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“Service
is not a work of the intellect; Service is a work of the heart and
soul. There is in all of us a
deep wish to befriend life. To
make a difference. Not to fix
life, because life isn’t broken, but to serve life because life is holy.” ~ Rachel
Naomi Remen CHURCH DONATES TO
WILDLIFE RESCUE EFFORTS
Experts
from Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research are leading the wildlife rescue
efforts following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tri-State's response team has been on the Gulf Coast since the last week in
April and is working with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as well as
several other rehabilitators and wildlife and environmental organizations to
manage the rehabilitation of oiled wildlife. For more info, or to
donate personally, contact Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research - www.tristatebird.org. Words
of Inspiration from Lynne S. Frink, Founder and Environmentalist, 1946-1998: "I
don’t think I ever thought of the natural world in terms of a vocation; it
was simply a necessary part of my life, like the air I breathe. I am a living
part of the world around me, and I feel a bond to every living creature I
have the joy of seeing. My work and goals are not conscious choices; they are
an ethical and moral part of my being. It seems to me that it is a great
privilege for us to be allowed to live in a world so rich and vital, and so
full of beauty. There’s not a sunset or a spring violet or a maple tree in
autumn that doesn’t renew my spirit, and any small thing I can do to repay the
natural world for these gifts, I do with joy. -
Lynne Frink, -
Audubon
Journal Delaware Audubon Society;
June 1985 KNIT WITS CHOOSE PREBLE ST.
SHELTER A small but
enthusiastic group of Knit Wits met in June at Laura McKenney’s home for its
first summer meeting. Thanks to a windfall sale at Marden’s we have a new
supply of wonderful yarn to offer to all those who would like to knit the summer
away on the beach, deck or porch! The yarn is in a storage container at the
front of the church and folks are invited to help themselves Cynthia
Archibald contacted Preble Street Homeless Shelter in Portland to see if they
were in need of any knitted items. They were very excited, especially needing
hats and scarves. In response, we think that this year we will concentrate on
two areas only - our prayer shawls and items for the homeless shelter, i.e. hats
and scarves for men, women and children. Carol Sherman
is looking through books for patterns. If anyone has a good pattern, please
let her know. You may pick up Thelma Kennison’s kid hat pattern at the
church. The next
meeting will be at Carole Troy's home at 99 Fortunes Rocks Rd. on Tues., July
13 at 10ish or later if you can’t make it at 10. Come knit by the cool ocean
breezes. All are welcome! "The
number one reason knitters knit is because they are so smart that they need knitting
to make boring things interesting. Knitters are so compellingly clever that
they simply can't tolerate boredom. It takes more to engage and entertain this
kind of human, and they need an outlet or they get into trouble.” —Stephanie Pearl McPhee
UNION CHURCH MISSIONS YEAR IN REVIEW --2009 Mission
Committee Members: Beth Baskin, Jen Comeau, Cris Hudson, Jan Hryniewicz,
Polly Nodden, Paul Schlaver, Stacy Cooper, Carol
Sherman and by their contribution if not in meetings: The Knit Wits,
captained by Carol Sherman & Judy MacGillivray, and our Saco Feeding
regulars, captained by Eve McPheeters & Sandy Wolcott – and others! LOCAL EFFORTS Stone Soup: Cash donations:
$1900 Food
donations: 975 pounds (nearly 1/2 ton Joyful Harvest: Summer
Bible School: Session to enrich the children of the Bacon Street Neighborhood
Christmas
Gifts: Spent $300 Saco Feeding Program: Food purchased for
meals: $566 Monthly
meals cooked and provided to the most needy in the Saco-Biddeford area in
conjunction with Most Holy Trinity Church. Caring Unlimited: Scarves,
hats from the Knit Wits Christmas
- Adopted 3 families: Brought
two car loads of gifts Big Brothers and Big
Sisters: Knitted
and purchased mittens for children in Winter Kids Program The Kindness Center: Benefit
Concert: $ 2,500 Michael Chase Book Signing & Dinner event – including donations of non-perishable goods to Stone Soup Christmas
Eve Service Offering: $860 Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center: $250
from the Thanksgiving eve offering Emergency Assistance: $200
in Hannaford gift cards $1,000 in emergency assistance for fuel, etc. Greening Initiative: Green
Survey conducted Recycle
Bins purchased Green
audit conducted of Church Utilities, etc. Mustang Rescue: The
mission committee has decided to donate the match ($1,500) from our Advent
Heifer International drive to Mona Jerome and the Ever After Mustang Rescue
operation. GLOBAL EFFORTS World Vision child,
Samitha: $360
in support throughout the year for food and supplies Heifer International: $1500
donated for llamas ($150/llama) SUMMARY We
are a generous church with a big heart! In our last mission survey (2008
shown below) we had these
priorities: 63%
local, 18% national, and 18% international Most
of our efforts last year were spent locally as we felt the need was very
great “at home.” However, we are planning to engage in an international
project next year, so stay tuned Planning Process Updates Twenty-one
church members and friends completed the mission survey. Detailed results
were announced at the November 30, 2008 service.
#1: Stone Soup Food Pantry #2: Saco Feeding Program #3: Heifer International #4: Joyful Harvest #5: Fuel fund
#1: Soup & Bread Meals #2: Mission-related Info.
Packet, #3: Elder Care visits #4: Benefit Concert #5: Clean Water project In Enriching
Endowment Enhancing Local
Impact |
