PAINT THE CHURCH APPEAL    (5/29/2025)

The MCM Council has approved an important restoration project for First Presbyterian Church: the painting and wood repair of our historic building. Originally constructed in 1870, the Sanctuary and its later additions are treasured parts of our community’s heritage. Our building is our base of ministry in downtown Manitowoc. Some of its many uses include providing free Community Dinners, housing the Manitowoc Warming Shelter, offering commercial kitchen space for small businesses, and being a meeting space for support groups. However, the exterior woodwork of the building is now in need of significant maintenance.

We have contracted with CertaPro Painters of East Central Wisconsin to complete the work. The total estimated cost, including a 10% contingency, is $17,500. Please note that this amount may increase to as much as $25,000 if hidden wood damage requires more extensive repair—something that can only be determined once work begins.

We invite you to support this effort by making a gift to the “Paint the Church” Fund. Contributions can be mailed (First Presbyterian Church, 502 N 8th St, Manitowoc, WI 54220) or given electronically. Please be sure to designate your gift “Paint the Church". If contributions exceed the amount needed, any surplus will be added to the Building Fund to support future projects. Thank you for helping preserve the beauty and integrity of our beloved church home.

​Manitowoc Cooperative Ministry--also known as MCM--is a partnership of First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and Peace United Church of Christ (UCC), formed in 2017 so our congregations can more effectively be the hands and feet of Christ in Manitowoc.

At MCM we affirm that all people are created imago Dei (in God's image) and are warmly invited to participate fully in our church life, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, socioeconomic status, or any other distinction; we believe Jesus welcomed everyone, and we strive to reflect that same inclusivity in our fellowship.

Certain that God is still speaking to our congregations throughout our combined centuries of witness, and recognizing that we are forever being reformed by God’s spirit, we are always finding new ways of being church--ways that allows us to share our resources in order to provide a common witness of Christ’s love, hospitality, and hope.

We believe that working together is more fruitful than preserving the historic denominational lines that divided us. We believe that when we work together we can best share the peace and justice of God’s beloved community in all the world. Together, we are the Heart of the Lakeshore.