About Us
First Presbyterian Church of Port Jefferson was established in 1870
as a mission of the Setauket Presbyterian Church with 50 members. The
Masonic Hall, across the street from the church, was the original church
building. Our current building was completed in 1911. Our membership today
numbers over 220 with about 100 at worship - large enough for a strong
church program, small enough to know and support each other.
Our governing boards consist of 12 Elders/trustees and 12 Deacons, with 7 committees that oversee the work of Christ in our community and beyond.
What We Do
We have expanded our mission to include
trips for youth and adults to Puerto Rico and Honduras, and we participate
in Midnight Run, providing food and clothing to the homeless in New York
City. Other areas of mission and outreach that we support include Habitat
for Humanity; Protestant Campus Ministries at the State University of New
York, Stony Brook; Church World Service; Heifer Project; and the Parish
Resource Center.
We have offered our own programs and been partners with surrounding churches fostering programs to further understanding of the people and culture of the Middle East, and also with the Greater Port Jefferson–Northern Brookhaven Arts Council to present the Festival of Films & Faith series, which is open to the community.
We are dedicated to children and youth and have a full Christian
Education program for children from nursery age through High School staffed
by dedicated parents and committed members. We've hosted art exhibits, and
sponsored interfaith dialogues.
We've been known to decorate a wooden cross with flowers on Easter Sundays and had banners waving on the church lawn as children have scrambles for Easter eggs.
We've read Scriptures in many different languages and heard
different voices speak on complex issues.
We've built a model church out of Legos to illustrate that it takes many people and many talents to make a church.
We hold an annual Blessing of the Animals service, with dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, lizards, and more.
You never know what we'll do next. Come and see!
Pastor Richard
We are proud to introduce our
minister, The Reverend Dr. Richard Graugh. He began working with us in
October 2007. He approaches ministry as a shared, sacred journey of the
community of faith comprised of many members, each with individual gifts
which together empower the church to be bearers of Christ's love and
healing to a world in need. He brings a rich and varied work history and
education to his ministry. Following the completion of a BA degree (with
honors) in Sociology, and a Masters Degree in Social Work, he worked
variously as a Social Worker with the Children's Aid Society; as
Assistant Manager for an Electrical Works Group, a Youth Minister,
Hospital Chaplain, and as a staff member in a multi-staff church in
suburban Philadelphia. He returned full-time to Princeton Theological
Seminary at age 28, and was ordained in 1991 when he accepted a position
as full time Pastor to the First Presbyterian Church of Parkesburg, Pa,
a position he held for sixteen years. He continued his formal studies in
pastoral counseling while serving as full time pastor and achieved a
Doctor of Ministry degree in Marriage and Family from Eastern
Theological Seminary. Richard is the proud parent of two grown
daughters, one of whom recently promoted him to the role of grandfather.
