Ministries

Community missions

Food pantry

Our food pantry began serving the community in June 2026. The food pantry is open to all. Learn more about visiting the pantry, volunteering, and donating. This ministry reflects our renewed commitment to serving and engaging with our surrounding neighborhood with care and purpose.

ELL—English Language Learners Program

World missions

Outside Champaign-Urbana we partner with the following organizations:

Presbyterian Women circles 

If you are interested in nurturing your faith with prayer and Bible study, supporting our mission, and experiencing loving fellowship, join a Presbyterian Women’s Circle. Meetings are on the fourth Thursday of each month (except November) through the school year. All meetings are hybrid (in person and on Zoom) and each circle is open to all. To get Zoom link contact info@firstpres.church

•   Circle of Joy 10:30 am – Parlor
•   Circle of Faith 1 pm – Parlor
•   Circle of Peace 7 pm – Parlor

Children, youth, and family

• Our nursery offers care for infants through age 4 from 9:00-11:00 am (in CEB, parents welcome).
• Children 5 and up are encouraged to sit with a family member or teacher during the 9:30 a.m. service. Sunday school then begins at 10:45 am.
• Elementary, middle, and high school students each meet on the first floor of the CEB.

Music

At First Pres, music is one of the main ways to worship. Whether it is a major work presented with a small orchestra and vocalists, a clarinetist who delights us with a wonderful, uplifting piece, or a dedicated duo singing worship songs from their native country, music in all its forms is embraced. 

We are fortunate to have skilled musicians both in our congregation and in the community. Worship often includes students studying music at the University of Illinois, with whom we collaborate to broaden the diversity of our musical offerings. At Christmas and once each Spring, we host Music Sunday, presenting orchestral work on a larger scale.

All interested singers are invited to join the choir, which meets to practice on Wednesdays at 7 pm. If you would like more information, please email the Director of Music, Samuel Stephenson, at sam@firstpres.church 

Environmental care

• Recycling programs
• Advocating for the environment with community partners
• Educating the church family and beyond
• Encouraging use of reusable cups, bottles, and bags
• Coordinating Earth Day activities

• There is a Mission Closet where you may leave medicine bottles with labels removed and batteries with ends scotch-taped. Members of the Environmental Stewardship Committee will recycle these materials.
• Check out the Environmental Bulletin Board, across from the kitchen, adjacent to Westminster Hall. It’s meant to increase awareness.
• Recycling containers have been placed in nearly every room in both buildings.
• Water coolers/bottle fillers, with filtered water, have been installed to reduce the need for plastic water bottles or cups.
• Our facilities have been updated with LED lights, solar panels have been installed on the roof, and the air conditioning system is energy efficient.
• We encourage the use of reusable bags and the avoidance of plastic whenever possible, including carryout containers and straws.
• A letter of appreciation was sent to restaurants that do not use Styrofoam.
• Children’s books on the environment were placed in the book rack in the Children’s Corner in Westminster Hall.

You and First Presbyterian

To get involved and serve, send us an email with your interests to info@firstpres.church