Special to the Star-Herald
The Sub-District of Northern Maine United Methodist Women met at the Limestone United Methodist Church on April 15, with 44 members present. Registration and fellowship started at 9:30 a.m., with light refreshments. President Betty Walker called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. The opening prayer was given by Marie Bagley, followed by the “Purpose of UMW” read in unison. The hymn “Fill My Cup, Lord” was then sung. The Welcome was given by Candy Richards, president of the Limestone UMW, and the Response was returned by Donna Brewer, vice president of the Mars Hill UMW. The “Hymn of Promise” was sung and the 23rd Psalm read in unison for Devotions.
Elaine Bailey read the secretary’s report for April 16, 2008, plus several “thank-you notes. This report was approved as read. She then gave the treasurer’s report which showed a balance of $377.07 in the checking account. She explained that the savings and checking accounts had been combined because they didn’t receive enough interest on the savings account to warrant having a separate account. The treasurer’s report was accepted as presented. The secretary then had the roll call of units, with each reporting on any new missions they had undertaken during the past year.
Sandra Merritt gave the Program Resources report. She talked about the books and various items that are available.
Northern District President Candy Richards gave her report and praised the Northern Maine Sub-District units for their steadfastness and ongoing mission work. She reported that there are 24 active units in the Northern District, nine of which are from this sub-district. She extended an invitation to anyone who would like to attend the Spring Retreat at the Bangor First United Methodist Church on April 24-25; to the School of Christian Mission to be held at the University of Maine Farmington, July 17-19; to the Northern Maine District Annual Meeting to be held at Grant Memorial United Methodist Church on Oct. 3; and to the New England Conference UMC meeting to be held at Coventry, R.I., on Oct. 24. Candy also thanked all those present for their generous donation of non-perishable items that was brought to this meeting which will go to the Limestone Food Cupboard.
Vice President Barbara VanKirk called each unit to come forward and present the names of those who had passed away during the year and she offered a prayer at the conclusion of the lighting of the candles. From Caribou: Regina “Daisy” Cochran, Beryl Lombard, Valeska Lombard, Ruth Noyes, Judy Rideout and Louise Norsworthy. Houlton: Nellie Barton, Marcia Cummings, Margaret Rhoda and Ruth Cumming. Limestone: Eva Leighton, Elizabeth (Mabel) Edgecomb, Ellen Berry and Elizabeth (Libby) Albert. Presque Isle: Audrey Richards and Pauline Gartley.
LaVone Walters announced that items for the Silent Auction were on display in the dining room and could be viewed during the lunch hour.
An invitation for the next Sub-District meeting to be held April 14, 2010, was extended by the Mars Hill UMW.
Since the business section of the meeting finished sooner than expected, a hymn sing was held until it was time to break for lunch, after which a noontime prayer was given by Pastor Ellen Cleaves. A return to the church nave followed the lunch hour for the balance of the meeting with singing of “This is the Day” as the gathering hymn.
Candy Richard announced that the collection amounted to $135.80. Pastor Cleaves reported that it would be given to “The Closet Frog,” a new mission in Limestone. This mission store stocks used clothing which is sold for donations and the money collected, after paying operational expenses, is used to aid the community.
She then called Joanne Worthen to come forward and presented her with a Special Mission Recognition pin, citing her enormous contributions, not only to the Limestone United Methodist Church but to the District, Sub-District and community as a whole. Joanne was quite overwhelmed and expressed her amazement as to how they were able to obtain this pin without her knowledge.
Betty Walker introduced the guest speaker, Janice Wood, who gave a talk on two mission trips she had been involved with in Uganda. Janice is an ob/gyn nurse at Miles Hospital in Damariscotta, though she grew up in Presque Isle and attended Grant Memorial United Methodist Church. Her mission location in Uganda was in the small village of Kaboli. Because the nearest hospital is 30 miles from Kaboli, she hopes to have a clinic established in that town in four years. One interesting statistic she offered is that 21 women in 60 die in childbirth. A most informative question and answer period followed her talk. If anyone would care to donate money toward this mission, the address is: Lincoln County Assembly of God, P.O. Box 220, Damariscotta, ME 04543.
Following the program Betty thanked the speaker and presented her with a check for $200 from the Sub-District. Betty also thanked the Limestone UMW for their hospitality.
The closing hymn “Sweet, Sweet Spirit,” was followed by the benediction.
The results of the Silent Auction amounted to $146.87 which will be added to the treasury.
