Christ calls us to love and serve others. At OCC, we put our Faith in Action by responding to the needs of God’s beloved community both near and far. The ministries of the Faith in Action team support missions of local organizations that feed the hungry, clothe and house the homeless, and provide comfort to those most vulnerable among us.
'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’...
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
~Matthew 25:35-36-40, NIV
Our many ongoing ministries are facilitated through the Open & Affirming Committee, the Blanket Fairy Mission, and the Board of Christian Service & Outreach. Together, we can all love God by putting our Faith in Action.
Serve the Church
There are lots of ways to serve at OCC
Worship & Spirituality
Team
This team, comprised of our Deacons and Music Board, facilitates our spiritual life and ministries including worship.
Resources for Ministry
Team
This team, which includes our Trustees and Stewardship Team, serves as stewards of all the financial and physical resources for ministry at OCC.
Faith Formation
Team
This team facilitates ministries for people of all ages to engage with and deepen their life of faith.
Faith in Action
Team
This team, comprised of our Christian Service & Outreach Team and our Open & Affirming Ministry Team, works to further the mission of Christ in social justice concerns and mission activity both locally and globally.
Serve the Community
Blanket Fairy Mission
The Blanket Fairy Mission is a ministry of the church lovingly created by Sue Yamaguchi. Volunteers create monogrammed pillowcases and blankets for DCF children which are distributed through our Covenant to Care social worker, as well as in other ways.
These blankets are made prayerfully and are blessed before being donated. For 2022, we exceeded our goal by distributing over 1,300 blankets to children in need! In 2021, we distributed a total of 1,057 blankets. There were three DCF locations that benefited, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, Yale Psychiatric Ward, Love 146, Clifford Beers, Kelly’s Kids, and Bridgeport projects’ Trumbull Gardens.
Multiple OCC ministries support Columbus House as it serves people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing shelter while fostering personal growth and independence.
These include donating the proceeds from the Paul Ode Annual Golf Tournament, holding clothing and home goods drives, hostingAbraham’s Tent (see below), and helping serve dinner once a month at Columbus House.
Abraham's Tent is an emergency housing program at Columbus House. OCC is one of many houses of worship who annually has housed 12 men for one week during the winter months. During our week hosting these guests, it is a time of fellowship as we share aspects of our lives and break bread together. We partner with Columbus House so these guests can have a safe place to stay while they work, apply for jobs and housing, meet with case managers and enroll in different employment and career-skills programs.
We are so honored to be able to help Columbus House in this very special way and to, in some part, reduce the effects of homelessness in the New Haven area - if even for a short time. The men arrive at OCC around 5:30 p.m., settle in and then are offered a delicious hot meal cooked by different groups.
Covenant to Care
Covenant to Care for Childrenis an organization that provides a safety net for abused, neglected or impoverished children in Connecticut by proving essential support in moments that are critical for a child’s ability to thrive and a family’s ability to stay together. They fulfill this mission by partnering with state agencies, faith-based communities, and other organizations who share in the dedication to improving the lives and futures of at-risk children in Connecticut.
We have been in Covenant for many years now through their "Adopt A Social Worker" program. OCC proudly partners by hosting a Backpack Drive in August for new school supplies, an Angel Tree for Christmas gifts in December, and distributing blankets through our Blanket Fairy Mission.
FISH of Greater New Haven
FISH of Greater New Haven is a local organization providing grocery assistance to the homebound in the New Haven area. Orange Congregational Church supports FISH by hosting Super Bag Sunday. Each year on the Sundays preceding the Super Bowl, empty paper grocery bags and a list of nonperishable items are made available for pick up at the church. Bags are filled with food donations and returned to the church on Super Bowl Sunday. These full grocery bags are donated to FISH.
Serve the World
Orange Congregational Church and its members support the following world-wide ministries:
Echo
Gives aid to small-scale farmers with tools and techniques to provide hope and a bountiful harvest.
Church members sometimes have a pop-up table of fresh vegetables and homemade breads at coffee hour, funds from which are donated to ECHO.
Heifer International
Charity which helps rural communities lift themselves out of poverty through farming and establishment of small businesses via the donation of livestock and other resources.
OCC youth have visited the former Overlook Farm during past Heifer Weekends and also have provided an Alternative Gift Fair during Advent to support Heifer programs.
Heart In Haiti School
Ecole Mixte de Sibert (HEART in Haiti School) provides elementary school classes to students in a formerly earthquake damaged home. They are committed to educating children affected by the traumatizing 2010 earthquake.
Compassion International
Children in need around the world receive education, health care, supplemental nutrition and loving adult care, all from a Biblical perspective.
The church collectively sponsors a child through this organization.
Habitat for Humanity
Transforms neighborhoods by building homes and funding educational services that teach families budgeting, finance and conflict resolution.
Our Faith in Action team does fundraising and makes financial contributions to this cause. Also, our youth have participated in Youth United Workdays through our local Coastal Fairfield County chapter.
