The following list represents those ministries & small group studies currently available through the church. If you have a passion to start another one please contact one of the pastoral staff.

Andover Sub-acute and Rehab Center.  Assist the chaplain with religious services, provide companionship and use any other gifts you may have with the residents of this 700 bed facility.        Contact Chaplain Nestor or Keith Keoppel, office

Adult Small Groups - Join a small group. Visit the current listing or contact Dan McEver

Andover Pastoral Care – Assist the chaplain at Andover Sub-Acute and Rehab Center in religious services, provide companionship and use any other talents you may have with the residents of this facility. Contact Shelia and El McMeen

Blessed Beginnings - Blessed Beginnings is a non-profit Preschool and Kindergarten.  Our programs provide a wonderful experience supported and enhanced by a Christian atmosphere, where a child's intellectual, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development can be nurtured. Contact Sandy Poots.

Bread Ministry.  Day –old bread and pastries are picked up from local bakeries, then repackaged before delivery to local food pantries, low income housing units and, soup kitchens.   Contact Maria Rath

Bread of Life Ministry.  On one Saturday and Sunday per month, this ministry provides lunch, clothing, prayer and worship to the less fortunate in our county seat.      Contact Bruce Piper

Brookside Ministry - Miniistry to the 500 residents of this HUD Housing development provides companionship and demonstrates Christ’s Love.  Monthly knitting ministry, worship, and weekly Bible studies are among the activities.  FPCS provided the computer lab, a lending library and sponsors an on-site Christian presence with our program coordinator.     Knitting, Contact Jan Pontzer,      All other, Pastor Tom, office Or Janell Carr, on-site

Children and Youth Ministries.  Many opportunities for teaching or assist in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, or Youth programs.  FPCS will be starting a new program—LOGOS—in the fall of 2008 which will provide a meal, activities, study and worship for all children and youth K through High school each Sunday evening.  This will expand opportunities for service--food preparation, activities, etc. Children (K-5) Contact Pastor Tom, office
Youth (grades 6-12) Contact Bruce Piper or Bob Johnson

Christ Line Ministry - Servants rotate, making two minute recordings each day to provide inspiration to those who call the special prayer hot line. Contact Margaret Plevin

Christian Friends Ministry - Opportunity for outreach to church family members who may be elderly or incapacitated, or just going through tough times. May involve an hour or two per month with each ‘friend’ assigned (number is up to the individual) - through personal visits or phone calls. Purpose is to simply be a friend, not a counselor, to let them know the church is made up of Christ inspired individuals, not just a faceless body of club members. Contact Keith Keoppel

Drama Ministry - From time-to-time productions are presented - from children’s musicals to full length Broadway type.  Many opportunities for service - on-stage, backstage, media, costumes, orchestra, Contact Karen McEver

Faith Builders.  An outgrowth of our mission trips to Mississippi, this ministry provides home repairs to those in our community who otherwise would not be able to afford them.   Contact John Tiensch

Food Pantry Ministry - Prepare food bags for distribution to the less fortunate. Our church serves as the major distribution point in Sussex County and distributes over 300 bags each month. Contact Jan Ernsting

Furniture Ministry - This unique ministry coordinates the storage of donated furniture and then matches that to those in need. Lovingly operated by just one couple and desperately in need of help. Contact Wil and Marie Rath

Hospital Chaplain Assistant - Visit and pray with those who are hospitalized. Contact Margaret Plevin

Hospitality Ministry - Enjoy cooking? Or setting up for dinners? This group can always use another pair of hands to assist in various church lunches or dinners. Contact Carol Bennett

House of Mercy Mission Ministry - Volunteers go to this street mission in Newark one Saturday a month to prepare and serve lunch to the needy, or help with the distribution of food bags or clothing, as well as take part in worship. Contact Joe Lacopo or Dave LaTorre

Interfaith Hospitality Network Ministry (SCIHN ) - This organization is supported by county churches, each undertaking the responsibility to house and feed the homeless for one week, about every 8 weeks. Volunteers provide meals, companionship and supervision during that week. Contact Cheryl Pittinger

Loving Arms Ministry - Provides housing and loving Christian care to women with unplanned pregnancies.  Volunteers are always welcome to assist in transportation and companionship Contact Connie or Keith Keoppel

Manna House Ministry - Lunches are prepared and served each weekday in The First Presbyterian Church of Newton to the homeless and disadvantaged. Various area churches each take a turn (about once a month) in this outreach. Contact Ed Shawger

Meal Preparation Ministry - During times of family crisis one of the most welcome gifts that a family can receive are hot meals. The coordinator of this ministry always welcomes another set of hands. Contact Doreen Moore or Cary Tracy

Media Ministry Team - This professional-level team welcomes those interested in the ever increasing demands for audio and visual technical support of our worship services. Contact David Pontzer

Mission Council - Determines which mission causes will be supported by FPCS. Becoming more “hands-on” and now sponsors at least one trip annually to provide servants the experience of working for others in the cause of Jesus. The past two years the trip has been to a mission in rural Kentucky . In the recent past, trips have been made to Haiti and Kenya . Contact Joe Lacopo

Mission Field Trips.  Mission Council sponsors at least one trip annually to provide servants the experience of working for others in the cause of Jesus.  In the past there have been trips to rural Kentucky and Haiti.  More recently, several trips have been made to Mississippi to assist in the reconstruction of the ravages of Hurricane Katrina.         Joe Lacopo

Music Ministry - Opportunities abound for those with vocal or instrumental gifts in our chancel choir, Praise and Worship bands and Hand bell choir., Contact Karen McEver

Office Volunteer Ministry - Servants are needed weekly for such activities as collating church bulletins or informational mailings. Contact Diane Tiensch

Newton Memorial Hospital.  As a chaplain’s assistant you may visit and pray with those members who are hospitalized or with any other patients.      Contact Chaplain Randy Parks or Margaret Plevin, office

Prayer and Healing Ministry - Do you possess the Gift of Prayer? Or don’t know, but are interested in developing it? You may become a part of one of the prayer teams by participating in the semi-monthly Prayer and Healing services, or prayer post worship service. Contact Pastor Tom.

Prayer Vine & Praise Vine Ministry – Your gift of prayer can also be used in this daily email prayer ministry. Contact Marilyn Litteer

Rummage Sale Ministry - Presbyterian Women (PW) conduct two rummage sales annually. Servants are needed to sort items, prepare and assist in these events. Free clothing is made available to those less fortunate, and the proceeds of the sales are allocated entirely to mission causes. Contact Helen Reigstad

SCEEP (Suburban Cultural Educational and Enrichment Program) - Tutor and bond withinner city youths who are bussed to Sparta on a weekly basis. Contact Pam Mudrick or Bronwyn Pait

Servant Evangelism Ministry - Showering the community with random acts of kindness, such as giving away donuts, water, coffee or even free car washes as demonstrations of the free Love of God. Contact Bruce Piper

SOUL CAFÉ (Senior Outreach with Unconditional Love/Caring About the Forgotten Elderly) - Spend just one hour a month bringing Jesus’ love to a forgotten patient in one of our local area nursing homes. Build a relationship with someone who otherwise would have no contact with the outside world. Contact Diane Tiensch

Transportation Ministry - Servants are needed to transport those unable to drive to doctor appointments, shopping, etc or to church. Contact Marilyn Gross

Ushers Ministry - Ushers not only hand out bulletins and take the offering but are the greeters (often the first face that a visitor encounters) and reflect the warmth and Christian love which is embodied in FPCS. Contact Don Saxe

Welcome Ministry –Deliver a loaf of bread and a word of welcome to families that have visited our church for the first time. Contact Diane Tiensch

Youth Ministries & Studies  Opportunities for adults to work with the youth of the church under the direction of Dave LaTorre and Julia Sanford:     Youth Event Sign-Up   Youth Calendar