Lent and Easter at
Peoples and Beyond
During the Lenten season, Wednesday
nights were celebrated with other churches that are related to the Casco Bay
Cluster. The United Methodist churches included Cape Elizabeth, West
Scarborough, Thornton Heights and Peoples. We were also joined this year by the
Cape Elizabeth Nazarene Church. While attendance appeared to be low in
comparison to past years, the travel to the churches gave us an opportunity to
meet for worship with other Christians and to spend some time chatting after
the services were over. As we look back on who were in attendance it appeared
that those from Peoples outnumbered every other church at most every service.
During the Lenten season Pastor Tom’s
sermons were all on the “last words of Christ.” The choir added some beautiful
music that was also inspirational.
With the arrival of the most holy
week of the Christian year many gathered in the sanctuary for a Maundy Thursday
service where we both shared in the washing of hands and the sharing of
Communion. Pastor Tom’s message followed the pattern that had been set during
the Lenten season with “Words of Committal”. A Tennebrae service followed on
Friday evening.
On Easter Sunday members of the
church and others joined together at 5:45 AM at Fisherman’s Point overlooking
Willard Beach. Wondering if the sky’s would clear because of a rain storm, many
of us got up early and were pleased to see that the rain had stopped and we
would be able to join with others at the Point. We were able to sing hymns and
listen to Tom’s Sunrise message about who was involved in the resurrection
story. It was quite a blessing when the sun did appear above the cloud cover to
the East and we could all rejoice at that moment.
Following the service all were
invited to attend breakfast back at Ellis Hall where a sizeable cadre of
volunteers helped to cook and serve the breakfast with Chris offering the
prayer of blessing. We who were there to eat thank each and every one of the
volunteers who prepared and served the meal.
The meal was excellent and again it gave each of us present an opportunity
to sit and talk for a short time before leaving to get ready for the Easter service.
At 10 AM we again came back to church
where the number at the service was augmented by visiting family members. The
choir again sang a beautiful anthem appropriate for the day and Pastor Tom once
again provided a meaningful and inspirational message.
We thank you Lord for all that you do
for us and your son Jesus who gave us the promise of life after death by
leading us through his resurrection and his eventual ascension to sit with you
in heaven. We do hope and pray that your Spirit works in us and through us in
everything we do. Amen
The Adult Sunday school class has
been studying the stories related to the windows in the sanctuary. Many of them
relate to the Easter season including, The Last Supper, Gethsemane, and The
Crucifixion. The study will continue next Sunday, April 23, with The
Resurrection and then on April 30 with The Ascension. We will also have a few
more sessions in May with the Pentecost window in the entrance area and then
return to the Rose Window in the chancel. At some point before the end of this
season we will also get a lesson on and about working with stained glass from
Ruth Doughty. We would be delighted to have you join us at 8:45 AM in the back
of the sanctuary.
Looking ahead:
On Saturday, April 29 from 1PM to 5PM
Ellis Hall will be alive with activity. The activity, “End the Growling” will
involve the team packing of meals for those in need. We will be packing
oatmeal, dry apples and cinnamon this year. Teams have been formed with space
still open for more to join the 10 person teams. We still are looking for
donations of money that is necessary to get the product to pack. If you are so
inclined to make out a check it should be made out to Outreach Inc. with a
memo, “End the Growling”.
Another project of the United
Methodist Men is to collect written testimonies from both men and women about
men and woman who have been “Spiritually Inspirational” to them and why. It
would be appropriate to include a Bible verse also that applies to your
feelings about your Inspirer(s). Please submit to Art Tordoff by May 1.
On the first Saturday in May, the 6th,
the Trustees are sponsoring a Church clean up both inside and out. If you are
planning to come you are invited to have breakfast before the cleanup with the
United Methodist Men who usually meet on the second Saturday but because of the
clean-up planned the first week we will meet on the 6th. More will
be forthcoming on this event.
