NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — The Mission’s December 2020 eNewsletter is available to read or download online. Click here.
December 2020’a stories are:
Melvin D. Adams III, Ed.D Joins Mission as New Downeast Director
Christmas Around the Mission
Mission Announces Honorees for 2021 Sunbeam Award Gala
Mission People & Places – Stephanie Moores
Reinventing Island Health Services
Please Make a Gift to the Mission Fund
Island boy and Douglas Cornman, excited by Christmas 2019.
NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — Island Outreach Director and Chaplain Douglas Cornman is extra busy these days working as liaison between the Mission Christmas Program and island communities. The Christmas program provides white paper packages tied up with red string to the islands’ children and teens, as well as to island elders.
Douglas hopes to remind island communities of something else. “The Mission’s Christmas Program is meant to be more than just handing out gifts – mittens and toys for the kids, and puzzle books and lap blankets to the elders. It’s also about carrying on a century old Christmas tradition. Mission gifts symbolize our care for the folks who are really the essence of the islands,” Douglas added.
While telecommunications and modes of transportation for the islands are better than ever, Douglas points out Maine island communities “in many ways are still very isolated.” That, he says, “is why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
Sunbeam crew Christmas 2018. (Photo not part of MDIslander piece.)
mdislander.com
Christmas events continue despite pandemic
November 28, 2020 by Ninah Gile on Arts & living, Lifestyle
Mount Desert Maine Seacoast Mission
On Dec. 5, the Maine Seacoast Mission will be lighting up the Sunbeam from bow to stern, with a decorated Christmas tree in the salon. Its new headquarters in Mount Desert will be festively lit up, along with the rest of the town. Folks can stroll past the headquarters to see lights as they shop or walk down to the marina. In addition to what is happening in Northeast Harbor, the Mission is continuing the tradition of delivering their “White Gifts” (Christmas gifts) to children and elders throughout the community, including the outer islands, around Christmas. For more information, visit seacoastmission.org/what-we-do/christmas-program/.
It’s a Thanksgiving Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to Betsy Ogden, Sarah Davis, Suzy Kelley, the Fiber Loft and its circle of knitters.
The Mission’s Christmas tradition of giving children hand knit hats and mittens began over 100 years ago. Betsy Ogden learned of the Mission’s need for hand-knit hats and mittens and recruited two friends, Sarah Davis and Suzy Kelley to help.
Suzy in turn recruited knitters at the Fiber Loft in Harvard, MA to join the effort. The Fiber Loft gave knitters a 20-percent discount on yarn and a simple hat pattern.
Together, this team of knitters donated over 110 items to help keep children warm and cozy this winter.
This is what community looks like.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Spreading Christmas cheer is one of the Mission’s oldest traditions, beginning over 100 years ago with Mission gifts to island residents and lighthouse keepers.
We invite you this year to help us put presents under trees for individuals and families who can’t do it alone. Covid-19’s stretched family budgets make shopping more difficult. You can give gifts online which will be shipped directly to the Mission through the Mission’s Amazon Christmas List. Or you can download and use our 2020 traditional Christmas Wish List. Those of you mailing gifts or gift cards should mail to these addresses, to the attention of the Christmas Program:
UPS Delivery: 39 Weald Bethel Lane, Cherryfield, ME 04622
US Postal Service Delivery: PO Box 428, Cherryfield, ME 04622
We welcome Christmas Program online donations or checks. Please mail checks to the attention of the Christmas Program, Maine Seacoast Mission, PO Box 600, Northeast Harbor, ME 04662. More questions? Email Ms. Christmas or call 207-598-1467.
The Mission’s October 2020 Newsletter.
Now available to read or download online:
* Sunbeam Homecoming
* Christmas Program 2020
* President’s Scholarship Celebration
* Mission People & Places: Suzy James
* EdGE Tennis Tournament a Great Success
* EdGE Afterschool 2020 – Moving Parts