LEWISTON — What started as Bible study discussions earlier this year turned into a full-blown Christian concert Saturday night in Kennedy Park.
Cody Degraft of the Cody Degraft Project plays the keyboard with a group of young musicians from East Auburn Baptist Church in Kennedy Park in Lewiston on Saturday during an event called The Bridge. Playing guitar in back is Justin Hausman. Gabe Klingman, on drums, is not shown.
"Sometimes, people have a hard time coming to church," said Shannon Gamache, 32, of Auburn. "Then, you have to bring the church to them."
Gamache's Pathways Vineyard Church, working with the East Auburn Baptist Church and the First Assembly of God Church on Hogan Road in Lewiston, hosted The Bridge, a family-friendly concert.
It featured regionally known Christian performers Joel and Janna with special guest Cody Degraft. Organizers brought along an inflatable bounce house for kids and hosted face-painting and contests, such as sack races.
The concert got its start in Gemma Osborne's Christian bookstore, Divine Oasis on Minot Avenue in Auburn. A group of women, attending a Bible study, began talking about hosting some sort of a special event.
"We talked about doing something bigger," said Kimmie Teehan, 40, of Turner. "We talked about hosting some coffeehouses, with music, and then someone suggested Kennedy Park, and it just grew from there."
Calling the event The Bridge has meanings on many levels, they said.
"It means bridging the distance between Lewiston and Auburn, but also bringing our message downtown," Gamache said.
Osborne hoped The Bridge would become an annual event.
"And it will, God willing," she said. "After all, God did all of this; I didn't. This is all God's doing."
A young Somali boy, his hair painted green and red from one of the event's booths, interrupted Osborne: "God told you to do all this? How? In your head?"
"Yeah, he talks to me all the time," Osborne said. "He talks to everyone. He probably talks to you, too."
The boy thought that over for a minute before he responded: "Well, my god is a Somali god."
Osborne smiled and patted the boy on the back.
"This is why we do it," she said.
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Why do I have to be subjected
Why do I have to be subjected to some moron spouting his belief in Global Warming in the park. That's your religion oj. Because people have freedom of speech not freedom from annoyance.
If we had freedom from annoyance, ojhuig would not exist.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Attention "Yuck"
I suggest next year they have Christain Rock and a pig roast!
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unfortunately, the airheads like "Yuck" can not get past the first paragraph because the words were too big for them.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.ojhuig? rights to parks?
OK, do you want us to ban all Christians from parks? Or should we just ban their 1st amendment right to freedom of speech while they are there?
What if we limit Christian access to the park to one Christian at a time, as long as they don't say anything?
What about Sunday School picnics in the park? Can the Christian kids still have their hot dogs as long as they don't pray and give thanks to God before they eat them?
Me and my family pray before eating even in public restaurants, would you have that banned also?
What about atheists? After all, having no religious beliefs is really a belief within itself.
I bet if you were in the park at night and were getting mugged by knife point, that you just might cry out to God also.
What about church vans? Should we stop them from running on government run roads because tax dollars paid for those roads? That's a whole other topic isn't it?
I don't understand why you have a problem with the 1st amendment right to exercise one's faith. And you are wrong, you DO have the right to walk away and not be a part of it.
PS, I'd much rather these Christians in Kennedy Park than the usual gang of kids that steal, deal drugs and intimidate honest people trying to enjoy the park.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.ojhuig, I just talked to a
ojhuig, I just talked to a couple on non Christian friends who were there. They said everyone was having a great time. So, what is your problem, other than you were offended? Do you hate it when people are having a good time?
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Wow Tron, I agree with you
Wow Tron, I agree with you again. What is the world coming to?
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.You miss my point
The city council should not be voting for it. And no, I do not have the right to walk away if they are doing it in a public park! The park belongs to all the citizens and I am darn sick and tired of Evangelicals who tell me I am the one who has to leave if I don't want to join them.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.YOU miss the point,
the city council doesn't 'approve' the use, they approve that the sponsors have complied with all the permits and are knowledgable of the regulations necessary to preserve the peace. You are correct, in that the park belongs to everyone, and anyone has a right to use the park if they go through the proper channels. If you want to go and spout your views as an individual, you have a right. If you want to convene a group then you need to go through proper channels to get a mass gathering permit.
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the man is on a roll!
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Your freedom of religion
...does NOT give you the right to proselytize. It does not give the City Council the right to hand a public park over to you. It might surprise you to know that my butt is in the pew at a Christian church every Sunday so you can stop your little digs and personal attacks that you make when you know you are wrong. if the City Council wants to pander for votes or memere approval or whatever they do, then a lawsuit will change their minds fast. At this point I would welcome a Muslim service in Kennedy Park because at least it would be equal time. YOU who'd rather preach than practice, would be the first to protest, I am sure.
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i'm confused. if you don't like being preached at, then why do you go to church? people have a right to practice their relegion just as much as you have a right to not like it.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."I have a right not to be
"I have a right not to be preached at?"
You have the right to walk away! What you are implying is that they have no right to be there if it offends you. Would you be putting up a stink if the Muslims were praying in the park? Somehow, I doubt it.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Everyone confuses separation of church and state to mean
freedom from religion, when it actually means freedom of religion. They have a perfect right to be in the park. Then went through the proper channels, got the right permits. All the City Council does is insures the sponsors know the rules of an orderly assembly. If you don't like it, don't go.
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i actually agree with tron for once.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Tron, what come over you?
I had to hit the "agree" icon for you, I think for the first time.
Miracles do happen!!!
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Same here! A first for
Same here! A first for everything, I guess.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.ojhuig, you are incorrect
ojhuig, you are incorrect citing the separation of church and state. Read up on the intent, then tell me how I am wrong. If I tell you, you will just blow me off. If you study it yourself, you may learn and retain some of it.
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No, Joe McCarthy, I have no problem with the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson referred many times to the "wall of separation" in regards to the first amendment. I have a right not to be preached at.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.ojhuig
A right not to be preached at?
If you don't like preaching, then you need to retract your first post because you were certainly preaching.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.ojhuig, then you have to admit
that Jefferson's opinions in and of themselves are not laws, much less constitutional law.
His term "seperation of church and state" has been misused for many many years.
And since it is not constituional, it is not binding.
If you know so much about this, then why did you use a quote by Jefferson to argue that the concert was illegal?
Jefferson's opinion is meaningless when it comes to the constitution, and so is your statement.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights reads:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
As you can see, the word "separation" is not even mentioned. What it does say about religion is this: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" Which simply means that Congress will not pass any laws forcing any religion on anybody. (England at one time required everyone to attend The Church of England, all other religions were outlawed). Nor will Congress pass any laws that affect how a person practices their religion. The second part simply says that Congress will not pass any laws restricting the exercise of religion.
In other words, the First Amendment basically says that Congress will not force religion on you, nor will it stop you from exercising your religion. It doesn't mention "separation of church and state" That term came from letters written between some pastors and Thomas Jefferson where Jefferson was telling the pastors that a "hedge" or "wall of separation" protected the churches from interference from the government. The First Amendment in no way limits churches from practicing their religion or from voicing political opinion, it simply protects them from government interference.
It seems to me that these people in Kennedy Park were exercising their First Amendment right to exercise their religion.
Do you have a problem with the Constitution?
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.ojhuig, my guess, is that you
ojhuig, my guess, is that you really do not understand the intent of separation of church and state. If you did understand, I doubt you would have made such a foolish statement.
Live and let live Nancy. Everything cannot be your way, or no way.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.That's interesting
Considering that "My way or no way" seems to be the Evangelist's credo. You know I am correct on the church/state issue, or you would have given an explanation instead of just trying to make a personal insult.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.yuck
IMO there is too darn much proselytizing allowed in this park. Tent revivals. Veggie Tales Bible Stories. Why is this allowed? I find it offensive that someone is always trying to convert us into tithing members of their church. Every one of these events is on the City Council Agenda for approval. Separation of Church and State please!
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