Freed-Up Financial Living

On Friday March 20 from 7-9 PM and Saturday March 21 from 8:45 AM to 3 PM Peoples Church and the United Methodist Foundation of New England will co-sponsor a seminar and training opportunity with the new Good $ense Program called, "Freed-Up Financial Living.



The program is designed for individuals and families to get to a place in their finances--and lives- characterized by grace, joy and freedom. The program gives all attendees the opportunity to get to that place in their lives through the application of Biblical Principles.


Members of other churches who are faced with financial issues are encouraged to attend. It is also possible for folks representing finance committees who would like to bring this program to their own churches to be trained in how to use it.

We expect that Gary Melville of the United Methodist Foundation of New England will be with us to assist and support the operation of this new program.


Each person or family will need to have a copy of the Prework Booklet and a copy of the Participant's Guidebook. The materials will be available at the Seminar. The leader of the session will have the use of a DVD to run through a 6 Session format. The program is often given in 6 weekly hour installments or in the same format that we will be using for this Friday night and Saturday seminar.


Costs for attendance and participation are related to the material and a lunch only. $15 will pay for the participant guidebook and the Prework booklet. A husband and wife team need only one copy of each. Lunch on Saturday can be purchased for $3 a person. It will be necessary for materials purposes and food ordering to have registrants indicate their attendance via e-mail to Jamie or Gwyneth Arrison at thearrisons@peoplesumc.com or Discipleship Chairma, Art Tordoff at atordof1@maine.rr.com or by phone at 1-207-799-6814 by Tuesday, March 17. Earlier reservations would be helpful in determining how many guidebooks, booklets and food we will need.


Folks who have gone through the Good $ense program before have all felt that it was worth it and fun to be with others at the same time.


Please let us know that you will be with us and you should know that you are already in the graces of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

What Is Lent?

What is Lent? Forty days of Lent are celebrated by churches all over the world. Lent is the time of year the Church reflects on the events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ and on our own faithfulness as disciples who follow Jesus. Please continue reading below for ways to deepen your relationship with God during this special season which begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year is February 25.

Time and Fasting

From Bishop Pete Weaver, Partners in Ministry February 2009

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting. John Wesley considered it one of the six primary "means of Grace." But I was surprised to read TIME magazines cover story (Feb. 23) on "How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also. "One of the staples of both traditional wellness protocols and traditional religious rituals is the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of clarity and even euphoria." Dr. Catherine Gordon of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the positive changes that occur in the body and brain (and I would add, spirit) during a "short-term fast." The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from after dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period. If you have any questions about your health you should check with your doctor first. It can be tough at first, but the members of the congregations I served and I found it to be a great blessing whether used just during Lent, or year around as Wesley did.
There are other forms of fasting such as foregoing things we think we "can't do without" like television or shopping for non-necessities. The time saved or the money saved can then be put to extra time for meditation or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus, not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit, confirming that strength that is greater than our appetites. It is an exercise in "God's will, not mine be done." What may seem at first to be "denial" becomes "affirmation," and that which at first seems to be "depriving" becomes a fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and commend it to your congregation.
Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent, I pray that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross, and New Life!

Daylight Savings Time March 8

Fall Back Spring Forward
Don't forget to set your clocks forward 1 hour Saturday night, March 7.
If by chance you forget, why not join the Lent small group study with Art Tordoff? - It's held in the Parlor off of Ellis Hall 9am (which will feel like 10am!)

Inquirer’s Classes begin 3/1

Newcomers and others interested in learning more about the basics of the Christian faith, Bible, and the United Methodist Church, please join us after church on 3/1 with lunch at the pastors home next door. Classes will continue on Sundays at noon or Thursday evenings at 7pm through March following the schedule below.

These are required for those interested in membership, but anyone may attend (even just one or a few sessions), and there is no pressure to join. Current members are also invited to attend, both to learn and to help provide more insight to the newcomers. We have generally had a few members attend each inquirer's session.

The following is the schedule. Please contact the pastors if you would like to attend so we can get you the United Methodist Members Handbook. The class syllabus can be viewed as this link.

March 1: Bible 101
March 5 or 8: What We Believe
March 12 or 15: Why I’m a United Methodist
March 19 or 22: Finding my S.H.A.P.E. For Ministry
March 26 or 29: Why Membership?

Sacrifice for a Stranger

Lent is often a time to think of sacrificing, particularly for others. This is why it seemed an excellent time to share together in the small group study on hospitality and welcoming called Beyond 30 Seconds. What are you willing to lay aside to spend time with visitors on a Sunday morning? The study includes a workbook and video discussion starters for each session. Groups are meeting Sundays 9am at church with Art Tordoff, Mondays 7pm at church with Pastor Jamie, Tuesdays 9am at Rosemary Herd's home, and Thursdays 3pm at Ruth McLellan's home. Please contact the pastors to join a group and to get the materials – it’s not too late!

Sessions:
-- Classifieds: Trying To Fill the Hole in the Soul
-- Good Works: Putting Faith Into Action
-- Diversity: Understanding What Unites Us
-- Breaking News: Coping with the Unexpected
-- Rain: Seeing God in the Everyday Session
-- Love Letters: Mending a Lost Relationship

In addition, the pastors are leading a preaching series during this time based on the text. Those who wish to use these in their personal devotions may find these Scriptures helpful:

February 22 -- Group Session #1 -- Genesis 18:1-15
March 1 -- Group Session #2 -- Acts 10:1-11:18
March 8 -- Group Session #3 -- Luke 10:25-42
March 15 -- Group Session #4 -- Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12
March 22 -- Group Session #5 -- Job 15
March 29 -- Group Session #6 -- Exodus 3:1-4:17
April 5 -- Group Session #7 -- Romans 8:28-39

Midweek Lenten Service Schedule

On Wednesdays during Lent, the United Methodist Churches in the Casco Bay Cluster co-lead worship services on Wednesdays at 7pm. This year’s worship theme is “Personal encounters with Jesus on the way to the cross” and will consist of music, prayer, meditation and some creative art form such as art, dance or poetry. Afterwards, worshippers gather for some light refreshments. All are invited. You can get driving directions through www.neumc.org or contact the pastors at 799-6814.

3/4 Elm Street UMC Gene Koelker preaching
The church is located at 168 Elm Street in South Portland. FMI call 799-0407.

3/11 Buxton UMC Ruth Morrison preaching
The church is located at 276 Chicopee Rd in Buxton. FMI call 642-3996.

3/18 Thornton Heights UMC Lee Smith preaching
The church is located at 100 Westbrook Street in South Portland. FMI call 774-0487.

3/25 West Scarborough UMC Jamie Arrison preaching
The church is located at 2 Church Street-Route 1 in West Scarborough. FMI call 883-2814.

4/1 First UMC Lynne Campbell preaching
The church is located at 179 Ridgeland Avenue in South Portland. FMI call 767-2688.

4/10 (Good Friday) Peoples UMC All clergy leading
The church is located at 310 Broadway in South Portland. FMI call 799-6814.

Preparing Children for Easter at Peoples

The children’s Sunday School is beginning a new unit during Lent ( the weeks leading up to Easter) to teach children how Jesus journeyed to the cross in order to show Gods powerful love for us.

The unit will kick off with a children’s worship service on 3/1, followed by a 4-week center-based curriculum, PowerXpress, which includes music and movement, crafts, storytelling, cooking and video.

Thank you to all of the teachers to will be serving during this unit. Please invite your friends and family who have kids! FMI call Andy Folley, 749-5702.

Freed-Up Financial Living

The Gospel is all about setting us free. One of the great burdens in our lives today is our personal finances. Come and study biblical principals for managing your finances and live more freely. This is an excellent opportunity to invite friends burdened with financial struggles, debt or just have a desire to understand their finances better. This is an excellent tool that can help set you and your friends free from worry about this constant challenge in our lives. Friday March 20 7-9pm and Saturday 8:45am - 3pm. Particpants guide $15 and $3 for lunch Saturday. Please consider paying for friends you are inviting. Checks payable to Peoples UMC. Contact Art Tordoff or the pastors for further information. Brochures are available at church.

Ministry at SMCC

For many years before we arrived in 2005 as your new pastors, Peoples people have been praying for the Southern Maine Community College, and for vision in how to be in ministry to the college in our neighborhood.

That vision began to be revealed to us several years ago when we began a discussion group with just a few students Fall semester 2006. Those students have now begun an official student group at the college, the first group in the history of the school that has been initiated by the students with no faculty or staff leadership. They have named themselves SERVE, and their vision is to serve the student body in various ways, including providing opportunities for study, discussion, prayer and service. They now meet several times per week:

The Inter-Faith Discussion Group Mondays at 2:00pm - Preble 106
The Bible Discussion Group Wednesdays at 12:00pm- Preble 207
The SERVE meeting Thursdays at 12:15pm- Hague Hall 201
The Prayer Group Thursdays at 3:00pm -Campus Center Boardroom

Community members are welcome to attend any of these meetings. SERVE would particularly appreciate financial support from local churches and the community as they do not wish to do fund raisers within the student population they are aiming to serve - what a great witness and example they set!

Pastor Gwyneth continues to participate in some of these meetings and provide pastoral support when needed. The students continue to send thanksgiving our way for the prayers through the years, and our continued support.

If you would like to contact SERVE to see how you might be able to continue supporting them, please call or email Bethany Aelmore at myall4_him@hotmail.com or 699-6322.

Life in Review 2008

What is Life in Review? Exactly that; a time to review our life together over the past year and celebrate what God has done through Christ's church at Peoples. Often we spend all of our time and energy on planning future events; this is a time to spend time remembering the past.

The event started with potluck lunch with the 2008 Variety Show video, made by Wes Splettstoesser, playing in the background. That was fun to see again, and Wes is making copies for a number of folks who wanted a copy of their own!

For dessert, there was a homemade cake by Carol Bruneau, as well as many other goodies. As folks began dessert, the senior choir sang, followed by the Junior Choir which sang some of the Sunday School songs they've been learning.

Next we saw a slide show created by Pastor Gwyneth showing many of the year's events, and getting a few laughs too.

The first presentation was a celebration by Dan Doughty, Chair of Staff Parish Relations Committee to celebrate Debbie Cole coming on as our part time Music Director in 2008. Debbie got a standing ovation! This was followed by an ABC list of Sunday School activities by Andy Folley and a Vacation Bible School video by Karen Jennnings.

Merrill Kaiser, Andy Folley, Carol Bruneau and Rosemary Herd presented a skit to summarize how our mission focus on Heifer began, and how we reached our goal of raising an ark through the inspiration of the Sunday School.


Earle dressed up as a mosquito for the Nothing But nets presentation! As Carol Bruneau talked they threw a net over unsuspecting attendees, and then set up a hoop for Isaac Dunn to throw his basketball. Peoples overshot their goal of 17 nets by a lot, with close to 70 nets purchased.

The Trustees skit was created by Chuck Kamilewicz, but was ill so his son Rob played the role of chair. All of the items on the agenda were tabled, but some of them were quite interesting!

Art Tordoff put together a great quiz show using the format of "So you think you're smarter than a ..." The questions revolved around the history of Peoples and People people in the distant as well as recent past. Groups competed for the correct answers. Do you know for instance the address of Peoples when it was in Ferry Village? Lots of fun learning. Marlene Tordoff also presented the people who have had the longest membership at Peoples. We concluded the presentations with Karen Freitas speaking about the new worship / meditation service we started last Spring and singing a reflective song similar to those used in this service.

A few words were spoken about Malcolm Cass, Ada Tordoff, Carolyn and Butch Teeter, and Grace Corey, all who went to be with the Lord this year. Pastor Jamie then wrapped up the time with an Igniting Ministries video to speak about some of our vision for 2009.

Thank you to all who organized, participated, brought food, and came out for this special time.

Sunday School Mural

The Sunday School has been hard at work painting the mural designed by Rosemary's son, Gary Herd. The big day was February 15 when the kids completed the mural!

The theme as you can see is baptism, which the kids studied about in the winter Sunday School unit. The mural portrays John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River.

The unit used the PowerXpress curriculum, and included center-based teaching such as cooking mud pies and locust pies, baptizing bears, singing, games and crafts. The unit concluded with a summary of what baptism means for us and why we believe in baptism, and used a bowl of water, shell, heart, rock and towel to explain some of the elements of baptism, followed by a time for questions.

What a fun time of learning this has been. Again a big thank you to the Folleys and all of the teachers and parents for your time and hard work.

Candlelight Meditation Services

Meditative music, Scripture, prayer and silence in candlelight. For the remainder of the Spring, the meditation services will be held monthly instead of weekly, on the 1st Sunday of the month:

Sunday, March 1 7pm
Sunday, April 5 7pm
Sunday, May 3 7pm
Sunday, June 7 7pm

The service begins at 7pm and lasts about 45 minutes, with a chance to gather for snacks and fellowship afterwards. This is a great chance to invite a friend.

"Hearts For Healing” Pillows

For the second year, the Prayer Shawl and Arts & Crafts Ministries made "Hearts for Healing" pillows for the Mercy Oncology Center. Sewing pillows before the meeting were Susan Angell, Janice Huelin and Marlene Tordoff. Helping to stuff the pre-sewn pillows with fiberfill and hand sew the openings were Joyce Alexander, Susan Angell, Kathy Brann, Doreen Gay, Janice Huelin, Betty Lane, Betty Smith, Marlene Tordoff and Catherine Whittemore. Art and Marlene Tordoff delivered 26 pillows on February 13, 2009 to the Mercy Oncology Center.

On behalf of the group, Marlene Tordoff received an e-mail from Lenore Kraus, Oncology Social Worker, expressing her appreciation and saying, "Those pillows may be feather light but are worth their weight in gold!"

Another Oncology Social Worker, Colleen O’Connor, sent a lovely thank-you note. She said, "The patients are enjoying different ways to use the pillows bringing some comfort at a difficult time."

What a joy to reach out to our local community and to provide the comfort to those in need as Jesus would have us do.

UMCOR Kits

This month we are collecting school kits, anyone who would like to make up a whole kit can do so or they can pick up any item or items on the kit list and put them in the box in the back of the church and we will put the kits together when we have enough items to do so. The school kits have to go in a cloth bag and the directions for these are included in the list in a box in the back of the church for anyone who would like to sew a bag. If you have questions, please contact Carol Bruneau at 799-5995. Thank you!

CLYNK !

If you would be willing to donate your redemption bottles to the church please see Susan Angell for a CLYNK bag, or call her at 799-8340. Then just fill up your bag (please no Smiling Hill glass bottles in the bags though) and drop it off at Hannaford - you don't even need to wait for it. CLYNK personnel are only there during daytime hours, but you can drop your bag off anytime the store is open.

Each bag has a bar code which is scanned by CLYNK and the money goes into the Peoples Church account automatically. The funds this year will be put toward paying our mission shares. For more information on CLYNK go to http://www.clynk.com/

Also, Chuck Kamilewicz has offered to help people get bags to Hannaford for those who may have difficulty doing this. You can contact him at 767-4841.

Valentine's Cookie Bake

The cookie bake began with pizza and card games after Sunday School on February 8. Behind the scenes in the kitchen, Rosemary Herd and others were busy baking delicious cookies - sheets and sheets of cookies! They were then brought out on racks to cook, and the kids got to work smearing frosting and decorating with heart candies and sprinkles.

Several hundred cookies were decorated by the Sunday School. Several cookies were then put in plastic bags for distribution.

While the kids were still decorating, some more adults were busily compiling the list of recipients who included newcomers, shut-ins and other grandmothers and grandfathers of the faith at Peoples. This group decorated cards and attached them to each bag of cookies.

A big thank you to Andy Folley and Rosemary Herd for coordinating this awesome event, and for all of the parents, teachers and others who came out to help make this such a successful and fun time.