Mapleton church begins new chapter
MAPLETON NEWS
By Terry Sandusky
Sunday, Aug. 21, was Rev. Ken Phelps’ last scheduled time to lead the Mapleton United Baptist Church’s Sunday morning worship as the church’s pastor. After 30 years and four months, Reverend Phelps stepped down as church pastor. His official retirement was the end of June, but he continued to lead worship this summer.
At his final service, he said his time at the church was a wonderful lifetime experience because of the members’ warmth, support and friendship that they showed to him and his family. Ken and his wife, Carolyn, are planning to do some traveling and, in fact, they are currently in the Seattle, Wash., area sightseeing and visiting friends from Central Aroostook now living out there.
When they return, Phelps plans to be active in supporting other Baptist ministries. This past year he and his wife contacted 94 retired pastors to find out how they were doing and if they had any need for assistance and support. Here in Mapleton, they plan to continue participating in the church’s ministry at Maple Trree Estates.
Phelps’ retirement is one of the several major changes for both the Mapleton Baptist Church and the Bethany Baptist Church in Presque Isle. Mapleton residents may have noticed the church is continuing to operate on its summer worship schedule; the reason is the church has entered into an agreement with Bethany Baptist to share one pastor on an ongoing basis. Starting Sept. 1, Rev. James Ackerson became the pastor of both churches. He now leads the Sunday morning services for both churches.
To make this arrangement work, the Mapleton facility has agreed to adopt its summer schedule as the permanent, year-round Sunday worship and Bible study schedule. Morning fellowship will be from 9:15-9:30 a.m., with the worship service beginning at 9:30 and Sunday School at 10:45. All other scheduled services and activities for the Mapleton church will continue at their normal scheduled times.
Bethany Baptist Church’s Sunday schedule will remain essentially the same. Rev. Ackerson will travel between the churches each Sunday morning and participate in both churches’ events and activities as is possible.
In the future, the two churches look forward to more joint events and activities. For example, their youth programs will be combined into a single program, and there will be more joint services, such as last Easter’s combined Maundy Thursday Service which was led by both Phelps and Ackerson.
This past Sunday a joint singspiration and praise service was held. Both churches look forward to supporting each other’s ministries as they continue their work for the cause of Christ. More information regarding these changes can be obtained by contacting Reverend Ackerson at Bethany Baptist.
Dinner a Success
The Haystack Historical Society held its largest and most successful baked ham dinner and auction on Saturday, Sept. 10.
The museum filled to capacity with folks enjoying excellent baked ham prepared by Ivan Pratt and homemade beans, potato salad and sweets. Following the dinner, auctioneers Matt Gregg and Ron Leonard and Auction Chair Alice Shepard led a very successful auction.
The Historical Society thanks the many businesses that donated goods and services for the auction. Without their donations, this event would not be possible.
The buy of the night was a former Mapleton town line sign. As many have noticed, the Maine Department of Transportation is replacing all the upright black-and-white town line signs with standard blue town signs. The old signs were given to the town, and Town Manager Jon Frederick offered one of the signs to the Historical Society for their auction.
The bidding for the sign was fast-paced and quickly went through the estimated value and continued upward. When bidding stopped, the owners of the town sign wereWilbur McPherson and his wife, Barbara. They were excited to have bought the sign, because Mr. McPherson was born and grew up in Mapleton. They currently reside in Bethel Park, Penn., but have a camp at Portage Lake where they live each summer.
The society has conducted many years of auctions. Based on a decision made in the summer, this year’s auction will be the last. Next year the group will still hold the annual ham dinner.
Haystack Historical members express their great appreciation to everyone who has supported the sales as donors and buyers. They also thank all the volunteers who helped make the auction run smoothly and efficiently. They hope to see everyone at their other events as well as next year’s dinner.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
