Women’s Friendship Group

Established in 1974, the nonprofit Raymond Women’s Friendship Group was formed to spread acts of kindness throughout the community. Through the years they have delivered cookies to the elderly, meals to the sick, donated both money and goods to the food pantry, donated toward medical and travel expenses for ill children, visited nursing homes and made donations to support the Raymond Village Library. The group holds fundraisers to help in supporting their efforts. Craft sales, bake sales and quilt raffles are held throughout the year to raise money. Currently there are 20 members with Charlotte Rowe being the only original member. If you are interested in making a donation, learning more or becoming a member please contact Charlotte at 956-3205.

Raymond Lions Club

The Raymond Lions Club, formed in 1995, is an active group of service-minded men and women who want to make Raymond a better place to live by serving the community in a variety of ways. It is a part of the world’s largest, and most active service club organization, Lions Club International. Along with the more than 1.4 million members, they work with their fellow Lions in more than 170 countries and geographical areas to seek out and help the needy in their own communities, their country, and the world. They meet at Cafe Sebago the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30. Interested in becoming a Raymond Lion or learning more? Contact Kathi Anderson at 655-3635 or Jake Jacobsen 655-5217.

Christmas Celebrations

“What Sweeter Music – A Festival of Carols,” a Christmas cantata written and arranged by Mark Hayes, is a magnificent celebration of the Christmas season. The Raymond Village Community Church Choir, under the direction of Music Director Karen Strange, will present this stirring and memorable cantata at Raymond Village Community Church on Dec. 22, the Sunday before Christmas. This cantata presents an array of favorite carols, often in medley, as well as several beautiful new Christmas songs. The cantata will include a nativity tableau, and a beautiful rendition of the Magnificat, sung by featured soloist Georgia Noonan. Narrators Ali Gordan and Tom Wiley will share the wondrous Christmas story, transitioning each carol from beginning to end.

There is no admission fee, but a free-will offering will be gratefully accepted. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in this moving celebration of the spirit and joy of Christmas. The cantata will be performed at 10 a.m. during the church service and at 2 in the afternoon at RVCC, 27 Main Street, Raymond. For more information about this concert, contact Karen Strange at 939-7947.

Longest Night

A Longest Night Service is a time to recognize that Christmas can be a bittersweet time of year. Rejoicing and finding pleasure in the hustle and bustle of the season can be difficult if you are burdened by loss, regret or just the general stress of getting it all done, and so the holidays are not always all they are cracked up to be. On this nearly longest night of the year, leave the darkness behind and come with what you find difficult about the holidays to a Candlelight Service at Raymond Village Community Church on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. The Senior Choir will be singing, and the service will be a time for you to find healing, wholeness and maybe even yourself this holiday season. There will be readings, prayers, candles, and carols. No offering. For more information, contact Nancy Foran at 650-7845.

Christmas Eve Services

The Raymond Village Community Church (UCC) will again offer two different Christmas Eve services to help people celebrate the joy and wonder of the Christmas Season. “Even in today’s world, Christmas remains a spiritual time for people of all ages,” says RVCC Rev. Nancy Foran. “Our Christmas Eve services offer people and families a variety of ways to experience the deeper meaning of Christmas … We take the word ‘Community’ in our name very seriously. Everyone is always welcome – and encouraged – to come and worship with us, no matter where they are on their faith journey.”

A Family Candlelight Service with traditional pageant retelling the Christmas Story will be held at 4:30. The service features our Senior Choir as well as youth singers Molly Keane-Dreyer, Georgia Noonan, Mary Beth Noonan and Alice Morrison. An additional Candlelight Service will be offered at 11 p.m. with carols, readings, stories, special music, and communion.

Winter Library Hours

The Raymond Village Library will be closing at 5 p.m. on Sundays, beginning Dec. 8, during the winter months. The library hours will be as follows: Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If in doubt, call the library at 655-4283.

Corridor Wreaths

The Raymond Beautification Committee, in collaboration with the Raymond Revitalization Committee, would like to recognize and thank the following for their generous wreath donations: Auto Werke, Brake and Exhaust Center, Bubier, Dog Gone Grooming, Dodson, Crickets Corner, Ewig, Ferland, Gagne, Gifford, Portland Glass, Goodlife Market, Maggie’s Hair Salon, Hardy, Holmquiest, Island Cove Building and Development, Jordan Bay Animal Hospital, The Shop, Lindell, A la Mexicana, Angel Nails, Maine Premier Properties, McDermott, Mexicali Blues, Meyer Realty, Jordan Bay Marina, Prime Cut Meat, Raymond Service Center, Salvation Army, Speedy Stop, Ultimate Hair and Tanning, Village Donut, Walton, Cafe’ Sebago, Willard and Yates.

A special thank-you to Jessica at Raymond Village Florist for her decorating skills, ribbon, labor and for providing the wreaths at discount as well as to Raymond Public Works for hanging the wreaths. The wreaths will hang throughout December on each decorative light pole in the Route 302 improvement project area.

Copy the Story Link