THE BEACON
Woodfords
Congregational Church
September 2020
A NOTE FROM ALYSSA:
THE EXPERIENCE OF SITTING WITH UNCERTAINTY

It is September. In any normal year, we would be preparing to pack up lake cottages, soaking in the sun’s rays while enjoying a few more beach days, squeezing in reunions with family and friends before autumn routines kick in, and helping our kids re-acclimate to school after summer vacation. Here at church, Woodfords staff and volunteers would be developing the calendar for the church’s upcoming program year.

But it is September in a coronavirus year, which means that many of the above experiences and activities look and feel a bit different than they have in the past. Emotionally, we might find the process of saying goodbye to lake cottages especially bittersweet; those beloved places provided wonderful changes in scenery after being quarantined in our homes this past winter and spring. Many of our favorite beaches are emptier than they have been in prior summers. Our reunions with friends and family may be marked by (subtle and not-so-subtle) tensions over whether masks must be worn. Some of our kids are scared to go back to in-person classes...and some are scared not to.

Here at church, we anticipate that the upcoming year of programs and worship will include continued digital offerings, along with some masked and physically distanced in-person events. Since the beginning of August, we have enjoyed outdoor worship on Woodfords’ front lawn. I anticipate that we will continue to offer such worship through the end of September. I am not quite sure what will happen when October’s cooler weather arrives.

In this season, I am uncomfortable. I am being forced to lean into uncertainty and a state of not knowing. So often these days, I find myself saying “I don’t know.” When will worship in the building start again? I do not know. When will we have in-person Sunday School and Christian Education opportunities? I do not know. When will the sanctuary be ready for live-streamed worship? I do not know. Sometimes, all of these “I don’t knows” prove challenging. I am the type of person who likes to provide answers and solutions and information. When I cannot do so, I worry that I am letting people down, that I am failing as a leader, that I am frustrating others.

Perhaps you too are finding this season of uncertainty difficult. Whenever I come to the edge of my patience with uncertainty, I try to remember that Jesus and his followers also experienced it. For first- century Jews living under Roman occupation, nothing could ever be certain; the future was always cloudy. Yet amidst the uncertainty, Jesus reassured his followers that Divine Love would win the day. Surely, if God’s eye is on the sparrow and the lily of the field (Matthew 6:25-34), the Force of Love that undergirds the entire universe will care for and accompany us, as well – whatever the future brings.

In faith,
Alyssa
DIGITAL MATINS AND VESPERS

In order to provide spiritual care for all members of the Woodfords community – including folks who may not feel comfortable returning to in-person worship at this time – Pastor Alyssa is planning to offer some digital worship services in addition to Sunday morning services. (Sunday services will be in person through the end of September.) If you are familiar with the Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, or Lutheran traditions, you may be familiar with services called “Matins” or “Morning Prayer.” You also may have heard of “Vespers” or “Evening Prayer.” These services offer opportunities for soul community, prayer, and contemplation as the day begins (Matins/Morning Prayer) or winds down (Vespers/Evening Prayer).

Keep an eye on Woodfords’ weekly announcements and online calendar for notification of upcoming worship opportunities. If you would like to help out with these digital offerings, please let Alyssa know (alodewick@woodfordschurch.org). Thanks!
RACIAL JUSTICE CONVERSATION GROUP

Woodfords’ racial justice conversation group invites everyone to participate in its upcoming dialogues about racial justice in America. Participation in prior conversations is not necessary; there are no prerequisites for joining us other than an interest in getting together with other learners and conversation partners.

This month, we will gather online at 6:30 pm on September 21 to discuss episode 2 of The Next Question (TNQ). This is a video web series that engages visionaries, leaders, and artists in the substantive questions of racial justice. Episode 2, “Power to the People,” is about the power of social movements and the history of how real change is made in America. Moving past the caricatures of Dr. Martin Luther King and the hyper-simplifications of the Civil Rights movement, it digs into a discussion of how community support becomes the alternative to institutional power. While we hope that everyone will have a chance to watch the video before this conversation, feel free to join us even if you do not have a chance to do so.

Find login information and more details on Woodfords’ online calendar or contact Teri for assistance. The weekly e-announcements, Woodfords’ webpage, and future editions of the Beacon will contain notices about future conversation opportunities.
WOODFORDS COUNCIL UPDATE FROM 8/18/20 MEETING

Minister’s Report: Rev. Alyssa reported that the last month was busy and started returning to more "typical" ministry work. Outside services have been going well: the bell choir has been well-received and is engaging passersby.

July Treasurer’s Report: The report reflected an increase in prior year income due to pledges arriving during the current fiscal year. Prior year pledges for FY2020 have exceeded budget by over $1,200. Anticipated building expenses, such as the repairs to Seeley Hall floor and Memorial Garden, were also reflected in the budget.

Stewardship: Pledges for FY2021 have surpassed our budget goal, with a total of $199,000 pledged. While this is still less than the prior year, we had anticipated a more dramatic impact from Covid-19 financial pressures.

Visioning Survey: A draft of the proposed Woodfords visioning survey was presented. Because we are unable to hold cottage meetings as we used to do in the past, the survey will be sent to the entire congregation as one method of getting information about what the church’s priorities are and where our resources should be allocated. The survey will be sent to the congregation (both electronically and in the mail) in the coming weeks.

Ministry Team Processes: An updated organizational chart was presented that aligns the prior ministry teams and programs with the new mission statement of “Creating Community, Championing Justice, and Growing with God.”

Ministry Team Updates: 
  • Creating Community has been working on planning for Homecoming Sunday as well as the Downeast Fair, both of which will look different than in previous years.
  • Championing Justice – Project FEED restarted, Wayside is still suspended, and Family Promise has moved into sponsorship of individual families.

—Matt Rosengarten, Clerk
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 expand the opportunities for in-person activities. This includes the start of worship services on the church grounds. August 2 was our first in-person service since March! The service was held on the front lawn and was limited to 50 people. We will offer additional in-person services this summer/fall, assuming that positive COVID-19 trends continue, and the weather allows us to gather outside. Keep an eye out for dates and details in the weekly e-announcements.

Staff Availability

Staff started returning 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.
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 would 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.)
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
& SEPTEMBER BOOK

The Woodfords Book Club will meet again by Zoom on Wednesday, September 9 at 3 pm. We will continue to discuss the book we started last month, but it is the sort of book discussion you can join even if you were not with us in August.

The Book of Joy is a wonderful read about interactions between His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Though it was written before the pandemic, I think it gives us hope and ways to cope with the trying times we are in.

We will spend time discussing the book but will also make some decisions going forward for what books we want to read next. Please bring a suggestion of one or two (please limit your choices) books you think might be good for a book study and that are now available in soft cover or in multiple library copies. We will plan for at least the fall and early winter and can add more later.

Anyone can join this book group! If you have questions you can contact suzannedb@me.com.

Join this meeting via Zoom:

Dial in by phone:
  • +1 929 205 6099 US
  • Meeting ID: 974 2458 6900


WOODFORDS SENIOR PROGRAM REMINDER

There will be a break in WSP online programs so that Rev. Tamara can do WSP Fall Program planning.

Please note there will be NO Woodfords Senior Program offerings through September 7!

May you relish the opportunity to drink in the glory of the transitioning seasons.
Submitting an article for the October Beacon?
The deadline is September 15. Please send unformatted text to Teri at info@woodfordschurch.org.
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HAPPY SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY TO...

Charlotte Cuzner 9/01
Molly Johnson 9/03
Stacey Dand 9/05
Nancy Meiners 9/05
Ellen Snyder 9/05
Deb Smith 9/08
Elizabeth Johnson 9/09
James F Brown MD 9/11
Constance Cushman 9/11
Samuel Fries 9/11
Thomas Campbell 9/12
Grace Wolfe 9/12
Asher Kane 9/13
Mary Anne MacMath 9/14
Linda Nye 9/14
Margo Halverson 9/16
Andrea Schmearer 9/16
Jessica Wolfe 9/16
Lillian Porter 9/19
Willa Morales 9/20
Lucas Morales 9/22
Gail Pentheny 9/24
Philip Lucas 9/27
Thomas Smith 9/27

HAPPY SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARY TO...

Edward & Phyllis Campbell 9/04 ~ 66 years
Maret Freeman & Edmund Ashley 9/21 ~ 24 years
Michael & Rochelle Hale 9/28 ~ 23 years
James & Kathleen Helming 9/15 ~ 36 years
Sue Ann & Peter Lord 9/28 ~ 7 years
Kevin & Colleen McKee 9/12 ~ 11 years
Thomas & Renee Newman 9/13 ~ 51 years
Gregg Ritter & Carolyn Bird 9/05 ~ 27 years
Catriona Shepherd & Jim Haller 9/13 ~ 12 years
Thomas & Constance Smith 9/14 ~ 52 years
Sable Strout & Aaren Rivard 9/15 ~ 4 years
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 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.

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.