New Life Church – THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE

By JUSTIN SWEENEY, New Life Church, Lead Pastor

(Photos by Joe McKenney)

On Saturday, July 12, New Life Church hosted its 8th annual “For Biddeford” event, a citywide serve day where close to 150 volunteers spread out across Biddeford to complete 10 service projects to bless the community.

For Biddeford is built on a simple but compelling idea: our city should be better because of the Christians worshiping in it. We believe the church should be known for who we are for, not simply what we are against.

We are “for” our city and the families who call it home.

For Biddeford is just one of the many ways we hope to reflect the love of Jesus in practical, tangible ways right here in our city.

This year’s projects included trail maintenance at Clifford and Rotary parks, painting at the J. Richard Martin Community Center and Memorial Park, deep cleaning the Biddeford Food Pantry, free hot dogs to the public, and lunch for first responders (police and fire).

What made this year’s ForBiddeford especially exciting was a sneak peek into The Reach, the church’s upcoming community center set to launch at the end of this summer.

Located at 118 Alfred Street, The Reach will serve as a hub of connection and support for individuals and families in the surrounding neighborhoods.

To learn more about ForBiddeford, visit www.forbiddeford.com

Hundreds of people flocked to downtown Biddeford on Saturday for the 13th annual Winterfest celebration. The giant sledding hill on Adams Street was once again a popular attraction, but there were also a lot of other things happening, including tours of the newly renovated City Hall clock tower, dancing and music.

*The Adams Street sledding hill was again a big favorite during Biddeford’s Winterfest celebration (Seaver photo)*

Volunteers from the New Life Church had several tables set up, giving away free donuts, hot chocolate and hats and mittens.

*New Life Church volunteer Roland LaFlamme poses with a Winterfest mascot (his wife Maureen)* Seaver photo

Children also had the opportunity to see the inside of a fire truck, city plow and the police department’s mobile Crime Scene Unit.

Outdoor temperatures remained above freezing, making this year’s celebration even more enjoyable.

*Alannah, 11, gets her fingerprints made by Cpl. Matt Baldwin of the Biddeford Police Department inside the mobile crime scene unit (Seaver photo)*

Larry Patoine, one of the event’s lead volunteers, said it will take less than four hours for volunteers to remove the giant sledding hill this evening before another winter storm descends on the city

This year’s hill was constructed with snow from the Five Points Shopping Center. Patoine says the snow from the hill will be disposed of near Rotary Park.

*A long line of children anxiously await their chance to experience the giant sledding hill on Adams Street (Seaver photo)*

Former mayor Alan Casavant, who helped organize the very first Winterfest (La Fete d’ Hiver) in 2012, said he was pleased to see the festival growing in popularity with each passing year.

“This is what community is all about,” Casavant said. “It’s fun just watching so many people having fun.”