by maineseacoast | Aug 6, 2020 | Downeast Campus, EdGE, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Uncategorized
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Thank you to EdGE Site Coordinator Don Parker for these photos of kids at this year’s EdGE Summer Art/Literacy Summer Camp. As EdGE Interim Director Isaac Marnik writes in his Summer Camp reflection:
An Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation grant provided books to all campers and students in the summer meals program. Students selected a few books to read. We bought those specific books for them.
Finally, thank you to EdGE Site Coordinator Jen Kearns for helping put this photo collage together.
by maineseacoast | Aug 5, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates, EdGE, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Uncategorized
CHERRYFIELD, ME — It was a delight to welcome campers to the Downeast Campus in July for an action-packed summer experience. The sound of laughter was abundant as EdGE staff provided the first in person programming since schools closed in March.
We offered four weeks of a modified version of summer camp that followed State of Maine guidelines and CDC recommendations. Our number one priority was keeping students, families, and staff safe. Camp activities were classic EdGE, modified for mask wearing and social distancing. Students took part in cooking, DSLR cameras photography, science experiments, engineering, trail hiking, volleyball, basketball, and many more engaging activities. One summer camp highlight was the opportunity for students to have much-needed social interaction with their peers and EdGE staff.
Through generous grants and partnerships we provided many extras to students attending camp.
Each Friday, the Mission food pantry provided a box of food to all campers and their families. Some families took part in a Good Shepherd Cooking Matters course where they were provided over the four weeks of camp with food for six dinners to cook as a family.
An Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation grant provided books to all campers and students in the summer meals program. Students selected a few books to read. We bought those specific books for them.
With a Healthy Acadia grant we provided students activity kits containing STEM, Art, and outdoor activities they could explore and enjoy in August.
by maineseacoast | Aug 5, 2020 | Uncategorized
On Tuesday, July 28th, Mission President John Zavodny and I had the pleasure of co-hosting a Spiritual Roundtable with past Mission presidents and pastors. Joining our Zoom meeting were the Reverends Gary Delong and Scott Planting — both former Mission presidents. Former Sunbeam pastors the Reverends Tony Burkart and Rob Benson, and current Mission Board chair Dan McKay joined too.
Former Sunbeam pastor Reverend Ted Hoskins, former board member Bishop Clark Grew, current board member Reverend Rex Garrett were invited but could not attend.
John and I wanted to connect (or re-connect) past and current spiritual leadership, listen to Mission stories straight from the pastors’ mouths, and better understand the guiding principles and values of the Mission’s history of spiritual work.
The meeting did not disappoint.
After introductions I led the group in prayer. Each participant then shared experiences from his time with the Mission. Stories were told of identifying community needs, and of Mission programs growing from those needs.
I was reminded of why and how Mission workers like Edith Drury once distributed packs of seeds to Mission families. Her work was similar to today when Sunbeam Steward Jillian, and Island Health Services Director Sharon Daley, bring aboard the Sunbeam seedlings from their gardens to share with islanders. Similar to staff at our Downeast Campus building and distributing “Gardens in a Box” to families in Cherryfield.
What a gift it was hearing Tony share how his ministry was led by a “quiet caring of people without a lot of feathers and dust.” Or of Gary’s leadership guided by Jesus’ parable of the sheep and goats: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Or listening to Scott share how he frequently thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s attitude of “obedience, with action” while leading the Mission and staff in the daily work of loving and serving others. Rob told the group he always looked for “hope – wherever he could find it.”
I sat listening with deep gratitude to each of my Mission colleagues share his experiences. Grateful for their legacy of good work, and for their generosity of spirit and wisdom. John and I left the meeting inspired, even as the Mission faces this unprecedented time.
My takeaway from our Spiritual Roundtable? God’s love and call to service is alive in every facet of the Mission’s work. Whether it’s a weekly Zoom church service, a ReachOut phone call made by a Mission volunteer, or staff socially distancing with kids during the EdGE summer camp. Spirituality is not a separate entity or program at Maine Seacoast Mission. It’s the driving force for everything we do.
by maineseacoast | Jul 21, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates, Downeast Campus, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Uncategorized
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Photography: Exploring the functions of our new cameras in our photography group.
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Triscuits: Taking survival to another level – grinding down the wheat
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The science of making green slime.
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Forts: The perfect spot for learning how to build a shelter.
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Olivia Frog: Finding some wildlife on our nature trails.
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Photography: Exploring the functions of our new cameras in our photography group.
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Camp cooking: Campfire blueberry muffins cooked in an orange.
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Hand-washing: Proper hygiene being demonstrated at one of our outside sinks.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Thank you to EdGE Site Coordinator Jennifer Kearns for these photos taken the first week of EdGE Summer Camp 2020. As we’ve said before, this year’s EdGE Summer Camp is a much modified version of previous EdGE Summer Camps.
But even with a cap on Summer Campers attending under Covid-19 State of Maine guidance — the kids are having a blast learning new skills, sharing new experiences, and making new friends.
Here then is Jennifer’s collection of photos of first week EdGE Summer Camp kids on nature trails, learning photography, culinary arts, basic woods survival skills, and (of course!) how to make green slime.
Learn more about EdGE Summer Camp 2020.
by maineseacoast | Jun 12, 2020 | John Zavodny, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Uncategorized
June 12, 2020
Love First
Fear and hatred are the most isolating forces in our society. Love, compassion, and hope bring us together across boundaries, ideologies, backgrounds, and disparities. Every day, the Maine Seacoast Mission lives our compassion in actions of support big and small. At times like these, though, words themselves are also acts of compassion.
Since 1905, the Maine Seacoast Mission has supported some of the most isolated communities in Maine—from the unbridged islands to rural communities Downeast. With Maine’s vast coastline and sprawling fields, woodlots, and blueberry barrens, we naturally think of isolation as a function of landscape or geography. But isolation comes in many forms and from many sources including economic, social, and educational disparity.
Along with these structural forms of isolation, there is also the isolation of listening and waiting for friends and colleagues to simply acknowledge your suffering. At this moment, and hopefully from now on, the world is shining a light on the suffering of people of color. Of course, acknowledgment only goes so far. Actions speak louder. But sometimes you also have to say the words:
Your life matters. You matter. You are loved.
Since its founding, the Mission has worked to counter isolation and to provide hope in our communities through community building, support for self-determination, and compassion. Lots and lots of love and compassion.
The Maine Seacoast Mission has always been an “Actions speak louder than words” organization. Mission founders Angus and Alexander MacDonald realized early on that love is best expressed through action as they ministered to island communities from a 15-foot Friendship sloop named Hope. One-hundred fifteen years and six boats later, the Mission continues to take action in support of Maine’s most isolated individuals and communities. No matter what kind of isolation they face. And when words are the action we will say the words:
Black lives matter. Your life matters. We love you.
Fear is isolating. Compassion, hope, and love are healing. As with all relationships that need healing, someone has to trust first. To love first. Jesus loved first. So did the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And every good leader ever.
As for the Maine Seacoast Mission, we will always love first.
Respectfully,
John Zavodny, PhD
President, Maine Seacoast Mission
by maineseacoast | Jun 5, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Scholarships, Uncategorized
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Terri Rodick, Program Director for Scholarships
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The #MISSIONTOGETHER t-shirt.
BAR HARBOR, ME — Mission Director of Scholarships Terri Rodick sends these photos with a brief message: “Trying to be creative. Sending out 94 t-shirts to our scholars.”
Terri is always creative directing our Scholarships program. Even moreso in her day-to-day interactions with Mission scholarship recipients.
This year, of course, the coronavirus demands new ways of creativity and interaction — like designing and producing #MISSIONTOGETHER t-shirts, wrapping them individually in bright colored paper, and mailing them to almost 100 isolated students.
Nice work, Terri.
Learn more about the Mission Scholarship Program.
