BAR HARBOR, ME — Thank You, Sigma Kappa for More Than a Century of Impacting Our Communities
Since 1918, Sigma Kappa Sorority has helped Maine Seacoast Mission communities many times, in many ways. From funding scholarships, to ensuring families have Christmas presents, to hands-on volunteer work in the Mission’s Housing Rehabilitation Program.
Thank you, Sigma Kappa for showing us what it means to live with heart.
Gift Idea: The Island Reader – The essence of Maine’s beautifully rugged islands in book form.
Elizabeth was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia on Feb. 27, 1919 and relocated to Louisville with her family at a young age.
Following her marriage to Neal Creamer of Wiscasset, Maine in 1955, they settled in Edgecomb and she resumed teaching first grade students at Wiscasset Elementary School until her retirement.
Betty loved reading, music, knitting, and her beloved Maine coon cat, Molly. She created hundreds of sweaters, scarves, caps and mittens over the years for her family, friends and Maine Seacoast Mission.
Mission Christmas Program Coordinator Marilyn Nickson. on behalf of everyone at Maine Seacoast Mission, sends a warm thank you to “everyone…who helped make this a good Christmas for so many of our neighbors.”
The Maine Seacoast Mission offers a sincere thank you to the numerous volunteers, donors, and local businesses who helped with our Christmas Program this year.
Without these helpers we would not have a successful program.
This Christmas, the Mission provided gifts for 1,524 area children and seniors, who each received an average fifteen presents. From donor to wrapper, each gift represents a lot of time and thought.
Thank you also to the other area Christmas programs who worked with us to make sure all families in need were served.
Many of our neighbors took tags hung on trees in Marden’s, Renys and other area businesses and purchased needed items. Others knit hats, mittens and lap robes for children and seniors, or gave their time to wrap gifts.
Thanks again to everyone in the community who helped make this a good Christmas for so many of our neighbors.
downeast.com/
Christmas 1968
By Victor Stanley
The story of my childhood reads like the beginning of a Steinbeck novel, but it’s all true. Times were tough in the mid-1950s in Down East Maine. Jobs were scarce, and people were desperate. My parents came down with California Fever, lured by the promise of work at a new Westinghouse manufacturing plant near San Jose. So, in the summer of 1955, they canned as much mackerel as they could into quart-size Ball jars, packed all of their worldly possessions into an old pickup, and headed west with their three sons, my aunt and uncle and their two boys, and the family dog, Rowser. I was 10 months old.
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“Christmas is coming, and we don’t have anything. No presents, no Christmas goodies, nothing for Christmas dinner. We need God’s help.” When it was time to pray, I asked for it. I didn’t say anything to anyone, but I was frightened by the possibility of having nothing on Christmas Day.
Later that week, I got off the school bus and walked into the kitchen. My mother grabbed me and gave me a big hug. “Your prayers were answered,” she proclaimed, waving a white envelope over her head. “The Maine Seacoast Mission sent us $50 for Christmas!”
My mother stretched that $50 as far as it would go.
‘Sunbeam V’ in Northeast Harbor, ME
A Christmas message from Scott Planting, Mission president:
December 18, 2018 – Under clear skies and over calm seas, the Sunbeam V is heading out of Northeast Harbor today for its annual three day, three island Christmas trip. It is my joy to be aboard with crew Captain Michael Johnson, Director of Island Outreach Douglas Cornman, Steward Jillian, and guests Allison and Hunt Smith.
For me it is wonderful to lead Christmas worship services at the beautiful island churches. We’ll gather in the candlelight, sing the carols, read the lessons, remember our beloved ones, and speak about God’s goodness to us all.
Our first stop is Matinicus Isle. We will skiff over to the island at 5 pm for a Christmas service at Matinicus Congregational Church UCC. The service will be followed by Christmas dinner on the Sunbeam.
Early Thursday morning we leave Matinicus for Isle au Haut where, in the afternoon, we’ll join islanders for a potluck dinner at the town hall, followed by the Christmas service.
Friday morning, if all goes well — the marine forecast calls for high winds out of the south— the Sunbeam will host an all-island breakfast. Then we’ll depart for Frenchboro, where the island will join us at Frenchboro Congregational Church for a service, followed by cookies and mulled cider.
This very special trip is my last Christmas trip aboard the Sunbeam. I am deeply grateful for the Sunbeam crew and staff for all they give the islands. And I’m grateful to all the Maine Seacoast Mission friends who are always with us in spirit, as they have been for over a century, upholding us in our care for these remote communities.
Blessings to you all at Christmas,
Scott