Get Inspired by New England Conference Churches

New England churches of all shapes, sizes, and locations are involved in life-changing, world-changing mission!

Some of the stories from our United Methodist churches are shared here, so that you can be inspired by the mission ideas and activities of your brothers and sisters across New England. You may find an idea here that is right for your church too. Feel free to contact these churches if you have questions about these projects.  Then, go and do likewise!

These are just a few of the Change The World events happening in New England United Methodist Church communities:

CONNECTICUT

• Working with a restorer, Versailles UMC in Versaille, CT will be helping clean up a local cemetery that has incurred a lot of damage. Others in congregation will be having a table in front of a restaurant collecting funds for "Imagine No Malaria" Sunday.
• The congregation at Bethel UMC in Griswold, CT is going into the community to plant flowers in various areas to beautify the community. They are also collecting funds on Sunday for World Malaria Day.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

• First UMC in Manchester, NH is changing the world as their youth group was joined by youth from two other churches to end their 30 Hours of Famine (April 2 and 3) with a picnic lunch for the homeless and the hungry in a park at the heart of the city.
• The congregation at Milford UMC in Hillsborough, NH will be sending out teams to do various clean up and repair projects throughout the community on April 24.
• First UMC in Portsmouth, NH will move out into the neighborhood to help pick up trash and debris from the recent storms. We will also take time to introduce ourselves to people we meet along the way.

MAINE

• The Church & Community Committee at Gray Memorial UMC in Caribou, ME is collecting donations from the congregation on Sunday, April 25th, to help the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen in Caribou pay for lowering the ceilings in their building to help reduce their fuel costs.  This Soup Kitchen provides a meeting place and hot meals to local residents in need.
• Members of the York-Ogunquit Church in York, ME will provide lawn clean-up services on Saturday, April 24 through the York Senior Center for neighbors affected by recent storms. Area residents can sign up for services such as raking and brush gathering at the Senior Center.
• On Sunday, April 25, teams of members from the Readfield UMC in Readfield, ME will be preparing for a May 1 fan out across the area where they will participate in a variety of mission projects: home improvements with a grieving neighbor, preparing a community garden for children to plant, cleaning debris on a neighboring road, construction and cabin cleaning at Camp Mechuwana, and participating in two Augusta area events: a hunger walk and a fundraising dinner for the Sexual Assault Crisis and Counseling Center.
• New Light and Chestnut UMC faith communities in Portland, ME have planned a fun filled day to put their faith into action in the community on Saturday, April 24 from 9-2 pm. Activities include gathering at Hope.Gate.Way. for a light breakfast, then moving out into the community to serve in opportunities such as community yard work for the elder members of the community, coordinated through the Southern Maine Agency on Aging; to make fleece blankets for homeless children; or to participate in a cookie-baking project in partnership with Wayside Kitchen. The cookies will be delivered to elderly and/or disabled members of the community.
• On April 24th, the Belfast United Methodist Church in Belfast, ME plans to hold a "Community Work Day" where volunteers from the family of faith will be participating to Change the World. The church will be providing the opportunity for folks to create a positive presence in the community by reaching out and helping people with small repairs, projects and yard work. There will be a free spaghetti supper at the church at 5:00 p.m. to conclude the days activities where those who worked, along with folks from the community at large, will have the opportunity to come together to share in food and fellowship.
• On Saturday, April 24, the Goodwins Mills UMC in Lyman, ME will be setting up community gardens for growing vegetables which will be given to the Lyman/Dayton Food Pantry. Others will be invited to help decorate recipe cards, which contain simple vegetable, side, or main dishes, to go with the produce. The community will be invited to participate, and families of any size are welcome to be part of the activities.
• The Dresden Richmond UMC Youth Group in Richmond, ME plan on serving their community by hosting a Common Table free dinner to those in need on April 21, and on Saturday, April 24 they will be raking, picking up litter, and doing a general spring clean-up in the community.

MASSACHUSETTS

• The members of Grace UMC in Hopkinton, MA searched deeply for meaningful ministry for the Change the World event on April 24 and 25.  They considered sleeping on the front lawn, or having a community-wide food drive. Then, at the community Good Friday service that the congregation jointly hosted with St. Paul's Episcopal Church, they heard about the need for children's sneakers at a local outreach agency called "Project Just Because". It seems the organization had completely exhausted their supply of children's sneakers, and several families seeking help were unable to have their needs met. Immediately they started collecting sneakers, and will continue collecting new or gently used children's sneakers for "Project Just Because" through April 25.  
• St. John's UMC of Dedham, MA and St. Stephen's UMC of West Roxbury, MA have been worshipping together for some time now. After weeks of discussion about how these very small congregations with a predominantly older membership could Change the World, they came up with a plan.  After processing and dismissing a number of ideas, it was decided to get outside and plant flowers in front of the St. Stephen's church building, which is where they worship together. They hope to engage in conversations with people as they walk by, with the intention of learning what the needs of the neighborhood are and to communicate that there is life at their place of worship. Can a flower Change the World? Believing that God works in mysterious ways, they are eager to see what God will do.
• On Sunday April 25th, St. Stephen's UMC, Marblehead, MA will put on an Italian Dinner at 5PM. All proceeds from the event will go to purchase school bag supplies for the children of Haiti through UMCOR. In addition to a wonderful meal, a DJ will be there to provide music.
• Centre-Trinity UMC in New Bedford, MA will be using the Change the World weekend to paint and clean in preparation for the early May opening of their new Mother and Child Center. The Center will provide diapers, baby food, and other needed supplies to mothers and children who are living below the poverty level and do not receive adequate services from social agencies. It will also act as a drop-in center where "God-Mothers” will be available to counsel, comfort and advise these young Moms.
• Memorial UMC in Beverly, MA , will hold a Pasta Supper on Saturday night, April 24th, 5:00-6:30pm, to benefit River House, the homeless shelter in Beverly.
• The Ipswich UMC in Ipswich, MA has marked April 25 as their target date for putting together at least 10 Layette Kits to be sent to Haiti, in response to the ongoing need in the poorly-equipped refugee camps in that earthquake-torn country.
• Volunteers from Wesley UMC in Hadley, MA will Change the World on April 24 by preparing and sharing a meal time with the homeless and economically challenged population in the Amherst/Hadley area. Additionally, on Sunday, April 25, they will be celebrating Native American Sunday by having a Native speaker assisting in worship, and outreach to the Native community will take place coinciding with a regional powwow at UMass-Amherst that same weekend.
• Harbor UMC in Scituate, MA will be out in the community to give away gifts, do cleanup, and will also make gifts for mission team heading to Nicaragua in April. They will also be joining up with Marshfield UMC to serve desserts and beverages during a concert at the Long Island Shelter (for homeless).
• Faith United Parish in Fitchburg, MA is connecting up with a larger community initiative by partnering with the local Outreach to Teach group to do an "extreme makeover" of a deserving urban middle school a block away from the church on April 24 
• Wesley UMC in Worcester, MA is partnering with *StandUp For Kids to Change the World! Volunteers plan to raise awareness about the homeless and at risk youth population in Worcester by hosting the 2nd annual “24 Hours on the Street” event. Several activities have been planned throughout the event including a talent show, team trivia, a candlelight vigil, a picnic, a scavenger hunt, and a sleep out on Wesley’s front lawn. Everyone is invited to join in, whether you come for one event or plan to spend the entire 24 hours participating in the event, all are welcome to come and help to Change the World!   *StandUp For Kids (www.standupforkids.org) was founded with the mission to help homeless youth. We do this every day by going to the streets to find, help, and stabilize homeless and at risk youth. Wesley Church has been home to the StandUp for Kids Worcester program since 2008. 

RHODE ISLAND

• Open Table of Christ UMC in Providence, RI will be hosting a time of entertainment, helpful information, and assistance for the whole family. Activities will include food, live music, games, face painting, drumming circle, and more. Locally they will offer free food distribution, free health clinic, Food Stamps registration, and many other services that provide assistance for low income families.
• On Saturday, April 24, Cornerstone of Faith United Methodist Church in Coventry, RI will host The Lord's Supper at 5 p.m., which is the congregation’s monthly fellowship dinner. All in the community are invited and all are welcome to attend this opportunity to experience the love of Jesus Christ, as the congregation shares its love with them as well.
• At Mathewson Street UMC in Providence, RI, the congregation will gather on Friday April 23rd at 4:30 PM to bless and re-dedicate the renovated kitchen which is used to feed the hungry and homeless each week. Friends from all avenues of life who are experiencing the struggles of poverty come every Friday for a hot meal and fellowship around a common table. On Sunday April 25, World Malaria Day, the worship service will view how the UMC is developing resources and support to end malaria in the world.

VERMONT

• At Rutland UMC in Rutland, VT, the congregation will be putting together and giving away hand carts to those people who do not have cars so they can get their groceries home more easily.
• The congregation of Northfield Parish UMC in Northfield, VT will have a free breakfast for local safety personnel, firemen, police and rescue services.

Share your Story!