January 26, 2012 - Woodfords Congregational Church, U.C.C.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES—even during church! It is very unfortunate, but there have been a number of thefts in our building recently—laptop, purse, keys, cellphone are among the items taken in the last two months. Please keep your belongings with you!

Our prayer list is here to help. If you would like your name added to the prayer list, or if you know someone who should be added, please contact the church office. Please include in your prayers this week:

Please plan to attend an Informational Meeting on the Proposed Bylaws Revisions - Sunday Jan 29 at 8:45am in the Parlor.

Please note your calendars and plan to attend the Annual Meeting of The Woodfords Congregational Church on Sunday, February 5, following the 10:00am worship service.

A limited number of copies of these documents will be available at church the next two Sundays.

There will be a potluck luncheon at the annual meeting. Folks are asked to bring a casserole or soup & bread etc. or cookies for dessert. Pam Barrows is coordinating the potluck– please visit her in the Cloister this Sunday and next Sunday and sign up for what you can contribute. Fellowship will provide drinks. Pam would like some helping setting up and clearing up afterward.

Help support the Youth Group’s Annual Soupa Bowl, Sunday, February 6th. The Youth Group will be collecting canned and dry soups and crackers for Project Feed. When you are out buying food for the weekend (whether you plan to watch the big game or not), please travel down the soup and cracker aisles and help stock the shelves of Project Feed. Bring your food (& cloth shopping bags) to church on Sunday, February 5th.

Thursdays, 10am-11am, The Lounge, $2 a class or $16 for each 10-week session. Classes have begun and will continue until July 5. Yoga classes are held in the Lounge. No need to pre-register, just come as you are able.

Friday, February 3, 12:00pm - 1:00pm, Seely Hall. The topic is Preventing Medicare Fraud & Abuse with Nancy Gordon & Marian Rowan, Legal Services at Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging. Bring your own lunch; drinks and dessert will be provided. PLEASE RSVP to Jennie at 774-8243 so we know how many people to expect. There will be time to ask questions during or after the presentation. IF not enough people sign up beforehand we will have to cancel—so it is important to RSVP by the Monday of that week of the Lunch and Learn.Please join the Grant Fund for a warm lunch and classical music performed by a string quartet. A lunch of your choice of soup- clam chowder and/or ribollita soup, bread and dessert will be served at 11:30am. At 12pm, a string quartet composed of local musicians- Jon Poupore and Bob Enman on violin, Susanna Adams on viola, and Michael Bachem on cello, will play music of Mozart and Haydn. Please RSVP with Jennie by Friday, January 6th.

Friday, February 10, 11:30am, Memorial Hall. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your Grant Fund friends with comfort food and beautiful music. A lunch of lasagna, bread, salad and dessert will be served at 11:30 am. The Windham Primary Third Grade Chorus will sing at 12pm. Please RSVP with Jennie by Friday, February 3rd.

Save May 4-6th on your busy calendar to attend this year’s Women’s Retreat at the Marie Joseph Center in Biddeford Pool. Last year’s weekend included relaxation, camaraderie, laughter, sharing and spiritual sustenance among women of all ages. Isn’t that just what you need, too? We’ve booked a later time in the spring for this year’s retreat for longer and less chilly walks on the beach. We hope you’ll want to be part of this!

In preparation for the big weekend, we’re starting to plan right now and want to welcome any and all who want to help pull this together. We anticipate gathering once a month through April for a light supper of soup and salad and to slowly bring the weekend into glorious focus. The first gathering will be held on Wednesday, January 25th at 5:30 PM. The other meeting dates are not yet set. If you are interested in sharing your planning ideas for May please call Nancy Meiners at 883-0697 or email nanlumen@hotmail.com and say, Yes!

The next Fourth Sunday service (February 26th) will coincide with the beginning of Lent. We will be returning to a more contemplative model of worship, incorporating the Taizé chants that we learned in our November Fourth Sunday. Please join us!

The Worship Cohort has changed shape a little in the new year as JulieAnn Heinrich and Rev. Carl Beyer have brought their energy and talents to the group. Many thanks to Joanne Friedrich and Nancy Meiners who helped start us off last year. Rev. Carolyn, Harold Stover, and ongoing members of our team, Carl Anderson, Tom Campbell, and Jessica Doughty welcome the participation of others in our fun and spiritually fulfilling activities!

Sunday, January 29, 2:00pm, Woodfords Church Sanctuary. Featuring violinist Patrick Doane and Colby College Musicologist Steven Saunders. The cost is $22 general admission, $20 seniors, Free for 21 and younger. As always, tickets are free for the asking for Woodfords Church members and associates.

Friday, February 3, Pickard Theatre, Bowdoin College in Brunswich. Dubbed a “folk-rock goddess” by The New Yorker, Catie is a renowned singer/songwriter with roots in Maine and a long-time friend and supporter of Safe Passage. FMI and tickets: www.safepassage.org/concert.