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Day Two in Portland

We awoke to a beautiful day in northern New England.  Our group is divided into two, based on preparation for two days of Kids Club.  YEsterday one group worked in the soup kitchen all day, while the other group painted a public housing unit.  Today we had new assignments.  One group prepared for our first day of kids club while the other group took their turn at painting and yard work for the Portland Housing Authority.
Once again we were proud of our youth.  The preparation our group engaged in really showed.  In our meetings we had rehearsed the skit each group had for kids club.  We also practiced a classic campfire song, "Boom Chicka Boom," and our youth pulled it off verse after verse, to the delight of the children.  Elisabeth is a pro at the kids club stuff and had all the crafts ready to go.  So Kids club was a success with a large group of children (mostly from African refugee families).
The group that worked hard outdoors came back tired, but once they had a few moments to sit we all got back to work.  Our next assignment late in the afternoon was to decorate the hall for a dance party for the neighborhood kids.  They really make the most of this facility in service to the community (and they make the most of having our youth here ready to help)!
Pastor Dale

Today was a really crazy day so far. My group was assigned to work with the Kids' Club here. Kids from the area came to the Root Cellar. We served them a free lunch, played games with them, performed a skit for them to teach them about patience (the theme of the week), taught and sang them songs, and helped them decorate wooden chests to take home. Altogether we were with them for around three hours! They were all very sweet, even if they were super crazy, and hanging out with them was so much fun. Today is one that I definitely won't forget, not just because of the unique experience, but because of the unique kids that we got to know and the unique friendships that we formed with them. Luckily we will probably be seeing them more throughout the week. Right now it's about 4:30 we're all pretty exhausted, but we can't rest yet. Tonight the Root Cellar is having a dance party for the kids so we have to prepare for that now, eat dinner, then go to the dance. It's going to be a long day, but a rewarding one.
Gianina

Day One: Painting and Cooking

Editor's Note:  We are having trouble posting pictures this year.  We will get it figured out.  We have hundreds to post!  But in the meantime, enjoy reading about this amazing experience!

This morning I woke up at 6:30. I walked over to the bathroom to brush my teeth. On the way back to my room, I passed a kitchen where Honey Nut Cheerios were opened and on the table. Of course, I checked the fridge for milk, and when I found it, I helped myself to three bowls. Later on, I was told that the food in this kitchen was only for a different mission group and that it was all the food that they had. I still had a bagel when I went to breakfast with our group, but it wasn't as good as the cereal.
Graham
(Editor's note: Graham will be going to Walmart to resupply the Cheerios)

After a long day of traveling, stopping, hurry up and wait, and orientation, we finally arrived at the church we would be staying at for the week. The rooms were surprisingly very bright and spacious with lots of floor space for air mattresses and sleeping bags. Beforehand, we had sat through an evening service hosted in one of the main rooms of "The Root Cellar"(the heart of Portland) which was lead by a spunky bald dude who knew how to keep our attention. Two singers, a male and female, serenaded us three times both before and after the service. It was actually fairly entertaining and allowed for us to look at this week through lenses of compassion, appreciation, and empathy. We truly are lucky for all we've been blessed with and there's nothing more eye opening and humbling than witnessing and living through those who are not as fortunate. We are constantly reminded that sometimes our so called "problems" aren't as significant as we may deem them to be when they're put into perspective. Each day is a blessing. Our lives are absolute blessings. Words can't describe how anxious and excited I am to build these, what I believe are, essential relationships with the people of this community. The stories of the children and adults touch our hearts and minds and feed our souls. It allows for us to see things in a different light, which isn't something we always get much of in Westchester. I could not be more grateful to be apart of this trip (for a third year in a row) and the first day has yet to begin!..It's 8:40am as I type. Wish us luck and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we take on this awesome journey! (I love and miss you mom, dad, and Phoebe!!)
Bailey

Our first day volunteering was a success! We started with an early wakeup of 6:00 am, splitting off into two groups. While the first group painted a housing complex, our group went to the local food shelter to prepare and serve both breakfast and lunch for the homeless. We donned our aprons, and delivered a wonderful breakfast and lunch for three hundred hungry patrons. It was exhausting work and lasted for hours. After serving breakfast, we had a quick rest while eating our sandwiches we prepared beforehand. For lunch that day, a local pizza restaurant donated about one hundred whole pizzas! Seamus and I spent the whole time slicing, seasoning, and heating a total of 400 individual slices. It was an experience, and I had never seen so much pizza in one place. After both breakfast and lunch was served, we finished off by enjoying some iced coffee at a local coffee shop, talking about the day with each other. Finally, we all regrouped and met at a park, spending time with a ton of local kids. We tossed frisbees and footballs, climbed on the monkey bars, and enjoyed the sun for a few hours. It was a blast. With the rest of the groups from around the country, we enjoyed a dinner of spaghetti, getting to know one another. The entire day was exhausting, and i'm certainly ready for what's ahead.
Isaac

Arriving in Portland on a Dreary Wet Day

Sorry we are posting our first blog so late, but it was a long day.  After driving in a steady drizzly rain, with some high winds at times; we arrived mid afternoon.  We are staying in a church in Scarborough, ME, just outside Portland.  Then we went into town to the Root Cellar--a community center where we will eat our meals and work with neighborhood children.

Tomorrow we are up early to begin our work with the people here.  Some will go on construction detail, while others will work at the homeless shelter/soup kitchen.  Should be quite a day.

Here are some thoughts from two of the boys:

After a long and enjoyable bus ride with our companions, we arrived in rainy, windy portland. we met up at the church and got settled around 4 o'clock. at 5 o'clock we all made our way to the Root Cellar and got to know some of the other groups on the trip by eating together and working together to clean up after ourselves. we then got back into the vans and drove around town aimlessly packed into the vehicle like sardines, singing songs and sharing a good laugh, haha. after having a brief meal at the infamous McDonalds, we made our way back to the church and had a half hour of quality time between all of the groups, we now have trouble finding the light switch to eventually end the night.
Austin

T-oday was really fun. We spent a lot of time as a group and preparing for the trip ahead of us. We all cannot wait to help out these people and change their lives.
Seamus

Supreme Wisdom

This was quite a week for the Supreme Court.  It made history once again on two fronts.  First it affirmed the program that has helped millions of Americans to get affordable health insurance.  Then on Friday it affirmed the right of all Americans to marry the person they love.  It has been quite a journey for us as a nation, our Presbyterian denomination, and PCMK.  But most of all it has been a journey for justice and equality for millions of people created in the image of God.

Just over a year ago I was able to officiate at the wedding of our son in our beautiful sanctuary.  Now, thanks to the courageous decisions of PCMK, the PC(USA), the State of New York, and now the US Supreme Court, I could officiate at the wedding of my daughter!  Is this a great country (and church) or what?

See you in our wonderful, inclusive church,

Pastor Dale

A Day in the Park

Sunday was our annual Worship in Gedney Park and Church Picnic. It was everything a church picnic should be:  the weather was perfect, the worship was uplifting, the food was wonderful and the games were fun for children of all ages.  I got in on the fun by being the target for the kids and their water balloons.  The point was to raise money for our Living Waters Project.  At $1 a balloon we raised $300!  Everyone seemed eager to pay up for the privilege.  Elisabeth got the biggest boys she could find and paid for them to take a shot or two.  I'm glad it was a warm day because I was soaking wet.

Many thanks to our deacons who once again put together a successful event.  They thought of everything from reserving the shelter to hiring Nick the ice-cream man.

Worship in the park is always meaningful for me as it was my first Sunday as Pastor here at PCMK in 2012.  This year's event marks the beginning of my 4th year.  I look forward to  making more memories in Gedney Park next year and beyond.  I just hope our fundraiser never involves bricks!

See you in church,
Pastor Dale