THE BEACON
Woodfords Congregational Church
April 2019
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EASTER FLOWERS
It's that time of year to order your Easter Flowers. Please click here for a downloadable order form:
2019 Easter Flowers
. The deadline for submitting your flower order and payment is Friday, April 12. Please contact Teri at the office (
tcoviello@woodfordschurch.org
) if you have any questions.
EASTER EGG HUNT
Calling all kids --- the Easter Bunny will be making a stop at Woodfords and we will go hunting for the eggs! Meet Pam Barrows at 10 am on Easter Morning in the Lounge. Bring a basket or bag to hold your eggs if you have one. If not, Pam has a few to lend out. See you then!
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To my Woodfords' friends
I am still reeling from the surprise birthday celebration you held for me! You really know how to keep a secret!! I was totally caught off guard! The celebration was so joyful and so much fun - and the cake was delicious! I'm still reading and re-reading your cards and notes. Each card, each word, each thought is precious to me and I treasure each one. As Mary did, I "ponder them in my heart."
Words are not enough to express my gratitude and love for all of you but I hope you'll take them to heart as simple as they are.
Blessings, Rev. Carolyn
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WE ARE WOODFORDS!
Below you will read the first of what is planned as a monthly series of mini-bios featuring Woodfords friends and members. There are so many great folks doing important works in big, medium and small pieces right here at 202! And it all comes together to become the unique community that is Woodfords. Our hope is that these mini-bios will give each of us some new insight into members of our community. In time, we also hope to create a photo and bio bulletin board display, thus giving folks who visit our building a chance to get to “know us” better. Questions: check in with Barbara @ thomsonbg@aol.com
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Meet Carol Swicker and her son Jude. Carol, while definitely young at heart and full of energy, has been a member of Woodfords since her family moved to Portland in 1975. Not only was she confirmed at Woodfords, but she assisted in teaching Sunday School with Marge Sampson when she was in high school. Her connections just go on and on!
For the last 2+ years, Carol has been the Coordinator for and Promotor of Family Promise at Woodfords. She has coordinated all the signups for all shifts getting folks to buy food, sleep overnight, come and play with kids, etc. Most importantly for all of the volunteers, she troubleshoots and supports them and the Family Promise families in dealing with everything from what to do with the leftover food to showing up with special food requests. (Family Promise in Portland supports homeless families by offering a program of temporary housing at various churches with job training and English Language Learning when needed. Woodfords hosts the Family Promise families 4 times a year and more volunteers are always needed!)
In addition to all her work with Family Promise, Carol has coordinated our annual Woodfords Pilgrim Lodge Weekend, a time for Woodfords families to enjoy time with one another at a slightly slower pace amidst the tranquil camp setting of Lake Cobbosseecontee.
Carol’s son Jude is in 4
th
grade at the NEW Amanda Rowe School. Jude reports that the school is wonderfully BIG now and he especially likes the two whiteboards in every room. Jude is active in Cub Scouts and has recently started his own entrepreneurial venture doing “graffiti” drawings ordered by friends and neighbors. NOTE: I could try to explain graffiti drawing to you all, but your best bet is to check it out with Jude!!!
Carol also is an ER nurse and somehow she finds time for graduate school study (on-line!!) in nursing. Carol often does night shifts in the ER and actually reports that it is quiet work there at least some of the time. Helping make all this go smoothly is Carol’s mom Judy, also a long-time Woodfords member, who backstops Carol and Jude in many ways.
Carol also shared that she loves being a part of the UCC and of Woodfords especially with our accepting community and our support for social justice. And we in turn are a stronger community because Carol and Jude are a part of Woodfords!
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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.
UPCOMING GRANT FUND EVENTS
April 5th: 9:30 am-1:00 pm
Beauty Walk w/ Renewal in the Wilderness
We will gather outside, go for a stroll, and listen for the refreshing rhythms of wild nature. This event will involve walking at a gentle pace along moderately rugged terrain. Our time in nature will be followed by lunch (chili and cornbread!) and conversation. Space limited. Please RSVP early.
April 19th: 11:00 meal, 12:30 Service
Good Friday Luncheon
Sandwiched between the chaos of the palms and the joy of the resurrection is this opportunity for reflection. Join us for a catered meal followed by a contemplative service led by Rev. Carolyn.
Please RSVP.
April 26th-28th:
Woodfords Womens Retreat
Please save the date for this extraordinary annual weekend of exploration, conversation, friendship and spirit. Scholarship support is available. Please request a scholarship form from Teri in the church office. (Please note: This is not a GF specific event, but is open to all female-identified people in the church community!)
May 5th: Following Worship
Elder Sunday/ 90th Birthday Garden Party
Woodfords celebrates some of the wisest and longest-lived members of our congregation! The Grant Fund will lead morning worship. A catered garden party will follow the service. Join us!
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Annual Fellowship Dues
Each year our church is required to support our denomination by paying a set amount per member to the United Church of Christ Maine Conference and the Cumberland Association. This year that amount per member is $17.51 ($35/couple). We are asking that each of you, if possible, please support our denomination through your contribution to cover this expense. Please note on your payment that it is for Fellowship Dues.
Thank you, in advance, for your contribution.
Robin Carter
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Retreat is Coming,
Retreat is Coming!
Women mark your calendars!
April 26-28 at Marie Joseph Spiritual Center on the beach in Biddeford Pool.
Dance for Joy! The Annual Woodfords Women’s Retreat is only a month away!
Our annual retreat began about 30 years ago when a bunch of young mothers needed a spiritual and physical retreat from the hectic world we live in. It has continued every year since that time and many of us have been going every year since it began! If you are new to the church, or have never been to a retreat, we would love you to join us as we seek joy in our lives. (Please see the article below from Rev. Carolyn about the theme of our retreat.) I’m here to encourage you to come.
All women are busy - often too busy. You owe it to yourself to have a rest where someone else cooks, you can sleep whenever you want, you can meet other women of the church, and it’s all near the beach! If what you need is to be alone for 2-3 days, that’s OK too!
The cost is $225 for 5 meals, a private room, and all activities. Scholarship funds are available for Woodfords members who need help with the cost.
More information to come in weekly bulletins. There are no registration forms; if you want to sign up now, just Let Teri know. Don't forget to specify any dietary restrictions and other special requests you may have. Payment is needed to hold your space.
Can’t wait to see you there!
Suzanne D’Bourget “a founding mother”
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A message from Rev. Carolyn about the 2019 Women's Retreat...
“Joy does not simply happen to us.
We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” Henri Nouwen
“Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be filled with joy.” Anonymous
In a world that’s always in the hot pursuit of happiness, we think we can find happiness that lasts forever, but instead, we find it’s always temporary – it just doesn’t last. What’s that about??
But joy? That’s a different matter altogether, even though we often use the two words synonymously. Think about it:
Storms suck. You get beat up, tossed around, you’re definitely NOT happy, and you’re left wondering what the heck just happened? But in the midst of it all, with tear-stained cheeks and even a broken heart, it’s possible to still find joy. Constant, unshakeable, unspeakable, irreplaceable joy.
Here’s the truth: Happiness is external, it’s temporary. Happiness is what HAPPENS to us. Whether it’s our favorite specialty coffee, a wonderful vacation, our child’s good report card or a fun dinner with our girlfriends. Happiness comes from the good things that are “happening” in our lives. Happiness is an emotion, a feeling that comes and goes.
But joy is different. Joy is internal – it is a deep knowing. No one makes you feel joyful – it’s a state of being. And yes! you can still experience joy when things seem to be falling apart around you. Can’t do that with happiness!
This year at our Women’s Retreat, we’ll consider where true joy comes from, where it lives and how we nourish it. We’ll contemplate the difference between Happiness (which we talked about a few years ago as the focus of our retreat) and Joy.
One of the most amazing books I’ve read recently is
The Book of Joy
written by the Dalai Lama and Rev. Desmond Tutu. And while they do use the words, “Lasting Happiness in a Changing World” as the subtitle, they’re really referring to joy! On the Amazon website, we read:
In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness's eightieth birthday and to create what they hoped would be a gift for others. They looked back on their long lives to answer a single burning question: How do we find joy in the face of life's inevitable suffering? They traded intimate stories, teased each other continually, and shared their spiritual practices. By the end of a week filled with laughter and punctuated with tears, these two global heroes had stared into the abyss and despair of our time and revealed how to live a life brimming with joy. This book offers us a rare opportunity to experience their astonishing and unprecedented week together, from the first embrace to the final good-bye.
While our retreat will not be a book study or review, we’ll be talking about some of the points the authors make. Feel free to read the book yourself, or just come and join in the conversations. As always, we’ll have time for art and dance (Susan Nelson will again be joining us to bring the joy of dance into our lives!), as well as fellowship and LOTS of free time. How can we not take time to find the joy in each other and in the sheer beauty of a place like Biddeford Pool?
We begin with dinner on Friday evening and then gather to create a spiritual “altar” that will remain in place for the weekend. As a way of introducing ourselves, each of us brings in an object/photo that represents who we are and where we find/seek joy. We share three meals on Saturday and gather for a time of conversation around our theme on Saturday morning, sharing thoughts, suggestions, hopes. Rev. Tamara will be joining us and so will Susan Nelson who will be helping us find joy as we dance together!!
The rest of the afternoon will be free to explore, nap, catch up with friends, go for a walk on the beach, whatever brings you joy and renewal. We have a gathering for snacks and informal conversation before dinner on Saturday, and then complete our day with a movie before climbing into bed for another good night’s sleep. On Sunday, after breakfast, we regroup to talk about what has been meaningful during our time of retreat and then share Communion together. This year, we will not be having lunch at MJSC but after emptying our rooms, we’re invited to leave our cars in the parking lot and enjoy the nature trails and beach.
If you have questions or if there’s any way I can be helpful in your planning, please let me know!! And please don’t be shy about asking questions or joining us even if you’re new to Woodfords or have never come to a Womens’ Retreat in the past. It’s a time to nurture “old” relationships as well as welcome new relationships!
I look forward to seeing all of you here at WCC as well as at Marie Joseph’s in April!!
Many blessings,
Rev. Carolyn
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Overheard in Sunday School
Playing and learning is what we are often about in Sunday School. A fun example happened recently when several kids and I were playing “the Jesus Game.” Basically this is a board game I have created introducing and reinforcing some of the major events in Jesus life. We head around the board with our game pieces at times landing on spots that tell us things like “Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer to his followers. GO AHEAD 1.”
On this particular morning, several kids got interested in the space that said “The bosses of the country try to trick Jesus with questions. It doesn’t work. GO BACK 2” The game players decided that I had erred in having a player GO BACK when landing on this spot. They argued that since Jesus wasn’t tricked by their questions then Jesus won and the game player on this spot should go ahead 2. I argued mildly that the reason a player had to go back was because once the bosses of the country were paying attention to Jesus it meant trouble. But in time and after we had consulted Tamara, I willingly gave in and made the change.
Who is right about which way one should move her/his extra moves? Does it really matter? What is best is that we were all engaged in Jesus’ story. And that is good news to share from Sunday School!
Barbara Thomson
Sunday School Teacher
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Lay Ministry -
Why It Might Be For You
The Lay Ministers program of our church is over 25 years old. For all those years, lay persons, like yourselves, have been trained to do ministry primarily to the elderly of our church family, but also some have visited in the hospital and others have visited persons with special needs. Over these years, hundreds of visits have been made. Just to remind you, the Lay Ministers program of our church is a program of pastoral visitation to persons within (and sometimes outside) our church family. Lay Ministers are trained in areas of active listening and pastoral care. While lay ministry is a voluntary program, it is one that requires a ‘calling’ …..that is, a spiritual sense that you have gifts and graces for caring for people who are lonely, sick or in special need of pastoral care.
If this seems daunting, don’t worry, the Elder Chaplain, Rev. Jim, will see that you receive the training and resources you need to do this special kind of ministry. If you think this is something that you can do, speak to Rev Jim and he’ll answer any questions you may have.
Meanwhile, even if you don’t feel called to this ministry, you can be very helpful if you know of someone who might benefit from regular pastoral visits from a lay minister. This is a vital part of the program because neither Rev. Carolyn nor I have any special gifts of ESP and we may miss someone who would benefit from this program.
Grace and peace,
Rev. James Fletcher, Elder Chaplain
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Looking Ahead:
Pilgrim Lodge
Change and Opportunity
Many of us have enjoyed our annual fall weekend at Pilgrim Lodge. It has been a time of bonding, friendship formation, fun and spiritual exploration. Chilly mornings in front of the fire, warm sun on shoulders, the brave ones enjoying final days of swimming in the lake, quiet walks in the woods or along the labyrinth, cozy conversation with friends on the porch or over a meal... But as people's lives have become increasingly busy, the attendance has gone down and the work of planning has fallen to an ever-smaller group of volunteers. And yet, we have been unwilling to give up this special experience, knowing the impact it has had on our church relationships, and especially on our kids (Rev. Tamara notes that 70% of the Woodfords Scholarship essays this year mentioned Pilgrim Lodge as a central site where our church youth experienced God and forged their sense of spirituality!)
But where there appears to be a door, God so often provides a window. And in this case, the questions about Pilgrim Lodge have been transformed by a new opportunity! The Maine Conference of the UCC will be offering two Homecoming Weekends at Pilgrim Lodge. We WILL have to share the space... But, we will ALSO get to enjoy the experience of someone else taking the lead. The meals will be provided, activities will be offered by PL staff (though we can also have our own break-out experiences), and we will most likely make some new friends. While families can choose to attend on their own, we are hoping to gather a gaggle of Woodfords folks-- a critical mass that can both enjoy the new amenities and keep our Woodfords traditions alive!
Here is a rough schedule for the weekend:
Friday
5:00 arrival
6:00 - dinner in dining hall
7:00 - campfire welcome and opening of the weekend with music
Saturday
7:15 - Morning Watch
8:00 - Breakfast in dining hall
9:00 - Activities with church groups; Lodge is open; waterfront is open
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Activities offered by camp staff and church members - will be planned ahead of time - for all ages - some activities may be guided hike, work project directed by PL staff, arts activities for children and adults, boating lessons at the lake, ice cream time at the store
6:00 - cookout
7:00 - all camp activity
8:00 - all camp worship
After worship - story time in fireplace room in Lodge for young children; glow-in-the-dark frisbee tournament or campfire with jam session
Sunday
7:15 - Morning Watch
8:00 - breakfast
9:00 - Choice of planned activities or waterfront
11:00 - all camp closing worship
12:00 - lunch and good-bye!
Registration details (including cost) can be found at the link below. We have
scholarship funds available
for families who would like to attend but find the cost burdensome.
Looking forward to seeing many of you there!
Rev Tamara
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COUNCIL NOTES FOR MARCH
The Council met March 19
th
from 6 to 8:50 pm
Ministry Team Meetings
: 6-7 pm
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Resources
– 5 areas of immediate concern are being researched for cost so that work can begin. They are: flashing/roofing, lighting (LED replacement), security sweeps, awning/railing for Seely Hall, insulation on 3
rd
floor
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Worship
:
Paul Schnell brought a proposal for the purchase of the sanctuary piano. After discussion, a vote to buy the piano with available funds was passed by the Council.
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Spiritual Growth
– monies needed for Family Promise work was obtained from an unused New Mainers fund.
Council Meeting
: 7:05 to 8:50 pm
• Finances: At 2/3
rd
of the fiscal year, WCC is in balance with no outstanding deficits. Income has remained positive.
• Audit: The audit has been delayed due to difficulty finding independent (non-church members) to do checks on Jane Frey’s work. She continues to work on this big project.
• Final details of the schedule for Gregg Carlson of the Center for Progressive Renewal were gone over. We have had an excellent response from many outside groups to attend meetings and we hope all of our members will make a big effort to be at the many meetings set up just for members. Pip Hennessey has led this work – thank you Pip for all you have done.
• FY’20 Budget was finalized and is ready for discussion on March 23
rd
both before and after worship with a final vote on 3/31 after worship. Jeff Jordan is the lead.
• Stewardship is underway with the first letter to go out April 3rd. The committee – Kristen Crean, Joanne Bartlett, Nancy Meiners, John England & Robin Carter will be looking forward to hearing from all of you.
• Interim Search Committee: At Carolyn’s urging we are setting up this committee very soon to begin our search for an Interim Minister to hopefully begin in October.
• Council members: we are in the process of determining who on Council will be staying on; who is leaving; who else would like to serve. If you are interested in serving, do let Brent Wooten know.
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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.
April - June 2019 Schedule
***Please note.... Locations and activities may be subject to change***
*Friday 4/5 Lock In (aka sleep over)
Location: St. Luke’s Episcopal
Friday drop off: 5pm
Saturday pick up: 11 am
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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Submitting an article for the May Beacon?
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HAPPY APRIL BIRTHDAY TO...
Thomas Vire 04/01
Peter Frey 04/02
Susan Doughty 04/03
Patricia Maxim 04/06
Joanne Friedrick 04/07
Allan Whitmore 04/10
Cheryl Honer-Hickey 04/12
Rebecca Wallace 04/13
Allen Wilbur 04/13
Mitchell Brewer 04/15
Sarah Thomson 04/15
Anna Troxell 04/15
Martha Dudley 04/15
Marcia McAfee 04/15
Melanie Graser 04/17
Jackson Frey 04/18
Cora Melcher 04/19
Jessica Doughty 04/19
Jennifer Wriggins 04/22
Sally Chaplin 04/24
Rita Zanichkowsky 04/25
Colin Graser 04/25
Ethan Koster 04/25
Fran Seeley 04/26
David Johnson 04/26
Linda Libbey 04/27
Caroline Belanger 04/29
Jim Dand 04/29
HAPPY APRIL ANNIVERSARY TO...
Paul & Carol Gillis 04/29 41 years
Brent & Susan Wooten 04/30 22 years
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Woodfords Church Office Hours
Tuesday - Thursday, 9 am - 3 pm
Friday, 9 am - 1 pm, afternoon by appointment
207.774.8243
info@woodfordschurch.org
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