When taking our vows of membership, we each promised to support the church through our prayer, presence, gifts, service and witness.   Each year we gather for our Church Conference (Oct. 21—6:30 p.m.) and take some time to ask ourselves how well we have kept our promise.

There are currently openings on each of our ministry teams.  Please speak with members serving on these groups, take time to prayerfully discern how to best use your gifts, then step up and become an active participant in the ministries of Peoples UMC.

If we do not do the work of the church, the work of the church does not get done.

As we enter the fall, it is time to examine where we may be called us to serve in God’s church.  Here is a listing of the different groups that oversee and maintain the ministries of Peoples UMC and a brief description about where their focus lies.  At our Annual Church Conference on Oct. 21 we as a community welcome those who step forward to serve.    It is often said that many hands make light work and we know that we best serve when all are involved and participating as best they can.   Please take some time over the coming days and prayerfully consider where your gifts lie.

CHURCH COUNCIL:  This is the overseeing body of the work of the church.  A representative from each of the other committees is asked to serve as we keep each other informed as to what each group is undertaking.  There are also ad-hoc members of this committee who serve not as representatives of other groups, but to supply other ideas and considerations.   This team is also where visioning is taking place.  Where will we be in five years?  What are the gifts and graces of our community?  Where should we be focusing our energy and resources?  The committee meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.   If you’d like to be part of this looking toward tomorrow, please see Pastor Tom about joining this committee.

STAFF-PARISH RELATIONS (SPRC):  This is a group that works with the pastor to better serve the community.  They do an annual review of the pastor’s work, as well as all paid employees of the church.  They work with the conference in matters of pastoral change and other related issues.  To belong to this committee you must be a full member of Peoples.  There is a limit of nine that can serve.  The committee meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 2 pm.  (The day/time is flexible if it does not meet your availability.) If you would like more information, please speak with Pastor Tom or Keith Snoddy.

FINANCE:  While this group reviews budget numbers, it is not just about accounting.  Most of the focus of this group is visioning how to best teach and/or demonstrate stewardship as a foundation of our faith.  Meetings are the Thursday before the Church Council meeting at 6 pm.  If you’d like to know more, please see Pastor Tom, Kathy Brann or Sue Angell.

CHURCH LIFE:  This committee is really a large umbrella that covers many areas of interest.  Church Social Events, Christian Education,  Outreach Ministries, all fall under the heading of Church Life.  You need not be involved in each of these areas.  If your passion is for a specific area or event, you are welcome to join and participate in the creation, planning and development of your area of interest.  If curious, please see Pastor Tom, Carol Bruneau or Rosemary Herd for more information.

TRUSTEES:  This group maintains the church and parsonage buildings and properties.  They meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.  There is a limit of nine members on this board. If interested, please see Walter Greer, Brad Morrison or Pastor Tom.

SUNDAY SCHOOL/NURSERY: Spend some time with our children.  You’ll be surprised how much you’ll learn.  See Rosemary Herd (Sunday School) or Betsy Morrison (Nursery)

BUT I CAN’T MAKE IT TO MEETINGS VOLUNTEERS:  There are ways to serve that do not require monthly meetings and can even be done at home. If you’d like to learn how to help, please see Pastor Tom or any of the listed names in your area of interest.

AND LET’S NOT FORGET:  We have so many other groups that provide vital ministries to the community—The Worship Team, Choir, Bell Choir, The Prayer Shawl/Craft Ministry, The Men’s Group, United Methodist Women, The Garden Club, Church Archives, to name a few.  We can always use extra hands and hearts.

 

United Methodist Men/ Men's Breakfast

United Methodist Men/ Men’s Breakfast

Taken from and updated notes from Breakfast, September 12, 2015

The first breakfast for this year was held on the above date at 7:30 AM in the vestry of Peoples UMC. Those in attendance included Pastor Tom Frey, Keith Snoddy, Jim MacKinnon, Earle Harvey, Merrill Kaiser and Art Tordoff.  Brad Morrison, who was not able to attend, had prepared the meal and Keith was gracious to volunteer to do the final preparations. Thanks Keith.

Discussion which usually is the other major inclusion beside food and fellowship centered on wars of the past. To give a little more focus and direction we eventually got to discussing merging then using the term, resurrection, to describe bringing the two mentioned activities back together as it had been years ago. All present were in agreement that it would be a good and needed exercise.

What has been done since our last meeting in preparation for our next scheduled breakfast on Saturday, October 10 in the vestry at 7:30 AM is as follows:

1.      Art put together call lists and formed a team of callers which could include the following: Tom Frey, Earle Harvey, Keith Snoddy, Merrill Kaiser, Brad Morrison and Art Tordoff. Others that might like to join the callers as captains let me know. Connections will still be made through e-mail but now will include personal calls on the phone or contacts in church. The first use of these phone trees will take place during the week before the next scheduled meeting in October. There are over 40 men’s name on the list to be contacted. If anyone on the list knows of tother men that would like to join us let us know.

2.      Art has also been responsible for preparing this article for the Peoples blog

3.      Art and Earle will share some time in the pulpit or lectern on Sunday, October 4 with an informational presentation during the announcements on how this change is coming about and where we would like it to go. Merrill will make a visual for us to use during the service.

4.      We are reminded of the purposes of United Methodist Men:

a.      To declare the centrality of Christ in every man’s life

b.      To promote the spiritual growth of men through effective discipleship

c.       To model the servant leadership of Christ in our daily lives.                                                             

 

5.      Some possible work projects that men might undertake soon:

a.      A meal celebration for our Scout organizations with special emphasis on the Scouts achieving Eagle.

b.      A booth with goods at the Christmas Fair

c.       Variety Show  and more     

d.       Clean up participation around and outside the church

e.      Adopt a section of the Green belt walkway to keep clean and tidy.

 

FALL CONTINUES AT PEOPLES
As we enter into October, we continue moving forward at Peoples.  Here are a few of the things in the works in the coming days:

Through the month of October we will continue our Message Series "Be The Body," exploring what it means to be part of the church community today.  Sunday worship is at 10 am  Every Wednesday we gather for Prayer and Study at 7 pm.

Every Thursday our Bell Choir rehearses at 6 pm and our Vocal Choir rehearses at 7 pm.  You don't need to know how to read music for either group.  Make a joyful noise!

Sat.--Oct 10--7:30 am--Join the men in our congregation for their monthly breakfast meeting in the Vestry

Sun--Oct 11--9:45 am--Monthly Hymn Sing
                                   
Sat. Oct. 17--5 pm--Bean Supper

Wed. Oct 21--6:30 pm--Annual Church Conference--Come reflect on the past year in ministry and celebrate with us as we vision the coming months.

Thurs. Oct. 22--5 pm--Join us as we serve dinner at the Root Cellar in Portland

Sun. Nov. 1--10 am--All Saints' Day Worship Celebration

Sat. Nov. 7--Church Clean Up Day

For updates and additional events, please check our Facebook page and check the bulletins in Sunday worship.
Peace.

FALL BEGINS AT PEOPLES

The summer has flown by and Peoples is entering autumn with much activity.
We thank all those who offered their gift of music throughout the summer, as well as those who shared their thoughts through our examination of God's Word though the movies.

Here are just some of what is happening over the next couple of weeks:
SATURDAY 9/13--10 AM--All are invited as we enter into our Sunday School year with a visit from Sparks Ark.  Come see and learn about wildlife from our area.
SUNDAY 9/14--10 AM--We return to the Sanctuary for a special worship service where we will examine what the Apostles' Creed says to us through scripture and hymns.  This is also the official first meeting of Sunday School (Adult meets at 8:45/Children meets during worship)  We finish with an Ice Cream Social.
THURSDAY 9/17--Our Bell Choir and Choir begin gearing up for the coming year with the return to rehearsals.  Bell Choir meets at 6 pm (one does not have to know how to read music or have ever played an instrument to participate)  Vocal Choir meets at 7 pm.  All are welcome!  Come and make a joyful noise!
SATURDAY 9/19--5 PM--First Bean Supper of the Season!!!  Help is always welcome or just come and enjoy the food and company.
SUNDAY 9/20--10 AM--We begin a new message series "Be The Body" where we explore what it means to be a follower of Christ and a member of the church.

More events and activities are being added.  Please continue to check in with this blog or our Facebook page or check out our weekly calendar at worship for updates.
Peace.