UMCOR Kits and Cell Phones

Earle Harvey and Merrill Kaiser will be collecting kits for UMCOR to bring down to Annual Conference on June 13-15, and the list of items is in the back of the Sanctuary. In addition, if you have any old cell phones, these are also being collected for use by Safe Havens to provide emergency phones to people fleeing from domestic violence who may need to call 911. Please leave any donations in the back of the Sanctuary, and contact Carol Bruneau 799-5995 for questions.

Meditation Service

The meditation service will meet Sunday evenings June 1 and June 8, and then will take a break for the summer. Please let us know your feedback so we can make plans for the Fall. Thank you to all who have helped to lead and all who have attended and brought friends.

Church Trip to Heifer

The missions committee is sponsoring a trip to the annual Heifer Fair at the Overlook Farm on June 28. The Global Village representing various areas of the world will immerse fair attendees in the sights, sounds and smells of these cultures and Heifer's global development efforts. Enjoy Dale Perkins' Horse Show; music from local groups; horse drawn hayrides; international crafts for sale. Admission: $5 per car. Please contact Carol Bruneau 799-5995 if you are interesting in attending, and if you would be able to drive. We will carpool to save expenses on gas and tolls.

View the Heifer Fair Flyer here for more information.

Please also remember to turn in your Heifer boxes – we are over $4,000 in donations now so almost to our goal!

Last Day of Kid's Sunday School May 25

May 25 was the last day of Sunday School for the season. What a wonderful year it has been, with many new teachers, new kids, new curriculum, a new mission, and a new time to meet. We hope it has been an enjoyable year for all.

June 1 we will celebrate Children's Sunday, a time to honor the children and teachers. The Sunday School will be hosting coffee fellowship and leading worship with Holy Communion.

We hope all will attend and show your support for the Sunday School, and your love for the Lord who loves all of the little (and big) children.

Thank you especially to Andy and Teresa for heading up this year's Sunday School, as well as Karen Jennings for all her work and leadership in the Sunday School. Stay posted next month for more on Children's Sunday!

Bishop's Meeting on the District

Pastor Gwyneth attended this year's bishop's meeting for the Tri State District. This served as a time for clergy to hear from the bishop about issues in the conference, and all were encouraged to ask questions. The host site, St. John's UMC in Dover was very hospitable, with greeters standing outside to greet and direct folks as they arrived, and then hosted a wonderful dinner. After dinner, the bishop presented ideas on the topic of "inspiring worship" which was open to both clergy and laity. There will be some more detailed seminars to follow, but this was intended just to wet the appetite!

Some of the ideas Bishop Weaver presented

"Inspired" means we have encountered God. Inspiring worship is like inhaling air which gives us life. Inspiring also leads to ... expiring. You go to the edge of dying to share the life-giving breath with someone else. Didn't someone once say something about finding your life by losing it? Inspiring worship leads naturally to vital mission.

Where have you experienced the presence of God? Ideas came from various clergy and lay folks such as "in a concert" or "at the hospital" or "on the beach" and yes, "in the Church Sanctuary." Weaver reminded us that even in the life of Jesus, the typical encounter with God was in the city, on boats, in storms, on mountain tops. Very rarely is Jesus in the Temple. Rather he is where the people are. How can we as a church bring worship to "where the people are?"

We were also asked what time it was when we have experienced the presence of God. And what were we wearing (clothing) when we encountered God? Folks listed jeans, shorts, bathing suits and fishing best! The question then remains for church services, do we need to insist on Sunday morning as the only "sacred hour" and whether our "dressing up" for church necessary to encounter God? Our dress may even convey a message to those who have not yet met Jesus that church is only for "good" people so could actually cause us to be unwelcoming.

In the Natural Church Development surveys being done by many United Methodist Churches to assess their health in various areas, the bottom two for most churches are "Passionate Spirituality" and "Inspiring Worship." This is the exact opposite of our heritage from John Wesley whose whole Methodist movement began with passionate experience.

Bishop Weaver closed with eight principles, and asked us to select one to work on. Which would you pick?

1. Worship needs to authentic, not canned.

2. We need to be clear about the purpose of worship to facilitate an encounter with God (and this doesn't have to happen in the Sanctuary).

3. Bring variety. Don't just plug in different hymns and Scriptures each week to the same old bulletin. And use multiple worship services as much as possible as means for growth and meeting different needs and styles.

4. Bring creativity. Think creatively how to reach folks and be willing to let go of some of our traditions.

5. Use the senses in worship design. Use creative ways for folks to experience sight, smell, taste, touch. Use drama and other means of telling the Scripture in unique ways.

6. Use both planning and spontaneity. Plan and prepare, but be open for embracing opportunities within worship.

7. Use a team of laity with the pastor to design worship and evaluate worship with feedback from the congregation.

8. Strive for excellence. Give your best to the Master.

Last Bean Supper of the Season

Everyone had fun at the last bean supper for the season. Bean Suppers are sponsored by the United Methodist Women group.

Shoot-a-Thon Great Fun-Raiser

Carol Bruneau, Early Harvey and Rosemary Herd organized a fabulous shoot-a-thon fundraiser for Nothing But Nets, which was held Saturday, May 17. Each person was given 10 shots for $10, and prizes awarded for each category. Adults played from various lines with a full size basketball hoop. Then there was also a kid-sized basketball hoop, and even one for toddlers! Overall the day was great fun.

More than that, we raised over $600 for a great cause. Susan Angell says, "What a wonderful accomplishment. We may be small but we are mighty."

More on Nothing-But-Nets: More than 3,000 children die each day in Africa from malaria. NothingButNets is a global campaign aimed at saving lives by preventing malaria, and was formed by a partnership of The United Methodist Church, NBA Cares, The United Nations Foundation, and Sports Illustrated. Each $10 donation goes directly toward the purchase, distribution, and education about the proper use of an insecticide-treated bed net. Send a net by placing your donation in a marked envelope in the offering plate.

Earle Harvey and Merrill Kaiser will be bringing the money raised from Peoples Church to the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, which will be held June 13-15 at Gordon College. Districts within the conference are competing to see which can raise the most - we at Peoples have certainly done our share for the Tri State District!!!

Thanks to all who attended, donated, and volunteered time to help make this a successful event.

Pre-Conference and District Meeting

Pastor Gwyneth attended the pre-conference meeting for our Tri-State District on Saturday at the York UMC, which also included the district meeting. We heard reports on the status of Nothing But Nets, and reviewed the agenda for annual conference which will be held June 13-15. As you see from the photo, one of our previous members, Wanda Stahl led the pre-conference portion of the meeting. It was great to see many lay and clergy folks from around our district!

A Taste of the Phillipines

On Friday evening we experienced a taste of the Philippines. Authentic food included egg rolls, chicken stir fry, rice, BBQ chicken and fruit dessert, and put together by Michelle Greer and Brad Morrison. It was incredible! Michelle planned a wonderful evening for us with slides describing the culture of the Philippines, a photo collage during dinner and then finished up the presentation after dinner with some time for questions. All who attended experienced wonderful food and fellowship, and inspiration for missions! If you missed it this year, be sure to make a point of attending next time!

May Basket Surprises

Do you remember making May baskets or dancing around a Maypole to celebrate spring on May 1? Susan Angell remembered her mother making May baskets, but she could not remember how to make them. Marlene Tordoff helped the Prayer Shawl/Arts & Crafts Ministry make some baskets. Skillfully crafting with Marlene were Susan Angell, Kathy Brann, Janice Huelin, Pat Kaiser, Betty Smith, Bethany Aelmore and her friend Chris. Bethany and Chris are students at SMCC. Our in-house-angel, Susan, who represented the Prayer Shawl Ministry and the Neighborhood Ministry, cheerfully delivered the baskets to ten surprised recipients. Susan had so much fun delivering the baskets that she wants to make more baskets next year.

Speaker for Root Cellar Breakfast

Pastor Gwyneth was invited this month as the speaker for one of the weekly root cellar ladies breakfasts. About 25 women attended this breakfast. One of the women led a short devotional, and then Pastor Gwyneth shared from her life and faith story. The time closed with prayer requests.

These times provide fellowship for women in the Munjoy Hill area and is a wonderful opportunity for Christian growth. If you are a woman who would be interested in serving as a speaker, please contact Pastor Gwyneth.

Church Trip to Heifer International Fair

The Heifer 2008 International Fair is being held on June 28 — 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and June 29 — 12 - 5 p.m. Peoples Church will be attending as a group on June 28. Fun for the whole family. A walk through Overlook's Global Village representing various areas of the world will immerse fair attendees in the sights, sounds and smells of these cultures and Heifer's global development efforts. Enjoy Dale Perkins' Horse Show; music from local groups; horse drawn hayrides; international crafts for sale in our gift shop. Also enjoy different organic foods and much more! Admission: $5 per car

For more info go to the Heifer Overlook Farm Website

Please contact Carol Bruneau if you are interesting in attending, and if you would be able to drive. We will carpool to save expenses on gas and tolls.

This Is Our Father's World

To Celebrate Earth Day, Sunday School Learns About God’s World

On Sunday, April 20 while the adults attended church the young folks in the Sunday school took a tour of the present gardens of the church. Marlene Tordoff and Doreen Gay explained what types of plants were in the gardens and where a Children’s garden might be developed. The two adult women also told the students how the memorial garden was originated.

The children went to the picnic table in the back parking lot and with the help of Andy and Teresa Folley and Karen Jennings put potting soil and seeds in small plant containers. The potting soil was well watered and some of the potting cups with newly planted seeds were taken home so that they might be properly nurtured and hopefully grow. Mrs. Tordoff and Mrs. Gay continued to explain to the students what they would have to do with the plants in order to keep them growing.

All of the students really showed interest and the Sunday school leaders were really enthusiastic about how the children were excited about this project. Some of the seeds were put in trays filled with the peat cups and would stay on the premises of Ellis Hall until they are ready and the soil is ready outside to plant them. In a couple of weeks more ground will be turned over between the present garden and the wall of the church and plantings will them be placed in the ground. The Sunday school is also planning to acquire a shrub that will likely be planted somewhere in front of Ellis Hall. Perhaps that one shrub will be joined by others in the future.
It will be exciting to see the plants grow and thrive. It will also be exciting to see more people taking care of the gardens and appreciating the plant world that God has created.

Missions Missions Missions

Three great opportunities to be involved in missions are coming up. Why not get involved in one, or all three!

May 17 Nothing But Nets Shoot-a-Thon 9-11am There are several options to raise money for this fundraiser to purchase bed nets in countries infested by Malaria. For those who want to take some shots, there will be four different height nets for ages 1-5, 6-12, 13-19, and adults. Anyone who purchases at least one net for $10 gets 25 shots. There will be prizes awarded for most number of baskets made in each age group for male and female. There will also be a prize for the longest basket. Another option is to obtain pledges for some amount ($1) per basket made during the shoot-a-thon. For those unable to attend, you can donate nets at $10 each. There is also a loose pocket donation available on the table at the Coffee Fellowship prior to worship through May 18. For more info or to register, please contact Carol Bruneau at 799-5995.

May 31 Mechuwana Work Camp A group from Peoples will be driving to Winthrop for the day to work on yards, fences, painting and general repairs on the Methodist Camp Mechuwana to prepare for the summer season. For more info or to sign up, please contact Carol Bruneau at 799-5995

June 13-14 South Portland Cancer Relay Walk Peoples Church will be sponsoring a group to walk in the Cancer Relay beginning at 6pm Friday night. For more info or to sign up, please contact Betty Splettstoesser at 799-5475.

Taize Meditation Service

The meditation service which started up just one month ago has been a tremendous blessing to those who have attended. The service provides space for silence, chant music, Scripture and prayer, and lasts about 45 minutes. Dress is informal but the space provides an amazing sense of God's presence.

The service is still in the design stage, and a core group is meeting regularly to revise and improve the experience, and two folks from this group design, set up and lead each service. These folks include Betty Lane, Claralee Street, Ellen Dunn, Earle Harvey, Karen Freitas and the pastors. For example, in the beginning we incorporated a space for discussion in the midst of the worship service. However, when we began sharing how this was being experienced by worshippers we realized that this was actually detracting from the meditative character of the service. Instead, we are now inviting folks to stay for a time of casual fellowship with light refreshments after the service for any who wish to stay.

This style of worship is certainly not for everyone. On the other hand, our hopes for this service are not primarily to reach folks who already attend Peoples, but to provide an opportunity to reach others in the community who are not comfortable attending a typical Sunday morning service. New worship services, particularly when their style is different from Sunday morning, are the perfect opportunity to invite someone you know (even if you don't personally care for the style). Perhaps someone at school or work seems a bit stressed out ... why not offer to pick them up to attend the Sunday evening meditation service with you? It could be life changing, for both of you.

International Extravaganza II

International Extravaganza II
If you and your family had a good time at the first International Extravaganza at Peoples Church last year you should have "an experience" again at this year’s event. This year we turn our mission interests to the Far East. Last year you recall we were involved in learning more about short term missions in Latin and South America. On the evening of May 9 commencing at 6 PM you will have an opportunity to be immersed in the culture of the Philippine Islands. Promptly at 6:15 the program will begin with a program titled "A Glimpse of 7,107 Islands-The Philippines." Michelle Saracanlao Greer and friends will begin the program with an introduction to the evening’s program.
Rosemary Herd and some of Michelle’s friends will then have prepared a feast of Philippine favorites including Egg Rolls, Stir fry vegetables, BBQ Chicken, Jasmine Rice and fruit salad and sticky rice for dessert. Drinks that will be available will be mango juice and pineapple juice.
The meal will be served at 6:30 but make sure you don’t miss the introduction at 6:15!
Part 2 of the program will commence following the meal at approximately 7:15.

If you are interested in a trip away from the rocky coast of Maine and to hear stories of the South Pacific you won’t want to miss this evening! Who knows you may be lucky and win a door prize and experience a number of other delights!
I f you are interested in coming please make reservations no later than May 4 for you and your guests. Please either call in your reservations to the church phone at 799-1413 or drop your reservations in the offering plate before May 4. Donations will be gratefully received to defray expense and to support a program of Elder Care in the Philippines.

International Missions Dinner Menu

Some folks have been wondering what will be served at the international extravaganza. The menu is as follows:

Egg Rolls
Stirfry / steamed rice
Barbeque Chicken
Fruit Salad and Stickey Rice for desserts
Pineapple and mango drinks

RSVPs are required.
Please contact Rosemary Herd @ 799-2392 or email

MP3s Not Just For Teens

Due to the generous donation of a personal computer by the Wade family, we are now able to record church services digitally instead of using the old fashioned cassette tapes. This enables us to post recordings of sermons on this blog site (see link on the right entitled, "Worship Services"). In addition, these recordings are now being made available on MP3 players to shut ins who have requested them. The MP3 player is in the shape of a salt shaker, and has a built-in speaker as well as a phone jack for headphones. Many shut ins cannot use headphones so these speakers come in handy. It is turned on and off by the same button, making it very simple to use. The player is powered by a AAA battery and uses a standard SD card, the same as in most digital cameras.

If you or someone you know is currently unable to attend worship and would like to receive recordings of the services, please contact the pastors.

First Quarter Financials

Submitted by Pastor Gwyneth

One of the blessings of being NOT financially savvy is that I ask those supposedly stupid questions when the financial spreadsheets are passed around. "Please help me to understand this!" I plead to the patient Finance Committee.

I want to know the bottom line. How are we doing as a church financially? How is our income? How are our expenses? Do we need to be on our knees praying for God to make ends meet, or do we need to raise our hands in the air praising God for abundant provision beyond our every dream?

Many of you understand complicated spreadsheets, and these are always available to you by request to the Chair of Finance, Kathy Brann. However, the Finance Committee will now be providing communication on the overall financial status at the end of each quarter. The following is a summary of our first quarter (January, February, and March) results:

Total Income 1st Quarter: $36,035.26
Total Expense 1st Quarter: $42,015.82

Commentary: This deficit of appoximately $5,900 is significantly smaller than last year's 1st quarter deficit of approximately $12,000. This is despite much higher expenses for snow removal and heating oil this year. The main reasons for this smaller deficit are 1. Reduction in salary payouts since elimination of secretary position and retirement of music director 2. Reduction in payment of mission shares compared to last year's 1st quarter by about $1,000 (some conference expenses are auto-withdrawn such as pension and ministerial support which have been paid - this quarter about $6,200.) and 3. Increase in pledges and several gifts by non-pledgers.

The other question raised, however, is how the church runs with any deficit, even though it is significantly smaller. The deficit is made up by borrowing funds from a reimbursement account. Although the intention of this account is not to fund the operating budget, this has been common practice over the years. If you have any further questions on this, or any other budget or financial issue, please feel free to contact Kathy Brann or any other member of the Finance Committee: Susan Angell, Keith Snoddy, Chris Bowker, Walter Greer, Earle Harvey.

So what do you think? Should we be on our knees in prayer for God to help us make ends meet, or lifting our hands in praise for God's abundant provision? Perhaps both! No one can deny God's faithfulness to Peoples Church; when we have had a bill to pay we have been able to pay. On the other hand, we are still living on the edge financially, and unable to pay our full mission shares which fund important ministries not only in New England but around the world. Trustees investments have faltered, which has reduced some of our building work. But God is faithful, and will work through your faithfulness as stewards of God's good gifts. Thank you for your prayer, presence, gifts and service for your church family!

Correction on Best of Broadway

The date in last month's article was listed incorrectly. The Best of Broadway performance will be held on Saturday, May 10. For further information or to purchased tickets, you may contact the Merrill Auditorium.