Tory Hill Church is planning a special service on Sunday, April 23, at Snell Family Farm, 1000 River Road, in Buxton.

Special Rogation church service set

First Congregational Church of Buxton, UCC, Tory Hill Meetinghouse, announces plans for Rogation Sunday service at the Snell Family Farm, 1000 River Road, at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 23.

The service will be followed by a light lunch and a bird walk with Stacie Grove, a wildlife biologist who is a member of the congregation. There won’t be a service that day in the church.

“Rogation Sundays are thought to have begun in the British Isles in the 7th century and were basically a plea to God to avert disaster with the crops, i.e. save them from wheat rust and other diseases, drought, floods, and to increase the yield of the crops,” said Susan Eldridge, church spokeswoman. The term is from the Latin rogation, ‘asking.’ They were originally observed in the Anglican church, but became a part of the Protestant tradition and were carried over to the Americas by British colonists in Jamaica, Barbados and South Carolina.”

The church will be blessing the fields and crops as well as those involved in agriculture and fishing and those who oversee the stewardship of  lands and resources. 

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“Earth Day is April 22 and Major Rogation Day is April 25, so we are combining these two holidays,” Eldridge said.

The public is invited for the church’s special service.

Nominations deadline nears

Candidate nomination papers for several elected Buxton municipal positions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 1, in the office of Town Clerk John Myers at Town Hall, 185 Portland Road.

Available terms are for two selectmen for three years; town clerk, three years; MSAD 6 director, three years; MSAD 6 director, two years; one Planning Board member, three years; two Budget Committee members, three years; and one Budget Committee member, two years.

The municipal election is set for Tuesday, June 13, and the annual town meeting will be held on Saturday, June 17. For more information, call Myers at 929-6171 or email tclerkbuxton@sacoriver.net.

Register for 5K fun run/walk

Leavitt’s Mill Free Health Center in Bar Mills is sponsoring its second annual spring 5K fun run/walk on Saturday, May 6.

Registration fees are adults $30 ($25 if registered before April 21); students and seniors over 65, $15; and children 10 and under, free. Register on line by visiting Runinarace.com.


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