Williston-West Church

PASTOR’S NOTES
Eric Kelley

The family I came from, although the Waltons we were not, will always remain a source of strength for me. Memories are important and as we age they become more important as we realize how short this whole trip is.

My older brother and younger sister (yes I am the lost middle child!) will always hold special places in my heart. My brother was a hero figure for me although I always harbored the fantasy of growing by him at some point and kicking the tar out of him. But when push came to shove he was there for me and that is what matters. My sister and I had our times but she has always remained supportive of me throughout all the meandering of my life.

Mother played a prominent role in my life and you have heard me speak of her often. She always seemed to come through with what we needed. Birthdays and Christmases will be remembered as very special occasions for as long as I live. I was blessed with a particularly good and honest relationship with her in her final year that gives me great comfort now.

My father, the one I talk about the least, perhaps had the biggest impact on my life. We had all the normal conflicts that one would expect between a father and son as I grew into adulthood. I loved my father and I am especially thankful that he was my father. He was bright and inventive, as he had to be as an entrepreneur in Washington County from the late 1930’s to his early death in 1975. Had he remained in Portland, where he grew up, I am sure that he would have impacted our city in ways that I can only imagine.

His life will be a significant part of my book and the blessings he gave me are uncountable although there is one thing that he didn’t give me that I wish now he had. I wish I had the memory of my father holding our hands in a family circle with him offering thanks to God for the blessings we had and for guidance in the directions we would take.

What I wanted from my father, from this perspective of life, is something he couldn’t give because it wasn’t given to him as a child. Would it have changed his life? Would it have changed my life? The answer is yes, I believe it would have.

Mothers and fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers, aunts and uncles, mentors and role models of children you love, can you give this gift of God to the little ones who look up to you? At baptism we promise to bring our children up in a religious setting that when they reach majority age they will be equipped to make informed decisions regarding their spiritual pilgrimage. The church is here to facilitate that process and we have made a public commitment to see that it happens. I pray that when our children become adults and we are long gone that they can kneel down in the presence of the Almighty because they have the happy memory of us doing that with them now.

Grace and Peace,

Eric

The State of the Church
Phil Crane

Driving home from our Church Council meeting recently I was pondering all of the things that had been reported by the various chairpersons of the many boards and committees that make our church run. I was trying to put together in my mind how I could report what I understand to be the condition of our church right now. For some reason my mind went to various real and dramatic presentations I have seen over the years of the State Of The Union address by the President of the United States each year.

So - in hope that I do not come across a pretentious - let me share with you what I perceive to be the State of our Church right now.

Last week three children were baptized into our fellowship. Within the next weeks another 10 new members will join our church. Our church school is thriving, giving is keeping pace with pledges, and repairs are in progress on the church roof and fire escape and, with a few exceptions, all of our boards and committees are fully staffed. Our mission outreach is stretching to be part of the solution to many problems in our neighborhood and around the globe. In the Pastoral Relations Committee we are addressing concerns, both historical and present, with a new sense of understanding and honesty. Just when you think that our music program can't get much better they get better again and even the orders for flowers for our alter on Easter Sunday are up over last year. And then of course there is the incredible way that Eric has of bringing scriptures to life each week, of speaking to us about the things that matter in such a way that we feel confronted - and loved by Jesus Christ.

And so my fellow members, I am pleased to report to you that the state of our church is very good. We are strong, we are connected, and we are

involved, we are communicating, we are reaching out and we are doing it all to the greater glory of God.

Of course, as we continue to move forward we must be diligent in finishing work that we have started and we must keep ourselves constantly attuned to ways in which we can be of greater service.

In the coming weeks we will be focusing on winding up the Alban Institute process that has helped us look at our church and it's leadership with an eye to the next 25-50 years. I encourage all of you to attend

meetings and events that will be announced. We are also anxious to move ahead with the process of becoming recognized by the UCC as the open and affirming community that we are. We are challenged to develop a statement and a process for insuring that our investing is done in a socially responsible way. We continue to try to understand our relationship the UCC and to that end I encourage all who can to attend the second part of Bob Witham's(?) "UCC 101" which will meet at 7PM on Tuesday March 26th in the Parlor.

The state of our church is strong. As I drove home from that Church

Council Meeting I was aware of how blessed I believe Williston-West to be.

We have our challenges - and there will always be new ones - but we have wonderful, dedicated leadership and a truly remarkable congregation that seems ever willing and able to respond when they are asked to.

We are strong and capable - let's dream about where we can go from here.

Ground Zero
Sarah Gratwick

The chilly February winds bit my already frostbitten face. I wrapped my parka closer to my face and pulled closer to my mother for body warmth. My mother smiled down at me and put her caring arm around me. I looked at the scene around me. We were waiting in line on a gigantic platform that would eventually lead up to the remains of The World Trade Center. The walls of the platform were covered with inspirational thoughts and prayers from people all over the world.

I pulled my parka closer as I read some of the messages: "God Bless America" or "America the Great" or "We Love America!" I felt my eyes start to water. A tear rolled down my cheek. I wanted to write something inspirational, I wanted to share my thoughts. I went up to the wall and wrote several messages that came from my heart.

I then heard the policeman call our group; we were about to reach the end of the platform. When we got up to the end, there were an enormous number of people, so I had to push my way through them to get a good look. I finally got through and could not believe my eyes. There, right in front of me, was an enormous area where the WTC towers once stood. The area was huge and there was some debris left over from the horrible attack. A few buildings that were once next to the towers still were damaged and looked like they would take a while to repair.

I moved my eyes away for a moment to look to the side. Miraculously, I saw that the old Trinity Church at the head of Wall Street had been saved. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my father, kindly telling me that we had to leave. I took one last look and started back down the platform. As we were walking down, I saw more inspirational thoughts and prayers and this time they really touched me. I thought about how great America is. We can have something this horrible happen to us and still pull through. I walked off the platform with a renewed sense of peace and hope.

Christian Education Comm
Tom Riddell

Season of renewal: It is always a challenge to explain the Easter story to children. Christmas, the King Kong of holidays is so much easier in many respects to teach. Children can understand the trip to Bethlehem and the story of Christ's birth. The star and wise men add a magical element that is easy for Kids to understand—that is part of their world.
The death and resurrection of Jesus is difficult because it may challenge our own faith and pause us to question the reality. How we teach this is to attach it to our own trials and tribulations and the resurrection that has followed. In fact, when we look back on the devastation of the attacks last fall we can see the debris being cleared away in New York and the repairs starting on the Pentagon. People no matter how broken are healing. Isn’t this the promise in the Easter Story? Out of devastation and hopelessness comes the miracle of the resurrection. Out of pain comes hope. Can’t children relate to the resurrection in those terms?

We are fast approaching the end of the Christian Education school year. The last six-week semester starts April 7^th and goes until Mid-May. Last year we asked for support in covering the summer schedule. If we all take one week, it works really well for the church, parents, and the teachers. Please give a Sunday morning during the summer.

Church Women United
Madeline Bates

Our annual meeting will be on April 8, 2002 at Woodfords Congregational Church. The business meeting will begin at 11:30, followed by a luncheon (for $6.00) at 12:30. The afternoon program is about "Maine Tourmaline" with Karen.

For luncheon reservations please contact Madeline Bates by April 3, 2002 through the Church office.

One Great Hour of Sharing
Madeline Bates

Begun in 1949, One Great Hour of Sharing is supported by 8 denominations and Church World Service.

Our gifts make possible the long-term assistance that brings improvement in delivery of health care services, availability of education; of training and micro loans to start small businesses; and in access to clean water, and food resources.

Gifts enable the church to respond when people face ruin or loss from floods, epidemics, earthquakes, wars, hurricanes, and other disasters.

Finally, gifts offer a glimmer of hope to refugees who leave their countries due to famine, war, and other life-threatening conditions.

When we offer our gifts on Sunday April 28, 2002, in service to God and to others, life will change for those who receive and for those who give.

Church Yard Sale
To Benefit the Sharing Foundation
Betty Kelley

The Missions Committee is looking for donations for its May yard sale. We’re joining forces with The Children’s Nursery School (which rents space at Williston-West) to put on a spectacular yard sale on Saturday, May 4^th.

Proceeds from our part of the yard sale will go to the Sharing Foundation. Three of our beautiful Williston-West children, Roxanna Brophy and Peg Cyr’s son, Jesse, and Gracie Johnston and Linda McDevitt’s children, Teany and Khemera, have been adopted through this organization and both Roxanna and Gracie serve on the Parent Advisory Council of the Foundation.
The Sharing Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization whose purpose is to help meet the physical, emotional, educational and medical needs of orphaned and seriously disadvantaged children in Cambodia. It is an all-volunteer organization that’s doing great work in an area of the world that has suffered decades of war and civil unrest. The resulting poverty has produced large numbers of orphaned and seriously disadvantaged children who lack the bare necessities of life. Infant mortality is among the highest in the world, and it is estimated that 40% of all children in Cambodia under 5 years of age are malnourished. These are the children that "TSF" is committed to help and for whom we are seeking your support. (You can learn more about The Sharing Foundation on the web at http://sharingfoundation.org)

Donations for the yard sale will be accepted any time between now and May 3, so think of us as you’re doing your spring-cleaning! Bring your yard sale donations to the church or if you can’t deliver your donation, leave a message at the church office and we’ll get back to you to arrange a time for someone to pick your items up. Anything not sold at the yard sale will be put away and used to stock Granny’s Attic at the Christmas Fair. We’re also looking for volunteers to man tables on the day of the yard sale and volunteers to organize and price and mark items on the afternoons of May 2^nd and 3^rd. Have questions or want to volunteer? Contact any member of the Missions Committee: Betty Kelley, Audrey Tanner, Madeline Bates, Becky Gratwick, Bob Campbell, or new member, Carol Hutchins. You can reach them through the Church office

Mark your calendar to come and shop on May 4 between 9:00 am and 2:00 PM. We’ll have Cambodian crafts for sale along with our other yard sale merchandise!

Easter Flowers
Susan Arnold

Members of our congregation donated 49 Easter plants this year, 12 more than last year! This generous support enabled us to decorate the sanctuary in glorious beauty on Easter morning. Thank you, one and all.

Membership Notes
Sidney Hodgdon

Isn’t it wonderful that we finally have some new nametags? Our next step is to make certain that everyone who attends services, member or not, has one. If you have had a nametag in the past and didn’t find a new one on the board, please let us know by printing your name on the sheet at the back of the church. There’s a second list on the bulletin board at coffee fellowship. Our church secretary, Tammy will check the list regularly and add new names as soon as possible.

Church World Service
Madeline Bates

Congo – The city of Goma is still chaotic in wake of the Jan. 17 eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo. Lava cascading down the volcano destroyed 14 villages before it leveled three –quarters of Goma, 400,000 people fled to other locations. CWS is providing humanitarian assistance to some 60,000 persons for the next 6 months with items such as food, clean water, firewood, shelter materials, blankets, and kitchen utensils.

Afghanistan and Pakistan – CWS has provided family shelter kits to meet the needs of some 63,000 uprooted Afghans.

For Afghan refugee families, new beginnings evoke feelings of total delight as CWS provide beans, rice, wheat, cooking oil, sugar, tea, and other supplies.

China – The Amity Foundation in China has treated over 130,000 persons and trained 5,000 eye – care workers through their Blindness Prevention Project. CWS has been one of the strongest supporters of the Amity Foundation over the past 16 years.

Africa – Nutrition is a key factors in the struggle against AIDS. CWS is pioneering the use of the common Moringas Tree as a local, easily- available, low cost nutritional supplement in several African nations. The Moringa’s leaves, pods, and flowers contain many vitamins and minerals needed to maintain health. It can rebuild weak bones, enrich anemic blood and enables a malnourished mother to nurse her staving baby. Ounce for ounce, it has the calcium of four glasses of milk, the Vitamin C of seven oranges, and the potassium of three bananas. Three spoonfuls of Moringa leaf powder contain 272% of a toddler’s daily Vitamin A requirement, along with 42% of the protein, 125% of the calcium, 71% of the iron, and 22% of the Vitamin C. It contains a full complement of minerals and all the amino acids of meat.

Thank You!! - From the Apple Tree
Betty Kelley

The Missions Committee would like to send a huge and heartfelt thanks to all the members and friends of Williston-West who have donated items to the Apple Tree over the past few months. The Apple Tree began 2002 by sponsoring some new organizations and to date, we have collected and delivered:

ð Crayons, construction paper, felt squares, scissors, markers, numerous paper products and disposable eating utensils, Polaroid film, two dozen homemade cloth drawstring bags for use at farewell ceremonies, and note cards to The Center for Grieving Children.

ð Bags of oranges, towels for the pool, and children’s bathing suits to Reiche School.

ð Juice boxes, snacks, several basketballs, and a Connect 4 board game to Portland West’s Learning Center.

Please continue to check the Apple Tree, located in Fellowship Hall, for needs you could help to fill for The Center for Grieving Children, Portland West’s Learning Center, and Reiche School. Pick an apple from the tree, provide the need printed on the apple, and return the item, the apple, and a note with your name to the Apple Tree Basket. (It’s next to the Choir Room, in the vestibule between the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall.)

Calling All Apples…

Have you picked an apple from the tree and forgotten return it with your donation? If so, be sure to bring it in soon so we can re-use it. Several people have mentioned that they have apples living on their bureau tops at home!