HOULTON, Maine — It will take 400 pounds of Maine lobster meat for Houlton’s Church of the Good Shepherd to feed about 1,600 people during the April total eclipse weekend.
For three days, members of the small church will be making hundreds of lobster rolls in the church kitchen for their Great Maine Experience dinner slated to occur over the eclipse weekend of April 6-8.
“I said, ‘we need to feed people while they are here because there are limited opportunities,’” said Don Goodridge, a church member. “We’re a small church but we’ve got a big heart.”
Last summer several of the town’s church leaders said they might be interested in helping meet the demands of a projected 40,000 visitors for the April 8 event. But since that time, with the help of Hollie McAfee, the eclipse faith community coordinator, they have pulled together to help in a big way on the weekend leading up to totality.
So far, six churches are offering public dinners, suppers or afternoon chowder, three are offering warming centers with refreshments and four have offered church parking lots for eclipse parking.
Additionally, the Unitarian Church is providing musical entertainment at Cup Cafe on several days and they will have an interactive 100-foot by 40-foot heated Eclipse Metaphysical Tent for the exploration of other-worldly methods of healing and awakening.
McAfee, who is also the marketing director for F.A. Peabody Insurance, a major eclipse sponsor, has been on the planning committee from the start.
“We started recognizing how much churches have to offer to help with the event especially when it comes to parking and food,” she said. “We have quite a few churches who jumped on board and have really taken off with ideas, planning and it’s been really great working with all these folks.”
For the Great Maine Experience, the Church of the Good Shepherd members will be making the lobster rolls and serving them on toasted buns along with Maine’s famous whoopie pies, Maine potato chips and water for $30. The proceeds will help support the church.
The dinner will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day and be served from Watson Hall at the back of the church located at 116 Main St. Patrons can dine at tables in Watson Hall or take the dinners to go.
“We’ve tasted everything we are ordering and it’s delicious,” said DiMarco.
As an added highlight, two guests from the Anglican Church in Houlton, England will be coming to Houlton, Maine for the eclipse and are slated to help the church serve lobster rolls over the eclipse weekend.
Houlton, England, just established six years ago in the Coventry area, named their town after Houlton, Maine because the first transatlantic voice communication in 1927 was between the two locations.
The United Methodist Church is planning on serving a traditional Maine Saturday supper of beans, franks and all the fixings like potato salad, desserts and drinks for $10.
The meal will be served in the church fellowship hall, 57 Military St., from 4 to 6 p.m.
“Before the dinner, a member of our church, Susan Laurance, is offering a tour of Houlton’s four historical church organs and giving a short recital at each location,” said supper planner Mary Taylor. “We are hoping people will come to the dinner after the tour.”
Taylor said they are planning on serving 100 suppers. If there are any proceeds from the meal they will use them for their backpack program for local children.
For the Monday Grab & Go Food at the First Baptist Church, 46 Court St. there will be donuts, coffee, tea, hot cocoa and bottled water for purchase in the morning beginning at 9 a.m. and hot dogs at lunch with popcorn and/or chips from from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Everything is really pulling together and McAfee said she can see people really getting excited about the eclipse weekend. And everything the planners think of, someone is jumping in to address it, she said.
“On a personal level, it’s been really exciting and fun and enjoyable to see everybody come together and get to know some new people and to see the churches really step-up,” McAfee said.
The schedule from the churches for Friday includes, Potluck and Eucharistic Adoration
5 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 110 Military St.; Saturday, Beans and Franks with all the fixings $10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Houlton United Methodist Church,
57 Military St.; Sunday, Public Dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Littleton Baptist Church, Rte. 1, Littleton; Monday, Grab & Go Food from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 46 Court St.
On all three days, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, The Maine Experience meal, $30, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 116 Main St; Seafood Chowder Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hall, 110 Military St.
Also on Monday, churches providing warming centers and refreshments include Houlton Wesleyan Church, 18 Kelleran St., from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Shiretown Baptist Church,
4 Randall Ct.; United Methodist Church, 57 Military St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Parking for a fee will be available at Houlton Wesleyan Church, Kelleran Street; Military Street Baptist Church, “Church on the Hill”; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Military Street and First Baptist Church, Court Street.
“It’s been a wonderful experience witnessing the churches come together in unity for this event,” Johanna Johnston, executive director of the Southern Aroostook Development Corp. and the head of eclipse planning. “Their collective efforts are a testament to the boundless warmth within our community.”
