HAVERHILL, Mass. Even after retiring from ministry, the Rev. Jim Gustafson is looking for ways to make the word of God accessible to people. Gustafson, 78, recently published, “psalms/tweets: Psalms in Contemporary Style,” a 175- page spiral-bound book in which he rewrote all 150 psalms as tweets using slang and modern expressions. Gustafson condensed the […]

BRUNSWICK — More than one and a half million families have positively changed their financial future through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. Updated in Summer 2012, the now nineweek course provides families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success. The course meets once […]

PORTLAND — A special collection to aid Hurricane Sandy victims will be held at all Masses in the Roman Catholic Diocese on Saturday and Sunday. The proceeds will support the efforts of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities USA as they respond to the immediate emergency needs of the residents in affected […]

NORTH WOOLWICH A forward-looking approach has the North Woolwich Methodist Church looking forward — to expansion. The church — located about halfway between U.S. Route 1 and the Dresden town line on Route 128, is not really “denominationally defined” — as Pastor David Ouellette put it, even though it’s technically a Methodist church. It takes […]

HARPSWELL Some people just don’t like the idea of going to church, or, for that matter, organized religion. Given that, and given that Faith United Methodist Church on Orr’s Island needs to save money, the church has embarked on an 11-week “spiritual odyssey.” From Epiphany until Holy Week, worshippers will forego use of the church […]

PORTLAND — A session of shape note singing will help ring in the new year on Jan. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. at The New Church, 302 Stevens Ave. Also known as Sacred Harp, shape note singing is an early American tradition that has been revived throughout the United States and beyond. Song books […]

HARPSWELL — The Rev. Elizabeth Peterson will be the guest speaker Sunday at Islands Community Church on Bailey Island. Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. The church is non-denominational, based on the teachings of the Bible, and led by a board that invites ordained ministers, lay people and chaplains to celebrate the service. Outreach and community […]

BRUNSWICK — Music and song filled the air as Compass Point Christian Academy, a ministry of Gospel Light Fellowship, lent a helping hand to the Salvation Army on Wednesday. They rang the bell at Big Lots in Brunswick while many joined in with the caroling and giving. CPA students celebrated the Christmas season by making […]

Mid-coast area churches are planning special services leading into Christmas. Among them are the following: Day’s Ferry Congregational Church, Woolwich WOOLWICH — Day’s Ferry Congregational Church will hold its annual Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols on Monday at 5 p.m. Led by the Rev. Alan Baughcum, the service will feature new music director […]