Williston-West Church

PASTOR’S NOTES
Eric Kelley

If you attend Williston-West you know that Ian is the little blond guy who always has an answer to any question that comes up during the children’s time. He is thoughtful in his religious quest and you know that Ian has had a very good Christian education. His parents have not only been extremely active on all levels of our educational program they have also been very faithful in attending all the events we have sponsored for our children. So, needless to say, Ian’s religious quest has been nurtured with good information in a loving community since he was an infant. Still that basic question comes up in a world where we are constantly bombarded at every age level with fantasies masquerading as reality and gods presented as God – Is Jesus real?

The religious quest is a most natural thing for children and it is most important that we give them a forum where they see adults taking it seriously and their questions are explored with information appropriate to their age level. What disturbs me as much as anything is the number of our children who are not given the basic tools they need as little ones to equip them to ask the big religious questions when they come adults. If we want the church to be a part of our children’s lives when they grow up we have got to give it to them now. And if we are going to give it to them at all they have got to see us taking it seriously in the daily rounds of our lives.

Our Christian Education Committee is doing a great job and we should be thankful for the work they are doing. One of their tasks is to get us involved and they are asking for our help now. This year is all taken care of but come fall there is a new model they want us to be part of. No one will have to quit their day job to become fully engaged but we each need to give something. So keep your eyes open to all that is happening and think seriously about how you may participate and be ready to say a resounding YES when you are called. The church is one of the most precious gifts we can give our children and when given right it will last them a lifetime!

Is Jesus real? Let’s answer that question for Ian and all of our children by being there for them as a community of faith who takes seriously our commitment to Christ through loving service to one another.

Grace and Peace,

Eric

Assuring Our Future

$25,000 Challenge Grant – 97% of Goal and Counting!
Linda Zillman, Stewardship Committee

As a result of our success, the donor has agreed to match all pledges and gifts to date and will continue to match donations up to $27,000 or $9,000 per year.

The Stewardship Committee is very appreciative of all donors to this Challenge. The anonymous donor made a payment of $9000 in December of 2000, so with the gifts from our community, the Endowment was enhanced by $18,000 in 2000.

Inside the cover of this month’s 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.

Thanks to…

ALTAR FLOWERS and EASTER PLANTS
Phil Crane, Membership Committee

Easter Sunday we will have our usual beautiful display of spring flowers to celebrate the Resurrection and beginning of life.

If you would like to donate toward these Easter plants, you may send money to the office or use the insert in the Sunday bulletin. There is space for noting to whom you would like the flowers dedicated.

There is now a FLOWER CALENDAR at the rear of the sanctuary so you can sign up for special dates throughout the year to honor or memorialize loved ones.

Checking the calendar will show what dates are available and allow you to write on your preferred date. Feel free to discuss this with any member of the FLOWER COMMITTEE, Susan Arnold, and Chair. For instance, you can either bring in the arrangement yourself or you can provide the funds to have one created. We do suggest that you follow up with the church office as your date gets close.

We will continue to publish such donations, unless requested not to.

Mission Committee Update
Audrey Tanner

So today will we head for the zoo, or to Somalia, or the Boardwalk?

Probably you’re thinking Portland’s not the right spot for any one of these, let alone all three. Read on, and we’ll tell you how.

Since early February, six of Williston-West adults have been having great fun with kids at Portland West’s (after school) Learning Center. And yes, some of us have come to know quite a lot about the Siberian tiger, the llama, and other exotic zoo animals during a kids-level computer search.

The current crop of ten or so youngsters (age 7 to 12) are mainly from Reiche School, right across Brackett Street from the Portland West building. The families of most have come here from Somalia, so we get little tidbits of background as we go along.

To practice her reading and chat with the little scarf wearing Ikram, a Muslim, is delightful and a real contrast to my own school days in a near total WASP setting! Doing math with Abdi Jamal, if not delightful, is lively and fun.

We present Williston-West volunteers Anne Bonney, Betty Furman, Christina Lyons, Diane Tyler, Linda Zillman, and (me) Audrey Tanner. At least one of us has been a player in one of those really long Monopoly games, in case you’re still wondering where the Boardwalk fits into all this.

SCHEDULE: The after school Learning Center starts right at 3:00PM in a "lounge" for snack, conversation, settling in (15-20 minutes). Moves to a large room with big tables for homework and such (30-40 minutes), then usually to the room with computers (there are 8 to 10) to search out and print up lots of good stuff for an hour. The program ends promptly at 5:00PM. It also follows the Reiche School calendar.

The program has a paid coordinator, the rules are clear, and it’s an easy, fun place to volunteer.

Apple Tree you’ve heard a lot about, and lately Olive Tree: we thought it’s time to let you in on this less known way some of us are serving God by "reaching out" right here in our own West End.

Portland West always loves more volunteers (another program there involves teens and carpentry). See one of us listed above to ask more or call Liz at Portland West, 775-0105.

Volunteer Spotlight: Charles Goodale
Bill Tyler

The interview revealed, amongst other things, that he and his wife have been residents of Cape Elizabeth for 35 years; that he originally started in Bangor but later transferred to the Portland area; that his hobbies include woodworking and making furniture like end tables and hutches; and that he and his wife enjoy walking through the "marsh" since they are both avid birders.

This volunteer work comes as no surprise to those of us from Williston -West who know his past (and present) involvement with our church and it’s numerous outreach projects. And, his handiwork is readily recognizable at our annual Church Fair each December . . . keep up the good work, Charlie!!!

From the Moderator
Marion Hopkins

Our first Council Meeting on March 20 was well attended and packed with information.  It is clear that we have a very active and involved congregation.   We even had a few folks there who didn't have to come! Thank you for your interest. I hope we have more "visitors" next time.

Most of the business heard at that meeting will appear in other newsletter articles. There are a few things that I want to emphasize.  Take a look at the article, reprinted elsewhere in this newsletter that appeared in the Maine Conference UCC Edition of the United Church News publication, "Mainstay" (March 2001).  In it, Williston-West Church is listed as one of 10 UCC churches in the country awarded the title "church of excellence".  Some of the criteria include "being willing to take risks with leadership, liturgy or programs" and being "welcoming" to all.  This is a wonderful honor.  We are being recognized for being open, inclusive and adventurous in our spiritual life.  To hear that we are unusually good at this comes as no surprise; but it is wonderfully nice to hear.  Let's keep up the good work.

We are getting along very well right now.  So, it is probably a good time to do a little self-examination before we start taking ourselves for granted!  We have just the vehicle for this exercise.  Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 29 after worship.  Come to brunch and continue the study program suggested by the Alban Institute.  We'll try to ferret out our congregation's "norms", our unverbalized expectations of each other, with Don Zillman as facilitator.  Be thinking about what behaviors you expect of others in our church family - and of yourself.  Not a bad exercise for our remaining weeks of Lent.

Christmas Fair 2001
Sally Campbell

We are in need of a chairperson for the craft table. This person is responsible for organizing the craft area and selling on the day of the fair. During the year different people have voiced interest in doing craft projects and the chairperson would help facilitate that. No one works alone. Des this sound like the job you have been looking for? Call Sally Campbell or the church office

Visitation Team - Easter Plants
Diane Tyler

A reminder to those of this group that we will have Easter plants and palms available on Palm Sunday for you to deliver before Easter.  Please see me in the social hall during coffee fellowship on April 8.  If you cannot attend on that day, I would appreciate your calling so we can make alternate plans. Again, many thanks for your time and caring.

Music Committee Update
Judy Malette

Despite a snow storm the first Contra dance at Williston West went very well. There were about 25 dancers, half church members and half non-members.  All ages were well represented.  Thanks to Mere Mortals and caller John McIntyre, the music was great and we all learned a lot.   We hope to plan another dance sometime in the future.

The choir is hard at work preparing for Easter.  It should be a very beautiful service.The music committee is also preparing for this year's Cabaret on May 19th. Several people have stepped forward and said they would perform, but we are looking for more brave souls.  This is a fun time.  Denise Calkins will be the accompanist.

if you are interested in being a part of this year's Cabaret, please see Judy Malette or call the church oddice

Why Name Tags?
Phil Crane

Ok, I’ll admit it – I’m absolutely terrible when it comes to remembering names and I still have a hard time with it. Oh, I remember people, I often remember stories they have told and events in their lives that I know about – but sometimes it is a real struggle to conjure the name that goes with this wonderful person.

So, when the Membership Committee began discussing nametags this month it was a conversation that really struck a chord with me. You know, name tags. The things that live on that big board just to the right of the doors as we come into the sanctuary on Sunday mornings. There is supposed to be one they’re for everyone who regularly attends church at Williston-West.

As I see it, the nametags are there for a least a couple reasons. When worn, they help identify the wearer as a "local" here in our church – someone who might know where to go for coffee after service, or where to find the restroom or how to get more information about some program that might have been mentioned during the announcements. The other reason is so that people like me can greet you by name, with a little help from that tag, enough times that the name finally makes as important an imprint as it should.

Now, as I said, the nametags are supposed to reside on that big board just inside the door. However, not all of them do. I know this because mine is right there on the dresser where I put it after the time I remembered to wear it one Sunday several months ago. It was such an unfamiliar action that I forgot to deposit the tag in the basket by the door after coffee. Now it just sits there. It has become so much a part of the landscape of my dresser top that I don’t even think to pick it up anymore.

Anyway, you get the point. Nametags are a good thing. They help to connect us with each other and they help us connect with the guests that so often grace us with their presence. But the silly things only work if we wear them.

We, the Membership Committee, encourage you to help us start a trend back to wearing the nametag each week. If you don’t have one – see one of the greeters or ushers on any Sunday so that we can have a tag with your very own name made for you. Even if you just forgot it on the dresser.