MISSION & COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Old Dutch is not only interested in our own story, our own building or even our own community; our vision of Outreach literally extends to "the ends of the earth." Old Dutch sponsors four missionary couples through the Mission Services of the Reformed Church in West Africa, Mexico and Bahrain in the Middle East. In addition, we help support "one of our own," Jennifer Bliss, who has been serving as a missionary in Bosnia Herzegovina for several years.

 

We support the Reformed Church seminary at New Brunswick and are also involved locally in mission through cooperative work with the Kingston Area Council of Churches. We have helped in restoring a housethrough Habitat for Humanity and provide financial support for the Rural and Migrant Ministries. We are also involved in supporting Caring Hands Soup Kitchen and each month we purchase food vouchers from Hannaford Supermarkets for distribution by Family of Woodstock.

 

Our Mission & Outreach Committee regularly collects items (from personal care items to non-perishable foods to school supplies) for those in need in our area. The Old Dutch Church Women’s Ministries sets up a Mitten Tree each November to collect hats, gloves, mittens, underwear and socks for needy children in the Kingston City School District and collects donations every Super Bowl Sunday as part of the nation-wide Souper Bowl of Caring program to fight poverty and hunger in America. Our Needleworkers group, an off-shoot of the Mission & Outreach Committee and the Women’s Ministries, has an ongoing project of making baby blankets for newborns and lap robes for local nursing home residents. Recently, the group has begun a project of making "chemo caps" for local cancer patients. Administered through the local schools, ourClothes for Kids Program provides coats, boots and other necessary clothing for needy children.

 

The Living Nativity at Old Dutch Church has been provided each year for the community for over 60 years. A stable is constructed in the church yard with live animals and any child or adult is encouraged to participate by coming to the Church, getting dressed up and acting out the miracle of Christmas. If you do not feel like being in the Living Nativity, you can have as much fun as a spectator in crowds which continue to gather every season to witness this great tradition. Candy canes, cookies and hot cocoa are provided for all making it easier to brave the cold weather. At Christmas our congregation also participates in theLove Angels program. Set up through the Department of Social Services, Children’s Division, this program provides interested supporters with "wish lists" (including age, gender, and sizes) for hundreds of children in Ulster County. Supporters are then able to act as Santa and give these children one of the gifts that was on their wish list.

 

We are working closely with our sister congregations in Uptown Kingston to more effectively minister to the needs of the inner city. We welcome you to share in our worship and our work in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2