From the Deacon’s Bench – July 2023

By Clay Collins, MSG Chaplain
207 837-0564

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.”

Genesis 1:1-3

Sometimes it does feel like the beginning of time when God created heaven and earth, but it isn’t. We have just gone through what seems to be the wettest month ever, but we have survived, and we will continue to survive. We just have to be determined and have faith that God has not and will not forget us.

We just have to remember just who is in charge! It is NOT us. This is just one of God’s plans for us. If you want to make God chuckle, just tell Him your plans for the future!

Remember, He will not disown us and leave us stranded by the side of the road like a sack of grain. We are all His children. He loves us. So cheer up, the sun will come out again to brighten our days and lives. While we are waiting, why don’t we all look around to see if there is something we can do to brighten someone else’s life? By doing this, we will probably feel good doing it!

 Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: “Gracious Father of us all, help us to remember that we are all able to brighten the day for someone, if not ourselves.  Amen”

Thought for the month:

May good luck be your friend
        in whatever you do
And may trouble be always
        A stranger to you.

An Irish Blessing for Health and Prosperity

Glad Echoes From the Grange

The Grange has a rich heritage of song, with a number of songbooks published starting in 1874. Katherine Rhoda loves to share these songs celebrating agriculture, rural life, and the pursuit of the common good. You can learn more about this music at her website.

Katherine has several performances of Vintage Grange Songs coming up this month. The first is this Sunday, July 9, 2023, at 3 PM, at the Standish Historical Society, The Old Red Church, 55 Oak Hill Road, Standish, ME. Donations to the SHS Building Fund are welcome.

Next is Friday, July 21, 2023, at 7 PM at the Effingham Historical Society, 1014 Province Lake Road, Effingham, NH. Admission is free, though donations are welcome.

Songbook images courtesy of Katherine Rhoda

Celebrate Independence Day

The Fourth of July – also known as Independence Day or July 4th – has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941; but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War.

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. Two days later, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

The Declaration of Independence allowed Congress to seek alliances with foreign countries, and the fledgling U.S. formed its most important alliance early in 1778 with France. Without France’s support, America might well have lost the Revolutionary War.

The war waged by the American colonies against Britain, which began more than a year earlier in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord near Boston, would eventually end when British forces surrendered in Yorktown, Virginia. Yet the Declaration and America’s victory had far-reaching effects around the globe as other nations saw a small novel nation win its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.

From 1776 to today, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. This year’s Independence Day will be on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

Reprinted with permission from a newsletter published by Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4.

July Events Around Maine

July isn’t just the month for Independence Day. There are plenty of other great holidays observed around the world! July 2nd is World UFO Day, while July 3rd is Stay out of the Sun Day. In the US, July 6th is a pretty delicious day, as it’s National Fried Chicken Day! At the end of the month, we also have International Tiger Day on July 29th. And there’s even more going on in Granges around Maine!

July is National Junior Grange Month!

Music Mondays, every Monday at St. George Grange at 7 pm. Bring an instrument and play with others. Weekly until October.

July 1, 2023, Deadline for registration for Northeast Regional Youth Conference.

July 4, 2023, Pancake Breakfast at Harraseeket (Freeport) Grange, 7 am until 10 am. Contact freeportgrangegmailcom.

July 7, 2023, East Madison Grange Open Mic Night on the first Friday of every month at 7 PM. Refreshments are available, free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Contact hideandgopeepgmailcom or 207 716-6441.

July 14, 2023, MSG Bulletin Deadline — columns and posts are due.

July 14, 2023, Parkman Grange Minnie Bridge Scholarship Applications are due. For more information.

July 15-16, 2023, Northeast Regional Youth Conference in Brookfield, VT.

July 23, 2023, Maine Open Farm Day

July 29, 2023, Wayside Grange Concert, doors open at 6:30 pm, concert at 7:00 pm. FMI visit Wayside Grange Facebook Page.

July 29, 2023, Makers’ Market at Enterprise Grange, 9:30 am until 4:00 pm.

July 29, 2023, Valley Grange Outreach Booth at Guilford River Festival, 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.

Community Granges are reminded to submit information about your events for publication and listing on the Maine State Grange Website! Use the Submit Tab or send us an email!

Notes from National – June 2023

National Grange Contest deadlines are approaching!

The July issue of Good Day! magazine is coming off the press any day now (after a few delays with the printer…) The next deadline for articles, new member lists, and anything else for the magazine will be August 31, 2023.

We hope to see you “at” some of our July Events!

National Grange Heirloom Program

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Ritual and Declaration of Purposes. Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with us or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges. Information and materials are now available on the National Grange Website.

“Notes from National” is based on a monthly email received from the National Grange Communications Department.

Sagadahoc Pomona News

Submitted by Marilyn Stinson

Sagadahoc Pomona meets the last Wednesday monthly with a potluck supper at 6:00, and a meeting at 7:00. Enterprise and Merriconeag are 40 minutes apart, but we enjoy the visiting before the meetings, so it is worth the trip.

Ned Pierce filled in as Master for June, with elections bringing us quite a few changes. Our Master for 2023-2024 will be Samuel A. (Chuck) Alexander, Overseer– Marilyn Stinson, Lecturer – Sharon Kirker, Steward – Helen Stinson, Assistant Steward. – Ben Edgerly, Lady Assistant Steward – CJ Roy, Chaplain – Nancy Barton, Gatekeeper– Hope Tanguay, Treasurer – Ned Pierce, Secretary– Stephanie Alexander, Ceres – Helen Stinson, Pomona – Isabel Stinson, Flora – Sharon Kirker, Executive Committee – Stephanie Alexander for 3 years, Arnold Stinson – 2 years, Hope Tanguay – 1 Year. Some doubling of officers for Graces since we have Fifth Degree in April, and Lincoln Pomona Officers usually give us a hand at that time by filling Lecturer and Steward positions

Our Memorial Program honored two members who went to the Great Grange above, plus those who went before.

There will be no meeting in July, and plans are being made for our August meeting to be a family outing, possibly a lobster boat ride to Eagle Island State Park, for a family picnic with friends from other Pomonas. We will keep you informed because we hope you want to join us!

CWA Baking Contest was won by Helen Stinson with her chocolate chip cookies.

St George Grange July Public Supper

Public Supper at the St. George Grange 32 Wileys Corner Road in St. George, ME on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 5 pm.
Come enjoy lots of homemade food with Grange members, family and friends. All welcome! We have public suppers the second Saturday of each month now until October.

Makers’ Market at Enterprise Grange

July 29, 2023 – 9:30 – 4:00

Enterprise Grange is located at 15 Alexander Reed Road in Richmond, Maine

Enterprise Grange in Richmond has been asked by our town manager to host a crafts/artists event (similar to The ART FEST  we hold each May) during Richmond Days, which is July 28-29th. Since we have a Pre-parade breakfast, we aren’t able to do the planning and set up for what is wanted. Some local artists who also want music have stepped up to plan the event. The artists will be located upstairs in our Grange Hall and outside with tents. They are charging only $10.00 for entry fees which will go to advertising, and any money left over will go to Enterprise’s “Build a New Porch” fund. It will be a “Makers Market” that can include any kind of items that are handmade – yarns, soaps, needlework, breads, all kinds of baked goods, eggs, etc.

The 28th late afternoon-evening would be for setting up. The actual event is on the 29th for the event. Grange Breakfast is from 7 – 10 downstairs in the Community Room, and setting up can be happening upstairs at the same time. The sale will be from 9:30 – 4:00, with music at various times during the day, either jamming with others or taking turns. The logistics haven’t been worked out, yet, because it is such a quick ‘popup’ event.

F.R.O.G. volunteers (FRiends Of Grange) especially want music, and since musicians won’t be sitting and selling products, they don’t have to pay the $10.00.

Can anyone help with your talents? It can be a good promotion for Grange and Granges and a possible start for something other Granges want to do, but we have limited time for planning.

The deadline for reserving your spot is July 18th. You’ll need to complete a brief entry form.