"I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way.”

1 Corinthians 4-5
 
Dear Friends,

I write to you in thanksgiving as I reflect upon the two years that we have had serving Christ together. It seems like just a moment ago that we began. We have faced many a challenge and we have had many a joy. Many things have changed over the past few years but one thing remains constant; the love of Christ. God has blessed us in many ways. Matthew and I will always remember our tenure in Monmouth and the many friends we have made and will look forward to hearing about the impact you have upon this community and all the world as you continue to reach out in Christ's name. We know that you are in good hands under Reverend Parker's care and will greet him and Mary with grace and love. Always remember to look forward, not back, and to listen for new and unique ways to hear God's call. I am sure that your newest members, Jordyn, Kylie and Kristin, and all the young people who have flocked to Youth Group will show you a contemporary way to see God. I will be praying for you. Many blessings,

Rev. Jackie

Farewell 

It has come time to bid our pastor, Rev. Jackie Brannen farewell.  It’s hard to believe that Jackie has been with us for two years – the time has gone by quickly.

 In her short time with us, Pastor Jackie has left quite a mark on our church and community.  Several new members have been added to our churches, the Youth Group has grown (with the help of Norm and Noni and many others), Bible studies have been held, fund raisers held (yard sales, suppers, Schooner Fare, etc.), church services held (even when the United Church experienced frozen pipes!) and she even convinced (no small task) Bill Mann to put out a newsletter covering both churches.

 Jackie has been an active part of our community, especially as a driving force behind Neighbor Helping Neighbors.  Community Suppers were held during the winter months, home winterization help was provided and funds raised for fuel assistance help for Monmouth residents in need.

 We thank Jackie for all she has done for us, our churches and our community.  We will miss her but certainly wish her well in her new assignment in the Rockland-Thomaston area. – Ed.

Meet Our New Pastor

 Dear friends,

    Bill Mann has suggested that you might like to know something about your future pastor.

 I was born in Nottingham England (The home of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest and also of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army) and have been a Methodist since I started Sunday School at age three. I graduated from the Richmond Methodist Theological College (Part of the University of London) in 1960 and served churches in the Shetland Islands and Yorkshire before coming to America and the New Harbor and Round Pond Churches in 1966. Since that time I have served churches in various parts of the state and enjoyed them all. In addition to serving the local church I have also served on the Maine Conf. Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of Methodist Conference Home in Rockland.  I retired in 2000 but somehow managed to keep busy filling in wherever the need arose.

Mary and I are looking forward to being in Monmouth and East Monmouth and hope to greet you all at our first service on July 5^th.

 We have a cottage at the Empire Grove Camp meeting Association in East Poland where we enjoy our summers and take part in the various Camp meeting activities.

 Mary and I have a blended family with 6 children and seven grandchildren between us. Mary was born in Long Branch, New Jersey and moved to Litchfield (Purgatory) at age nine.

 May God bless you all,

             Desmond and Mary Parker

Dear Friends, 

As Mary and I prepare ourselves to come among you my prayer for you is:

O Let the Son of God enfold you’                                                    With His Spirit and His love.                                                             Let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.                                         (UMH 347:1a)

And my prayer for myself is:

To serve the present age,                                                                     My calling to fulfill;                                                                              O may it all my powers engage                                                           To do my Master’s will.                                                                  UMH 413:2)

 If these are the prayers of our hearts then we can be assured that together we will grow in grace and fulfill the ministry to which we are called, and we are called together to share Christ’s love in a hurting world.

What form that ministry will take is yet to be determined, but I am sure that the Churches of Monmouth and East Monmouth have the gifts and graces that are needed in order to be faithful to Christ’s command to make disciples  (St. Matthew 28:19).

 I know that this time of change may be difficult for you as you say goodbye to pastor Jackie and prepare to welcome Mary and myself, but I am sure that God’s Spirit will lead and strengthen you for all that is to come.

We look forward to meeting and worshipping with you all on July 5^th.

May God bless you,

Desmond and Mary Parker

Longing for Shortcake?

There will be a Strawberry Shortcake Supper on Friday, June 26, from 5 to 6:30 PM at the East Monmouth Methodist Church.  A variety of homemade main dish salads and 5 kinds of baked beans will also be featured.  Deviled eggs, rolls, punch and coffee will round out the menu.  Adults are $7.00 and 12 and under are $3.00.  Please be there – don’t come up short on strawberry shortcake!

Schooner Fare More Than Fair

Our second annual Schooner Fare Concert to raise money for the churches was successful again this year. After expenses, we raised over $1,900! Cumston Hall was nearly sold out, Chuck and Steve did a great performance, and everyone had a wonderful time. We are looking forward to doing it again next year. Thank you to all who helped with this project.

A Neat Analogy…

THE BUZZARD:
 If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air that cannot take off from a level place.  If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
 

 

THE BUMBLEBEE:
 A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.  It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

 PEOPLE:
 In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!  That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem!  Just look up.

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, but faith looks up!
 
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our Creator who loves us.

Smile, it gives your face something to do!

Subject: Acts 2:38

yelled: 'Stop! Acts 2:38!' (Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ , so that your sins may be forgiven.)

The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.

As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: 'Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.'

'Scripture?' replied the burglar. 'She said she had an Ax and Two 38s!'

The Wisdom of Children

behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.' 'Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his Mother asked. 'Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!'
 
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD  A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.'

UNANSWERED PRAYER The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why. 'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. 'I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.' 'So, how come He doesn't?' she asked.

TIME TO PRAY  A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. 'Yes, sir.' the boy replied. 'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor asked. 'No sir,' the boy replied. 'I ain't scared in the morning.



 

History

From Zions Herald –the Independent Methodist Weekly, August 22, 1945:

 The name of Harry Hayman Cochrane is known in all parts of New England and New York, and in many other sections of the country.  Many have been the honors accorded him, all of which have been significant and highly prized by the recipient.  But above them all he counts it the highest honor to be called a Methodist.

At the age of eighteen he began portrait painting, and nine years later decorated his first church.  Since that time the decoration of more than one hundred and fifty church buildings have come under the genius of this great artist, much to the delight and praise of church officials everywhere.

 Asbury as the circuit rider [at the front of the United Church].  To many critics the height of Mr. Cochrane’s genius has been expressed in a series of murals which are in the Kora Temple Shrine building at Lewiston. Me.

In 1914 Bates College awarded the honorary degree of Master of Arts to Mr. Cochrane.  He was commissioned to design the State of Maine Centennial coin in 1920.  The Supreme Council of Freemasonry honored him with the highest degree of that fraternity.  He is the author of a widely heralded book entitled “Following the Fez.”

A life long Methodist, Harry Cochrane has had a prominent place in the annals of Maine Methodism.  He was elected to the General Conference of 1912, and was a member of a male quartet which sang before that conference.

If you should talk with him today he would tell you of the work waiting for his hand, and the demands upon his time and talent.  But he would tell you also of the happy years in his home town of Monmouth, whose history and backgrounds he knows better than any other living person.  He would tell you that he was the director of music in the home church for many years, and the teacher of a Men’s Bible Class which had an enrolment of more than a hundred members.  He would tell you that these are, for him, among the best of many enterprises his genius has produced.

We salute Harry Cochrane, Methodist!

____________________________________

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