The First Congregational of Scarborough ministers personally and financially to the local and world community.
Our congregation is committed to dedicating 10% of its income to agencies and missions outside of our church. We are also dedicated to providing our time and talent to serving others in need.
Our Missions group oversees the distribution of church funds, raised by our church community, to organizations that serve human and community needs locally, nationally and world wide.
The number of local agencies who have benefited from our members contribution over our 290 years is significant. The following are the current donations made to support to our community:
- American Red Cross - supporting relief programs for Hurricanes Milton and Helene victims
- Scarborough Food Pantry - supporting Southern Maine residents
- Maine Veteran's Home - supporting Maine veterans
- Child Fund International - supporting children we have sponsored in Brazil and Uganda
- Scarborough Police Department's Social Services Division - supporting Scarborough residents
- Caring Unlimited - supporting York County's Domestic Violence Program
- Through These Doors - supporting Cumberland County residents
- Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence - supporting Maine residents
A MESSAGE FROM LIANE GIAMBALVO OF THE MINISTRY OF OUTREACH AND STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship can be defined as: Utilizing and managing all of the resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation. "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1
We are a small but mighty piece of God's world, we are careful stewards of the resources He has given to us.
Currently, we are asking you to imagine using our resources in new ways, to build a strong and thriving community filled with the Holy Spirit, welcoming outsiders to join us in our commitment to love one another as Jesus loves us.
This is a welcoming place, a generous place, a caring place. Yet, many of us are getting old and tired, maybe too tired to carry out the physical tasks. We are never to old, however, to be loving to others, to pray for others and show hospitality to others.
Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me"? Peter responded three times, "Yes Lord, you know I do".
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep". Jesus did not mean give the people food alone. He meant to feed the people with love and caring, to feed their souls.
When I imagine the future of this church, I imagine feeding people, expanding beyond the food pantry, to provide a free community meal, showing hospitality and welcoming strangers into our Vestry.
People say that is a lot of work! That will cost a lot of money! We are too old and tired to do all that!
I hear those concerns, but they do not stop me from imagining: I imagine asking non-church members to help me. I imagine finding food supplies that go untouched at the food pantry. I imagine finding low-cost recipes, foods that work nicely in crock pots.
I imagine learning to run the dishwasher and learning new ways of connecting with people. I imagine some of you joining me as hosts and hostesses to sit and eat with our guests to be sure no one feels left out or unwelcome.
Gail Dobriko said not to talk about money, so I won't, but we do hope you will make your pledge to help God reach more lost sheep. Thank you all so much - this little church means a lot to me as my community of belonging. I pray it becomes that for so many others as well.