Mission Outreach

In addition to local activities such as housing the community food cupboard, serving weekly "warm offerings" meals, hosting blood drives and opening its doors to community organizations, the Second Congregational Church of Newcastle celebrates an expansive mission outreach through financial support of various organizations.

Representatives of the 29 Organizations Supported by Second Congregational's Missions Gifts in 2009. (J. Andrews photo)

During worship on October 25, 2009 Terri Taylor told the congregation of our efforts for mission outreach:

As I look out over this congregation it gives me “warm fuzzies” to think of all the good the people in these pews are doing in our community, this country and around the world. As Christ’s Church we are charged with being God’s love in this world. Today there are 20+ people here to receive funds for the work they are doing on our behalf. All of us together are making a big difference in the lives of other people, many of whom we will never know and will never have a chance to say thank you, but will know that others care about them.
     On behalf of the Board of Missions I would like to thank all the people in this church who have donated their money so that we could give it away so generously. On your behalf the Board of Missions alone has given away over $26,000 in aid to local and global needs. In addition, the Women’s Fellowship, Deacons, Library committee, the flower committee, the youth and Christian Education have also made charitable gifts to those in need. As a Church we have provided many in kind space usage donations for AA meetings, for the food pantry, for Warm offerings, and for many other community organizations. Members of this church are involved in giving their time to many of the organizations represented here today. That is why you will recognize many of the recipients of our gifts as church members. All together last year this church provided over $40,000 in missions giving.
    I want to encourage everyone to take a moment to look at the booklet that describes the organizations that you have given to today. We have invited the representatives to be available at fellowship hour so that you may personally thank them for the work they are doing and to ask questions about their organizations.
    The mission work of this church is ongoing and I would ask that everyone take a look at the information in the bulletin about the specific needs for canned foods for the People to People Thanksgiving baskets and the upcoming CROP donation in lieu of the annual Ruth Ives Memorial Crop Walk this year.
    At this time I would like to invite all of the organization representatives and the Board of Missions to come forward so that we may distribute your gifts to these fine organizations.

Now if you will join me in prayer:
Gracious and loving God, we offer these gifts of dollars as a way to support the work of these many organizations that are providing for the needs of the “least of these, your children”. We ask that you multiply our treasures and talents so that we may continue to help do Your will in this world. Encourage the doers and the givers that each may continue to in Your love and strength. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

On the local level Youth Promise of Lincoln County, Tedford Shelter, Weymouth House, People to People and Healthy Kids all benefit from this outreach. The church also supports The Carpenters Boat Shop ministry at Pemaquid and the Maine Seacoast Mission in Bar Harbor. The wider church is supported through Our Church's Wider Mission, Bangor Theological Seminary, Heifer Project International and Church World Service.

Second Congregational Church takes pride in being an active covenant church with Habitat for Humanity and currently celebrates involvement in the first Habitat home being built in Lincoln County. Financial support of these organizations in 2005 combined with special mission outreach supporting relief efforts following the Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan totaled over $40,000. This outreach is overseen by the church's Mission Committee which meets on a monthly basis. Each year a Sunday in October is dedicated to the honor and recognition of the various programs supported through this church's mission efforts.