Christmas Eve at Peoples Church

The candlelight Christmas Eve worship was a great celebration as we proclaimed the birth of Christ together. This year we left up the nativity from the pageant which was beautiful. For the Christmas Eve Photo Album go to Peoples on facebook.

Christmas Pageant

The Peoples Sunday School put on a fabulous Christmas Pageant on Sunday! Many thanks to all who scripted, lead, directed, planned, helped at practices, set up, made costumes, made props, attended, supported, cleaned up ... and especially to all of the children for their hard work to bring glory to their God!

To see the Christmas Pageant Photo Album go to Peoples on facebook.

Pageant Dress Rehearsal

The children all rehearsed on Saturday for the pageant and did a great job. To see the Pageant Rehearsal Album of many adorable pictures go to Peoples on facebook

Sharing the Good News around the Neighborhood!

The pastors hosted their annual caroling party on Friday evening, December 18 and was enjoyed by all ages. It was CHILLY but tons of fun. This year we carolled on the north side of Broadway, down Mussey, through the Green Belt and back through Mill Cove Apartments. We ended by caroling at the One Stop gas station inside! Then back to the house to WARM UP with hot cocoa, ham and lots of decorative goodies. Another great year - thanks everyone!

To see the Neighborhood Caroling album go to Peoples on facebook

Root Cellar Mission a Great Success

On 12/14, a group of nine women from Peoples met at the Root Cellar on Monday to help organize hundreds of gifts for the annual angel gift drive. Who is more blessed, those who served, or the children who will open gifts Christmas morning because of those who served and cared enough to buy gifts? Many thanks to Ellen Dunn, Jan Caron, Barbara Kenney, Betty Splettstoesser, Jody Fyles, Kathy Brann, Carol Bruneau, Marlene Tordoff and Gwyneth Arrison for their participation in this great mission!

You can view the Root Cellar Angel Gift Mission Photo Album on facebook.

Bringing the Good News to the Elderly

On 12/13, a wonderful group of Peoples people joined their voices together to bless many people at the Betsy Ross House, South Portland Nursing Home and a few individual homes too. At Betsy Ross, a resident volunteered to accompany us on piano and most of the folks there helped sing. At the nursing home we walked down corridores singing and residents got out of their beds to sing at their doorways - amazing. Then we sung outside the home of Parker and Ellie Wells, and drove down to the Cape to Bernie and Millie Bruce to sing the love of Jesus! We were all ready for some cookies and punch after that. Great fun and great blessing for all.

You may view the nursing home caroling photo album on facebook.

Decorating the Church, Meaningful Fun!

The Hanging of the Greens is a service for the whole family, decorating the church Sanctuary, decorating the tree, singing carols, hearing the Christmas story, setting up the manger (except the baby Jesus!), and bringing gifts for the Root Cellar angel program. It was great and meaningful fun for all. Thanks to Ruth Doughty for playing the piano, Rosemary Herd for leading the children's Christmas story and Chris Ward for leading the service.

For the entire photo album go Peoples Church on facebook

Coastal Christmas Fair Great Success!

The Coastal Christmas Fair at Peoples was a great success. Great variety of items for sale, great food and great craft room and children's clothing sale which was new this year. Thank you to all who set up, donated items, worked during the fair, and helped tear down.

View the entire church fair photo album on facebook.

Winter Snow Storm Policy for Peoples Church

The following are some general guidelines when there is a storm on Sunday morning:

1. Each person / family needs to assess the weather and decide for themselves if it would be best to stay home. If you feel that it would be best to stay home, why not take that opportunity to have your own family or private worship service? As a mission, perhaps you could think of some older members of the church and give them a call to see if they're okay and if they need anything.

2. If there is a parking ban in South Portland, Peoples Church will be closed for all regularly scheduled Sunday morning activities (Sunday School, coffee fellowship, worship, etc.) or at the pastors' discretion and consultation with other church leadership. On Sundays that worship is not cancelled but the weather is nominal, Sunday School may be cancelled; if Sunday School is cancelled, coffee fellowship is automatically cancelled as well.

3. We will post Sunday morning worship cancellation on TV WCSH channel 6, and an email will go out to those on the email list. If the storm occurs Sunday evening or during the week, we will also post other cancellations on channel 6 as necessary. For individual groups (committee meetings, prayer service, choir rehearsal), the group leader will contact regular members if there is a cancellation.

4. Since the pastors live next door to the church, one of the pastors will always be there to pray or to lead an informal service even when worship is cancelled. The parking lot will not be plowed and sidewalks will not be shovelled; be prepared to trudge up to the door in deep snow.

5. If you decide not to attend church on a Sunday morning, please set aside your gift or pledge contribution and either mail or bring the following Sunday. Wintry Sundays are extremely difficult on the church budget when folks skip a week's donation. Better yet, fill out a direct debit form so you need not worry about making up missed donations at all.

If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact the pastors or church council chair, Betsy Morrison. Thank you.

Christmas Letter 2009

Christmas at Peoples Church - All Welcome!

Coastal Christmas Fair Saturday, December 5, 9am-2pm

Hanging of the Greens family service, Sunday, Dec. 6, 6pm

Christmas Caroling in Nursing Homes, Sunday, Dec. 13, 1pm

Candlelight Meditation to Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 13, 7pm

Root Cellar Angel Gift Mission, Monday, Dec. 14, 9am

Neighborhood Caroling, Friday, December 18, 6pm

Children’s Christmas Pageant, Sunday, Dec. 20, 10:30am

Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship, Thursday, Dec. 24, 7pm

Last day to register for 6-week Couples Dance-Relationship Class, Monday, December 28

Serving at Wayside Soup Kitchen, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 5pm

Welcome to Four New Members!

We received four new members on Sunday, November 22, yet another reason to be thankful this season. They included Jan Caron, Rachel Harvey, Sam Seidl and Martin Whittemore. To view more photos see the New Members Photo Album.

Thank you to Brad and Betsy for bringing extra food for our fellowship afterwards, Betty for putting together decorative bags, Kathy for making lanyards for the crosses, and all of the folks who wrote letters and cards to our newest family members.

In their gift bags, new members received items representative of their vows and commitment to offer their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness: a prayer card (prayers), a shell (representing baptism and presence in Christ's body the church), a pledge card (gifts), a cross necklace (service and sacrifice), and a welcome brochure to help invite a friend to church along with a candle (witness, and being the light of Christ in the world). Welcome to all of you!

Variety Show - Variety and Talent!

Peoples United Methodist Church hosted their annual Variety Show this Saturday, and there was both variety and talent! Many fun acts, singing, piano and even the new bell choir. The food was amazing as well. Peoples folk sure know how to have a good time.

You may view more pictures at the Variety Show Photo Album.

Stewardship Bears Wonderful Fruit

This year's stewardship focus was Abiding in Christ the Vine, John 15:1-12, and took place the first three weeks of November. Each week focused on a different aspect of this text, including pruning, abiding, and joyful harvest. You may view more pictures at the Stewardship Photo Album.

Kathy Brann spent many hours putting together large apple tree displays. Each of the three weeks, branches, then leaves, and finally fruit were added to the tree during the reading of the Scripture. On the 2nd Sunday, the congregation also wrote on the back of a leaf one spiritual discipline they would covenant to begin or renew, and also taped these onto the trees. Ruth Doughty used a wheelbarrow and gardening items to help communicate the message on "Abiding in Christ" through the inward, outward and corporate spiritual disciplines.

As folks arrived for worship on Commitment Sunday, they found a tree with apples on it outside the door! Ruth decorated the altar table with abundant fruit on the final Sunday of the stewardship program as we spoke about the joyful harvest (John 15:11 Jesus said, "I have said these things to you so you may have joy, and that your joy may be complete.") Kathy Brann made apple stem headbands for all of the kids, and Andy Folley helped to get all of the kids into their new red Peoples tee-shirts. The children became real live apples collecting promise cards in apple baskets at the finale of the stewardship program on 11/15. Kathy is still awaiting a few more pledge cards to give us a final pledge total – if you have not yet turned your promised giving in for 2010, please contact Kathy Brann or turn in a card during the offering on any Sunday.

Many thanks to Kathy Brann, Ruth and Dan Doughty, Debbie Cole, Susan Angell, Earle Harvey, Chris Ward, Andy and Teresa Folley and the choir for helping to design this worship series making this such a meaningful time. Kathy will be sharing pledge results shortly.

Special Challenge Still Going Strong

The Special Challenge is still going strong, with over $1,000 raised so far. The Finance Committee has decided to open the envelope at Christmastime, which leaves one more month for those special donations to see if we can meet, or even exceed the challenge from our mystery challenger. You may also read the original letter from the Challenger.

Youth Group - Leaf Raking and Pie Making!

The Junior High Youth Group has been having great fun and making a difference in the community at the same time. Several weeks ago, the group gathered at Peoples with rakes and leaf bags in hand. They raked several lawns in the neighborhood.

On Sunday, November 22, the youth group met in the church kitchen to bake pumpkin pies for the Root Cellar. What a wonderful group of youth and adult volunteers. Thanks to all! You can view more pictures at the Youth Group Photo Album.

The youth group's next meeting will be on Friday, December 11 or a "Night out on the Town." They will be meeting at 5pm at the New Light church in Portland. If you have any questions or need a ride, please contact Pastor Jamie.

Many Thanks to the Scouts!

The Boy Scouts helped rake leaves on the church property on Saturday, November 7. Many thanks to all the crew!

Peoples Mom's Group Has Started Up Again

If you are home with your child, please join us for some adult fellowship and kids playtime every other Thursday at 10am. We will be hosting in various homes, so please contact Pastor Gwyneth for date and location. Our first meeting together took place two weeks ago, and had three active little boys and an adorable baby. We hope you can join us too!

All NEW Meditation Service 2nd Sundays 7pm

Our meditation service has gotten a face lift! We are no longer doing "Taize" style meditation. However, we are still hosting monthly candlelight meditation services. Our first was held on the 2nd Sunday of November. The group listened to a Scripture reading on healing, followed by about 45 minutes listening to meditative healing music in candlelight. Everyone seemed to like the new style.

Why the change? The group has felt that some music background would help to hide the distracting street noises rather than long periods of complete silence as is typical with Taize. In addition, we felt that quiet listening was more meditative than trying to sing, even though Taize music is repetitive. If you have any questions, you may contact any of the meditation leadership team: Claralee Street, Betty Lane, Karen Freitas or Pastor Gwyneth.

Meditation may not be your "cup of tea." However, our primary aim is not just for "Peoples folk" but as an opportunity to invite a friend to church who may be uncomfortable with traditional Sunday worship. Please consider inviting a friend to come with you next time. It may not be your favorite style of worship, but it may be theirs!

Join us every 2nd Sunday at 7pm.

Good News in Sunday School!

Sunday School finished the Christmas unit on November 22, and beginning December 6 will be practicing for the pageant. In Sunday School this unit, children learned all about the Good News leading up to the birth of Jesus. Children learned about the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Joseph and Mary during the time leading up to the births of John and his cousin Jesus. There were four stations for this unit including music, games, art and cooking. In the music station, the children learned songs that proclaim the good news. These songs will be part of our Christmas Pageant performance. In the art station children learned about the story of Mary’s visit from the angel Gabriel. In games, children learned a good news rap, had an angel relay race and put together puzzles of baby Jesus. Finally, in the cooking station, children baked goodies for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

We hope your children will join us for the remainder of this wonderful Christmas celebration as they prepare for the pageant which is scheduled for December 20! Reminder: there is no Sunday School November 29 or during Christmas vacation.