Ministry Opportunities
Prayer Ministry
- Thursday morning Prayer Group – 10-11am
- Thursday Centering Prayer Group – 12:30-1:30pm
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
Women’s Ministry
- Quilting Group – Knotty Knotters and Stitchin’ Sisters
Adult Ministry
- Sunday Morning Christian Education Classes
- Seasonal Chancel Choir (Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter)
- Book Study Group (meets fall and spring, and often during the summer months)
Children’s Ministry
- Sunday morning Christian Education for preschool through high school
- Junior Youth – attend Know Jesus every other year @ Hesston College
- Mentor and Mentee Program (6th-10th grade)
Youth Ministry
- High School Youth Group (1st and 3rd Wednesday’s)
- Sunday Morning Education
Service Opportunities
FMC Sunday Morning Food & Toiletries Collection
Each Sunday our congregation has opportunity to participate in a food & toiletries collection.
Toiletries are donated to First Call for Help
Food is donated to the Reno County Food Bank. Housed at the Salvation Army, the pantry is accessed by appointment through the Salvation Army.
CarePortal
In every community, there are children and families at a point of crisis, who need help. In those same communities, there are churches and people who care and want to take action. But what they need is a connection point. CarePortal is a technology platform that connects vulnerable children and families to people who have something to give. Social workers uncover the needs. CarePortal makes local churches aware, giving them a real-time opportunity to respond. (taken from CarePortal’s website)
First Mennonite has been participating with CarePortal since 2016. Our coordinator, Star Gipson, receives the information, then distributes the need(s) to the congregation through the church’s email list. People who can help contact Star, and she coordinates getting in touch with the case worker and/or the family, letting them know how we can help.
Learn more about CarePortal.
Christian Soup Ministry
Christian Soup Ministry is a group of local churches joining together to help those in need. Located at 301 E. 3rd in Hutchinson, the soup kitchen serves meals Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Not a member of First Mennonite Church, but want to volunteer?
Contact the Christian Soup Ministry directly at (620) 662-6468 or through their Facebook page.
Salthawk Community Support
The mission of Salthawk Community Support is to work together to remove barriers to education for students in need at Hutchinson High School. You can get involved as a mentor, tutor, one time events, and more!! The link below will give you more information.
Learn more about Salthawk Community Support
Circles of Hope
Circles of Hope centers on low income families who often lack not only financial advantages, but a circle of social assets to guide them. Circles of Hope engages our community to equip families to permanently leave poverty through empowering relationships that build resources and address community-wide barriers. Their mission is to end poverty through empowering circles of relationship and to work together as a community to remove barriers that keep people trapped in poverty.
Learn more about Circles of Hope
Et Cetera Shop/Ten Thousand Villages
Many of our members are involved as volunteers at the Et Cetera Shop (Thrift Store) and Ten Thousand Villages store in downtown Hutchinson.
Learn more about the Et Cetera Shop/Ten Thousand Villages
Prison Ministry – M-2 Program
Through Offender Victim Ministries (Newton, KS), there is opportunity to connect with inmates at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility as part of their “M-2” Program. M-2 is a program that “matches two” – a volunteer from the community with someone in prison – for monthly visits. Since 1973, M-2 has helped to build relationships between folks on the inside and outside of prison walls. Sponsors and participants meet for an hour and half to talk, share food and encouragement. This simple act of connection demonstrates that all are made in the image of God and worthy of relationship and support.
For more information, visit the Offender Victim Ministries website
Mennonite Friendship Communities
First Mennonite is a supporting congregation of mfc (formerly Mennonite Manor) located in South Hutchinson, KS. Our congregation provides a Sunday morning service at 10:00am at mfc every other month as part of a rotation with other supporting churches. Find out more about mfc at www.mennofriend.com
Interfaith Housing Services
Interfaith Housing Services, Inc. was envisioned at a Housing Symposium on January 22, 1989. Realizing the great need in our community for assisting low-income families and individuals meet their housing needs, a core group of volunteers developed what soon became Interfaith Housing Services (IHS). Today, Interfaith Housing Services (IHS), a faith-based organization not affiliated with any religion, is a convergence of many denominations, civic organizations, social groups, businesses, and individuals who help meet the needs of our community. IHS envisions communities where equal opportunities for safe, affordable, accessible and quality housing services are available to everyone.
Several persons from First Mennonite Church were instrumental in the formative stages of Interfaith Housing Services, and numerous people continue to be involved with this ministry.
As part of our 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2022 we partnered with Interfaith to help fund the remodeling of a house (called LightHouse) in Hutchinson to create apartment housing for youth aging out of foster care. You can learn more about LightHouse here: https://hutchpost.com/posts/4d57d1ea-e3f8-4643-9b96-6f093ed83b2d
Learn more about Interfaith Housing Services
New Beginnings
New Beginnings is a place of outreach in Hutchinson, offering transitional housing, shelter and employment opportunities. Our congregation has a long history of supporting the ministries of New Beginnings, including the Noel Lodge Homeless Shelter.