The first Woodfords Virtual Downeast Fair is in the books, and it was a success on so many levels! While the numbers are still being tallied, we definitely raised some money for the church, probably in the neighborhood of $3,000 to $4,000. (We’ll let you know when we have the final figure.)

But the bigger win for the Woodfords community was the opportunity to see one another on a beautiful Saturday in late November at our borrowed space at Deering Center Community Church. Being apart because of the pandemic made our pickup day for food, wreaths, crafts and auction items that much sweeter. How wonderful to see the faces (masked, of course) of so many who continue to support Woodfords despite all the obstacles. We had no idea if a virtual fair would be accepted, but you ordered more wreaths than ever, bid on nearly every item on the auction site and ordered dozens of lobster rolls, cups of chowder and treats. So a big round of applause for your patronage!

There are so many people to thank for making the fair happen, beginning with the stellar team of Jane Frey, Kristen Crean, Marge Sampson, Cathy Keeley, Pip Hennessey and Martha Baldwin who organized and prepared the food, created and handled our auction site and all it entailed, mastered the Bowdabra and sold the wreaths, and took part in all the other jobs from brainstorming to execution, from set up to take down, which go into this event. Thank you also to our day-of-fair helpers Tom Campbell, Bob and Carol Carpenter, Sue Lord, Tom Hennessey and Pete Sampson; to Pam Meader who helped with Friday’s food prep; and to Teri Coviello, who designed the fair’s web page and sent out numerous all-church emails on our behalf. We also want to acknowledge the contributions of so many, including the Woodfords Knitters and Pam Barrows and her crafters, who donated to the auction and to the Woodfords Senior Program for continuing the tradition of buying lunch for its members.

If all goes well, next year we’ll be back at Woodfords for a more conventional version of our fair. But this year’s event proved that we can be in community with one another no matter the place, no matter the circumstances.

—Joanne Friedrick

People have undergone unprecedented loss this year. Family and friends have succumbed to death in the pandemic, millions of people have lost jobs and economic security, and some individuals have closed businesses they built over a lifetime. Most of us have lost many of the beloved rhythms of life that felt familiar and offered us the richness of gatherings and adventure. All in all, 2020 has contained far too much interpersonal distance ... and far too many losses related to hatred and violence.

Throughout Advent we will proclaim hope, love, joy, and peace in the midst of difficulty. But it also is important to acknowledge that sometimes hope, love, joy, and peace are distant feelings in the face of so much hardship. Plus, for many people who have suffered loss, the anticipation of renewed grief as Christmas Eve approaches can be difficult to bear. On December 8 at 6:30 pm, we will gather via Zoom to share solidarity, comfort, and fellowship during this season of hope as well as grief.

This final WSP Event of the 2020 year promises to be powerful and transformational. Please join us!

Somatics and generational healing are processes that involve using simple ritual, listening to our body and intention to connect with our lineages. We are the present moment intersection of our ancestors and descendants and much can be done to celebrate and honor the resilience we come from. We can also assist in healing the harm or burdens that our lineage may still be carrying which have been passed down through generations.

Join Sage Hayes, Somatic Experiencing practioner, Massage Therapist, Biodynamic Craniosacral therapist, and Family Constellations practitioner, in exploring frontiers of embodied liberation. Learn more about Sage and the work they do here: http://embodiedliberation.com/about.

What: Intergenerational ADVENT Worship

When: Christmas Eve

Where: YouTube (look to your church announcements for link to the service)

The season of waiting is drawing to a close and Christmas is just around the corner. While we won’t be able to participate in the traditional Christmas Pageant at our churches, we can still celebrate the story of the birth of Hope, the coming of the Prince of Peace, the story of LOVE born anew. But to make this both magical and memorable, we will need YOUR help! If you are able to participate in creating the service, please contact Rev. Tamara at ttorresmcgovern@woodfordschurch.org There are pageant parts and other parts in the service. Some parts have a handful of lines, some have only a single line. Ideally, I would love to include voices from all three UCC churches!

8 pm: In-Person Gathering with Bells and Candles on Woodfords' Front Lawn (weather permitting; in-person Zoom if weather is bad)

WCC’s Pastor-Parish Relations Committee has been revitalized and rededicated to supporting effective ministry at Woodfords Church through attending to the important relationship between pastor and people. Whether a church is large, small, or historically peaceful, history has shown that the health of this relationship should not be taken for granted. Therefore, our PPRC wants to do what we can to facilitate a sharing of the congregation’s ideas—dreams, hopes, expectations, and concerns—with Pastor Alyssa. Likewise, we hope to learn from Alyssa (and share with the congregation) her experience of pastoral function and needs she may have here at WCC.

Whereas the church’s Personnel Committee deals with policy matters, job descriptions, and salary and benefits for all members of the church staff, the PPRC has a different, more deeply relational focus. The PPRC’s purpose is to support the personal and professional well-being of the pastor, as well as to provide a means of communication to the congregation, through constructive and caring two-way dialog. In this way, our PPRC can be thought of as a support group for the effective ministry of the church, rather than just “the pastor’s support group” or merely a channel for congregational complaints.

In addition to Pastor Alyssa, current PPRC members are: Mitch Rosengarten (chair), Suzanne D’Bourget, Pete Sampson, and Elaine Armstrong. Feedback for the committee is welcome by contacting any committee member. (Consult the church directory or the church office for email addresses or phone numbers in this time of COVID). The invitation is that we all take an interest in the health of our pastoral/congregational relationship by supporting in constructive ways that which is rewarding and satisfying while heading off the potential for tension as we move through our church’s future together.