By Lindsay Peyton

FUMC Orange, now celebrating its 150th anniversary, has long served as a community hub.  After the pandemic, when everyone missed interacting and socializing, Pastor Lani Rousseau wanted to remind all that the church was still there – and still dedicated to providing a space to gather and support one another.

“If there’s a need, it might as well be met here,” she said.

The church was on a mission to return to its place in the center of the community. “We were trying to find ways to get people back connected,” Rousseau said.

When in-person worship returned, the numbers were not what they had been. “COVID rocked our world,” Rousseau said.

Before there were two services – contemporary with about 80 regular members and traditional with about 50 members. After the pandemic, it took time to draw a total of 80 back. Instead of holding two services, each in their own location, the groups merged together in the sanctuary

Some members had moved; others preferred online worship. A few people simply did not return.

Rousseau began to explore ideas that would appeal to members and neighbors alike. “What kind of things can we do?” she wondered. “We threw several ideas out there.”

The answer came in the form of three ministries – A Stitch and a Prayer, Glory Games and Moms Offering Moms Support (MOMS).

Each has become a success thanks to dedicated lay leaders with a vision. Rousseau explained her job is simply to empower them. “They made it happen,” she said. “I’m just here to offer support.”

The church only has to provide the space. “It was not a huge investment,” Rousseau said. “We knew people needed to gather – and that’s really what we offer as a church. People were desperate for face-to-face human interaction.”

Having the three ministries on campus brings new life, the pastor added. In addition, it provides her an opportunity to meet and connect with participants. 

The members also build relationships with each other – and get to see the church in action.

“We’re making a commitment. We’re showing up,” Rousseau said. “Now all of these ministries are in their third season. It’s gotten people involved – and it’s keeping us all connected.”

A Stitch and a Prayer

A Stitch and a Prayer meets at 4 p.m. on Sundays. The group started as a Wednesday night class about a decade ago but fell dormant for years. “It has now been resurrected,” Rousseau said.

The group creates prayer shawls and lap blankets – blessed by the pastor and prayed over by the women as they’re crocheted. The items are then delivered to the hospital, given to those in grief or provided to individuals facing medical challenges.

A Stitch and a Prayer also provide caps and scarves for families selected for the annual Angels & Elves Shopping Trip. Rousseau explained that names of students needing some extra love and help for Christmas are collected for the annual event.

One child from each family, the “angel,” is matched with a church youth and chaperones, “the elves.” Together, they go shopping for the angel’s siblings and parents. During the trip, the Elves secretly pick out gifts for the angel too. Then, the whole family enjoys wrapped presents for Christmas.

A Stitch and a Prayer members crochet crosses for the MOMS group, make face scrubs for church staff, soap bags for the local assistance ministry Orange Christian Services, items for the Seafarers ministry. They also teach others how to crochet.

“Our goal is to make an entry port for people to come in,” Rousseau said. “With A Stitch and a Prayer, you don’t even have to know how to crochet. You just have to be willing to learn.”

Glory Games

Glory Games meets from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays throughout the year. Rousseau said the group mainly caters to senior members of the church, but younger game lovers are welcome to pull up a chair.

Rousseau said that the group was inspired by older members wanting to socialize after COVID.

“They missed the church. They missed being around people,” Rousseau said. “This fills a need. They have coffee and play games. They really enjoy it and keep on coming back.”

The members enjoy Chickenfoot, Rummikub and Mexican Train dominoes. Pastor Rousseau will even join them sometimes for a few rounds.

“You never know who’s going to win,” Rousseau said. “It’s so much fun.”

Moms Offering Moms Support

MOMS, which meets usually on the first Friday of the month, resumed on Aug. 25 after a summer break.

The monthly program is an opportunity for fellowship, Rousseau said, and is also educational, with guest speakers addressing topics of interest, like child behavior and nutrition. The church provides childcare during the meetings.

Rousseau explained that MOMS started as part of the national program Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). Before COVID, organizers had considered ways the group could expand.

Membership should not be limited by the children’s age, they decided. “When your youngest child aged out, it was over,” Rousseau said.

But brainstorming was placed on the backburner during the lockdown. “Then, in 2021, we were like, ‘We’ve already talked about it. Let’s do this,’” Rousseau recalled.

The organizers decided to create their own outreach program and named it MOMS, opening the group to all moms and grandmothers raising children.

“It was a slow start at first,” Rousseau said. “But each time, it’s picked up. Now, it’s become a regular resource for young moms.”

The attendees belong to various congregations in Orange and some do not have a church home. They find solace at FUMC Orange – and have even participated in the church’s VBS and Jesus’ Love Never Melts, a December event for children.

“It’s been great,” Rousseau said.