Monday, March 23, 2009

Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday, April 5, Morning worship 10:30 am with nursery provided, palms to wave and Sunday School for kids ages 3-11. Also Candlelight Meditation Service at 7:00 pm.

Maundy Thursday, April 9 Tenebrae Service at 7pm A service of readings and extinguishing candles while the Sanctuary is stripped of its symbols and linens.

Good Friday, April 10 – Good Friday Stations of the Cross; walk through anytime between noon and 3:00 pm. A light lunch is provided in Ellis Hall during this time. Prayer vigil begins at 3 pm.

Easter Sunday, April 12:
  • Easter Sunrise service at Fisherman’s Point 5:45 am. Please park at the public lot on Willard Street, observe all parking signs and act respectfully of sleeping neighbors. Thank you!
  • Easter Breakfast in Ellis Hall 6:30 am Lots of pancakes and other great food and fellowship. Note: There is no coffee fellowship before worship
  • Morning worship 10:30am, children will leave from worship to do some fun Easter activities. Nursery will be provided as well.

Good Friday Prayer Vigil

There are still opportunities to come and pray in the sanctuary remembering the hope of Easter on this dark day. A sign up sheet is in the back of the church, or contact Betty Splettstoesser at 799-5475.

Third Saturday

Third Saturday
Whenever one thinks of the third Saturday of the month, one usually thinks of Bean Supper. Some, I’m sure think of it being drudgery, pain, an obligation and some even think wouldn’t it be easier if we all contributed the cost of what we make and the value of time to the church so we wouldn’t have to have a bean supper. That thought from many says that the only reason for having the supper is to make money and the easier route the better. You will have to pardon my editorial license, but I beg to differ. The Bean Supper is the longest continuous gift to the community and to each other of any activity except worship services in the history of Peoples church.
There are a number of church members who have never been to the supper, it is obvious from those who do come, that rarely do Peoples church members indulge in the

delectable treats that are served each month. Many may provide casseroles, bake beans, or bake or bring pies and other desserts for those who do partake of the meal. As the writer of this article I commend those who have provided their portions of the meal to the delight of many and yet are rarely seen, unless they are also part of the work crew once each month, the third Saturday.
If it is not membership of the church who attend the Bean Suppers on a regular basis who is it that does attend? Many are regulars. Some folks coming as early as 4 PM to get their seat. Others are followers of bean suppers and would never miss the Peoples supper. Many come as families, where else can a full family get fed nourishing meals for the price! Every once in a while we have somebody who comes from SMCC where they may have picked up a free ticket. Some of these folks come from the neighborhood and others from much greater distances. On occasion, those of us who come first for the meal before helping to clean up have a chance to meet some of these folks and to chat with them only if for a short time. We are providing a service and discipling to others by celebrating each Third Saturday with the Bean Supper.
Oh yes, while it is work for those who work on the supper it is also an opportunity to fellowship. This past Saturday while attending another event held elsewhere in the building I chanced to pass through Ellis Hall around 2:15 with the intent that I would help set up tables and chairs. I was too late, the Boy Scouts had already set them up. Chris Ward was already there to direct the workers as they would arrive. Soon Kathy Brann was there putting her casseroles together.
Later the beans would arrive having been baked from scratch and not from a can. Other casseroles and pies began to be delivered and either placed in the oven to cook or warm and the pies were placed on the pie table across the hall. By 4 PM things were buzzing. The Nelsons, Tom and Barbara were on the scene. Betty Splettstoesser in her bright red outfit was busy bustling around doing whatever. Keith Snoddy and Teddy Greer were hard at work assisting and doing those things that they have been doing for years.
When we arrived at 5 PM most of the seats were still empty on this night, yet before 6 o’clock rolled around a nearly full house had come to eat as much as they could then left to do whatever their own calendars had recorded for the evening.
These folks had been greeted by Doreen Gay at the back of the hall then proceeded to the pie table where Chris Bowker had spent the last hour cutting pies and other desserts and greeting, again, everyone as they picked up their sweets. Encouraged by the openness of seating, people then selected the table and seat that they wanted and waited for the word to eat. While seated and waiting Janice Huelin, Becky Gotlieb and Jody Fyles greeted them by serving those who were seated with coffee, tea, water or punch. At precisely 5 PM, Chris Ward came out of the kitchen and welcomed all in attendance, as she has for many years. As always she extends an invitation to all to come back again and to attend Sunday worship services. On this occasion, Chris introduced Pastor Gwyneth who then extended her greeting and welcomed everyone to pray together.
A new feature at the bean suppers this year is the Monthly Mini-Fair that has been the creation of Kathy Brann. This has given another flavor to the Bean Supper and another outlet of crafts and trinkets made and given by members of the church. It is yet another way of extending Peoples to other people.
Soon the eaters were at the buffet picking up portions of beans, casseroles, salads, bread and either hot dogs or ham. Conversations were heard and experienced and by 6 PM most of those who had come to once again experience the Peoples Bean Supper were out the door and on the road. Most of the folks who worked on the supper had a chance to sit and eat and then get up from the meal and finish cleaning up the kitchen. Betty Lane, Bob Huelin, the Tordoffs, Kathy Bran and one little Boy Scout helped to pick up and put away the tables and chairs.
As the writer of this article I salute the tireless efforts of those members of Peoples who have every month for many years given their time and talent to ensuring the success of the Bean Supper. I salute you for the work, I salute you for the fellowship. I salute you for the contribution to the discipleship and stewardship that the Lord expects of us. And, oh yes,I salute you for raising a few dollars in the process.

New Members Joining Palm Sunday

A group of new members will be joining the church on Palm Sunday, which is very exciting! We hope you will attend and show your support as we together reaffirm our own faith and covenant to disciple each new member in their growing faith in Christ.

Those who have been attending some or all of the latest inquirer's classes (including members and non-members) have included Joyce and Richard Alexander, Debbie Clark and Elaine Rogers, Steve Haskall, Dana MacLean and Tammy Tapley, Rachel Rideout, Amy Wellington and Catherine Whittemore. We have had a great time getting to know one another, and studying topics together including the Bible, basic Christian beliefs, how Methodism differs from other Christian churches, learning more about our gifts, talents, personality, etc. that can shape how we receive and serve in ministry, and the reasons we may or may not want to join the church as a member.

We have hosted two different classes to add flexibility, especially for parents with young children. Both classes were held at the pastors house next door to the church. One class was held Thursday evenings, and the other Sunday after church with lunch and lots of kids milling around.

The next planned session will be in the Fall. However, if you are interested in classes, baptism or membership before then, please let the pastors know.

40 Days of Love

You don’t want to miss out on this small group opportunity, beginning after Easter. Nothing matters more than relationships—and no one understands them better than Jesus. Based on an exhaustive study of what Jesus did and said about relationships, this book guides readers on a forty-day journey that will bring new health and richness to their marriages, families, friendships, and all the relationships in their lives. The 6-week DVD-based study follows topics of Christian love such as “Love is Patient,” “Love Speaks the Truth” and “Love is Forgiving.” For more information go to Saddleback Resources.

Current groups are planned for Sunday School at 9am, Tuesday mornings 9am at Rosemary's, and Thursday afternoons 3pm at Ruth's. Other possibilities may include a mom's daytime group, as well as evening studies Mondays and/or Wednesdays. If you would like to join, host or lead a group, please contact Art Tordoff at 799-6222.

Wednesdays with the Cluster

Every Wednesday during Lent the United Methodist Churches have gathered together for worship at a different church each week, and a different presiding pastor. The church choirs have each helped to lead worship, and we have had some special music as well, such as the "Messengers of Hope" as seen inthe photo.
Our last service will be held Wednesday, 4/1 7pm at First UMC with Lynne Campbell preaching. The church is located at 179 Ridgeland Avenue in S. Portland. FMI call 767-2688.

Thank you to all who have attended and supported these mid-week worship services!

Meditation Service 1st Sundays

There will be a Candlelight Meditation Service next Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm. Come and enjoy meditative music, Scripture, prayer, and silent reflection in candlelight for 45 minutes, followed by a time of snacks & fellowship. All are welcome to attend. Please bring a friend and offer them a ride!

Vacation Bible School 2009

The Beach Party last summer was so incredible, and it seems like a lot of people want to see us do another VBS this summer! Although we haven't found anyone yet who feels called to head up a Vacation Bible School this summer, we have spoken with a number of people who would like to help out again. So we're thinking that we should go ahead and move forward trusting that God will provide what we need.

Our hopeful plan is to host a VBS program called "Crocodile Dock" by Group Publishing. You can get a glimpse of the curriculum at www.group.com/vbs/crocodiledock This is an excellent center-based curriculum and we can share it with other churches to save some money. We are tentatively planning to host it the week beginning July 13, although we are still able to adjust this if necessary to get sufficient volunteers.
We will begin asking people to lead centers, setup, snacks, etc and finalize the date in the coming weeks. It will be an excellent program and we hope to have you participate. If you would be able to help out at Crocodile Dock this year, we are holding a planning meeting on May 3 at 9am in Ellis Hall. We hope you can attend. And would you please keep this event in your prayers? Thank you!

Lay Speaking Classes

Upcoming classes are in Augusta at the Green Street UMC April 18, 25 and May 2 8:30 am-1:00 pm. There is a basic lay speaking class for first-timers, a refresher basic class, and two different advanced lay speaker classes. These are required for certification as a lay speaker or advanced lay speaker but anyone can attend even if you do not wish to be certified. Registration forms are in the back of the church. If you have any questions please contact the pastors at 799-6814.

Freed-Up Financial Living

The new Good $ense financial planning workshop, called Freed-Up Financial Living, was excellent. Attendees at this brand new, video-based seminar included Art Tordoff, Kathy Brann, Chris Ward, Rosemary Herd, Earle Harvey, Pastor Gwyneth and Lori Haffner Travis from the Cape Elizabeth UMC. Gary Melville of the Methodist Foundation helped to facilitate.

Now that the church owns the DVD we can host this seminar regularly. Tentatively the plan is to begin a class in June, after the 40 Days of Love study is completed. This would be perfect for a daytime or evening small group of folks who would like some ideas on balancing their family budgets and increasing joy and freedom regarding finances at the same time. We would most likely schedule three or four sessions to cover the material and allow sufficient discussion rather than one long day and evening. The program is designed for anyone to have more control of their personal finances by developing a budget which helps in better handling spending, debt, giving and savings.

Another option for those who cannot attend a small group is for individuals or families to view the DVD in their own homes. It is recommended that couples take the seminar together to increase communication around finances, which is the single biggest factor in marital tension and divorce. If you would like to borrow these materials, please contact Art Tordoff or the pastors. Workbooks cost $15 as you are able. Workbooks do include a prework guide that helps in organizing financial matters.

Pastor Gwyneth to Nicaragua

Pastor Gwyneth will be part of a delegation of 7 people from United Methodist Churches in Maine and Massachusetts traveling on a mission trip to Nicaragua April 13-20 (departing the day after Easter). This includes two pastors (including myself) and five laity. We will be traveling to the communities of the South Atlantic Coast (RAAS-Region Autonoma Atlantico Sur) beginning with Kukra Hill and traveling north to the Laguna de Perla. Once we arrive to the coastal area, we will ride horseback for transportation.

We will be traveling with the AMHC (Amanecer Mobile Health Clinic) which has recently expanded to include more than 70 of the most isolated communities in Nicaragua, providing both medical and dental care on a quarterly basis. We will have the opportunity to work with Jairo Lezama who is Director of the AMHC, and with Dr. Maria Elena Espinosa and dentist, Dr. Antonio Arguella. Please keep Dr. Aruella in prayer - just this week both of his sons, ages 25 and 7, were killed in a motorcycle accident.

We will be staying in the homes of pastors in each community. The AMHA has communicated the greatest needs for medical supplies, which we will be bringing in. These include trip-antibiotic ointments, children's vitamins, Tylenol, Motrin, and anti-fungal medications. If you would be willing to make a donation, Peoples Church is being asked to focus donations on anti-fungal medications (athlete's foot medications such as Lotrimin, and yeast infection medications such as Monistat, etc.). However, we have been warned that if one medication is found that is within 6 months of expiring at the airport baggage check, they will refuse to accept any of our medications and will confiscate them. Therefore, please ensure they are dated later than mid-October 2009. Easter Sunday is the last day to make a donation of medicine. In addition, financial donations will be accepted and go to Nicaragua.

In addition to traveling with the health clinic on the East Coast, we will also spend time helping at the sewing program and one of the feeding programs near Managua. We will attend worship services in several communities and also spend time at one of the Iglesia de Cristo schools where children receive tuitions from the Nicaraguan Covenant with the United Methodist Church in New England. We will travel through the Managua dump where a community has thrived for a number of generations which is currently served by the AMHC.

The United Methodist Church focuses less on a short-term projects but rather on long-standing relationships and long-term justice issues, working with the medical clinic and churches in Nicaragua to bring long-term solutions to solve issues of poverty, health and education. The delegation leader, Sandy Melius from Weston, MA said: "You will be introduced to a people whose needs will make you weep and whose courage will make you humble." The United Methodist Church generally sends delegations between 5-7 people per trip as this places less burden on the families with whom we stay than larger delegations. For more information on the United Methodist Church covenant and partnership with Nicaragua go to http://www.neumc.org/page.asp?pkvalue=177

Many have asked me why I have felt led to make this trip. As most of you know, I have travelled in other countries vastly different from our own, including Turkey and a mission trip in Cuba. Any such trip expands our worldview, softens our hearts toward all of God's children, inspires our faith, increases our dedication to the Gospel and opens new doors for mission possibility even if just by opening eyes to the poverty right in our own neighborhood. I do covet your prayers for safe travel and fruitful mission.

Several churches in New England have begun sibling church relationships with churches in Nicaragua. This kind of relationship might be possible with Peoples Church right here in South Portland. The possibilities of such a relationship are endless: financial support, Sunday School children communicating back and forth by letter, doing joint Bible studies, and maybe even some others from our church making a trip sometime. Please be in prayer about these possibilities!

Dios te Bendiga!

HATS FOR MAINE MEDICAL CENTER




A big “thank you” to our faithful knitters. Marlene Tordoff delivered sixty beautiful hats for preemies and older children to Maine Medical Center on March 6, 2009. Most of the hats will be used in the radiology department with the remaining delivered to the Barbara Bush Center. Our knitters were Belle Graney, Nancy Greer, Janice Huelin, Pat Kaiser, Marlene Tordoff and a friend of Janice Huelin. Susan Angell and Kathy Brann donated hats that had been in the church fair. This ministry is serving a local mission by providing warmth for young children to comfort them in their healing.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

UMCOR for April

Each month before Annual Conference, we are collecting a different kit to bring down. In March we collected school kits. In April we are collecting health kits. ALL items must be new.

Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.
1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels)
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
$1.00 to purchase toothpaste

For detailed instructions please go to UMCOR. Note: they are no longer collecting kits for Nicaragua as the UMC has entered an agreement with a company called Cross International that makes getting items there must less expensively. Items can still be donated when there is a mission trip going down there though.

Easter Cleanup Day

We want the church Sanctuary to look real spiffy for all our guests on Easter, right? Well come on out to a cleaning party on Saturday, April 4 beginning about 8am but come when you can. There may be some heavy lifting, but also many light jobs such as dusting pews. The more the merrier so please come on out. If this day doesn't work but you would still like to help, please contact Doreen Gay who can arrange for the building to be open for you and help you find any supplies. Thank you!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

TIDBITS ON STEWARDSHIP by Susan Angell

I will be writing about stewardship for a few months. I can hear you groaning now because you think of stewardship only in terms of being asked for money. I will touch upon that aspect in coming months. While financial commitment is an important part of stewardship, I want to let you know about ministries going on in our church as well. Peoples UMC has become a small church, population wise, BUT the ministries swirling around are exciting, dynamic and done by small groups of our people here and there. They are BIG and are having far-reaching and wonderful consequences.

This month I want to fill you in on two ministries, Hearts for Healing Pillows and hats and mittens for the homeless population in Portland.

The hats and mitten ministry was started by Belle Graney years ago and is one of her favorites. A small group of women, who want to be part of this ministry, knit them in their homes throughout the year or like me, bought them at Goodwill or the Dollar Store. This year when cold weather arrived I delivered two big bags of mittens and hats to Preble Street and to the Teen Center on Cumberland Avenue. They were delighted to receive them. The shock I got was when I entered the teen center while they were serving lunch and to my amazement that place was filled with around 60 children. Children carrying everything they own in backpacks and looking like any teens except they had that shop worn, uncared for, scruffy look. Looking at that crowd broke my heart. I know that having warm hats and mittens would make a difference for them.

We received a nice thank-you letter from Joe Conroy, Food & Volunteer Coordinator at Preble Street. He said, “We are grateful that you accept the responsibility and share the joy of making sure that youth, adults, and families in our communities who have no home will not go hungry, will not have to be on the street when they are tired or sick or cold, will not have to live in fear and danger, and will have a chance for a better life."

The making of Hearts for Healing Pillows was a fun project. Many of us sewed them in our homes from yardage purchased at WalMart, Trustworthy Hardware or from our own stock of remnants. We then brought the pillows to the Prayer Shawl and Arts & Crafts Ministries meeting one night and 9-10 gals helped stuff them and sew up that little seam allowance. We had so much fun and the fellowship was priceless! Art & Marlene Tordoff delivered the pillows to Mercy Hospital.

The thank-you letters from Lenore Kraus and Colleen O’Connor, Oncology Social Workers, brought tears to my eyes and touched that mushy spot in my heart. Lenore said, “Yesterday one patient said she brings her pillow in for every treatment because it’s such a comfortable head rest. Many of our patients use them for head or neck support, others to support an arm receiving treatment, to prop a book during the long hours in their chair or just as a warm ‘lovey’.”

A few people, nine to ten seems to be the magic number, CAN give to our community. We CAN share part of our miniscule wealth and good fortune with others. We CAN make the time to give of ourselves. We CAN make a difference!!!

I hope you too will be touched by the impact of these two small ministries. This is the just one facet of STEWARDSHIP.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Knights Hill Retreat

Knight’s Hill Retreat
Saturday, February 28 dawned bright and crisp. Amy and Braden Wellington had gone to the Arrisons’ home in the Knight’s Hill portion of Bridgeton the night before where they were hosted by Pastors Gwyneth and Jamie Arrison and their three children for a night of games and relaxation.. Art and Marlene Tordoff picked up Earle Harvey and Doreen Gay and headed for the Clubhouse on Moose Pond. Shortly after arrival Ruth and Dan Doughty joined the rest of us for a day of retreat learning about our Spiritual Stories and how they have evolved.
Jamie introduced us to a mind mapping activity in which we all traced several strands of our lives and then whittled those down to one to work with. All of these strands would lead back or from the center box that represented God. God is the center of our lives. In a sense, what we were developing were elements of our testimony. In between our individual activities or discussion with partners, we were shown passages in the stories in the Bible that had some direct relationship to spiritual development.
While we were left with homework to go and develop the taste, smell and hearing of our stories the time together was a great way to get to know each other through a different, relaxing, yet thought provoking means.
It was nice to have Gwyneth, Faith, Dena and Alex stop in during the lunch hour. Faith and Dena, in particular, were fascinated by a number of ladybugs that had gathered on the inside of one of the warm windows. While most of them were either scattered or removed from the window it was interesting to experience the persistence of six of the specie. I wondered what the persistence of the ladybugs meant as we returned to developing our own stories and how in order for us to complete our assignments we would have to be as persistent as those little creatures. We need to be persistent in continuing to develop our spiritual life in spite of the world around us pulling in many different directions.
I hope that others who did not have this retreat experience take advantage of the opportunity when it comes around again.