THE BEACON
Woodfords
Congregational Church
May 2021
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A Note from Alyssa
Stewardship Campaign
A Message from the New Director of the
Woodfords Senior Program
Donation Update: Little Jubba
Woodfords Church Office Opens
Woodfords Church Building Use Policy
Woodfords Church Scholarship Program
Pastor-Parish Relations Committee
Racial Justice Conversation Group
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Greater Portland Family Promise
WCC Book Group
Woodfords Senior Program
Woodfords Women's Zoom Gathering
Joining Woodfords Church
Joys/Concerns and Prayer Requests
Project Feed's Pandemic Life
Birthdays/Anniversaries
Mask Project with Williston-Immanuel
Submission Guidelines for Announcements
& the Beacon
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A Note from Alyssa
Each year as spring begins, a memory from high school always seems to find me. It takes place in English class my junior year. We were in the middle of a unit on American poets. As I gazed out the window – I remember an incredibly blue sky filled with puffy white clouds – the following words permeated my daydream:
“in Just-spring, when the world is mud-luscious, the little
lame balloonman whistles far and wee,
and eddie and bill come running from marbles and piracies, and it’s spring
when the world is puddle-wonderful, the queer old ballonman whistles far and wee,
and betty and isabel come dancing from hop-scotch and jump-rope, and it’s spring …”
My teacher was reading a poem by E.E. Cummings out loud. For the sake of efficiency, I’ve written the words as I heard them, rather than how they appear on the page. (If you look at a printed version of the piece, you’ll quickly see why E.E. Cummings is (in)famous for his non-standard spacing and capitalization and line breaks. To be fully appreciated, his poems need to be seen as well as heard.)
Two words stuck out: “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful.” Cummings’ language completely captured my imagination way back then, and it continues to haunt me, popping back to front of mind each year at around the time of the vernal equinox. In my opinion, the words perfectly describe springtime in New England – otherwise known as the season of mud and puddles.
On Earth Day Sunday (April 25) we gathered for worship on Woodfords’ front lawn with our friends from State Street Church and Williston-Immanuel United Church. Together, we took time to consciously celebrate the goodness of all of Creation. While it is easy to appreciate some parts of Creation—like cute baby animals and sweet birdsong and beautiful white clouds—it sometimes can be difficult to appreciate other parts of creation, like the mud that gets tracked into our cars and across our entryway floors.
As we clean up springtime’s detritus and dirt, might E.E. Cummings offer us a helpful change in perspective? Instead of seeing mud and puddles as annoying or inconvenient things, might we see them as “luscious” and “wonderful”? In drought-filled regions across the planet, millions of people pray for rain each day. And who knows … we in Maine might find ourselves praying for it more frequently, as well, as climate change takes its toll. For now, let’s revel in jumping in rain puddles and feeling mud squish between our toes. One doesn’t have to be a child to appreciate the inherent goodness that permeates all of mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful Creation.
In faith --
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Spring is here and Woodfords’ Stewardship campaign has begun.
Please give prayerful thought
to your new or continuing support for Woodfords.
Thank you to those who have already made pledges.
The Stewardship Team
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A Message from the New Director of
Woodfords Senior Program
Dear Members of the Woodfords Senior Program,
April was a month of celebrating Good News! The Good News of the resurrection of Jesus and the love of God. The earth reawakening from its winter slumber and gifting us with the beauty of new growth that appears to us more and more each day. What new growth will the Woodfords Senior Program herald as the church begins re-opening its doors welcoming its family home?
I am blessed and excited to be your new Director of Woodfords Senior Program. The WSP Leadership team and I have met via ZOOM and are looking forward to planning an exciting year ahead for everyone. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me and say hello!! I look forward to meeting each of you and hearing your hopes, ideas, and dreams for any programs you’d like to embark on. You can reach me by phone at 207-774-8243 ext. 107, email cbell@woodfordschurch.org, and I welcome visitors during my office hours Tues, Wed, Thurs. 10 – 3:00 pm.
Blessings and Spring Tidings,
Rev. Charlotte Bell
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Donation Update - LITTLE JUBBA
Last summer the church voted to support the Little Jubba Farm with a donation from the Armstrong Fund. This recognition of their efforts from the Portland Press Herald (see the article below) helps to explain their history and goals. We are appreciative of the contributions these new Mainers are bringing to our state.
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Church Office to Reopen in May
As we move toward reopening the church, the Woodfords Church Office will resume office hours starting May 17. The hours will be as follows:
Tuesday 9 am - 12 pm
Wednesday 9 am - 12 pm
Thursday 12 - 3 pm
Any meeting outside of these hours can be arranged for Tuesday - Thursday by emailing or calling Teri for an appointment.
If someone is in the church office with Teri, please wait outside until they leave. We will still have Covid protocols in place at that time and will limit the number of people in the office to one at a time. Also, of course, masks are still required throughout the entire building.
Also, if you think you might need more than 5-10 minutes, please call or email ahead of time to set up an appointment.
Finally, if you are coming into the building, please note that the doors are kept locked. Please make sure you know the back door code. Please contact either Teri or Louise to get it.
Thank you!
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Woodfords Church Building Use Policy
for May 2021
STAFF USE
Staff will be in the building on a somewhat limited basis. There is a space that has been set up to meet with members or mission partners (former Shambhala Room) to address questions. If you have a matter to discuss in person, please notify the staff member and we can arrange a day and time to meet. Please know that staff check email numerous times a day and even if they are not in the building, they are checking phone messages at least once a day. As noted above, the church office will start regular hours from May 17.
COUNCIL USE
The council of Woodfords Church moved their meetings to Zoom early in the pandemic and will continue to do so this spring. Committees are still meeting regularly and they also meet via Zoom.
MISSION PARTNER USE
Some of our full time mission partners are holding small group programs in the building. We have allowed them to use alternative spaces (Memorial Hall/Undercroft) in order for them to socially distance as much as possible. We are happy to report that Project Feed has also returned to Woodfords and resumed operations (with Covid precautions in place) in the building!
Other mission partners have not met in the building since March 2020. We hope to see their return later this spring or early summer.
MEMBER USE – SMALL GROUP
Small groups can book space to meet. Please contact Teri ( tcoviello@woodfordschurch.org) to book a day and time. The church will assign a meeting room to your group based on the number of participants. We will be using larger spaces (Memorial Hall, the sanctuary, Seely Hall and the Cloister) to meet in light of the lack of ventilation and our inability to open windows. (The front lawn and Memorial Garden are also options if the weather permits.)
SUNDAY SERVICES
We have rented a large tent (similar to last year) and installed it in the front lawn. We plan to have it up at least through the end of May and to hold as many Sunday services there as possible.
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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
Please click here to download a 2021 Woodfords Educational Scholarship Application
Those awarded WCC Education Scholarships will be notified of their awards by June 30, 2021.
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Did You Know?
WCC'S Pastor-Parish
Relations Committee...
... has been revitalized and rededicated to supporting effective ministry at Woodfords through attending to the important relationship between our church’s pastor and people. Whether a church is large, small, or historically peaceful (not given to conflict), history has shown that the health of this relationship should not be taken for granted. Therefore, our PPRC wants to do what we can to facilitate a sharing of the congregation’s ideas—dreams, hopes, expectations, and concerns—with Pastor Alyssa. Likewise, we hope to learn from Alyssa (and share with the congregation) her experience of pastoral function and needs she may have here at WCC.
Whereas the church’s Personnel Committee deals with policy matters, job descriptions, and salary and benefits for all members of the church staff, the PPRC has a different, more deeply relational focus. The PPRC’s purpose is to support the personal and professional well-being of the pastor, as well as to provide a means of communication to the congregation, through constructive and caring two-way dialog. In this way, our PPRC can be thought of as a support group for the effective ministry of the church, rather than just “the pastor’s support group” or merely a channel for congregational complaints.
In addition to Pastor Alyssa, current PPRC members are: Mitch Rosengarten (chair), Suzanne D’Bourget, Pete Sampson, and Elaine Armstrong. Feedback for the committee is welcome by contacting any committee member. (Consult the church directory or the church office for email addresses or phone numbers in this time of COVID). The invitation is that we all take an interest in the health of our pastoral/congregational relationship by supporting in constructive ways that which is rewarding and satisfying while heading off the potential for tension as we move through our church’s future together.
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Racial Justice Conversation Group
May 17: 7 pm
Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings
by Joy Harjo
This work has been described as “a musical, magical, resilient volume from the first Native American Poet Laureate of the United States.” In its poems, the joys and struggles of the everyday are played against the grinding politics of being human. Beginning in a hotel room in the dark of a distant city, we travel through history and follow the memory of the Trail of Tears from the bend in the Tallapoosa River to a place near the Arkansas River. Stomp dance songs, blues, and jazz ballads echo throughout. Lost ancestors are recalled. Resilient songs are born, even as they grieve the loss of their country. Called a "magician and a master" (San Francisco Chronicle), Joy Harjo is at the top of her form in Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings, which was a finalist for the Griffin Poetry Prize
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. 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
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Greater Portland Family Promise -
Woodfords' Unwavering Commitment
Especially in these unsettled times, Woodfords continues its strong commitment to Greater Portland Family Promise. And, no surprise, our support is now different from those times that seem long ago when we slept overnight at church, brought meals, came to play games and help with homework. With the superb coordination support of board members, Kristin Crean and Linda Anderson, Woodfords volunteers are providing some meals, weekly clean laundry, supplemental grocery shopping and more as needed to parents, Neolinda and Andre, and their children, Andreia,9, Gabby,4, and baby Anderson, an adorable 7 month old. (the bonus for being a laundry person is that you will get to briefly meet a parent and perhaps see Anderson!) Andre and Neolinda have recently taken full-time jobs after working hard in their English language classes. All is in the midst of a pandemic! Wow!
Stepping back a giant step, it is also good for us to know that Greater Portland Family Promise, is assisting two families who are presently housed in Portland area motels, as well as two families who have recently moved to apartments. Even though new families are not presently being welcomed into the program, FP provides active support to almost 30 graduate families, many of who stayed at Woodfords over the years. These families are in apartments in the Portland area. The GPFP support helps them on their path to financial stability with particular emphasis on housing stability.
Greater Portland Family Promise can use your help in many ways including our prayers for the Family Promise families and for all who have come to the Portland area from other countries seeking brighter futures economically, more opportunities educationally, socially, religiously or for all these and other reasons. Perhaps you have time and the willingness to sign up to provide a weekly meal or to do some grocery shopping for “our” family. Perhaps you could donate bus passes, Hannaford gift cards ($25 amounts are requested) or even rolls of Quarters for laundry. Perhaps you prefer to make a direct donation to GPFP. Or perhaps you have time to pack and/or deliver monthly food boxes to GPFP families. (IF this opportunity interests you, please contact Michelle at michelle@greaterportlandfamilypromise.org) All these ways of helping positively benefit the GPFP organization, the families they serve and all of us as we welcome new and diverse folks to enrich and grow the Portland metro area. Thanks be to God that we may do this work together.
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WCC Book Group
Second Wednesday of each month
3 pm on Zoom
Are you a reader? Do you often think it would be great to have people with whom you can share your thoughts on a current book? You may want to consider joining the Woodfords Book Club! 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!
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.
May: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and The Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmer (Lorraine)
Zoom Info...
Topic: Book Club
Time: May 12 at 3 pm EST
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 974 2458 6900
Passcode: 741840
Join by Phone: 1-301-715-8592 or 1-312-626-6799
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Woodfords Senior Programs
Ongoing, Weekly Offerings:
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 (Tuesday mornings) or for those 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 weekly. Please contact Robin Carter (robinbcarter@gmail.com) if you are interested in joining.
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Woodfords Women's
Zoom Gathering:
May 26 @ 7 pm
Dear Woodfords Women: Miss just hanging out? Craving the company of women friends? This is a reminder to jump on Zoom for our monthly women's get-together. Connect, catch up, and forget about the pandemic for awhile. All are welcome to join in. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 pm.
This Zoom link will also be posted in the weekly announcements.
Zoom details are...
Topic: A Gathering of Woodfords Women
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
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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! |
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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.)
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Project FEED’s Pandemic Life
In these unsettled times, many of us have changed our food habits; perhaps no more restaurant dinners, fewer stops for Rwanda Bean coffee, and getting used to takeout and grocery deliveries. But most of us are not going hungry or thinking about food insecurity. As Woodford members we know that many Mainers are hungry and/or food insecure and we are grateful for the work of Project Feed and their response to the hunger needs of Mainers in these pandemic times.
Gone are the days when we can bring soup for “Souper Bowl Sunday” or drop off diapers, toilet paper or canned goods at the Project Feed office when we make a trip to church. (Yikes! Remember when we did indeed make trips to church?) But it is wonderful to know that Woodfords folks and others who keep Project Feed in their Mission thoughts have kept on giving during these strange times. Project Feed Board Chair Steve Gray reports that even without a mailed annual appeal at the end of 2020, folks remembered the hungry and sent in donations. Wow and thanks!
As a result of these donations and the work of the volunteers and staff, Project Feed is now hard at work back at Woodfords Church. They have worked out a new procedure where clients call a volunteer with their needs; then on pick up days, other volunteers put together their grocery orders and give them to the clients or their caseworkers.
In the meantime, if you haven’t donated to Project FEED recently, please consider doing so. Donations can be sent by check to WCC. (Please write "Project Feed" in the memo line.) Or, you can donate online using the Woodfords Giving Form. Please mark this as "Other" and write "Project Feed" in the donation line. Each donation of money or as a volunteer supports the work in bringing the kingdom of Abundance for All that Jesus spoke of. Gifts shared are indeed multiplied and blessed.
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Submitting an article for the JUNE Beacon?
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HAPPY MAY BIRTHDAY TO...
Susan Clark 05/01
Michael Wolfe 05/01
Joyce Reynolds 05/02
Darcy Ross 05/02
Isabel Walter 05/02
Gordon Thomson 05/03
Benjamin Fries 05/03
Gregg Ritter 05/05
Donald Hamilton 05/07
Sara Wasdahl 05/11
Nancy Goodspeed 05/14
Barbara Thomson 05/15
Katharine Jordan 05/16
Bob Carten 05/17
Josslyn Philbrook 05/21
Audrey Cote 05/21
Emilia Cote 05/21
Erin Segal 05/22
Jae Brown 05/23
Chloe Shields 05/24
Judy Blanchard 05/26
Cynthia Harwood 05/26
Phyllis Campbell 05/26
Joan Dinsmore 05/27
Cedric Porter 05/28
Catherine Walter 05/29
Kurt Graser 05/29
Ella Dand 05/30
Elaine Haskell 05/30
Nan McLaughlin 05/31
HAPPY MAY ANNIVERSARY TO...
Bill & June St. Lawrence 05/06 60 years
Harold & Emily Sprague 05/20 60 years
William & Robin Carter 05/04 58 years
David & Lana Johnson 05/27 54 years
Stephen & Ellen Smith-Erb 05/18 25 years
Rita Zanichkowsky & Christine Torraca 05/27 21 years
Zachary & Camille Nelson 05/29 17 years
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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-Immanauel. 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 maskmakers 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 maskmakers 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).
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Woodfords Church Submission Guidelines for:
Announcements, The Beacon, FB Events
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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Articles must be submitted to Teri (info@woodfordschurch.org) by 5 pm on TUESDAY. Anything submitted after Tuesday, 5 pm will go in the next week’s mailing. Please do not expect timely publication if your submission is not timely.
- Announcements go out THURSDAY MORNING
- Articles must have:
- a title
- proofed, ready-to-publish text
- picture(s) or illustration(s) are optional
BEACON:
- The Beacon goes out the LAST DAY OF THE MONTH
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Articles must be submitted to Teri (info@woodfordschurch.org) by the 20th OF THE MONTH. Anything submitted after the 20th of the month will go in the next month’s Beacon. Please do not expect timely publication if your submission is not timely.
- Articles must have:
- a title
- proofed, ready-to-publish text
- picture(s) or illustration(s)
FACEBOOK EVENT:
- Teri can create a FB event for your upcoming event. Please submit the event request 3-5 DAYS PRIOR to when you want the event to appear on FB.
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Please fill out the FB event form in full and submit to Teri (info@woodfordschurch.org).
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