Committees

The people of First Pres Alameda are eager to engage in Bible Study and other means of spiritual growth. The sermons each Sunday are based on Bible passages. A small group meets on Tuesday mornings to study various books of the Bible. Another group meets every Sunday evening for dinner and Bible study. A prayer group meets every Tuesday. The pastor has led several short-term weekly studies. Most recently, a group of twelve participants gathered by Zoom every Wednesday evening for a deeply meaningful study of “The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Henri J.M. Nouwen.

The Christian Ed/Spiritual Development Committee (CESD) was challenged by the pandemic, suddenly faced with the need to suspend in-person Sunday School classes and youth group gatherings. However, Zoom services provided a unique opportunity to introduce the entire congregation to our Godly Play curriculum. Our Sunday School teachers often use the Godly Play stories and manipulatives via Zoom for the Sunday worship service Children;s Message. This has introduced the adults to Godly Play and enables the entire congregation to wonder along with the children.

The CESD Committee continues to assist Bible Study groups with study materials, supplements fees for member seeking outside CE related training, and updating materials for youth and children's ministries.

The Personnel Committee serves in a support function for the church administration, managing human resources to ensure legal compliance and operational alignment with the ministry’s vision. When hiring part-time employees, the committee oversees the entire lifecycle: they define the job scope, review incoming applications, conduct structured interviews, and extend the final employment offer. They revise policies regarding codes of conduct, background checks, safety protocols, and performance guidelines, ensuring that both paid staff and volunteers operate within a secure, equitable, and supportive ministry environment. The Personnel Committee advises the pastor, who is designated Head of Staff, on all personnel inquiries and feedback.

Fellowship

The Fellowship Committee serves to coordinate church gatherings which are social in nature, but usually associated with a church worship service (e.g., Sunday Fellowship Time after worship, Worship in the Park, and Lenten Soup Suppers). The Fellowship Committee purchases supplies, food, and beverages; however, most fellowship events rely on church member food offerings.

Finance and Stewardship

House and Grounds

The House and Grounds Committee of First Pres Alameda endeavors to cost effectively maintain and repair the buildings and grounds, to improve utilization of space and equipment, and most importantly, to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. We expect to increase our social and spiritual relationships, while developing a team of disciples who are God-gifted with talents in these areas. We facilitate Work Parties about four times a year with church members as well as volunteers from the Scout Troops that use our building, reinforcing our interdependence. Please join us at one of these parties to get to know some of the youth of our community!

We continue to look to the congregation for guidance on how to fund the maintenance of the church. Many projects are deferred due to their significant cost. If you would like to contribute to some of these projects, please earmark your donations “Building Fund.” Some of the projects that are on our ‘to do’ list include repairing the front doors to the sanctuary, roof and siding repair at the education building, and exterior painting of the entire building.

Community Outreach

The Community Outreach Committee serves as a focus for people to live the gospel, contributing time and money to many charities, local and world-wide. While the pandemic has limited our in-person volunteer activities, we at First Pres Alameda have continued to reach out to the community by supporting the Alameda Food Bank and preparing meals for the Midway Shelter for women and children. We installed and maintain a Little Free Library for adults, and one for the many children walking by from Love Elementary School as well as children and families from the Small Size Big Mind preschool that meets in the church classrooms.

We donate to the Shower Program at Christ Church as well as Building Futures for Women and Children in San Leandro, both of which serve unhoused individuals in our community. We plan to continue to support Habitat for Humanity, Ploughshares, and MedShare where we help organize and package medical supplies for third world countries. Please stay tuned as we become more able to volunteer with these ministries and more.

Music and Worship

The Music and Worship Committee of First Pres Alameda plans worship from the time you enter the sanctuary until you leave, demonstrating the love of Jesus through words, music and the visual environment. We strive to make sure there are no distractions so you can focus your attention on worship.

We offer live streaming for remote attendance of worship services held in the sanctuary. Please see the Worship tab for the livestream link