DORCAS Society Ham and Bean Supper Planned for June 27. But What Does the DORCAS Society Do?? A Brief History.

On June 27, 2015, the ladies of the Lebanon DORCAS Society will host a Ham and Bean Supper in the meeting room of the First Parish Congregational Church on the corner of Center Road and Jim Grant Road.
The Ham and Bean Supper will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm at a cost of $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and older, with children under 12 eating free.
The proceeds of this dinner will go toward the funding of the DORCAS Society's community projects as well as helping to fund the Society's $500 scholarships given to two graduating Lebanon High School students each year.

We've seen DORCAS Society ladies lately in Lebanon taking applications for their yearly scholarship program, selling baked goods at the Lebanon Election Polls and now hosting a Ham and Bean Supper. But just what IS the DORCAS Society?? Do you know??

We've fielded a few questions in the past few days asking what the letters D.O.R.C.A.S stand for. The truth is, nothing. The name Dorcas is not known because the letters are initials, but because the ladies of the Dorcas society are strong in their faith and in their desires to do good works in the community in their effort to emulate the Society's namesake, a Biblical woman from the ancient town of Joppa.

The modern day DORCAS Society does not require the needy to belong to a particular denomination or church in order to be helped. Rather they give what they can, to the best of their abilities, to all of the area's needy.

The DORCAS Society is a group of women, usually, but not always associated with a particular church. The DORCAS society was created with a special interest of helping to clothe the poor and needy.

The name, DORCAS, is a historical name coming from the Country of Greece, located on the Agean Sea in Asia Minor.
The Bible speaks, in the book of Acts, Chapter 9, about a woman named Tabitha (who in Greek was called "Dorcas").

It seems that Tabitha was a good seamstress and had, in fact, made many coats and garments for the poor and needy widows of her town (thus the mission of the DORCAS Society to clothe the needy) with her own loving and talented hands. Dorcas was beloved by all the women, but especially by those who were too frail or sickly to perform the tasks of sewing on their own.
When Tabitha (or Dorcas) grew sick and died, it was the poor widows of the town of Joppa who summonsed the Apostle Peter, after hearing of his miraculous ways. It was there, in the company of the poorest of Joppa that Dorcas was brought back to life from the dead by the Apostle, Peter.
Tabitha could have become the leader of a Christian movement for women at the time, but was, instead, content and happy to resume her life of servitude to the poorest and neediest of Joppa. It is because of this longing to simply exist for the sole purpose of doing good, that DORCAS Societies have been started all over the world by women who ask no fanfare, but who long to aid in humanitarian acts and do good for the people in their church, in their community and in their world.



For your reading, should you choose, the passage from the Bible from the book of Acts, Chapter 9, Verses 36-42.

The story of Dorcas.

Acts 9:36-42King James Version (KJV)
³⁶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
³⁷ And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
³⁸ And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
³⁹ Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
⁴⁰ But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
⁴¹ And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
⁴² And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

New Covenant Food Pantry Offers Additional Aid for Lebanon's Low Income and Hungry.

 

 

New Covenant Food Pantry
(In basement of New Covenant Baptist Church)
285 Maple Street, No. Berwick

Open Mondays 4-6pm

Welcomes residents of North Berwick and Lebanon!

Available weekly:
- fresh fruit and vegetables

-fresh meats and fish
           - canned & packaged foods
- paper goods & toiletries
- refridgerated & frozen foods

This is a non-profit organization staffed by non-denominational volunteers.

Food is provided to those in need require only proof of residence and a simple form to be filled out upon arrival.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Mary Craig (207) 676-4001
Jim Davis (603) 312-2979

Lebanon PTO has Special Plans for Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, 2015

May 4 through 8 is Teacher Appreciation Week.
The Lebanon PTO has planned special events throughout the week to celebrate all our wonderful Lebanon teachers and is looking for volunteers willing to bake a dessert for Wednesday, and asking for donations of gift cards or gift items for a drawing on Friday.
In addition, it means a lot for the children to say "Thank you!", by making a card or picking a bouquet of Spring flowers for their special teacher.
As parents, you could send your child's teacher an e-mail telling them what you have appreciated about them so far this year.
Let's work together as a community to make this week special for our hard-working, dedicated educators!

Lebanon Clean Up Day Scheduled for June 13th, 2015

There have been may asking when Lebanon Clean Up Day will take place this year.
Actually, it's going to be a little later than usual.
Harrison Thorp of The Lebanon Voice has been spearheading this event, however due to an illness of his life's partner, he's unable to coordinate this year. However, he's been awesome about offering his help in getting donations and in providing contacts.
Norm Sirois, Scout leader for Boy Scout Troop 369 has stood up and offered to coordinate with groups of people willing to volunteer.
At this time, Norm has commitments with his Troop throughout the month of May as they travel to NY for the West Point Camporee, and then a planned trip to hike in the Belknap Mountains.
Tom Torno, Road Supervisor has pledged his group's help, but they were unable to do it on the requested date of June 6th due to a wedding that will be taking place that day that all of the guys are going to.
So, in light of the fact that the Boy Scouts and the Roads Crew are both very busy groups, we've all settled on June 13th. Clean up crews will be in groups of 4 or 5 with follow vehicles behind them with flashers on. Adult volunteers will be responsible for picking up anything that is deemed "sharp" or "hazardous" and placing in a special container.
Norm and his Boy Scouts have committed to 4 or 5 groups, with follow vehicles, the Pioneer Girls are offering 1 additional group, and the older Girl Scouts, under the leadership of Andrea Rose, have offered another 2 groups.
Volunteers will meet at the Lebanon Town Office at 9 am and after some brief instruction and handing out bags and rubber gloves, the groups will be hitting targeted areas as identified by the Selectmen and Road Crews.
Residents are asked to clean up the roadsides near their homes and leave the bagged debris by the side of the road. Lebanon's Road Crews will hit the streets from 1 pm to 3 pm and pick up all the bags and bring them to the Lebanon Transfer Station. It has been requested that any cans be bagged separately in clear plastic bags for donations to Boy Scout Troop 369.
At 1 pm, all groups will finish up their assigned areas, and will return to the Lebanon Town Office  on Upper Guinea Road for a barbecue of hot dogs and hamburgers. Residents are encouraged to attend. There will be Appreciation Certificates for the groups who volunteered their time, and anyone volunteering who has Community Service hours that need to be completed toward Noble High School Graduation can have paperwork signed for doing their part!!
Road Crews will pass down all the streets of Lebanon looking for bagged trash left on the side of the road and will be picking up between 1 pm and 3 pm on June 13th. They will pick up discarded items clearly picked up out of the woods and beside the streets, and then join us at the school afterward.
There are a few requests from the Board of Selectmen this year.
1. Please do not head out onto Route 202. This is a State Road and the State is required to keep that as clean as possible. Last year there were many folks out walking Rt. 202, and the traffic became a problem as motorists slowed and had to go out and around clean up crews.
2. Please do not send children and teens out on the roads without a follow vehicle. If your children are not part of an organized group, please be sure there is a responsible adult with them and that you speak to them about what NOT to pick up. Children or young teens should NOT be picking up broken glass, and please show them what drug sharps look like and have them contact a responsible adult IMMEDIATELY if anything like that is seen.
3. Please do not clean your yard and leave the trash for the Road Crew to pick up. This event is NOT for getting rid of your private stash of old tires, or old living room furniture, it's about cleaning up the roadsides in town.
Finally, many thanks to Norm Sirois and Boy Scout Troop 369 for coordinating this event!!
This is a fairly new group in town, with the backing of the American Legion as their sponsoring agency.  This group is doing some amazing things with the young men of Lebanon and we can't be more proud of this great group of young men.
Thank you to the Girl Scouts under Andrea Rose for doing their part, and the Pioneer Girls in Lebanon as well, both amazing groups for your young ladies to take part in!!
We encourage any other civic organizations in town to please leave an e mail for the Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers at lebanontruthseekers@Hotmail.com , or Contact Norm Sirois with Boy Scout Troop 369 if you'd like to participate. This is a GREAT group event for 4H clubs, the Jr. Grange members, or church groups!!
At this time we're also looking for donations of bottled water, rubber gloves, trash bags (clear or contractor's strength), and we'd also like a local string or guitar group to provide us with some music at the barbecue. Anyone interested in helping, please e mail lebanontruthseekers@Hotmail.com or contact Norm Sirois.
Come on Out on June 13th and show some Lebanon Pride!!!

Boy Scouts Make Final Preparations for West Point Camporee!!

BIG shout out to Lebanon Maine Boy Scout Troop 369 as they get ready to head out to the West Point Camporee in New York.
You make us all proud!!!
Have FUN!!