Spring 2026 | The Life of the Church
The Session of our church (the ruling board of elected elders) hopes that by providing this newsletter every few months our members and friends can stay abreast of all that is happening behind the scenes here at First Church! Throughout the year, our committees are working hard to provide opportunities for ministry, to meet our congregation’s needs, and to move the church forward in outreach and service to our larger community as well. Here’s what has been happening these past few months:
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Pastor’s Report
A longtime member approached me recently to ask an important question. He had caught wind of a phenomenal piece of good news - something that he believed every single member of the church should know about. He was there to ask me: why haven’t you told them?
To be honest, I didn’t have a good reason. I’m simply not in the habit of sharing good news. Normally, I call families when their loved one dies so that I can get permission to deliver the news to the congregation. I am tasked with communicating when the organ breaks, the pipes burst, or the heater goes out. I am here - most instances - to deliver the bad news. Good news is mostly contained to the stories of scripture - to the Gospel.
So when the member pressed me further, I responded, “Am I allowed to share that?”
“We don’t need more bad news. Bad news is everywhere! Let’s try good news.”
Part of the reason why I find good news so hard to deliver is because it takes a softer form than bad news. When I tell you that the engine will cost $5,000 to fix, you know exactly how bad it is. But when I tell you that our congregation is growing in faith - what does that mean? It can be hard to determine exactly how good that is. So bear with me as I do my best to highlight some good news.
I. Our Session-created Taskforces are making steady and measurable progress to their goals. Below you will find a brief update from the chair of each taskforce. As a staff member of these bodies, I can report that God is at work through the hands and feet of these teams. We are facing down enormous challenges with great faith and assurance.
II. Our confirmation class and youth group are growing. It has been a joy to meet new young people from across the East End - some born and raised at First Church and others from nearby churches. In total, we have 20+ young people from grade 6-12 participating in a ministry of the church. Please join me in prayer as we attempt to one day get them here all at once!
III. Now for the piece of good news our member was asking me to share with you. Good news can be soft and hard to measure, but it can also be quite easy. In the past 24 months, the church has received three 6-figure bequests from the estates of beloved members and friends of the church. These bequests have helped close our deficit for the past two budget cycles and add to our future stability. They have allowed us to successfully close out the Our Turn capital campaign that renovated the sanctuary, while giving us the financial footing to begin planning for the Manse renovation. In a very measurable way these bequests have allowed our members to put their money toward growing the church through new programs, rather than simply sustain.
Taken as a whole, these three pieces of good news are intertwined. The faithfulness of those who came before us, who now rest with God in glory, have enabled us to take the next step. Because of their generosity, we now author the next chapter of First Church’s history. We can begin the process of calling an Associate Pastor, building an ever-expanding Family Ministry, and revitalizing the Pastor’s home for the next generation.
To God be the glory,
Pastor Jon
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The Mission Committee continues its work in so many areas:
A group of members spent time making beds, setting tables, and serving dinner for Maureen’s Haven guests.
Used clothing donated by church members in the bin located in our church foyer continues to be delivered to Maureen’s Haven’s headquarters in Riverhead regularly.
Contributions of grocery products, also collected in the foyer every week, are faithfully delivered to the Food Pantry.
And a group traveled to our sister church in Cuba in March, seeing first-hand how the situation there is dire for the residents. Our assistance providing clean water and solar power to the church has been a blessing for the entire community of Guines as all are welcome to make use of the power and potable water provided. As always, our weary travelers came home humbled and grateful for the blessing of our continued connection to the people of Cuba.
Heifer Project promotions will begin in May and the Pride Parade is scheduled for June 6th at noon – please mark your calendars and plan to march with the contingent from our congregation, assuring all people that they are welcome in our church.
Manse Task Force
The Manse Task Force is still in its investigative phase. Second opinions are sought on all aspects of the work to make sure the project is on a solid footing all the way through and funds are spent wisely. The hiring of an architect is imminent. First round will be rough sketches, then refinement of the plans will follow. We still aim to “break ground” in March of 2027 (weather permitting). Exploratory discussions with the village authorities (Design Review Board, Building Department) and several of the village historic and preservation groups are ongoing as well. We are seeking broad community support for the project.
The task force is also investigating what grants and subsidies might be available to support the project financially. We are working towards a complete presentation to the congregation in June- July of this year. In the meantime time, we ask that all readers, who possibly have any old documentation or pictures-drawings of any of the church buildings, no matter how insignificant they may appear to be, contact Pastor Jon Rodriguez, Ricky Chapman, Karel DeBoer, or Bess Rattray in the church office. Needless to say, The Pastor, Ricky and Karel are happy to address any individual concerns you may have. Please do not hesitate to ask.
B&G Committee Update
This committee continues to take care of the maintenance and upkeep of our three buildings and the surrounding grounds. One of our busiest committees, they meet regularly to manage the demands of our property and are always happy to welcome new members. Most of their work goes unnoticed and we are grateful for their attention to the little things – as well as the big things – that are part of keeping everything in working order. Here’s what they are working on right now:
New hinges have arrived for the front door and are being installed to replace the temporary ones.
Ramp repairs were delayed due to weather but will be done after Easter
A post is being installed by the front door for assistance in stepping up or down
Central vacuum in sanctuary has been replaced
New yellow AED (heart defibrillator) installed in church foyer-red one moved to Session House
Repairs to be made to front step of the church
Repairs to chimneys in both the sanctuary and the manse to be done after Easter
New hot water heater installed in Session House
Water pressure issues in Session House taken care of by SCWA (due to leak in curb box)
Stockade fence behind Session House to be replaced
Driveway patched – complete resurfacing to be done in the future
Landscape company contracted to handle clean-up, mowing, edging and trimming of grounds.
Specialized trimming to be done by Whitmores
Dumpster to remain until debris from ramp repair is added
We hope you will reach out to any of these committees if you feel moved to participate in the ministries of this church. Our committee chairs, elders, and deacons are more than happy to discuss their work in greater detail so please ask! Pastor Jon is always happy to answer questions about our church or help you understand how we minister to our larger community. If you are interested in membership in this congregation please speak to Pastor Jon.
The tech team continues to spend their Sunday mornings working on the sound board and doing the live stream, which is posted on YouTube every week. Our thanks to them for their continued ministry. Please check out the report from Communications and Evangelism for more information about where you can find details and announcements about our worship services.
Our organ technician at Foley Baker advised the installation of 3 sensors to measure temperature and humidity in the pipe room. This added layer of monitoring should help detect the cause of our ongoing issue with ciphers. Ciphers occur when a pipe is seized into the on position, causing its note to ring incessantly when the organ is on. When ciphers pop up, we are unable to use the organ until it is fixed by a technician, which often means the instrument is unplayable for a worship service. In the coming days, we will welcome an organ technician to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic of our instrument to better determine if there are additional repairs or ongoing maintenance that will increase the number of services in which the organ is playable.
The Personnel Committee was faced with a huge challenge in March when it was discovered that our manse had an unacceptable level of lead present and was not a safe place for our pastoral family to live. Within less than two weeks we were able to secure a rental for the family and get them moved in to a lovely, safe home while the Manse Task Force continues their work, albeit with a renewed sense of urgency. We are committed to providing a safe place for our pastor and family to live and are happy to report that they are safely settled into a new home until such time as the manse on our church grounds is ready for their return.
In addition the committee has been actively seeking a cleaning company to assist with the general cleaning of our buildings.
The Deacons have been busy this winter helping members of our local community cope with some significant hardships, such as overdue home heating bills and rent payments. They also provided warm coats, hats and gloves for some local young people who needed them. These community needs come to them in various ways and are always met quietly and kindly, helping those we can through your generous donations, as Christ would have us do.
Donations to facilitate this ministry can be made through the church office - simply mark your check for the Deacon’s fund.
The Deacons are holding a Tag sale in the Session House April 17th so please support their work through donations of home goods or clothing that is no longer needed but can be successfully recycled. Donations are accepted in the Session House during regular office hours. And please stop by the sale to see if someone’s beautiful table lamp is just the right thing for your den!
Questions can be addressed to Fran Chapman or any member of our Board of Deacons.
The Youth Group began meeting regularly this winter and enjoyed time together playing games, making music, and doing service projects.
A group of confirmands has been meeting with Pastor Jon to prepare for their confirmation this Spring.
Sunday School continues to meet Sunday mornings and the Monday morning prayer group is in conversation about transitioning into a Bible study. If you are interested in joining a Bible study group please speak to Pastor Jon.
Family Ministry Task Force
Our Family Ministry Task Force has been meeting since March with the purpose of exploring the potential for our church to hire an associate pastor who would focus on family ministries. They anticipate this will be an effort spearheaded by this church but in partnership with one or more other congregations on the East End. As the task force works to create a job description and explore ways to fund this initiative they will be making reports to the congregation. In the meantime if you have suggestions, questions, or are interested in serving on this committee please speak to Pastor Jon.
Questions and Answers!
What is per capita?
Each member of the Presbyterian Church is asked to contribute an annual per capita amount, which is determined by the local Presbytery. Here is a breakdown of what makes up this amount for 2025:
General Assembly: $10.84
Synod: $ 4.25
Presbytery: $27.00
Total: $42.09
If you have not submitted your per capita you can do so at any time – simply use an envelope in the pew and mark it “per capita” along with your name. Or mail a check to the church office at 120 Main Street marked for per capita.
What is the job of a ruling elder?
The ruling elders are elected by the congregation and serve three-year terms on the board. Elders share in the government and spiritual oversight of the church, working with the pastor to assist in leading worship and ensuring the church’s spiritual health.
What do the deacons of the church do?
Deacons are charged with acts of care and compassion, often undertaking ministries of feeding, visitation, prayer, and hospitality as well as other acts of service.
Who is in charge of the care and upkeep of our buildings?
The Buildings & Grounds Committee oversees the properties of the church. In addition to our grounds we own three buildings: the session house, the sanctuary, and the manse where our pastor’s family lives. These buildings were built in 1858, 1860, and 1830 respectfully and upkeep is essential for such historic buildings. They need to be safe and comfortable. In addition, this committee deals with snow removal, plowing, mowing, landscaping, and local utilities as well as the cell tower companies who lease space in our steeple.
Who makes decisions about our worship services, like the hymns we sing and the type of bulletin we use?
The Worship & Music Committee oversees all aspects of our worship services. Our pastor and our director of music both sit on this committee and have input into the details of our services, both on Sunday morning and during special church events such as Holy Week and Advent.
What does the Mission Committee do?
The Mission Committee is concerned with the various missions of the church. In addition to their Cuba mission and their work with Maureen’s Haven, they continue to be busy on numerous projects like the annual Heifer Project which provides animals to impoverished areas of the world in order to make the communities more self-sufficient. They also oversee the One Great Hour of Sharing and Christmas Joy special offerings collected every year, as well as adopting families for Christmas who are in need of help with buying gifts for their children.
The Mission Committee also oversees special offerings for disaster relief. The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, whose motto is “Out of chaos, HOPE”, assists churches to care for communities affected by crisis and catastrophic events. It is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is funded through the One Great Hour of Sharing program, which our mission committee coordinates every year.
All the committees of the church operate under the oversight of the Session and each provides important work in the life of the church. In addition to the committees already mentioned, there is a Christian Education Committee that is in charge of the education for all ages of the church and makes plans for our children’s Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Bible studies, and any other opportunities to assist in growth for our members. The Fellowship Committee plans opportunities for the congregation to gather outside the walls of the sanctuary. These may include dinners, movie nights, game nights, and other fun activities designed to provide social events where members can get to know the folks sitting in the pews near them on Sunday mornings. A Nominating Committee meets to select nominees to run for positions on the session and deacon boards, and a Pastoral Care Committee is charged with making sure that the needs of our pastor and family are met.
If you have a special interest in serving on one of the committees of the church please speak to the pastor.
What is the Long Island Presbytery?
The Long Island Presbytery is made up of all the churches on Long Island who are part of the Presbyterian Church (USA). There are 52 member churches and each one sends representatives to meetings of the Presbytery. The Presbytery office is located in West Islip. Our Long Island Presbytery (the oldest presbytery in the country) provides resources for churches covering such things as personnel, worship, church development, Christian Education, and Policies, among many others. Our per capita money goes to support the offices and personnel expenses of the Long Island Presbytery.
Where can I find additional information on the church?
First Presbyterian Church has a website which can be found with a simple google search, as well as a Facebook page and (hopefully soon!) an Instagram page where important announcements may be found. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm and the phone number is 631-324-0711. (Wednesdays are “administration days and no appointments or drop-ins are appreciated except in the case of an emergency).
