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From The Pastor's Study Eric Kelley Dear Members and Friends of Williston-West, As you may already know, I announced my plans for early retirement to the Church Council at our October meeting to be effective in July of 2006. Over the years I have counseled many to be aware of the brevity of life and to fill their days with the adventure of new experiences. In following my own counsel, Betty and I are going to make our home in Jonesport and to see just what God may have in store for us there. The Maine Conference will guide us through the process of moving creatively into the future. The details will be announced after we meet with Conference Minister David Gaewski. This is an orderly and thoughtful procedure through which a church profile is established in preparation for receiving potential candidates to fill the position of pastor. I am committed to being fully present with you as we celebrate our final church year together. This is not a time for any of us to back off but a time to become fully engaged that the witness on which Williston-West has stood will be here for future generations. There is always sadness in letting go but when one door closes it means that another may be opened. This is true for individuals and for churches so let us look on this time as one of great opportunity for all of us. We must not lament when chapters are finished and stored in the book life. We must look ahead to writing new chapters that will fill our days with deep joy that equip us to meet the challenges of life, so that when we meet our Creator there will be no despair but a deep sense of fulfillment. As my church family for over eighteen years we have shared many experiences and like any long-term relationship there has been joy as well as tears. Betty and I will miss you and remember you with great affection. Blessings to you all, Eric
 Moderator's Message Ted Malette It seems as if it will not stop. The constant stream of bad news, once a trickle, now comes in waves; first the South Asian tsunami, then Katrina, Rita and Wilma, and an earthquake that kills over 79,000 people in Kashmir. Oh, these are just the big ones. They come on top of war, poverty, disease, fire and injustice the world over. They come with pleas for generosity and we seem overwhelmed. How do we as Christians deal with so much need elsewhere and still manage to keep up with the demands on us just to stay afloat at home? At Williston West, we have two very important projects going on right now, our annual Stewardship campaign and our annual Christmas fair. Both must be successful for our church family to meet a very tight budget set by our trustees. Each project presents us with opportunities. Opportunities to give or tithe from our income, and opportunities to give of our time and spirit in the fellowship that is the very life blood of our church. We need both types of contribution. We also need to keep mindful of the demands we face daily. Here is a story that might help as you consider your gifts. The story is told of the good farmer who loved the Lord and believed in stewardship. He was very generous indeed, and was asked by his friends why he gave so much and yet remained prosperous. "We cannot understand," his friends said, "why you seem to give more than the rest of us, and yet you always seem to have greater prosperity." "Oh," said the farmer, "that’s very easy to explain. You see, I keep shoveling into God’s bin and God keeps shoveling more and more into mine, and God has a bigger shovel." I urge you to consider your gift of service and income to Williston-West and then reconsider. Be generous with both. If you cannot work on the Fair before, during or after, you can at least attend and invite family and friends to join you. If you think you cannot give more to the annual campaign, give as the farmer. As the story relates, you get more in return than you give. May our Glorious God bless you !  More than a Christmas Fair Phil Crane It’s impossible to be around Williston-West any time between mid-October and early December without hearing about the Christmas Fair. Judy Malette is tracking down the bakers, jam and jelly makers and all others who might contribute to what I have come to call "The Goodies Table", and her home kitchen becomes a whirl as she conjures up new delights to add to the old standbys (I need those Needhams). Sally Campbell, Betty Kelley, Eric and the team come up with wonderful decorations and gifts for the Crafts Table, and Pat Buckley carefully picks through jewelry donations selecting the best and brightest for the table that has been the source of many fine gifts. Letters and pleas start coming in the mail from Bruce Lewis soliciting contributions for the silent auction and this year he is introducing an exciting new twist – a live auction. Donna Kane is once again working her Christmas magic for a Café that will serve warm donuts to start the day, steamy chowder, stew and chili, hot dogs and an array of great desserts to keep us all in good cheer. Beth Campbell co-ordinates the wreaths and of course Bob Campbell applies the pressure to get Santa there. Ted "The Cheese Man" Malette brings in the huge wheels of cheese. And – in addition to all the excitement and fun, the Christmas Fair is a great money maker bringing in thousands of dollars that become a part of how Williston-West reaches out with a Christian message of loving support in our community and the world at large. But – this event is so much more than just the Christmas Fair. The year after I joined Williston-West, nearly fifteen years ago, I was recruited to work on the fair – and what an experience – and what a run it has been. I’ve spent evenings in the week before the fair cleaning items for Granny’s Attic and the silent auction - - the important part was not the work but the connection. I met new friends in that casual environment of camaraderie and shared effort; I have gotten to know people – really know them and they have gotten to know me. I’ve shared conversations with fellow members - - fun and frivolous and deep, serious and exploring. Conversations about life – death and saying goodbye. I’ve felt the warm touch of friendship in my heart when I shared my pain over being single again - - and at Christmas. Relationships have grown and deepened as I have embraced, and been embraced by, my church family. We have a wonderful time in those days of preparation - - celebrating over unpacked prizes that will bring a good price, and laughing over some of the contributions. We take a break to examine the Silent Auction as it takes shape and we make mental notes of items that we intend to bid on or buy. The evening before the fair the tempo builds – things are really taking shape with many willing hands transforming our Fellowship Hall into a Christmas wonderland. Tantalizing smells waft out of the kitchen - - there is laughter and conversation. Some folks bring munchies, perhaps a bottle of wine is shared. Then the big day - - there’s a lot of early activity as all of the teams put their finishing touches on displays and fresh baked goods arrive. The donuts are frying in the kitchen, the coffee is brewing – the fresh smell of the wreaths tickles the nose and the lines of eager buyers begin to form outside in anticipation. We stop for a moment - - a large circle of our church family joins hands and Eric leads us in prayer. The day seems to fly by as waves of folks arrive and depart in festive moods. The fun is further enhanced by great live music provided from time to time by Maggie, Denise and others. No matter what - - the day is a great success and there is a sense of fellowship and accomplishment as we tally the money, tell stories and laugh together. So - - for a wonderful time, great buys, super food and lots of fellowship - - come to the Fair. But for an experience that will settle into your soul as one of those cherished warm memories of Christmas – join us in making it happen.  Comparative Religions Program Tanya Anderson The Deacons have been hosting a Comparative Religion Program this fall to help us understand what and how other believe. Each speaker presents information about his religious affiliation such as background and history, basic tenets of their faith, sacraments and rituals, and other important religious information. Question and answer time follows the presentations, and refreshments are available. all sessions are between 7:00 and 8:30 pm on Thursday evenings. So Thankful I could Buy a Cow Amy & Tom I am tempted to write about how you should come to our Halloween Party, and how you should bring a few bucks with you, but I am reminded that you will not read this until Halloween has come and gone, so I will instead say thanks for coming, and tell you just what those few bucks were meant for.
As we enter November, a month traditionally dedicated to acknowledging all that we have to be thankful for, we at Christian Ed thought it would be a good time to introduce our children to the Heifer Project. The mission of Heifer is to end hunger and poverty around the globe, and preserve the health of our planet (a rather grand undertaking, but a very successful one). I don’t know about you, but problems like world hunger, poverty, and global pollution distress me so, and seem so insurmountable, that I actually try NOT to think about them. I focus instead on the smaller problems around me, ones that I feel I can do something about. You know, things like getting my six-year-old to brush his teeth, and when I am really feeling adventurous, getting him to floss, too. And, when I have the courage to take on a bigger problem it is usually something like harassing the check-out person at the grocery store to use my canvas bags and stop wrapping everything in plastic. I try to get active on issues important to me, like discrimination and child abuse, but I don’t do nearly as much as I know I should. And, this is usually because I am just not sure I can make a difference. But, herein lies the problem. If I think these issues are insurmountable, what message am I sending to my children? I don’t want them to give up before they have even had the chance to make their mark on the world. I want them to think they actually CAN end poverty, hunger, and pollution. I want them to know about Heifer because one family and one farm at a time, Heifer is changing the world. If you don’t believe me, just look at the world map on their website (www.heifer.org) that shows the many projects they have underway in so many areas of the world. And then read about how recipients of animals from Heifer, have agreed to give the offspring of their animals to others in their community who are in need. They are giving and then encouraging more giving. If we participate in this cycle of giving there is no telling where it will take us.
I would like to invite you all to share Heifer’s ideas and actions with the children in your life. We will be doing so in our Sunday School classes, and in Children’s Time in front of the church on Sunday mornings. We will be brainstorming ways to raise money to support Heifer, and over the course of this Sunday School year we will tally our success. In June, at our graduation, we will announce how much we have raised, and we will proudly send it off to Heifer. We will begin our fundraising at the Halloween Party, and will be doing everything from bake sales, to bottle drives in our neighborhoods, to raking leaves and shoveling snow for donations. We can use support from all of you to come up with ways to make this project successful and fun. So, please talk with your children, grandchildren, neighbors, students, young friends about Heifer, and ask them what ideas they have to raise money to support this wonderful mission. All ideas are welcome, the more wild and unreasonable the better. Just the act of getting the kids to think of what they can do is a process that will touch them, especially if we are really listening, and find ways to support their desire to help. Planned Giving - Have you thought about it? Ted Malette At Williston West, each year a portion of our operating funds come from the income from our endowment. If that endowment did not exist, it is likely that Williston-West would have closed some time ago. Our endowment is the result of gifts made to our church. Have you considered such a gift? Here are 10 reasons why you should consider planned giving to Williston West Church UCC. 1. Bequests are easy to make. All it takes is a simple inclusion in a will or revocable family trust. If the donor already has a will or trust, they should consult with their attorney about adding a codicil or drafting a trust amendment that includes a gift at death to the church. 2. One doesn’t have to give up assets during life. For many donors, this is an important consideration. Many seniors, particularly those who survived the Depression years, fear they will outlive their resources. Bequests allow donors to have peace of mind by keeping control over their assets. 3. One doesn’t have to be rich. Anyone can make a bequest. It is important for charities to help their donors understand that all bequests are welcome, no matter the size. For some, a gift of $500 from their estate is a large single gift. For others, it might be $5,000. 4. Bequests can come from unexpected sources. By promoting bequests, many charities have been known to receive gifts from individuals they do not know. 5. A large percentage of individuals die without a will. Our discussion of planned giving provides a service to our members when we elevate education levels about estate planning, estate taxes and reasons why people should have a will. 6. Promoting bequests establishes a pool of planned giving prospects. As the church builds and expands its donor prospect base, many bequest donors discover and use other planned gift opportunities that help their estate planning needs, such as gift annuities and charitable trusts. 7. You need to be reminded. If not prompted, you may not think about our church when you are drafting your will. Donors need to be reminded that their estate gifts are needed and appreciated, and that they qualify for a charitable estate tax deduction. 8. The competition is promoting bequests. If we don’t ask, we won’t receive. If other charities in the community are promoting bequests and we are not, there’s an excellent chance that Williston-West’s share of potential bequest distributions will go elsewhere. 9. The potential is enormous. One survey indicates that for 20 or more years, 80 percent of charitable planned gifts received came from revocable wills and trusts. Donors leave their legacy more commonly in this manner when compared with irrevocable planned gifts. 10. The gift will make you feel good. If you have a question about planned giving, speak to Ted Malette, Geoff Alexander or Ken Barber, our investment committee. Thank you. Welcome New Members We joyfully welcome Kristen and Ed deOliveira, Marie Ahearn, Betsy Knauft, Jennie Currier and Wayne Rossignol as new members of our church family. We are happy to have you with us! Be A Greeter Carol Witham & Ellie Brown As part of our emphasis on being a welcoming community, the Membership Committee would like to invite everyone who is able to take a Sunday greeting people as they arrive at church. This includes children, who can greet with their families. There will be a sign-up sheet at the Welcome Table and another in Fellowship Hall. Please consider this an important part of your service to Williston-West. THANKS AGAIN FOR WEARING YOUR NAME TAGS. Faith in Action Sam Saltonstall
The Faith in Action meetings will be held from 7:00 to 8:45PM on Tuesdays, starting November 15th. Topics and dates follow. The programs scheduled below will all start at 7 PM and take place in the Memorial Hall. Tuesday, Nov. 15th: Plight of the Maine Migrant Worker - Barbara Ginley Tuesday, Dec. 6th: Ending World Poverty: Problems & Their Solutions - Sam Saltonstall Tuesday, Jan. 10th: The UCC Honduras Partnership Program - Jeff and Priscilla Armstrong Tuesday, Feb. 14th: Issues around Local Poverty - Judy Reidt-Parker If you have suggestions for other topics of interest for the spring, see a Mission Committee member and share your idea. We hope very much that many of you will choose to come to these evenings! |
