SUNDAY SCHOOL FUN!

This Sunday, our children traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem and found Jesus at the Temple.  Next Sunday will find the children listening to the stories of Jesus on the mountain side.  Come and join the fun!

PUMC Helps Victims of Human Trafficking

Project: PUMC Help Victims of Human Trafficking

Betty, Marlene, Doreen and Pastor Tom ready the tables

Often projects of any organization begin from the observations, thoughts and prayers of one person. A little over a year ago Betty Lane, a member of Peoples United Methodist Church began a collection of food gift cards, purchased by parishioners, from Hannaford stores. These cards were used to help folks who are victims of human trafficking. Over the period of time that has elapsed from that spark and Betty’s inspiration, sixty seven $5 and $10 gift cards have been collected and distributed through the South Portland Police Department.

During the 2015 Advent season the project was expanded and others in the parish and beyond began collecting money and toiletry items that would be distributed through the Salvation Army and South Portland Police Department.

Arranging the goods

Betty enlisted the support of Pastor Tom Frey, who in turn enlisted other churches in the Casco Bay Cluster. Collecting financial donations and goods was now experienced by the West Scarborough UMC and Thornton Heights UMC as well as Peoples.

Women are ready

At Peoples UMC the Finance Committee, the Tuesday Morning Bible Study and the Prayer Shawl Ministry took the lead in helping Betty’s concerns mature. All of the gathered items were sorted at a meeting on January 7 of the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Jumping on board to help Betty, Doreen Gay, with money collected, spent a lot of volunteer time going to several stores to gather more items for the toiletry kits. Donations of goods by a local dentist, EconoLodge, Shaws and others allowed for the $400 collected to be stretched to their maximum purchasing power.

The packng begins

Around 5:45 PM on Wednesday, January 13 the leaders of this effort came to Ellis Hall to set up tables and to organize the materials that would, in time, fill over 200 gallon bags with the following: hand soap, skin cream, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, wash cloth, and a comb. At 7:00 PM  twenty two men, women and teens were ready to pack.

Dick packs the bags

Betty leads with a message and prayer

Betty began this part of the project with a message on being “disciples” and what we as Christians are called to do in response to the needs of our less fortunate neighbors. She closed with a prayer for all of us and the victims of Human Trafficking.

Pastor Tom nd DS Jim McPhee

We were blessed to have the New England UMC District Superintendent, Reverend James T. McPhee lending his hand and his heart to work with us.

Swift of hands the 200+ bags were packed in boxes and ready to go to the Salvation Army’s Anti-trafficking ministries within one-half hour.

The crew of 22

A good time and blessings extended to others will be completed when the bags of toiletries are taken to the Salvation Army for distribution.

Thanks go to all the folks that helped raise money and materials as well as those who planned, sorted and packed the goods for distribution. We also not only extend our thanks to the individuals and businesses that made this possible, but we also extend our prayers to those who will be the recipients of the efforts of this project.

The need to ease human suffering continues and as long as we live, we have work to do.

 

Ready for Salvation Army distribution

 

Peoples UMC Celebrates Family through Arts and Crafts

Judy at work

Peoples UMC Celebrates Family through arts and crafts

Supplies

After church on Sunday, December 13 many of those attending church ventured to the vestry where all were invited to participate in making crafted Christmas objects under the direction of Spiral Arts director, Priscilla Dreyman assisted by Kit Pike and Amy Wellington. All of the supplies necessary for creating individual and family prepared decorations were provided. Many were very intent at helping younger children while others were engaged in doing something perhaps for someone who wasn’t there or for themselves.

Pam with children

Betsy with granddaughter

Andy and Company

You might see in the pictures provided some folks that you know while at the same time you may see someone else that is new to you. You can see though, that all present were having fun as a church family. Thanks do go out to Priscilla, Kit and Amy for making this possible.

This certainly was a great activity to add to the Advent season and we would hope that it might be the first of many such celebrations as a church family.

David and new friend

You may note that some folks were perhaps simply standing around and observing and drinking coffee and munching on goodies that are usually always provided by Brad, but in this case prepared in the Vestry Kitchen rather than Ellis Hall.

Wealthy busily engaged

If you missed this event hopefully you will be a part of other events at Peoples that can be considered part of the service that we share with each other.

Everyone at work

Some look on while others craft

Anna Luke and Dad

So many supplies

Kids at work

Amy and grandson

Pam and great granddaughter

Hmmm what shall I work on?

Kit and others crafting

Some just like coffee



Some prefer to be in the background



Root Cellar Christmas Shop Set Up

A Morning at the Root Cellar Christmas Shop

On the morning of December 9, 7 members of the PUMC congregation journeyed to Washington Avenue in Portland to help set up the Christmas Shop for local residents. Folks would later be coming in to buy Christmas gifts for friends and loved ones at much reduced prices. We were told that not as much merchandise had come in as in other years, but that a major gift of money had been received to go and buy more items.

Carol Bruneau, Dick Matthews, Kathy Brann, Barbara Kenney, Keith Snoddy, Art and Marlene Tordoff, arrived around 9:00 AM and found many of the donations that had been received from businesses, churches and other groups already set in place. Christine from the Root Cellar said that we could place price tags on any of the goods that didn’t have one. We did find that many of the coats and boots and other clothing had not already been tagged while most of the toys, games and other merchandise had already been taken care. She also told us that much of what had already been done had been accomplished by a sizeable group of students who had come in from North Yarmouth Academy the day before.

While buyers were not in our midst on this day we were pleased that we could help in any way that we could.

As you may know some of the donations had come from a collection of new toys that we had collected over the previous three weeks at Peoples, one of the many mission collections that we have been involved with at Peoples in recent weeks. We do hope and pray that the hall at the Root Cellar is filled with Joy and a number of homes will experience that Joy during this Christmas season.

2015 PUMC Church Fair

2015 PUMC Church Fair

Open for business

Rosemary



Ruth plays Christmas songs and Carols

On a clear and crisp Saturday morning, December 5 the doors of Ellis Hall were opened at 9:00 AM and a rush of men and women, girls and boys came through the door into the hall to peruse the various tables that had been set up the day before by an army of church members. Under the leadership of Rosemary and Chris and Pastor Tom this annual event again was the scene of many people who have made the trip to Peoples an annual event. Some of those that were here had grown up in the church and had over time moved away, but have felt it necessary to return to the charm that makes this event special. Only once in the past 50 or so years was there an attempt to hold the fair at an earlier date, but this first Saturday in December seems to have become, other than the hanging of the greens, a kickoff for the season.

Sally and Aaron

When folks entered the hall they might have headed first to their favorite area. Some stop first at Knit goods and Crafts that this year was presided over by Sally Seidel. There one could find hats and mittens as well as crafted merchandise like the wreaths made out of Christmas balls.

Pam and Summer

Jewelry Shop

Opposite in the middle of the hall was the large display of Jewelry of all kinds neatly displayed and tagged by Doreen Gay, Sharon Obie and Pam Darling with some help from Summer.

Candy canes and technology

The two Bettys

Customers and Crew

The single largest area of goods would be the several tables that display any manner of used merchandise that had become someone’s need to get rid of and someone else’s new treasure. There one would find the two Bettys, Mary and Jodi.

Mariah and Hannah

Book land

In the breezeway, a favorite stop for many is the Book room where you might find Becky Gotlieb, Jan and Susan.

Entering the hall again Mariah was hard at work, sometimes with daughter Hannah overseeing, making her famous personalized Christmas tree ornaments.

In the center of the room Aaron was selling his award winning Jams and Jellies along with candy bars and little stockings with goodies in them.

Pam and Carol with Pastor Tom in the background

Next to him were Kathy and Carol in charge of a tables of nice treasures that completed the center focus of the fair.

Candy land

Janice and Becky fudging it

Sweets and Jams

To the rear of the hall were Marlene and Amy with a wide range of baked goods that included scones, cookies, jams, Lemon rolls, Carrot cakes and the like. Tempting to look at without buying, many visitors found something to their liking that they could indulge in early in this season of celebration. Next to the bakery was the Candy shop presided over by Janice and Becky Snoddy. If you have a taste for candy there was plenty to choose from.

Marlene and Amy in the Bakery

Betsy

Danielle and a cup of coffee

The kitchen that had coffee and donuts available early was converted to a lunch preparation area and serving location with Chowders, Chili and a variety of sandwiches. Chris, Brad, Keith and Danielle could be seen scurrying around or overseeing the preparations and service.

By 1 PM the activity of the morning was slowing down, but much of the goods were picked up and or sold at that time.

Most everything that was new left over remained on one table for people to peruse at the coffee fellowship held after church on Sunday. Many of the items left over from the used goods table was piled into the back of Keith’s truck and taken to Goodwill in Mill Creek.

Some were dressed for the Victorian Era

Marieta makes her annual visit

A great day was had by all and the money earned is used to help other activities sponsored and run by Peoples United Methodist Church.

What would you like, we've got it!

Pawing through the yarn bin

Mom, can I have a Hula Hoop?