The Outreach Board has the responsibility of dispensing a portion of the church budget on a variety of charities both locally and abroad. It also falls to Outreach to promote the annual One Great Hour of Sharing, a special offering in the Spring that is dispensed in the U.S. and abroad for disaster and famine relief. The church has a scholarship fund for local high school graduates who have been active in or have a connection to our church. This does not come out of the Outreach budget but we are charged with selecting the candidate(s) from applications submitted. The Outreach Board is the sponsor of the Community Resource Guide which is distributed throughout the peninsula, providing valuable sources for a variety of personal and family needs. Last, but possibly most important, we oversee disbursements from the Dolly Fisher Fund which provides heat and electric assistance to needy folks in the local area. This is funded purely from donations and not from the church budget.

Although non-profit beneficiaries may change from year to year, the local organizations that we currently fund include but are not limited to: Good Shepard Food Bank, The Emmaus Center, Sister Barbara Hance House, Seacoast Mission, Free Medical Clinic of Downeast Maine, Hospice of Hancock County, The Next Step and The Ark Animal Shelter. To help our wider world community we contribute to Church World Service, The Carter Center, Seeds of Peace Camp, Amnesty International and Habitat for Humanity. In addition, inspired by the mission project of Ted Hoskins and many others from our church and community to rebuild a village called Monkey River in Belize, we have sponsored scholarships for high school students there and contributed to the Microloan program to help women in the village start small businesses.

The Outreach Board is currently re-evaluating our charity list and considering some new projects. We welcome input from church membership regarding these organizations or others that are worthy and in need of support.

Board members are currently Gayle Durnbaugh, Justine Schneider, Catherine Van Dusen, Kathy Ricker, Diana Dowse. Chair is Janet Kelsey.

COMING SATURDAY OCTOBER 18 2008, 5:30 pm: BELIZE POTLUCK. Slide show by Ted Hoskins. Donations accepted for Monkey River Scholarships. Bring Belizean food or a favorite dish. Recipes and sign-up sheet in Jonathan Fisher Hall. Questions, call 374-2891.

An Alternative Energy Evening Friday October 3, 2008, at 6:30 pm at First Congregational Church, Jonathan Fisher Hall. View the documentary film KILOWATT OURS. Guest speaker Prof. Paul Villeneuve, UMO School of Engineering & Tech, will give a slide show and discussion. Everyone invited, refreshments served. Sponsored by Earth Care Team. For more info call 374-2891.