THE WOODFORDS BEACON
January 2018
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IT IS NOT OVER
It is not over,
this birthing.
There are always newer skies
into which
God can throw stars.
When we begin to think
that we can predict the Advent of God,
that we can box the Christ
in a stable in Bethlehem,
that’s just the time
that God will be born
in a place we can’t imagine and won’t believe.
Those who wait for God
watch with their hearts and not their eyes,
listening
always listening
for angel words.
– Ann Weems
As the calendar turns from one year to the next, most of us are busy putting away Christmas decorations. We’ve already put away the pageant costumes – the robes, the wings, the halos, the wise men’s gifts. And now, in our homes, the tree is shedding, the wreath on the front door is turning brown, the bows and the boxes have lost our interest, and even the candles have burned all the way down. And with our jam-packed schedules, we’re always moving on to “what’s next.”
But Christmas isn’t a day or a liturgical season. Christmas is welcoming the Christ child permanently into our hearts that we might truly become Jesus’ followers – those who, like him, energetically and prophetically seek justice, offer compassion, and work to turn the world’s greed into abundant generosity.
So let’s remember not to pack away the Christ-child with the Christmas decorations this year. Let’s make our hearts a “manger for God” that we might truly smuggle Jesus into a hurting world – a world that is in need of all Jesus has to offer. Perhaps if we do, that poignant line from the Christmas song “Star Child” might become reality: “This year let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive.”
New Year’s Blessings,
Rev. Carolyn
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WOODFORDS OFFICE CLOSED THUR JAN 11
The Woodfords Staff will have their annual retreat offsite on Thursday, January 11. The Woodfords Church Office will be closed and staff will not be available.
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A SUNDAY SCHOOL MESSAGE FROM REV. TAMARA...
Sunday School Families:
This fall we made our way, with Moses and the Israelites, through seasons of trial and tribulation. From a baby hidden amidst reeds beside a river, to a leader who guided a people through enslavement, plagues, liberation and desert wandering, we wondered where God might be in the every day ups and downs of life. Following up on the theme of God showing up in times of hardship, we plunged into the stories of Hanukkah and Christmas...leading us to the manger where a new light was born on a dark, dark night. It was a joy and a pleasure to sing, act, make art and share communion with the youngest members of our church family!
We will start the new Sunday School year on January 7th
by beginning preparations for our annual Heifer Fair (which will take place on February 11th). Come ready for crafting madness! It will be all little hands on deck, as we create food and art for the community to buy in support of Heifer International's mission to "work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth."
Looking forward to continuing to learn and grow with each of you!
Rev. Tamara Torres McGovern
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COUNCIL NOTES
•We are operating within budget at this time and are keeping an eye on a few items but in general, all is well.
•Signage – some signs are now up with many more to come in the near future.
•The elevator – we agreed on a contract for the replacement of the elevator and signed the contract. We will continue to fix, as needed, the existing one until the new one is ready for installation sometime after Easter (it takes time to get the materials to replace it.) Please be patient – this is not a quick decision to make given the costs and making sure we are getting the best one for our use.
• We are continuing to get information on creating a handicap accessible bathroom by the Lounge and, hopefully, to redo the kitchen as well, particularly as it is used when we host Family Promise. The new bathroom will replace the 2 bathrooms next to the small kitchen.
• Jeff Brewer is in the process of building covers for the electrical boxes on the walls of the church, which will be a lovely improvement to their appearance. He is also creating a railing for the Chapel to enhance safety.
•We affirmed the decision of the Music group to purchase chairs that you will see in the Sanctuary soon.
• Security is much improved with many measures in place by Staff, the Deacons, our tenants and the hiring of a security company. This is an on-going process. Your eyes and observations are always welcome.
• The Staff Flexible Benefit plan is now in place and will be effective January 1, 2018.
Just a reminder, you are always welcome to join the Council for it’s monthly meeting – the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 in the Lounge. Please let us know if you have a concern or idea you think we should consider/be aware.
Robin Carter,
Moderator
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EPIPHANY LESSONS & CAROLS
January 7 at 10 am in the Sanctuary
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Submitting an article for the February Beacon?
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SNOW DAYS AT WOODFORDS
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 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 before coming to an event on a snow day.
If you are attending a meeting or event not connected to Woodfords, please contact your organizer directly for information about cancellation.
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.
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Dear Grant Fund Members:
A heartfelt thank you to all of you who jumped in and made this fall's Grant Fund season a success. Our time together was a blessing for ALL five senses: we enjoyed listening to Monique Barret's velvety vocals, seeing the bright leaves and sparkling ocean on our fall trip to Wolfe's Neck Farm, savoring delicious food from around the world (and our Woodfords' neighborhood), and smelling spicy scents as we learned about essential oils. Most recently we cozied up, shoulder to shoulder, to usher in the holidays at the Magic Of Christmas. As we sat bathed in the twinkling light from the stage, I realized with surprise that I have only known you for a few brief months, and yet already, you feel like my church family. So thank you for helping to welcome me to the Grant Fund. I am looking forward to many more adventures ahead.
Please be on the look out for the Spring Schedule in the mail, in the coming weeks. We have incorporated lots of ideas from our fall brainstorming session, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with you.
Blessings,
Rev. Tamara Torres McGovern
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 12th:
10:00 am
Grant Fund Team Meeting, Woodfords Room (formerly 2nd Floor Conference Room)
January 26th:
11:30 am Grant Fund Lunch Club (cuisine TBA), Lounge
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GRANT FUND ONGOING OFFERINGS
Gentle Yoga:
This therapeutic class will help keep your body limber and spirit buoyant! Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor, Stephanie Abrams, has been teaching since 2001. Hundreds of classes (and three adorable children) later, she continues to experience yoga as a tool of both restoration and refinement. She brings her clear love for the practice, an infectious laugh, and a deep respect for her students to her classes. Join her
Thursdays from 10:15-11:15 in the Lounge.
Jean Koster can take payment.
Book Group:
Led by Suzanne D'Bourget, this group meets the
first Wednesday of every month at 12:15 pm in the Parlor
. The book chosen for the January meeting is:
January 3:
The Moth: 50 True Stories. 2013 Copyright. Edited by Catherine Burns.
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Epiphany Lessons and Carols
January 7, 10:00 am
The Chancel choir will be leading worship as we continue to celebrate the birth of Christ with music, readings and scripture from Matthew chapter 2. We will also share our first communion together for 2018.
Singers Wanted! Needed!!
The Chancel Choir needs more Tenors and Basses to help balance out the sections. Maybe it’s time for you to join the choir? Maybe you know someone who should consider serving the church through music and could encourage them to come forward. Singers do not have to be current members or attendees of Woodfords. They could be a neighbor who doesn’t have a church home. They could be a friend at work, or a client. Please keep your ears open and send singers to the music room on Thursday at 7:00 pm for rehearsal or send their name to Paul and Rebecca at
music@woodfordschurch.org
. Thank you.
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HAPPY JANUARY BIRTHDAY TO...
Don Mairs 01/01
Deborah Belanger 01/03
Anne Bencks 01/04
Helen Anderson 01/04
Aaren Rivard 01/04
Waldo Harwood 01/05
Edward Campbell 01/05
Robert Cuzner 01/06
Kristin Hurley 01/07
Thomas Hennessey 01/08
Gary Baldwin 01/09
Jane Frey 01/09
Jack Melcher 01/11
Randolph Libby 01/15
Susanna Adams 01/16
Nancy Vaughan 01/18
Jeffrey Wilson 01/19
Heidi Pranger 01/21
Natalie Wooten 01/21
David Clark 01/21
Leon Strout 01/22
Jean Koster 01/22
Pamela Barrows 01/22
Claire Anania 01/23
Nicholas McKee 01/24
Cindy Quinn 01/24
Edgar Jones Rev 01/25
Helena Nelson 01/25
Amy Johnson 01/25
Noah Chiasson 01/30
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UNSUNG ANGELS IN OUR MIDST
Woodfords Church has many “angels” who work quietly and anonymously in numerous ways within our community.
This month we would like to recognize
the many volunteers of the Woodfords community who worked on the preparations for our Advent and Christmas season celebrations.
These include:
- the many volunteers and the leadership for the Downeast Holiday Fair
- the unsung angels who hung wreaths on the doors, put candles in the windows, put up and decorated trees and hung decorations in the sanctuary
- all those who baked goodies for the “Cookies and Carols” and for our weekly fellowship time
- the Deacons who come early each week to prepare the sanctuary for worship, prepare and serve communion, greet people at the door and take down our weekly joys and concerns
- the greeters who stand at the parking lot end of the building to greet people each Sunday and guide visitors to the sanctuary.
We are
ALL
Christ’s hands and feet.
Thank You! Thank You!
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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 2018!
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2017 PLEDGE/DONATION STATEMENTS
Statements for donations made during the YEAR 2017 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 2017. If you have ANY questions about your statements, please contact Marc Hildreth at 774-8243, ext 110 (Marc is in the office on Tuesdays after 11 am) or
mhildreth@woodfordschurch.org
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WOODFORDS CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday - Friday, 9 am - 3 pm
207.774.8243
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