities such as Mardi Gras, Lenten workshops, and Celebration Sunday.

Welcoming & Hospitality
The Welcoming & Hospitality Committee makes a special effort to concentrate on letting others know about our church and making them feel welcome when they visit.  The committee members strive to make the church a welcoming, friendly, and hospitable place for all those who come through our doors.

Some of the committee's responsibilities include arranging for greeters on Sundays, handwriting notes to people who sign the guest book, bringing baked goods to newcomers, being available for questions after the service, having Name Tag Sundays, and assisting with New Member Sundays.

Nominating
The Nominating Committee organizes the talents of the Church membership by identifying and nominating persons to serve on the Church Council and Committees. Insofar as possible, the Nominating Committee seeks to ensure significant representation of both men and women on each committee. A slate of candidates to fill expiring terms is prepared for presentation at the annual meeting for consideration by the congregation. As vacancies occur during the year, the Nominating Committee identifies and nominates candidates for appointment pro tem by the Church Council.

Personnel & Finance
The Personnel & Finance Committee consists of the Treasurer, the assistant Treasurer, the Church Manager, and other members elected by the congregation. The Committee is responsible for the financial planning and management of the church’s fiscal affairs and for a yearly external audit. It is also responsible for the administration of personnel and compensation policies and for the conduct of performance reviews for the church’s staff. The committee reviews on a monthly basis the income and expenses of the church, compares these to the annual budget and recommends to staff and to the church Council any necessary changes. Each year, the Committee prepares a budget for Council’s approval and once adopted, presents the budget to the Congregation at the annual meeting in January for their approval. The Committee is also responsible for the long-term investments of several endowments that are administered by the Investment Sub-Committee and for short-term investments of operating funds. The committee also sets rental rates and administers annual contracts  

Worship
The work of the Worship Committee includes envisioning, creating, planning, preparing and implementing meaningful and faithful worship for our members and the wider community. We discuss ways our services can reflect new ideas but also remain a constant occasion for encounter with the living God, and work closely with the ministers, staff and members to achieve this. Members: Youth Ministries
The mission of the Youth Ministries Committee is to offer youth opportunities for spiritual growth and faith development to prepare them for responding to the call to live in relationship with God and to foster a sense of belonging to the church community to convey God's love and acceptance, a sense of connection with the wider church to teach participation in the body of Christ, the development of leadership skills to discover God's call to responsible action, an understanding of Christian beliefs to give them a foundation for building a life-long set of personal, moral, ethical, and faith-filled beliefs.                                                                                     

We seek to fulfill this mission through Sunday morning educational opportunities and fellowship activities.

The First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
309 Highland Road, Ithaca NY 14850
Church Office: (607) 257-6033 • E-mail: office@fccithaca.org