THE BEACON
Woodfords
Congregational Church
August 2020
A NOTE FROM ALYSSA

Last month, as I wrote my piece for the July Beacon, I was heading into a week off due to budget furloughs. I ended up spending my time away from Woodfords quarantined at a secluded lake house in New Hampshire. I swam, I kayaked, I did some walk-runs around the lake, I watched movies, I slept, and I read. Truly, it was a much-needed Sabbath.

Having that time off made me realize how hard it can be to find time for relaxation and rejuvenation amidst our busy lives. Recently, a reflection by Richard Rohr found its way into my inbox and reminded me (yet again!) that our souls need non-frantic down time in order to develop and deepen – and we need down time in order to get to know our soul’s gift(s). According to Rohr,
As we come to know our soul gift more clearly, we almost always have to let go of some other “gifts” so we can do our one or two things with integrity. Such letting go frees us from always being driven by what has been called the “tyranny of the urgent” (Charles Hummel, The Tyranny of the Urgent, InterVarsity Press, 1994). Soon urgency is a way of life, and things are not done peacefully from within. What if we choose to simply do one or two things wholeheartedly in our lives? That is all God expects and all we can probably do well. Too much good work becomes a violence to ourselves and, finally, to those around us.

So, what do you think? Do you agree that the “tyranny of the urgent” might constitute a sort of violence that prevents people from creating interior space and silence for soul-deepening work? Certainly, this idea rings true for me. There have been periods in my life when I have felt pulled in way too many directions, and I honestly haven’t known which ball to drop, because all of the things I was involved in felt crucial and urgent.

At times, I have encountered so much pressure to do and to act and to make a difference that I have ignored the state of my own soul, which clamors for quiet conversation and prayer and rest. (While my soul also compels me to action, I am not as good at hearing its calls to stillness.) Only in the aftermath of my most frantic days have I realized, with hindsight, how cut off from God and from my very self I felt amidst the madness. I was running like a hamster on a wheel, not taking the time to figure out if I was really going anywhere – or whether that wheel was going to get my soul where it needed to be!

As we enter the dog days of August, I wonder: What is the state of your soul? Are you able to hear it and sense what it needs from you? If not, I urge you to take some down time for relaxation and rejuvenation. Are there things you might be able to let go of – even just for a little while – so that you can settle into calm? Remember: the things you temporarily set aside still will be there when you emerge. Our world has a lot of pressing needs and circumstances, and in all likelihood, they will not be resolved any time soon. Know that Holy gives you permission to take a rest, so that you can keep body, soul, and spirit intact for the work that you are called to do. May God bless you and be with you in it.

In faith,
Alyssa
AUGUST 2: OUTDOOR WORSHIP AND COMMUNION AT WOODFORDS
We’re Asking People to Register

On August 2, we’re going to experiment and host an outdoor, socially distanced worship service at Woodfords. We will gather on the church’s front lawn for a time of prayer, readings, and spiritual fellowship. The service will include Communion. It will be a casual gathering, and for safety’s sake, we’ll ask everyone who participates to:
  • Bring their own chair (or blanket)
  • Wear a mask or face shield

Because gatherings in Maine are still limited to 50 people or fewer, we’re asking everyone to register for the sake of crowd control. You may do so by clicking the button below (this service is also listed on our Facebook page under 'events').
AN UPDATE FROM THE RE-OPENING COMMITTEE

Since mid-March, Woodfords Church has opened its virtual doors to respond to Covid-19. The church has offered many different online services and programs. We think they have gone well, and they have provided lessons about how we might improve access to Woodfords programming for those who cannot attend in-person events due to health or other reasons. With that said, the re-opening committee’s hope has been to move toward being together again in person.
Due to a trend of declining COVID-19 cases here in Maine, and with guidance from the state and other bodies, the church slowly began to open for in-person activities in mid-June. We started with small, socially-distanced groups meeting in Memorial Garden or the Cloister. Gloria’s Knitters, the Craft Workshop Group, and the Bell Ringers all have been meeting at the church or in the garden in recent weeks. We also hosted an in-person, walk-up communion service last month.

Outdoor, Socially Distanced Worship

Given continued positive trends in our state, we are pleased to be able to expand the opportunities for in-person activities in August. This includes the start of worship services on the church grounds. August 2 will be our first in-person service since March! The service will be held on the front lawn and will be limited to 50 people. We are asking people to register ahead of time: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/woodfords-church-sunday-communion-service-on-the-front-lawn-tickets-11434896884.

After August 2, we will offer additional in-person services this summer, assuming that positive COVID-19 trends continue and the weather allows us to gather outside. Keep an eye out for more details in the weekly e-announcements.

Staff Availability

Staff will begin to return to the building in August. Like many other nonprofits, Woodfords is permitting staff members to continue to do some work from home, as work responsibilities permit. Thus, if you wish to speak a staff member or clergyperson in person, we highly encourage you to set up an appointment – or at least to call the church before you make a trip to the building. We would hate for you to go to the trouble of coming in, only to discover that the person you’d like to speak with is not working out of the building that day.

New Office and Meeting Spaces

For safety’s sake, utilization also will shift a bit as staff return to the building. The main office where Teri used to sit will not be occupied and will not be open to the public. Teri is now using Rev. Jim’s old office, which is located in the clergy hallway along with Rev. Alyssa and Rev. Tamara’s offices.

The door to the clergy hallway will be locked, but it will have a doorbell. If you come to the building without an appointment, you can ring the doorbell to the hallway. We will do our best to answer, provided we are in the building and not on the phone or in a meeting. As mentioned above, we encourage you to call ahead to set up a specific day and time to come in.

We are preparing the old Shambhala Room (now called the Woodfords Room) as a meeting space with fans, an air filter, spaced seating around tables, etc. This is where you will meet with clergy or staff in the building. The maximum capacity in the room is approximately 6-8 people, so this is only a space for small meetings. Here are the usage guidelines:

  • Please make sure you know the door code, as the doors will remain locked in August. 
  • Please make sure to wear a mask and to use the provided hand sanitizer as you enter the building. 
  • Proceed along the back stairwell (or elevator) to the 2nd floor and enter the Woodfords Room through the double doors in the hallway. After your meeting, we will sterilize the chairs, table and door in preparation for the next meeting.

We know this is a big shift from how Woodfords used to welcome people to the church, but based on current science, we feel the above-outlined measures will protect you and the staff. We are just happy that we may have opportunities to see your faces and to speak with you in person!

Of course, many of you will decide you are still not ready to venture into in-person meetings and services yet. Whether or not to do so is a very personal decision, and we respect that you know what is best for yourself and your family. If you decide to stay at home, but want to check in, Rev. Alyssa is just a phone call away.

We are already planning for autumn events like Homecoming Sunday and the Annual Meeting. They will probably look very different this year. We will keep you informed and provide more details about these and other events in the next issue of the Beacon.
2020 WOMEN’S RETREAT CANCELLED

An inquiry about the 2020 WCC Women’s Retreat was sent out to previous participants, and based on the responses, we are sorry to announce that we have decided to cancel this year's retreat. A majority of respondents said they would prefer to wait until 2021 to gather again as a group. Folks who felt this way raised a couple of different concerns.
For some, September feels too soon to spend two days living together in a communal-housing setting. For others, the necessary safety precautions we’d need to take for a September retreat would prevent the kind of bonding and fellowship that this retreat historically has been known for. If you were one of the respondents, thank you for your important feedback. We remain hopeful about gathering together in May of 2021. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
2020 WOODFORDS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

Each year Woodfords Congregational Church awards scholarships to students in undergraduate, graduate, and vocational training programs. It is a joy, not only to invest in these future change-makers, but also to hear updates on where their journey has taken them. This year the Woodfords Scholarship Committee awarded eleven, $1,000 scholarships. Reading the scholarship applications we were reminded of the ways that church communities can help to plant seeds of faith, compassion and justice. These student’s words brought us hope and we wanted to share a few with you. Congratulations to all of our award recipients!

—The Woodfords Scholarship Committee
(Rev. Tamara Torres McGovern, Matt Rosengarten, and Amy Segal)
Alec Troxell
School: University of Maine at Orono
Degree: 2nd year, Undergraduate
Area of Study: Economics and Kinesiology
What the Committee Noticed: We were struck by Alec’s passion for community and the role it plays in both his course of study and his close relationship with God.
Notable Quote: “Belonging to Woodfords Church has taught me to always be accepting of others and to help those in need.”
Bethany Campbell
School: Simmons University
Degree: 3rd year, Graduate
Area of Study: Library Science and Children’s Literature
What the Committee Noticed: Bethany has a grounded, embodied faith practice. She enjoys engaging in thoughtful discussions about faith across a diversity of backgrounds.
Notable Quote: “I think most meaningful for me is those moments of discussion when I can listen to my friends and celebrate their beliefs. I like to find that joy with them.”
Billie Wooten
School: University of Alabama, Birmingham
Degree: 1st year, Undergraduate
Area of Study: Undeclared
What the Committee Noticed: We were moved by Billie’s desire to empathize with and support others.
Notable Quote: “I love to help people! I can’t imagine doing anything else with my future career besides helping people overcome some of the struggles I have personally been through myself… People may not know how to handle situations they are going through and my hope is to use my own experiences alongside what I have learned about in school to help any person struggling to overcome their difficulties with love and compassion and with no judgment.”
Carol Swicker
School: University of Southern Maine
Degree: Class of 2022, Graduate
Area of Study: Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
What the Committee Noticed: We were fascinated by the ways that Carol’s professional, academic and faith journeys have come together to create her emerging calling.
Notable Quote: “Over the past year of graduate work, I have found many opportunities to combine my passion for addressing the injustice of homelessness with my new career in nursing. I have completed research, policy and theory projects that examine how homelessness impacts health, contributes to health disparities, and increases the risk of hospital readmission and poor health outcomes, as well as exploring ways to respond in more humane and economical ways to meet the needs of this population.”
Cecilia Ritter
School: The University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Degree: 1st year, Undergraduate
Area of Study: Psychology and Law
What the Committee Noticed: We were impressed by Cecilia’s global consciousness and awareness.
Notable Quote: “When I went on a mission trip to Peru in the summer of 2018, I found a new light in humanity. The authenticity of their way of life really opened my eyes... (The) love humans have for one another is pure. I have seen throughout my life, especially in the Black Lives Matter Movement, the social change that is beginning to happen.”
Erin Ritter
School: University of Vermont
Degree: Senior, Undergraduate
Area of Study: History and ASL (American Sign Language)
What the Committee Noticed: Erin’s spirituality was woven throughout the application, from her love of art to her desire to communicate across boundaries.
Notable Quote: “My relationship with God has taught me to be more open to other people and their views and situations which in turn has allowed me to become more open to new people and inclusive, everyone has a story to tell and I love meeting new people. It has given me perspective and encouraged me to help my community in any way I can, I will be working at AmeriCorps this summer and excited to help persue my goals.”
Hannah Smith-Erb
School: Colby College
Degree: Senior, Undergraduate
Area of Study: Religious Studies
What the Committee Noticed: We were struck by Hannah’s deep and unflinching awareness of her call to ministry, and her ability to articulate her faith.
Notable Quote: “(M)y relationship with God has been foundational for my career goals. It is hard for me to articulate this relationship, largely because the beauty of it lies in the coexistence of grace and uncertainty. I feel my relationship with God, rather than thinking about it, making it difficult to analyze exactly how it has shaped my goals. I do know that I have felt deep love throughout this relationship in a way that has pointed me towards ministry.”
Iris Walter
School: St. Lawrence University
Degree: Senior, Undergraduate
Area of Study: Psychology
What the Committee Noticed: Iris’s faith is rooted in justice and a desire to participate in social change be it around reproductive rights, Black Lives Matter, or creating community.
Notable Quote: “I’ve learned that God is something different for everyone, and a community needs to be accepting and accommodating to all beliefs in order to have a true and inclusive community.”
Isabel Walter
School: Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Degree: 2nd year, Graduate Certificate
Area of Study: Graphic Design
What the Committee Noticed: We were moved by Isabel’s vulnerability and self-awareness as she learns new ways to ground and care for herself amidst seasons of change.
Notable Quote: “Although I am still unsure where my relationship with God stands, and I am not sure if I will ever know what I do or do not believe in, I am certain that I believe in the power of human connection through shared love, support, and peace.”
Natalie Wooten
School: University of Maine at Augusta
Degree: 1st year, Undergraduate
Area of Study: Music
What the Committee Noticed: Natalie has engaged with and participated in a variety of faith/church activities: Pilgrim Lodge, Family Promise, Down East Fair, Heifer fair and the nursery.
Notable Quote: About her passion for music, “I take private singing lessons and I’ve been in many choirs. A few years ago, I was a member of the Musica de Filia, and we performed at Carnegie Hall. It was a wonderful experience!”
Simon Hale
School: Husson University
Degree: 1st year, Undergraduate
Area of Study: Music Production and Audio Engineering
What the Committee Noticed: We were impressed by Simon’s spiritual growth over the course of his faith journey.
Notable Quote: “After I went through the process of truly exploring my faith, I realized that there’s so much more to faith than just a man in the sky. After giving back to so many people in need, I realized that faith gives people the power to give back to others.”
INTERGENERATIONAL WORSHIP SUMMER SCHEDULE:
Next worship is August 23

Join us once a month for a family-friendly worship service. These services will include youth participation, messages from your favorite Sunday School teachers and a sermon preached by Rev. Tamara. If you would like to participate, don’t hesitate to reach out to Tamara at ttorresmcgovern@woodfordschurch.org She loves including your creative ideas, pictures and voices.

If you have missed our past family services, don’t fret!  These services are available on the Woodfords YouTube channel.
CONTEMPLATION, CONVERSATION, AND ACTION(?) SERIES: SPIRITUALITY, FAITH, AND THE QUEST FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES

On July 14, Rev. Alyssa facilitated the first meeting of Woodfords’ discussion group about spirituality, faith, and the quest for racial justice in the United States. Participants talked about Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” and a thought-provoking time was had by all.
In our second gathering, we’ll discuss Claudia Rankine’s award-winning work “ Citizen: An American Lyric.” If you’d prefer to listen to the work rather than to read it, you can access a free online recording of the piece, performed by the Fountain Theatre.
Our next discussion will take place on: Monday, August 3 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.

Zoom instructions are as follows:

Join Zoom Meeting:

Dial by your location:
  • +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
  • Meeting ID: 919 9010 7395
  • Passcode: 284880
HAVE SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND?
WANT TO TALK ABOUT A JOY OR CONCERN?
HAVE A PRAYER REQUEST?

If you would like to schedule time for a pastoral care conversation with Rev. Alyssa, do not hesitate to be in touch ( alodewick@woodfordschurch.org). She would be happy to talk via Zoom or the phone, or to have a physically-distanced in-person visit.

Also, Alyssa is always open to receiving prayer requests. Drop her a line with a description of what you’d like her to pray for – and don’t forget to indicate if you would also like your prayer request to be added to the Woodfords prayer list. (Alyssa’s default is to hold all prayer requests she receives as confidential unless the requestor explicitly says otherwise.)
MUSIC NOTES FOR AUGUST
The line is a familiar one – “These are very unusual times!” 
The impact of the health crisis on music and arts programs in churches and communities has been very difficult, and many have had to walk a new creative path to still have music! In the handbell world, composers and arrangers have been
at work creating new music for small group “social distanced” bell ringing.
Woodfords Music has joined that path, too. For several weeks during the summer, some of our musicians, beginners and experienced, have gathered on Thursday nights for bell ringing. We rehearsed in the cloister area, scattered 6 feet apart, with individual music stands and sheet music, masked, and wearing our gloves! What fun!
We plan to share some of our music in August! Thank you to our ringers! 
6 pm Summer Ringers 
Jane Hunt, Cathy Keeley, Joanne Friedrick, Pam Meader, and Beth Lunt
7 pm Summer Ringers 
Kristen Crean, Robert Crean, Fiona Johnson, Molly Johnson, Amy Johnson, Elaine Armstrong, and Beth Lunt

And what will the Fall bring? We really just don’t know yet. I guess we can always start more bell choirs!

If we can’t sing – we sure can ring – and there’s always room for more ringers!
If you are interested in joining us in the fall, please contact Paul: music@Woodfordschurch.org; 207.727.6562 (HM)
Summer 6 pm Ringers
Summer 7 pm Ringers
THE PRACTICE OF MINDFULNESS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE

“COVID 19 is imposing on all of us unaccustomed space in our lives. Sitting meditation can be a way to welcome space and learn to “rest our minds” in our natural resilience when not knowing what is going to come next.” —Kit St. John
Join Woodfords Church & Shambhala for a 4-Week Introduction to Meditation

When: August 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 8-9 am via Zoom

Have you always been interested in meditation but didn’t know where to start? Maybe you felt a little uncomfortable stepping into a meditation space or even worried that it would be difficult? Would you like to learn how to meditate from the comfort of your own home and in the process, gain useful tools to help you navigate these difficult times?

Woodfords Church, together with the Maine Shambhala Meditation Center, is offering a four week program that will gently guide you through an introduction to meditation. Each one-hour session will include a guided meditation and a quiet meditation followed by a time for discussion. The sessions will be held Monday mornings at 8 am and will be led by Kit St. John. Please see Kit’s bio below.

Registration is required. Please contact Woodfords Church ( info@woodfordschurch.org ) to sign up or to ask a question about the program. A donation of $5 per session is requested, but all are welcome, donation or not. Payments can be made by check or online.

The Zoom Link and Instructions for Payment will be provided to registrants.

We welcome people to attend anytime you can. We trust you will gain something from any participation, and more fully from more full participation.
Christopher (“Kit”) St. John

Christopher (“Kit”) St. John was introduced to silent sitting in Quaker meetings of the New England Friends yearly meeting in 1953, and China Lake Friends Camp. In 1982 he received formal meditation instruction at a one-day session led by Zen master Taizan Maesumi Roshi. Kit was a founding member of the Brunswick (ME) Dharma study group in 1985. He became a meditation instructor in 1989 and attended a three-month retreat at Vajradhatu Seminary in 1990. He has served in many positions at the Brunswick/Portland Shambhala Center including Director of Practice and Education, and since 1995, Resident Director of Shambhala Training. He was a member of the Karme Choling Meditation Center Board of Directors from 2000-2005 and was appointed Shastri by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in 2016.

Kit was a staff attorney at Pine Tree Legal Assistance from 1975-1994 and the founding director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy from 1994-2011. From 2011-2017 he consulted with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington DC, assisting state groups advocating for tax and budget policies that promote social welfare and fiscal balance.
WOODFORDS NOW ACCEPTS ONLINE PAYMENTS!

We are happy to announce that you can now make pledge, gift and other payments to Woodfords Church online.

Our website is now set up to make it very easy. You can click on the GIVE button (on the top right of every page) that directs you to an online giving form ( www.woodfordschurch.org).

You can also go to the Giving page on the website ( www.woodfordschurch.org/giving) which explains the different types of giving, both online and traditional, and provides links and/or instructions.

Please contact the church office ( info@woodfordschurch.org) with any questions you may have.
WOODFORDS BOOK CLUB
& AUGUST BOOK

This program is open to anyone in the church who would like to read and discuss various books. We read all sorts of things depending on interests of the group. So, if you like to read and have time in the afternoon, one day a month, we welcome you to join us!

The next book club meeting is Wednesday, August 12 at 3 pm. 

Join this meeting via Zoom:

Dial in by phone:
  • +1 929 205 6099 US
  • Meeting ID: 974 2458 6900
On August 12, the Woodfords book group will be discussing The Book of Joy. This book was written by Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu and published in 2016 by Cornerstone Publishers. This is the third in a series of books spanning the time from before WWI to mid WWII.

Summary: In this nonfiction, the authors discuss the challenges of living a joyful life. One commentator noted that both of the authors faced oppression and exile and yet have been able to maintain their compassion and forgiveness despite this. The commentator also noted the theme of the book is that fear, anger, and hatred exist internally as much as externally.

If you would like to be added to emails regarding book group activities, or if you have any questions, contact Suzanne D’Bourget at suzannedb@me.com or 329-1444.
WOODFORDS SENIORS (AND MORE!) PROGRAM
WSP AUGUST SCHEDULE

There will be a break in WSP online programs so that Rev. Tamara can take personal vacation (August 16-21), and do WSP Fall Program planning.

Please see details below:
  • ChairYoga-PrayerYoga WILL meet: Tuesday, August 4 & 11 (details below)
  • Spiritual Direction WILL meet: Thursday, August 6 & 13
  • Podcast and Conversation WILL meet Friday, August 7 and 14 (details below)
  • There will be NO Woodfords Senior Program offerings from August 15 through September 7!

May you relish the opportunity to drink in the glory of this season. Happy August Everyone!
CHAIR YOGA-PRAYER YOGA
Tuesdays 10 am: 8/4 and 8/11 only!

40 minutes of Gentle Yoga followed by a time for Community Prayer

Grab a seat and join us!
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 947 2128 7394
Password: 928014
PODCAST AND CONVERSATION GROUP
Fridays 10 am: 8/7 and 8/14 only!

Discuss soulful podcasts on current events and then debrief with your church community. Check the weekly announcements for the podcast offering of the week!

Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 997 9870 5407
Password: 656465
YOUTH GROUP ZOOM MEETINGS

Wednesdays 4-5pm 
For now, we will check in and hang out weekly! 

Meeting ID: 858 087 771
Password: 800289

To join by phone:
Dial: +1 301 715 8592 US or
+1 253 215 8782 US
Submitting an article for the September Beacon?
The deadline is August 15. Please send unformatted text to Teri at info@woodfordschurch.org.
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HAPPY AUGUST BIRTHDAY TO...

Calvin Hale 08/03
Chloe Murray 08/05
Robert Crean 08/06
Rebecca Barrows 08/08
Rachel Beyer 08/10
Anne Jordan 08/10
Lori Campbell 08/11
Esther Coyle 08/11
Paula Fletcher 08/12
Brad McCurtain 08/12
Emma England 08/14
Maret Freeman 08/14
Charlotte Murray 08/14
Martha Baldwin 08/15
Judith Flaker 08/15
Gerard Moore 08/16
Barbara Sawyer 08/16
Silvio Morales 08/17
Nicholas Nadzo 08/17
Camille Nelson 08/17
Deborah Nelson 08/17
Robert Meader 08/17
Mary Jeton 08/18
Simon Hale 08/19
Vahan Tufankjian 08/19
Barb Klegin 08/20
Milo McCambridge 08/20
Robert Burt 08/21
Nathaniel Johnson 08/22
Johanna Koster 08/23
Abigail Belanger 08/24
Hannah Dionne 08/25
Alison Troxell 08/26
Owen Carten 08/27
Catriona Shepherd 08/27
Emily Py 08/28
Flynn Ross 08/28
Laura Fries 08/31

HAPPY AUGUST ANNIVERSARY TO...

Amy & Scott Segal 08/01 ~ 22 years
Jessica Gellar-Cote & Victor Cote 08/03 ~ 18 years
John & Lynne England 08/03 ~ 35 years
Alan & Linda Nye 08/05 ~ 42 years
Robert & Pamela Meader 08/11 ~ 47 years
Edgar & Betty Lou Jones Rev 08/11 ~ 64 years
William & Susan Doughty III 08/14 ~ 49 years
Carl & Rachel Beyer 08/15 ~ 67 years
Leon & Joan Strout 08/15 ~ 67 years
Gordon & Barbara Thomson 08/17 ~ 57 years
David & Elizabeth Humphrey 08/20 ~ 21 years
Thomas & Margaret Vire 08/20 ~ 15 years
Robert & Jane Frey 08/21 ~ 38 years
Barry & Susan Nelson 08/21 ~ 49 years
Charles Melcher & Margo Halverson 08/26 ~ 25 years
Fred & Beth McKeeman 08/27 ~ 15 years
Thomas & Lori Campbell 08/31 ~ 35 years
NEWS FROM THE MAINE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

As our nation’s attention is turned to the race-based oppression and privilege that plague us, many in the white community are seeking ways to stand in trustworthy solidarity with our siblings of color. We at the Maine Council of Churches, whose denominations, clergy and congregants are predominantly white, would like to offer an opportunity for white people of faith and good will to simply STOP—in contemplative, prayerful, humble silence—and LISTEN to the voices of people of color—to the truth, pain, judgment, and prophetic calls to action those voices are speaking.

Each week this summer, we will publish a link to a short excerpt from a video, radio broadcast or podcast, along with some biographical information about the speaker. It is our hope that this spiritual discipline of listening will lead to transformative awareness and action.

Voices of Color – Week #1
Rev. Linette George, Pastor, Dedham Congregational Church and Holden Common Parish, Maine

Rev. George is one of two African American UCC clergy in the state of Maine. Born and raised in Bangor, she was ordained in July 2018 at Hammond Street Church where she, her parents, and brother and sister began attending in the 1960’s.
On May 31 of this year, Pentecost Sunday, Rev. George preached to her congregations (in a worship service held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic) about the difficult days following the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. She began by saying, “My job [this morning] is to be here and speak my truth. My seat is not an easy one to sit in today. It is not easy to serve a congregation where no one looks like me, in a conference where there is only one other pastor who looks like me. It is a very lonely and difficult time.”
She connected the unrest and confusion of America today with the confusion swirling in the streets of Jerusalem as pilgrims from all over the world arrived to celebrate The Feast of Weeks. She called on Christians to claim the gift of the Holy Spirit that enabled people who were profoundly different to understand one another at Pentecost. “Ours is the responsibility of having the God-given power to understand others at a time of great confusion.”

GARDENING AND FOOD PRESERVATION UPCOMING WEBINARS
From the University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Many of our community members are trying their hand at gardening and preserving for the first time due to current events. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension wants to help you be successful. Here, we are sharing resources/upcoming programs to guide you...

The Summer Series of Gardening Webinars will be held every other Monday from noon to 1 pm. This is a six-part series. Registration is required; a $5 donation is optional. Please register to attend or to receive the link to the recording: extension.umaine.edu/gardening/webinar-series/.
Sessions include:
  • Monday, August 3, 12-1 pm - All Season Gardening
  • Monday, August 17, 12-1 pm - Cover Crop and Soil Management
  • Monday, August 31, 12-1 pm - Pain Free Gardening
  • Monday, September 14, 12-1 pm - Growing Garlic
  • Monday, September 28, 12-1 pm - Root Cellaring

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Pamela Hargest: 207.781.6099; pamela.hargest@maine.edu.

Preserving the Maine Harvest Webinars are being held every Tuesday from 2-2:45 pm through October. Registration is required; a $5 donation is optional. Register to attend or to receive a link to the recording:

Sessions include:
  • 8/4: Freezing Fruit

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Kate McCarty: 207.781.6099; kate.mccarty@maine.edu.

A NOTE ABOUT ZOOM

Woodfords Church is continuing to hold its gatherings and meetings via Zoom. If you have not yet participated in a Zoom meeting, this is an online platform for video- and audio-conferencing. If you are new to Zoom, here are some helpful notes:
  • A Zoom account is not required to attend a meeting. If you plan to host a meeting, you will need an account. However, to simply join a Woodfords meeting, no account is necessary
  • Join a meeting by computer, your computer needs to have a webcam and microphone. If you prefer to join the meeting by telephone, you will need the teleconferencing number provided in the invite.
  • If you don't wish to have an account, all you need to do to participate is click on the link for the meeting and you will be prompted to launch Zoom. Watch for scheduled Zoom meetings in the weekly Announcements!
  • If you do wish to create an account, it's a good idea to do so before a meeting. Take a few minutes of your day to familiarize yourself with Zoom before the meeting begins.