Creating community, championing justice and growing with God. |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
January 20, 2022
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Prayer List
Our prayer list is here to help. Please pray for: Joan Strout, Debbie Hayden, Ginnie Toner, Edna Cushing, Bob Stewart, Debbie Heater, Bob McEvoy, Debbie Nelson, Constance (Connie) Cushman, Rebecca Allen, Cecil Jones, Jean (friend of Mitch R's mother), and Em Amatangelo.
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Join Us for a Special Service this Sunday
10 am Livestream Worship
No in-person worship this Sunday
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THE SERVICE
Come join the Championing Justice Team & Friends for a special service as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr’s words this Sunday, January 23rd at 10 a.m.
The Championing Justice Team has been invited by our justice-seeking minister, Alyssa, to do the service this Sunday and we are thrilled to worship with you all.
There will be wonderful music, words of wisdom, sharing of stories to fill our hearts and open our minds and God’s presence with us as we learn.
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HOW TO WATCH
The 10 am livestream service will be available in two different places this Sunday... on our YouTube channel (link below) or on Zoom (link below).
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LIVING THE DREAM
When our service ends - our SERVICE continues!
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Watch “The Long Walk Home” Movie (PG) with Whoopi Goldberg and Sissy Spacek, and have a family discussion.
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Check out Wabanaki REACH; learn about the ‘history’ of the indigenous people of Maine since the coming of the white settlers.
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Learn about Maine Initiatives: works through grants and activism to support organizations in Maine run by Black, Indigenous and other Communities of Color.
- Live in Portland? Consider volunteering for a city board: The Portland Housing Authority is looking for a new member and the Portland Police Citizen Review Subcommittee has 2 open seats.
- Check out the work Woodfords Church is doing with Family Promise (Joanne Bartlett) or Project Feed (Steve Gray).
- Share the work of one of your favorite non-profits with a friend.
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We Have Moved to All-Remote Worship
Through February 6
The Maine Council of Churches and the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ currently are encouraging faith communities to return to all-remote digital worship in efforts to support frontline healthcare workers and slow the omicron surge of COVID-19. Hospitals are overcrowded, and health care workers are stressed.
Out of sympathy with the Council’s and Conference’s concerns – and out of a desire to promote the well-being of community members – Woodfords will offer all-remote digital worship through the first Sunday of February. There will be no option to attend in-person worship in the sanctuary. Over the next few weeks, the worship team and Council will keep an eye on things, assess where things stand, and develop plans for after February 6.
Keep an eye on upcoming weekly announcements and the homepage of the Woodfords website (www.woodfordschurch.org) for the most up-to-date information about how to access Sunday worship.
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"The Power of Ritual" Book Group
starting in February
Join friends and new faces from Woodfords, Williston-Immanuel, and State Street for a book group. During the month of February, we will join together to read and discuss the book: The Power of Ritual by Casper Ter Kuile. This book discusses the current cultural shift of moving from religious spaces to what we have often deemed "secular" spaces. Ter Kuile challenges the reader to look at ancient Christian and other religious rituals and practices and apply them to our daily lives. This is a great book for those interested in finding meaningful spiritual practices in the everyday. It is also a great read for those interested in understanding more about connecting with people who may not find traditional church to be meaningful for them. This group will be led by our Tri-Church Christian Education and Spiritual Formation facilitator, Emory Burke.
- When: Thursday, February 10, 17, and 24, 6:00-7:00pm
- Schedule: We encourage you to purchase your book, either a paper copy or digital copy, as soon as possible, so that you can begin reading for our first meeting. Here are the chapters we will cover each session.
- February 10-Introduction
- February 17-Connecting with Self (Chapter 1)
- February 24-Connecting with Nature (Chapter 3)
- Topic: The Power of Ritual Book Group
- Time: Feb 10, 2022 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
- Every week on Thu, 3 occurrence(s)
- Feb 10, 2022 06:00 PM
- Feb 17, 2022 06:00 PM
- Feb 24, 2022 06:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 817 6612 9968
Join by Phone: One tap mobile
+13017158592,,81766129968# US (Washington DC)
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Noon on January 27: Podcast Discussion – “Wintering”
As we settle in for the dead of winter in Maine, we are reviving Woodfords’ podcast discussion group. The conversations will be casual and guided by the participants. Feel free to eat lunch as we talk. To kick things off, we hope you’ll join us at noon on Thursday, January 27 to discuss the following podcast:
How “Wintering” Replenishes
· A conversation between Katherine May and Krista Tippett
· Originally aired – January 21, 2021 (“On Being with Krista Tippett”)
· More information about the content may be found below
Listen by clicking this link:
Members of Woodfords community, as well as the wider community, are welcome to participate. Feel free to invite a friend. We hope that people will have a chance to listen to the podcast before the session and bring questions/comments/responses to contribute to the conversation – but everyone is welcome to attend and participate, even if they don’t have a chance to listen to the podcast ahead of time.
Zoom Information
Join by computer:
Meeting ID: 873 4056 4029
Dial in by phone:
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 873 4056 4029
About the Podcast Content
In so many stories and fables that shape us, cold and snow, the closing in of the light — these have deep psychological, as much as physical, reality. This is ‘wintering,’ as the English writer Katherine May illuminates in her beautiful, meditative book of that title — at once a season of the natural world, a respite our bodies require, and a state of mind. Krista Tippett first spoke with Katherine in midwinter 2020, and their conversation continues to offer a helpful container for our pandemic time: as one vast, extended, communal experience of wintering. As 2021 draws to a close — still with so much to metabolize and to carry, with an aching need for replenishment — Katherine May opens up exactly what so many have needed to hear, but haven’t known how to name.
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Backup Sexton Position Available
As you know, Aaron Burke is our new(ish) Sexton for Sunday services and evening/weekend events. There may be times when Aaron is not available to work and so we are looking for someone who is interested in stepping in as Sexton. Please see the notice below and share with anyone you think might be interested. Maybe a young professional who wants to make a little extra money. Or a retired person who wants to do a very low key job once in a while. Please note that events are often musical performances and it's a wonderful perk of the job!
Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland seeks someone to help with occasional after-hour and weekend event support. Responsibilities include opening and closing the building; helping with event setup and takedown (if needed); light cleaning (if needed); and being present in case people at the event have questions or need assistance. Pay rate is $15 an hour for Sunday morning worship (9-11 am) and $25 an hour for all other events. If you have questions or are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Woodfords’ Administrative Director, Teri Coviello ([email protected]), for a detailed job description and more details.
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Tri-Church Game Day Postponed!
Due to increases in COVID, we will be postponing our Tri-Church Game Day that was originally scheduled for Saturday, January 29. Keep an eye on your emails for more information on the new date and time. In the meantime, stay safe!
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At-Home Communion
If you would like to receive in-person Communion and reside in a location where you can receive visitors, please send Alyssa an email ([email protected]), and we will work to schedule a time for you to receive the sacrament in upcoming weeks.
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February 8, 4-6 pm: Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic at
Williston-Immanuel United Church
156 High Street, Portland
If you need a COVID vaccine, here’s an opportunity to get one! Our friends at Williston-Immanuel United Church are hosting a pop-up walk-in vaccine clinic from 4-6pm on Wednesday, February 8. They are looking for volunteers to help with welcoming people and intake and have asked Woodfords and State Street Church to share the news about the vaccine and volunteer opportunities.
Community Pharmacies will administer vaccines & boosters for Pfizer, Moderna, and J & J at no cost to people 12+.
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Family Promise
As a part of Greater Portland Family Promise, we have a month where we collect donations to be used to help prevent homelessness. We will be collecting in January. If you would like to help, you can make a donation to Woodfords with Family Promise in the memo line of the check. This money will be used to help with unexpected expenses throughout the year. Sheets are always in need -twin, double or queen, new or used. Gift cards to Hannaford, Target, Walmart, or Reny’s are greatly appreciated. Right now, Hannaford cards are most needed. Please contact me if you have sheets or cards to donate and need me to pick them up since we’re not having in person church.
Thank you,
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Book Club 2022 - Join Us!
We are looking forward to reading the wonderful books listed below and we hope there are others who might want to join us. We meet on Zoom at 1 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Zoom information can be found below.
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Feb. 9
Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard
facilitator Charlotte Cuzner
March 9
The Blue Mind by Wallace Nichols
facilitator Lorraine Canterbury
April 13
State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton
facilitator Em Amatangelo
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ZOOM INFORMATION:
Time: Jan 12, 2022 01:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 874 7491 2782
Passcode: 158299
One tap mobile
312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 874 7491 2782
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Woodfords Turns 150 This Year!
Brainstorming session for anniversary activities will take place
via Zoom at 6pm on Tuesday, February 1
This year, we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the dedication of Woodfords Congregational Church. Our faith community’s roots precede the Revolutionary War, when our spiritual ancestors first gathered in a chapel on Capisic Street. After the Civil War and Portland’s Great Fire of 1866, congregants living in the growing Woodfords neighborhood began to develop plans for a church building closer to their homes. They began constructing a new house of faith in 1871 and dedicated it in 1872. At that point, Woodfords Congregational Church was officially born. (It originally was located across the street from our current property – where Jones, Rich, and Barnes Funeral Home now stands.)
If you would like to help plan fun ways to celebrate the history of our beloved faith community, please email Rev. Alyssa ([email protected]) and let her know. The Creating Community team will gather everyone together for a planning/brainstorming session at 6pm on Tuesday, February 1. Alyssa will share your name with Joanne Friedrick (chair of Creating Community), who will provide you with Zoom information.
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Just in Case...Woodfords Church SNOW POLICY
It's getting to be that time of year! Looking ahead to stormy winter days with snow and ice, we would like to remind you of Woodfords' policy regarding closing the building and cancelling events.
Weekdays and weeknights: if Portland Schools are closed, then Woodfords Church is closed and Woodfords meetings/events are cancelled. Please note that the Church may decide to close EVEN IF Portland Schools are not closed. Please check to make sure before coming to an event on a snow day.
If you are attending a meeting or event not connected to Woodfords, please contact your organizer directly for information about cancellation.
Saturdays: a decision will be made by 7:30 am regarding closing the building and cancelling Woodfords events or meetings. Sundays: a decision will be made by 7:30 am regarding the worship service, closing the building and cancelling Woodfords events or meetings.
In all cases, cancellation announcements will be posted on Facebook, our website (www.woodfordschurch.org), and on Channels 6, 8 and 13 by 8 am.
We will also text everyone in our text group when we close the building and/or cancel worship or an event. Are you in our text group? If not, and you want to be included, please email Teri at [email protected] and ask to be put on the list.
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Woodfords Indoor Mask Policy
Woodfords Church requires masks for all indoor activities in the building, whether or not you are vaccinated.
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Have Something on Your Mind?
Want to Talk About a Joy or Concern?
Have a Prayer Request?
If you would like to schedule time for a pastoral care conversation with Rev. Alyssa, do not hesitate to be in touch ( [email protected]). She would be happy to set up a visit.
Also, Alyssa is always open to receiving prayer requests. Drop her a line with a description of what you’d like her to pray for – and don’t forget to indicate if you would also like your prayer request to be added to the Woodfords prayer list. (Alyssa’s default is to consider all prayer requests she receives confidential, unless the requestor explicitly says otherwise.)
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Staff Phone Extensions & Email Addresses
Staff phone extensions and email addresses…
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WOODFORDS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
t: 207-774-8243
www.woodfordschurch.org
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