Brain Gym and Seniors

Brain Gym and Senior Luncheon

Guests check in

Table decorations

The December Senior Community Luncheon held on December 12, 2019 in Ellis Hall was attended by over 60 Senior citizens of our South Portland community. With the staff on duty for this occasion their presence swelled the numbers in attendance to over 80 people. The early birds were greeted by having the hall set up with Christmas colors of red and green tablecloths covering the tables and seasonal Nutcrackers and floral decorations on each table. Strings of while lights hung near the ceiling adding to the décor.

Pat and Brad inthe kitchen

Near the door greeters would welcome folks as they came in to the hall. Shari, Susan and Joanne could be found at the check in table.

Some of the guests

Time for coffee and chatting

In the kitchen was Brad with help from Patrick, Len, Rosemary, Dick S and Keith. The meal for today would be pot roast, boiled potatoes and carrots with rolls and Christmas cookies for dessert.

Spurwink

Marlene the MC

Brain Gym exercises

Felicia

 Before the meal, however, was an interesting program called “Brain Gym”. Marlene welcomed everyone at 11:30 AM and then introduced Felicia Pease who would speak and demonstrate and involve the audience in exercise. She had already passed out a description of the exercises and also a blowing bubbles tube. Even the blowing of bubbles could be shown to exercise muscles in the throat and mouth in a fun way. She demonstrated “Hookups, Calf Pumps, Cross Crawl, Brain Buttons and the significance of drinking plenty of water. Felicia was a former elementary teacher and administrator from the Strong area. She still substitutes many days a year. Her presentation was well received by all.

Paying attention and taking directions

Volunteers

Checking water flow

Felicia and her audience

Lin, Merrill, Pam L, and Judy

Janice, Becky G and Kathy

Before serving

Ruth, Aaron and Dick M

 It was then time for Pastor Tom to give the blessing and the corps of waiters and waitresses to make their meal deliveries. Art guided each deliverer to the folks that had not yet received a meal and within 5 minutes all present were being fed.

Workers remained until all tables and chairs had been cleaned up and put away and the kitchen crew was ready to leave.

We will not be having the luncheons in January and February as the weather is too hard to predict. The next luncheon will be planned for Thursday, March 12, 2020 in Ellis Hall. The entertainment for that date will be a return of members of the Portland School of Ballet with a preview of their next production of “Midsummer night’s dream”.

Christmas Wonderland

Peoples Christmas Fair 2019

Looking over the crafts

Becky and decorations

One of the events sponsored by Peoples UMC and looked forward to with great anticipation is the annual Christmas Fair. Named “Winter Wonderland” for a number of years it brings

Carol sets up glass display

together men, women and children to work and to visit each other in Ellis Hall. The Fair usually finds many individuals setting up their tables and wares on the day before it occurs. Some of men can be seen preparing in the kitchen while Dick S. can be seen stringing lights from the ceiling. 

Jolly Betty

Shari and Pam

Everyone needs a bear

Doreen and Sharon

Pam and Becky and books and books and books

On the day of the Fair many of the workers are making last minute preparations well before thedoors open at 9:00AM. Some of the fair goers could actually be seen outside on this beautiful morning before the doors were unlocked. This was a busy day for fair goers since there were at least three others nearby.

Sue and Jody overseeing last minute preparations

Jeanne, Dick and Jojo

Serious about his music

 Depending on the direction that community members came through the door they might begin with the Craft table overseen by Shari and Jeanne while nearby Dick M could be seen playing his electric piano. All manner of hand crafted goods could be found on these tables.

Sharon and her light up trees

Doreen and her jewels

 As one would move from that spot one might cross the walking space to look over beautifully displayed jewelry presided over by Doreen, Sharon and Pam D. Rings, bracelets and necklaces can be found among the jewelry presentations.

Pam B and Christmas decorations

 Looking beyond the jewelry tables the visitor could spend many minutes checking out a hodge podge of trash and treasures that might find any number of new owners when they would be walked out the door. Toys and puzzles, knick knacks and so many other items were displayed along one whole side of the hall. Betty S and Joanne K were charged with overseeing this collection of goods.

Betty and Joanne

At the very end of these tables could be found Pam B with all manner of Christmas decorations for sale. The choices one could pick were vast and in the best of condition for the buyer.

Trash and Treasures

Becky G, Susan A and Pam L

 Venturing out on the breezeway one would find the book room, Becky G, Pam L and Susan A were the greeters and sellers found in this area with thousands of books available for purchase. Both hard cover and paperbacks were available for a very reasonable price. One of the specialties was cook books but one could also find novels and true stories throughout the displays.

Mariah and Hannah

Moving across the back of the hall the peruser would find a table where Mariah and Hannah, with broad smiles, would make the buyer a specially decorated Christmas ornament often with a name painted on the ornament.

Marlene and Amy

 Next most people would need to stop at the bakery tables with homemade scones, cookies, and whoopee pies for sale. These tables were presided over by Marlene T and Amy W. Some folks would soon be having coffee and so bought one of these sweets to go with it at the tables set up in the middle of the hall for snacks and lunch. Many would buy goodies to take home and perhaps share with family.

Becky G and Janice

Mariah and Rosemary

Becky S and Janice H were next door at the candy and sweets table. Again a favorite table for those with a sweet tooth. All of the sweets were wrapped in plastic bags or wraps of the season.

Kitchen crew

Rosemary

The kitchen crew had prepared coffee for anyone that wanted something hot in the morning and had also begun to prepare a full course luncheon menu that included corn and fish chowder, Chili that certainly was warming and if you wanted something in the form of a sandwich chicken salad was available as well as hot dogs. Working in the kitchen or handling the money were Brad, Keith, Dick S, Len, Danielle and Rosemary.

Anyone for lunch?

Nearing the end of our trip around the hall were the tables of merchandise prepared and worked on by Carol and Kathy. A variety of goods like glass goblets and other seemingly valuable trinkets were available at these tables.

Carol And Kathy

See no evil, Speak no evil, Hear no evil

Finally nearing the door the United Methodist Men had tables with old tools, wooden goods, baked beans and sharp cheese to sell. A variety of greeting card packs were also available for purchase. Among those working on this table were Art, Dan, Merrill, Wes, and Dick M. Dick M also was busy most of the time playing Christmas music on his electric piano.

Marita G

Aunt Irene and Thomas

The visitors who came to buy or spend some time in the holiday air were of all ages. One can see that Pastor Tom had his grandson Thomas and Thomas’s Aunt Irene. Not to far away, Peoples oldest member could be seen looking over merchandise at the jewelry counter. At 105 and soon to be 106 Marita G is a still quite spry and still teaching piano students.

Pastor Tom, Irene and Thomas

With merchandise from some of the tables unsold by the end of the day, much of it was packed up and taken to the local Goodwill store as a donation to their causes.

The Christmas Fair always gets many of the members of the church involved and doing a fun and at the same time meaningful event in the life of the church accomplished with the right “Spirit”.

2019 Variety Show

Debbie

PUMC Variety Show: A Family Affair

On Friday night, November 15 at 7:00PM, many members of Peoples and friends gathered in Ellis Hall to celebrate a variety of talents. Most of the audience were members of the cast and either friends or family members. None of us are professionals, but this event brings us together to at least celebrate the family life and friendship of church members.

Our music director Debbie was the prime pianist for the evening and our pastor Tom was a solo participant in the program. The program began with the “Singing Ushers” who gave a rendition of “Day by Day” that led off the program.

This was followed by a beautiful song sung by Mariah.

Dick M, experiencing a busy week at the keyboards after playing at the Senior Luncheon the previous day presented to the audience a medley of rememberable songs on his keyboard. A duet of Rosemary and Joanne presented to us complete with colorful boas around their necks a quality skit with music. Merrill, with the assistance of Debbie, sang a nostalgic solo. Marnie added to the fun of the evening with her music and jokes. It was Pastor Tom’s turn to take the floor for his Broadway-style take on the song, “Mama.”

It was time to take a break and have some refreshments served by Pastor Tom and Becky G. for about 15 minutes. It gave everyone a chance to get to talk with others in the hall.

The second half was led by Betty Smith singing one of her favorite songs. She was followed by Mike and Heather playing guitars and singing “Stolen Kisses”.

Perhaps the act that got the most people up and dancing was a presentation by Ravi with a question and answer period to see what we knew about Sri Lanka. After giving out a few spicy prizes Ravi encouraged everyone to get up and dance to the Sri Lankan music that he played. Most of the audience did get up and find that they could dance to the music and as a result became part of the act.

Following Ravi’s presentation Rosemary came to the front and led a group response session to the children’s book she read about a donkey. All responded when “Donkey” was mentioned with a “Hee Haw”.

The last act before the finale was Christine playing the piano and singing a couple of numbers. Well done!

The finale, as has often been the case in previous variety shows, consisted of the Ushers return and celebrating the military services. As each military song was sung a flag of that service was waved and anyone in the audience who had a connection with that service stood up. Once the military songs were over all in the room were asked to stand if able and close the night by singing together, “God Bless America”.

Debbie and Dick Ma

M C Dick

Merrill

Pastor Tom

Dick Mi

Pastor Tom and Becky G

Mike and Heather

It was time to take a break and have some refreshments served by Pastor Tom and Becky G. for about 15 minutes. It gave everyone a chance to get to talk with others in the hall.

Betty

The second half was led by Betty Smith singing one of her favorite songs. She was followed by Mike and Heather playing guitars and singing “Stolen Kisses”.

Dancing Sri Lankan style

Ravi

Barbara and Marlene

Perhaps the act that got the most people up and dancing was a presentation by Ravi with a question and answer period to see what we knew about Sri Lanka. After giving out a few spicy prizes Ravi encouraged everyone to get up and dance to the Sri Lankan music that he played. Most of the audience did get up and find that they could dance to the music and as a result became part of the act.

Following Ravi’s presentation Rosemary came to the front and led a group response session to the children’s book she read about a donkey. All responded when “Donkey” was mentioned with a “Hee Haw”.

The last act before the finale was Christine playing the piano and singing a couple of numbers. Well done!

Rosemary the reader

Christina I

The finale, as has often been the case in previous variety shows, consisted of the Ushers return and celebrating the military services. As each military song was sung a flag of that service was waved and anyone in the audience who had a connection with that service stood up. Once the military songs were over all in the room were asked to stand if able and close the night by singing together, “God Bless America”.

Ushers finish with military medley