CHERRYFIELD, ME — EdGE Adventure Day – Explore the Weald Bethel trails, book walk, scavenger hunts, and ropes course. May 4th, 10 am to 2 pm. Learn more
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Eggtastic Day at Weald Bethel Community Center, April 20, 10 am-2 pm — A day of fun with eggs. Egg painting, cooking with eggs, egg drops. Learn more:
EdGE Eggtastic Day Poster
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Jillian, beloved Steward on the Sunbeam V, is just as attentive to people taking part in Weald Bethel Community Center events.
Jillian shared this photo, adding “The Women’s Health Resource Library and Coordinator Briana West’s EdGE Journey group co-hosted last Sunday’s Downeast Table of Plenty (DETOP) public supper at the Weald Bethel Community Center.
“They all fed us in style!” said Jillian.
The Table of Plenty takes place in the Weald Bethel Community Center on the Downeast Campus every Sunday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. About 75 to 100 people attend each week. Meals are provided by volunteers who sign up in advance.
If you or your group is interested in providing a meal, please email Wendy Harrington: [email protected]
Wednesday Spinners at Weald Bethel Community Center (Photo by Scott Shaw)
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Followers of the Mission’s blog and/or social media may remember an October 29, 2018 story of the Wednesday Spinners traveling aboard the Sunbeam V to Isle au Haut.
Island Outreach Director Douglas Cornman said at that time:
“As I understand it, the Spinners have been meeting weekly, for over forty years, to share their craft, learn from one another, and spend a day together doing something they love. They meet every Wednesday during the Fall, Winter and Spring. In Summer they need the extra day to shear their flocks, card and dye the fleece and spin the wool for their own use or to sell.”
Thank you, Maine-based artist Audra Christie, for hosting the Wednesday Spinners earlier this month at the Weald Bethel Community Center, Cherryfield, ME. And a tip of the hat to the Mission’s Downeast Campus Facilities Manager Scott Shaw for sharing this photo with a note saying, “No amount of snow can stop their Spinning Wheels from turning.
Jillian (Photo courtesy Eva Murray/Pen Bay Pilot)
Pen Bay Pilot
Without an Agenda: Talking with the Crew of the ‘Sunbeam’ Pt 2
By Eva Murray – Tuesday, April 2, 2019
…Sunbeam steward Jillian…. [H]er domain is the galley, from where she feeds crew and visitors alike. Sometimes islanders are invited aboard for supper, but all through the day working islanders stop in for coffee break and to raid the famous cookie jar.
You don’t have to have an identified need to come aboard and be helped to feel good, and that’s largely the responsibility of the cook. The sense of community helped along by a good meal is not lost on Jillian….
“Seven years ago we started our regular community supper in Cherryfield, and for seven years every Sunday we’ve served a free meal. I just learned the value of just sitting with your neighbor and eating at a big table. People love to come together. Providing a meal for people is an honor and I love the simplicity of it.”
I said to Jillian, “Your role and the role of every steward before you has been larger than your bosses may know. You’re not just here to support the crew, but you’re here to support us all in an abstract sense. You provide the service that is the hardest to measure.”
She replied, with a grin “Not really—you cut a pie into eight pieces!”
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Two more photos from Sunbeam Steward Jillian from the ever expanding events at the Mission’s Weald Bethel Community Center. These photos are from a recent Saint Patrick’s Day Downeast Table of Plenty (DETOP) supper.
Jillian said, “Margery and Rock-n-Roller Paul discovered Table of Plenty shortly after moving to the area, and they often break bread with our disparate precious weekly gathering of folk. Paul occasionally sings for his supper by performing at our community meal. In addition, Paul sometimes belts out a few tunes at Wednesday Open Mic night.
Learn more about the events at Weald Bethel Community Center