Adult Sunday school class

Adult Sunday school class

The Sunday morning adult Sunday school class has met from September through the first week in June since 1968. Over the years the members of the class have changed as have the numbers. The class began as a male and female class that met originally in the pastor’s study. That was still four years before Ellis Hall was open for meeting. For several years after that beginning membership moved to an all male class that met on the breezeway. Again the class in more recent times returned to a mixed class. For one of our series of classes that was based on the stories depicted in the stained class windows we met in the sanctuary. In another series of classes we met in the parsonage to use the DVD that went with a Philip Yancy program, “The Jesus I Never Knew”. The class today does meet in the Ellis Hall Parlor and after studying other series prepared by Philip Yancy, Harold S. Kushner, Lee Strobel and J. Ellsworth Kalas we have for two years been using N. T. Wright’s “Luke for Everyone”.

Presently the class is attended regularly by Carol, Pat, Janice, Randi, Marlene, Pam, Earle and Art who has facilitated the class since its inception, 47 years ago. Periodically others have joined the class and we do encourage folks to be a part of this ongoing class.

We try to get started about 8:45 to 9:00 AM each Sunday beginning with concerns and a prayer followed by the reading of the Biblical passage for that week. All regular attendees have a text that helps to explain the passage as well as a set of questions prepared and distributed before the class meets. If you are interested in becoming part of the class you need not have the text as the questions provided and the Bible will serve you well. Discussion is encouraged.

 

Peoples on Memorial Day

 Memorial Day at Peoples

Pam delivers

Coffee andwater for free

Since the city parade now passes Peoples Church a number of activities are centered at the front of the church property. For several years now and led by Betty Splettstoesser a free water and coffee distribution takes place on the front lawn. Pam Libby can be seen extending that booth by going through the crowd with Peoples identified bottles of water. Rosemary and others help at the booth and prepare the coffee that is free to those that approach the booth.

Labelling bottles

Hard at work the day before

On Sunday, the day before the parade, Betty with the help of Amy Wellington and Kathy Brann had relabeled the 8 oz bottles of water by adding Peoples United Methodist Church stickers.

Leftover plants

Project Graduation

While that booth is operated by members of the church this year Project Graduation has used the Ellis Hall parking lot to serve as headquarters for kids to grab water bottles, balloons and flags to distribute to the crowds along Broadway.

Eagle Project Bake Sale

One of the Scouts who will be working toward his Eagle badge by leading Troop 23 in the reworking of the children’s playground at the back of the church property. He had organized a bake sale that he manned also in the parking lot. Money raised will go to meet the needs for redoing the play area.

Dick Small drives oldest fire engine

Peoples faithful

Other members of the church also found the grounds of the church as a great place to feel at home while watching the parade. One of our number, Dick Small, was driving the oldest of the fire engines that were in the parade.

In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Rose Window

Over the years a number of memorials have been established at Peoples Church. Memorials have taken the form of plaques and objects that can be found both inside and outside of the church. At some future date we will include many of those remembrances of people who have meant much to the life of Peoples in the blog. I would like to take some space in this column today to explore the memorials that are outside of the building.

Lorraine Hodgkins Memorial Garden

White Cross

The most obvious memorial for a number of years is the Memorial garden that has been developed between the church and Ellis Hall. The Garden Committee has taken charge with the maintenance of the triangular garden originally dedicated to Lorraine Hodgkins who had been a long time teacher in the Sunday school and at one time served as Superintendent. She was the mother of Andrea Hodgkins Harvey who presently serves as the pastor at Elm Street UMC. Following the establishment of the garden in the 1970’s a granite bench was added years later at the head of the garden in memory of Bob Porter who had been very active with the United Methodist Men as well as serving on many important committees. The flagpole and American flags were erected and raised originally by a committee headed by Tom Nelson and others. This addition to the garden area is dedicated to those members of the church who had served in harm’s way through military service.

Susan McLellan Plaisted

Originally there were two Rhododendrons planted in the front corners of the church. One was eliminated when the ramp was built but the other remains in the south corner of the church front. These were planted in memory of John B. Tordoff in 1973 by his wife, Ada. Both John and Ada were very active members of Peoples from the later 1940’s in both men’s and women’s activities.

Brad Morrison

Guy McLellan Memorial

In this past week the memorial gardens of the church were expanded by placing new plantings at the front of Ellis Hall. Two stones also honor the memory of Guy McLellan and his wife Ruth. Guy was very active as a Lay Leader and especially a teacher of the Bethel Bible Study Program and an active member of United Methodist Men. He was also very active in the local Lions Club. Ruth also served as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent in her years of activity at Peoples. She also hostessed a Bible study in her later years in her home. Ruth was a long time elementary school teacher in South Portland. Together they had three daughters; Ann, Susan and Nancy. Susan has taken in the lead in adding this memorial garden to her parents. In 2010 Ann had purchased and placed a Hydrangea in the middle of the garden area now joined by the stones in memory of Guy and Ruth as well as two new Strawberry Shortcake Hydrangeas and 2 Lupine plants.

Ruth McLellan Memorial

McLellan Memorial Garden

The official dedication of this latest edition to the memorial gardens will be take place at a later date..

Garden to breezeway

Front entrance to sanctuary

In the last few years the outside of the property has seen additional plantings of easily cared for plants at the entrance to Ellis Hall and across the ramp at the front of the church.

 From Morning ‘til Night

6^th Annual Plant Sale

On May 16, 2015 Marlene, Carol, Doreen, Joanne and Susan arrived at Peoples UMC to set out tables with plants that had been potted in their yards and those of others over the previous two weeks. Many of these plants had been delivered, arranged and priced on the previous evening and sorted into categories. Other members of the church could be seen assisting the early risers including Pam and Len, Art, David, Walter and Pastor Tom. This would be the 6^th Annual Plant Sale held by the Garden Committee as an annual money maker for the Committee and for the church. During the morning a continuous flow of customers visited the tables and most made several selections to take home to their own gardens. The sale opened at 9 AM under cloudy, but warm conditions with the sun occasionally showing itself in the sky above.

As has been the case the Plant Sale bills itself as a way of sharing God’s beauty with the public. In addition to serving as another way of introducing folks to activities of the church it also provided a means of making some money. This year the plant sale raised over $700!

While the sale was going on Walter could be seen preparing a garden location in front of Ellis Hall. This area will eventually extend the Memorial Garden that presently is found between the church and Ellis Hall. The new garden area will serve as a memorial to Ruth and Guy McLellan. While Walter was working out front Art cleared the back of the church and parking lot of leaves and dirt that had accumulated over this past winter.

The original memorial garden was dedicated to Lorraine Hodgkins and has also become a place of memory for Bob Porter when granite bench was added a number of years ago. Today gardens also enhance the entry to both the church and Ellis Hall.

Bean Supper Shares the Day

This was also the last Saturday date for a Bean Supper until September. While the plant sale was going on Art, Tom and David set up Ellis Hall with tables and chairs while Rosemary began to prepare for the supper in the kitchen. The same folks who helped with the supper set-up were also engaged in taking the tables and chairs back inside when the plant sale was over.

Folks began arriving for the meal shortly after four to get a good seat. Many members could be seen working in the kitchen, pouring coffee, water and punch, cutting pies or ready to collect money.  Susan and Joann were on the check in table with Paul and Susan cutting and serving pie. Amy could be seen running around with water and punch. Kathy, as she has for a few years now, was manning her mini-fair table with a myriad of things for supper attendees to browse through and buy.  In the kitchen were Rob and Chuck washing dishes with Barbara and Tom, Keith, Becky and Dick. After introductions by Chris, Pastor Tom made a few announcements and then blessed the meal. People line up before the smorgasbord of food and one after another would take away, in many cases, a heaping assortment of beans, hot dogs, casseroles and salads. No one certainly goes away hungry!

While one reason for having the suppers is to make money, they also provide a means of providing fellowship for both those who come for the meal and those who prepare and serve it.

Most folks have left before 6:00 PM and by 7:00PM the hall is cleaned up and everyone is off to home.

Looking Ahead in May at Peoples

Plant Sale

On Saturday, May 16 beginning at 9:00 AM, the annual Plant Sale sponsored by the Garden Committee will take place in either the parking lot at Ellis Hall or if weather is an issue inside the hall. Well over 200 plants will be available for purchase. Most of the plants available are for outside gardening although a few indoor plants will also be available. Other items pertaining to gardening will also be available for purchase at re3asonable prices.

While it is early in the season it is not too early to purchase plants that you may have longed for and have been grown in the gardens of members of the church. Plants that will be available are marked as to whether they grow best in sun or shade. Plants are reasonably priced. If you have questions about growing habits of the plants that are available members of the garden committee will gladly be able to answer your questions.

 

Memorial Day

Water Bottle Project

Monday, May 25 will be celebrated as Memorial Day this year. People in large numbers gather along Broadway from SMCC to the Veterans Memorial beside Mill Creek Park. As the

Parade passes by Peoples UMC for a number of years now Peoples people have handed out 8 ounce bottles of water to those who are watching. This is made possible by members of Peoples purchasing the water in that size container and donating to the church for redistribution. Betty Splettstoesser has chaired this project for a number of years. If you want to help in passing the water out I’m sure she would appreciate the help! One of the best distributors of water bottles has been Pam Libby.

Scout Food Sale

It is my understanding that in addition to this activity there will be a Boy Scout holding a food sale in the Ellis Hall driveway. Proceeds will go toward his Eagle project that is to redevelop the playground behind the church. Troop 23 has met at Peoples for decades. The present troop is very strong and could use our support on this activity.

 

 

Mother's Day Weekend

Peoples Food, Fix-up, Celebration and Visioning

May 9^th dawned and the vestry of Peoples was visited by Men and Women who came together to fellowship and eat before setting out to a busy day of activity on the grounds of the church or elsewhere.

Chef Brad prepared his usual quality breakfast with some assistance in the kitchen from Rosemary and Chuck. As the folks joined them there was Rob, Art and Marlene, followed by Keith, Dick and Earle. Soon Randy and Kit and Andy joined the earliest of the birds. Jim and Pastor Tom were there as well as Doreen. Pastor Tom led us in prayer and then over our meals we talked about a variety of items in small groups.

It is but two times a year that the women are in attendance, both of which happen to be on the semi-annual clean-up days that are held in the spring and fall of the year.  We bid goodbye to some folks while others of us, after clean-up began a strenuous morning of raking and hoeing some of the lawns and gardens. Art and Keith began with the lawn between Ellis Hall and the parsonage. Soon Susan and Walter were there to rake and to spread mulch on gardens. Dick and Brad spent most of the morning repairing the awning that protrudes over the kitchen door. Several bags of leaves and brush were collected and later taken to the South Portland brush site on Highland Avenue.

Doreen and Marlene worked around the gardens in the front of the church property as had Tom and Barbara Nelson the day before. By the time they had finished one garden Walter was there to groom out the mulch.

Somewhere around noon the crew was done for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, Mother’s Day, mothers entering the church were greeted with a red carnation. Special lyrics appropriate to the day were sung by the congregation. “Praise to God, the World’s Creator”, “Our Father God in Heaven” and “God of the Women” were the three hymns that were sung to the music of more familiar hymns. Pastor Tom’s sermon was titled. “Mother’s Day Thoughts”. All of us had the opportunity to remember mothers and other women who played important roles in our lives in our younger years.