PROSPECTUS MONROE COMMUNITY CHURCH, UCC August 2017 28 West Main Street - P.O. Box 805 Monroe, Maine 04951 207-525-3256
Waldo County in Mid-coast Maine Monroe is a conveniently situated town in the center of Waldo County in mid-coast Maine. Waldo County stretches from the ocean of Penobscot Bay inland across farms and hills, including 730 square miles of land and 123 square miles of water, with a population of about 39,000. Monroe accesses resources of several nearby cities: Belfast, the Waldo County seat; Bangor- with its international airport, hospitals, theater, library, and symphony orchestra-and Augusta, the state capital. These communities are connected by scenic, well-maintained roads which wind among the bay, rivers, hills, and lakes. A variety of people live, work, and play here. From lobstermen to farmers, business owners to professionals- of all ages- community members are united in the pride we take in our towns, reports the Belfast Chamber of Commerce. The area offers a diversity of the rich cultural experiences for outdoor recreation, a varied selection of the arts, an exciting food environment, unique shopping, and historic treasures. For a young family, the yellow school bus rolls down lightly traveled country roads. Local elementary schools and regional high schools and vocational schools offer the opportunity to learn, grow, and play. The County s communities offer safe playgrounds and plenty of space to explore nature. Opportunities for higher education include the University of Maine, Unity College, Husson University, and more. There is the University of Maine Senior College in Belfast for seniors looking to expand their horizons; and local libraries, bookstores, and theater. Waldo County is an important gateway to many popular Maine tourist destinations such as Acadia National Park, numerous state parks, lakes, rivers, and the islands of Penobscot Bay. All of these afford opportunities for seasonal sports and outdoor adventures: sailing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, biking, and camping, to name a few. Belfast, Monroe s nearest city, supports two farmers markets and year-round fairs and festivals. The newly opened Hills to Sea Trail runs from Unity to Belfast, covering over forty miles of Waldo County terrain. 2
The Town and Community of Monroe Monroe, population about 900, is twelve miles inland from Belfast. Established in 1818, Monroe was a farming community which boasted a cheese factory, gristmill, and several stores. Today, there has been a resurgent interest in farming. Cheese is produced close to the site of the original Monroe Cheese Factory, and two orchards produce apples, plums, peaches, and pears for the picking. Geographically, Monroe consists of forty square miles of mostly wooded land. Its four water bodies- The Chase Bog Pond, Basin Pond, Lily Pond, and Northern Pond- offer fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Marsh Stream is another favorite of kayakers while Monroe Falls is a popular destination for sightseeing and swimming. Northern Pond offers a scenic hiking trail. Not far from Monroe is Swan Lake, a state park home to a beautiful sand beach and shady picnic areas. Monroe s town government consists of a Select Board, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Volunteer Fire Department. The Fire Department recently began to refurbish a 1947 Maxim truck, purchased with donated money, the truck representing the birth of Monroe s Volunteer Fire Department. We were all proud when we recently saw the old truck being driven in the Monroe Lions Club 2017 Parade and Memorial Day Celebration. Monroe is environmentally conscious, its Transfer Station one of the first in the area to provide single-stream recycling. The Transfer Station also is a satellite site of the Waldo County Woodshed which distributes firewood to qualifying, needy persons. In the realm of alternative energy, this year a committee of Monroe citizens and the Select Board began to research installation of solar energy for the Town Hall building. The Monroe Town Library, run by volunteers, is a pleasant destination for readers of all ages. Staff manages a collection of classic and current titles and offer children s story times. To raise funds, the library publishes calendars with striking photos which have highlighted themes such as Monroe farms, artists, wildlife, history, and community. The library has sponsored art shows and children s Halloween parties. 3
Monroe is looking forward in 2018 to celebrating its bicentennial. A committee has been organizing a series of events to commemorate two hundred years of Monroe history. Monroe Elementary School, serving students in grades pre-k through 5, is part of RSU 3, a 10- town district whose students from grades 6-12 attend classes at the beautiful, new Mt. View campus in Thorndike. Monroe s small elementary school is like an extended family, its size asset affording attention which is so important for young learners. Additionally, some of the teachers are former Monroe Elementary students and continue to be committed to Monroe. The principal lives in town too, so he and his staff personally know our children and their families. The school is fortunate to have a dedicated Parent Teacher Organization which recently raised money to upgrade the playground, purchasing new equipment and providing landscaping to make it an attractive destination for families year-round. Parents and community volunteers also coach youth soccer, basketball, and baseball teams. Active civic groups in Monroe include the Lions Club, Monroe Odd Fellows, Loyal Rebekah Lodge, and Monroe Community Extension. The Lions sponsor the town youth sports teams, an annual Memorial Day Celebration with parade, chicken barbeque and old style carnival games for children, fifth Thursday relief of cooks at the Monroe Food for All soup kitchen, annual food baskets during the holidays, and support to those who have fallen on hard times. The Lodge has as their special projects scholarship support, sending up to ten children to Camp NEOFA each summer, and preparing school bags with school supplies for grades K and one. Monroe s lifelong residents have a reputation for their welcoming attitude towards new neighbors. Long-lasting friendships have blended those from away with the locals. A number of Monroe s young people who left the area for jobs elsewhere or to attend college are returning to Monroe to raise their families in a close-knit, rural community. What once was an aging population appears to be turning around in Monroe. 4
Monroe Community Church Building Constructed in the 1840 s and then supported by posts and granite blocks, the historic Monroe Community Church building is traditional in style, supporting its original bell tower and cast bell. Until the 1980 s, the church was heated by a furnace in its balcony and had no running water or basement. In 1984 the congregation voted to move the building onto a new foundation providing a furnace room, small kitchen, bathroom, and fellowship space. Many local people as well as church members contributed time, talents, and resources to make the dream of a move onto a new foundation become reality in 1985. In the years that followed, the church and greater Monroe community- Scouts, Lions Club, County Extension, Alanon, and families celebrating life milestones- were able to gather in the expanded space. fledgling soup kitchen. The greater community again offered its support, and the latest expansion was completed in 2016. It includes two ADA-approved (Americans with Disabilities Act) bathrooms and ADA entrance ramp, a pastor s office, a church office with small group meeting space, a fire egress stairway and whole-building sprinkler system which meets current fire safety code. Also, a generous community member donated and installed an emergency backup generator. By 2015 it was evident the church needed dedicated office space and a commercialgrade kitchen to support its fundraising meals and a 5
Congregation-Monroe Community Church Our small congregation s membership is composed of people with diverse Christian denominations. Likewise, a spectrum of social and theological thinking informs our views, attitudes towards authority, and management in the church. Nevertheless, we get along with each other. And despite these differences, we are unified by our rock-solid Christian faith. How would one recognize this faith? Our church members care for and about one another. We worship together and work together. We enjoy fellowship events and support church missions as well as in-house stewardship together. Though small in number, we are a strong body. Some of the activities by which our faith is manifest include the following: Leading worship in the absence of an interim or settled pastor. Supporting church management through commitment to a secretary and church office. Enhancing worship through music provided by an organist, choir, and bell choir. 6
Moving the old church to a new foundation in 1986; building an addition in 2016. Conceiving and supporting the Monroe Food for All community soup kitchen. Raising church revenue and celebrating fellowship through Ethnic Cuisine suppers. Raising revenue through the annual Church Fair and through the Harvest Auction. Fellowship with church members through coffee hours and Friendship Potluck suppers. In many of these activities, we have sometimes wondered if our church might fail. But time and again, faith has sustained us. The Gospel is shared. Beams are raised; meals cooked and served. Both tears and laughter are shared. Money gets raised, talents stretching dollars. A song fills the air; volunteers step forward. Love of God is the core of our congregation s faith. 7
Monroe Community Church Outreach Outreach takes a number of forms at the Monroe Community Church. A primary project supported by our church is Monroe Food For All soup kitchen, a community project spearheaded by church deacons in 2013. Held in the church fellowship hall, the soup kitchen serves a free lunch every Thursday to anybody in Monroe and surrounding towns in need of nutrition and/or social interaction. Initially, the plan was to serve soup and a sandwich to the food-insecure. But food product from Good Shepherd Food Bank, the Waldo County Prison Re-entry Garden, and donations from area farms, individuals, and civic organizations have enabled Food for All to regularly serve hot, home-cooked meals, often with leftovers for diners to take home, to anybody who enjoys a lunch out among the community. The program also serves shut-ins and provides transportation for diners living in Monroe. Typically, around forty meals are served every Thursday with total individual diners numbering around seventy. Free-will donations have enabled to the group to purchase ingredients and supplies not otherwise provided from the above-mentioned groups. Another form of outreach involving cooking and dining is the Monroe Church Ethnic Cuisine suppers. For more than 10 years, church members and others from the community have created a dinner, every six weeks from December to August, around the cuisine of a particular part of the world. In some instances, the lead cooks have been folks whose ethnic roots have specially informed the menu and cooking techniques. These formal meals- tablecloths, printed menu, cloth napkins, seating by reservation (normally sold out)- are served by kitchen staff in a warm atmosphere where neighbors meet, new friendships are made, and everyone shares delicious cuisine while acknowledging cultural differences. These meals provide our church with significant revenue towards our annual budget. 8
Other outreach involves offering the fellowship hall to various civic organizations which have included: Monroe Lions Club, Waldo County Extension, Girl and Boy Scout groups, and Alanon. Also, local families can reserve the hall to celebrate milestones like birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and so forth. Our larger UCC outreach/financial stewardship includes support of these missions: Heifer International, One Great Hour of Sharing, Neighbors In Need, the Christmas Fund for pastors, and the Blanket Fund. Local mission activities, such as helping a burned-out family, are led by the deacons. Social outreach within the church membership takes the form of Friendship Potluck Suppers held on the third Thursday of the month. Intended to encourage conversation and fellowship, the suppers are open to any who would like to attend. 9
What is the focus of the Monroe Community Church? The focus of the Monroe Community Church is two-fold, both within our building and outside its doors. Worship in our church building currently takes place at 8:30 on Sunday mornings. At that time we look for cohesive, Bible-based sermons which suggest to us how Scripture can be applied to our daily lives. We are fortunate to have among the laity dedicated deacons and more than one gifted preacher who have delivered sermons in the pastor s absence. Some in the congregation like to assist with the service in other ways; some examples are music, or reading, or lighting of candles. Since at this time we are unable financially to support a full-time minister, laity involvement might be an effective way to use the paid hours of a part-time pastor. Beyond our church doors, our focus is to serve the immediate community of Monroe as well as community in the larger, Christian sense of the word. Because we are an aging congregation, much of our immediate, local focus is to try to support church members and community neighbors in their health struggles, and those facing end-of-life issues. At the same time, Monroe is a community with young families whom we presently are not reaching. A challenging goal for us would be to develop new strategies to attract young people and newcomers to town to our congregation. We especially need help finding ways especially to bring children to worship. 10
What traits do we look for in a pastor? Ideally, a pastor for our congregation would be UCC-trained, positive in outlook, outgoing among people, energetic about pastoral duties, a good listener, and a clear communicator. We would like our pastor to visit church and community members in hospitals and nursing homes, and to attend church-led functions. We believe a pastor s presence in the community to be important not only out of service to church members but also in order to grow the congregation. While we expect the pastor s leadership to be felt during worship, we hope for a lasting impact from Bible-based pastoral words throughout the rest of the week. Our church building s new addition offers dedicated, individual office space for the pastor to support counseling, study, writing of sermons, and other pastoral duties. We hope for a pastor who will care for him or herself to avoid burnout, to be able to approach pastoral responsibilities with a fresh, enthusiastic focus. To support that state of mind, we offer vacation time and days off, and we are open to participation by congregants in worship, visiting the ill, and other yet undefined forms of service. What we need is direction and authority as we try to define pastoral and church member roles. Because our town is small and the members of our congregation are diverse in many ways, we would prefer a pastor who respects differences and can help us find ways to harness what we have in common, namely a commitment to honor God. We view this time of transition in our church as a time to question and define who we are and what we want for our church and in our church leadership. We are eager to begin this journey with the blessing of God and the wisdom of a new pastor. 11