HistoricalRoots of Peoples United Methodist Church
Part 71 Epilogue 5
During the years of 2009 and 2010 a number ofchanges took place that enhanced the programs and activities of Peoples Church.Many of those changes were spoken about in the last episode of this runninghistory of the church. Those changes were associated with missions of Peoples. At
this point I would now include in the changing life of the church the change inthe music opportunities of Peoples. While the choir will be celebrating 100 yearsof continuous choir operation in the year 2012 as far as the record shows there had been relatively few directors and organists before our present director,Debbie Cole. We do know that the first recorded organist was Evelyn York, who once married was Evelyn Tilton. In the 1930’s Evelyn continued to be associatedwith the choir. She in turn was followed by Dora Campbell Ayres whose husband,
Phil, was a well known tenor in the Peoples choir and then in others. Dora was also the sister of Walter Campbell and Warren Campbell as well as sistersGertrude and Marion. Marita Gould took Dora’s place as organist when Dora wasunable to fulfill that role. Malcolm Cass played the organ for the first time when his father Walter was appointed to pastor Peoples. Later he became the regular organist and choir director once his military commitment was over.Marita continued to serve as Malcolm’s assistant for over 25 additional years. Two other women played the organ on a limited basis during Malcolm's 60 plus years of service to Peoples. One was Carolyn Faucett and the other was Dianne Yoshua.
In her commitment to the Peoples music program, Debbie has endeared herself to a growing
number of choir members as well as the congregation. She has restored the Bell Choir, which was
organized and endowed with a bell collection and directorship by Janet Fifield,
in the name of her mother, Betty Wallace, in the year 1982. Janet in turn was succeeded by Marita Gould as director and in this role Marita led both an adult bell choir and a junior
bell choir. Doug Greer after a hiatus of a few years revived the bell choir a few years ago. Debbie has brought some special music to our services and hasbeen welcoming to both people with vocal talents beyond the choir as well as instrumentalists.
While the choir is relatively small, it is growing and many of the anthems that are sung are very inspirational adding much to thespiritual life of church services. On any given Sunday there may be anywherefrom 8 to 12 singers. Choir members are from all adult ages. This is also true
of the Bell Choir with some members of this group not in the singing choir. Oneobservation that needs to be made is that a Junior Choir which had long been atradition at Peoples has not existed for a few years. Usually if the Sunday school is strong and growing that is also true of the Junior Choir. Since the Sunday school has been growing the hope would be that within a short time a
Junior Choir can be reestablished. Certainly such an opportunity for children
can only be offered if some adult or adults can come forward and dedicate manyhours to this endeavor.
Periodically other opportunities to develop musical and performance talents also are a vital part of the mission of Peoples. In thelast few years, once a year a variety show has been organized in order to display in performance what primarily members of the church can do. A variety
show perhaps in some instances is better used to define what takes place since it is sometimes difficult to define what is considered to be talent. Comedy, Singing, and Instrumental have been viewed and heard in these shows. Bands such as Apollo 13 and Angus and theRock Dogs graced the beginning of the Variety Show in 2010, but many of Peoples own performed as well. Paul Obie played a haunting melody on the harmonica while Pastor Jamie and daughter Faith gave a fencing demonstration. Dena Arrison and Faith also played the piano. Mariah Bowker and Merrill Kaiser entertained us with their singing talents. Pastor Gwyneth led us in a comical
physical exercise and Betty Smith sang. Young Aaron Matthews read some of his own poems and sang as well. Among the unusual but entertaining acts was Jason House, a master of the bagpipes, being supported by his two children, Eliza and Ian. Sally Smith did her infamous comedy act and Chris Ward and Dan Doughty sang a duet. The Ushers who usually serve as greeters and hand out bulletins again came to the stage and offered, “Mary’s Boy Child” with a Calypso beat. A good time was had by all participants while the MC for the last two of these
extravaganzas has been Dick Matthews.
As an aside Dick, like many members of Peoples in the past, has recently been elected to serve in a local government position,that of school board member. His election was unusual in that he ran as a write-in candidate!
The history of South Portland’s city government has been graced with many folks who were members of Peoples Church. In previouspages of this history you may recall the names of Etta Robinson, Ray Henley,Mal LeShay, Bernal Allen, and Earl Nicholson among others. Many have served on commissions and committees and several members have graced PTAs and have also
been teachers in the school system. Others have been instrumental in local service clubs and through those organizations have brought joy to the elderly as well as children. Their spiritual life has continued beyond the local church and carried out in service to the community. Two of the folks in the above list also served in the state legislature. Presently the son of Brad Morrison,
Terry, is serving in that state body.
We are all asked to serve the Lord and our fellow man.