Thank you from the pastors!

Many thanks to Barbara Nelson and Becky Snoddy who very stealthily planned and organized the surprise baby shower (see article Shower of Blessings for Arrisons posted by Art Tordoff). And thanks to the thirty some folks who attended, and to the Morrisons and others who prepared food -- even a special cake made by Melinda Marston … out of diapers!

Alex will be one of the best dressed babies in South Portland now, with baby boy outfits, sleepers, gowns, onsies, sweaters, hats and booties, plus towels, bibs, diapers and many other essentials for babyhood.

Thank you also to all who knitted a square for the blue and white patchwork baby blanket (see photo in Art Tordoff’s post) – what a special gift from Alex’s church family. Another incredibly special gift was a beautiful shawl given by the prayer shawl ministry (rumor has it Linda Wade crafted this one!) as a sign of the blessings and prayers that this child is being bathed in by his church family (see photo).

Meal Ministry

The pastors also thank the Peoples meals ministry, and Barbara Nelson for her work coordinating this ministry. For those first few days back from the hospital it was really wonderful to receive home cooked dinners at our doorstep, with plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day too! Thank you to those who prepared meals for us: Barbara & Tom Nelson, Dan & Ruth Doughty, and Brad & Betsy Morrison.

And thank you to all of the folks who have volunteered to make meals when there is a need. And if you are ever in need (even if you are usually the one making the meals!), perhaps coming home after a surgery or are having other health issues, please help Barbara out by letting her know whether some meals for a few days would be helpful. And if meals are offered to you, please don’t hesitate to accept the offer; for many of us it is easier to give than to receive but we sometimes need to grow spiritually by allowing others to serve and help us, and it is certainly a blessing for those who are called to serve.

Childcare Ministry

The pastors are especially grateful to Susan Angell who stayed with Faith and Dena three nights so Jamie could be with Gwyneth in the hospital, and to Karen Jennings, a newcomer to Peoples with three small children of her own. The kids didn’t stop talking about how much they loved the time they had together with Susan, and the feeling was mutual. And Karen was very helpful in transporting the kids to and from school, having to shift car seats and receive help of her own to get everyone where they needed to go! Faith enjoyed playing with Karen’s two older children, Kelty and Kallie, too. And thank you also to all those who agreed to be on our "call list" even if you weren't called!

Since the pastors have no family in the area, this was a true example of how the church really IS family. We trust that our children are not just part of the church but are brought up as members of the family raised and cared for by the community of faith.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!
Gwyneth & Jamie
Faith, Dena and Alex