C ommunity outreach isn’t always what church members believe the community needs, the pastor at Bath United Methodist Church says. It can be more what the community itself thinks it needs.

The Rev. Neil Gastonguay says that his congregation has been keeping that in mind since the church began its move from its former location on Washington Avenue to its new building on Oak Grove Avenue five years ago. Gastonguay and church members fanned out into the community as the new church went under construction.

“We went out and asked the community what it needs,” Pastor Gastonguay said. “We sat down with the police chief. We sat down with the city manager. We sat down with the school department.”

From the get-go, the United Methodist Church congregation did know that the community was in need of day care, both for children and the elderly. The second-floor meeting spaces, which will accommodate that and more, are still under construction.

The church also is a welcome space for two local Girl Scouts troops, an independent women’s Bible study and others. School bus drivers even use the parking lot to train.

“As the space grows,” Gastonguay said, “the interest grows.”

The day care space is not yet ready, and will be finished as funds become available.

Eagle Scout Josh Valentine is helping in that regard.

“He’s getting a team together to put up dry wall,” the pastor said. “Tim Dumont, owner of Kennebec Builders, donated all the dry wall.”

Bath United Methodist even took its spiritual message off campus recently, with a service on Waterfront Park.

“That’s the philosophy that we’re working on, that we have to be church seven days a week — that God’s love is everywhere,” said Gastonguay, who is enjoying his 20th year as a minister.

When the congregation decided to make the move from Washington Street, about 60 people attended a typical Sunday service. The 19th century building had its worship space upstairs, and meeting spaces downstairs were small.

“The church felt it needed more space to be more available to the community,” the pastor said. “A church ready for the 21st century.”

There was little available parking. Now, Gastonguay sees about 75 people in front of him for his sermons.

“It has something to do with where we are,” he said. “If you put in a parking lot, you improve attendance.”

During the interim, Elim Community Church, which purchased the building, was generous with United Methodist and allowed its congregation to continue holding services there. Church members later attended services at the West Bath Meeting House.

Gastonguay pointed out that the Methodist church also is well-served by administrative assistant Rebecca Wegner, who is the part-time pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Brunswick.

Sunday services are at 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. On the second Saturday of the month, a contemporary service is held at 4 p.m.

lgrard@timesrecord.com