From the Deacon’s Bench — July 2022

By Clay Collins, MSG Chaplain
207 837-0564

“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, ‘who, is my neighbor?’ And Jesus, answering said, ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise, a Levite passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan came by and when he saw the man, he had compassion for him. He went to him, bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and put him on his own beast, and took him to an inn, and took care of him.”

Luke 10:29-34

I just realized that this month’s column tends to go right along with last month’s. Maybe I should have written this for last month, then had last month’s for this month, but I digress!

I am sure that I have asked this question before, but it probably needs to be asked again (and again!); do we really know our neighbors? I mean really know them enough that we can feel comfortable walking up to them, and start talking to them?

Are you able to be the ‘Good Samaritan’ in Jesus’ parable? This Samaritan, who was considered an outcast, a low life, not one to be associated with, saw a man in trouble, hurting, next thing to being dead, and helped him. This Samaritan did not know this injured man and did not know how this man felt about Samarians himself, but he helped him anyway!

 If you read the verses before those at the top (Luke 10:25-37), you will get the entire feel for the parable. Here Jesus explains just what a neighbor is. Your neighbor is not just the people who live next door, but everyone. Throughout the Bible, we are told to be kind, and treat each other as we would want to be treated. This is very hard to do many times.

It seems in this day and age people have developed a “not my problem, don’t get involved” attitude. We are afraid that if we do get involved, we will somehow get hurt by helping out. We must learn from the Samaritan.

He was not afraid to get involved.  He did NOT give a second thought to any repercussions if he helped the injured man. He just saw a man who was hurt. He took care of him. There is no evidence of the man’s health after that, but we are to believe he survived.

Jesus, in His teachings, wanted us to just be kind to one another. To help, support, and love each other. We can do it! I know we can!

Until the next time, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.” Don’t forget to thank a veteran and all first responders for their service!!

Benediction: Gracious Father of us all, help us to understand the teachings of Jesus. Help us to be kind to our neighbors, whoever they may be. We pray in Thy holy name.  Amen.”

Thought for the month:
If God sends you down a stony path, may He give you strong shoes

an Irish Blessing

2022 Parkman Grange Scholarship Awardees Announced

The Parkman Grange is pleased to announce its 2022 Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarship winners. They are Mercy Harper, Sangerville, a Criminal Justice major at Husson University, and Eben Cooley, Parkman, a Marine Engineering Technology major at Maine Maritime Academy. Both will receive awards of $500. Although the Grange normally announces and awards winners at the Annual Scholarship Supper, this year the awards will be presented at the Parkman Grange Bean Supper on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in conjunction with the Parkman Bicentennial Celebration. The Supper runs from 4:00 to 5:30 or when the food runs out. The meal is by donation. Please come and enjoy the good food and good fun.

Minnie Bridge (1909-2011) was a lifelong resident of Parkman, a retired schoolteacher, and a life member of the Parkman Grange. In her memory, the Grange established the Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit deserving Parkman students continuing their education beyond high school.  The Grange annually awards one or more scholarships funded through donations and the proceeds from an annual Supper in Minnie’s name. Last year, at the height of the Pandemic, there were no applicants and no awards made. This year applications were opened to all residents of MSAD#4. With these new awards, the Grange has awarded $13,000 since 2012.

Note that the next big Parkman Grange event will be the annual Daddy-Daughter Dance at the Grange Hall on Friday, August 12, 2022, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. All Daddies, with their young ladies, age 13 and under, are invited. DJ Steve Boddy will be spinning the tunes. There will be dance contests, door prizes, light refreshments, and a keepsake photo. Young ladies whose dads are unable to come are encouraged to come with an important adult in their life.  The cost is $5 per person, at the door. Plans are being discussed for a mother-son and/or family dance in the future.

Both the Supper and the Dance are at the Grange Hall located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Rd. For more information about these or any other Parkman Grange events, please contact Sue Manchester at 277-3942.

News from Ocean View Grange

Ocean View Grange is located in Martinsville, Maine

by Larry Bailey, Master/President

Grange member Ryan’s idea about serving a Strawberry Palooza of Strawberries and Cream was a success. We ran out of strawberries and whipped cream at 2 pm…, two hours before the advertised closing time. 

We served 92 cups of strawberries and cream and grossed $610. The net after expenses of $146 was $464.  Many of the folks who stopped in had never been in a Grange before and I gave tours of our meeting room. That went over well and, we may get a new member or two out of it.

We need to thank the following who worked to make the event both a financial and, just as important, a public relations success:

  • Ryan Aponte
  • Nancy Fagley
  • Joss Coggeshall
  • Dan Anderson (Ryan’s stepfather)
  • Pat Deussing (Ryan’s mother)
  • Bill Swittlinger 
  • Diane Bailey

Thanks to all of our members who helped and those members who came in to have a taste.

Webmaster’s Note: I highlighted the part about tours of the meeting room… what a great idea when having events!

Grange Heirloom — July 2022

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 responses link at the top right and share your comment with us!

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.

Happy Fourth of July!

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 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and 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 and ended at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781 when British forces surrendered, 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 the present day, 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 article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Davis, State Senator for District 4.

News from Victor Grange

Victor Grange Is Located In Fairfield Center Maine

Check out the latest Victor Grange Newsletter! Lots of accomplishments and activities… note they need some help moving furniture on Sunday, July 24, 2022, so all the first floor floors can be refinished! Hot dogs and burgers will be included for helpers!

Thanks to donations from the Mosher & Pellerin Celebration of
Life we have secured enough money to have the first floor refinished. We have also had a donation of a trailer to store Grange
belongings by Timmy’s Trailers and Pro movers will come to pick
up and store the two pianos & return them in a couple of weeks.
That’s what we call Community!

Additional articles mention the twentieth anniversary of Fairfield’s Senior Circle… a floral design class… and an opportunity to purchase chairs for $10 each! Don’t miss the July Issue!

Coming up in July…

  • July 9, 2022, Seaside Grange Rummage and Bake Sale, 9 am-noon. Email Seasidegrange@gmail.com for more information.
  • July 9, 2022, St George Grange Public Supper, 5 pm at St George Grange Wiley’s Corner. Call 372-8904 or 372-6768 for more information.
  • July 11, 2022, Piscataquis Pomona Fun and Fundraiser at 5 pm. Contact Pomona Overseer Walter Boomsma for further information.
  • July 14, 2022, MSG Bulletin Deadline — columns and posts are due.

This information is from the Conferences and Dates Page. We do our best to list conferences, regional events, state meetings, Pomona meetings, and local Grange events with dates and links to information! Please remember, we can’t post what we don’t know. 

Remember Standish Grange?

Ernie Easter of the Standish Historical Society is seeking any information about the former Community Grange #551 in Standish, specifically when the building was erected and the current owner. (Click on his name to send an email.

Webmaster’s Note: We checked “A Fair Field and No Favor” and found that Community Grange #551 was chartered on November 19, 1925. It’s interesting that they used the word “Community” in the name.

Ocean View Grange Looks Great!

Submitted by Larry Bailey, Master/President

The front of the Grange has been power washed, sanded, primed, and painted and the newly refurbished signs have been installed.  Words are simply insufficient to express my thanks to the crew of Grangers who worked very hard to get this done in three days. Our Grange looks wonderful and we and our community should be proud of it. This renewal of the Grange look symbolizes the renewed energy and enthusiasm our members are bringing to Ocean View Grange’s programs and community contributions.

The attached photo of yesterday’s crew shows our team, but several others have been on-the-job at different times.  You can thank the following Grangers and FOGs – (Friends of the Grange).

Jim (Spinner) Lee – (Jim started, managed, and did most of the work on this project)
Ben Norton
Joss Coggeshall,
Nat Lyon
Dick Bomba (FOG)
Bill Swittlinger (re-painted the blue Grange arch)
Al Moncovich (painted new wheat and white signs)
Larry Bailey (I got more paint on me than the building)

See you soon at the Grange.