What Is Mission At The Eastward (M.A.T.E.)?

“Mission at the Eastward
Cooperates,
As a parish of congregations and ministries
Located in West Central Maine
Bound together in Christ
To witness and work By reaching out
Both locally and globally
To individuals, congregations, and communities
By creating a place where God’s gifts and graces
Are multiplied and exemplified.”

Mission at the Eastward was organized in 1954 by the National Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church. The founding purpose of the Mission was to provide a Christian witness to rural communities in West Central Maine. The Christian witness took two forms: organizing congregations in underserved communities, and providing social outreach. The name Mission at the Eastward remembers the eighteenth century Presbytery at the Eastward located in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Mission at the Eastward is a cooperative parish. The key word is ‘cooperative.’ The Mission was organized to support the ministry of newly organized Presbyterian congregations serving small, rural communities. Both congregations and pastors depended upon one another. At our core was a deep sense of commitment.

Another key word in our life is ‘mission.’ Mission means service. For fifty years, Mission at the Eastward through its member churches and ministries, has provided much needed services to our communities. Mission at the Eastward is a family of congregations and ministries working together in a common effort. We are not in competition with one another. Our goal is to strengthen one another, to build up our family.

For fifty years Mission at the Eastward has seen itself as a mission of the Presbyterian Church, USA. We are strong proponents of the connectional nature of the Presbyterian Church. We have been financially and prayerfully supported by the Presbyterian Church and we have contributed to building up the life of the church through our witness.

-Taken from the M.A.T.E. Mission Statement.