As part of a new initiative in Belfast called “From Above” — a coalition of civic and church people to address homelessness in Waldo County — Kristen Burkholder is collecting comforters, warm blankets, thermal socks and any free-standing sources of heat (small space heaters etc) to donate. Please place your items in the great big blue bin in the Parish Hall. She will hand them over to David Smith and Matt Bolduc (who had an article written about him in the Bangor Daily News Nov. 25th), coordinators for From Above, and they will get them to homeless in the area who need them most.

In addition, tHohe December Fifth Sunday Plate will provide funds to respond to homeless crisis situations and related issues in Waldo County through the Priest’s Discretionary Fund.

Get Super Bowl Sunday off to flying start by dropping some G. Washingtons or A. Hamiltons into the soup pot at the back of church.  The Belfast Soup Kitchen is the guaranteed winner.  If you’re feeling lucky, you might put in 12 greenbacks to honor TB12.  But 87 for Gronk?  A bit of a stretch.  Rams’ supporters should expect to pay BIG.  That’s only right. 

Please join us! The Outreach Committee will meet on Monday, January 14 at 1 p.m.

We will be hearing from Dr. Carol Kuhn about the work of Konbit Sante, an organization based in Portland, whose mission is  to support the development of a sustainable health care system to meet the needs of the Cap-Haitien community with maximum local direction and support.

Everyone is invited and we encourage you to come and hear about this program.

This fun and fabulous fashion show will be happening at the Belfast Boathouse on Saturday, October 13th at 2 p.m.  Now in its ninth year, the show has promoted fiber arts while raising money for New Hope for Women with the $12 entrance fee. For the second year, there will be a silent auction showcasing three beautiful hand knit and beaded shawls donated and knitted by Susan Golden. These shawls are on display at Heavenly Yarns in Belfast.

Don’t miss this fabulous event! Bring someone to share the enjoyment.

FMI: (978) 325-0045 or www.stmargaretsbelfast.org/knit-the-community.

Board games and snacks will happen next Friday (the second Friday of the month), August 10 at 6 p.m. This is the second in our monthly outreach and fellowship opportunities where we invite men from the Re-Entry Center to join us. Please come – bring a board game, deck of cards, a snack to share.

Thanks to your generous donations, on last week’s fifth Sunday, we raised over $1000 for the Waldo County Diaper Closet. This program, run by the Public Health Nurse at WCGH, helps mothers and babies by providing assistance with diaper needs.

With these diaper dollars we will purchase diapers in bulk – at about half  the cost of smaller packages – and packets of wipes.  They will be stored in one of our upstairs closets for the Diaper Closet to use which is also part of our outreach support to the program.

If you would like to continue to support this program, you may bring packets of wipes or diapers (sizes 2, 3, 4, 5).

The Outreach Committee now comprises 13 members with others willing to help. We have been busy gathering information about programs to help feed local children who live in a “food insecure” environment.

At our meeting on June 13 we learned of a Summer Feeding Program, organized by Perley Martin, RSU Director of Nutrition.  Susie Kraeger is soliciting volunteers to transport 100 meals twice weekly to Swan Lake State Park (please talk to Susie about this). Nan Cobbey met with the school nurse at BAHS, and Dolly Sullivan, the “Teaching Principal”, at BCOPE (an alternative high school). At B-Cope, students help with the cooking of meals and take home all leftovers. The chef/teacher, Ally Cayer, welcomes all donations of vegetables and fruits.  (We will be requesting donations in September).

The committee voted to provide $400 (of the $1000 collected on the 5th Sunday in April) to the WCAP Headstart Backpack Program which continues through the summer. Chris Urick met with Cherie Merrill, the Nutrition Coordinator, and learned of their impressive educational component with these pre-schoolers. They currently provide a weekly meal to 28 families in Waldo County, but in with the bag of food are recipes for a balanced and nutritious meal. Videos of preparing the meals are posted on the Waldo County Action Partners facebook page for the parents to view. Several committee members have volunteered to assist with packing the bags on Wednesday mornings. Cherie is also looking for volunteers to video (with your smart phone) the recipe preparation. Several of us are going to learn from her how to do this. If you are interested, we will pass on the info – talk to Chris. The program also provides cooking classes for the parents and Headstart has requested the use of St. Margaret’s kitchen for these classes.

The balance of $600 will be distributed to other school programs at our August meeting and in time for commencement of the school year.

The committee also voted to send $400 to support the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. Bishop Steven Lane supports this effort and both Deirdre Good and Nan Cobbey have visited the hospital.

Put St. Margaret’s First Game Night of 2018 on your calendar: Friday, July 13th, 6 p.m.  

The Outreach Committee hopes to host a series of Game Nights, always on the second Friday of the month.  We will start the evening with a potluck meal — bring a dish to share, whatever you like.  Bring your own beverages.  We’ll make coffee and tea. We will be inviting men and staff from the Re-Entry Center to join us.

In addition to multiple decks of cards, chips, Scrabble and Cribbage boards,  we expect to offer Risk (for the politically brave),  Monopoly and perhaps a few special puzzles for guests to put together.   Bring your own favorite games as well. 

All are welcome. Invite your friends.

From our Bishop – asking for support of the Al Ahil Arab Hospital in Gaza.

As I’ve watched the tragedy in Gaza unfold over the past several days, my prayers have gone immediately  to the ministry and care offered to all people by the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. The doctors, nurses, and staff are truly on the front lines in meeting the need of those injured in the violence of recent days.

One of the initiatives from the Year of Nurture gathering was to reintroduce fair trade coffee at St. Margaret’s.
Mary Rackmales will have a sample on Sunday and we will start with the opportunity for parishioners to order, pre-pay, and purchase fair-trade coffee. Mary will share more information about this during our Engagement Party on Sunday.