Beginning in the summer of 1982—and each summer thereafter—a group of Wilton Presbyterians and friends have spent a week in and around Farmington, Maine helping to improve the living conditions of people there by rehabilitating their homes. This is done through the ministry of Mission At The Eastward (M.A.T.E.). WPC will be returning in June 2010 for our 29th trip. Dates will be posted in the spring of 2010.
Youth participants between the ages of 13 and 15 MUST be accompanied by THIER PARENT. Youth between age 16-18 need an adult SPONSOR.
See the photo gallery to learn more about what we have done on past trips!
Since 2006 WPC has sent teams of workers to Gulfport, Mississippi, to help with the reconstruction of this still-devastated area.
The rewards of this work have been astounding; we have been fortunate to establish warm and ongoing relationships with the homeowners we have helped, and it has been incredibly gratifying to develop and use skills we didn't know we had! In many cases we have been able to actually witness the completion of a number of construction projects, enabling displace families to return to their homes.
Many members of our Youth Group have participated with us; what a joy to witness their enthusiasm and energy, and what a wonderful message this sends to the courageous residents of this area, who continue to voice their conviction and gratitude for the sustenance provided by volunteer groups such as ours.
In the course of this work we have also established a relationship with the Bethel Free Clinic in Biloxi, providing free medical and social services to area residents. This relationship will continue, as we attempt to support them in the much-needed expansion of their facility.
Always check the Newsletter and Sunday Bulletin for the most recent news about this trip.
In February, 2010, twenty-two high school students and five adults from the Joint Youth Ministries program spent six days serving the hungry, homeless and others in need in Washington DC. The group stayed at the Pilgrimage, a service-learning center at the Church of the Pilgrims in Dupont Circle, and worked at:
Because of a generous gift from an anonymous donor, each member of the DC Team participated in our “Biggest Giver” challenge. Everyone received $50 with the simple instruction to give it to someone in need while we were on the trip. Participants were very creative and thoughtful with the ways in which they passed this gift along: purchasing hot meals for folks on the street, making donations to the agencies where we volunteered, buying much-needed items like warm socks, chapstick, hand-warmers, and Kleenex for the homeless living in Dupont Circle.
In our ongoing effort to learn more about poverty, homelessness and hunger, the entire group met with representatives of the National Coalition for the Homeless to learn more about what life on the street is like, and how advocacy and self-help efforts can improve the live of the homeless. At the end of the week, everyone participated in a writer’s workshop with the Poet In Residence at the Church of the Pilgrims, David Harris.
The Sunday after our return, participants divided into 3 teams and led worship at each of our three churches, sharing their experiences through sermon, prayer and song. Each member of the group had decided to set aside $5 of their “Biggest Giver” money to bring back to Wilton and distribute to volunteers during worship with the challenge to give it away to someone in need as a way to “Pay It Forward.”
The February 2011 trip will mark the 20th anniversary of our DC mission experience—and our high school students are already looking forward to that adventure!
Here are the student sermons from the February 21, 2010 service.
See the photo gallery for pictures from the 2010 trip.