“Aren’t you the church? Then DO something!”
Mable Mann, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, East Boston, MA 1985
Blanket Sewing Group
First Lutheran’s blanket sewers began a partnership with Lutheran World Relief in 1972 that continues to this day. Over the course of more than 40 years, over 5,000 quilts have been sent to uprooted people in need around the world as well as in our immediate neighborhood. Friends from the community join First Lutheran’s quilters every Monday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the fellowship hall for a day of sewing and sharing.
Family Fun Day
Each summer, rain or shine, we host a Family Fun Day. It’s a free summer BBQ out on Catharine St, with food, games, crafts, face painting, live music, and a raffle of 2 bikes. Any who walk by are invited to join us.
Fellowship Breakfast
Members and friends of First Lutheran meet at the Palace Diner on alternating Thursday mornings at 9 AM for informal conversation and the sharing of our joys and sorrows. We gather the concerns of our community and individual requests into a brief time of prayer at the beginning of our meal. Come join us at the Palace Diner, 194 Washington Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Visit our church calendar for the schedule.
Refugees and Immigrants
From its inception as a congregation, the people of First Lutheran have had a particular heart for uprooted people. This is because the founders of this congregation were among a group of German immigrants who fled the rise of Prussian militancy and the German Revolution between 1838 and 1855. The congregation was born on February 17, 1856 and purchased its present home at the corner of Mill and Catharine Streets in 1921. The dedication of the current church building was held on January 28, 1923. Throughout our history we have partnered with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and their predecessor organizations, to help welcome and resettle more than 250 displaced persons in the Hudson Valley. In the beginning, these were primarily from war-torn Europe; in more recent years they have included refugees from Southeast Asia, Africa and the Balkans. Members of the congregation have also offered literacy classes to the neighborhood’s extensive Mexican and Latino populations.
sPOKe Bicycle Re-CYCLE Project
In exchange for 6 hours community service or approximately $50.00, our program will provide you with a bicycle that comes with a helmet, a lock and will be registered with the city of Poughkeepsie. In addition to a bicycle we also offer:
- Repairs: We provide tools and space for self-repair and offer help as needed.
- Education: We offer instruction on home repair, safe bicycle riding, road use etiquette, and other bike related topics.
We meet at the First Lutheran Church, 325 Mill St.
Please refer to the calendar of Events to find when the next sPOKe meeting will take place.
Thanksgiving and Christmas Gifts & Baskets
Each year, under the auspices of our Social Action Committee, donations of money and turkeys are collected and some 20 Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets are prepared for Grace Smith House, the local women’s shelter. Additional baskets are also provided for members of our congregation in need. From a list provided by Hudson River Housing, specific Christmas gifts are purchased for residents of the River Haven Independent Living program which houses at-risk youth.