Newsletter

Summer 2002

As I sit to write this I am aware that we are entering our summer schedules. Sunday morning worship hour will change to 9:30 a.m. beginning on Father's Day, June 16. Our Limestone United Methodist Choir will be taking a summertime break. I would like to thank each member of the choir as well as those who sang on special occasions. Worship is so enhanced by the presence of the choir and their contribution is gratefully acknowledged. I appreciate Doris, our church organist for her faithful service. She arrives much earlier than do the rest of us on Sunday mornings! God is blessing us with a good music program.

If you are interested in offering any special music for our summer worship times, I urge you to contact Doris soon and set a time with her. We look forward to the return of choir members in the fall.

Church School teachers and helpers have labored endlessly to bring lessons and unique activities to our children and youth rest well in the summer sun and shade.

Many others of you have served faithfully as acolytes, liturgists, greeters, ushers and nursery workers. These responsibilities do not take a break for the summer but I do want to thank you now for your year-around service.

Our church office secretary is a very valuable person to all of us. I am not sure if everyone is aware of how much time and work Marilyn puts in each week, but be sure to say an extra prayer for her as well. For those who have filled in when Marilyn has been away, I am extremely grateful.

All of the church committees have done super work these past few months and deserve a break for July and August. Thank you committee members.

There will be several special events happening throughout our summer months and I urge you to look elsewhere in this newsletter to see all that is to come. There are church upkeep projects, breakfasts, VBS days, yard sales and more. God blesses us with faithful workers in this part of God's kingdom.

Many of us will be traveling away from the area from time to time this summer and we will pray for travel mercies for all. You are encouraged to remember to attend church services wherever you are in these weeks ahead. Giving time to gather in corporate worship is one way to say thank you to God for being present in our lives.

As Candy Doiron, Malcolm and I get ready to attend annual conference this year, I would ask you to remember to pray for our denomination and the appointment changes which will be taking place throughout our conference on July 1. Clergy and congregations go through periods of letting go and acceptance and these can be emotionally times for many.

I, too look forward to times of rest and renewal. Malcolm and I hope to make use of the camp some this summer. I have many good books I would like to read. As many of you already know, we are looking forward to two new grandchildren the third week in September This is exciting!!

We do share with you a bit of our grief at this time. We had to put our cat, Tippy, to rest at the end of May. I have had him as a partof my life for 18 years and Malcolm did have to pass the Tippy test before he (Malcolm) could sit beside me on the couch! For those of you who have ever lost a pet, you understand how we are affected.

And, as always, whether in celebration or in grief, we remember that God walks beside us-all the way-because God is good-all the time. Have a safe and wonderful summer.
Peace, Ellen

Confirmation News

It was a pleasure to work with Leah Caldwell, Sarah Coppola, Jeff Rizzardini and Cass Badgett over the past several weeks. They were confirmed in the faith and received into membership on Pentecost Sunday, May 19. This service was held at the Evangelical Covenant Church in New Sweden and was a duster-wide confirmation. There were several students from around the cluster (from Houlton to Limestone and points in between) who were received as members into their respective local churches. God has blessed us with fine youth and we welcome them in God's name.

Our goal is to complete as much as possible of what needs to be done to keep our church and parsonage in good condition.

We have a new roof on the parsonage and garage. Also a portion of the church roof that has been a problem in the past has been replaced. A covered walk for the no-stair entrance to the lower level will be finished this summer.

We have accepted a very generous donation from the Celeste Gallagher family to replace the carpet in the church sanctury at some future date. We also want to thank the Reginald Edgecomb fanuly for their donation toward the cost of the roofing project.

We have renewed the contracts on the furnaces in the church and parsonage. We have estimates on the cost of repair work on the church chimney.

We are pleased to announce that money is available to pay the cost for any Sunday School Student planning to attend summer camp.

Well we are five months into the year with all bills paid and the apportionment's paid to date! The kitchen project is completed and paid for and the shingles for the parsonage and the church are installed and paid for!

The trustees have informed the finance committee that the church chimney has a serious crack near the top and there is a danger of falling bricks. While the trustees are working on solutions, they have tentatively estimated the cost of repair at $5,000. The finance committee, upon final approval of the Ad Board, started a fund raising project allowing people to purchse a "Brick" for the chimney at $5 each. We have recycled one of Gerald Michaud's stewardship projects in the Fellowship Room to place our bricks on a "Chimney." We already have $1,150 in hand. Pastor Ellen understands there is a possibility of getting a grant from the Maine Annual Conference and the finance committee is working hard to put the request together and get approval from the District Superintendent. Once the Disrict Superintendent signs off on the project, then the grant request goes to conference. If you would like to buy a "Brick", please contact any of the finance committee members.
As Ellen is fond of saying "God is Good".

The Communications Committee put out the following advertisements for June:

• Pancake Breakfast held on June 1 with donations to benefit Vacation Bible Schul.
• Yard Sale to be held on Saturday, June 15, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Vacation Bible School, "God's Great Gallery" to be held June 16 - June 20, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. All children age 3 and up are welcome.
• Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the United Methodist Men to be held on Saturday, June 29, 7:00-9:00 a.m. Donations to benefit Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School begins on Sunday June 16 and runs through Thursday evening. VBS will meet each evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. with stories, crafts, games and music. Registration is at 5:45 p.m. We hope to many children participate in this wonderful program. We have dedicated teachers who enjoy doing God's work in this manner. Please tell every child you know abut this event and ask them to also invite a friend.

Volunteers are needed for the Meals on Wheels program in Limestone. As the old adage says "Many hands make light work" If you could find your way clear to deliver meals just once a month from Kelley's Restaurant to those in need of this service it would be a great blessing. Meals are picked up at Kelley's at 10:30 a.m. and delivered to the daignated people receiving this service. Mileage is now being reimbursed. Please see or talk to Lois Bourgoin or Carol Kelley if you are able to help out. May God bless you.