Creating community, championing justice and growing with God. |
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS
April 15, 2021
|
|
Prayer List
Our prayer list is here to help. Please pray for: Joan Strout, Debbie Hayden, Ginnie Toner, Edna Cushing, Bob Stewart, Fran Paris, Debbie Heater, Randy Libby, Phil Haskell, Anne Bencks, Bob McEvoy, Phil Lucas, Debbie Nelson, Bob Frey, Larry Stuart and Pat Wilbur.
|
|
Sunday Worship and Congregational Meeting
This Sunday, we will not hold a full-length worship service. Instead, we will gather as a community (on Zoom) for a brief period of spiritual reflection before moving into a congregational meeting. During our time together, we will learn more about the Rightsizing the Building Task Force’s recommendations regarding future use of Woodfords’ Parish House.
Join us for the meeting by using the following Zoom access information. See you on Sunday!
Join via computer:
Dial in by phone:
- 929 205 6099 US (New York)
- Meeting ID: 982 7819 7278
- Passcode: 618291
Collaborative In-Person Worship At Woodfords on 4/28
At 10 am on Sunday, April 28, Woodfords will co-host an in-person worship service with State Street Church UCC and Williston-Immanuel United Church outdoors on Woodfords’ front lawn. In honor of Earth Day – which is April 22 – our three faith communities will gather to celebrate nature, the environment, our planet, and all of God’s good blessings. We hope that you will plan to join us for this special Sunday.
The tent on Woodfords front lawn will make a comeback, and we will plan to worship outdoors until such time as we move back into the sanctuary. We hope that this will happen in June or July, but a lot will depend upon COVID-19 and vaccination trends.
At-Home Communion
If you would like to receive in-person Communion and reside in a location where you can receive visitors, please send Alyssa an email ( alodewick@woodfordschurch.org), and we will work to schedule a time for you to receive the sacrament in upcoming weeks. |
|
Music at Woodfords Church
Opening Season for Music at Woodfords Church
Chancel Choir - rehearsals have begun!
- 7:15 – 8:15 pm
- In the Sanctuary, with masks on!
- We will slowly get our voices back into beautiful harmony.
-
New singers are welcome to join us!
Woodfords Handbell Ringers - rehearsals have begun!
- 6 – 7 pm
- In the Sanctuary, with masks on!
- New ringers are always welcome to join us!
Reminder:
Weekly service music can be found on the Woodfords YouTube page. Enjoy those favorite hymns and anthems we’ve sung in Sunday morning Zoom services
|
|
Woodfords Church
Scholarship Program
The rising cost of higher education is a significant challenge facing students and their families. The good news is that Woodfords has been gifted some resources that, in a small way, lessen this financial burden for students and families. Through the legacy and generosity of this congregation, Woodfords is able to offer educational scholarships to help students reach their education goals. Typically, WCC Education Scholarships range between $800 and $1200 annually.
To be considered for a WCC Education Scholarship, applicants must:
· Be members, children of members or people who are regularly involved with our
church
· Be accepted to an accredited college or post-secondary institution in fall 2021
· Complete and submit the scholarship application by May 31, 2021
Those awarded WCC Education Scholarships will be notified of their awards by June 30, 2021.
|
|
Woodfords Church One of the Sponsors for...
Day of Gratitude and Mitzvot
Sunday, April 18, 1:30 - 3:30, Thompson's Point South Garden
Classical Uprising, Temple Beth El, Woodfords Congregational Church, and the Episcopal Church of Saint Mary, in conjunction with Thanks in Variations, will host a Day of Gratitude and Mitzvot (good deeds) at the Thompson’s Point South Garden on Sunday, April 18, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.
The community is invited to participate in an afternoon of family-friendly activities that will cultivate gratitude and support Mainers in need. Audiences are encouraged to bring non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, new toiletries, and other goods to benefit Maine Needs, Project FEED, and the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. Activities will include guided meditation for all ages, writing thank-you postcards to essential workers, assembling donation kits, and adding to the community gratitude board.
|
|
Please Help Us Extend a Hearty Welcome to Charlotte
This week, we are pleased to welcome the Reverend Charlotte Bell to Woodfords. Charlotte started her new job as the director of Woodfords Senior Program (WSP) on Monday. She already has had the pleasure of meeting several members of Woodfords’ knitting group, and she looks forward to her first WSP planning conversation, which will take place on Friday.
With the assistance of the WSP leadership team, Charlotte will promote and support the growth and wellbeing of Woodfords’ mature adults by providing a variety of programs and services designed to help seniors achieve the best quality of life possible. Her contact information is as follows:
· Phone: (207) 774-8243 extension 107
Charlotte is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has spent 25 years as a medical social worker, specializing in end-of-life support, bereavement, grief, geriatrics, oncology, chaplaincy and parish ministry. A graduate of Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS), Charlotte holds a master of divinity degree as well as a certificate in spiritual and pastoral care. She also earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of New Hampshire. We are thrilled to have her join the Woodfords team.
Welcome, Charlotte! We’re glad you’re here.
|
|
Woodfords Senior Program Update
Woodfords Chair Yoga
Tuesdays at 10 am with Burdie Fertig via Zoom
Elizabeth “Burdie” Fertig-Burd is the founder of Celebration Tree Wellness Center for yoga, Reiki, balance and strength training, and personalized retreats. Burdie is a Kripalu Yoga certified teacher with 12 years of experience teaching chair yoga. She has a special passion for working with clients dealing with Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders. She is a Reiki practitioner and Master Teacher. Burdie’s work centers around helping clients heal, restore balance and grow in their own wellness practice.
To be placed on the weekly email reminder or with inquiries, Please contact Em Amatangelo at: 207.239.2051 or emham73@gmail.com.
To Join the yoga class please follow this link:
Spiritual Direction
3-4x/month, led by Rev. Mary Zachary-Lang
Wednesday mornings. This closed group meets three to four times a month. Please contact Rev. Alyssa ( alodewick@woodfordschurch.org) if you are interested in joining. |
|
Woodfords Racial Conversation Group
April 19: I'm Still Here
Woodfords’ racial justice conversation group is always interested in hearing new perspectives. If you would like to take part in these conversations, please join us. Prior participation is not necessary, and you do not need to make any sort of long-term commitment.
Book Discussion: I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
7 pm, April 19
In a time when nearly all institutions (schools, churches, universities, businesses) claim to value "diversity" in their mission statements, I’m Still Here is a powerful account of how and why our actions so often fall short of our words. Austin writes in breathtaking detail about her journey to self-worth and the pitfalls that kill our attempts at racial justice, in stories that bear witness to the complexity of America's social fabric – from Black Cleveland neighborhoods to private schools in the middle-class suburbs, from prison walls to the boardrooms at majority-white organizations.
We are sharing news of this discussion with the Friends of Woodfords Corner organization, and we look forward to warmly welcoming any neighbors who would like to participate in this justice conversation. To promote an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, we ask discussion participants to respect and honor values of confidentiality and privacy. What we say in the group stays in the group, unless the group collectively decides otherwise.
The book is available in new and used condition through various channels. Click HERE for a list of online vendors. We encourage purchasing from local bookstores like Print or Longfellow Books or Sherman’s Books. The work may also be available through your local library or e-book services like Kindle, Kobo, Scribd, etc.
If you would like to participate in this group but find the cost of the book prohibitive, please be in touch with Teri (tcoviello@woodfordschurch.org). We do not want cost to prohibit anyone from taking part.
|
|
Join Zoom Meeting
Dial by your location
- +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
- Meeting ID: 940 8897 4554
- Passcode: 999413
|
|
A Gathering of Woodfords Women
The women of Woodfords have been meeting monthly by Zoom to socialize and keep connected. All are welcome to join in. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm. We are hoping to begin meeting in person again in the near future and want to discuss how that will look with precautions. Everyone’s input is welcome.
Put these upcoming dates on your calendar -
Zoom details are...
Join Zoom Meeting by computer or tablet:
Meeting ID: 978 1582 1019
Passcode: 841199
Join by Phone:
1-301-715-8592 or 1-312-626-6799
|
|
One More Volunteer Needed for CWS Depot
Friday, May 7, 9 am - Noon
Do you have three hours on Friday, May 7 to help out Church World Service (CWS)? Woodfords Church is the Maine depot for CWS this spring. This means Maine churches who put together kits and buckets for CWS will deliver their donations to our church and we tally them, hold them for a few days, and then have them picked up. It's an important role we can serve because we have building space to collect the kits and parking space to allow for drop offs and pick up. The kits and buckets are used for emergency supplies for families hit by natural disasters.
We have one volunteer for Friday morning, but would like to have one more, just in case it gets busy. Can you please give us a hand? Please call Teri at 207-774-8243, ext 106, or email her at info@woodfordschurch.org.
Thanks in advance!
|
|
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 consider all prayer requests she receives confidential, unless the requestor explicitly says otherwise.)
|
|
Do You Like to Sew Masks?
Williston-Immanuel’s Clothesline Project Needs You!
During this pandemic, the outreach committee of Williston-Immanuel United Church – one of our colleague UCC churches in Portland – continues to provide free masks for our neighbors. Each Thursday, handmade masks are hung on a clothesline by the front door of Williston-Immanuel. In addition to the 20-25 masks we hang there, we also make masks available for guests picking up Wayside meals at their new location. A small group of mask makers have been sewing these masks since June. It is likely that masks will be needed for months to come. To continue this project, we need new mask makers to give current ones a needed break. We can provide fabric and elastic. If you don’t have access to a sewing machine you could help cut fabric squares, or package and hang the masks. If you’re interested in helping out or learning more, please contact Brenda by text (508-333-7952) or email (pastormoulton@aol.com).
|
|
Interested in Joining Woodfords?
If you would like to learn more about joining Woodfords and becoming an official member of our church community, Rev. Alyssa would love to hear from you ( alodewick@woodfordschurch.org). Through low-key, no-pressure conversation, she can tell you more about what “membership” means and answer any questions you might have. New to religion? Just getting to know Christianity? Never been a member of a church before? Have no worries! You may be a cradle-born member of the UCC, or you may be discerning how you feel about organized religion. Either way, we value you and understand that our community would be at a loss without you. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, Woodfords welcomes you! |
|
Staff Phone Extensions & Email Addresses
Staff phone extensions and email addresses…
|
|
FREE ONLINE CONCERT SERIES
Every first and third Thursday at noon
*Runs through May 20, 2021
These free concerts have been an integral part of the PCM mission to provide equal access to quality music and highlight their talented faculty and students.
This season, the format has changed; each performance will be short, 3-5 minutes, and faculty will talk about their instruments and the music they are performing.
New concerts will be posted at noon on the first and third Thursday of each month, through May, and will remain on their homepage until superseded by the next performance. Learn more here: portlandconservatoryofmusic.org.
|
|
WOODFORDS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
t: 207-774-8243
www.woodfordschurch.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
