Peoples in May

May seems to be a bustling month of activity at Peoples. The month was underway with the Quest at Mechuwana attended by nearly 30 folks written about in a previous blog.

Facelift in the Sanctuary

This was soon followed up with the beginning of a major facelift taking place in the Sanctuary under the leadership of the Trustees. Most who have attended church lately realize that the facelift had already begun with the removal of a half pew at the back of the sanctuary and two others in the choir loft. Another full pew in the congregation was removed from the left side as you face the altar. The half pew from the back replaced the full one on the left with the design that it provides another location for anyone attending in a wheel chair. The removal of the pew at the back also provides more space for greeting folks as they enter the sanctuary.

In the chancel the two low walls that separated the choir lofts from the central aisle were also removed.  Since then two more pews in the loft have also been removed. This widening of the chancel gives more room for the Bell Choir and Choir to be seen and heard above the level they presently play or sing. Yet to come will be sanding and refinishing of the chancel floors and the removal of the carpet. A new openness will be apparent once that part of the project is completed. At the same time work on the sanctuary floor has begun. Walter Greer and his crew had removed one half of the pews to work on the tiles. These tiles had been installed in 1947-48 when the church was built. Asbestos would have been one of the elements in the tiles, therefore, they can’t simply be cleaned and waxed, but would either have to be replaced or covered. The latter direction has been chosen since it would cost much less. The aisles will be recarpeted since the present carpets have seen at least 30 years of use.

As the historian the present work being done in the sanctuary is the first real change since the stained glass windows in the back of the sanctuary were installed and dedicated in 1958 and the installation and dedication of the present organ from 1960-1962.

Church Council

This project was discussed as well as other financial changes including the resignation of Chris Bowker as Treasurer and the appointment of his interim replacement, Walter Greer at the May Church Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 8. Members of the council also worked on the Calendar for 2012 through October. Marlene was able to update with the help of others the calendar that can be found on-line and related to the church blog found at www.peoplesumcnews.blogspot.com. While little use of the blog has been developed recently we are working to revive its value with articles such as this.

Men’s Breakfast

The Men’s Breakfast has been held on the second Saturday of each month excepting July and August for a number of years. While we originally had upwards of 15 to 20 men attending recent years has seen a sharp decline in numbers even though the number of men called or e-mailed is in the 40-45 range. When an event is taking place after breakfast that includes women we send an invitation out to all women as well. Alas, even this month when the Spring church clean-up was scheduled the number of men and women attending the breakfast was 10. We still feel that it is a valuable opportunity for men and sometimes women to get together simply to have conversation and develop friendships. Brad Morrison is usually the chef, but in his absence Fred Wade, Dan Doughty and Charlie Lyons have filled in. Maybe it is the hour, but 7:30 seems to be a good hour for getting together before the  busyness of the day gets underway.

Spring Clean-up

After the Men’s Breakfast on May 12 a few folks stayed or came to work on the gardens, lawn and shrubs to clean-up the church and property before Mother’s Day. Walter Greer, Brad Morrison, Art and Marlene Tordoff, Kathy Brann, Carol and Dave Bruneau, Barbara Nelson, Susan Angell and Cierra Mullen all worked around the church properties. We all had a great day to work around the church and everything looked much better as a result.