Degree Days and Major Events
- October 30-31, 2026, Maine State Grange Annual Meeting in Orono.
The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330. The email address is mainestategrange@gmail.com.
Fraternal Concern – Gladys Chapman
Submitted by MSG Secretary Sharon Morton
It is my sad duty to inform you that Sister Gladys Chapman, Past Chaplain of the Maine State Grange, wife of Chief Deputy Maynard Chapman, passed away on May 9, 2026.
All services will be held at the Auburn United Methodist Church on Park Avenue, Auburn. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 2-4 and 6-8. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 2 pm.
Cards may be sent to Maynard Chapman at 84 Lisbon Street, Apartment 6, Lewiston, Maine 04240.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Danville Jct. Grange, 48 Pond Road, Raymond, ME 04071, United Methodist Church, 439 Park Avenue, Auburn, ME 04210, or The Hospice House, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, ME 04210.
From the Deacon’s Bench
By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
John 14:15-17
Another month has gone by, and I am back behind the computer trying to write a thoughtful, respectful, and inspiring article that will make you want to go out and do good for your fellow human beings. Well, here goes nothing.
As we are told in this month’s bible verse, and I paraphrase here, “if you love Jesus, you will keep His commandments, and He will ask the Father to welcome you into the kingdom of heaven.
This is not hard at all. You probably are doing this right now and not realizing it. Maybe you held a door open for an elderly person or helped someone up after they had fallen. No matter what it was, you were keeping a commandment of the Lord. Another view of this is when you helped a student with their studies. These are just a few examples of how we all can keep Jesus’ commandments. When you do, doesn’t it make you feel a little bit better? It does me!
Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”
Benediction: “Heavenly Father, help us to remember that keeping your commandments is the only way to be admitted to your kingdom. Amen.”
Thought for the month:
“God is good but never dance in a small boat.” [Irish Blessing]
While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.
Happy Mothers Day!
“A mother’s love is the heartbeat of every family.”
Grange Today! 5-8-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- Together we grow: Leaders gather in Nevada for annual conference
- Is Your Grange Protected?
- Grange Store Notice
- Grange Heirloom for May
- Connecticut member awarded Ernestine Keiser Memorial Scholarship
- Handprints on Potholders Project: A Share Your Project’s Story
- Tell the Grange Story
- Celebrate 160 in Broken Arrow
- Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President?
- 7 Frugal Gardening Tips & Tricks
- Celebrate America250 with the Grange
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Member Benefit: Wyndham Hotels
- Grange Store: Veteran Recognition Pin
- “The Grange and You”
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
A Big Win or a Big Red Flag
Reports of sweepstakes scams to the AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline are on the rise. The prospect of a big financial windfall or amazing vacation plays on our emotions. Criminals count on our excitement to deceive us into paying a fee or divulging sensitive information.
Know that no legitimate sweepstakes or contest requires payment in advance or sharing your Social Security number or bank account details.
If an unexpected message sparks strong emotions and demands urgency, treat it as a potential fraud attempt. Take an “active pause”—an intentional step back to consider the scenario and reflect on what you might know about it. That moment could lead you to recognize the scam and protect yourself and your assets.
Fraud affects every generation, and AARP Fraud Watch Network is helping people fight back—one community at a time. By learning together and sharing information, we can better protect one another.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
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Community Service Night at Highland Lake Grange
Busy night at Highland Lake Grange. 37 people turned out, including Grange members and guests, to celebrate this year’s Community Citizen Award recipient: Suzanne Joyce. We also recognized six members of Highland Lake Grange for their dedication and membership over many decades. Maine State Grange Assistant Steward, Membership Director, and Past Master/President Rick Grotton presented the certificates with the assistance of Judy Meserve, Maine State Grange Ceres, and Jim Meserve, Maine State Grange Executive Committee. It was a wonderful evening of celebration, conversation, laughter and, of course, food!
Educational Aid Scholarships
Educational Aid and Howes Nurses Scholarship Funds
Nancy Farrington, Secretary – Treasurer
317 Holman Day Road
Vassalboro, ME 04989
207-623-0395
May 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It is imperative to get the current application out to the college students in your area and make them aware of our scholarship’s availability. The Trustees of the scholarship funds have developed updated criteria, opening the application to any college student seeking assistance and helping the trustees decide who should receive scholarships. Students today need all the help they can get. Won’t you help them? The Trustees of the Educational Aid & Howes Nurses’ Scholarship Funds, ask for your support as we continue our annual appeal for financial help!
Please include the following information with your donation.
The current criteria and scholarship application are available on the website in the event you have an eligible applicant in your Grange area. Please return the completed application and college transcript to the above address by September 15, 2026. (Make as many copies as you wish and share them.)
Please destroy application forms that do not have the revision date of 5/2026.
Dairy Goat School at Evening Star Grange
Submitted by Wendy Carr
June 14, 2026 at 11 am
Evening Star Grange
31 Old Union Road
Washington, ME
For more information, contact fullmooncreamery@gmail.com
Website Status
Every day, and in every way, we’re getting better and better! We’ve had a few glitches–one regarding email that I think has been solved today.
There are a few minor things we’re discovering and fixing. If you see anything weird, please let me know!
There are also just enough differences with this new server to create a steep learning curve. The good news is that the differences are mostly positive.
I’ve been using a good friend’s observation a lot lately. Jack says, “Life is like a rollercoaster. You can’t steer a rollercoaster, so hang on and enjoy the ride!”
Grange Heirloom – May 2026
Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.
Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!
For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.