Located in South Portland, Maine, Friendship House is primarily a home for men who are in recovery from substance abuse, have little to no income and need a safe place to live.
The home extends the love and grace of God in practical ways. Built on Christian values and a 12-step philosophy, Friendship House provides a safe and nurturing environment. Friendship House is a short-term facility; with the average stay being somewhere between three to six months. Friendship House is funded through private donations, churches, and a few grants, and is not supported by Federal, State or Local Governments. Residents are not charged rent until they are working full-time. Yarmouth First Parish Church supports Friendship House through this special offering and with volunteers who provide meals.
Please consider their Mission Statement as you make a gift: To express the love of God through Christ to the poor and disadvantaged, by providing a safe home where hope and healing are extended to those who are broken spiritually, emotionally or physically.
Thank You!

World Service Committee
January 2012 Special Offering
Yarmouth Community Assistance Fund

The January 2012 Special Offering will be dedicated to the Yarmouth Community Assistance Fund, the fund First Parish draws upon to benefit the greater Yarmouth community. With Maine and the nation continuing to face financial hardships of an historic nature, an increasing number of local people are being forced to seek out emergency assistance to help pay for heating fuel, gasoline, utility bills, and food. First Parish Church is one of the places people in need turn to for help, and that is as it should be. Please contribute as you are able in order that First Parish might do everything it can to assist our neighbors in need.
In these troubled economic times, we might do well to remember Jesus’ words as recorded in Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

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Thanks to this Church’s generosity, we collected $266 in October the Spiritual Life Fund, and $591 for Neighbors in Need. Thank you!

Local Mission: Habitat for Humanity/Freeport
Febrary 3-4
Thanks to all 14 of those who have expressed interest in the Habitat build project. The confirmed dates for the trip are Feb 3-4 (a Friday and Saturday), with a potluck dinner at Sue Inches’ house after the work is done. There will have an organizing meeting January 8, right after worship. We will go over all the details of the trip at this meeting. Please plan to attend! Sue Inches (sueinches@gmail.com, 846-4405)

Good Friday Walk for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland
SAVE the DATE: Good Friday, April 6 for the Good Friday Walk for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. Last year’s final tally of money raised is $32,767.00. Our Cumberland/NorthYarmouth/Yarmouth community is amazing!!! Thank you for making a difference!