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.

Meditation Service Startup

Beginning Sunday, March 30, we will be meeting Sundays at 7pm in the Sanctuary for meditation using Scripture, reflective music and silence in darkness and candlelight based in the tradition of Taize. This will be the trial run, and will be publicized outside the church to begin April 6 and will run throughout the spring. Please consider inviting a friend.

Taize (pronounced Tah-Zay) began as a Christian youth movement in Taize, France. Youth from all over the world spend days, weeks or months in the Taize community to connect with the love of Christ and find brother and sisterhood there.

The community never intended to break away from the church, but to provide renewal within the church. Many churches around the world are incorporating this style of meditation, which is especially appealing to teens and young adults. For more information, you can go to the Taize Community website.

In addition to the pastors, those assisting in the design and leadership of these services have included Earle Harvey, Betty Lane, Claralee Street and Ellen Dunn. Others are always welcome. We hope all might come out to experience a time of meditation in the Christian tradition.

VBS Coming This Summer

Plans are taking shape to host a vacation bible school (VBS) the week of July 7 from 9am-12pm, headed up by Karen Jennings who is a certified elementary school teacher and one of our own Sunday School teachers.

VBS is a week long Christian camp adventure for kids ages 3-11. We will be using the Cokesbury curriculum, Beach Party. Karen will be looking for teachers, beach supplies such as surf boards and beach balls, and other needs. Won't it be neat to see the church transformed into a beach?

There are tentative plans to have a family evening picnic on Willard Beach one night, and a presentation with slide show on Friday night for parents to experience the fun and love shared with their kids during the week.

Please tell everyone you know with kids to sign up! Stay tuned for details as summer approaches (soon and very soon).

Start Practicing your Basketball!

Peoples will be holding a Shoot-a-Thon in May (date to be announced). This is a project for Nothing-But-Nets underway by the New England Conference in conjunction with the NBA to buy mosquito nets for areas of the world infested with Malaria. Contact Carol Bruneau for more info, or go to NothingButNets.net Each net costs only $10. Our goal is to raise 17 nets. Who thinks we can beat our goal?

Upcoming Work Camps

Carol Bruneau, our new missions chair, has arranged for a Peoples work camp to go to Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop on Saturday, May 31. We will have an opportunity to paint, repair, clean up and generally ready the camp for the summer season! For questions or to sign up, please contact Carol.

Carol and Andy Folley are also working on plans to bring a group down to the Heifer farm in Massachusetts. Please stay tuned for details! And financially, we are more than half way toward our goal of raising an ark! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

Camperships Available

There are funds now available for kids to attend Camp Mechuwana this summer for kids grades 2-12. The list of camps available (including those that are already full) are on this website. Please see Pastor Jamie for details about the funds available.

Tithing Sunday March 30

The 5th Sunday of the month is an opportunity for all folks who consider themselves part of the Peoples family to try tithing (offering 10% of their income to the church family) for one week. Those who have tried this have experienced real joy in trusting the Lord to provide. We have a 5th Sunday coming up on March 30! Why not give tithing a try and see what joy might be in store for you?

Moms and Dads Groups Starting Up

Men at home – Men with non-traditional schedules, both with and without kids please come and drop in for lunch or coffee Mondays Noon –2:30pm. 154 Mussey St next door to the church. Contact Pastor Jamie at 799-6814 for details.

Moms Group – Pastor Gwyneth is restarting the moms group for moms with preschoolers on Tuesday mornings, 9am for about an hour. We will meet at 154 Mussey St. next door to the church for the first few weeks and then talk about rotating homes. Call 799-6814 for more info. Note: on Tuesday, April 1, we will be meeting at 10:30am.

New Computer, New Possibilities!

Thanks to Fred and Linda Wade who donated a personal computer (PC) to Peoples for worship, we can now record services directly onto the PC and upload them onto the blog as MP3s. There is a test version posted right now (see link to Worship Services), although we are still attempting to improve the format. This computer should also run faster and more smoothly than the pastors' laptops which we've been using for the last two years since introducing worship slides and videos on Sunday mornings.

What about tapes to shut-ins you may ask? Ruth McLellan has received the first MP3 player! The player is not much bigger than a spool of thread and has a built in speaker as well as ear phone jacks if preferred. The other option is to burn CDs but there are many advantages to using MP3 players.

Than you to Doug Greer for his continued leadership in running the audio/visual systems. He did a fabulous job running a brand new system on Easter Sunday. And thank you again to the Wades for their generous donation!

Easter Celebration, Begun with Despair

Many were surprised as they entered the Sanctuary on Easter morning to find the lights off, flowers hidden and no beautiful organ music. Slides projected on the wall depicted scenes from Jesus agonizing in prayer in the garden, his trial and beatings, crucifixion and dead body. All were invited to quiet reflection, and after a brief introduction, we heard the Scripture story told (Sam Seidl and Danielle Seidl), from the darkness somewhere, of how Jesus died on the cross and his body placed in a tomb. The choir then began to sing, "What Wondrous Love is This" as we viewed a painting depicting Jesus on the cross.

Chris Ward then led us in a "Call to Worship," proclaiming what happened next. As the women came to the tomb they found it empty. We spoke together the angelic greeting: Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen. Christ is risen indeed! The organist began "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and the acolytes, Isaac and Nathan Dunn, brought the Light of Christ up the darkened isle, with their parents Hank and Ellen carrying flowers to the altar and removing the black cloths. The ushers raised the lights, starting from the back which made it seem almost supernatural. As we continued to sing, Chris Ward and Becky Snoddy brought out the hidden flowers and placed them on the altar rail for all to see (we could only smell them before!). We sang the Good News that Jesus is risen, and joy flooded the Sanctuary. Wow.

By the way, the idea of starting Easter in darkness came from one of the Bishop's messages in which he shared his own experience of a church that did this where he visited. Since then, I've learned of other churches that have done this for years. If you attended and have feedback on the experience, please share this with the worship committee (Chris Ward is chair).

Karen Jennings shared an amazing children's message using pretzels! Did you know that you can share the Gospel using pretzels? Karen and Teresa Folley then brought the kids down to make Easter banners, which the kids paraded around the sanctuary at the close of worship and all clapped and praised God!

There was however one very disheartening event during worship. During the sermon, as we spoke about the blessing of peace that Christ speaks to our hearts even in the midst of tremendous anxiety and fear, our dear Elaine Rogers became very ill. As folks called paramedics, we prayed together as a congregation and had opportunity to practice the very thing we were proclaiming. We heard several hours later that Elaine was released from the hospital, and for that we are thankful. Let us all hear the words of the risen Christ as he appears to us in the midst of fear and pain and grief and darkness: "Peace by with you."

So perhaps we all left a bit more reflective than a typical Easter Sunday. Hopefully we saw that the joy and good news of Easter does not just magically appear but comes through darkness and suffering and pain and despair. And that this dark reality of death all around us, as real as it is, has been conquered by our victorious Savior Jesus Christ who gives this same victory to all who trust and follow him.

Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

Easter Hunt for the Kids!

The kids had a great time running around to find plastic Easter eggs filled not only with candy but cars, bracelets and other fun toys! Many thanks to Becky Snoddy and Betty Lane for putting this together!

Easter Sunrise Service & Breakfast

The Easter Sunrise Service was held at Fisherman's Point on Willard Beach. Pastor Jamie spoke from the Gospel of John about Christ coming as the Light in the midst of the darkness. God's timing was perfect as the sun began peeking up just as everyone began singing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" !

After the sunrise service, we had a wonderful breakfast together. Many thank yous to Brad Morrison, Chris Ward and others who helped set up and clean up!