Woodfords Congregational Church |
|
A Letter from Alyssa
1500-year-old Wisdom
In July, I visited Holy Wisdom Monastery, which is located outside of Madison, Wisconsin. Holy Wisdom is an ecumenical “community of communities.” It is comprised of five different groups of people who take inspiration from Benedictine monastic spirituality. The monastery originally was founded by Roman Catholic Benedictine Sisters, but today the monastery’s Sisters include Protestants, as well. Together, all of the Sisters “seek God through a life following the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict.” Through the monastery, they are connected to the “Oblates of Holy Wisdom” – lay men and women from varied faith backgrounds who are “learning about Benedictine spirituality and applying it in their personal lives.”
Now, if the adjective “Benedictine” and the phrase “Benedictine spirituality” are unfamiliar to you, let me explain. Saint Benedict was a monk whose life spanned the late 5th and early 6th centuries.+ He is known as the founder of monasticism in Western Europe. Born in Nursia, Italy and sent to Roman schools, Benedict was scandalized as a young man by the immorality and corruption of Rome. He retreated to a cave east of the city and lived alone for three years before being persuaded to become the abbot (leader) of one of the nearby monasteries. He went on to found several additional monastic houses, including a famous monastery that is located on Monte Cassino, a hill that lies about 80 miles southeast of Rome.
During his lifetime, Benedict developed guidelines for living that are commonly called the Benedictine Rule, or the Rule of Benedict. Historically, these guidelines, which collectively comprised a rule, have been used to guide and organize individual and communal life at Benedictine monasteries and abbeys around the world – including the contemporary community of Holy Wisdom Monastery, in Wisconsin.
Over the course of the past 1500 years, Benedict’s Rule has garnered much respect and many followers. It now is considered one of the treasures of Western Christianity. The Rule is beloved in part because it sets out a rule of living that encourages holistic wellness of mind, body, soul, and spirit. It promotes healthy amounts of sleep (7.5-8 hours a night), and it divides the working day into several equal parts. Thus, in the original Benedictine monastic houses, monks and nuns spent 5-6 hours in worship and prayer, 5 hours engaged in work (i.e., domestic work, craft work, gardening, or working in the fields), and 4 hours studying spiritual writings and scripture.
In busy, stressful, 21st-century America, the ideas contained in Benedict’s Rule can seem counter-cultural. A workday of only 5 hours, instead of the normal 8 (or 10, or 12, or more)? Ha! That seems like a delusion, or at least an impractical dream. Spending 8-9 hours a day with God, through prayer and study? Who thinks that’s possible today, outside of religious retreats and monastic houses?
Because the rural, agrarian world in which Benedict lived is very different from our own, we may find it difficult to imagine contemporary laypeople (i.e., people who are not monks or nuns) living “normal” lives outside of monastic houses ever being able to fully embrace the Benedictine Rule as a guide to daily life.
But as we pass through August and head toward September, I encourage all of us (myself included!) to think about actions we can take to increase balance in our lives and take holistic care of ourselves. Might we take five or ten minutes a day to slow down, sit in silence, pray, or even just be conscious of our breath? Might we change our routines to get 30 minutes of extra sleep a night, so that we can gift our bodies with the rest they need? Might we resist taking on one more task, in order to create a bit more time with our families, friends, and with God?
For the month of August, I invite you to slow down and see what happens. You may even find yourself saying hello to the Holy! If you do, I’d love to hear about it.
In faith,
|
|
Rev. Alyssa
+ This brief biography of Saint Benedict includes information gleaned from an article by Michael David Knowles ("St. Benedict"), as found in the digital version of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
|
|
Worship Visioning Team
Please Sign Up by August 14
As Woodfords looks towards its future and thinks about space use if the congregation votes to sell the Parish House, Rev. Alyssa is gathering a “Worship Visioning Team” to help her explore (a) what future worship opportunities might be like (in terms of content and style), and (b) how Woodfords’ sanctuary and chapel might best support a variety of worship styles and spiritual needs.
If you’re interested in providing feedback and input into Woodfords’ future worship and worship spaces, please be in touch with Rev. Alyssa (alodewick@woodfordschurch.org). You’ll be able to participate in this visioning team as much as you are able. Once Rev. Alyssa has received the names of folks who would like to help, she will schedule an initial get-together in September, and we will go from there.
|
|
WSP Care and Blessings Event with CHOM Presentation a Success
In July, a group of nearly forty church members and friends came together for a special event. We put together care bags for our unhoused friends in the Portland area. We made 48 bags including things like several different snacks, water, socks, hand sanitizer, $2 and even some tuna and chicken in sealed bags. Bags also included a listing of Wayside meals for reference!
These bags were well received when handed out in the winter and it appears they were again as I (Suzanne DBourget) handed one out and the man immediately ate a snack!
Prior to making bags we listened to folks from CHOM (Community Housing of Maine) talk about their plans for the parish house and ate a lot of OTTO pizza!
|
|
Suzanne DBourget with a completed care bag.
Photo credit: unknown Woodfords Church member
|
|
A Woodfords Church Thank You!
The Woodfords Church has recently received a bequest of over $20,000 designated for support of the music programs of the church. The Caroline Cobb estate gift is given in honor and memory of William B. Cobb and Marguerite W. Cobb. The Music Department is humbled to have received this generous gift to be used for worship, special music activities and to the glory of God.
Over the past several years, the Special Music Fund has provided programing resources that are over the yearly budget expenditures. With these funds, we have purchased the sanctuary Steinway piano from the Rossini Club, invested in flexible seating with the choir chairs in the chancel, engaged musicians for special events such as Christmas in July, the 150th Anniversary events, Cornerfest, and special Sunday morning worship events.
The church is indeed grateful to the members and families who have designated gifts of support for the ministry of Music at Woodfords both for now and into the future.
An Additional note:
According to our resident historian, Pam Barrows (Thank you, Pam), William Cobb was the cousin of Caroline Cobb, who had previously bequested funds to the Special Music Fund seven years ago. The Cobbs were summer residents from Connecticut, and had a Maine summer camp next door to Pam’s sister, Cheryl, on Highland Lake.
Connections and blessings abound!
Paul Schnell
Director of Music/Organist
|
|
A Woodfords 150th Anniversary Event:
An Old-Fashioned Picnic and Band Concert
Sunday, August 14, on the Woodfords Church lawn
Rain or Shine
Join us for morning worship at 10am, stay for a picnic lunch and concert.
Concert will begin at noon; lunch will begin after the church service.
|
|
The event will feature a music program by the Bridgton Community Band. The band is one of the few true remaining community bands in the state. Musicians from Bridgton and the greater Lakes Region area present several free concerts throughout the summer at the town bandstand. Their repertoire includes everything from rousing marches to classical and pops pieces. The band is under the direction of Steven B. Sweetsir, who is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and has a Master of Music degree from Ithaca College. He has conducted and participated in numerous band ensembles in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maine.
We invite church members, families and friends to bring their own chairs and/or blankets and enjoy the festivities. The Creating Community team will supply hot dogs, chips and Sno-Cones. So we know how much food to buy, please RSVP by Aug. 6. If you would like to bring cookies or bars to share, please let us know that as well.
This concert program is supported by the Woodfords Church Special Music Fund.
For more information about the concert, contact Paul at music@woodfordschurch,org.
To RSVP for the lunch or sign up to bring a dessert, email the CC team at creatingcommunity@woodfordschurch.org.
|
|
News and Stories from Woodfords |
|
Woodfords’ 150th Anniversary:
Project Feed History
|
|
“In 1975 we started with the support of 4 churches, $5 in the treasury, and a food cabinet in the Sexton’s office”, states a hand-written note attached to the “June 1975 Project Feed Philosophy”. Frederica “Freddie” Wagnis spearheaded the food pantry at Woodfords and helped to bring it to an interfaith council for the Portland area and build the team needed to bring the dream to realization. During 1976, 577 families were given food for more than 12,000 meals.
|
|
In 1977 Project FEED (Food Emergency Exchange Depot) was incorporated with support from eight organizations: Woodfords Congregational Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Temple Beth El, St. Joseph’s parish, Central Square Baptist Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Stevens Avenue Congregational Church and the HRS Bureau of Human Relations.
Project FEED has continued to serve families since then, primarily from Woodfords Church with a brief excursion to St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church during the recent heating and electrical problems at Woodfords.
As stated by staff writer Cary Johnson of the Portland Press Herald, 1981: “Proud of the project’s accomplishments in battling hunger in Portland, Mrs. Wagnis visualizes the somewhat astounding number of persons helped at Project FEED by imagining a throng of people in Italy listening to the pope. ‘I get a concept of St. Peter’s Square in Rome with masses of people listening to the pope and think that’s about how many Portland people we’ve helped in the last five years.’”
Steve Gray
Pam Meader
Portland Press Herald
|
|
Recipe With a History
It’s the height of summer, so this month’s “Recipe With a History”, taken from the “Heavenly Dishes” cookbook, focuses on the bounty of the garden.
The recipe comes from Pam Barrows, who writes in the introduction that the cookbook project was started in 1997 by the choir and reactivated in 2003 by the Christian Education and Fellowship Department, headed up by Jean Koster and Laura Carten.
Summer Squash Casserole
4 medium summer squash, sliced
1/3 cup onion, chopped
1/3 cup melted margarine
2 chopped hard-boiled eggs
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup buttered cracker crumbs
Cook sliced squash in small amount of salted boiling water 10 to 12 minutes or until tender. Drain.
Saute onion in margarine until tender. Combine all ingredients except cracker crumbs in a lightly greased 1-quart casserole. Sprinkle with cracker crumbs.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.
|
|
Championing Justice Team News
For many years, Woodfords has had the privilege of hosting Wayside Community lunch meals in Memorial Hall on Monday at noon. A great group of Woodfords volunteers sets up for the meal (with help from Louise as well), prepares the food sent by the Wayside kitchen, serves our guests and then does clean up.
A meal consists of beverages, green salad, fruit salad, soups homemade by cooks at Wayside, sandwiches (sometimes made by our crew, sometimes ready made by Whole Foods or Hannaford) and assorted deserts. We also pack up leftovers and give as many of them away to guests as possible.
Due to COVID the program shut down for several months and our population of guests went from 35-40 week to about 15 per week. We hope to increase our numbers again over time.
This is a community meal open to ALL in the community: those who need food, as well as those who need opportunities to socialize with others.
Wayside Food program provides for both lunch and dinner meals in various locations around the city. Our Championing Justice team is pleased to be able to financially support this and other programs such as Project Feed, and Preble Street, that provide food and meals to so many in our community. As prices rise in our local grocery stores this becomes more and more essential to many in Greater Portland.
If you would like more information or would like to volunteer at Wayside, Project Feed, or Preble St, contact the church office and they can put you in touch with the leaders of various programs.
Thank you from the Championing Justice Team
|
|
WCC Scholarship Recipients
This year Woodfords Congregational Church awarded scholarships to twelve worthy individuals to help them in their educational pursuits. Enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at top colleges and universities around the country, the journeys of each are unique but have been shaped by their connection to Woodfords. Here are snippets of those journeys collected from scholarship applications. You will likely be inspired!
Thank you to the WCC Scholarship Committee: Carol Swicker and Barbara Thomson
Thank you to the recipients for letting us share your words.
|
|
A big thanks to all who contributed for the family from Ukraine!
Through the generosity of the Woodfords community and with an additional $500 from the Championing Justice group, we were able to raise $1,635 for Tetiana and her family.
Tetiana and her two children had to flee Ukraine for Poland and have been living there with the family of a man I met through my work. While he and his family have provided food and shelter for Tetiana, Danil and Anastasia, they are in need of additional funds for clothing, language classes and school supplies for 15-year-old Danil.
I know they are very appreciative of this donation and would welcome your prayers for the safety of Tetiana’s husband, Aleksand, a medical rescue team member still living in Odessa.
Joanne Friedrick
|
|
Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities |
|
Summer Theology Book Club
August 10 at 7pm via Zoom
Do I Stay Christian? – A Guide For the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned by Brian D. McLaren
Zoom Information
Join via computer, phone, or tablet:
Meeting ID: 864 8996 8411
Dial in by phone:
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 864 8996 8411
|
|
About the Book
Picking up where Faith After Doubt leaves off, Do I Stay Christian? Is not McLaren’s attempt to persuade Christians to dig in their heels or run for the exit. Instead, he combines his own experience with that of thousands of people who have confided in him over the years to help readers make a responsible, honest, ethical decision about their religious identity.
There is a way to say both yes and no to the question of staying Christian, McLaren says, by shifting the focus from whether we stay Christian to how we stay human. If Do I Stay Christian? Is the question you’re asking—or if it’s a question that someone you love is asking—this is the book you’ve been waiting for.
Link to more information:
|
|
Tri-Church Orchard Visit and Evening Stargazing
August 12, Orchard Ridge Farm in Gorham
$5 per person/ Open hours from 6-10pm
Calling all kids, families, and folks of all ages who are looking for a fun way to spend a Friday evening. Orchard Ridge Farm in Gorham has invited all of us to a special night of farm-time and stargazing. There will be dinner to buy, apple or blueberry picking, farm store offerings like honey, farm fresh eggs, homemade pies & crafts (and more!), farm animals to visit with, and beautiful spots to watch the sunset and stargaze.
|
|
Woodfords Corner Block Party and Open House
|
|
Friday September 23
4:30 to 7:30 pm
Woodfords Parking Lot
The Friends of Woodfords Corner and Woodfords Church will be teaming up again for the Friday evening street festival. Our place will be buzzing with artisans and crafts, music and entertainment, food vendors, and more! Our current Mission Partners will be again participating, and sharing what they do within our community.
As we celebrate our 150th Anniversary, this is the time for our church to be an integral visual part of the local community by attending, participating, and volunteering! The planning group is working hard organizing this very unique opportunity for us to be in the neighborhood center.
We’re looking forward to another exciting adventure in our Woodfords neighborhood.
|
|
Want to Help with the Women’s Retreat?
Retreat dates are September 30 - October 2
Registration opens soon!
|
|
Photo courtesy of the Marie Joseph Spiritual Center |
|
|
We’ll once again gather at the Marie Joseph Spiritual Center in Biddeford Pool for a time of relaxation, connection, and fun. This retreat is for all women of the church of whatever age.
If you would like to be on the committee to plan this great event, let Alyssa know (alodewick@woodfordschurch.org). Also, please know that we’d be happy to hear from you even if you can only help with part of the event. For example, perhaps you’d be interested in
-
writing an article for the Beacon or weekly announcements to encourage others to come
- helping the Sisters with signing in on Friday afternoon
-
organizing the altar
-
offering opening circle inspiration
- coming up with a get-to-know-you icebreaker or activity
-
teaching a skill or craft to others
Many hands make light work! Finally, if you’ve got suggestions for this year’s retreat, Alyssa will happily gather those, as well. (Should we have more, or less, free time? Do you have a great idea for a movie?)
|
|
Podcast Discussion Group Will Return in September
Woodfords’ podcast discussion group, which typically takes place on the fourth Thursday of the month, is taking a hiatus in August, but we’ll return in September for a robust set of discussions. See you then!
|
|
Maine Conference, UCC: Call to Special Meeting on August 6
Vote on Whether to Elect and Call the Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola as Settled Conference Minister
|
|
Rev. Alyssa Away August 18-20
Rev. Bryan Breault Will Provide Pastoral Care
Rev. Alyssa will be out of the office August 18-20, enjoying a family reunion. During this period, the Rev. Bryan Breault at State Street Church will be available for those who may have pastoral care concerns. We thank Bryan for his willingness to minister to Rev. Alyssa and the Woodfords community in this way.
To reach Bryan while Rev. Alyssa is gone:
1. Dial (207) 774-6396.
2. Press 2 for Pastor Bryan.
3. Leave a message. If you have an emergency, press 0
|
|
Calvin Hale 8/03
Chloe Murray 8/05
Robert Crean 8/06
Rebecca Barrows 8/08
Rachel Beyer 8/10
Anne Jordan 8/10
Lori Campbell 8/11
Esther Coyle 8/11
Brad McCurtain 8/12
Maret Freeman 8/14
Charlotte Murray 8/14
Emma England 8/14
Judith Flaker 8/15
Martha Baldwin 8/15
Barbara Sawyer 8/16
Robert Meader 8/17
Nicholas Nadzo 8/17
Camille Nelson 8/17
|
|
Silvio Morales 8/17
Mary Jeton 8/18
Vahan Tufankjian 8/19
Simon Hale 8/19
Barb Klegin 8/20
Milo McCambridge 8/20
Robert Burt 8/21
Nathaniel Johnson 8/22
Johanna Koster 8/23
Abigail Belanger 8/24
Hannah Dionne 8/25
Martha Gilliss 8/26
Alison Troxell 8/26
Owen Carten 8/27
Catriona Shepherd 8/27
Emily Py 8/28
Flynn Ross 8/28
Laura Fries 8/31
|
|
HAPPY AUGUST ANNIVERSARY
Leon & Joan Strout 8/15 69 years
Edgar & Betty Lou Jones 8/11 66 years
Gordon & Barbara Thomson 8/17 59 years
Barry & Susan Nelson 8/21 51 years
Robert & Pamela Meader 8/11 49 years
Alan & Linda Nye 8/05 44 years
Robert & Jane Frey 8/21 40 years
John & Lynne England 8/03 37 years
Thomas & Lori Campbell 8/31 37 years
Charles Melcher & Margo Halverson 8/26 27 years
Amy & Scott Segal 8/01 24 years
David & Elizabeth Humphrey 8/20 23 years
Jessica Gellar-Cote & Victor Cote 8/03 20 years
Fred & Beth McKeeman 8/27 17 years
|
|
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 an 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.)
|
|
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!
|
|
Submitting an article for the September 2022 Beacon?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
