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Advance Special Requests for 2005-2008 New England Annual Conference
Written: 5/16/2006
Advance Special Requests for 2005-2008 New England Annual Conference
781-891-1199
The mission of the Nicaragua Planning Committee is to maintain the covenant between the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church and La Asociacion de las Iglesias de Cristo, an indigenous Protestant church in Nicaragua. The NPC holds monthly meetings in order to manage the business of the Nicaragua Covenant. We also hold annual joint planning sessions alternating between Managua, Nicaragua and Weston, MA in order to discuss the programs and plan the budget for the upcoming year.
Through the Nicaragua Covenant, funded primarily by UMC churches and individuals throughout New England, we are able to support programs of health, education, and self-sufficiency in the poorest communities of Iglesia de Cristo. Approximately 30 sister church relationships are in place, and approximately ten delegations per year are traveling to Nicaragua in order to develop relationships and see the programs in action. Our
Nicaragua Representative, Miguel Lezama, translates correspondence between the North and South along with serving to lead delegations. Jairo Lezama who also serves as a representative to the Nicaragua Covenant visits New England in the spring and the fall in order to be present at Annual Conference and to itinerate throughout the conference promoting the Nicaragua Covenant.
United Methodist Economic Ministry $10,000. Ms. Kay D. Webb
RR1, Box 726
Strong, ME 04983
207-678-2611
In response to God�s call in Christ to clothe the naked, feed the hungry and care for the homeless, the UMEM seeks to provide material, educational and spiritual support in this region of severe economic challenge. The purpose of the UMEM is to be the realized compassionate presence of Christ, who not only clothes, feeds, and houses, but educates and challenges unjust inequities of distribution in the effort to encourage the fullest potential of all people in God�s eyes. Its purpose shall be realized through the management of regional thrift shops, emergency food closets, housing, and educational programs, which will offer opportunities for personal and economic betterment. In keeping with Christ�s unconditional love, all services will show no bias to race, sex, color, creed or orientation.
United Methodist Elder Care $70,000. Ms. Kathleen Brady
40 Irving Avenue
East Providence, RI 02914
401-438-4456 x 36
The mission statement of the UMEC states: �We are a community where older persons live in comfort, dignity, and with purpose.� UMEC is an affordable continuing care community serving 208 low to low-moderate income seniors. UMEC offers independent living subsidized apartments; affordable assisted living apartments, full service dining, nursing home care, long-term care, and rehabilitative services. They welcome residents of all religious, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. The community actively supports productive and joyful aging.
Methodist Conference Home, Inc. $50,000 Lee Karker
46 Summer Street
Rockland, ME 04841
207-596-6477
Methodist Conference Home, Inc. (MCH) offers 104 units of safe and affordable housing and other appropriate services (including meals, housekeeping, personal care and transportation) to enhance quality of life and extend the independence of older adults and people with disabilities. The Meals on Wheels program operated by MCH serves Knox County while transportation services are provided in Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties and the towns of Brunswick and Harpswell.
Rolling Ridge Conference Center $50,000 Bonnie Marden
660 Great Pond Rd
North Andover, MA 01845
978-682-8815
Fax: 978-681-1162
thestaff@rollingridge.org
Rolling Ridge offers sacred space away from the hectic pace, rampant
materialism and mixed messages of modern culture where people can center themselves spiritually, emotionally, and physically. It is our hope that at Rolling Ridge, through our hospitality and programs, people may encounter what it means to be a Christian disciple and a United Methodist in the midst of our current culture. Nestled in the
suburban community of North Andover, Massachusetts, Rolling Ridge has
served the Conference for fifty-six years with retreats, meeting space and a wide variety of programs. Rolling Ridge stands out in the region as a symbol of United Methodism. The beautiful grounds and turn-of-the century mansion provide a setting for people of all ages to worship, learn, grow, and play together. God calls the church to care about people and their needs by providing a variety of settings, programs and unique places for programs, retreats and conferences in which children, youth, adults and families can experience Christian community in diverse ways. We believe this will renew, enable, affirm and equip persons to become effective disciples now and in the future. Advance Special status will allow us to grow our scholarship fund so that no person will be denied access to our programs and facilities, and provide resources to develop experiences and programs that will serve the people of New England. Each year, Rolling Ridge serves thousands of people though programs,hosted events and picnics. In 2004, scholarships to adults, youth and families totaled more than $1,200 dollars with need exceeding available resources. Newly expanded programs and activities offer additional opportunities for spiritual life formation and educational needs of United Methodists in New
England.
Project F.A.C.E.(Faith in Action for Community Education) $4,000 Donna Costa
P.O. Box 432
North Easton, MA 02356
508-577-8940
Project F.A.C.E. assists faith communities in addressing common family, community and global health issues, such as HIV and STD�s, teen pregnancy, substance addiction, parenting, child abuse, domestic violence, and sexuality education. Located in southeastern Massachusetts, Project F.A.C.E. is an interfaith effort committed to identifying, recognizing and incorporating the values and customs specific to the many cultures found within New England.
Seacost Interfaith Hospitality Network $12,000 Diane Stradling
295 Atlantic Avenue
North Hampton, NH 03862
603-379-8446
Fax: 603- 379-8447
sihnnh@ttlc.net
SIHN utilizes faith based organizations and professional staff to assist homeless families to return to secure housing. SIHN, a network of 11 congregations, which includes Exeter UMC, Hampton UMC and First UMC in Portsmouth, provides intensive case management, access to community services, shelter, food and hospitality to homeless families with children under and age of 18 with the goal of assisting them in returning to secure housing. SIHN if affiliated with Family Promise, a national organization, and is the first such network to be established in New Hampshire.
Worcester Evening Free Medical Service Prog. $2,000 Rev. C. Barry Wood
64 Salisbury Street,
Worcester, MA 01609
508-752-2376
The medical program is now completing eleven years of serving the greater Worcester area in central Massachusetts. Our program provides medical services to those without health insurance or prescription coverage. Under this one umbrella, we now use Wesley UMC for our eye care and hearing programs. All other medical needs are met at Epworth UMC. We have had over 24,000 patients visits in eleven years. There is a great need for this type of outreach program serving our less fortunate brothers and sisters. For information about these programs call Rev. C. Barry Wood.
SPIRAL Arts, Inc. $8,000 Rev. Priscilla Dreyman
156 High Street
Portland, ME 04101
207-775-1474
community@spiralarts.org
www.spiralarts.org
SPIRAL Arts offers opportunities to people of all ages and life experiences who are seeking hope, purpose, and meaning to create art and build community in a supportive, spiritually-centered caring community. An art ministry in Portland, Maine, SPIRIT Arts invites people to create art within a safe, inclusive, spiritually centered, caring community. Art classes, workshops, and retreats welcome adults and children from all walks of life to express their unique voices through the visual arts, music, culinary arts, and dance. Through creating in community, families and individuals explore their creativity, deepen their spiritual lives, build meaningful community, develop lifelong artistic skills, feel empowered and of value, and make new friends. SPIRAL Arts seeks to build community among people of great diversity, and through this process, to combat racism, classism, consumerism, materialism, sexism, and violence.
SIRAL Arts offers neighborhood based classes, especially reaching out o people who are marginalized, isolated, facing the challenge of poverty, special needs, illness, or of being a newcomer to Portland or to the United States. In addition, SPIRAL Arts provides classes and workshops to children and youth living in public housing and other low income neighborhoods, to people living with AIDS, to elders in nursing homes and in public housing, to children and youth in after school programs, to adult with special needs or with mental illness, and more. Special SPIRAL Arts public art projects include a 50-foot long mural created by homeless adults, three clay tile murals for the Barbara Bush Children�s Hospital created by pediatric patients, their families, hospital staff, and former patients, quilt wall hangings created by patients and staff at Riverview Psychiatric Institute, memorial tiles created by members of Immanuel Baptist Church remembering a beloved church sexton, and the Mosaics of Hope Project in the Parkside neighborhood of Portland soon to culminate in a 350 Square foot mosaic mural on the exterior of the new Parkside Neighborhood Center.
SPIRAL Arts leads special arts retreats for faith communities, clergy groups, and youth programs. It organizes Art Sundays, in which art created in a theme-based art workshop by the congregation is integrated into a creative, inspiring, intergenerational worship service.
SPIRAL Arts serves 300 adults, youth and children in its classes each year. It serves 2000 or more people each year in its other programs. It has been featured in several national magazines � Faith at Work, New World Outlook, and YES � A Magazine for Positive Futures. It is supported by gifts and donations, grants and contracts, and fundraising events. It urgently needs your help!
First Radio Parish of America $6,000 Rev. Peter Panagore
One Congress Square
Portland, ME 04101
With a mission to share the Good News of God�s love from a Christian perspective, First Radio Parish reaches 76,000 people daily on television and offers weekly worship on 6 radio stations. 2,600 messages monthly are shared via Internet, offering encouragement and inspiration to grow in relationship with God through non-sectarian, religious devotionals using appropriate media.
Rural Community Action Ministry $20,000. Mr. Gilbert A. Ward
81 Church Hill Road
Leeds, ME 04263
207-524-5095 (fax) 524-2202
&, nbsp; &nb, sp; rcam98@ctel.net
The RCAM reaches out to people of rural Maine who are in need and assists them to help themselves. The purpose of RCAM is to work with people to meet their needs for safe and adequate shelter, clothing, food and basic well-being in a manner that maintains or improves their self worth and dignity. This non-profit organization is dedicated to helping meet the needs of vulnerable people in 13 rural towns in Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Oxford counties. RCAM develops and administers projects and programs in collaboration with churches, organizations, public and private agencies and individuals that impact the lives of people living in these isolated rural areas of Maine.
A housing program builds low cost homes and provides housing rehabilitation for low-income and elderly families living in sub-standard or unhealthy/unsafe conditions. These conditions may place the poor in danger of becoming homeless. Funds for these projects come through no interest or low interest loan programs made available through the Maine State Housing Authority and the RCAM Revolving Loan Fund.
RCAM operates a 2 unit Emergency Shelter for families for up to a 45 day stay with information, referral, and support offered so that 100% of the residents leave the shelter for more permanent rental housing. RCAM�s is the only rural family shelter in the state of Maine. A significant homelessness prevention effort also assists people living on the edge to overcome temporary obstacles that threaten their ability to stay in their own home.
RCAM maintains a Transitional Unit for longer term housing for families in transition. In addition it carries out an Outreach program helping area residents gain access to available services and resources. The Rural Youth Services provides self-awareness education and in-school programs to pregnant and parenting teens and teens at risk, direct and prevention services, counseling, pregnancy testing, parenting and nutrition education. The issues of hunger are addressed with 15 food banks staffed by volunteers, a gardening program helping people learn to plant, maintain and harvest their own gardens to prevent hunger, with tilling, seeds and fertilizer provided by RCAM. RCAM provides referral to all necessary resources within the state of Maine including health and legal services along with transportation to needed service.
Mechuwana Conference Camp $40,000 Norman R Thombs
PO Box 277
Winthrop ME 04364
(207) 377- 2924, 377-4388
mechuwana@jwi.com
It is the purpose of Camp Mechuwana to complement the local church ministry by providing a unique Christian setting for persons of all ages for personal growth and experiences, which enhance one�s relationship to God, neighbors, and the natural world.
�Embracing the Future� Mechuwana needs this $40,000 for a new Chapel to serve groups spiritual and programmatic needs year round. We will be breaking ground in the Spring of 2005.
Wanakee United Methodist Center $20,000 Rev. Phil Polhemus
75 Upper New Hampton Rd.
Meredith, NH 03253-9516
(603) 279-7950
It is the mission of the Wanakee United Methodist Center to love, accept, challenge, and provide opportunities for growth to all God�s people within our �Beautiful Spiritual Place in the Hills�. It is our intent to help individuals interact with one another, build relationships, grow in their Christian faith through experiences within a Christian community, and to send them forth into the world to celebrate and share God�s love.
Programs offered at Wanakee are all non-competitive, with an emphasis on group building and the development of leadership skills. It is hoped that when guests depart from Wanakee, they will do so with a stronger commitment to discipleship and with improved Christian leadership skills.
Wanakee has been offering summer camp programs for the past forty years, and it is our plan for the future to become a year round facility by building a four-season retreat center. Advance Special status will help us to make that dream a reality.
Aldersgate Conference Camp any and all 2nd mile giving Jeffrey C. Thomas
1043 Snake Hill Road
N. Scituate, RI 02857
(401) 568-4350, 568- 1840
aldersgate@juno.com
www.campaldersgate.com
Camp Aldersgate was established in 1945. This Camp and Retreat Center serves Children, Youth, Youth Adults and Adults in a sanctuary setting apart from worldly pressures. As an extension of the local church we are called by God to care about people and their needs by providing a variety of settings, programs, and unique places set aside for camps, retreats, and conferences. Aldersgate serves year round. We host thousands each year. This agency of the Annual conference serves local churches by hosting workshops, meetings, camping program, etc. Out of this ministry grows pastors, lay leaders, church members, and strong witnesses for Christ.
Camp Aldersgate requests second mile giving. All gifts, no matter how large or small will be sincerely appreciated and invested in the lives of our �world parish�.
Mathewson Street UMC Feeding Ministries $10,000 Rev. Jonathan Almond
134 Mathewson St
Providence, RI 02903
401-331-8900
The Feeding Ministries include a Monday � Friday daytime (9:45-11:15am) Food Pantry providing a weeks groceries/visit to families/individuals (12,000 families/individuals in 2004); and a Friday night supper every week of the year (18,000 meals in 2004). 55% of our recipients are women and children. 60% of our Friday meal guests are homeless.
Protestant Hospital Ministry $2,000 Rev. David Williams
P.O. Box 3673
Portland, ME 04104
In response to Jesus� ministry among the least, the last, and the lost, and his concern for the whole person � body, mind, and spirit � the mission of the ecumenical Protestant Hospital Ministry is to undergird the ministry of the Protestant Hospital Ministry Chaplains, both staff and volunteer, who work with the Pastoral Services Department at the Maine Medical Center. These chaplains share the Good News of Jesus primarily with those who come to the medical center from some geographical distance, or who live locally and have an unmet need for pastoral care. The Good News centers on the hope, healing, and strength, which come from God.
Partners in Development $3,064 Ms. Gale Hull
PO Box 9
Ipswich, MA 01938
What can you do with $3,064? Something really wonderful! Through Partners in Development you can give one family a whole new life and change the course of generations to come. Partners in Development work in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with the poorest of the poor. Our goal is to provide whole life change. We work with families who live in one room, leaky tin, shacks, eat 1 meal a day (or sometimes less) and have a monthly family income of less the $40 US (way below the UN poverty line).
For the investment of $3.064:
One child from the family will go to school ($264 a year),
You will provide a small business loan increasing their income by $20-$50 US dollars a month ($120),
You will provide medical and dental care for the whole family ($180 a year),
You will move them from and tin shack in the slums to a two room concrete house with a porch, clean water and their own outhouse in a country setting. ($2,500).
The family�s life will be changed forever. The repayment from the small business loan and the no interest mortgage recycles back into the program so other families will benefit. Partners in Development is happy to report that we have sent over 300 children to school, started over 500 small businesses, started a subsidized medical insurance program and have built 25 houses. Our program truly changes the lives of those we work with and continues to expand and touch the lives of many others.
First UMC � Harvest Table Ministries $10,000 Rev. Dr. Roger A. Davis
55 Fenn Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-499-0866
The Harvest Table community meal on Tuesdays feeds 80-120 people every week (4,888 individual meals served in 2004). The Director of Outreach has provided transportation and assisted guests with court proceedings for domestic violence, child custody, Department of Social Services proceedings, and landlord-tenant disputes. She supervises community service work by juvenile probationers and guests receiving food stamps. She has assisted with housing searches and helped coordinate volunteers to assist with moving. Additionally, she spends hours providing a listening ear for many, many guests.
The Navigators U.S. Community Ministries $40,000 Rev. Thomas E. Mabie
PO Box 6000
Colorado Springs, CO
80934-6000
local -1325 Coral Sea Dr.,
Rockville, MD 20861
301-838-9796
The calling of the Navigator is �to advance the gospel of Jesus and His kingdom into the nations through generations of lifetime laborers living and discipling among the lost.� While we are living in a secular, post-Christian, post-modern society, there are many who are spiritually hungry and thirsty. They may not be inclined to seek the traditional church to satisfy this hunger and thirst, but are inclined to seek others, individually or in small group who provide a safe place to ask the difficult questions of life and discover for them selves the God whom they are seeking. It is as we meet one-on-one, and in small groups coaching, mentoring and walking alongside others that we are able to see the gospel advance as God is at work around us and we join in that work.
MAPA (Mission A Pataiso Ahora!) $6,000 Ms. JoAnn Carlotto
First United Methodist Church
47 Peters Street
North Andover, MA 01845
978-372-4374
MAPA (Mission A Pataiso Ahora!) (Mission to Paraiso NOW!) is a mission of mutual ministry formed by United Methodists and a church located in Paraiso, a small impoverished town in the southern province of Barahona, Dominican Republic. MAPA provides the teachers� salaries and educational supplies for the tuition free church-run school. Mission teams bring school materials, clothing, money to do maintenance and repairs of the grounds and building, and a spirit ready to join others in building a relationship based on mutuality, justice, and Christ�s teachings.
Hattie B. Cooper Community Center $30,000 Deb Ansourlian
1891 Washington St
Roxbury, MA 02118
617-445-1813
The Hattie B. Cooper Community Center is committed to providing children and youth with the strongest development foundation to inspire a lifelong excitement for learning and the skills to become caring and responsible citizens.
Dental Program of the Covenant Relationship $7,000 Sandra K. Melius
between the New England Annual Conference 410 Conant Rd
and the Association of Iglesias de Cristo de Nicaragua Weston, MA 02493
781-891-1199
The dental ministry founded in 1991 by Dr. Belinda Forbes, GBGM missionary to Nicaragua, has as its vision to better the dental health of child and adult populations through dental education and dental health services. The funds raised through this Advance Special cover the costs of oral hygiene programs and teacher training in dental health themes in Iglesia de Cristo schools, an annual health training workshop, the honorarium for the program director, Dr. Lissette Cort�s, and subsidized health care in three dental clinics for patients referred from Iglesia de Cristo congregations and their respective communities.
Safe Havens $10,000 Anne Marie Hunter
31 St. James Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
617-227-6992
Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of faith communities to engage in a coordinated effort to end domestic violence. Working as a bridge between diverse religious communities and social service providers, Safe Havens creates systemic change by providing education, resources, advocacy, and technical support to improve access to services for all persons affected by domestic violence, to promote responsible action, to foster leadership development, to encourage community collaboration and to generate public policy. Safe Havens' approach to domestic intervention and prevention work prioritizes safety for victims and accountability for batterers. Because domestic violence cuts across all boundaries of religion, age, race, ethnicity, class, gender, and geography, Safe Havens is committed to working with diverse communities.
NITCA $5,000 Kathy Kern
18 Cottage Lane
Niantic, CT 06357
860-691-8378
Feeding program for children in dining area built by capital funds. Pre-school education program � facility built by capital funds. Medical clinic for families � facility built by capital funds. Small farm plots for families. Proposed education facility on 10 acres of land provided by govt.