As We Approach THe Birth of Christ

Celebrate the Season

‘Twas the Sunday before Christmas and folks of all ages gathered at Peoples to experience a Pageant, a Cantata and a church service all in one! Before the service was over all present had played a role in the pageant as well as the Cantata.

The Matthews family lit the four candles in the Advent candelabra with only the Christ candle still to be lit on Christmas Eve.

Pastor Tom called all the children down to the front and had children engaged in the telling of the Nativity story and an instant arrangement of a pageant. Individual children were given a few brief words to say whenever their character was mentioned. Even the congregations of adults were to make the sounds of the city when “city” was mentioned. It was a meaningful and fun way to get everyone involved.

Once the portion of the program that was the pageant was completed then it was time for the Cantata to begin. The Choir opened this portion of the service with the singing of “Celebrate the Season”. During the Cantata, songs such as While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night and We Three Kings were sung by the choir.  The Bell Choir played Away in a Manger and Silent Night.  Both choirs are led by Debbie Cole.

Familiar Christmas hymns and Carols including God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Joy to the World, Angels We Have Heard on High, O Come All Ye Faithful and Go Tell It on the Mountain engaged everyone throughout the service.

Between the singing of hymns and carols members of the Pipeline group were responsible for readings that relate to the Christmas story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The young folks that had been involved in the pageant came back to the front of the church when the readings mentioned angel, shepherds and star.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was good to see the number of people in church that were there on this day and we thank those that were responsible for this special service for taking the time and effort to bring a very meaningful and memorable time to our lives.

 

 

 

Blue Christmas

On the evening of Sunday, December 21, the longest night of the year, a small gathering of folks from the Casco Bay Cluster attended a Blue Christmas service at Peoples held at 7 PM in the sanctuary. This service is intended to help folks who for any reason may not find joy at all times during the Advent/Christmas season. Perhaps death and illness of loved ones are what is remembered during a season when most of the celebration of the season centers on hope, peace joy and love. Hymns such as  O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Away in a Manger and in The Bleak Midwinter were sung and a candle was lit for each of the following Bible readings: Matthew 22:1-10, Luke 2: 1-7, Matthew 8: 14-22, Psalm 22: 1-11, Matthew 11: 28-29 and Revelation 21:1-7. The closing of this relatively brief service included the singing of Go Tell It on the Mountain and Silent Night. Pastor Tom Frey led the service and Debbie Cole played the organ.

Refreshments were served after the service in Ellis Hall.

 Christmas Eve

Wednesday night, Christmas Eve, will find Peoples alive with folks as families will gather at 7 PM for a candlelight and bell service celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

 

 

Tis the Season

Tis the SeasonTis the Season

Before the annual Christmas Fair at Peoples is ready, many hours of work before that date are dedicated to designing and developing decorations, sewing knit goods, making candy and food for sale and collecting one time treasures for sale as former treasures become the property of new owners. Young folks and older folks alike participate in this connection with both church community and the community at large.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the longest lasting traditions of Peoples Church, and for many others, is the annual Christmas Fair. Usually held the first weekend of December, this year was no different. Over the years many changes have taken place in what to expect. Themes may change and what is available for sale and to eat has changed as well. Memory serves to say that one of the largest segments of the fair, the greens, no longer is to be found. I remember that many more handmade items such as aprons, and knit goods had a more prominent position at the fair.

There are still some handmade goods available such as hats and mittens that were available at a table set up by Linda and Sally. A number of other handmade items were also to be found at these tables.

Cookies, cakes, pies and scones were featured at the back of Ellis Hall and customers were warmly greeted by Amy and Marlene.

Homemade candies are still a popular table for customers to visit. Becky and Janice could be seen behind that table with help from others like Betty L.

The most prominent foci of today would be the Jewelry table where for many years Doreen, Sharon and Pam would help young and old customers pick some ring, necklace or bracelet out. ,

Trash and Treasure is still one of the most popular and expansive areas of the fair presided over by sisters Betty and Barbara. Joanne and Carolyn could also be found showing and selling merchandise that may be cast aside by someone, yet looked at as treasure by perusers.

It is good to see the table of handmade items that the Pipeline group has created such as candles and Christmas tree balls. Also at another table Aaron was selling his baskets of goodies, and his award winning jams.

Out in the breezeway we found the book tables presided over by Chris and Bobbilynn.

Beside the Jewelry in the center of Ellis Hall one could find a myriad of items that were available for sale and overseen by Carol and Jody and Kathy.

Troop 23 was well represented and several Scouts as well as Troop Leader Lynne represented the Troop that has existed at Peoples almost continuously since 1918. They were selling firestarters, Popcorn and candles.

Certainly the fair could not be complete without snacks and lunch from the kitchen. Brad, our chef in residence, had prepared a variety of foods including fish and corn chowder, chili and sandwiches. Keith was on the scene to assist in the kitchen and Chris presided over what was happening there. Betty L added a female touch to the kitchen crew.

Rosemary and Betsy took turns collecting money for the food and Rosemary was certainly prominent in both setting up and taking down the fair. While we have mentioned most everyone that was engaged in the fair operation we must add Sharie and Dick, and Len and John who also were helpful in setting up and taking down the fair. We were also glad to see that Pastor Tom was on scene to participate in this very vital part of church life.

We should not forget Susan and her efforts to gather in the funds raised and determine the financial success that the Fair usually is.

The success of the fair is determined by the fellowship that is provided to those who work on the fair as well as the number of customers who come through the door. The day was not great as it was snowing and then turned to rain, but the hardy Mainers who were out and about came and brought cheer with them.

While the fair has played an important role in the life of the church for longer than most of us can remember it is only one of the ways to celebrate in this season at Peoples. Come be a part of not just this season, but be a part of the ongoing life of Peoples United Methodist Church throughout the coming years.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Advent Celebrations

Celebration of Advent at Peoples

The Advent season was ushered in at Peoples on Sunday, November 30, 2014 with the annual Hanging of the Greens church service. Pastor Tom led us through the meaning of symbols which included the hanging of wreaths and swags of green from the rafters and from the center aisle ends of the pews. Children and adults were able to get the wreaths in their proper locations as teams. Appropriate hymns were sung in between each phase of the readings.

The second symbol of Advent and a tradition of Peoples was the lighting of the first candle on the Advent Wreath. There are three candles that are purple, one that is pink and another in the center that is white. The first to be lit represent Hope and the second candle will represent Peace. On the third Sunday, the Sunday of Joy, that candle is pink. The fourth Sunday of Advent finds again the color purple. This fourth Sunday represents Love. On Christmas Eve all candles are lit and the last to be lit is the Christ candle in the middle that is white. Each week a different person or persons will light the candles. The first candle was lit by the Blanchette family. Other, new members of the church will participate in the lighting ceremony in each succeeding week.

The third aspect of the service was preceded by an explanation of the symbolism of the Christmas tree and the ornaments traditionally placed on the tree. In the process of decorating the tree children led the way and were joined by parents and other adults. There were plenty of ornaments available for anyone who wished to take part or folks could bring their own.

 It was then time to place toys and gifts under the tree that will in turn be taken to the Root Cellar in Portland where they will become part of the Christmas Angel store program. This part of the service has been an important part of the Christmas missionary season at Peoples. In recent years the Root Cellar has been the recipient of such a collection. This was a busy day for collections and local missions. Sunday was the last day to collect canned goods for the local food pantry. A basket also collected Hannaford food gift cards to be taken to the police station where the officers will be able to assist people that have food needs and can’t afford to buy necessities of that nature. This is an ongoing project that can be added to anytime.

The final inspirational symbol was the filling of the Crèche located on the top of the piano. Children and adults alike took turns placing characters in the stable scene, characters that were both human and animals. Wide eyed children were careful with a lamb or a cow or a camel. Serious adults showed their care with the adult characters. In the end of the ceremony the only thing missing was the baby, Jesus. His presence will be felt and present on Christmas Eve.

As folks were leaving the church many picked up a copy or more of this year’s edition of the “Celebration of Advent” Advent Meditations booklet. This is the 28^th year of publication. If you would like one or more there are still a number available. The booklet is inspirational and holds over 36 meditations or suggestions that provide a daily opportunity to share a moment of devotion as an individual, with family, or with a group in quiet contemplation with each other and our Lord. The meditations continue through the day of Epiphany on January 6. Donations for defraying the cost of printing are accepted, but are not required.

Advent is not just a one day event at Peoples. This coming Saturday, December 6 the annual Peoples Christmas Fair will be held in Ellis Hall. Since this is a year of celebrating 175 years of existence as a Methodist Society in South Portland a number of the women may be dressed in Victorian costume. Not only is this event a money maker for the church it is also one of the events that provides great fellowship for all those that work on it and open the doors for the community around us.

Be looking ahead to greater involvement by our Sunday school in the coming weeks and also a most sacred event, the Christmas Eve Service when many family members share a Service of Light and Bells with each other.

A Joyous Advent Season to all.

 

 

 

A Busy Weekend at Peoples

A Busy Weekend at Peoples

After a week of some rather dark days, Saturday, November 8 was an exception. With brilliant blue skies and bright sun a number of church folks left their homes to eat and to work together.

With Brad being away we were thankful that he left an ample supply of French Toast, hash browns, bacon and sausage in the capable hands of Rosemary who was assisted in the kitchen by Jan and Chuck. Usually a Men’s only gathering, the Men’s Breakfast this month preceded both an ushers meeting and an outside of the church clean-up. When other events are planned women and anyone else who plans to work around the church are invited to breakfast. In this instance, as one can see, we were blessed with willing folks in the kitchen to bring the meal to each of us in the vestry.

The following folks attended breakfast; Dave and Carol, Art and Marlene, Tom and Barbara, Dick, John H., Merrill, Jim, Kathy, Rosemary, Jan and Chuck. After a prayer offered by Art each individual served themselves, chose a seat and enjoyed conversation for about an hour before some left for home and others remained for an Ushers Meeting that followed the breakfast. The primary objective of this meeting was to relearn or test our knowledge on how the chair lift between Ellis Hall and the vestry operated. Chuck initiated us or renewed our knowledge of its operation. When one does not stay familiar with mechanisms such as the chair lift it is good to revisit in a hands-on way how to operate such items.

By this time Walter had arrived with his truck and trailer to load up with leaves and other items in the annual outdoor fall cleanup. Susan was also outside raking the parsonage lawn. Already at work were John T, Dave, Marlene and Barbara. Others who had been in the ushers meeting now joined those already at work. Tom and Carol, worked with Marlene in the garden. Art also joined the outside crew while Rosemary was busy preparing letters for the outside sign announcing the Christmas Fair in early December. In two hours the outside work crew had cleaned all of the area around the church and Ellis Hall and had filled Walter’s trailer to overflowing. Alas, as we neared the end several of us looked up and saw that there were still plenty of leaves that have not as yet fallen. Oh well, maybe it will snow soon and cover those leaves as they fall until Spring.

On Sunday, November 9 five new members of Peoples Church were received into membership. We were pleased to receive an adult, Angela B and four young folks into membership. The four young folks were Aaron M, Anna F, Chloe B and Skye A. All are members or are associated with the youth group known as the Pipeline. We look forward to their participation in the life of Peoples for years to come. The commitment to membership service was meaningful even to older members of the church that may have been reminded of their own initial membership. Such a service is not only for those joining but might be interpreted by many as a recommitment for themselves in church membership.

The service on this day also saw the Bell Choir playing a couple of meaningful numbers appropriate for this day and this service.

After the service a celebration for the new members was held in Ellis Hall with everyone in attendance having an opportunity to greet the new members and also to have a sizeable chunk of celebration cake.

 

Advent Meditations Deadline Approaches

Sunday, November 16 is fast approaching and only eight meditations and/or epiphany stories have been received.  In order to have a full complement for Advent and Epiphany we need 25/26 that are dedicated to the period of Advent and 12/13 to be included from Christmas to Epiphany on January 6.

Both take the same form with Advent generally based on Peace, Hope, Joy and Love. Any of the Fruits of the Spirit may also be used. The Epiphany story should be based on a place in your life that you have been that inspired a different direction in your life or thoughts.

Both should include a title, a scripture verse, the meditation, a brief prayer and a prayer focus.

I am including a sample of what was submitted in the past to give you an idea of what to do. There are still forms available at the back of the sanctuary if you need one.

Love and Joy through Fellowship Leads to Discipleship       December 16, 2013

Scripture:

Philippians 2: 1: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my Joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Meditation:

When the angel appeared to the shepherds in the fields, it was not one but a group that together went to see the child lying in a manger. The angel told them not to be afraid, but there was comfort in knowing that they would not be experiencing something new alone. When the three wise men followed the star led by the “Spirit of the Lord”, it was not one but the three who travelled the relatively unknown route that led them to Jesus some days later.

 

Once the visit had taken place all were changed. All followed a different route through the rest of their lives. They all had come to believe in a new loving and joyful way of life as a result of what they had heard and seen.

 

Through their seeking and learning together in fellowship they were then able to bring the word of their Lord, our Lord, to others—they in essence practiced discipleship when in activities with those people they shared their lives with.

 

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father: Let us in fellowship continue to learn and be actively engaged, together,

in discovering and carrying out your directions for us and as disciples of Your word practice, together, how we are to serve you in the work you would have us do in our immediate church community as well as the world community of which we are just a small part. In Jesus name, Amen

 

Prayer focus:

Building the Peoples mission in this world as Jesus would want us to.

 

Arthur J. Tordoff