Preparing for Charge Conference - November 12th

There will be two changes in our charge conference this year. First, there will not be a meal after church as the conference will not begin until 3:30pm. There will be a meal after, however, followed by The Gathering. If you have not yet tried the Gathering service, this would be an excellent night to invite a friend to come meet up with us for the 5:30 supper.

The second change is in focus. We will be spending less time reporting on what has gone on in the last year and taking the time to explore our future. Our DS Rev. Mike Davis will show us a program called Natural Church Development - a program to evaluate our needs and help keep us accountable to reach out in new ways. This is one program we are considering taking on in the coming year, so please come see and learn so you can help with our discernment process.

We will be assembling a booklet of reports to celebrate God's work in our church during the last year. If you have anything to contribute from your committees, small groups or personal ministries, please get them to the church office by November 7th at the latest.

Finally, please come and support our church at this annual charge conference that binds our ministries together.

Mission Focus for November - Hunger

Think globally - United Methodist can make a big difference in the lives of hungry people by supporting UMCOR and Bread for the World. In this way, you will be joining 55,000 others - individuals, families, churches, and religious organizations - who are working together to persuade our nation's decision-makers to adopt policies that will help end hunger in God's world.

For three decades, Bread for the World had worked with leaders from both political parties to craft legislation that gives hungry people - both in the United States and overseas - the tools and resources they need to feed their families and make a living. By supporting Bread for the World, United Methodists join Christians from many other denominations in a strong ecumenical witness to Congress and the White House.

Act locally - We will once again be collecting food for the The South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Emergency Food Pantry during the month of November. Food will begin to collect along the altar rail and be delivered to the pantry at the end of the month. The pantry provides short-term emergency food to fill in gaps before other programs are able to respond. The demand has been high and their shelves are getting low. Please help fill them up and fill up our neighbors in need.

World Hunger Fast

As another way to connect with our monthly mission focus, everyone is invited to participate in a fast to collect money to aid in efforts to assist in the helping to feed the hungry in the world. We will be meeting at on Thursday, November 16 to pray and prepare for a twenty-four hour fast starting on Friday at 7AM and ending at Saturday 7AM with a Break - fast. Peoples involved in this fast may have a total or partial fast of certain foods. The money saved from not eating will be collected and donated to assist the hungry of the world. Those who may not be able to fast may donate to the collection during the Sunday Service on November 19th.

Experiencing the Gathering

During our new alternative worship service, The Gathering, we have been looking at various "I AM" claims made by Jesus in the Gospel of John. One week, worshipers (some blindfolded!) traveled up from Ellis Hall to a pitch-dark sanctuary where we heard and experienced the Light of the World who expells all our darkness proclaimed by candlelight. Another week centered around the theme of Jesus as the Bread of Life while we sensed the growing aroma of home-baked bread cooking while we worshipped and then feasted together in Holy Communion dinner-style. Another week we felt ourselves washed clean by Jesus as the Water of Life in a hand-washing ceremony.

Most recently we experienced Jesus as the Great I AM (John 8:52-58), and claimed the inheritance and blessing of Abraham because of the work of Jesus Christ who has made this possible (Galatians 3:13-14). Each worshipper noted names of people who have influenced their faith in their lives and in Scripture on leaves that folks glued throughout the service onto the handmade tree , finalizing in writing our own names as ones who claim the Scripture as our story and the folks in Scripture as part of our family tree.

For the scheduled themes coming up go to the blog article http://peoplesumcnews.blogspot.com/2006/09/we-have-begun-to-gather.html

This style of worship is not for everyone, but it just may be for a friend or family member who doesn't attend any church. Why not invite them this week?

A Super Time for the Youth!

The youth partied all night long Friday October 26th at the Word of Life Superbowl. Though this is not a football event, there was plenty of sports and celebration. The night began with Pastor Jamie and assistant youth leader Eric Detweiler piling into the car with Jalen Diffin, Dusty Mathews and Sam Siedel to head off to the Civic Center to see the Pirates beat the Lowel Devils in the last few seconds. After the exciting game, the approximately 1200 youth and their leaders moved together to hear a Gospel message and have a time for prayer. Then the party really got going. There were games involving launching prizes up into the stands and fun games down on the ice to watch. Then we were off to bowling in Saco until 3am followed by frisbee, volleyball a mechanical bull and airhockey at Howard Sports. When we got home and saw the sky getting lighter, we went down to Willard Beach to throw the frisbee around until 7am.

It was an excellent time of fun and fellowship. We expect the youth group to grow in numbers and closeness through many fun times in the year ahead.

Golf Tournament Results

The main result was an excellent time had by all in the best weather the Peoples Golf Tournament has seen in years. All the awards were taken down by two teams. The Snoddy team was led by Jay and Julie Chace who made the mens and women's long drives. Jay also made both the closest to the pin awards. All of this was not quite good enough to beat the team of Tom and Barbara Nelson, Dusty Mathews, and Chris Bowker who scored three under par.

All teams were awarded to an excellent meal hosted by Brad Morrison and Chris Ward.

Thank you to Fred Wade, Brad and Chris for all your work making for a wonderful day.

Going Going On November 3rd

The annual fundraising auction of the church is on Friday, November 3rd. The viewing begins at 6:00 along with "good eats" and the live auction begins at 7:00. The church budget relies on this fundraiser and we have been very blessed with successful ones in years past. Most of all, it is always a fun time. Please come and enjoy!

New Look in Ellis Hall

No photo can capture the amazing work that has been completed thus far in Ellis Hall - you have to see it for yourself! All new lighting, ceiling, and walls painted. Next on the list are doors, trim and designing the wall space for effective communication and use of the hall for vital ministry. When you see one of the Trustees, please say a word of thanks and encouragement for their leadership and hard work: Rosemary Herd, Doreen Gay, Kathy Brann, Walter Greer, Chuck Kamilewicz, Brad Morrison, and Tom Nelson.

Worship Ministers for November

Greeters for November
11/5 Barbara Nelson
11/12 Polly Morrill
11/19 Belle Graney
11/26 Betty McGouldrick

Ushers for November
Keith Snoddy
Chuck Kamilewicz

Lector for November
Bert Marston

Nursery for November
11/5 Teresa Folley & Pastor Gwyneth
11/12 Betty Splettstoesser & ____________
11/19 Becky Snoddy & Hank Dunn
11/26 Betty Lane & Barbara Lee

November Birthdays and Anniversaries

Birthdays in November

1 Bernard Bruce
7 Hank Dunn
11 Andy Folley
18 Betty Smith
19 Kristina Kenney
James MacKinnon
22 Carlos Tirado

Anniversaries in November

1 Robert L. & Carolyn Teeter
11 Bruce & Amy Joslin Wellington
17 Walter & Michelle Greer
18 Justin & Lynn Loranger
19 Christopher & Mariah Bowker
Mal & Marlene LaShay
24 William & Sandra James

Art & Crafts Group

The 2nd Thursday of every month at 7pm folks are invited to bring supplies to do arts and crafts together. The prayer shawl group will meet during this time. In addition, anyone interested in scrapbooking, collage, printing, cards, mosaic tiling, painting, drawing or other artsy projects should bring their materials to Ellis Hall. The first group met Thursday, October 12 at 7pm and was great fun. Mark your calendars for the next group on November 9. All ages welcome!

Peoples Garage Painting

Another big thankyou to the Trustees for coordinating the painting of the garage. The painter pictured here is Dick Door who grew up attending Peoples UMC as a kid!

Fun at the Golf Scramble

All are welcome to join in the Peoples Annual Golf Scramble. All skill levels are welcome, as was evidenced by the poor play of Pastor Jamie last year! We have had a great time in past years (even in the rain), and it will be even more fun with better weather this year!

There will be prizes, including longest drive and closest to pin for men and women.

The cost is $33 per player. Please contact Fred Wade or Jamie Arrison with your entry for an individual or a foursome. The fun begins at 8am at the SP municipal course.

The men's breakfast will start early that day with Brad having coffee on as early as 6:30 at the church. Come early for the breakfast and you will still have time to play!

Family-Style Dinner and Creative Worship

The Gathering, a new creative and interactive worship experience, has been an exciting new opportunity for many. The evening begins with a family-style dinner such as pizza or sphagetti. Then folks gather for worship, usually in a large circle to increase the sense of community, but the seating may vary depending on the night's theme. Contemporary style worship is provided through I-Worship videos, and visuals are used to inspire the senses as we worship.


We are working through a sermon series on "Who is Jesus" using the "I am" sayings from the Gospel of John. This past week on October 1, the theme of "Living Water" was enhanced by a baptismal font which was used later for a hand-washing ceremony. As we heard the Scriptures about Jesus providing us with Living Water, we could hear the children playing nearby with a large water toy -- sounds of living water and joyful noises. All are welcome, and bring a friend!

The Contractors are Here!

Ralph Aceto and his crew arrived today, October 5 and will be working on the ceiling in Ellis Hall. Doreen and others have been painting, and the electrical work will begin on Sunday. Thank you to all the Trustees for coordinating this amazing work to improve this space for all of the vital ministry going on in Ellis Hall.

Annual Conference Semi-Annually

Pastors Gwyneth and Jamie attended the second session of Annual Conference last Saturday, September 30. The New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church meets every June. However, last year and this year the budget portion of the conference was scheduled to meet in the Fall (with the hopes this is the last year necessary to do this).

Bishop Weaver shared that the conference is 4% ahead in mission shares (the local church tithe to the conference) than last year this time. Although we are just one church, some of this 4% is Peoples Church because of the Finance Committee's decision to step out in faith and send out our mission shares each month rather than waiting until the end of the year to see what's left. Thank you for your faithfulness in giving that has made this possible!

In addition, Bishop Weaver shared that the conference has now pledged $15 million toward the conference capital campaign Together For Tomorrow, when the goal was only $10 million! Thank you to all of you who have also pledged toward this capital campaign in addition to your stewardship at Peoples. If you have any questions about any of these financial details, please feel free to contact the pastors, Fred Wade as Finance Chair, or any member of the Finance Committee.

We also saw many friends at Annual Conference, some of whom you may know too -- Rev Bill Beddie, Pastor Mike Gray, Rev. Meg Queior and others. Then after conference, we attended a "young clergy" party (there was a miracle - that we are still considered young!) and met several other clergy couples and clergy with young children.

Mission Trip Opportunity

Volunteers are invited on a United Methodist mission trip to Suna, Megori, Kenya. The mission team leader is, Gael Orr, UMVIM Coordinator for WNY Conference. The trip cost is $2,500 (price includes: food, lodging, flights, insurance). The team is going for approximately 2 weeks over winter break returning on January 14th. The team will be working with Aids Orphans, widows, and a school building project. The team will have the option to teach HIV/AIDS education in the schools, work doing construction or counsel with the women in the community. The team is going to take a side cultural trek to Masai Mara Game Reserve for safari.

If you would like to find out more about attending, please contact, Gael Orr at: 585-612-6633 or by email.

Peoples Bell Tower

By Chuck Kamilewicz

How many have seen the bell at Peoples United Methodist Church? Not many, up to this point. Now you can say that you have seen it. During the painting of the bell tower by contractors, they were kind enough to let me borrow fall protection and open the bell tower to view and take pictures of the bell.

The reason for the viewing was two-fold. One was to check the condition of the bell and its components and the other was to gather historical information about the bell. Overall, the bell is in good condition and some startling information was gained about the bell.

On September 11, 2006, I was hoisted up in a mobile vertical lift to the bell tower. I removed a section of louvers on the rear side and entered. A former Trustee member, Randy Pike, had been in the bell tower about 15 years ago and did a wonderful maintenance job on it. He carried out many pails of bird droppings, repacked the bushings with 50 year packing and added hardware clothe to the inside of the louvers to prevent the birds from entering. The fruits of his labor continue to serve us even today.

I took a number of photos of the bell and its components, as well as the tower. Information gathered from the bell will be passed on to Church Historian Art Tordoff and Kevin Malcom. Maybe you can read the raised information on the bell from the pictures. If you can, you will see that it was cast in 1884, much later than originally thought. It was also made by the Blake Company, formally the Hooper Bell Company.