New church brings reival back to Windham - By Elizabeth Richards

A new church in Windham parallels a revival that happened more than 40 years ago in the very same building. The Little Meetinghouse is the site of the new Shift Ministry, which meets primarily on Saturday nights at 5:30 p.m. 
 

In 1970, the congregational church based at The Little Meetinghouse underwent a revival, remembered by longtime Windham resident, 90-year-old Shirley Saunders, who is now part of Shift Ministry as well as being a member of the Windham Assembly of God church. Saunders said that in 1970 a new pastor arrived to teach the word of God. One question that he asked her at their first meeting, “How long have you been a Christian?” made a huge impact in her life, she said. Saunders said that in 33 years of going to church, no one had ever asked her that. 

“Going to church was something you did on Sunday. You didn’t talk about it the rest of the week, you didn’t learn anything, it wasn’t the biggest thing in your whole life,” she said. She said she thought about that question all day, and that evening after her children were put to bed she asked her husband the same question. “For the first time in 33 years we talked about it,” Saunders said. Though that pastor only remained with the church for two years, and his replacement another two, members of the church had found something they were looking for, and out of that revival came two Assembly of God churches in Windham, said Saunders.

Forty-four years later, Shift Ministry is starting a revival of its own. The creation of the church came from a desire in the community for something more, said member and Windham business owner Robert Corthell. “We wanted something a little bit more free spirited, something where we can express ourselves and love the Lord the way that he wanted us to without rules and regulations, plain and simple. We’re like minded people that got together,” he said. 

Scott Pyle spent 24 years as a youth pastor, and now leads Shift Ministry as their pastor. He draws a parallel to what happened in the 70s and what is happening now. “The people who gathered together back then were all looking for something more,” he said. “We all got together and said there’s got to be something more. There’s more to this than just slip in, slump down and slide out. There’s more to it than just having your name on a membership roll.” A core group of members spent a few months praying and casting vision, he said, and when they found the space at the Little Meetinghouse available they started holding services in early January. 

One of the goals of Shift Ministry is to operate as a church without walls, keeping worship going beyond the weekly services. “Church is not a place you go. We’re the church, that’s what Jesus said, we’re the church,” said Pyle. 

Regular service times are at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, though due to scheduling at the Little Meetinghouse there are sometimes changes. That day and time was chosen for many reasons, said Pyle. One of those reasons was to allow for people who attend other services to come to Shift, as well as allowing for other pastors to attend. “A lot of the reason behind the 5:30 Saturday service was so that we didn’t take away from other churches, but we could bless other churches by pouring into their people, pouring into their pastors,” said Pyle. 

Corthell added that they have a mantra. “We don’t compete, we complete.” He said they aren’t trying to take people from other churches but want to help local congregations and work in unity with them. 

Pyle said he wants people to know that everybody is welcome. The way people look doesn’t matter, the way people choose to worship doesn’t matter. “I want people to come and experience true freedom in the Lord. It doesn’t matter what your hurts, your habits, or your hang ups are, we’re here,” he said. 

Corthell added that reaching out to the kids in the community, giving them a safe place where they can be accepted, is another major goal. “We’re going to grow big enough that we’re going to be able to take care of the kids and turn them around, and get them straightened out in the right direction,” he said. At the present time, Shift does not have a youth program in place. 

Pyle said there is a need for Shift to have their own facility, where activities can take place several times during the week. They have looked at some options, and plan to stay in the Windham area. Shift is a non-denominational, independent church where everyone is welcome. For more information, check their Facebook page or contact Pyle at skawtpyle@yahoo.com or 939-0442.

Actors successfully stretch talents in the JSMS production of "The Wizard of Oz" - By Jim Beers

The Jordan-Small Middle School Drama Club rang in spring by presenting the all-time classic play, The Wizard of Oz. With two showings, Friday and Saturday night, 41 students took part in putting on one of the most memorable stories in history. As the lights darkened to begin, beautifully scored music took the crowd on a ride back in time as Dorothy was swept away with her little dog Toto, played by fifth-grader Aaron Rhoades. 

With creative special effects as well as neatly choreographed dance routines, the JSMS Drama Club wowed the guests that filled Roadrunner Gym on both nights. 

"It was really fun. I was a little nervous to start but I settled in once it got going," said Hunter Dionne, an eighth grader at JSMS, who starred in the play as Uncle Henry, and also took on three other smaller roles. Hunter has been in the Drama Club for three years and has appeared in other plays, such as "15 Reasons not to be in a Play", and "Defying Gravity". Many of the cast doubled and tripled their roles and responsibilities to make the huge production a complete success. 

The swift-moving scenes as well as the prop and background changes, kept the story flowing and the audience hanging on every word. Bright costumes danced across the stage in flashes of color as Dorothy and her friends tried desperately to find their way back home. Auntie Em was played by 8th grader Carleigh Steele, a 2-year member of the drama team, who played two other roles as well. "It was really, really fun...a little tiring, but everyone put in so much work. It was great to meet and work with the fifth graders who at first were shy about being in the play," she said. 

Dorothy Gale was played by eighth-grader Natalie Walker, the Tin Man was played by sixth-grader Savana Bradford, the Scarecrow was played by eighth-grader Maggie Nunn and the Lion was played by eighth-grader Sophey Potter. The Wicked Kitch was played by Dani Meader. Glinda was Nora Laprise, an eighth grader, and the Wizard of Oz was played by eighth-grader Walter Blackman.  

 
After intermission, the story ramped up with intense action, beautiful songs, and funny lines that kept the capacity crowd peaked with curiosity until the very end. In what was a total RSU14 and local business effort, there are many in both towns, (Raymond and Windham), who combined to help make this year's play a very special and unique experience.  

"I am always amazed by the hard work and dedication of our drama students each year. Every actor and stage crew member worked to put together a charming version of The Wizard of Oz that showcased a lot of talent, cooperation and commitment.  The cast made considerable progress from auditions to opening night, and their confidence developed and grew over the many weeks of rehearsals.  It was a blast to work with these delightful and capable performers!", said Patricia Valley, who is a teacher at JSMS and combined with Dr. Pamela Chabora to choreograph The Wizard of Oz. 

From beginning to end, the JSMS Drama Club members all had a hand in every aspect of the play. Upon coming out to take their bows, the cast and crew were treated to rousing ovations and cheers on both nights, by their classmates, teachers, family and friends.

The Right to Libraries - By Michelle Libby

To celebrate National Library Week, the Windham Public Library celebrated with a gathering featuring speeches by a local author and a local illustrator, as well as Town Manager Tony Plante and town councilor Donna Chapman, and also unveiled the new logo and library cards that went into effect at 4 p.m. on Monday. 
 

Maine State Librarian Linda Lord was on hand for the festivities. “Libraries are busier than ever,” she said, dispelling the idea that Kindles and other electronic book reading devices are making libraries obsolete. When she spoke to the audience, she gave examples of the value libraries have for people who need to be connected, get a job and need resources. One woman she said had never done a resume, applied for a job, but she knew to go to her public library to ask for help from people who could help. A video producer from mid-coast Maine often sat outside his public library for the broadband Internet service that enabled him to email his documentaries faster than he could from home. The final story happened in Rockport. A bride in full wedding regalia ran into the library asking for Internet access. She had forgotten her vows and needed to get into her email to retrieve them. 

“This is not the future of libraries…I’m describing what Maine libraries are doing today,” she said.

Photo -Virginia March, 9, and Tyler Miller, 10, sign the Libraries Change Lives - Declaration for the Right to Libraries.

With over 100 people in the library, library director Jen Leo told about her introduction to libraries at an early age. 

State Librarian Linda Lord

“They showed me a love of reading and a love of libraries. I found a home in libraries,” she said, naming the Riverton Library as her favorite growing up. “I know the importance of libraries for the next generation,” she added. 

Maine author Julia Spencer-Fleming spoke to the gathering about the constant in her life – libraries. “Post to post, state to state, country to country, the first thing we’d do is get a library card,” she said. As a military child she bounced from place to place. “But the little house was still on the prairie…These are my friends who were always with me,” Spencer-Fleming said. 

Windham Library director Jen Leo

She was 7 years old when she got her first library card. “I don’t think I was prouder when I got my driver’s license,” she said.     

“No one can keep up with a voracious reader without a library,” she added. “It never occurred to me that there are people behind those books – people who live in your community.” She said she wouldn’t be surprised to see that some of the library users of today will grow up to write the books that people in our community love to read in the future. 

Author Julia Spencer-Fleming

Maine illustrator Kevin Hawkes, illustrator to many books, including “Chicken Cheeks”, told the story of his mother’s life on a farm in Utah, many miles from the library, where the limit was one book checked out at a time. She wrote a handwritten letter to a Salt Lake City library because she’d heard that larger libraries were discarding books. She asked for those books. 

She forgot about the letter and at the end of June, the mailman pulled up to the front yard with a refrigerator-sized box in the back of his truck. He hefted the box out and inside were dozens and dozens of books all for her. “She lived off those books,” he said.  

Tony Plante suggested that everyone read a copy of “A Country without Libraries”, a pamphlet that “speaks volumes about libraries in our community.” 

After the speeches, everyone was invited to sign the declaration and then were told they could use their old library card to get a new card featuring the new logo. The logo designed by Leo and a friend of hers, does not mention specific services, but does point out what a library is and can do for anyone.

Illustrator Kevin Hawkes

Town manager Tony Plante

Community Day at Manchester School raises awareness for local causes - by Jessilyn Austen

On Wednesday morning, Manchester School presented their Community Day projects. All the children at Windham’s Manchester School worked very hard this year to improve and do great things for the community, the staff said. To start off the celebration, the children learned about the history of Manchester School. It was named after Stephen Manchester and two of Stephen’s descendants were in attendance to explain the history to the students. They learned about several of the landmarks in Windham that have been around since the days of Stephen Manchester. After a brief history of the school’s founder, the first principal of Manchester School, former Senator Bill Diamond, spoke. “What makes you proud?” Diamond asked the students. Many little hands shot up. Grades were one of the many answers the kids had. Diamond continued by telling the packed gymnasium what the school was like forty years ago when he was principal and how back then they were considered “pioneers” for how they conducted classes as there were no walls inside the school at that time.

After listening patiently and intently to the speakers, it was the children’s turn as they treated the parents, teachers and community members to their school song led by Charles Oehrtmann. Art teacher Angelika Blanchard and her students spoke before the presentation of the donations. The first donation was made by Deb Luce’s fourth grade class for $515 to the wounded Warriors project. All the children in her class worked very hard to raise the money for this great cause, she said. 

The second donation was made by Donna Morton and Adam Beals’ classes to the Windham Land Trust. They raised $450. Stacey Sanborn then spoke about their beautiful garden shed which was painted with butterflies and flowers by Blanchard and her Reach art students. 

The American Legion was the beneficiary of the third donation raised by Sabrina Nickerson’s class. They raised $452 which was presented to Karle Learner and Mel Greenier of American Legion Post 148. 

The fourth donation went to the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA). The $262 raised by Mrs. Fischer’s class which was presented to a member of the MSSPA and Bill Diamond, who is on the board of directors and the current treasurer. 

 

The final donation was raised through last Friday’s talent show which netted $1,300 and was presented to Officer Matt Cyr for the DARE program and another $300 from DARE bracelet sales, which Officer Cyr said would go to help fund the wonderful work that the DARE program does. 

A surprise announcement was made at the assembly that teacher Donna Morton, who has been with the Windham School Department for 37 years, has chosen to retire at the end of this school year. She looks forward to pursuing many hobbies and interests including painting, reading and travelling. The American Legion announced to the group that they have selected Donna Morton as this year’s teacher of the year. With all the wonderful things she does for the school, she will be dearly missed, the staff said. 

The ceremony was concluded with the children singing the song “Manchester School” written by Mike Nobel, led by Oehrtmann and a slide show of the children at Manchester School throughout the year dancing to the song “Happy” put together by Morton. After the presentations and the ceremony, people were able to walk around the gym and look at many of the projects the students had worked on throughout the year. The projects were on a variety of topics to benefit the community, including quilts for Ronald McDonald House and fundraising still happening for MSSPA. Manchester School would like to thank several people including Blossoms for providing them with all the flowers, the kitchen and custodial crew, Oehrtmann for the music as well as the Community Day committee made up of Morton, Blanchard, Sanborn and Melissa Azzaratta along with all students, staff and volunteers that helped make Manchester Community Day such a positive experience for everyone.