The Takoma Park Presbyterian Church has a long history of supporting local and international ministries of justice, individual and social development, and compassion. Each of these projects was chosen because members of the congregation are actively involved in the organization and because our contributions, though not large, can make a difference. The ministries currently supported are listed below.
CASA de Maryland. Housed in our Fellowship Hall and begun with support from members of the congregation, CASA works with the Central American refugee community in the Takoma Park/Silver Spring area, providing direct services such as food, training and employment services, legal counseling, tenant education, and English classes. TPPC member Amy Coughenour is currently the President of the CASA Board.
St. Stephen's Loaves and Fishes.This feeding program is operating out of a church on 16th Street, in the District. Our contribution helps pay the cost of the Sunday lunch which is prepared and served by TPPC members several times each year. TPPC has been involved with this program for over 15 years.
Shepherd's Table. This feeding program in downtown Silver Spring also provides a wide range of social services to homeless or nearly homeless clients. TPPC members prepare and serve dinner on the first Sunday of every month. Shepherd's Table is about to partner with the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition, another TPPC supported organization, in starting a group home in Takoma Park for previously homeless individuals.
Carrington House. John Seaman, a parish associate at TPPC, started and until recently co-directed this transitional housing facility in Baltimore. It is the next step for formerly homeless men, such as the residents of South Baltimore Station shelter where John has formerly worked. Carrington House provides counseling and treatment for addiction.
Deacon's Fund. This fund, administered by our Deacons, provides money for emergency needs of the congregation and larger community. Much of the emergency work is done through MUSST (Ministries United of Silver Spring/Takoma Park), an agency in which the Deacons actively participate.
Our Sister Parish Jiñocuao, Nicaragua. For over ten years, our congregation has had a sister relationship with Jiñocuao, a Catholic parish in rural Nicaragua. Through visits and correspondence we have bridged gaps of language, language and economics, and are learning from each other what it means to be brother sand sister in Christ. Recently, we became part of Kairos, an umbrella organization of 15 US and Nicaragua sister parishes. Our congregation supports the Kairos staff in Managua and its community organizing with the Nicaraguan congregations. In the wake of Hurricane Mitch, TPPC started a “Feed a Farm Family” fund to support redevelopment. More recently, the TPPC community helped finance "Hope Baskets" of food and supplies to help drought-stricken families in Nicaragua.
Diakonia. This ecumenical ministry in Durban, South Africa, works with local churches in community development, and in building a just and democratic South Africa. It was founded by a frequent guest minister at TPPC in the early 1980s who went on to lead the Diakonia Council of Churches and engage in numerous peace and justice activities.
Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is homeland to several TPPC families, and our congregation supports Church World Service activities to bring relief and development aid to this war-torn country. Current CWS-supported projects include health care and child care for refugees from the war.
To contribute to one or more of the agencies listed above, write a check payable to TPPC and mail it to:
Takoma Park Presbyterian Church
310 Tulip Avenue,
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Cash contributions can also be made through a pew envelope at any TPPC service. Please write the project name on the memo line of your check or on the pew envelope.
For more information, contact the TPPC office at 301-270-5550.
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