Mystery Ride

Preparing for the ride

On Sunday, October 30 Dan and Ruth Doughty planned a Mystery Ride with secret destination for those that had the time and would like to join others in a fun activity.  The event began around 11:30 am. Only a few folks participated, but it certainly was a good time. While a camera was carried on the route there was no time to take pictures. Some of the questions that the drivers and riders were given are included below. How would you have fared?  Those in attendance were Dan and Ruth with help from Rosemary setting the directions followed by the cars of Keith and Becky Snoddy, Dick and Shari Small, Tom and Barbara Nelson and Art and Marlene Tordoff.

Lunch after the ride

What a ride!

Last to arrive

We were asked to keep our mileage and the time from start to finish. Additionally we were asked questions about what date could we find on the Coast Guard sign and the street that it was on. What are the office hours at Riverview Apartments and what is hanging on the shed at 155 High Street? Street names were not given and only left and right directions were used to follow the route that would take us into Loveitt’s Field across the line into Cape Elizabeth and a long a circuitous route as we approached South Portland on Mitchell Road. Later we found Trout Brook, New England Bible College, the visiting hours at Hinckley Park. We found boats, pumpkins and scarecrows in our guidelines and low and behold our final destination was Ellis Hall where we had begun. Dick and Shari while not the first to leave were the first back, followed by Keith and Becky and two granddaughters, then Art and Marlene who had been the first to leave and finally after everyone else had finished lunch Tom and Barbara arrived. A good time was had by all who participated. We hope that others might be encouraged to take some time next year to join us for a great time for church folks to get together.

Root Cellar Team

Root Cellar Team

On Thursday, October 27 a team that has been together for some time was called to serve another of our three or four yearly meals at the Root Cellar located on Washington Avenue in Portland. The team this time consisted of Carol Bruneau, Kathy Brann, Barbara Kenney, Brad Morrison, Keith Snoddy, and Marlene and Art Tordoff. A team from the Root Cellar now offers a spiritual moment for those who are there from the local community before the meal. Most of those present are boys and girls of varying ages who frequently use the services provided at the Cellar. A few of the staff and others who offer time and talent to the community were also in attendance. Over 40 children streamed through the door to eat Spaghetti and meatballs, salad and some homemade desserts. Our jobs center on the preparation of the food and serving cafeteria-style. Usually at least one of us will take on the responsibility of cleaning tables before the children arrive and then washing and drying the various utensils used both earlier in the day as well as what we have used in the preparation and serving of the meal.

We will be doing more with the Root Cellar before the year is over and again in serving meals next year. If you are looking for a mission outside of the church to be a part of such as the Root Cellar please contact Carol about your interest. While we have singled out one of our mission activities there are others that you will hear about over time.

Parlor Renovations Complete

Parlor Renovations Complete

Removing folding wall

Weatherizing and resetting ceiling

John and Dick cutting ceiling tile

Parlor with ceiling and one painted wall

During the month of October a project to renovate the Ellis Hall Parlor was supported through funds provided by the Tuesday Morning Bible Study and the Peoples United Methodist Men. Noticing that the ceiling tiles needed to be replaced and that the folding door dividing the parlor from the children’s room was collecting mold it was suggested that the changes necessary to revive both rooms should be undertaken. Shari and Dick Small spearheaded the work with a number of others pitching in. The ceilings in both areas were removed and replaced with new 2’ by 4’ panels and a new permanent wall of dry wall was erected. Several men including Dick Small, Dick Miller, Brad Morrison, John Tardy, Tom Nelson, Bob Knopp, Keith Snoddy, Dave Bruneau, Pastor Tom Frey, Tom Herd, and Art Tordoff were engaged in the work, clean-up and or placing furniture placed back in the rooms when the job was finished. Also present at the time when items were being placed back in the room and following a schema that had been prepared by Shari were Rosemary Herd, Carol Bruneau and Becky Snoddy.

Setting ceiling tile and grids

Brad cleans up

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan, Nancy and Marlene enjoy new parlor

Soothing walls and light

Redone children's room

With the work completed we need to commend all of the folks that worked so well together and to show what the completed rooms look like. We take pleasure in showing especially the rooms that are ready for occupancy for classes and meetings for all ages. The Children’s Rooms and Nursery are especially appealing and we would hope and pray that the children that use them will grow in number and be willing to share in their education of the Bible and of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We appreciate the work of Rosemary, Amy Wellington, Betty Smith and Chris Tardy along with others who have devoted time to teaching and being ready to accommodate young people.

Children's room and nursery

 

A Celebration of Advent Meditation Booklet

For the 29^th year Peoples UMC will be publishing a meditation booklet titled, “A Celebration of Advent”. Similar to other devotional booklets the Peoples edition calls on members of the congregation and its friends to submit a devotional entry that includes a title, a verse from scripture, a meditation, a prayer and a prayer focus or thought for the day. There are four themes during the advent season which this year begins on Sunday, November 27. The four themes that are divided into weeks are Love, Joy, Hope and Peace. Among the “Fruits of the Spirit” you may also find a theme to write your meditation and prayer on. The themes from this source are Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and/or Self-Control. As publisher I was also taken by two verses from Luke that might help others in the thought process: Luke 10:27 “….and Love your neighbor as yourself”, and Luke 10:29 “….and who is my neighbor?” One is also aware that Advent links us to the birth of Christ and those diverse people who originally celebrated in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

The season we celebrate in print usually begins the first day of Advent and concludes on Christmas Day although in the last couple of years we have been able to extend the readings through Epiphany on January 6, the 12^th day after Christmas. A total of 41 prepared meditations are prayed for in order that this date might still be achieved.

In order to have the booklet on time it would truly be helpful if your meditations could be in to Art Tordoff by Sunday, November 13, either through the use of forms available in the back of the church or through the means of e-mail. Thanks for your consideration and I do hope you can join the others who take the time to think, pray and write for this annual publication. If you have more than one meditation it will be prayerfully accepted.

Art Tordoff

 

Peoples UMC Men IN Action

Peoples UMC Men IN Action

Removal of old folding wall

Temporary parlor in Ellis Hall

Dick and Dave working the ceiling

Ceiling exposed

After the UMM Men’s Breakfast on Saturday October 8, 8 of the men went to the parlor in Ellis Hall to continue the work of dismantling the folding wall between the parlor and the children’s room. The work had begun with Dick Small getting the supplies for a new ceiling and the installation of a new permanent wall separating the two sections. The previous day Dick and Dave Bruneau along with their wives, Shari and Carol respectively had moved the furniture out of the parlor and arranged it nicely in the open space of Ellis Hall. The men who gave at least two to three hours each included Dick Small, Bob Knopp, Tom Nelson, Dick Miller, Merrill Kaiser, Tom Frey and Art Tordoff. Seeing the number ready to work, Art left the group and mowed the lawns around the church.

John

Brad, Cick and Tom

Brad cleans up

An invitation was put out by Dick to join him on Sunday afternoon, Monday or Tuesday. By the time the crew appeared on Tuesday the old wall had been removed, studding put up and dry wall hung on both sides of the wall. Additionally all seams had been mudded and some of the ceiling grids mounted and 2’ X 4’ grids placed.

On Tuesday Dick, Dave, Brad Morrison, Tom Nelson and Art got down to work about 9 AM. All of the grid work and tiles on the parlor were prepared, cut for the lighting and placed. Both sides of the wall were sanded down to make them smooth and Brad and Tom reworked the grids and recentered the lighting on the children’s side after most of the materials and furniture in that area were moved out.

Wall and Ceiling on Children's side

On Thursday Dick worked on the wall so that it would be prepared for painting while Art with vacuum and cleaning supplies in hand went to work in doing a good cleaning on the furniture that had been removed from the parlor including the rug. All of the children’s furniture is also in Ellis Hall and could stand a good wash down before the children’s room is ready to be moved into.

Tom calls glass company

While the work was not finished on the above days there still is a need for men to assist in the washing and cleaning of the children’s furniture, the installation of grid work and tiles on the children’s side, washing of the walls and painting of the walls without the hand print rainbow. As of Thursday the parlor still would need to have clean walls and paint as well as the floor washed. Anyone with time available should contact Dick Small about what you might be able to offer in time and talent.

Peoples UMC in September 2016

Two major events that took place in the last few days of September included the Annual Church Conference and the Fall Auction.

Becky and Barbara

Betty, Keith, Betsy and Lin

 Annual Conference

Reverend Deborah Shipp and Pastor Tom

Jan, Chuck, Joann, Rosemary, Shari, Dick and Janice

Pastor Tom Frey

Susan, Randy and Kit

Rev Deb Shipp and Sawyer

The conference was held on the evening of September 28 and was presided over by the Reverend Deborah Shipp and our own Pastor Tom Frey. Betsy Morrison was again elected unanimously to serve as secretary for the Conference. A booklet of annual reports from various missions and ministries of Peoples was handed out that included an Agenda for the evening, a listing of Leaders, and the form for the closing Communion Ceremony. This annual booklet serves as a good historical reference source for the work of the church in any given year.

Pam and Marlene

There was ample time for the more than 30 folks present to interject thoughts they had on a variety of topics including the Welcoming/Reconciling Statement for Peoples that was approved, although not unanimously by those present. The Statement agreed to is as follows:

Kathy

“Peoples UMC holds dear Jesus’ message that all people are loved and respected by God. Following the all-inclusive love of God we practice acceptance, belonging, caring, compassion and spiritual growth. We believe in creating space at the Table for all God’s children to transform our church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.

We proclaim this statement of welcome to all who have known the pain of exclusion and discrimination. Within this church, we welcome all in our journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect as we commit ourselves to learning more about each other.”

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can for as long as ever you can.” John Wesley

While we all thought that we were a truly open church with a welcome for anyone who graces our doors it was considered necessary to formalize what we, but not all, have felt about the nature of Peoples UMC. The history of openness goes back to 1888 when the name change for the church took place by vote of the Stewards and Leaders Committee of that era when Peoples was incorporated after being known as the Methodist Episcopal Church of Ferry Village.

Communion Elements

The theme of this year’s conference, “Planting Seeds of Trust” was referenced in the worship time that led us through the Conference. The thrust of the message was that we are all, individually and together, the sowers of God’s word and the doers of his work, both within Peoples church and beyond. Let us all continue our walk with the Lord.

Food Auction

Harold and Doreen

Actioneer Harold

Alan and Kathy

Bidders gather

Rob

In the past Peoples has sponsored an auction usually held in the fall with all manner of items from heavy furniture through food items prepared in the kitchens of parishioners. It was often the case that the food items often received higher bids than furniture and other trinkets that were considered by the donators to have at least sentimental value. This year’s edition presided over by auctioneer extraordinaire, Harold Sutherland, and our own Doreen Gay was made up exclusively of food items.

Bidders on the other side

Brad and Betsy

Goodies  for bids

The tables were filled with pies, cakes and cookies. There was Lasagna, spaghetti sauce and pesto with Spring rolls featured nearby. Mixed in were gift certificates for local eating emporiums displayed alongside baskets filled with breakfast ingredients or candy. The topper this year as it has been for many years was a meal prepared by Brad Morrison for four wherever and whenever the highest bidder wanted it. Knowing that the proceeds of the event would benefit the church bidders were generous in their bids. Two chocolate cream pies by Pat began the evening and both brought in $40 a piece. The Lasagna brought in $62 with several packages of 6 Spring rolls going for $30 apiece. These are just a few examples of the many items with Brad’s catered meal going for $400. When the proceeds were added up over $2200 had been taken in.

We have to think that this is a good money maker yet the social life that went with the occasion was equally as valuable for those that attended. Certainly part of the fun was watching and listening to Harold operate.

Helping with the money handling were Susan Angell and Becky Gotlieb.

 

Looking ahead at Peoples

This coming Saturday, October 8 will be the second fall meeting of the United Methodist Men which will take place in the vestry at 7:30AM. Breakfast will be prepared by Brad and anyone willing to assist. Breakfast will be followed by a meeting that will discuss major activities that the men need to be prepared for through the end of the year.

Immediately following the meeting a number of the men will be working in the parlor of Ellis Hall to remove the ceiling and the folding dividing wall between the parlor and children’s room with the intention of redoing the ceiling and putting in a permanent wall to replace the divider.

In November the UMM will be sponsoring a variety show on Friday, November 4 in Ellis Hall. On November 12 we will hold our November breakfast and meeting. This is also the day that the fall cleanup outside and inside the church will take place.

In December the men expect to have a table at the Christmas Fair. The men still need to determine what we will be doing for that table.

If you are associated with other ministries and missions of Peoples UMC please feel free to send write-ups and pictures to Art or Tom to get them on the blog. This is a resource that can be used to plant seeds on the blog by going directly to it or through the reference on Facebook.