From A Seed Roots Grew

After 13 years in the making the new history of Peoples United Methodist Church of South Portland, "From A Seed Roots Grew" is printed and available for purchase. The price of the book which was printed locally at Waterfront Graphics and Printing is available at $17 a copy.

The book of 380 pages includes a historical look at 175 years of Peoples church history with pictures and including two appendices. Appendix 1 indicates people from Peoples who entered  Ministry in their lifetimes. Appendix 2 provides brief biographies on all themen and women wo have served Peoples as pastors.

To get a copy or copies either use cash or acheck made out to Peoples UMC and memoed for "From a Seed". 

Books will be available beginning Sunday, March 29 after church in Ellis Hall. If you are from beyond the Peoples congregation please indicate your interest and how to get in touch with you via an e-mail to office@peoplesumc.com. The church phone number is 1-207-799-1413.

Casco Bay Cluster Lenten Mission

End The Growling Campaign

 

One of the truly successful mission projects last year was the Casco Bay Area United Methodist Church “End the Growling” Campaign. Thousands of meals were packed and sent to various food distribution programs both here in the state of Maine and elsewhere in the country. Spearheaded by Cori Heatley and others from Thornton Heights UMC and enlisting the support of the other churches in the cluster, including Peoples, both the financial needs of the program and the food needs provided through Outreach Inc. was carried out with great success.

At Peoples we are a little late getting on board this year, but with a little help we can help to support this year’s effort. Looking locally the program has a goal of packing at least 32,000 meals and raise $7800.

At Peoples we do have one team of nine that is looking for additional members of folks that will meet at Elm Street Methodist Church on April 11, at noon, to begin the packing. If others are interested we could possibly put more teams together. Your commitment on that date will be at least 2 hours. If you are interested in joining the team please let Art Tordoff know as soon as possible. We do need to get our list of teams and members in ASAP.  Do need to get the information and first donations to Thornton Heights by Sunday afternoon.

If you are unable to make the commitment to packing we encourage you to consider a financial commitment of support. There will be a basket to receive any financial donations at the back of the sanctuary beginning Sunday, March 8, 2015.

$.25 donated will pay for one meal! Each team should be able to pack 150 meals per hour at $37.50: 300 in 2 hours at $75. 450 in 3 hours at $112.50: 600 in 4 hours at $150.00----or more! Won’t you be a part of the team by joining the packers and/or placing a “Second Mile Gift of Money” in the basket this Sunday!

And by all means PRAY for the success of this mission throughout the Cluster!

 

United Methodist Churches of Casco Bay Lenten Challenge

CASCO BAY UMC LENTEN OUTREACH

“END THE GROWLING”

Where & When?

ELM STREET UMC Saturday, April 11 at 12:00pm

Our Goal:
Our goal is to pack 32,000 meals containing highly nutritious ingredients to be distributed to food banks, schools and disaster relief both locally and worldwide.

What will it take? 
To accomplish our goal of packing 32,000 or more meals we will need many teams/ people who can spend an hour or two on Saturday packaging meals on the packing line. As well as, we will need monetary support of $7,800 or more. Although the event is April 11th, 65% of the funds are due March 11th and 100% by April 1st. 

What can you do today? 
Consider all the businesses and people you come in contact with every day. Tell them what we are planning and ask for their assistance, by forming a team, signing up as an individual or providing monetary support. Please mail donations made payable to Outreach Inc., memo: “End the Growling”, to Thornton Heights UMC, 100 Westbrook St, South Portland, ME 04106. Donations may also be made through PayPal online at EndHungerNE.org/donate, please enter “End the Growling” in the event field. All donations are tax-deductible. 

What is required for time?
Team's time commitment will include training and the time needed to pack the meals you have raised funds for. It is important for your team to come 1/2 hour before your meal packing time for training. There may be multiple shifts depending on how many teams signed up.

Outreach Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) located in Union, Iowa. To see what Outreach Inc. has been able to accomplish locally and worldwide visit their website at www.EndHungerNE.org.

We hope you will consider joining us by forming a team or signing up as an individual for the meal packing event and/or by donating. Please let me know if you would like additional information about our “End the Growling” event. 

For more information pleaase contact Cori at coriheatley@yahoo.com or (207)415-7098.

“WHAT SIZE ARE GOD’S SHOES?”: A BIBLE STUDY FOR THOSE WITH CHILDREN

         Kit Pike is offering a class in Christian Parenting on Monday nights (this could change if another time meets members' needs better) for about 1 and 1/2 hours.                   In order to help parents of young children attend, we could use volunteers who could do child care during these meetings, either regularly or as a sub.

To those who might be interested in this class:

·      It will be a rather casual affair. This is to make it easier for families with crazy schedules to participate as you can. 

·      We will be reading the book "What Size are God's Shoes?"   by Tim Schenk, a man who displays both sense and a sense of humor. 

·      This book consists of a series of stories about situations in a family, with a theme to each. For example, in the first chapter of the samples online, Tim gets into a conversation with his young son about life, death, and heaven, because of a goldfish. In another, he talks about the importance of a little time of silence on "a regular basis". He shows he knows how hard that is to find. Another deals with the dangers of Happy Meals - not necessarily what first comes to mind.

·      You can read the first few chapters here:

http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=688655&rank=11&txtSearchQuery=what size are God's shoes

We can read the stories, get together and discuss the ideas in them, and variations, and....see where it goes. 

·      We will meet once per week, to the best of our ability. Our market research so far has indicated that Monday night, somewhere in the 6-8 pm window, would be the best time. I have some flexibility with this if another time ends up working better for the group. If enough people want a daytime, we might be able to offer a second session. 

·      I would like to begin in one week, that is, on MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY,so we can get one session in before school vacation (I might be away with my school teacher daughter that Monday, as may others).  I would be willing to start Mon 2 Feb, without books, for a get-to-know-you meeting, but that might be pushing it! especially with a storm forecast.  

·      THEREFORE:  please respond ASAP so we can pin down the time and order books.  Cost is around $8, financial help is (confidentially) available. We are working on lining up childcare for this, so we don't have to take turns doing that.  

Please let me know ASAP if you would like to be part of this group, so we can order the books, and if you would like childcare, including how many and their ages, so we can plan.

Kit Pike

799-0648

Pikes5@myfairpoint.net

From A Seed: Roots Grew

The Story of a Local Church:  1839-2014

Peoples United Methodist Church

175 Years of History, Connection and Spiritual Guidance.

Peoples United Methodist Church is celebrating its 175^th year since an original home meeting took place in 1839. A 380 page book is about to be published locally and has been researched and information gathered through members of the church. The book, with pictures, will cost about $20 a copy.  To help determine the number of books to be published, let us know how many you would like. The book is a great gift idea for family members, friends, and neighbors. Pastor Tom Frey or Archivist Art Tordoff would be glad to receive your request. The earlier requests are made the earlier we can publish.

Christmas Eve 2014

2014 Christmas Eve Service

To complete the anticipation of the Advent season, the annual Peoples United Methodist Church Christmas Eve service was held at 7 PM in the sanctuary. Tradition reigns on Christmas Eve for many families to come and witness the true meaning of the season, the birth of Jesus Christ who was and is the gift of God to all people on this earth.

The Crèche which resides on the top of the piano is completed first with a child bringing forth the Christ child and manger and placing it in the Crèche. This was followed by the singing of hymns, “Good Christian Friends Rejoice” and “What Child is this”. The Call to Worship calls us to Bethlehem and then the Christ Candle as well as the other four Advent Theme Candles are lit.

 

 

 

 

 

The Bell Choir plays its anthem beautifully in the surroundings of Poinsettias and greens.

 

 

Pastor Tom calls forward the children where a puppet presentation by Harry and Humphrey tells the story of the meaning of Christmas. Children are engrossed as are the adult listeners and watchers in the congregation.

Luke 2: 1-20 is the scripture upon which the message will be given. Pastor Tom used a clip of the movie, “Elf” to set the stage for what he would say, in linking that with the Christian meaning of Christmas.

A candle lighting ceremony led by the pastor and carried to all who were present shed an ever widening light in the light-dimmed sanctuary.

“Away in a Manger”, “Silent Night” and “Joy To the World” were carols that added to the meaning of the evening.

When the service was nearly over all who had brought a bell with them rang the bells as the church bell pealed for all those folks that might pass the church on the sidewalk or street.

We hope that the meaning of the service, the gathering of the people, and the memories of the message help us in our quest to do what the Lord would have us do in helping him be the continuing light of the world.

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.