THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ITHACA, NY
A Congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Our 2026 Capital Campaign:
Lift Our Eyes!
When we work together as a communion in Christ, we can do things we could never accomplish alone. In this capital campaign, we honor and repair the past, welcome and include the present, and bless and care for the future.
Working Without a Net: Ceiling Restoration
Our sanctuary is the heart of our worship, a place to pray, reflect, and celebrate God’s word together. When age threatened our decorated ceiling, and the heavy plaster rosettes showed their weakness, we installed temporary netting as a protective measure. After searching for exactly the right method of restoration, we replaced all 793 rosettes with lighter, cost-effective replicas, taking over 2 tons of weight off the structure. Now we can once again appreciate the beauty of the original design and architecture of our historic space. We are thrilled that our sanctuary can continue to be a safe and inspiring place for worship for generations to come.
Creation Care
Caring for God’s creation is part of our faith. By potentially partnering with Tompkins County on a geothermal energy project under Dewitt Park, or through other efforts, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint, lower long-term energy costs, and position our church as a leader in sustainable stewardship. This initiative reflects our longstanding commitment to earth care and ensuring a healthy future for generations to come.
Accessibility and Welcome
We are committed to welcoming all, respecting differences, and providing space for both seekers and believers. While a manual lift at our Dewitt Park entrance has helped with accessibility, we aim to make the church more comfortably and visibly inclusive. This campaign will fund a new ramp at our corner entrance on Cayuga and Court Streets, meeting accessibility standards and welcoming all while respecting our historic architecture. Inside, an accessible, family-friendly restroom near the chancel will allow all guests to participate in worship with ease and dignity. Together, these enhancements ensure that for everyone born, there truly is a place at the table.
Fighting Injustice Then and Now: Repairing Historic Harms
Our congregation has a long and complex history, with moments where leadership decisions intersected with injustice. While later generations took strong stands against oppression and built lasting partnerships with historically Black churches, we recognize that parts of our legacy caused harm. Faithfulness calls us to face that history honestly, pairing confession with meaningful action. This campaign will support research into our past and direct resources toward restorative partnership with our sister church, St James AME Zion — tangible steps to repair harm, advance justice, and live out God’s mercy today.
Assisting Those in Need: Living Out Our Values
Our church has a long history of supporting local, national, and global mission work. We traditionally focus on supporting organizations that enhance health, child welfare (often through providing access to nutritious meals), and education among the most vulnerable populations. Your support will allow us to contribute to missions such as the Ithaca Health Alliance, which runs the Ithaca Free Clinic, the Finger Lakes Toy Library, and lunch programs in Lansing and Enfield, among others. Internationally, we reach into Ethiopia, Iraq, Nepal, and the Dominican Republic as our gifts help organizations provide for the needs of our brothers and sisters in these countries. As is written in Proverbs, ”Those who have a bountiful eye will be blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.” We share our many blessings with neighbors near and far and bring God’s love to every life we touch.