Williston-West Church

PASTOR’S NOTES
Eric Kelley

I remember when the summer season at Williston-West was a very quiet time when no committees met, the gardens fended for themselves and only a handful of people came to worship on Sunday. Well that’s all different now. Summer is still more relaxed, as it should be, but committees meet regularly to deliberate the business and nurture the life of our people. The gardens are well tended and continue to expand and improve under the able hands of people who care. Worship on Sunday morning is smaller than our winter gatherings but considerably larger than most would have ever believed and our Tuesday evening worship continues with a small but faithful group. The ninth annual Jonesport retreat is upon us again and this Sunday, June 16^th we will be taking ten more precious souls into covenant membership.

With all this said we must remember that summer is also our time of re-creation. It is a time to lay back a little and take stock of life from the thoughtful perspective of a hammock or from a new place that we may be visiting for the first time that moves us to praise God. It is a time to have a visit with quietness and solitude that we may view our own lives with a light that can come in no other way. I will be taking the month of August to do just that and I am profoundly thankful to have that time and the support of all my friends at Williston-West.

Grace and Peace,

Eric

Mission Committee Update

From Church World Service…

East Timor-As some of the 200,000 East Timorese who fled or were forcibly deported are beginning to return to their homes, many others remain encamped in West Timor. CWS has provided $50,000 in Blanket Funds to help purchase tents, food, blankets, and bedding to some 3,000 families.

Burma/Thailand Border – CWS has provided $200,000 in Blanket Funds to the Burmese Border Consortium (BBC) to purchase blankets and mosquito nets for ethnic minority refugees along the border. The BBC provides food and relief assistance to nearly 112,000 refugees from Burma in cooperation with the Thai Government. The mosquito nets and blankets are the most needed relief supplies in this region as they help to ward off malaria and respiratory diseases.

Ghana, The Volta Region – The Aynabor Women’s Group have increased their production of and income from cassava thanks to a mechanical cassava grinder provided by CWS – a tool of hope and empowerment that has freed 13 women and one man from the long trip, extended wait, and high fees incurred when they had to use the single cassava processing facility that serves 18 other villages.

Illinois – Catholic Urban Programs of East St. Louis ministers to the homeless and needy of their own community and through Southern Illinois. They operate a food pantry, provide assistance to individuals and families in need, have a shelter for women and children, and feeding programs at the church and in the community. CEW ovided 1,500 blankets to the program as they minister to the homeless and distressed.

• 102,450 "Gift of the Heart" Health Kits,
• 56,770 School Kits,
• 6,303 Clean-Up Kits, and
• 3,510 Baby Kits

…for families in need – from coastal Carolina to Sierra Leone, recovering from years of civil strife.

Campaign to help: Blanket the World with LOVE will begin on September 17, 2000. Blankets will be $5.00.

$25,000 Challenge Update – It Continues!
Stewardship Committee

As of June 30, nineteen members and friends of Williston-West have stepped forward with pledges or contributions to the $25,000 Challenge Grant to our endowment. The total to date is $8,370. The goal of the anonymous donor is to raise awareness of the endowment and its importance to the church. The Stewardship Committee hopes to meet this year’s portion of the Challenge Grant by our Jonesport Retreat, July 22-23. Contributions and pledges so far range from outright gifts of $20 to $50 and pledges over the three-year period of up to $1,000. In order to receive the full $25,000 of the challenge we need to raise another $16,630.

Inside the cover of this months newsletter is a Challenge Grant pledge form for your convenience. The pledge form can be returned to the office or placed in the Sunday offering.

Thank you to those listed below who have recognized this opportunity to increase our endowment.

We finished our regular Sunday school schedule on June 11^th. Twenty-one children received their crosses and pins. We are all very proud of them, they worked very hard this year.

We have been holding a one room Sunday school this summer for children who are too young to sit through church. Volunteer teachers are taking one Sunday each to supervise the lesson. A new face in the infant care room is Victoria Chicon, she is taking Maria Crons’ place as the new infant care provider. We are sorry to see Maria go, she gave us a whole year of excellent childcare. However, we are really happy to have Victoria with us.

We will be making preparations for this coming fall. We are excited about our kick-off Sunday in September. Stand by for details.

Capital Campaign Update
William K. Tyler,Trustee Chairman

There are still funds remaining from the original 1995 Capital Campaign which are being used to pay for needy Williston-West projects.

• $6,100 for the nursery school room
• $3,000 for oriental rugs for the memorial chapel
• $2,740 for repairs to the Carroll Street sanctuary wall
• Up to $2,000 for new furniture for the secretary’s office
• Up to $1,000 to repaint the dining room Up to $1,000 to increase the third floor railing height above the nursery
• $849 for a new snow blower

1. repairing some outside brick work on the Carroll Street side of the sanctuary;
2. a new church sign on Thomas Street;
3. new seat cushions for the sanctuary side pews and
4. a new handicap ramp entrance to the church.

Endowments
Stewardship Committee

"…And to the United States Government I leave $200,000…"

In his last will and testament, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendall Holmes left a bequest of two-thirds of his estate to the United States Government. Most of us would leave our estate elsewhere, to loved ones, our favorite charity, or to our church. But it will take some planning. It will take a will.

A will can dispose of your assets according to your wishes with the least possible taxes and other costs. Having the assistance of a professional in writing your will may assure you that your intentions are fulfilled. With relatively simple planning, you can arrange that your assets provide for your spouse during his or her lifetime, and then be passed on to loved ones, including your church, with the least possible exposure to estate taxes.

Through his will, Justice Holmes chose to benefit that which he served during his lifetime. Through your last will and testament you can chose to continue to support of and involvement with Williston-West beyond your lifetime. Consult your attorney or accountant to review the alternatives available to you.

The Deacons' Bench
Greg Fougere

The summer season is in full swing and that means coming to church an hour earlier, 9:30 A.M. instead of 10:30A.M.. If you are a morning person, this tradition is a blessing, because you presumably have an hour longer to enjoy the beautiful summer Sundays (this may not necessarily be true, especially if Eric happens to mention that his sermon is going to be short that morning). If you are not a morning person, it can be a challenge to even get to church. It’s easy to rationalize, even if it’s obviously not true, that you don’t have enough time to get ready. I fall into the latter category because I work second shift. I can relate to giving into the urge to sleep in. Therefore I was quite impressed by the number of people who were in attendance last Sunday, when I did show up. I remember when there were a lot more empty pews in the summer. It’s a positive reflection on the health of our church.

Sadly, one of our dear sisters passed away on May 31^st. Louise Glendenning was visiting her daughter in Natick, MA when she became ill. Her service was held in Machiasport on June 20^th. She was originally a member of the West Church and came here after the merger with Williston. Louise had one of the most uplifting personalities. Louise was ninety-three years old and will be sorely missed.

The deacons are already making plans to offer some exciting programs for the fall and winter. We are in the planning stages and will be giving out the details as they are firmed up. We expect to offer some great opportunities for enrichment, so plan on reserving some time this fall and winter. Currently, there is an alternate worship service in Memorial Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

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Finally, the need for Sunday liturgists continues over the summer, so contact Bill Whelan if you are interested.

John Calvin Stevens Paintings
William K. Tyler, Trustee Chairman

We recently discovered that Williston-West owns two original paintings by John Calvin Stevens. One is above Eric’s desk and the other is located in the secretary’s office. If any parishioner has information concerning the source or history of these two paintings, please notify either Eric or John Hartley. It has been suggested that these two paintings could be sold and the proceeds deposited in an escrow fund for the future replacement or repair of the church heating system when the furnace eventually gives out.