Friendship Cane donated to East Sumner church

SUMNER — On the second Saturday of every month, the Streaked Mountain Wood Carvers of Maine meet at the Congregational Church of East Sumner to work on carvings, share information and have lunch. For about the last eight years, they have held a “Camp and Carve” weekend event at the church on the second Saturday of September in conjunction with the church’s Beanhole Bean public supper.

The campers begin rolling into the yard and setting up Friday evening, and the next day the carvers gather under the pavilion with their wood and tools to work on their own creations, or to instruct someone from the public who is interested in the craft. Many of the carvers donate an item to the supper raffle and join in the camaraderie of a public supper.
This year the carvers announced they would be presenting a gift to the Church following Sunday worship. The gift turned out to be a beautifully carved “Friendship Cane.” Seven carvers were given blocks of wood and asked to create something representing the relationship between the wood carvers and the church. The cane has ten sections — carved on all four sides — with some of them telling a story. It will be displayed in the dining room for all to see.
The seven woodworking artists were Art Chamberlain, president of Southern Maine Wood Carvers and vice-president of the Maine Wood Carvers Association; Bernadette Hodgkins, editor of the Maine Carvers Newsletter; Ray Stillman, Sheri Fowler, Justina Hatch, Steve Hatch and Robert Perry.

PHOTO: From left, Art Chamberlain, council president Bill Glass, pastor Howard MacMullen and Robert Perry display the Friendship Cane. Submitted photo)