Roots of Peoples United Methodist Church
Part 47 The Life of the Church at a High Point
In Pastor Arnold’s report to the Annual Conference of the church in 1981 he believed that folks who were seeking to celebrate and grow in their faith attended the regular worship service on Sunday. He and others were beginning to realize a need for some worship experiences to attract those who as yet do not know Christ. He suggested that exploration for an alternative worship service that might be held at another time take place. Out of those explorations there was an early Sunday morning service launched. This service often attended by around 40 people continued for a number of years. In analyzing who attended this service it was in time found to have attracted some new folks, but more often served as an alternative for many of those who previously were regular church attenders. Eventually that second service was abandoned.
Peoples was alive in a number of other ways as well. For a few years the Sunday school and the middle schoolers developed a puppet ministry. The puppets went on the road to the high rises for the elderly and performed on occasion in church services.
For adults, Reverend Arnold had heard of the Bethel Bible Series and with financial support from the church was sent for training in that program. The training took place in Madison, Wisconsin. Before going for the training, Pastor Arnold put together a cadre of folks to be taught as teachers for the program. Among those who would serve as teachers were Jim Darling, Pam Harris, and Guy McLellan. Once their training was complete, people in and outside of church membership were recruited to take one of several classes in what proved to be an in-depth two-year study of the Bible. Nearly 100 folks were the initial students of the program held on Sunday mornings and a couple of other times during the week. It was a program in which most of the material was presented by the teacher and not much give and take was allowed in order to make the program would be completed in the proper amount of time. Students did have a loose leaf notebook that had readings to be done each week and the teacher was assisted by a large religious painting that was symbolic of the Biblical passages that were the center of the lesson each week. It was an ambitious program for both the teacher and the students, but in the long run was a very effective program for those that were loyal and faithful to its purposes and goals.
One of the most ambitious mission program that Peoples was ever engaged in was held in the early 1980’s. This was an era in which many folks in Southeast Asia were displaced from their homelands by war that had first begun in Viet Nam, but eventually spread to Cambodia and Laos as well. Catholic Charities locally sponsored an ambitious project known as the Cambodian Refugee Resettlement Program. Peoples through the leadership of the Pastor and a team of church members worked with the program to help resettle a number of individuals and families from that war-torn region. The committee that was formed also had contact with the World Relief Corporation, the New England Office of the American Friends Society, Care International, and the U.S. State Department especially in its embassy in Bangkok Thailand. Most of the refugees that we would be serving were at the time in refugee camps in Thailand.
A Refugee Resettlement Committee was set up with a number of sub-committees which included committees for clothing acquisition, finance and job opportunities, household furniture, housing, kitchen and food committee, language committee, shopping and household orientation, medical, social, transportation, congregational education and public relations. The chairperson to oversee all of these sub-committees was Susan Clark and Nancy Harris served as secretary. Names of folks who were very prominent in this endeavor included Jim Darling, Dick Clark, Belle Graney, Judy Arnold, Merle Darling, Earl Nicholson, Dale Shaw and Bill Harris. Also engaged in committee matters were Evan Rickert, Jean Allen, Joan Beckford, Becky Ryder, Karen Tripp and Lelia Moore.
During the period of time that this project was in full swing in the early 1980’s the number of Cambodians who were assisted in some form numbered 90. Some were very old while others were very young. One story that was told was of Tev Chea who reportedly gave birth to a baby boy during her escape to Thailand. It was said that she delivered the baby under a tree, got up almost immediately and continued her trek to freedom. Not all of the folks stayed for any length of time because some found members of their families living elsewhere in Maine or the United States and quickly moved on. It was interesting to be in church one Maundy Thursday when Pastor Arnold was preparing to baptize many during the service and then to bring them in to membership in the church and before the evening was finished it appeared that 40 were baptized.
As one would look around the sanctuary today (2003) there are no Cambodians. Some still live locally, but many have scattered to be with other members of their own nationality. People can take pride in the fact that members of this church served unselfishly to bring security, love and direction to these folks who had been uprooted from a culture that they had known and placed in a culture that at the time was quite foreign to them.
Leadership in the church was divided between an Administrative Board that would meet on a monthly or every other monthly basis alternating with a Council of Ministries. The Administrative Board served as an umbrella organization of both administrative functions and Ministry functions. It was a clearinghouse of all church activities. On one side of church organization it represented the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, Finance Committee and the Pastors. The other side of church activitiy included Christian Education, Music, Missions, Social Concerns, Scholarship and other activities through the Council of Ministries. Even the Cub Scouts, Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations were represented through someone who served as a liaison from the church to them.
During the year 1980 Ten Goals had been set by the Council and were reported in the 1981 Annual Report to have been achieved. Among those activities were several that have had long-term runs. Perhaps the longest running activity begun in 1980 was the annual Easter Sunrise service that was begun at Fisherman’s Point overlooking Willard Beach. Held at the break of dawn each Easter morning this service welcomes not only members of Peoples to each Easter’s glorious sunrise, but many folks that make this an annual event even though they may not have any other direct association with Peoples.
At the time of this writing the church membership is looking forward to the 27th anniversary of our original sponsorship of the event. If this writers memory is correct there have been less than 5 occasions in all those years when it could not be held at Fisherman’s Point and had to be relocated to the church sanctuary.
Another unique contribution to the community that began in 1980 was the formation of the Peoples Community Band. Started as a suggestion at a Council of Ministries Meeting, the band was thought originally to be an outlet for members of the church to renew their interest in music of all kinds. Some members of the church did join, but as organization was open to all members of the community many more folks from outside the church joined. For the first few years one concert a year was practiced for and practices were held in Ellis Hall. As the band took on a life of its own, Ellis Hall was not large enough for practice and the band was soon practicing regularly at Mahoney Middle School. That was also a convenient location since Eric Berry, the band director for South Portland schools, was hired to direct the Peoples Community Band. For several years an anniversary concert continued to be held in Ellis Hall and was always well attended.
Growing away from Peoples, the band eventually changed its name to the Casco Bay Concert Band. Grace Corey, while she was able, continued to serve as secretary and liaison with the band until her health became such that she no longer could hold the position. She was the last direct link between the band and the church. The band became regional in membership and continues to operate today from Gorham.
During Lent the Pastor led a number of members in a program called 10 Brave Christians. Members would rise each morning and do some spiritual leading and devotions. Once a week the members would get together to discuss what they had read and pray for other members of the congregation. In some ways it was a predecessor of the many small group studies that would become a part of the life of Peoples over the next quarter century.
It may have been mentioned in an earlier episode of this series of historical vignettes about Peoples Church, but it was the early 1980’s when Janice and Earl Nicholson were recognized with the Maine Conference Social Justice Award. Earl and Janice had worked with Native Americans on a reservation in Nebraska for a couple of years, Janice as a teacher and Tennis Coach and Earl as a business consultant. There have been Peoples people who have served in many capacities locally as well as far distant places.
In the arena of education several of the teachers of the Sunday school had the opportunity to take part in Teacher training academies both in the local area as well as others that were held in conferences south of Maine. Teachers were well trained and students were enthusiastic in their response to the Lord. Pastor Lin and a gentleman who in time would also become a Pastor of the Maine and New England Conference taught the high school class. That young man was Steve Perry. One of the projects that they shared was teaching the teens the whole of the Bible in a 4 year program.
It was not unusual for the church administrative board to develop a yearly theme. In 1980 that theme was, "We have a Dream" which had been inspired by the famous, "I have a Dream" speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Part 47 The Life of the Church at a High Point
In Pastor Arnold’s report to the Annual Conference of the church in 1981 he believed that folks who were seeking to celebrate and grow in their faith attended the regular worship service on Sunday. He and others were beginning to realize a need for some worship experiences to attract those who as yet do not know Christ. He suggested that exploration for an alternative worship service that might be held at another time take place. Out of those explorations there was an early Sunday morning service launched. This service often attended by around 40 people continued for a number of years. In analyzing who attended this service it was in time found to have attracted some new folks, but more often served as an alternative for many of those who previously were regular church attenders. Eventually that second service was abandoned.
Peoples was alive in a number of other ways as well. For a few years the Sunday school and the middle schoolers developed a puppet ministry. The puppets went on the road to the high rises for the elderly and performed on occasion in church services.
For adults, Reverend Arnold had heard of the Bethel Bible Series and with financial support from the church was sent for training in that program. The training took place in Madison, Wisconsin. Before going for the training, Pastor Arnold put together a cadre of folks to be taught as teachers for the program. Among those who would serve as teachers were Jim Darling, Pam Harris, and Guy McLellan. Once their training was complete, people in and outside of church membership were recruited to take one of several classes in what proved to be an in-depth two-year study of the Bible. Nearly 100 folks were the initial students of the program held on Sunday mornings and a couple of other times during the week. It was a program in which most of the material was presented by the teacher and not much give and take was allowed in order to make the program would be completed in the proper amount of time. Students did have a loose leaf notebook that had readings to be done each week and the teacher was assisted by a large religious painting that was symbolic of the Biblical passages that were the center of the lesson each week. It was an ambitious program for both the teacher and the students, but in the long run was a very effective program for those that were loyal and faithful to its purposes and goals.
One of the most ambitious mission program that Peoples was ever engaged in was held in the early 1980’s. This was an era in which many folks in Southeast Asia were displaced from their homelands by war that had first begun in Viet Nam, but eventually spread to Cambodia and Laos as well. Catholic Charities locally sponsored an ambitious project known as the Cambodian Refugee Resettlement Program. Peoples through the leadership of the Pastor and a team of church members worked with the program to help resettle a number of individuals and families from that war-torn region. The committee that was formed also had contact with the World Relief Corporation, the New England Office of the American Friends Society, Care International, and the U.S. State Department especially in its embassy in Bangkok Thailand. Most of the refugees that we would be serving were at the time in refugee camps in Thailand.
A Refugee Resettlement Committee was set up with a number of sub-committees which included committees for clothing acquisition, finance and job opportunities, household furniture, housing, kitchen and food committee, language committee, shopping and household orientation, medical, social, transportation, congregational education and public relations. The chairperson to oversee all of these sub-committees was Susan Clark and Nancy Harris served as secretary. Names of folks who were very prominent in this endeavor included Jim Darling, Dick Clark, Belle Graney, Judy Arnold, Merle Darling, Earl Nicholson, Dale Shaw and Bill Harris. Also engaged in committee matters were Evan Rickert, Jean Allen, Joan Beckford, Becky Ryder, Karen Tripp and Lelia Moore.
During the period of time that this project was in full swing in the early 1980’s the number of Cambodians who were assisted in some form numbered 90. Some were very old while others were very young. One story that was told was of Tev Chea who reportedly gave birth to a baby boy during her escape to Thailand. It was said that she delivered the baby under a tree, got up almost immediately and continued her trek to freedom. Not all of the folks stayed for any length of time because some found members of their families living elsewhere in Maine or the United States and quickly moved on. It was interesting to be in church one Maundy Thursday when Pastor Arnold was preparing to baptize many during the service and then to bring them in to membership in the church and before the evening was finished it appeared that 40 were baptized.
As one would look around the sanctuary today (2003) there are no Cambodians. Some still live locally, but many have scattered to be with other members of their own nationality. People can take pride in the fact that members of this church served unselfishly to bring security, love and direction to these folks who had been uprooted from a culture that they had known and placed in a culture that at the time was quite foreign to them.
Leadership in the church was divided between an Administrative Board that would meet on a monthly or every other monthly basis alternating with a Council of Ministries. The Administrative Board served as an umbrella organization of both administrative functions and Ministry functions. It was a clearinghouse of all church activities. On one side of church organization it represented the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, Finance Committee and the Pastors. The other side of church activitiy included Christian Education, Music, Missions, Social Concerns, Scholarship and other activities through the Council of Ministries. Even the Cub Scouts, Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations were represented through someone who served as a liaison from the church to them.
During the year 1980 Ten Goals had been set by the Council and were reported in the 1981 Annual Report to have been achieved. Among those activities were several that have had long-term runs. Perhaps the longest running activity begun in 1980 was the annual Easter Sunrise service that was begun at Fisherman’s Point overlooking Willard Beach. Held at the break of dawn each Easter morning this service welcomes not only members of Peoples to each Easter’s glorious sunrise, but many folks that make this an annual event even though they may not have any other direct association with Peoples.
At the time of this writing the church membership is looking forward to the 27th anniversary of our original sponsorship of the event. If this writers memory is correct there have been less than 5 occasions in all those years when it could not be held at Fisherman’s Point and had to be relocated to the church sanctuary.
Another unique contribution to the community that began in 1980 was the formation of the Peoples Community Band. Started as a suggestion at a Council of Ministries Meeting, the band was thought originally to be an outlet for members of the church to renew their interest in music of all kinds. Some members of the church did join, but as organization was open to all members of the community many more folks from outside the church joined. For the first few years one concert a year was practiced for and practices were held in Ellis Hall. As the band took on a life of its own, Ellis Hall was not large enough for practice and the band was soon practicing regularly at Mahoney Middle School. That was also a convenient location since Eric Berry, the band director for South Portland schools, was hired to direct the Peoples Community Band. For several years an anniversary concert continued to be held in Ellis Hall and was always well attended.
Growing away from Peoples, the band eventually changed its name to the Casco Bay Concert Band. Grace Corey, while she was able, continued to serve as secretary and liaison with the band until her health became such that she no longer could hold the position. She was the last direct link between the band and the church. The band became regional in membership and continues to operate today from Gorham.
During Lent the Pastor led a number of members in a program called 10 Brave Christians. Members would rise each morning and do some spiritual leading and devotions. Once a week the members would get together to discuss what they had read and pray for other members of the congregation. In some ways it was a predecessor of the many small group studies that would become a part of the life of Peoples over the next quarter century.
It may have been mentioned in an earlier episode of this series of historical vignettes about Peoples Church, but it was the early 1980’s when Janice and Earl Nicholson were recognized with the Maine Conference Social Justice Award. Earl and Janice had worked with Native Americans on a reservation in Nebraska for a couple of years, Janice as a teacher and Tennis Coach and Earl as a business consultant. There have been Peoples people who have served in many capacities locally as well as far distant places.
In the arena of education several of the teachers of the Sunday school had the opportunity to take part in Teacher training academies both in the local area as well as others that were held in conferences south of Maine. Teachers were well trained and students were enthusiastic in their response to the Lord. Pastor Lin and a gentleman who in time would also become a Pastor of the Maine and New England Conference taught the high school class. That young man was Steve Perry. One of the projects that they shared was teaching the teens the whole of the Bible in a 4 year program.
It was not unusual for the church administrative board to develop a yearly theme. In 1980 that theme was, "We have a Dream" which had been inspired by the famous, "I have a Dream" speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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