THE BEACON
Woodfords Congregational Church
JANUARY 2019
Click here for the January Calendar
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MISSION PARTNER: SHAMBHALA

We are excited to welcome Shambhala to Woodfords Church starting January 1, 2019! They will be located in the 2nd floor Conference Room and Annex. You may hear or see activity in those rooms as early as the end of December as they start to prepare the space for their January move in. The former Conference Room will be the Shrine Room where they will conduct their programs of education and meditation. Their programs often run in the evenings and weekends. They will post a notice outside their doors when they are in session so we can be conscious and respectful of their practice.

Shambhala is a global community of people inspired by the principle that every human being has a fundamental nature of basic goodness. This nature, our innate wisdom, can be developed so that it benefits our own lives and helps meet the many challenges facing the world.

Shambhala welcomes people from all walks of life, faiths, and backgrounds. They come together to practice meditation, gather, and celebrate in order to develop a global culture that cultivates dignity and sanity in an increasingly chaotic and stressful world.

To learn more about Shambhala and their programs, please check out their website: Shambhala.
CHORAL SING 2019!
Woodfords Hospitality - HELP WANTED
in the Music Department!

On Saturday, January 26, Woodfords Church will be host to a Saturday Sing, sponsored by the Portland Maine American Guild of Organists and ChoralArt. 

Please click this link for more information about the event... Choral Sing!

Leadership for the event will include Robert Russell, Christopher Pelonzi, Bruce Fithian, Kathleen Grammer, and Rebecca and Paul Schnell. The gathering and registration will begin at 8:30am, with choral workshops, and singing from 9am to noon.

We would like a have wonderful “WOODFORDS WELCOME” by providing hospitality for the attendees.

We need:
2-4 volunteers to help set-up coffee/tea/drinks/snacks (7:45 to 9 am OR 9 to 10:30 am)
2-4 volunteers to greet people at our doors - We have so many of them! (8 am to 9 am)
2-4 volunteers to help clean-up (11:30 am-12:30 pm)
6-8 volunteers to provide cookies, snacks, morning break treats. (Bring them to the church office or on Saturday morning!)

There is no “performance” for this event - just “a come and sing!“

Please contact Paul and Rebecca for more information, with “an offer to help-out,” or if any Woodfords member would like to attend the vocal workshop: music@woodfordschurch.org .
CHRISTIAN ED - HEIFER FAIR SEASON

With the New Year comes the kick off of our Heifer Fair Season! Please join us every Sunday from January 6th-February 3rd as we cook and craft our way toward the annual Heifer Fair on Sunday February 10th. Remember, during the Heifer Fair prep we spend the entire church service hard at work, so please come directly down to the Sunday School area. 

Here are some of the projects we will be taking on this year:

Jan 6: Cookies in a Jar and our Scrumptious Woodfords Granola  
Jan 13: Snow Globes &   Painted Animal Jars  
Jan 20 (MLK Jr Weekend): Housemade Spice Rubs and Tea Blends
Jan 27: Scarves, Scrunchies  & Creative Cards
Feb 3: Honey Lotions and Bulb Planting
GRANT FUND

If you are 65 or older this year and a member of Woodfords Church, you are automatically a part of the Grant Fund! This means you are eligible to participate in the many opportunities for fun,
fellowship, growth and spiritual engagement that the Grant fund offers.  

For more information, please reach out to Rev. Tamara Torres McGovern, our Director of Intergenerational Engagement and Education: ttorresmcgovern@woodfordschurch.org .

More information about winter 2019 Grant Fund activities will be available in January.
CHECK OUT THE NEW WOODFORDS WEBSITE

We are happy to announce the launch of our new website. It can be found at the SAME WEB ADDRESS - www.woodfordschurch.org. Take a look around the site. We hope you like it!

We are trying something new from this month; the calendar link in the Beacon will take you to the "Events Calendar" page of the new website. You can choose how you want to view the calendar --- the whole month, or just a week or day view. You can also see a list ("Agenda") of upcoming events. The calendar will be updated once a week for the current month.

The calendar is a new feature of the website and is currently under development. The January calendar is current, but the rest of the 2018-19 church year (Feb - June) needs to be completed. This should be ready to view by the time the February Beacon comes out.
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A PARKING REMINDER

A reminder to Sunday church goers... We have a number of elderly and less abled members who need to park in the back parking lot and use the elevator for Sunday worship. If possible, please park your car in the side lot and leave the back lot spaces along the tree line for those who need them. Thank you for your consideration.
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COUNCIL NOTES FOR DECEMBER

The Council met December 18 th from 6 to 8:45 p.m. The primary focus (1 ½ hrs.) of December’s meeting was to have a pre-scheduled Zoom conference with Gregg Carlson of Progressive Renewal. We reviewed a proposal we requested and asked many questions regarding Progressive Renewal work with us. You will be hearing all about this on 1/13 following worship. You are also welcome to talk with any Council member if you have questions before 1/13.

          • Ministry Team Meetings: will resume in January

• Finances: WCC continues to be on target financially.

• As a result of a recent Resource Team meeting with a qualified building person to go over the condition of the buildings, we have a good assessment of work we will need to be doing to bring our property into good shape and save resources over time. We are in the process of editing this report and it will be available very soon if you want a copy.

• Electrical work will begin shortly to upgrade electrical availability for Stages in Gym area.

• New Mission Partners for our 2 nd floor. Shambhala, a Buddhist community, has signed their lease, will be preparing their space (the Woodfords Room and Woodfords Annex) from 12/26 to 1/1 and taking occupancy on January 1 st . Please welcome them on Sundays when they will be practicing upstairs.
GRANT FUND BOOK CLUB

The Grant Fund Book Group meets monthly to discuss a book chosen by group attendees. All are welcome to join us! This group meets the second Wednesday of each month from 12:15-1:30. Most books can be borrowed from the library so there is little to no expense. While it is primarily Grant Funders, we will welcome younger folks who happen to be available. 

Please join us!

Here is the list of books for the next 3 months. Please contact Suzanne D’Bourget if you’d like to join us so I can contact you if anything changes.  Suzannedb@me.com 

GF books 2018-2019
January 9 Chilbury Ladies Choir. Ryan
Feb 13 A Separate Peace. Knowles
March 13 Ghost Boys. Rhodes
EPIPHANY LESSONS & CAROLS
January 6 at 10 am in the Sanctuary
PORTLAND YOUTH GROUP
This Youth Group partnership includes HopeGateWay UMC, Woodfords UCC, Trinity Episcopal, and St. Luke’s Episcopal.

Fellowship and service gatherings for grades 7-12. Gathering twice a month, typically, on the first and third Sundays, we spend our time in formation, fellowship, and service to both the local and global community. Youth meet monthly with adult leaders to contribute to planning making this a Youth Group that is deeply influenced by the kids participating.

Winter & Spring 2019 Schedule
***Please note.... Locations and activities may be subject to change***
Contact Katie Holicky, Youth Group Coordinator, with questions. katie@hopegateway.com

1/6 Souper Bowl of Caring prep & Games
Location: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (enter via back entrance, 134 Park St)
Planning with Youth and Leaders 1:30-2pm
Gathering 2-4pm
1/20 Escape Room Portland
Please bring...$20 for Escape Room, A few dollars for a snack afterward
Please do not let cost keep you from enjoying this activity. Come any way!
Time: TBA (will be in late afternoon depending on booking of rooms)
2/3 Service Project: Souper Bowl of Caring
Location: HopeGateWay UMC
Planning with Youth and Leaders 1:30-2pm
Gathering 2-4pm
2/17 Gathering with Games and More
Location: Trinity Episcopal
Planning with Youth and Leaders 1:30-2pm
Gathering 2-4pm
3/3 Outside Activity like Tubing/Ice Skating/ Sledding
Location & Time: TBA
3/17 Service Project
Location: Woodfords UCC
Planning with Youth and Leaders 1:30-2pm
Gathering 2-4pm
*Friday 4/5 Lock In (aka sleep over)
Location: St. Luke’s Episcopal
Friday drop off/ Saturday pick up times TBA  
4/28  Service Project
Location: HopeGateWay UMC
Planning with Youth and Leaders 1:30-2pm
Gathering 2-4pm
5/5   Gathering with Games and More  
Location: Trinity Episcopal
Planning with Youth and Leaders 1:30-2pm
Gathering 2-4pm
5/19   Gathering with Games and More
Location: St. Luke’s Episcopal
Planning with Youth and Leaders 1:30-2pm
Gathering 2-4pm
6/2  Service Project: Celebrating Confirmation
Location: Woodfords UCC
Confirmation Service and Celebration 10am
Helping to host reception
6/16 Ice Cream Sunday
Location: HopeGateWay UMC  
Planning with Youth and Leaders 1:30-2pm
Gathering 2-4pm
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JUST IN CASE... WOODFORDS SNOW POLICY
 
It's that time of year! Looking ahead to stormy winter days with snow and ice, we would like to remind you of Woodfords' policy regarding closing the building and cancelling events. Weekdays and weeknights: if Portland Schools are closed, then Woodfords Church is usually closed and Woodfords meetings/events are cancelled. Please note that the Church may decide to close EVEN IF Portland Schools are not closed. Please check to make sure we are open before coming to an event on a snow day.

Saturdays: a decision will be made by 7:00 am regarding closing the building and cancelling Woodfords events or meetings. Sundays: a decision will be made by 7:00 am regarding the worship service, closing the building and cancelling Woodfords events or meetings.
 
In all cases, cancellation announcements will be posted on Facebook, our website ( www.woodfordschurch.org ), the phone message, and on Channels 6, 8 and 13. 
Submitting an article for the February Beacon?
The deadline is January 18. Please send unformatted text to Teri at tcoviello@woodfordschurch.org.
HAPPY JANUARY BIRTHDAY TO...

Don Mairs 1/01
Deborah Belanger 1/03
Anne Bencks 1/04
Helen Anderson 1/04
Aaren Rivard 1/04
Waldo Harwood 1/05
Edward Campbell 1/05
Robert Cuzner 1/06
Kristin Hurley 1/07
Thomas Hennessey 1/08
Gary Baldwin 1/09
Jane Frey 1/09
Jack Melcher 1/11
Randolph Libby 1/15
Susanna Adams 1/16
Jeffrey Wilson 1/19
David Clark 1/21
Heidi Pranger 1/21
Natalie Wooten 1/21
Leon Strout 1/22
Jean Koster 1/22
Pamela Barrows 1/22
Claire Anania 1/23
Cindy Quinn 01/24
Nicholas McKee 1/24
Edgar Jones Rev 1/25
Helena Nelson 1/25
Amy Johnson 1/25
Noah Chiasson 1/30
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AS YOU PACK AWAY YOUR
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS…
 
You’ve had the same ornament/arrangement/wreath for years– it’s still in good shape, but frankly, you haven’t used it for ages and it’s time to part with it. If this speaks to you, then please box up any gently used Christmas Decorations and save them for the fair for next year! It will be the last year you have to do this, and it will help our Christmas Decorations "Boutique" at the Downeast Holiday Fair. The Boutique is a huge hit every year and we will need lots of donations in fall 2019! Thank you for thinking ahead!
2018 PLEDGE/DONATION STATEMENTS
                
Statements for donations made during the YEAR 2018 will be sent by mail or email around the middle of January. This statement will show a listing of all contributions received to support Woodfords. It will also summarize by Pledge for each of the Fiscal Years, and by each ministry donated to in 2018. If you have ANY questions about your statements, please contact Marc Hildreth at 774-8243, ext 110 or mhildreth@woodfordschurch.org.  
Woodfords Church Office Hours
Tuesday - Thursday, 9 am - 3 pm
Friday, 9 am - 1 pm, afternoon by appointment
207.774.8243
info@woodfordschurch.org