Wednesday, November 12, 2014

A Busy Weekend at Peoples


A Busy Weekend at Peoples

After a week of some rather dark days, Saturday, November 8 was an exception. With brilliant blue skies and bright sun a number of church folks left their homes to eat and to work together.

With Brad being away we were thankful that he left an ample supply of French Toast, hash browns, bacon and sausage in the capable hands of Rosemary who was assisted in the kitchen by Jan and Chuck. Usually a Men’s only gathering, the Men’s Breakfast this month preceded both an ushers meeting and an outside of the church clean-up. When other events are planned women and anyone else who plans to work around the church are invited to breakfast. In this instance, as one can see, we were blessed with willing folks in the kitchen to bring the meal to each of us in the vestry.

The following folks attended breakfast; Dave and Carol, Art and Marlene, Tom and Barbara, Dick, John H., Merrill, Jim, Kathy, Rosemary, Jan and Chuck. After a prayer offered by Art each individual served themselves, chose a seat and enjoyed conversation for about an hour before some left for home and others remained for an Ushers Meeting that followed the breakfast. The primary objective of this meeting was to relearn or test our knowledge on how the chair lift between Ellis Hall and the vestry operated. Chuck initiated us or renewed our knowledge of its operation. When one does not stay familiar with mechanisms such as the chair lift it is good to revisit in a hands-on way how to operate such items.

By this time Walter had arrived with his truck and trailer to load up with leaves and other items in the annual outdoor fall cleanup. Susan was also outside raking the parsonage lawn. Already at work were John T, Dave, Marlene and Barbara. Others who had been in the ushers meeting now joined those already at work. Tom and Carol, worked with Marlene in the garden. Art also joined the outside crew while Rosemary was busy preparing letters for the outside sign announcing the Christmas Fair in early December. In two hours the outside work crew had cleaned all of the area around the church and Ellis Hall and had filled Walter’s trailer to overflowing. Alas, as we neared the end several of us looked up and saw that there were still plenty of leaves that have not as yet fallen. Oh well, maybe it will snow soon and cover those leaves as they fall until Spring.

On Sunday, November 9 five new members of Peoples Church were received into membership. We were pleased to receive an adult, Angela B and four young folks into membership. The four young folks were Aaron M, Anna F, Chloe B and Skye A. All are members or are associated with the youth group known as the Pipeline. We look forward to their participation in the life of Peoples for years to come. The commitment to membership service was meaningful even to older members of the church that may have been reminded of their own initial membership. Such a service is not only for those joining but might be interpreted by many as a recommitment for themselves in church membership.

The service on this day also saw the Bell Choir playing a couple of meaningful numbers appropriate for this day and this service.

After the service a celebration for the new members was held in Ellis Hall with everyone in attendance having an opportunity to greet the new members and also to have a sizeable chunk of celebration cake.

 













Friday, November 07, 2014


Advent Meditations Deadline Approaches

Sunday, November 16 is fast approaching and only eight meditations and/or epiphany stories have been received.  In order to have a full complement for Advent and Epiphany we need 25/26 that are dedicated to the period of Advent and 12/13 to be included from Christmas to Epiphany on January 6.

Both take the same form with Advent generally based on Peace, Hope, Joy and Love. Any of the Fruits of the Spirit may also be used. The Epiphany story should be based on a place in your life that you have been that inspired a different direction in your life or thoughts.

Both should include a title, a scripture verse, the meditation, a brief prayer and a prayer focus.

I am including a sample of what was submitted in the past to give you an idea of what to do. There are still forms available at the back of the sanctuary if you need one.

Love and Joy through Fellowship Leads to Discipleship       December 16, 2013

Scripture:

Philippians 2: 1: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my Joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Meditation:

When the angel appeared to the shepherds in the fields, it was not one but a group that together went to see the child lying in a manger. The angel told them not to be afraid, but there was comfort in knowing that they would not be experiencing something new alone. When the three wise men followed the star led by the “Spirit of the Lord”, it was not one but the three who travelled the relatively unknown route that led them to Jesus some days later.

 

Once the visit had taken place all were changed. All followed a different route through the rest of their lives. They all had come to believe in a new loving and joyful way of life as a result of what they had heard and seen.

 

Through their seeking and learning together in fellowship they were then able to bring the word of their Lord, our Lord, to others—they in essence practiced discipleship when in activities with those people they shared their lives with.

 

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father: Let us in fellowship continue to learn and be actively engaged, together,

in discovering and carrying out your directions for us and as disciples of Your word practice, together, how we are to serve you in the work you would have us do in our immediate church community as well as the world community of which we are just a small part. In Jesus name, Amen

 

Prayer focus:

Building the Peoples mission in this world as Jesus would want us to.

 

Arthur J. Tordoff