This Sunday, our children traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem and found Jesus at the Temple. Next Sunday will find the children listening to the stories of Jesus on the mountain side. Come and join the fun!
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Monday, January 18, 2016
PUMC Helps Victims of Human Trafficking
Project: PUMC Help Victims of Human
Trafficking
Betty, Marlene, Doreen and Pastor Tom ready the tables |
During the
2015 Advent season the project was expanded and others in the parish and beyond
began collecting money and toiletry items that would be distributed through the
Salvation Army and South Portland Police Department.
Arranging the goods |
Betty
enlisted the support of Pastor Tom Frey, who in turn enlisted other churches in
the Casco Bay Cluster. Collecting financial donations and goods was now
experienced by the West Scarborough UMC and Thornton Heights UMC as well as
Peoples.
Women are ready |
At Peoples
UMC the Finance Committee, the Tuesday Morning Bible Study and the Prayer Shawl
Ministry took the lead in helping Betty’s concerns mature. All of the gathered
items were sorted at a meeting on January 7 of the Prayer Shawl Ministry.
Jumping on
board to help Betty, Doreen Gay, with money collected, spent a lot of volunteer
time going to several stores to gather more items for the toiletry kits. Donations
of goods by a local dentist, EconoLodge, Shaws and others allowed for the $400
collected to be stretched to their maximum purchasing power.
The packng begins |
Around 5:45
PM on Wednesday, January 13 the leaders of this effort came to Ellis Hall to
set up tables and to organize the materials that would, in time, fill over 200
gallon bags with the following: hand soap, skin cream, deodorant, shampoo,
toothpaste, toothbrush, wash cloth, and a comb. At 7:00 PM twenty two men, women and teens were ready to
pack.
Dick packs the bags |
Betty leads with a message and prayer |
Betty began
this part of the project with a message on being “disciples” and what we as
Christians are called to do in response to the needs of our less fortunate
neighbors. She closed with a prayer for all of us and the victims of Human
Trafficking.
Pastor Tom nd DS Jim McPhee |
We were blessed
to have the New England UMC District Superintendent, Reverend James T. McPhee
lending his hand and his heart to work with us.
Swift of
hands the 200+ bags were packed in boxes and ready to go to the Salvation Army’s
Anti-trafficking ministries within one-half hour.
The crew of 22 |
A good time
and blessings extended to others will be completed when the bags of toiletries are
taken to the Salvation Army for distribution.
Thanks go to
all the folks that helped raise money and materials as well as those who
planned, sorted and packed the goods for distribution. We also not only extend
our thanks to the individuals and businesses that made this possible, but we
also extend our prayers to those who will be the recipients of the efforts of
this project.
The need to ease human suffering continues
and as long as we live, we have work to do.
Ready for Salvation Army distribution |
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