Roots of Peoples United Methodist Church
Part 70 Epilogue 4
The Story Continues: Involvement In Missions
As mentioned in the last episode the Church Life Committee joined the leadership of Missions, Fellowship, Discipleship, the Lay Leader and the pastors together for planning activities that all of the above mentioned areas were engaged in. Involvement in local missions included collecting food for the Food Pantry housed at the First Congregational Church, serving meals on 5th Wednesday of the month at the Wayside Soup Kitchen and serving meals at the Root Cellar four times a year to those that participate in their worthwhile programs. Even more recently Missions, under the leadership of Carol Bruneau, has assisted in the Root Cellar’s Christmas Angel program.
A connection with Southern Maine Community College was made after initial discussion in the Church Life Committee. In 2008 an on campus religious Bible Study group was organized with leadership being both from the pastors and from the laity of Peoples. We have continued to provide assistance when asked by the group who now assists students get acclimated when coming to live in the dorms on campus and meet regularly as a campus authorized group with their own leadership.
Another activity heading into its 4th year is the sponsorship of an International Extravaganza. Well attended a meal is served featuring the foods of foreign cultures. Attendees are given a recipe to prepare and bring with them. Families in attendance have a great time of fellowship eating together and then experiencing presentations from folks who have either grown up in a foreign culture or who have been on mission trips. Those in attendance have heard and seen presentations on missions in Ecuador, Russia, Tanzania, the Philippines and Cuba. At the first of the Extravaganza’s Merrill Kaiser announced and launched the most ambitious Heifer Project the church had ever sponsored. The goal was to collect enough money to supply what Heifer called an “Ark”. The Sunday school as well as general membership took on this project with gusto. Merrill thought that it might be three years to collect $5000, but in reality the total was collected in just about one year. This was remarkable in the light that Peoples people were supporting many other activities as well.
A major activity for Church Life and Missions in particular was getting out the message for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) on the needs of those that live on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico that were so devastated by especially Hurricane Katrina. Peoples also served as the repository not only for what we collected, but also for many other churches in the state of Maine. It was from this point that UMCOR sent a truck to pick up what had been collected. In 2010 again Peoples became the drop point for churches collecting health and layette kits that would be used to replenish the supply that had already been sent to Haiti following their horrendous meeting with destruction caused by an earthquake in January of this year.
While much focus on church life and missions may have come from the Church Life Committee it is also within the work of the United Methodist Women to involve themselves in the support of various missions. Long the supporter of Red Bird Mission in Kentucky they still continue to do that today. Locally they continue to supply such items as mittens and hats to the Teen Center in Portland.
Another ministry with a mission that has expanded in its mission is the Shawl Ministry that was started on February 4, 2006. The intention of this group was to make prayer shawls to be given to folks that were either in need of comfort as a result of hospital visits or experiencing extreme grief or relocating to such places as nursing homes. A small cadre of women meets once a month after working on their own to knit these comfort giving wraps. A few others while not meeting regularly have been contributors to this ministry and mission as well. At this time in March of 2010, 89 shawls have been blessed with many already distributed. In addition to the shawls the Shawl Ministry has also taken on a mission with Mercy hospital to provide Hearts for Healing Pillows to primarily women who have had cancer treatment and find them useful in buffering their bodies from, as an example, automobile safety belt. In a few instances men have also found such pillows comforting. They are distributed at Mercy Hospital’s Oncology Department where a partnership has been developed to continue this form of comfort for years to come. Additionally The Shawl Ministry when not devoting time to shawls and pillows has also with the help of outside friends provided both the Barbara Bush wing of the Maine Medical Center and the Oncology Department with knit hats, some for as small as preemies.
Many folks usually without notice have been involved in local missions by assisting folks who need rides to doctor’s appointments, providing meals for others who may need meals for a period of time due to illness or other reasons. Some members have donated clothing to various local shelters. Some others have volunteered their services to mow and rake the church lawn or a needy housebound member or friend.
Together and separately the traditions of providing service that have been written about in the past continue today and that opportunity for service has encouraged other members of the Peoples community to take part as a group and silently as individuals.

Roots of Peoples United Methodist Church
Part 69 Epilogue 3
The Story Continues: Visions and Applications
The Vision for 2006 was developed through a program titled “Righting the Ship” This was not a reflection on anything that was not done right in the past, but instead was to look at what areas of church life needed to be balanced. As is the case throughout any history it is a good idea periodically to examine the strengths and weaknesses in the operation of any organization. Peoples has a history of doing that and usually with success leading to altered directions.
The program was called an “Intreat” as opposed to a Retreat because the participants began the day with a worship service at Bug Light Park and then adjourned to Ellis Hall as opposed to a location away from our church home. The areas of church life that were developed were Evangelism, Discipleship, Worship, Missions and Fellowship. Those in attendance discussed how to make our church and its family more welcoming and at the same time getting members to reach out more to missions in the community. From the impetus of this program a number of initiatives were developed including a new Alpha session as well as Purpose Driven Life course. Another direction led to an important but short lived program titled “When Women Pray” which was held at the home of Linda and Doug Greer. There was concern expressed for how Sunday school offerings might be improved and later there would be the desire to work with other churches in resurrecting teen groups that had become somewhat dormant locally. The Intreat gave the new pastors, Jamie and Gwyneth Arrison an opportunity to see what the concerns of Peoples were and for the members who participated to see what goals the new pastors might have as well.
Out of this same session were a number of attempts to develop new forms of worship held at different times during the week or weekend. The first of these opportunities was called “The Gathering” and it was held on Saturday evenings. This was successful for a time, but with little growth and interest on a Saturday night what next was developed was a meditation service following the Taize format. This also worked successfully for those that wanted meditation, but again in time interest faded. In late 2009 a Meditation service was revived on an every other week basis on a Sunday night.
In early 2007 the third program developed by Rick Warren, called 40 Days of Community got underway with several small groups meeting in the homes of some of the members. The impetus to carry out this study/service program was again one of the needs discussed in the Intreat of the previous fall. The study with 8 to 10 people in each of five or six groups was to study together and to develop a local mission project to be engaged in during the 40 Days of the program. Some of the groups continued to meet after the 40 days was over carrying on study and projects together even to the time that these pages were written in 2010. As a follow-up in 2009 the fourth Warren program, 40 Days of Love, encouraged some of the existing Bible study groups to study God’s lessons of Love.
Late in that same year, but again a spin-off activity of the Intreat was the development of the first Community Awareness Fair held in the Spring of 2007. Earle Harvey and Rosemary Herd were the primary developers of this program to bring displays in from many of the local missions that we supported, or other local services that we wanted to promote and support with a way of getting volunteers. Some of the missions that Peoples supports nationally and internationally were also advertised. Some 20 local agencies and organizations used videos and picture boards along with speakers to show what they represented. People who came with children found games and free food. This was the first of three such programs that Peoples has sponsored. While the first was in the Spring each of the others have been held in early fall just before the opening of Sunday school. The focus has been more toward getting kids interested and coming to Sunday school, but there has also been plenty of activity for adults who attend as well. More games and food have been made available as this event has become a part of the fabric that continues to make Peoples a Welcoming Congregation. The most recent edition of the Fair held in the fall of 2009 included Pony rides as well. As part of welcoming members to the church we were able to purchase and wear either aprons or t-shirts. Andy Folley, the leader of the growing Sunday school, thought it might be neat if they could pass out t-shirts to the youngsters in the Sunday school. This was accomplished and during the first day of Sunday school all of the present students were given a t-shirt to wear for events at church. This along with a new learning center based approach has allowed membership to grow and prosper in the ways of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Along with new approaches to learning a number of church members, some of which having had little Sunday school teaching experience have come forward to assist in the quarterly teaching approach. Membership in the Sunday school has expanded, and more parents have taken part in the lives of their children. Sunday school for youngsters has brought new life to that part of the church life program. While not immediately a target for education, Teens were a concern that Pastor Jamie Arrison became involved with. In 2009 a new program was launched for teens in the greater Portland area. The program meets on Sunday afternoons and has given an outlet for a number of teens to meet and to get involved in fun and spiritual activities together. At this point its appeal is primarily to young teens primarily of middle school age in the belief that as these new members become older teens they will stay together and recreate active UMYF groups locally.
Much of the church life activities that are mentioned above and others has been coordinated by a group originally developed called Discipleship and more recently known as the Church Life Committee. While the number of folks that are members of this church has declined in recent years many ministries had been placed in the hands of individuals. In order to encourage each other those ministries responsible for Education, Missions and Fellowship have been brought together in the above mentioned group and often have planned programs together. In the next Epilog we will look at some of the programs that have drawn Education, Missions and Fellowship together beyond what has been mentioned in this episode.

Roots of Peoples United Methodist Church
Part 68 Epilogue 2
The Story Continues: Stewardship and Safe Sanctuaries

In the fall of 2004 the stewardship program was carried out through the able hands of Chris Bowker. As an older member of the congregation it was thrilling to see and feel the presence of the Lord in the hands of many younger folks who were taking numerous leadership roles such as the role that Chris had taken on. Linda and Fred Wade, Hank and Ellen Dunn, Dan and Ruth Doughty, Mike and Robyn Gray, Kathy Brann, Marilyn Voter were among those that assumed new roles or continued serving the Lord and Peoples in significant ways. Along with those previously mentioned the Kamilewicz family, the Morrisons and the Snoddys all assumed important roles in the life of the church. This is not to say that many who had been committed to long term service at Peoples didn’t continue their active and vital roles in leadership and followership.

Perhaps one of the single most significant additions to the policies of church operation that was approved by the church body in 2004 was the Safe Sanctuaries Policy. Marlene Tordoff had discussed Safe Sanctuaries with Rev. Richard Swan of Thornton Heights and in turn brought it to the attention of the Staff-Parish Committee at Peoples in August 2002. A voluminous booklet was put together under the leadership of Chuck Kamilewicz and a sub-committee of the Staff-Parish Committee and adopted by church conference in May 2004. Originally the task force consisted of Pastor Bill Beddie and his wife Cynthia, Chris Bowker, Wendy Diffen, Kari Fileo, Theresa Folley, Linda Greer, Rosemary Herd, Joanne Kamilewicz, Barbara Nelson, Marlene Tordoff and Chris Ward.
The gist of the document primarily concerns itself with the safety of the property and parishioners. Most of what that was addressed concerned itself with making young folks safe and secure. Locking of doors to checking out the credentials of adults working with children was all part of the package. Likewise, it is possible to address those who work with elderly folks quite easily as well. Requirements and standards for staff/volunteers, Screening processes, responding to allegations/misconduct, general information and directions are included as are the forms necessary to operate the program are included in the booklet held on file in the office. It is sometimes difficult to see that such a policy
is necessary in a church setting, but this is obviously a reflection upon the times that we now live. An annual orientation for those working with children is supposed to be a must with this program.

There had been a number of incidents reported in the media of abuse taking place in church settings by both the paid staff and volunteers. Safe Sanctuaries had been implemented in many United Methodist churches during this time frame although some churches with few youngsters have not seen the necessity of adopting such a program. It should be in place in the eyes of many young families who today are looking for a church home. It is also important that church members periodically look at the policy as a reminder of what the policy is designed for and what it is to do. Periodically it may also be necessary to revise the wording of such policies. This also may serve as a reminder that many policies that were implemented years ago are still in effect, but present membership may not be aware of. Among the items that in the last 30 years have not been revisited would be a job description portfolio that describes not only the work of paid employees, but also would describe the duties of group leaders. Another area that was significant in the past was the work of the Loan and Scholarship Committee. Many thousands of dollars were given as scholarships and others as loans. There has been little record of those loans having been repaid so they might be loaned out again to deserving students or students to be.

At the annual meeting of the church in 2005 the Reverend Michael Davis DS reminded the gathered throng of the Mission and Vision statements of this church that had been adopted in 2000.
Vision: “We accept God’s love for us as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will create and nurture an environment in which a diversity of people can develop and deepen a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our actions as individuals and as a congregation in the local community and the world are a result of our commitment to the Lord.”

Mission: “As Peoples United Methodist Church we take our mission as Jesus words, “to go and make disciples”. And John Wesley’s exhortation to “spread scriptural holiness within and beyond our local community.”

Certainly the meaning of both the vision and mission statements played a prominent role in the creation of the Safe Sanctuaries policy. Mike’s reminder of what our beliefs are should and do play a part in whatever we as a church strives to achieve in our discipleship within and without this church. Sometimes we need that reminder to keep us focused and on track.

In order to ensure that, the leadership of Peoples prepared in August of 2005 an Intreat otherwise known as a Retreat. Use of the term “Intreat’ simply meant that we didn’t go away for this workshop on the future of Peoples, but basically stayed home. The Intreat was a good way of having the new pastors, Gwyneth and Jamie Arrison become more familiar with who we were. It also gave us the opportunity to get to know them better as well.