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 Webster Church puts the Unity in Community
United Church of Christ Federated Takes Leadership Role in the Revitalization of Downtown Webster
by Deborah Loomis Lafond, Intentional Interim Minister
The United Church of Christ Federated found a unique way to bring the community together for fellowship and fun.
Less than two years ago the Reverend Deborah Loomis Lafond, the intentional Interim Minister, urged the church to take leadership in the revitalization of downtown Webster. Historically, the members of UCC Federated have been committed to supporting and encouraging a spirit of caring cooperation among townspeople; but it was time to kick it up a notch. That was the birth of COMMUNITY DAY.
The goal of COMMUNITY DAY is to promote a sense of unity among those who live, work and worship in the downtown area of Webster so that neighbors might live together peaceably, work to ensure each other's success, and share in the goodwill that builds trust, cooperation, and genuine commUNITY. The idea for COMMUNITY DAY came from the book The Red Ribbon - A Story of Hope created by John Lasne and Brains On Fire of Red Ribbon Works!, a non-profit organization "dedicated to keeping kids off drugs."
Pastor Deborah invited church members to focus their own redevelopment ministry on outreach to the community immediately surrounding UCC Federated. Located in the heart of downtown Webster, the church is within walking distance for about one-third of the town's population.
Each church member was asked to commit at least two hours before, during, or for clean up after COMMUNITY DAY, or to donate the monetary equivalent of two hours of their time, to support this all-church outreach endeavor. Members volunteered to teach knitting, crocheting, quilting, needle craft, how to save money with coupons, gardening, and how to care for house plants. Some members baked and prepared food while others served it up with smiles and words of genuine welcome.
Local businesses, social service clubs and agencies, artists, historians, police, fire and emergency personnel, local politicians, town and school departments and restaurateurs were invited to have displays in and around the church so that people could become better acquainted with services offered. Many local banks and businesses provided free samples and promotional items.
COMMUNITY DAY provided an opportunity for those new to the town, the young, displaced, and disadvantaged to find out what services are available in this historic mill town.
"It was like a 'welcome wagon basket' in one place," observed Rev. Loomis Lafond.
Printed information about the church was available, and "wandering ambassadors" invited people to attend worship, Bible Study, or enroll their children in Sunday school.
Besides the learning centers already mentioned, there were many forms of education and entertainment provided. Professional clowns, balloon animals, face painting, a K-9 demonstration with explanation of rescue techniques, two quilt raffles, a "penny pull" for children to have a chance to win door prizes, and a "bouncy castle" awaited those that passed through the balloon archway.
In addition, the Pulaski Band played on the Fellowship Hall stage as people sampled chili donated for a friendly bake-off among three popular restaurants, made their own ice cream sundaes, visited the Food Share and Senior Center tables, made crafts from around the world, talked with representatives from the Emblem Club, Rotary and the Webster-Dudley Boys and Girls Club, bought items offered by vendors, and talked with representatives of the Parenting and Pregnant Teens program, the public library, the recycling or historical commissions. The Molly Bish Foundation staffed by John and Magi Bish and their trained volunteers produced child safe registration packets for whole families and encouraged senior citizens and people living with various physical and emotional challenges to get a registration packet made.
Just as importantly, it seemed everyone met someone they knew from the neighborhood and possibly made new friends. By bringing people together for fun and learning, members hoped to strengthen the health, prosperity, and spirit of the whole community. They also sought to break through barriers, correct misperceptions, provide helpful information and make the church more visible as a resource and hospitality center welcoming everyone.
Rev. Loomis Lafond recently completed her tenure after three years of redevelopment ministry with The United Church of Christ, Federated. But her ideas live on. Fourteen people from the church membership and wider community have signed up to continue COMMUNITY DAY in 2010.
Deborah Loomis Lafond can be reached at 978-464-2893. This year's coordinator, Caroline Smith, can be contacted at the church office at (508) 943-0061 or uccfedwebster@verizon.net.
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