TresDias - Corinth United Methodist Church 275 Main Street Corinth, Maine 04427

THE NEXT WOMEN'S TRES DIAS WEEKEND IS OCTOBER 29TH THRU NOVEMBER 1ST. THIS THREE-DAY SPIRITUAL WEEKEND IS A GIFT FROM GOD FOR YOU TO UNWRAP BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU AND WORKS IN YOUR LIFE, THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD. PLEASE SPEAK TO JOHN AND CHARLENE FRENCH, OR OTHERS IN THE CHURCH THAT HAVE ATTENDED THE WEEKEND. THEY WILL GLADLY SPONSOR YOU.

What is Tres Dias?

Many people in the Corinth UMC have attended a three-day weekend called Tres Dias. Tres Dias means three days! It is a 72 hour weekend experience derived from the Catholic Cursillo weekend. It is a short course in Christianity. The weekend consists of one long talk that is broken up into 20 parts. Those parts are ten lay talks, five clergy talks, and five clergy meditations. The talks cover such subjects as Piety, Study, Action, Laity in the Church, Sacraments, Divine Help, Grace, Obstacles to Grace, etc. Those attending for the first time are called “candidates”, and those people being called to help put the weekend on are referred to as “team.” The team consists of many people with a variety of functions. The head of the team is called a Rector or Rectoress, whose responsibility is to keep the weekend running smoothly. There are spiritual directors (clergy) who are available 24 hours a day during the weekend. There are folks who lead the music (lots of singing), and those who help out with basic needs of everyone called the “kitchen angels.” There is small group discussion after each talk that is given. Each night there is a chapel service, and communion is offered each full day of the weekend. These weekends are held at Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop. Seven weekends are held each year, three for men and four for women. If you are interested in renewing your faith, vitalizing your church, meeting new and interesting friends, and basking in the Love of God for three days steady, please speak to someone in the church who has made a weekend.
The upcoming weekends for Men are January 17th-20th (Don Brewer on team) and April 17-20th (John French, Gary Kingsbury, Brian Thompson, and Jim Chick on team). The upcoming weekends for Women are February 7th-10th and May 15th-18th (Charlene French on team).

                A Brief History of Tres Dias of Maine

In 1977, I first heard about the Cursillo weekend from a dear friend whose own weekend was a
wonderful experience for her. Because of her excitement, of course I wanted to go also. Even though I was Methodist, and the weekend was Catholic, I still wanted to attend. In January, 1978, John lived a Cursillo weekend (the Catholic Church prefers men to go first), and in February, 1978, I attended my weekend. It was a wonderful learning experience about the Catholic Faith. On Sunday morning, as we set at our tables getting ready for the first talk of the day, I looked around and it was like a vision. The faces on the women there (43 of them) were glowing with their happiness and with the knowledge of God's great personal love for them. I said to myself....wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a similar experience for Protestants. This became my calling to this kind of ministry....who could I help, how could it be done?     I attended Catholic Leader School and pursued another denomination's leader whom I had heard rumored was interested (Episcopal) in starting a Protestant weekend. He said that they were not ready to do so. That next winter (1979) we visited my cousin in New York. At her church I met other couples who had lived a similar weekend called Tres Dias.   I had an opportunity to meet the area leader, John McKenney. I approached him and asked if I could start a similar weekend in Maine and could I call it Tres Dias. He gave me his blessings and offered to come to Maine to help. The next are a series of what I call God-Incidences or little miracles. The following Monday, my friend Gloria Collins and I went to the head of the Cursillo Movement in Maine to ask permission to start Tres Dias (we were advised by J.M. to do this). We were told that on the way back from a meeting in Massachusetts, they had heard about Tres Dias and because many Protestants were asking to live Cursillo, they had prayed that someone would start one. I asked how could I learn what I needed to know from them. He said that that Thursday, I could be a leader on the next Women's Cursillo.   He sent me to the Millinocket to obtain names of Protestants that had lived a weekend there. I went the next day, and that's where I heard about Georgie and Ed Smart and others. On the way home, I stopped to see a Methodist Pastor in Howland to ask if he would be a Spiritual Director. He was retiring in June and had prayed for something to do. When I walked through the door at home, my daughter told me to call the real estate agent, because our camp at Sebec Lake (which had been on the market for three years) had been sold. This was wonderful because it gave John and I the extra money to travel throughout the state promoting Tres Dias. In April, I spoke before 300 Cursillo folks in Millinocket, and received a spontaneous round of approval from them. Our first weekends were held that fall of 1979.   John and I feel incredibly blessed by our 28 years continuing as leaders of the Tres Dias Movement. We have served on many weekends as leaders at tables, in the kitchen, and as rector and/or rectress. I think I am up over 50 now. We have been blessed by the many changed lives of the 3000+ people that have attended weekends in Maine. Many of our men and women have entered the ministry since living their weekend...for example, Glenn Burleigh, Jr. and Bernie Hammond. Many people have gone back to their church and become leaders of Sunday School, worship, committee heads, and Sunday School teachers. About seven years ago, when we first started coming to church at Corinth UMC, I counted over 60 folks here in this church at that time who had been to Tres Dias. As for me, I marvel at the great love of God for his people, His mighty works, and the many blessings I have received.
                         Charlene French

How do you make God laugh?
A couple of years ago, I declared my interest in becoming a pastor with the United Methodist Church (UMC). Ever since then, I have learned one great truth about the UMC: they love paperwork. It seems that every time I meet with my mentor or with Pastor Cindy, there is another form that needs to be filled out. Most of the questions are routine – name, rank, serial number, etc. but once in awhile they will ask a question that makes me really think. One such recent question was this:
   “Describe your most meaningful religious experience(s). What made that experience so meaningful to you?”
   Here is my answer to that question: There have been two great experiences in my life that have forever changed the way that I view God. The first was Tres Dias. In the late spring of 2000, my life was out of control. It seemed that I could do nothing right – every decision I made turned out badly. I wondered where God was, and why He wasn’t with me.
   My sister asked me one question: “How do you make God laugh?” Her answer: “Tell Him your plans!” I realized that I had been doing all the planning, and hadn’t consulted with Him at all. She and my mom sponsored me at the next Tres Dias weekend and I went – sulking all the way there. I believed that God wanted me to go to Tres Dias to learn that He was in control of my life – not me. It turns out he had a whole other reason for me to attend.
   Over the course of my weekend, I truly learned that God loved me. I learned that Jesus didn’t die to redeem a generic “me”, but that Jesus died for specifically me – Glenn Burleigh, Jr. For the first time in my life, I can say that I had a personal relationship with Jesus. My faith had never been stronger, and I truly needed it because of what happened when I returned from living my weekend.
   One month after I returned from Tres Dias, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. This would turn out to be the second greatest faith-building experience that I have had. My newborn faith coupled with mom’s mature faith allowed us to face her illness and eventual death with hope and praise, alongside the tears and sorrow.
I hope that this next statement doesn’t scare anyone away who may be considering living a weekend, but I can honestly say without any exaggeration that my Tres Dias experience forever changed my life. I would encourage you to ask some questions. I have talked with many people who have lived weekends, and the best answer that I have ever heard to the question of “What is Tres Dias?” came from my mother: “It is a mountaintop experience with God.”

TRES DIAS is forever in my heart – Patti Rollins, Christian Education Director

In our lives we experience multiple defining moments of various levels of influence and impact. One of those defining moments in my life as a Christian was and is Tres Dias. Almost three years after I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior, I accepted His invitation to come and sit at His feet for 3 glorious days. These days were filled with His presence, teachings and shared with a community that can only be explained as a true slice of Heaven. If there is ever a way or words to attempt to explain what Heaven is like, Tres Dias is the closest thing on earth. I lived my weekend in August of ’93 and sat at the table of Mary, Mother of Jesus. I found myself in an atmosphere free from most distractions the world delivers continuously. I listened while others shared lessons on Basic Christianity wrapped and grounded in scripture and life application. I found myself curiously amazed at finding a depth of love & freedom I’d not allowed myself to feel in who knows how long if ever. A bit like Paul might have felt when the scales fell off his eyes and he was able to see again but with new sight. The Tres Dias community, guided by the Holy Spirit and Directed by God gave me a safe haven where I was able to focus on Jesus and what He wanted to share with me. I was taken into a deeper personal relationship that assured me His love was for me and forgiveness was mine. When I realized the depth of His love, a love that meant the sacrifice of His only son, dying on the cross for MY SIN and they were not just words, my heart met my head and said what do you do with a love like that? I will serve my King. It was then that I knew without a doubt that my next level of commitment was to come back to my local church and serve as a Sunday School teacher. I also knew that, although I could not live another Tres Dias weekend myself, I could serve on team and help others live their weekend and I was blessed to be invited many times to be a part of other’s 3 day journey.

It is in answer to God that I know I am called to serve and lead and have served in many ways from various committees at church such as Trustees, Staff Parish, Nominations and Administrative Council. I have served as Lay Leader, Stephen Minister, Choir, Praise Team, Lay Speaker, Sunday School teacher, Bible Study facilitator, VBS music director, Puppet Ministry, Christian Education Director, Dare to Be a Daniel instructor and a Compassion International Advocate. Who knows where my journey will take me next but I know with whom I walk today. Tres Dias is a vehicle in which God moves through the hearts and hands of those who love Him and want to help others understand what being a child of God looks like, feels like, tastes like and stirs within our souls the desire to lead and become a Kingdom builder. If you haven’t yet experienced this uniquely designed time with Jesus, what are you waiting for? Ask someone to sponsor you today. If you have lived your weekend and would like to serve on team, check with John or Charlene French or someone who has to find out how to get involved. THANK YOU GOD for giving John & Charlene French, Ed & Georgie Smart the passion to bring Tres Dias to Maine many years ago. We celebrate Ed’s dancing with the angels now just waiting for the rest of us to join Him once again in the Heavenly Hoe Down.

As a couple, this has given us a common cause and purpose. We support each other and the meaning that the weekends have for each of us. We both feel that Tres Dirts is important and we are both eager to serve. We would encourage anyone who is considering it to live the experience.
Jim and Hazel Chick

Tres Dias over the years has given birth to several other types of weekends. Vida Nueva is a weekend similar to Tres Dias for youth ages 15-21. Tres Dias
birthed and sponsors this weekend. Several youth from this church have attended this weekend (Sarah Thompson Gastonguay, Josh Thompson, Chad Crooker, and Devon Brooks and have been involved in its leadership.)
Also, Tres Dias folks along with Cursillo folks have started a Prison Ministry called Ka.iros at Maine State Prison. That group has expanded into Search for incarcerated youth, and for a weekend for women family members of incarcerated men.
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What Vida Nueva (VN) was to me ••
Vida Nueva is a spiritual life weekend. But to me, it was so much more than that, being surrounded by more than a few people that love Christ as much as I do was overwhelming and awesome. I tell you, if I could live my weekend again, I would in a heartbeat Throughout my years growing up there has been that has always been steady and that was Jesus Christ as my lord and Savior. Going to Vida Nueva just made it all that much great It was more rewarding than anything, and uplifting and overall just completely fantastic. If you are in high school and haven't gone to VN,I wish you would come talk to me. Thank you and God Bless.
Sarah Gastonguay

It was in the spring of 1999, I was a new member of the Corinth UMC was sitting beside Pastor Mike, he asked if I would be willing to go with him and others to a Tres Dias weekend. I accepted not really knowing what it was, but trusting Mike would not lead me to something bad. It was good. I was the primary parent at home with the children, and Betty the breadwinner, so this posed some interesting challenges, but many people were there to offer their help. I got some more basic info from my sponsor and I was set to go. The weekend was not a physically restful time but in spirit I was renewed and taken deeper into my relationship with Christ. I remember coming home after the weekend and pulling the kids in the wagon to drop Ben at Happy Faces and singing "We are one in the Spirit" (one of many songs of the weekend) I was allowed over my weekend to have time to learn who God is, what God wants, and how much God loves me. If you are considering saying yes to going on your weekend you are going to be blessed as well! Talk to people who have gone and pray for God's guidance and everything else will take care of itself.
Don Brewer.

What Tres DiasMeans to Me
I had been caring for mom for five years, and as her illness progressed, I had less time to spare or get away. Friends at church encouraged me many times to live a Tres Dias weekend, but the time iust didn't work until February '96. Karen Dow sponsored me and assured me she would check in on my mom (mom's sister was staying with her) every day while I was on the weekend. I was becoming burned out as a caretaker and was spiritually zoned out. I loved my Lord and church, but was so consumed with caring for an ill parent, while recuperations myself from several knee surgeries that t didn't feel very close to Jesus. Karen told me that the weekend would "do me good." Well, how could· the weekend do me the caregiver good? I was the one was always did "good." I was never one to dote on myself, so it was a stretch for me to have Karen pray for me all weekends and have the team care for me such as they did. The team does a tremendous job of caring for the candidates. All I had to do was give up the caregiver role ~ the in control Nancy, and listen to God speak and act through the team and other candidates there. It was hard in the beginning, but the unconditional love and Spirit of Jesus does wonders for a person's needs, even if that person doesn't realize there is a need to be me. For the first time in my life, I was able to let go and hear God and realize He loved me, and I was always in His care. His strength, peace, and guidance were what I had been needing for a long time. The weekend with no "worldly" distractions and within the framework of the Tres Dias movement that is just what was imparted into my heart. I came a way refreshed, refilled and eager to use His strength as I stepped back into the world. Mom died in August '96 and I can honestly say that Tres Dias helped me through those last few months with her and the bleak time after her passing. I then went to leaders School and have served on team five or six times since. What a blessing I receive each time I'm on team. I've seen how many times how God has worked through His people to help others know Him. I just can't say enough about the Tres Dias movement and how much it means to me. I praise God for my weekend in '96 and the joy it puts in my soul each time I am on team, and for folks willing to step out in faith through Tres Dias.
Nancy Bond