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Memorial Day and the Big Parade

Water and Parades

It has now become a tradition that a group of people from Peoples UMC will gather cases of small bottles of water for distribution of Memorial Day prior to the parade that now passes the church. Beginning as early as 9:30 AM people start gathering at their favorite spots along the parade route from SMCC to the Veteran’s Memorial at Mill Creek Park. Many find that the corners of Broadway and Mussy or Harriet Streets provide good venues to watch the various units of the parade as they pass by. It just so happens that is where Peoples United Methodist Church and Ellis Hall is.

Balloons are sold by school groups, flags are distributed by others so Peoples chose to give away water. Before the water is handed out, carefully printed wrapped paper with the Peoples Logo was placed around the bottle. Coffee as an offering in addition to the water has recently been added to the free drinks. This writer observed Kathy, Betty, Jody, Pastor Tom, and Carol distributing the bottles with others from church at least looking on.

We thank the Lord for clearing the weather, allowing the water to be donated, and the strength of Peoples people in mission to the community for making this event possible.

Serving At The Root Cellar

PUMC Serves Supper at the Root Cellar

On average, a crew of folks from Peoples UMC have served supper meals 4 times a year for several years at Portland’s Root Cellar. The Root Cellar is a Christianity-based and supported  service agency located on Washington Avenue in Portland. Services for families and especially children have helped hundreds of folks in the immediate area become established following, sometimes hazardous and dangerous escapes from foreign countries.

Peoples often served families in the past, but more frequently the meals we have prepared feed children and their counselors. On Thursday, May 23 the crew including, Carol, Barbara, Kathy, Susan, Marlene and Art arrived around 5 PM to prepare a Spaghetti meal served with salad, meatballs, bread, drink and dessert. At 6 PM Peggy and Scott from the Root Cellar got things underway with a prayer. The kids then lined up at the serving window to get their meals minus the dessert; that would come later.

By 7 PM, all had been served, a short program had been held, and the kids had moved a lot of food donations from the kitchen area to the big hall for family distribution on the next day. It was then that they could pick up their dessert and head home. By the time they were ready to leave the crew from Peoples was ready to head for home also. Most of the kids did thank us as they were passing out the door.

The next meal we will serve will not be until this fall. We would like to encourage others from the Peoples congregation to take this short venture into mission, near our homes. Let Pastor Tom or Carol Bruneau (Chairperson for Church Life) know of you interest

PUMC Bean Suppah Season Closes

Third Saturday of the Month

From the Third Saturday of September through the Third Saturday of May a crew of people from Peoples Church is often seen in and around the kitchen of Ellis Hall preparing to serve a Bean Supper to the public. The crew working in the kitchen on May 18 included Tom and Barbara, Becky, Ted, Dave, Chuck, Rosemary, Richard, Keith and Chris. Assisting in the collection department were Susan and Carol and cutting pies was Paul. Janice and Jan perused the hall supplying water, punch, coffee or tea. Tables and chairs had been set up by those who had taken them down from the morning Plant sale. They were assisted by a Scout family from Troop 23 who’s home base is Ellis Hall.

People start coming by 4 PM in order to get the “first seats”. This month the numbers of attendees was rather small yet well worth the effort. Serving on this occasion began by 4:50 PM. Before eating Chris and Pastor Tom issued an invitation to church and announced other events in the life of the church. Pastor Tom gave a blessing before the meal. Buffet style serving is always the rule at this venue. Beans are home baked and members of the church supply a variety of casseroles as well as the pies. Coleslaw is prepared and a variety of bread choices are available as well. The rule of the day is that people can go through the line once considering that there are others to follow. Once all receive their first plate they may go back for more. By 6 PM most everyone is finished and on their way home or another engagement. A number of people usually are engaged in clean up, washing dishes, picking up tables and chairs after the meal.  Everyone is usually gone by 7 PM.

In the past two years Kathy has run a Mini-fair with craft goods, books and baked goods for people to purchase. This has added another dimension to the evening that has proved popular with attendees and is a valued ministry.

This writer thanks all who participate in this ministry. It is with the cooperation of many seen and unseen that the monthly bean supper continues successfully to provide fellowship for those that work on it and a feeling of community for those attending.

 

This Is Our Father's World---Let Us Be Glad and Share In It

This Is Our Father’s World---Let Us Be Glad and Share In It

On Saturday, May 18 the culmination of weeks of Spring growth of plants and shrubs evolved into the opportunity to share and sell plants the Lord has allowed to grow in the gardens of  Peoples United Methodist Church members. The Peoples Garden Club sponsored its annual Plant Sale in the parking lot of Ellis Hall. Most of the over 300 plants were potted over the last two weeks so that they might adjust to life temporarily in a pot.

Susan, Kathy, Carol and Marlene sorted plants on Friday evening with the help of Dave, Brad, Walter and Art. Plants were arranged by type and set on the appropriate tables. A price for the plants was agreed upon by the Garden club members and an appropriate color marker was placed on each pot or bag. Most of the plants were from the gardens of Janice, Joanne, Doreen, Ruth, Susan, Carol and Marlene. Carol’s daughter, Beth, helped with potting plants and delivery.

On Saturday morning workers, in addition to the above mentioned Club members, now included Rosemary, Jim and son and Chuck. We all arrived by 8:00 AM and began to move the tables and plants to the parking lot where a gorgeous Spring day promised a wonderful day to work out doors. Many other Plant Sales were being held elsewhere and many people were out looking for a single plant or many to take home for their own gardens. This event is a wonderful way to share the blessings of our landscapes with others.

Before 9:00 AM people began to arrive, to peruse the plants, to make selections, to pay for their purchases and to take their new finds home. Many people were long time gardeners themselves but many were novices. Marlene and Carol were able to explain the growth habits and where a plant might best grow to anyone who asked. Likewise Walter, David and Art assisted in talking about the plants.

Some landscaping tools and an old anchor were also available for purchase. These items had been supplied by Walter who had collected them from his business of landscaping.

By noon many of the plants had been sold as well as the above mentioned tools. With the sale of the anchor and more plants sold at the evening’s bean supper and after church on Sunday, the plant sale was a big success.

The Lord does supply us with our needs and it is a pleasure to be able to share what he nurtures around our homes with others as well as to make Peoples a more inviting place for people to come and share.

Peoples Spring Clean-up and Men's Breakfast

Spring Clean-up and Breakfast at Peoples United Methodist Church

On Saturday, May 11, 2013 the day began early with Breakfast in the vestry. Sixteen men and women enjoyed the French Toast, Sausage and Bacon that was prepared by Chef Brad. Several conversations could be heard and a few rousing guffaws were issued by one or another of the attendees. Breakfast was to be followed by a workday outside to clean up the grounds. Alas, Mother Nature decided to supply her grounds with a bit of natural water making it more than difficult to mow and trim.

Knowing that there was plenty to do within the building a number of projects were undertaken by those in attendance. Betty and Barbara went to the sanctuary and polished the pews, Susan and Becky G. cleaned many of the windows in the lower part of the church while Dave and Art worked on the windows in Ellis Hall and the Breezeway. A group of the men present moved some of the pews that had been stored in the vestry to the storage garage on the property of the parsonage. Walter and Chuck did some work at the parsonage.

Doreen and Jim MacDonald worked in a number of nooks and crannies as did Jim MacKinnon and Brad.

At 9 AM the Garden committee held a meeting in the vestry to determine what they would be doing with the Memorial Garden and expanding gardens in front of Ellis Hall. Doreen, Carol, Marlene, Tom N. and Walter attended the meeting. In addition to the garden discussion proceeds of the Plant Sale scheduled for May 18 was also discussed. If you are reading this before Saturday, the 18^th, come on down to the parking lot at Ellis Hall. You are bound to find something to plant in your own gardens. Proceeds will be used to continue to beautify the church property and also make a donation  to the church as well.

In time the rain stopped and the sun came out periodically. The 18 people who came for the clean-up moved to the garden, the front shrubs, and the outside of windows. By noon all of the windows had been cleaned and the Memorial garden was well on its way to its intended beauty thanks to the dedication of Carol, Marlene, Doreen and Tom Nelson. Oh, and there was Barbara cleaning out the refuse under the shrubs at the front of the church.

Much was accomplished yet it was not the day to mow the lawns, trim the shrubs and rake the leaves. If you have some time and a mower you may wish to volunteer your services on occasion to take care of this part of “Spring cleanup” or for that matter at other times during the summer and fall.

It certainly is more fun and less labor when we share the work and do as the Lord would have us do with “His World.”