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december 2015december 2015december 2015december 2015
A Service of Lessons & Carols for AdventA Service of Lessons & Carols for AdventA Service of Lessons & Carols for AdventA Service of Lessons & Carols for Advent Sunday, December 13, 10:00 AM, Sanctuary
“Wai�ng for God’s Promise Fulfilled”
Chancel Choir, Woodfords Ringers, and Liturgical Dance
Pre-Service Music by the Woodfords Family Christmas Orchestra.
Blue Christmas Serv ice Blue Christmas Serv ice Blue Christmas Serv ice Blue Christmas Serv ice Sunday, December 6, 5:00 PM, Chapel
This special worship acknowledges that
there is pain in people’s lives and offers a
reassurance that they are not alone, and
that they, too, can experience God’s love,
which is at the heart of the season.
You are welcome here ! Advent & Christmas Advent & Christmas Advent & Christmas Advent & Christmas
WorshipWorshipWorshipWorship
Christmas Worship ServicesChristmas Worship ServicesChristmas Worship ServicesChristmas Worship Services
Christmas Sunday Worship, Dec 20th, 10:00am
Christmas Eve Worship, Thursday, Dec 24th
5:00pm-All Family Worship & Pageant
8:30pm-Christmas music &carol singing, with
Woodfords Ringers, Chancel Choir, & Organ
9:00pm-Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols
2 The Woodfords Beacon
H a p p y D e c e m b e r B i r t h d a y To . . .
Gladys Stokinger .......... 4th
Alison Grey .................. 4th
Samantha Wilson ......... 5th
Helen Ashley ................ 8th
Hannah Smith-Erb ........ 8th
Ka�e Campbell ............. 9th
Lucy Twaddel ............... 9th
Nelson Toner ............... 11th
Kevin McKee ................ 12th
Caleb Shields ................ 12th
Carl Anderson .............. 15th
Barbara Congdon ......... 15th
Bonnie Paris ................. 16th
Karen Philbrook ........... 16th
Ed Hodges .................... 17th
Mary Moriarty.............. 17th
Beth Rovnak ................. 17th
Elizabeth McGlinn ......... 18th
Mary Rokosz ................. 18th
Priscilla Greene ............. 19th
Bruce McAfee ............... 19th
Ginnie Toner ................. 19th
Jean Wriggins ............... 20th
Sarah Wriggins .............. 20th
Meredith McKeeman .... 23rd
Dorianne Ross ............... 24th
Fiona Johnson ............... 24th
Dorothy Ingalls ............. 27th
Wayne Johnson ............ 29th
Harle Watson ................ 29th
Fran Paris ...................... 30th
Sable Strout .................. 30th
Happy December Anniversary To... Cynthia & Waldo Harwood .... 12/16/2006
Joan Dinsmore & George Bouchard 12/17/1995
Congratula4ons on Your Bap4sm
The congrega�on sends its blessings to Cara Elise Baker, and
her parents, Joseph and Candace Baker, and her great aunt
and uncle, Rev. James and Paula Fletcher, upon the occasion
of her bap�sm by Rev. James at Woodfords Church on November 8th.
We wish the Baker family all the very best
as they raise Cara in the Chris�an faith.
The Woodfords Beacon 3
Our Church Family Mourns
The congrega�on is saddened by the news of the death of Ruth
Thompson on November 5th. Ruth had been a member of
Woodfords Church since 1990.
The congrega�on is sadden by the news of the death of Dorothy
Balabas on November 16th. Dorothy had been a member of
Woodfords Church since 1995 .
May their souls rest in peace.
Advent Silence:
Advent Contempla4ve Prayer Let every heart prepare him room”
Beginning on the First Sunday in Advent November 29, and con�nuing
every Sunday in Advent through December 20, from 9:15am to 9:45am,
you are invited to share silence with others in the Parlor as we enter the
Christmas season together. We will be opening our hearts to Christ’s
birth within us by “preparing him room”, prac�cing God’s first language,
silence. All are welcome. For more informa�on contact
Mary Zachary-Lang, Director of Spiritual
Growth
The 18th Annual Celebra4on
of the Winter Sols4ce
Saturday, December 19th at 8:00 am;
Gilsland Farm, Route 1, Falmouth
Join us as we embrace the coming of winter –and take pause in the
serenity and beauty of the outside world. Prayers, songs, readings and a
walking medita�on are all part of this morning’s gathering. We’ll be
across from the pond, near the rock. Symbols of light and winter for the
altar and breakfast treats are welcome. FMI contact Ellen Smith-Erb at
829-6748 or [email protected].
4 The Woodfords Beacon
From Rev. Carolyn…
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to
bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to
the cap�ves and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free.”
Christmas Draws Nigh
The leaves have fallen, frost covers the ground most mornings, snow has
already fallen in parts of our beloved state and all about us are the signs
that Christmas ‘draws nigh’ once again. Christmas: the ul�mate reminder
that, as Chris�ans, we’re called to lives that center on the tangible offer
of radical hospitality and welcome. We remember that Abraham, one of the ancient patriarchs of our faith,
in welcoming 3 strangers was really welcoming God; we remember that
when Mary and Joseph were not welcomed by the average ci�zens of
Bethlehem; lowly shepherds and pagan magi did welcome them. And, of
course, we remember Jesus’ words: “Come, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the founda�on of the world; for I was hungry and
you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I
was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me
clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you
visited me.” We, too, are called again and again to see all of God’s children as worthy
of such radical hospitality and welcome. In case you’re looking for
opportuni�es to do so, here are some simple and tangible ways we have
to welcome the stranger and honor our call to care for the marginalized
as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Immanuel once again.
• Replace some of the usual ‘giI exchanges’ by contribu�ng to one of
the many non-profit organiza�ons that con�nue to care for the
marginalized and ‘strangers’ in this community and beyond: The Long
Creek Youth Center, Project Feed, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer
Interna�onal, Hope House (which provides housing for asylum seekers
here in Portland) – these are just a few examples.
• Plan to join us in January as we con�nue to discern the ways in which
racism con�nues to destroy the fabric of our local, na�onal and global
THE SERRV SHOP at Woodfords Erin RiNer and Iris Walter invite you to kick off your Christmas
shopping by star�ng where your purchases mean so much more! The SERRV website says it best: We believe ar�sans and farmers around
the world should have the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and
support their families through fair payments and respec)ul rela�onships.
Lots of new merchandise, including ornaments and holiday décor, is
arriving. Be sure to include the SERRV shop in your Christmas shopping!
The Woodfords Beacon 5
It’s the Annual Christmas Pageant
and there are parts for everyone! Our early (5:00 PM) Christmas Eve service will be a
retelling of the Christmas story. It’s a very simple
pageant with a very compelling and poignant
message. People of all ages are needed and invited to
par�cipate – from babies to seniors! If you would like
to take part in our annual Pageant (it’s true- there are parts for everyone-
or you can help us stage’ manage!) . A single, brief rehearsal will take
place right a�er worship on Sunday, December 20th. Ques�ons? See
Rev. Carolyn!
communi�es. Be part of conversa�ons that can begin to move us beyond
division and towards a true welcome of all people. Discussions will
resume aIer worship on Sunday, January 10. • Support our young people’s service and mission endeavors: sign up to
bring your children to our Youth Group baby-siTng evening which will be
held on Friday, December 4, 5-9 PM. We’ll provide a simple meal (pizza!),
snacks, games, craI projects, appropriate Christmas movies and plenty of
adult supervision. The cost will be $20 for the first child in a family, $10
for each addi�onal child in the same family. Funds collected will be used for mission and service projects: our young
people are excited about exploring local service opportuni�es and
planning a mission trip for the spring/summer of 2016; they, too, are
seeking concrete ways to welcome the stranger with both their hearts
and their hands.
6 The Woodfords Beacon
THE SEASON OF ADVENTTHE SEASON OF ADVENTTHE SEASON OF ADVENTTHE SEASON OF ADVENT Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks
before Christmas (this year it begins November 29.
Advent means 'coming' in La�n; this is the ’coming’
of Jesus into the world as an infant and into our lives.
Chris�ans use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent
to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.
“God never gives someone a gi4 they are not capable of
receiving. If he gives us the gi4 of Christmas, it is because we
all have the ability to understand and receive it.”
~Pope Francis
Special Advent and Christmas Music
Advent III December 13: Advent Lessons and Carols
WAITING FOR GOD’S PROMISE FULFILLED
featuring the Chancel Choir, Woodfords Ringers, and
Liturgical Dance, with Pre-Service Music provided by the
Woodfords Family Christmas Orchestra
Advent IV December 20:
9:45 Carol Sing with the Woodfords Family Christmas Orchestra
10:00 Anthems by Children’s Choir and Chancel Choir
There’s s4ll 4me to join the December Instrumental Ensemble!
We have parts for brass players, strings, and
woodwinds. Players of All skill levels are welcome—6th
Grade through Adult. Invite a friend and/or a neighbor to
join us in this new adventure at Woodfords Church.
The ensemble will provide pre-service music on the 3rd
Sunday of Advent, Dec. 13 and both before and during
worship on the 4th Sunday of Advent, Dec 20. • Rehearsals: Last one is Sunday, December 6th aIer worship at 11:30
am in the Music Room.
• Music can be picked-up from Paul Schnell aIer worship. He’ll be in
the front of the sanctuary around the piano!
The Woodfords Beacon 7
Announcing a Special Concert
Woodfords Church and the Boy Singers of Maine are jointly sponsoring a
concert featuring the Yale Glee Club from New Haven, Connec�cut.
Under the ar�s�c direc�on of Dr. Jeff Douma, the Yale Glee Club will be
performing their mid-winter tour of choral music in our Woodford's
Sanctuary. The Program is scheduled for Saturday, January 16 at 7:00 pm.
Please note: the Music and Worship team will be needing help in providing
dinner for the 70 guests musicians and their chaperones before the
concert. More details will be provided as they become available. Thank
you in advance for your help!
Advent Event and Potluck: November 29, the 1st Sunday in Advent.
Join us in Memorial Hall following worship for a potluck
(leIover turkey dishes are always welcomed!) and we’ll
make Advent wreaths. There is a sign up sheet in the
Cloister so you can indicate what you plan to bring to
share and whether you plan to stay to make a wreath.
Carol Singing at Park Danforth!
Tuesday, December 8, 5:00pm. We’ll gather first in Memorial Hall and for�fy ourselves
with a supper of grilled cheese sandwiches and hot
chocolate and then head off by 6:30pm to sing carols at
Park Danforth on Stevens Ave. Come and join us. It is
lots of fun and a nice way to share Christmas joy!
Monday, Dec 14, 7:30pm
Woodfords Church
Sanctuary This is the annual food drive to benefit Project Feed. $5 admission,
students are free. Please bring a dona�on to Project Feed.
Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along
8 The Woodfords Beacon
The Casco Bay Crop Walk We overjoyed to report that the final treasurer's report
for the October 18th CROP Hunger Walk indicates that we
are just a liNle short of our $10,000.00 goal. The final tally
is $9,019.35. Woodford's folk can be justly proud of the
fact that our church was by far the largest contributor in
every category including: largest on-line contribu�ons,
largest cash contribu�ons and most number of persons
contribu�ng at least $100.00. However, it should be noted
that a very hard- working inter-church commiNee made
this hunger walk a success. And most importantly, a very
significant contribu�on has been made to one of the
world's most efficient chari�es, Church World
Service. With these giIs, our world-wide ecumenical
ministries to those who hunger has been given a
wonderful boost. And, by-the-way, 25% of the proceeds
from the CROP Walk will stay in the Portland area to
combat hunger right at our doorstep. Congratula�ons and
thank you for your generous response!
Rev. James Fletcher, CROP Walk Treasurer
Photos courtesy
of Bob Cuzner
The Woodfords Beacon 9
GiBs for Long Creek Youth Center For the past few years, members and friends of
Woodfords have generously donated giIs for the
young men and women at Long Creek Youth Center, a
juvenile deten�on facility in South Portland. This
resource serves all of the youth in the en�re state.
Currently, about 100 youth (including 12-15 girls) from ages 13-21 are at
Long Creek. Most will not be with their families this holiday season, so
please consider purchasing an item (or two!) found on the giI tags on the
tree in the Cloister, so all of these young people can have at least a few
special items this Christmas. These items also send a strong message of
support and affirma�on, which goes a long way on the road to recovery
and change. To provide a giI, take a giI tag from the tree and return the item under
the tree by Sunday, December 13. If you return items during the week,
please drop them off at the church office and do not leave them under
the tree. Some tags have specific instruc�ons so be sure to buy only what
is specified. GiIs should be unwrapped and placed in a giI bag. Long Creek also needs help year round. The youth there are much more
than the mistakes they have made, and volunteers are needed to help
residents develop the skills they need to be responsible and contribu�ng
members of their communi�es. Individual volunteers provide the giI of
�me to mentor, tutor, play music and sports, or provide spiritual
direc�on. Long Creek has a special need for individuals to provide
programming on Friday and Saturday nights. Please consider giving to
Long Creek Youth Center - now and throughout the year. For more
informa�on about volunteer opportuni�es, contact Melanie Cardus or
Stephanie NeNo at Long Creek. 822-2605. Thanks, Brent
Oops! I Missed the Downeast Holiday Fair Sale ! If you happened to have missed the Downeast Holiday Fair (perhaps you
were visi�ng another planet that day?) you have a second chance to buy
some great items– perhaps finish/start your Christmas shopping? Visit the
Cloister on Sunday, December 6th for the AIer Fair Sale!
10 The Woodfords Beacon
WE’RE A BEACON AGAIN!
With the oversight of ScoN
MacLeod, our building
manager, the front of
Woodfords Church looks great
thanks to the religh�ng of our
steeple, and is structurally
sound thanks to our new
columns! The firms of M.R.
Brewer (columns) and Rick
Emery Electrical completed
the work in record �me and
once again Woodfords Church
is a beacon for our Woodfords
neighborhood. Thank you Jeff
Brewer, Rusty Brewer, Rick
Emery, and ScoN for jobs well
done!
The Grant Fund Ac4vi4es For Woodfords Church Seniors 65+
GRANT FUND YOGA - Thursdays, 10am-11am, Parlor
$3 a class or $20 for a 10-week session. You can ‘walk in’ during the
current session– fee is $3 per class. Please contact Jennie 774-8243.
LUNCH & LEARN, 11:30am-12:30pm, 2nd Flr Conf Rm
Please bring your own bag lunch; beverages & dessert are
provided. Please RSVP to Jennie 774-8243– if not enough folks
sign up we may need to cancel . December 4th- "Living Well as We Age" with Susan Doughty. Susan will
talk about the following in rela�on to senior health: relaxa�on
strategies, stretching/Yoga, exercise, food, supplements, posi�vity, and
social connec�ons as well as the importance of a robust spiritual life.
SANTA’S ELVES PARTY- Woodfords
Sunday School Youth & Elders, Sunday,
December 6th, 11:30am-12:00pm, in the
Parlor. This is an intergenera�onal
ac�vity for the children and elders to get
to know one another beNer. We will pair Elders and Youth who do not
know each other well, to share a few minutes to get to know one
another beNer. Of course, we will serve Christmas goodies. Please do
not bring a giI to exchange. If you are interested in aNending, please
contact Jennie at 774-8243 or at [email protected].
People are welcome to just come that day but if you know for sure you
will be there, please RSVP so we have an idea of how many to plan for.
MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS- Friday, December 11th, $20 per
person, Space is limited! A boxed lunch will be handed
out in Memorial Hall at 12pm. The group will board the
bus in the Woodfords Parking Lot at 12:45 and head over
to Merrill Auditorium in �me to hear part of the Organ
Prelude. The ma�nee performance begins at 2pm, and the bus should
return to Woodfords around 4:15 pm. Sign up by November 29th by
calling Jennie at 774-8243. In the event of snow, if the show is s�ll on,
the trip will s�ll be on (�ckets are non-refundable). AIer November
30th, �ckets will be open to all members of Woodfords Church.
12 The Woodfords Beacon
The Woodfords Beacon 13
**Please remember to send in your payment within a week of signing up,
to reserve your �cket. **
BINGO SOCIAL! Wednesday, December 16,, 1:00pm, 2nd Flr
Conf Rm. Please come and join us for bingo and snacks! We
will play several games for fun prizes and will end with a
Grand Prize! Please RSVP to Jennie at 774-8243 by Monday,
December 14th
BOOK CLUB, Thursday, December 17, 1:30pm, Parlor
We will be discussing White Dog Fell from the Sky by Eleanore
Morris. Books have been purchased for current members.
Feel free to get the book on your own and join in the
discussion. If you are interested in joining book club, please
contact Jennie at 774-8243 or at
JANUARY LUNCHEON, Friday, January 8th, 11:30am, Memorial Hall
Please join us and your Grant Fund friends for great
entertainment, food and fellowship! The Lighthouse
Jubilees, the duo of Angie GuilleNe and Pat McLellan, will
return to Woodfords to perform their “oldies but goodies”
entertainment and sing-a-long. Mekong Bistro will
provide a buffet of Thai food (flavorful but not spicy). As
always, we will have delicious dessert! Please RSVP to Jennie at 774-8243
or at j�[email protected] by Monday, January 4th.
Let me not wrap, stack, box, bag, tie, tag, bundle, seal, keep Christmas. Christmas kept is liable to mold. Let me give Christmas away, unwrapped, by exuberant armfuls.
Let me share, dance, live Christmas unpretentiously, merrily, responsibly...with overflowing hands, tireless steps and sparkling eyes. Christmas given away will stay fresh—even until it comes again. ~”Let Me Not Keep Christmas” by Linda Felver
14 The Woodfords Beacon
An Evening in Paris Due to popular demand, the Woodfords
Church Dinner Dance is returning. It will be
held on Saturday, April 9, 2016 and the
theme is An Evening in Paris. Just imagine
Memorial Hall being transformed into a
scene from Paris with all that Paris has to
offer. The �ckets will be $50 per
person. There will be live music, fine dining and a great deal of fun and
fes�ve fellowship! Do you have one or two people who are difficult to
buy Christmas or birthday presents for? Why not �ckets to this
wonderful, exci�ng evening? For more informa�on please contact one of
the people on the planning commiNee: Pip Hennessey, Laura Carten,
Lorraine Canterbury, Connie Smith, Judy Swicker, Robin Carter, Marge
Sampson, or Jean Koster.
It never
hurts to
laugh!
D E C E M B E R L E C T I O N A R Y R E A D I N G S
12/6 Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
12/13 Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18
12/20 Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10;
Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)
12/25 Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14, (15-20);
12/27 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52
The Woodfords Beacon 15
The Portland String Quartet
Sunday, December 6, 2:00pm
This concert will include: the bird like violin melodies of the Haydn Op. 33,
No. 3, “The Birds” wriNen in 1781, the Ernest Bloch Quartet No. 2 in A
minor wriNen in 1946 and the Beethoven String Quartet Op. 132 wriNen
in 1828 and dedicated to Count Nicolai Galitzin. As always, �ckets are free
for the asking at the gate for Woodfords Church members.
MiIens, Gloves, Scarves, Hats Collec4on We are collec�ng miNens, gloves, scarves and hats through
the end of December, when we will give them to folks in
need to help keep them warm for the winter. If you have
any spares, please put them in the box under the Sanctuary tree.
Winter Storm Closings Stormy Sunday Mornings: Staff will make a decision
by 7:00 AM as to whether to cancel the worship
service. IF church is cancelled, it will be announced
on TV Channels 6, 8, & 13 . For all other events, generally when schools are
closed, events are cancelled, but we will try to constantly update the
church voice mail message. If your event is to be held in the evening, and
schools were open during the day, but the weather has worsened, we will
ATTEMPT to no�fy aNendees by email and will also try to get a message
on the voice mail.
16 The Woodfords Beacon
The Woodfords Beacon is published and edited by Sharon Stephenson,
Office Manager sstephensonodfordschurch.org; 774-8243 ext 103
JANUARY
ar4cles
are due
December 15
Date Usher
Team Head Deacons
12/6 1 Tom & Pip Hennessey
12/13 3 Judy Flaker & Bob Carten
12/20 4 Fren Seeley & Nelson Toner
12/24 Christmas Eve– SPECIAL
12/27 5 Janet Stewart & John England
DEACONS SCHEDULE
Date Team
12/6 7
12/13 1
12/20 2
12/24 Volunteers
12/27 3
COUNTING TEAM SCHEDULE
COMMUNION SUNDAY
Elements Team 2 Communion Team:
O Christmas Tree! The congrega�on is very grateful for the
anonymous dona�on of our beau�ful Sanctuary
Christmas tree. The evergreen has evolved over
the centuries as a symbol of Christmas, expressing
hope, beauty and joy. Thank you for a giI we all
enjoy and which adds so much to our Advent and
Christmas worship experience
The Woodfords Beacon 17
PLEASE PRINT ALL INFORMATION
My Name: ______________________________________
Contact Info:____________________________________
Please indicate whether name is to be listed:
A: in memory of
B: in honor of
C: in celebra�on of
Number of plants I wish to order: ______ x $11 per plant = ____________
Please enclose your payment for the numbers of plants you wish to order.
Name of person I wish to include in church bulle4n Listed
as
Christmas Memorial PoinsettiasChristmas Memorial PoinsettiasChristmas Memorial PoinsettiasChristmas Memorial Poinsettias It’s �me to place your orders for Christmas Memorial
PoinseTas. Remember your loved ones and help
decorate the Sanctuary with a beau�ful display of
poinseTas. The cost for the poinseTa is $11.00.
Please send your check to the church office by
Sunday, December 13th, along with this order form.