Dear Friends,

Summer can be tough in Boothbay Harbor if you are working, especially for those of you whose work hours increase during the summer season. Every day, when I pick up my mail at the West Harbor Post Office, I see people sailing, playing tennis, and enjoying the magnificent summer days by which we have been truly blessed this summer and I think, “A few hours of that would be nice.” But, like many of you, I must settle for an hour here and an hour there.  An hour can go a long way toward rest and renewal but I’ve really been looking forward to the vacation I’m now on! 

 

It is often the “little things” people do that make such a big difference: Donald Duncan bringing board games to the International Workers Welcome; Roger Saunders taking the time to draw a seating chart of this year’s lobster-chicken bake so that we’ll know how to set up the chairs and tables next year; Judy Pinkham making musical note shaped cookies for Genie’s celebration; Susan Landemare running out at the last minute to get cream and Barclay Shepard making his famous punch, both for Bud Shevenell’s Memorial Reception. I wish there were space to list all the smallish things that make a big difference - things I have witnessed over and over again within the congregation over the summer.  We are not always able to effect large change in this world but we can offer the cup of cool water to the thirsty neighbor in a wide variety of ways.

 

On a global level, we cannot repair the damage to the gulf but we can monitor and perhaps curtail our use of fossil fuels; we cannot undo the flood damage in Pakistan but we can make a Church World Service school kits to help Pakistani children whose schools have been destroyed (instructions on sign up board, in this newsletter under Jr. High Fellowship, and on the cws.org website); we cannot make world poverty go away but we can bring boxes and cans to the food pantry. Let us do what we can, however small that contribution may feel. This is the path of hope.

 

Thank you for being you!

 

Gratefully,

 

Sarah

 

Sarah

 

Here are some ideas of small things you could do around the church that would make a big difference:

 

        1. Remove the denim covers from the Bean Bag Chairs in the youth room, take them home and wash them, and return them to the youth room (this is a job that could be divided up).

 

        2. Deep clean one of our 6 bathrooms.

 

        3. Remove the invasive vine from one or more of the church bushes.

 

        4. Pull some weeds out of the garden.

 

        5. Ask how you can help the Sunday School this year as it gets rolling again.                                                         6. Wash some baseboards (see sign up list on sign up board).

 

 

 

Wash some baseboards (see sign up list on sign up board).