When taking our vows of membership, we each promised to support the church through our prayer, presence, gifts, service and witness.   Each year we gather for our Church Conference (Oct. 21—6:30 p.m.) and take some time to ask ourselves how well we have kept our promise.

There are currently openings on each of our ministry teams.  Please speak with members serving on these groups, take time to prayerfully discern how to best use your gifts, then step up and become an active participant in the ministries of Peoples UMC.

If we do not do the work of the church, the work of the church does not get done.

As we enter the fall, it is time to examine where we may be called us to serve in God’s church.  Here is a listing of the different groups that oversee and maintain the ministries of Peoples UMC and a brief description about where their focus lies.  At our Annual Church Conference on Oct. 21 we as a community welcome those who step forward to serve.    It is often said that many hands make light work and we know that we best serve when all are involved and participating as best they can.   Please take some time over the coming days and prayerfully consider where your gifts lie.

CHURCH COUNCIL:  This is the overseeing body of the work of the church.  A representative from each of the other committees is asked to serve as we keep each other informed as to what each group is undertaking.  There are also ad-hoc members of this committee who serve not as representatives of other groups, but to supply other ideas and considerations.   This team is also where visioning is taking place.  Where will we be in five years?  What are the gifts and graces of our community?  Where should we be focusing our energy and resources?  The committee meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.   If you’d like to be part of this looking toward tomorrow, please see Pastor Tom about joining this committee.

STAFF-PARISH RELATIONS (SPRC):  This is a group that works with the pastor to better serve the community.  They do an annual review of the pastor’s work, as well as all paid employees of the church.  They work with the conference in matters of pastoral change and other related issues.  To belong to this committee you must be a full member of Peoples.  There is a limit of nine that can serve.  The committee meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 2 pm.  (The day/time is flexible if it does not meet your availability.) If you would like more information, please speak with Pastor Tom or Keith Snoddy.

FINANCE:  While this group reviews budget numbers, it is not just about accounting.  Most of the focus of this group is visioning how to best teach and/or demonstrate stewardship as a foundation of our faith.  Meetings are the Thursday before the Church Council meeting at 6 pm.  If you’d like to know more, please see Pastor Tom, Kathy Brann or Sue Angell.

CHURCH LIFE:  This committee is really a large umbrella that covers many areas of interest.  Church Social Events, Christian Education,  Outreach Ministries, all fall under the heading of Church Life.  You need not be involved in each of these areas.  If your passion is for a specific area or event, you are welcome to join and participate in the creation, planning and development of your area of interest.  If curious, please see Pastor Tom, Carol Bruneau or Rosemary Herd for more information.

TRUSTEES:  This group maintains the church and parsonage buildings and properties.  They meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.  There is a limit of nine members on this board. If interested, please see Walter Greer, Brad Morrison or Pastor Tom.

SUNDAY SCHOOL/NURSERY: Spend some time with our children.  You’ll be surprised how much you’ll learn.  See Rosemary Herd (Sunday School) or Betsy Morrison (Nursery)

BUT I CAN’T MAKE IT TO MEETINGS VOLUNTEERS:  There are ways to serve that do not require monthly meetings and can even be done at home. If you’d like to learn how to help, please see Pastor Tom or any of the listed names in your area of interest.

AND LET’S NOT FORGET:  We have so many other groups that provide vital ministries to the community—The Worship Team, Choir, Bell Choir, The Prayer Shawl/Craft Ministry, The Men’s Group, United Methodist Women, The Garden Club, Church Archives, to name a few.  We can always use extra hands and hearts.

 

United Methodist Men/ Men's Breakfast

United Methodist Men/ Men’s Breakfast

Taken from and updated notes from Breakfast, September 12, 2015

The first breakfast for this year was held on the above date at 7:30 AM in the vestry of Peoples UMC. Those in attendance included Pastor Tom Frey, Keith Snoddy, Jim MacKinnon, Earle Harvey, Merrill Kaiser and Art Tordoff.  Brad Morrison, who was not able to attend, had prepared the meal and Keith was gracious to volunteer to do the final preparations. Thanks Keith.

Discussion which usually is the other major inclusion beside food and fellowship centered on wars of the past. To give a little more focus and direction we eventually got to discussing merging then using the term, resurrection, to describe bringing the two mentioned activities back together as it had been years ago. All present were in agreement that it would be a good and needed exercise.

What has been done since our last meeting in preparation for our next scheduled breakfast on Saturday, October 10 in the vestry at 7:30 AM is as follows:

1.      Art put together call lists and formed a team of callers which could include the following: Tom Frey, Earle Harvey, Keith Snoddy, Merrill Kaiser, Brad Morrison and Art Tordoff. Others that might like to join the callers as captains let me know. Connections will still be made through e-mail but now will include personal calls on the phone or contacts in church. The first use of these phone trees will take place during the week before the next scheduled meeting in October. There are over 40 men’s name on the list to be contacted. If anyone on the list knows of tother men that would like to join us let us know.

2.      Art has also been responsible for preparing this article for the Peoples blog

3.      Art and Earle will share some time in the pulpit or lectern on Sunday, October 4 with an informational presentation during the announcements on how this change is coming about and where we would like it to go. Merrill will make a visual for us to use during the service.

4.      We are reminded of the purposes of United Methodist Men:

a.      To declare the centrality of Christ in every man’s life

b.      To promote the spiritual growth of men through effective discipleship

c.       To model the servant leadership of Christ in our daily lives.                                                             

 

5.      Some possible work projects that men might undertake soon:

a.      A meal celebration for our Scout organizations with special emphasis on the Scouts achieving Eagle.

b.      A booth with goods at the Christmas Fair

c.       Variety Show  and more     

d.       Clean up participation around and outside the church

e.      Adopt a section of the Green belt walkway to keep clean and tidy.

 

FALL CONTINUES AT PEOPLES
As we enter into October, we continue moving forward at Peoples.  Here are a few of the things in the works in the coming days:

Through the month of October we will continue our Message Series "Be The Body," exploring what it means to be part of the church community today.  Sunday worship is at 10 am  Every Wednesday we gather for Prayer and Study at 7 pm.

Every Thursday our Bell Choir rehearses at 6 pm and our Vocal Choir rehearses at 7 pm.  You don't need to know how to read music for either group.  Make a joyful noise!

Sat.--Oct 10--7:30 am--Join the men in our congregation for their monthly breakfast meeting in the Vestry

Sun--Oct 11--9:45 am--Monthly Hymn Sing
                                   
Sat. Oct. 17--5 pm--Bean Supper

Wed. Oct 21--6:30 pm--Annual Church Conference--Come reflect on the past year in ministry and celebrate with us as we vision the coming months.

Thurs. Oct. 22--5 pm--Join us as we serve dinner at the Root Cellar in Portland

Sun. Nov. 1--10 am--All Saints' Day Worship Celebration

Sat. Nov. 7--Church Clean Up Day

For updates and additional events, please check our Facebook page and check the bulletins in Sunday worship.
Peace.

FALL BEGINS AT PEOPLES

The summer has flown by and Peoples is entering autumn with much activity.
We thank all those who offered their gift of music throughout the summer, as well as those who shared their thoughts through our examination of God's Word though the movies.

Here are just some of what is happening over the next couple of weeks:
SATURDAY 9/13--10 AM--All are invited as we enter into our Sunday School year with a visit from Sparks Ark.  Come see and learn about wildlife from our area.
SUNDAY 9/14--10 AM--We return to the Sanctuary for a special worship service where we will examine what the Apostles' Creed says to us through scripture and hymns.  This is also the official first meeting of Sunday School (Adult meets at 8:45/Children meets during worship)  We finish with an Ice Cream Social.
THURSDAY 9/17--Our Bell Choir and Choir begin gearing up for the coming year with the return to rehearsals.  Bell Choir meets at 6 pm (one does not have to know how to read music or have ever played an instrument to participate)  Vocal Choir meets at 7 pm.  All are welcome!  Come and make a joyful noise!
SATURDAY 9/19--5 PM--First Bean Supper of the Season!!!  Help is always welcome or just come and enjoy the food and company.
SUNDAY 9/20--10 AM--We begin a new message series "Be The Body" where we explore what it means to be a follower of Christ and a member of the church.

More events and activities are being added.  Please continue to check in with this blog or our Facebook page or check out our weekly calendar at worship for updates.
Peace.

       

BEGINNING JULY 5

IN ELLIS HALL

OUR MESSAGE SERIES

“AT THE MOVIES”

JULY

5:  The Princess Bride

12:  It’s A Wonderful Life

19:  High Noon

26:  TBA

AUGUST

2:  The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

9:  Ben Hur

16:  Robin Hood

23:  Les Miserables

30:  True Grit

SEPTEMBER

5:  The Wizard Of Oz

WORSHIP STARTS AT 10 A.M.

Coffee Fellowship

Coffee Fellowship

Every Sunday, September through June, coffee and eats are available for folks to consume after church. Many people, I am sure, are anxious to get home once the service is over, however, there is a group of attendees that like to sit or stand around and commiserate with others. Coffee, regular and decaf, is available along with water for tea and punch for whoever would prefer that. Some form of sweets or mini-quiche and fruit morsels can also be found on the counter.

For many years this time and the food has been made available by Brad Morrison with help from Betsy and or Christy with a little help from Isabelle, the resident greeter. When the Morrisons have not been available then Janice or Jody or Betty have willingly filled in.

Sometimes the coffee fellowship might be used by groups within the church for planning meetings. This has been the case for the Sunday school staff, Celebration 175 committee, and for the Memorial Day water bottle preparers.

Some folks may only come for a short time but others may be seen there for a longer period of time. The Coffee Fellowship is held in Ellis Hall. Why not stop by and chat for a bit, sip and a bite.

 

Adult Sunday school class

Adult Sunday school class

The Sunday morning adult Sunday school class has met from September through the first week in June since 1968. Over the years the members of the class have changed as have the numbers. The class began as a male and female class that met originally in the pastor’s study. That was still four years before Ellis Hall was open for meeting. For several years after that beginning membership moved to an all male class that met on the breezeway. Again the class in more recent times returned to a mixed class. For one of our series of classes that was based on the stories depicted in the stained class windows we met in the sanctuary. In another series of classes we met in the parsonage to use the DVD that went with a Philip Yancy program, “The Jesus I Never Knew”. The class today does meet in the Ellis Hall Parlor and after studying other series prepared by Philip Yancy, Harold S. Kushner, Lee Strobel and J. Ellsworth Kalas we have for two years been using N. T. Wright’s “Luke for Everyone”.

Presently the class is attended regularly by Carol, Pat, Janice, Randi, Marlene, Pam, Earle and Art who has facilitated the class since its inception, 47 years ago. Periodically others have joined the class and we do encourage folks to be a part of this ongoing class.

We try to get started about 8:45 to 9:00 AM each Sunday beginning with concerns and a prayer followed by the reading of the Biblical passage for that week. All regular attendees have a text that helps to explain the passage as well as a set of questions prepared and distributed before the class meets. If you are interested in becoming part of the class you need not have the text as the questions provided and the Bible will serve you well. Discussion is encouraged.

 

Peoples on Memorial Day

 Memorial Day at Peoples

Pam delivers

Coffee andwater for free

Since the city parade now passes Peoples Church a number of activities are centered at the front of the church property. For several years now and led by Betty Splettstoesser a free water and coffee distribution takes place on the front lawn. Pam Libby can be seen extending that booth by going through the crowd with Peoples identified bottles of water. Rosemary and others help at the booth and prepare the coffee that is free to those that approach the booth.

Labelling bottles

Hard at work the day before

On Sunday, the day before the parade, Betty with the help of Amy Wellington and Kathy Brann had relabeled the 8 oz bottles of water by adding Peoples United Methodist Church stickers.

Leftover plants

Project Graduation

While that booth is operated by members of the church this year Project Graduation has used the Ellis Hall parking lot to serve as headquarters for kids to grab water bottles, balloons and flags to distribute to the crowds along Broadway.

Eagle Project Bake Sale

One of the Scouts who will be working toward his Eagle badge by leading Troop 23 in the reworking of the children’s playground at the back of the church property. He had organized a bake sale that he manned also in the parking lot. Money raised will go to meet the needs for redoing the play area.

Dick Small drives oldest fire engine

Peoples faithful

Other members of the church also found the grounds of the church as a great place to feel at home while watching the parade. One of our number, Dick Small, was driving the oldest of the fire engines that were in the parade.

In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Rose Window

Over the years a number of memorials have been established at Peoples Church. Memorials have taken the form of plaques and objects that can be found both inside and outside of the church. At some future date we will include many of those remembrances of people who have meant much to the life of Peoples in the blog. I would like to take some space in this column today to explore the memorials that are outside of the building.

Lorraine Hodgkins Memorial Garden

White Cross

The most obvious memorial for a number of years is the Memorial garden that has been developed between the church and Ellis Hall. The Garden Committee has taken charge with the maintenance of the triangular garden originally dedicated to Lorraine Hodgkins who had been a long time teacher in the Sunday school and at one time served as Superintendent. She was the mother of Andrea Hodgkins Harvey who presently serves as the pastor at Elm Street UMC. Following the establishment of the garden in the 1970’s a granite bench was added years later at the head of the garden in memory of Bob Porter who had been very active with the United Methodist Men as well as serving on many important committees. The flagpole and American flags were erected and raised originally by a committee headed by Tom Nelson and others. This addition to the garden area is dedicated to those members of the church who had served in harm’s way through military service.

Susan McLellan Plaisted

Originally there were two Rhododendrons planted in the front corners of the church. One was eliminated when the ramp was built but the other remains in the south corner of the church front. These were planted in memory of John B. Tordoff in 1973 by his wife, Ada. Both John and Ada were very active members of Peoples from the later 1940’s in both men’s and women’s activities.

Brad Morrison

Guy McLellan Memorial

In this past week the memorial gardens of the church were expanded by placing new plantings at the front of Ellis Hall. Two stones also honor the memory of Guy McLellan and his wife Ruth. Guy was very active as a Lay Leader and especially a teacher of the Bethel Bible Study Program and an active member of United Methodist Men. He was also very active in the local Lions Club. Ruth also served as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent in her years of activity at Peoples. She also hostessed a Bible study in her later years in her home. Ruth was a long time elementary school teacher in South Portland. Together they had three daughters; Ann, Susan and Nancy. Susan has taken in the lead in adding this memorial garden to her parents. In 2010 Ann had purchased and placed a Hydrangea in the middle of the garden area now joined by the stones in memory of Guy and Ruth as well as two new Strawberry Shortcake Hydrangeas and 2 Lupine plants.

Ruth McLellan Memorial

McLellan Memorial Garden

The official dedication of this latest edition to the memorial gardens will be take place at a later date..

Garden to breezeway

Front entrance to sanctuary

In the last few years the outside of the property has seen additional plantings of easily cared for plants at the entrance to Ellis Hall and across the ramp at the front of the church.

 From Morning ‘til Night

6^th Annual Plant Sale

On May 16, 2015 Marlene, Carol, Doreen, Joanne and Susan arrived at Peoples UMC to set out tables with plants that had been potted in their yards and those of others over the previous two weeks. Many of these plants had been delivered, arranged and priced on the previous evening and sorted into categories. Other members of the church could be seen assisting the early risers including Pam and Len, Art, David, Walter and Pastor Tom. This would be the 6^th Annual Plant Sale held by the Garden Committee as an annual money maker for the Committee and for the church. During the morning a continuous flow of customers visited the tables and most made several selections to take home to their own gardens. The sale opened at 9 AM under cloudy, but warm conditions with the sun occasionally showing itself in the sky above.

As has been the case the Plant Sale bills itself as a way of sharing God’s beauty with the public. In addition to serving as another way of introducing folks to activities of the church it also provided a means of making some money. This year the plant sale raised over $700!

While the sale was going on Walter could be seen preparing a garden location in front of Ellis Hall. This area will eventually extend the Memorial Garden that presently is found between the church and Ellis Hall. The new garden area will serve as a memorial to Ruth and Guy McLellan. While Walter was working out front Art cleared the back of the church and parking lot of leaves and dirt that had accumulated over this past winter.

The original memorial garden was dedicated to Lorraine Hodgkins and has also become a place of memory for Bob Porter when granite bench was added a number of years ago. Today gardens also enhance the entry to both the church and Ellis Hall.

Bean Supper Shares the Day

This was also the last Saturday date for a Bean Supper until September. While the plant sale was going on Art, Tom and David set up Ellis Hall with tables and chairs while Rosemary began to prepare for the supper in the kitchen. The same folks who helped with the supper set-up were also engaged in taking the tables and chairs back inside when the plant sale was over.

Folks began arriving for the meal shortly after four to get a good seat. Many members could be seen working in the kitchen, pouring coffee, water and punch, cutting pies or ready to collect money.  Susan and Joann were on the check in table with Paul and Susan cutting and serving pie. Amy could be seen running around with water and punch. Kathy, as she has for a few years now, was manning her mini-fair table with a myriad of things for supper attendees to browse through and buy.  In the kitchen were Rob and Chuck washing dishes with Barbara and Tom, Keith, Becky and Dick. After introductions by Chris, Pastor Tom made a few announcements and then blessed the meal. People line up before the smorgasbord of food and one after another would take away, in many cases, a heaping assortment of beans, hot dogs, casseroles and salads. No one certainly goes away hungry!

While one reason for having the suppers is to make money, they also provide a means of providing fellowship for both those who come for the meal and those who prepare and serve it.

Most folks have left before 6:00 PM and by 7:00PM the hall is cleaned up and everyone is off to home.

Looking Ahead in May at Peoples

Plant Sale

On Saturday, May 16 beginning at 9:00 AM, the annual Plant Sale sponsored by the Garden Committee will take place in either the parking lot at Ellis Hall or if weather is an issue inside the hall. Well over 200 plants will be available for purchase. Most of the plants available are for outside gardening although a few indoor plants will also be available. Other items pertaining to gardening will also be available for purchase at re3asonable prices.

While it is early in the season it is not too early to purchase plants that you may have longed for and have been grown in the gardens of members of the church. Plants that will be available are marked as to whether they grow best in sun or shade. Plants are reasonably priced. If you have questions about growing habits of the plants that are available members of the garden committee will gladly be able to answer your questions.

 

Memorial Day

Water Bottle Project

Monday, May 25 will be celebrated as Memorial Day this year. People in large numbers gather along Broadway from SMCC to the Veterans Memorial beside Mill Creek Park. As the

Parade passes by Peoples UMC for a number of years now Peoples people have handed out 8 ounce bottles of water to those who are watching. This is made possible by members of Peoples purchasing the water in that size container and donating to the church for redistribution. Betty Splettstoesser has chaired this project for a number of years. If you want to help in passing the water out I’m sure she would appreciate the help! One of the best distributors of water bottles has been Pam Libby.

Scout Food Sale

It is my understanding that in addition to this activity there will be a Boy Scout holding a food sale in the Ellis Hall driveway. Proceeds will go toward his Eagle project that is to redevelop the playground behind the church. Troop 23 has met at Peoples for decades. The present troop is very strong and could use our support on this activity.

 

 

Mother's Day Weekend

Peoples Food, Fix-up, Celebration and Visioning

May 9^th dawned and the vestry of Peoples was visited by Men and Women who came together to fellowship and eat before setting out to a busy day of activity on the grounds of the church or elsewhere.

Chef Brad prepared his usual quality breakfast with some assistance in the kitchen from Rosemary and Chuck. As the folks joined them there was Rob, Art and Marlene, followed by Keith, Dick and Earle. Soon Randy and Kit and Andy joined the earliest of the birds. Jim and Pastor Tom were there as well as Doreen. Pastor Tom led us in prayer and then over our meals we talked about a variety of items in small groups.

It is but two times a year that the women are in attendance, both of which happen to be on the semi-annual clean-up days that are held in the spring and fall of the year.  We bid goodbye to some folks while others of us, after clean-up began a strenuous morning of raking and hoeing some of the lawns and gardens. Art and Keith began with the lawn between Ellis Hall and the parsonage. Soon Susan and Walter were there to rake and to spread mulch on gardens. Dick and Brad spent most of the morning repairing the awning that protrudes over the kitchen door. Several bags of leaves and brush were collected and later taken to the South Portland brush site on Highland Avenue.

Doreen and Marlene worked around the gardens in the front of the church property as had Tom and Barbara Nelson the day before. By the time they had finished one garden Walter was there to groom out the mulch.

Somewhere around noon the crew was done for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, Mother’s Day, mothers entering the church were greeted with a red carnation. Special lyrics appropriate to the day were sung by the congregation. “Praise to God, the World’s Creator”, “Our Father God in Heaven” and “God of the Women” were the three hymns that were sung to the music of more familiar hymns. Pastor Tom’s sermon was titled. “Mother’s Day Thoughts”. All of us had the opportunity to remember mothers and other women who played important roles in our lives in our younger years.