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PASTOR’S NOTES Eric Kelley There is so much chaos in the world right now that it is frightening to ponder where it will all come out. It is sad to think that we are again in the midst of bombing a foreign land and sending in some of the very best of our young to go to war. I pray for the day of visionary leaders on the world stage and especially in our own country where justice in global terms will be an absolute priority and such devastating circumstances such as we are witnessing now will not be given the environment in which to grow.
Jesus has given us examples to follow and a path to walk. As a nation we claim his name as protector and benefactor but then dismiss the very principles for which he died. There are bad people in this world that must be stopped and held accountable but further violence is not the answer. Violence begets violence. To strike out gives momentary solace but then when we close our eyes at night and see the true face of war we know it just doesn’t work.
Peace begins at home and home is the individual human heart where God dwells. May peace reign in our hearts and given voice in our church that may bring healing to the world. Grace and Peace, Eric
 COMING SOON !! You Can Help The "Best Little Church Fair in Portland" is coming on Saturday, December 1st to a church near you. You can be a part of it by looking around the house for items that you no longer have a use for. Those of a more antique value or a good used article would be great for "Grannie’s Attic" while those better items that are about new with a value of $30 or more would be fine for the "Silent auction". Bring the items to the Church office or if they have to be picked up call and we can help you. Many thanks for looking around. Christmas Fair Connie Wriston This will be my 2nd year hosting the jewelry table. Please help to make it the best yet by donating any jewelry or small gift items that you are no longer using. Also any small gift and presentation boxes would be greatly appreciated so the articles can be displayed nicely. Thank you for your help. A Message From Peter Miano Executive Director, Society of Biblical Studies I have received a number of urgent phone calls and emails pleading for Americans to actively intervene. In Bethlehem, there are at least thirty tanks throughout the city. The Israeli army has occupied schools, hospitals, orphanages and homes and is holding many hostages. Hospitals, monasteries and holy sites have been targeted, including the Church of the Nativity. Civilians are effectively under house arrest, in many cases without water and food. Surely, conscientious Christians cannot remain silent. Please help.
Please write, email and call your representatives and senators, as well as President Bush and Secretary of State Powell. Here are some points that I have made in my phone calls and letters:
Thanks for taking the time to let your voice be heard.
Grace and peace,
Peter J. Miano Moderator's Message Marion Hopkins May the light of God shine in our darkness. May the peace of God dwell in our homes. May the justice of God rule in our community. May the healing of God mend our brokenness. May the blessing of God dwell within us and among us, now and forever. - - Anonymous Congregational Community For the next two weeks the Stewardship Committee will be conducting its annual pledge program. The theme this year is "Congregational Community". A successful pledge effort every year is essential to maintain the strength and vitality of our community. The past few weeks has shown that despite internal tensions we are a community that has a strong spiritual and personal bond. Starting on Sunday the 4th we will distribute our baskets (although they will be bags this year) to pass from one to another and be completed by Sunday November 18th. This method has proved successful and does not require any direct solicitation on the part of the members. Some members and friends not in local neighborhoods will receive will receive letters with their pledge information. After church on the 18th we will have a light brunch we report on out results. As the Rev. Judith Blanchard discussed with us on the last Sunday in October, stewardship is an essential part of our church life. It not only sustains us financially, but also is a part of our worship to step forward and actively join in our community of faith. Expenses are increasing this year as they do every year, and although our budget is not yet finalized we know we will have to work hard to meet it. When considering your pledge please give consideration to an increase to reflect the reality of maintaining our programs and services. Trustee News Cindy Stewart This fall has been busy for the Trustees. We are trying a slightly new process of gathering budget information from each committee, in preparation for the final budget at year-end. Each committee chair has received their budget from last year along with a worksheet with how they have done year-to-date with staying on budget. Each committee chair has been asked to project their needs for 2002 and forward it to the trustee assigned to them. So, far we’ve had great response and I want to thank each committee chair for their work. There are several trustee terms expiring this year, so I ask members to think if they may be interested in sitting on the board of trustees. Of course, we may have a few "expiring" trustees who may wish to serve an additional term. We have a strong board with diverse expertise and a strong commitment to the church. If anyone is interested in sitting on the board, please contact Chris Berry of the Enlistment Committee through the Church office. What Can I Do? Bill Whelan Chair, Board of Deacons A lot has been going on in our church over the last several weeks. Many of us are filled with questions. In fact, it often seems like questions are all we have that they are piling up faster than the answers can arrive. "I am confused"; "Does anyone know what's going on?" "How can this be happening?" "What will this do to our church?" "What can I do?" Familiar questions? I bet they are. Most of us have been asking the same questions. Even those of us who may have a few more facts than others don't often have enough information to make good decisions. What can I do? And how can I do it without having all the information? We had such a discussion around all these issues at our last Deacons' meeting. We tried to look at the issues not from the perspective of blame (Who had a problem and why did they go to the UCC conference with it?) and not from the perspective of Eric (How do we help our pastor during this time?) What we tried to do is look at OUR problem - our church is in crisis, people are taking sides and beginning to lose sight of why we go to church. How can we help the healing? What part can we take in this situation that will insure that our church and its congregation will not fall apart? Even though I look at the Deacons as the spiritual arm of the church I say again we don't have a lot of answers. What I do know is that this is an opportunity for each and every one of us - granted, one we didn't ask for! It is an opportunity to look at our own spirituality and how we tend to use it during a crisis. I'm not just talking about the crisis within our church. How about the crisis in our country? How did you react? With fear? With anger? Probably, if you are like most of us. But what comes after the anger. Did you pray for the victims and their families? Did you pray for your own family and friends, grateful that they were unhurt? Or did you pray that God would rain down death and destruction on the terrorists? I don't suggest a right or wrong answer here, only that you look at your reactions. The Rev. Brick Gibson a few Sundays ago talked about how times like the present are opportunities for growth and learning for all of us. He looked at the events in our path as a test and asked: Are we passing the test? Are we getting the message? Are we learning from our struggles? Are we dealing with our emotions (the positive ones AND the negatives ones?) Or are we letting them conquer and divide us? How can we add to the growth of the church in this time of internal crisis? I can't answer that question for anyone but myself. (As you can see, I am much better at providing questions than answers!) Here is my answer: Don't add to the crisis, take time to think...and then take more time. As Phil Crane said in a letter week or so ago, "Keep on disagreeing - it is the Congregational way and it is how we examine and sometimes alter our convictions" But remember: disagreeing does NOT mean being disagreeable. None of us is so right that we can't listen to - and even learn from - those who oppose us. Listening is a good thing. If you don't understand what you are hearing, or don't understand WHY the other person would say it, don't say "That's Bull----!" Ask more questions! ("Why are you saying that?" "Do you really believe it?" "Why?) Learn from others. Many times you can learn more from those who disagree with you and challenge you than from those who think as you do. I think Williston-West will fail if factions arise. We will not survive if we are in a constant struggle with one another. We can survive and thrive if we listen, have patience and work together. That does not mean giving in or giving up, it means cooperation, compromise and perhaps a willingness to change. Are you up for the coming challenges? "WILLISTON CHURCH IS SWEPT BY FIRE..." Thus read the headline in the Portland papers in 1931. Within 24 hours after the celebration of the founding of Christian Endeavor at Williston Congregational Church a fire caused over $50,000 of damage. It was the first general alarm fire in over a year in Portland. Smoke was so thick it was impossible to see anything inside the building. Three firefighters were overcome by smoke. Some valuable items brought out for the celebration were saved. These included the little desk on which the first service of Christian Endeavor was held, photographs of Rev Francis Clark, the founder of the organization, and a huge chancel cross, a gift of the Rev. Hilda Ives. For nearly an hour the firefighter were unable to reach the heart of the fire. The flames ran under the chancel into the organ and remained there until holes were made in the roof to remove the smoke. Damage was greatest to the organ and many stained glass windows that had to be knocked out to fight the fire. The cause of the fire was not wholly known, but was believed to be from hot ashes in the basement. Such was the news in the Portland papers in 1931 as shown in our archives. The follow-up story has not been found. News from the Mission Committee Olive Tree Seeds of Peace - More Important than Ever! Becky Gratwick John Wallach, the President and Founder of Seeds of Peace responded recently to the tragedies that took place on September 11, 2001. His entire article can be found on the Seeds of Peace website at www.seedsofpeace.org under SOP News. The following is only a portion of that article, but speaks to why we have found this cause to be so important -- even more important now: "In the wake of the World Trade Center tragedy, I have been asked repeatedly how this will affect Seeds of Peace. In short, I believe we are more urgently needed than ever. I also believe that our work has never been more important. Why? Because long after we have confronted symptoms of terror and the terrorists themselves, we will have to attack the root causes that fuel the cycles of violence-- prejudices, fears, hatreds that culminate in such despicable acts… …I founded the Seeds of Peace after the first World Trade Center bombing in February 1993. I did so because I realized that the aim of all terrorists is to instill fear. They want us to pay a heavy price for the support we provide to Israel and to moderate Arab nations, such as Egypt and Jordan, who are just as high on their hit list. They want to rip the very fabric of American democracy. There is only one way of combating such terrorism. It is through programs that inspire hope by bringing together the next generation of youngsters before they have been completely poisoned by the hatreds that otherwise might culminate in acts of terror. It is like a disease. The best means of curing a disease is to treat it early--or to prevent it completely. That is what Seeds of Peace does. For the last decade we have brought diverse populations together -- Arabs and Israelis, Moslems, Christians and Jews, Bosnians and Serbs, Indians and Pakistanis, Kosovar Albanians and Serbs, Greeks and Turks and teenagers from the divided island of Cyprus as well as Rwandan, Cambodian, Vietnamese and other recent American immigrants -- to teach them how to make peace…"
The Williston-West community praises and continues to support the work of John Wallach and the Seeds of Peace International Camp, located in Otisfield, Maine. A fundraising event is planned for early next year to aid in our sponsorship of a Seeds of Peace camper. We plan to show and discuss the video, Peace of Mind, which was made by Arab and Israelis campers upon return to their respective countries. We will keep you posted. Also, anyone interested in learning more about the Otisfield Camp is invited to Temple Beth El in Portland on Wednesday, November 7 at 7:30 pm. Tim Wilson, the director of the camp, along with Seeds campers will be there to speak. If you have any questions, please call the Church office (207-774-4060).
Food for Thought Sunday Betty Furman When: Last Sunday of Each Month What: Bring in Nutritious Snacks For Whom: For Reiche School Students Why: Reiche School is the local elementary school in our neighborhood. There are many families who have immigrated to our country and have little in the way of financial resources. (30 languages other than English are spoken in the homes of students at Reiche!). Since good nutrition is so important to a productive learning environment, our donation of snacks is an easy way to make a difference in the life of a child. Just put an item or two on your weekly shopping list and bring the snacks in on the last Sunday of the month! Reiche Principal, Ken Kunin, wrote to thank us for our continued donations through the Food for Thought Sunday program saying, "With over 85% or our 540 students qualifying for free or reduced price school lunch, the need is great…the snacks support learning in many ways. On behalf of our students, staff and families, I want to thank you and the congregation of Williston-West for your support and for all that you do to support our community." Suggested Items: Olive Tree Clothing Drive Betty Furman The Missions Committee would like to make you aware of the Olive Tree, one of Williston-West’s international mission projects which focuses on supplying good, used clothing to Bedouin children in Israel. We ship the clothing to a Palestinian man who works in the field with an Israeli Rabbi to provide for the educational and personal needs of Bedouin children living just outside of Jerusalem. In today’s Israel, the nomadic lifestyle of the Bedouin people has been severely disrupted as a result of land development and the diminishing acreage available to them. Confinement to small areas has created a kind of poverty that is debilitating to these people whose livelihoods have always depended on their animal herds. Therefore, this mission work is quite important to the future well being of the Bedouin children. It is also heartening to know that this particular mission project is sponsored by Palestinian’s and Jewish Israeli’s, long-time enemies, who are working hand-in-hand despite these times of political strife to help their fellow Arab countrymen. Please bring clean, gently used children’s clothing (infant through size 16) to church on Sunday, November 18th. Import taxes are levied on new items, so please bring "used" clothing only. There will be receptacles in the vestibule as you enter the Sanctuary on that day. If you have no children’s clothing on hand and want to participate, you can shop at thrift stores or donate money to go toward shipping charges. Contact Betty Furman with questions. Flower Committee The Flower Committee needs your help decorating wreaths and preparing the church for the Christmas season. We will gather at the church on afternoons and evenings the week of November 26 through 30; please contact Susan Arnold through the Church office regarding specific times. Thank you. Music Notes The Music Committee The Williston-West Choir welcomes two new voices, Soprano Beth Campbell and Tenor Section Leader, Todd Hutchinson. New voices are always welcome especially during the holiday season. If you are interested, please contact Music Director, James McGirr. The Choir is preparing a special music program to accompany an exciting Advent celebration that will take place at worship on Sunday, December 2, 2001. This is a program that has been developed by our Pastor and will be a spiritual and spirit filled journey through the church year. Please mark this special service and date on your calendar today. Let us not forget the Christmas Fair on December 1, 2001. As in past years, we are looking for musicians and voices to fill the sanctuary with the sounds of the season. Please contact Judy Malette at 767-3934 for more information. Once again the Music Committee is sponsoring a family Contra Dance that will take place in the church dining room on Friday, January 11, 2002 at 7:30PM. These dances are a bit like square dancing, and a lot of fun. The caller teaches all dances, and the music is a live blend of fiddle, guitar and mandolin. This is truly entertainment for the whole family. Please plan to join us. History Buff Wanted! Williston-West was founded in 1873 and thus has a long history. Much of it can be found in several archive boxes stored in the church. We need someone who is interested in history to be in charge of these records and put them in some order. A part of this would be to find the interesting stories they contain and provide them to this newsletter. It can be a fun task done at your leisure. If this might interest you please contact Charlotte or Eric at the Church office. Volunteers?! Spring Harbor Hospital, a non-profit psychiatric facility in So. Portland (formerly JBI), needs volunteers. Presently, they are looking for greeters, particularly on weekends and early evenings. They also need people to deliver supplies, develop and design a newsletter, and do clerical jobs in administration. If you have 1 or 3 or 10 hours a week to help, Please contact Mary Finnegan at the Church office for the latest scoop. Thank you for your help. |
