November 2025

Our Mission By God’s Grace, West Parish Congregational Church, United Church of Christ,

 is committed to Nurturing and Celebrating God’s Love

 in our lives, in the Church Family, in the Community and in the world

Mary LeConey, Beth Brough and Jan Stowell represent at the No Kings Protest in Norway!

November, 2025 Newsletter

Steeple View

West Parish Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

Pastor’s Perspective

I’m writing this the day before Mary, Evan, and I will be leaving for an 8-day trip to Ireland to see Ben and Jess’ new home in Gort, County Galway, and to see Ben run in the Dublin marathon on October 26th. We are also excited to be there during Samhain, a Celtic festival marking the end of harvest season and beginning of winter (it was considered the Celtic New Year). It is a time when the veil between the worlds of the dead and living was believed to be thin. Celebrations historically included bonfires, feasts, and rituals to honor ancestors and ward off spirits, and it is the precursor to modern-day Halloween.

We hope to do some Samhain activities while there, though many of them mostly fall under the category of Halloween activities. Whenever I go to Ireland, I always feel that I am in the presence of “thin places,” where the veil between heaven and earth is thinner, so Samhain goes right along with that concept! According to a pastoral colleague, Samhain is traditionally understood as the time when people go from the outward, productive, harvesting mode and go inward–into their homes, around the hearths, hunkering down for the winter season to come.

Upon our return from Ireland, I will begin orientation with Andwell and my role as a per diem (as needed) hospice chaplain. I will begin ¾ time at the church, working 3 days (plus Sundays) at the church and 2 days with Andwell. It is a big change for both myself and the church but it is one that holds the potential for some good, healthy changes. I have always felt drawn to chaplaincy and have some experience with hospice chaplaincy in previous years. For the church, my going ¾ time will allow others in the church to step forward and share their gifts for leading worship and preaching, pastoral care, and committee work.

I feel very confident in the lay leadership of the church and this is one of the reasons why I pursued the chaplaincy position now. It is also important to remember that part-time ministry is now the norm and does not at all take away from the health and vibrancy of a church. In fact, churches are thriving with a part-time ministry model. As a healthy, vital church with strong lay leadership and generosity in giving, we are in a great position to begin a part-time ministry model.

Through our 4-H Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe we provide a safe, welcoming space for youth, some who are neurodivergent or LGBTQ+, to do activities, just hang out, and, most importantly, be in relationship with caring adult volunteers. Through our new “Fun with Friends” playgroup and our involvement in the Western Maine Children’s Ministry Hub, we are providing a warm, safe space for connections to be made across generations and seeds of faith to be planted. We will also be receiving funding for projects that will enhance our space. Exciting things are happening!

This is not a Samhain time of going inward, hunkering down for the winter. It is a time of expansion and growth in faith and the participation of more people in the life of our church. I’m very excited by what the rest of the fall–and beyond–will bring! God’s blessing and peace to you and your family,

Mary and Ben at the Marathon in Dublin!

That’s one proud momma right there!

I counted around 63 ducks in this group at Round Pond taking a break from their flight south

Stewardship 2026

It is that time of year when we begin to plan for the year ahead. Part of that is asking for your pledges to help the trustees in planning the budget. Pledge letters and forms will be sent out in early November. We ask that they be returned by Dec. 1. If you want a form and don't get one, we will leave some in the chapel. 

This year our theme is a tree with roots in Christ's teachings. We are the strong trunk and the branches represent our outreach into the wider community.  On Nov 9 we will be celebrating Stewardship Sunday. 

We know that we are facing challenges and change in the year ahead. A verse I read this week in an on-line devotional offers hope when the path ahead seems unclear and uncertain. "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them." Isaiah 42:16. Let us be open to the words of Isaiah, and have confidence in God's direction even when the road ahead is not entirely clear.

Your Stewardship Committee-

Linda Davis, Jim List, Jim Chandler, Diane York

Oxford-Union Association coming to Bethel

Oxford-Union Association UCC will meet at our church on Sunday, November 9 at 2 PM for their fall business meeting and program. The Association is made up of area churches. It is an honor to welcome them to Bethel. 

The Mallards were gorgeous

Patricia Boyle-Wight and Stef Michaud will speak about their time at General Synod in Kansas City this past summer. This is the time when decisions are made for budget and election of officers for the national setting. Much thought also goes into resolutions to take to the member churches to consider.

We need to provide light refreshments when people arrive. Contact Gretchen Motts to help with this. 

The Christmas Fair and Tea is Coming

The Annual Christmas Fair and Tea will be Saturday, December 6 from noon to 3 PM.

We need everyone's help to bring this gift to our community. Decorating the church will be Wednesday, December 3. It is amazing to help convert the church within a few hours into the festive space for the Fair. And it takes your help.

Organizing the sale tables and setting up for the tea is Thursday. Friday people are encouraged to bake for the Fair. And Saturday is the sale.

Upstairs the Tea needs fancy treats and tea servers and people to clean up. Please sign up in the Chapel for your desired position. Downstairs we'll have the traditional cookie walk, expanded food table and popular Tiny Treasures.

Contact Diane York for cookies, and you can start baking already. Contact Gretchen Motts for food items for that table. And the World Service committee is collecting for the Tiny Treasures. Contact Jane Chandler to help with set up and working the table. Please note the word tiny. Save larger items for the Smile Fund Fair in the spring. 

There is a place for you. Find your passion and spread the word about our Christmas Fair and Tea. 

Christian Education and Friday Play Group

Thursday afternoons middle school and high school students come to the Youth Hub drop-in center. Last week there were 21 kids who attended! 

Thanks to the Christian Ed committee for offering our church space and making all ages welcome. 

Friday Morning Playgroup

Little Ones in our church building

Friday mornings parents, caregivers and grandparents bring their toddlers to our building for Fun With Friends. Last week there were 5 toddlers under 4 (all boys) playing and having fun while the adults could visit.

Thursday mornings the yoga and kids, which was outside on The Common in the summer, is using our space.

Love Bowl for November

Will be for Driver's Ed

One of the basic skills in this world is safe driving. Our church has partnered with Northstar and Lyndsay Smith to offer funds for students who can't afford driver's ed training. The cost at Roy's Driver School is now $650 each. This training opens the doors for several young people to get their driver's license. This allows a young person to get around, travel to Lewiston for college courses while at Telstar and work

.

This month's Love Bowl supports this great cause.

                   November                                 December

Book Group

Book Group will be postponed to Wednesday, November 12, as the original date conflicts with election day. We'll discuss the book The Berry Pickers Maine author Amanda Peters at 7 PM at Jan Stowell’s home.. December 9th (not the first Tuesday due to conflict with the church getting ready for the Christmas Fair) we will discuss How to Love a Forest, written by Ethan Tapper, a recent speaker at Mahoosuc Land Trust's annual Monarch Festival.  Jim and Kay Rector will host.  

 Visitation Meetings            

With Tim's decrease in hours, one task he will have less time for is visiting church members

who are home bound, ill or would just like to talk to another person one on one. The Deacons have already been doing some of this and will likely pick up a bit more, but we cannot do it alone. If you feel called to reach out to others in this way or would like to learn more before you commit, there will be a meeting on Nov. 11 at 10 am in the chapel. 

November 1 – Liz Smith

November 1 – Wendy Youmans

November 7 – Laura and Dan Johnson

November 9 – Andee Alford

                            November 11 – Ivan Cooper

                          November 13 – Hannah Pierce

                            November 19 – Lisa Maliska

                             November 30 – Amy Scott

Sunday, November 2: Worship with Communion, 10 AM (also live streamed on

YouTube Live)

Tuesday, November 4: Prayer Group, 8:45 AM at church/on Zoom; World Service

Committee, 10 AM,

Wednesday, November 5: Men’s Breakfast, 8 AM; Genesis Bible Study, 3:30 PM

at church/on Zoom

Thursday, November 6: 4-H Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe, 2:30-4:45 PM

Friday, November 7: Fun with Friends Playgroup, 9 AM

Sunday, November 9: Stewardship Sunday Worship, 10 AM (also live streamed

on YouTube Live); Oxford Union Association Fall Meeting, 2 PM at WPCC

Tuesday, November 11: Veteran’s Day; Prayer Group, 8:45 AM at church/on Zoom;

Pastoral Care group, 10 AM (those interested in doing home visits to

members/friends)

Wednesday, November 12: Genesis Bible Study, 3:30 PM at church/on Zoom; Music

Committee, 6:30 PM on Zoom

Thursday, November 13: 4-H Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe, 2:30-4:45 PM

Friday, November 14: Fun With Friends playgroup, 9 AM; Christian Education

Committee, 9 AM

Sunday, November 16: Worship, 10 AM (also live streamed on YouTube Live)

Tuesday, November 18: Prayer Group, 8:45 AM at church/on Zoom; Deacons, 10 AM

Wednesday, November 19: Genesis bible study, 3:30 PM at church/on Zoom

Thursday, November 20: 4-H Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe, 2:30-4:45 PM

Friday, November 21: Fun with Friends playgroup, 9 AM

Sunday, November 23: Thanksgiving Sunday Worship, 10 AM (also live streamed

on YouTube Live)

Tuesday, November 25: Prayer Group, 8:45 AM at church/on Zoom

Thursday, November 27: Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday November 30: First Sunday of Advent Worship, 10 AM (streamed