Mission Trip to Wilmington July 10-17

Peoples UMC is hosting our first mission trip outside the state of Maine, going to serve through Urban Promise in Wilmington, Delaware. The team will be working with children's ministries in the morning and doing light project work in the afternoons. Team members include: Pastor Gwyneth, Ellen, Isaac, Nathan, Fred, and Earle. Others who are part of our "home team" to assist with administration and prayer back home include Betsy, Betty L, and Janell.

All are invited to a send off on Saturday, July 10 at 7:30am to pray for the team as they depart for Wilmington. Other ways to be in prayer for the team include (please see Betty Lane if you would like to participate in any of these ways):

• Pray over the mission team concern lifted up each week in worship (transportation, meals, accommodations, spaghetti lunch benefit, donations - financial and mission supplies, safe travel, and for Urban Promise all all the children and adults we'll be ministering with)
• Sign up for a slice of the prayer wheel during the mission trip
• Volunteer to be a Prayer Buddy for one mission team member
• Attend the Send Off on Saturday, July 10 at 7:30am to pray for the team as they depart for Wilmington

In addition to prayer, here are some other ways you can be part of our team!

• Donate an item to Urban Promise: small inexpensive toys for kids camp, sports equipment, tools (leave items in the sanctuary or mural room in the boxes provided)
• Sponsor a team member – mission fee is $150/person
• Make a general donation to cover additional team costs such as meals and transportation, also about $150/person

The team has been meeting monthly since January, and will host its final planning meeting on Thursday, June 24. Each team member will present to the group their demographics research including topics such as history of Wilmington (historical figures, landmarks, events); general demographics (population, ethnic makeup, employment figures); geography (city layout); current events (current political leaders, major news); religions (churches, other religious groups), and history of Urban Promise.

The Peoples Mission Team appreciates all of your prayers and support, and we look forward to sharing about our experiences when we return!

In Summer Sunday School on 6/27 the kids added their hand prints and signed a banner that the Peoples Mission Team will bring down to Wilmington to Camp Freedom where we'll be working with inner city kids July 11-17. Many thanks to Barbara for creating the banner, and to Isaac and Nathan for the idea!

Outdoor Fellowship After Worship

We held fellowship outside after worship on the last Sunday in June, with leftover donuts and coffee from the Blessing of the Pets on the beach. We'll be hosting outdoor fellowship times after worship on the last Sundays of the month in July and August as well. Hope you can join us!

Prayer Walk Ministry

A Prayer Walk Ministry is beginning in July through the end of September, a chance to walk alone or with others through our church neighborhood, praying for homes, businesses, however God leads. You may pick up maps at the church, or contact Pastor Jamie for more information.

Pastor Jamie Commissioned as Elder

The New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church met June 16-19. Pastor Jamie was commissioned as a provisional elder, with ordination prayerfully in another 3-4 years. Congrats Jamie! He is pictured here with his Mentor, Rev. Meg Queior. At the same service, Sam as one of the youth confirmed in 2010 served bowls of water for folks to remember their baptism.

You may view the entire Annual Conference Photo Album here, and find out more about Conference

decisions and experiences at the New England Conference 2010 News.

Weekly Home Bible Study ... continuing this summer!

The Peoples Home Bible Study will continue to meet Tuesdays at 9am through the summer, and will be meeting at the home of Carol Bruneau. FMI please contact Carol at 799-5995. Newcomers welcome!

2010 Graduates Recognized

High school and college graduates were recognized on Sunday, June 13 during worship. Congratulations to all, including:

Avery, who graduated from Woodlynde School in Stratford, PA on June 11. She will be attending Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in the fall. Avery is the niece of Gwyneth Arrison.

Peter, who graduated in June from Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA. He is the cousin of Hank and Ellen Dunn. Peter will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall.

James, who graduated from South Portland High School on June 7. His plans for the future are undecided. James in the grandson on Susan Angell.

Chelsea, who graduated from Biddeford High School on June 13. She is the niece of Angela Blanchette. Cehesea will attend UNE in the fall.

Sarah, who graduated from Mercy School of Radiology and was awarded top academic and clinical awards. She is the granddaughter-to-be of Chris Ward and will be working at Maine Medical Center.

Laura, who graduated from Pembroke High School in Pembroke, MA this June. She plans to attend Boston College this fall. Laura is the niece of Hank and Ellen Dunn.

Kate, who graduated from South Portland High School on June 7. She plans to attend UNH in the fall. Kate is the niece of Christ Ward and Rosemary Herd.

Justin, who graduated from the University of Maine on May 15 with a Masters in Structural Engineering. At the present time Justin is looking for a job. He is the son of Sharon and Paul Obie.

John, who graduated cum laude from Gorham High School on June 6. Justin will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the fall. John is the grandson of Art and Marlene Tordoff.

Alisha, who graduated from Scarborough High School on June 13. She will be enrolled in the day program at Morrison Development Center this fall. Alisha is the daughter of Linda and Fred Wade.

Ryan, who received his Masters in Music Education from Boston University on May 17. Ryan is a music teacher at Haviland Middle School in NewYork. Ryan is the son of Linda and Fred Wade.

Spaghetti Lunch Mission Trip Benefit

The spaghetti lunch benefit for the Peoples Mission Team going to Wilmington in July was a great success! Great fellowship, wonderful food and all for a meaningful cause. Many thanks to everyone who attended, helped out and donated items!

Go to this link to view the entire Spaghetti Benefit Photo Album

Please continue to keep the team in prayer through the trip July 11-17!

Music Sunday on June 13

We hope you will join us for a meaningful time of worship through music on Sunday, June 13. Many thanks to Debbie Cole, Music Director, for putting together this special worship, as well as the choir, bell choir and other individuals who will share their musical gifts.

Congratulations Graduates

Congratulations to all 2010 high school and college graduates! On Sunday, June 13 during worship, we will be recognizing graduates from Peoples Church, or family members of those at Peoples. We wish you God's blessings in your future!

Small Steps Commitment Sunday

On June 6 we had the opportunity to offer our Small Steps to Stewardship pledge cards during worship. Options include promising to pray for the finances of the church, promise-giving for the first time, calculating the percentage of income our family is currently giving, increasing our current pledge, beginning to give through automatic withdrawal, or second mile giving to special mission projects such as the mission trip, Vacation Bible Camp, or supporting Conference Mission Shares.

Many thanks to Rosemary Herd and Kathy Brann for putting together our spring program which is leading into a new concept of year-round stewardship. The theme of our first year-round stewardship program is God's Covenant Rainbow. In the book of Genesis we learn of a man named Noah who took "small steps" of obedience which led to God using him to re-create from scratch the world gone awry with sin and offer the sign of the rainbow as a sign of God's covenant with Noah. In the weeks and months ahead we will be experiencing the rainbow of colors representing different ways we receive and pass along the blessings of God.

Children's Sunday on June 6

We celebrated another wonderful school year of Sunday School with a slide show by Karen Jennings, certificates and flowers to all the kids, Bibles to kids graduating 3rd grade, and a prayer of blessing over Andy and Teresa Folley and Karen Jennings. The kids then sang Pass It On, the music piece they learned during their last unit on Pentecost!

You can view the entire Children's Sunday Photo Album here.

Parade Mission Outreach!

Peoples Church gave out water bottles as a mission to the community during the Memorial Day Parade which goes right past the church! What a wonderful way to say "Jesus loves you." Many thanks to all who planned, donated and helped out!

You may view the entire Memorial Day Parade Photo Album here.

Baptism Celebration!

On Sunday, April 16, 2010 we baptized five children: Luke, Alexandra, Eliza, Ian and Charlotte. We had 154 attending and was certainly a wonderful celebration! Pastor Gwyneth met with the families of each of these children to discuss the meaning of baptism (for a detailed article on baptism in the Methodist tradition, read By Water and the Spirit or for a shorter description read Your Baptism Liturgy) and the seriousness and joy with which the baptismal vows are spoken - both by parents and sponsors, and by the congregation. Both Pastors Jamie and Gwyneth, as well as Rev. John Folley led the baptism service. Here's all the info if you were unable to attend worship:

Luke
Parents: Andy and Teresa
Siblings: Anna and Drew
Godparents: Tim and MaryAnn

Alexandra
Parents: Jeff and Jill

Eliza

Parents: Jason and Mary

Sibling: Ian

Ian

Parents: Jason and Mary

Sibling: Eliza

Charlotte

Parents: Martin and Catherine

Sibling: Margaret

We welcome each of these children as Preparatory members at Peoples United Methodist Church, and now have the joy and awesome responsibility to prepare these children to make their own personal commitment to becoming disciples of Jesus Christ!

You may view the Baptism Photo Album here.

Peoples First Plant Sale

Peoples Church hosted our first ever Plant Sale with all proceeds going to world missions through our Conference Mission Shares. The event was a huge success, with great fellowship, community outreach as well as fundraising. Thank you to all who planned, donated plants and helped out at the sale!

Fun Newcomer Gathering

The pastors invited visitors, newcomers and those who have recently joined Peoples to a gathering at their home to get to know one another. It was great to have so many children running around! Many thanks to all who attended! You may click here to view the entire Newcomer Gathering Photo Album.

Elegant Bridal Show!

Peoples Church held an elegant high tea and bridal show, a fun event for all who attended and participated! You can view the entire Bridal Show Photo Album here.

Coffee Fellowship

Thank you Brad and Betsy for hosting another wonderful year of coffee and snacks, and most of all a place for us to connect with one another. Weekly coffee fellowship will resume in September and will take place AFTER worship due to the change in worship time!

During the summer we hope to host a few times of fellowship with lemonade and snacks outside after worship. If you would like to host one of these, please contact the pastors. Stay tuned for dates.

Spring Cleaning Day - WOW WOW WOW WOW!

Submitted by Susan Angell Pictures by Art Tordoff

What a day this was. Raining and chilly! Nonetheless, our people gathered at Peoples UMC for Spring Cleaning. According to Rosemary, 26 people, and there were almost as many men as women! For those who rose early, at 7:30 there was a blue berry pancake, bacon and sausage breakfast cooked by our chef, Brad and his cohorts. Delicious. We then broke into groups to do many tasks. The biggest two were to clean windows and wash down thoroughly the many, many, white tables we use for bean dinners, Sunday School and just about everything. The totally icky janitor’s closet, the kitchen, ceiling tiles, problem door, leaking bathroom toilet and the children’s nursery were some of the others that various people felt called to care for. When we were done, every window possible sparkled. They were so clean when done it was amazing and the church was filled with light. The tables were cleaned and sanitized from top to bottom with detailed scrubbing and any that were wobbly, repaired. Every chair now has a foot cap. The nursery, walls, windows and toys were squeaky cleaned. The kitchen gleamed. The janitor’s closet is no longer a scary place to enter. The stockade fence units at the parsonage were taken down. Ceiling panels were replaced, etc. The 26 of us went home tired and achy but satisfied that our labor was well worth the effort for the church we love. Best of all, it was elbow to elbow fellowship and we had FUN. In addition, the lawn had been mowed by Chuck on Saturday and the garden really looks lovely in bloom this spring from the efforts of the garden group's diligent care.

Parsonage Inspection

Barbara Nelson and Chuck Kamilewicz, representatives from Staff Parish Relations and Trustees committees, did a thorough walk-through the of the church-owned pastors' home next door to the church. Thank you Barbara and Chuck, and to all of the Trustees and others who will called in to assist with deck plank replacement, indoor trim painting and other light repair work.