Our church will host other Casco Bay United Methodist churches for an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22.

Rev. Johanna Dame from Clark Memorial and First Church South Portland will be preaching. The CEUMC choir also will sing.

Heavenly tones, high spirits

By the time the 10 a.m. service ended on Feb. 19, members of the congregation were on their feet, clapping their hands and, in some cases, even dancing in the aisles.

This was no ordinary service — this was Jazz Sunday providing a Mardi Gras-like atmosphere on the final Sunday before Lent.

Stephen Bither once again gathered his musical friends to provide New Orleans-style jazz before, during and after the service. With Stephen leading from the piano, he was joined by Pete Aranson on the drums, Peter Lord on the sax, Peter Dunphy on the banjo, Eric Anderson on the tuba, and Roger Snow on the trombone. During certain numbers, the group also was joined by Gail Parker and Faith York on the organ.

Choir Director Faith York joins the jazz ensemble as a spirited vocalist.

The church choir got into the act, joining the jazz ensemble for a number of its songs and Choir Director Faith York added a solo to the very special service.

And as if the jazz didn’t provide enough sweetness on a sunny Sunday morning, a pancake breakfast was served after the service, complete with fresh maple syrup and sausage.

A pancake breakfast followed the Jazz Sunday service.

A full house for the pancake breakfast was kept happy — and full — thanks to free-flowing pancakes and sausage provided by the kitchen staff of Bryan Connelly, Steve Hill, Chris DeSantis, Brenda Simpson and others.

Rev. Ruth Morrison enjoys the final number of the Jazz Sunday service -- "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Click here for more images of Jazz Sunday:

Stephen Bither directed the jazz ensemble from the piano.

"When the Saints Go Marching In" had some members of the congregation dancing in the aisles.

While most others were in the sanctuary listening to the jazz service, Bryan Connelly and Steve Hill were busy preparing pancakes in the kitchen, along with Brenda Simpson and Chris DeSantis.

A monumental task well done

Thank you to everyone who spent a good part of their Saturday on Feb. 18 taking apart and cleaning every corner of the church kitchen.

The Church Trustees organized this house-cleaning event, led by Gail Parker and Lisa Bowman.

EVERYTHING was taken out of the kitchen before the countertops, cupboards, refrigerator, stove, ovens, microwave, and assorted storage spaces were thoroughly cleaned with a flotilla of cleansers.

After everything was cleaned, items were returned to the kitchen and reorganized. To eliminate much of the clutter, many of the individual plates, dishes and serving platters were placed on a table in the Narthex. Over the next two weeks, check the table to see if any of your dishes or plates have been left from past church suppers. If they have, please take them home. If they are still there by the first Sunday in March, they will be donated to My Sister’s Keeper.

Bob and Linda Webster deliver a World Marriage Day sermon on Feb. 12.

Messages from the heart

On the occasion World Marriage Day was celebrated in homes, churches and communities throughout the world, our congregation had a firsthand experience with two experts on the subject, Bob and Linda Webster.

Bob and Linda have been involved in Marriage Enrichment, Celebrating Marriage, and are currently a Presenting Couple for Marriage Encounter, United Methodist. Their message, drawn from the heart, was delivered at both the 8 and 10 a.m. services, linking their own experiences with what they hoped would be experiences with which we all could relate — and learn from.

To explain the “covenant of love” that binds successful marriages, the Websters pointed to Wilbur and Theresa Faiss of Las Vegas, who have been married 79 years, making them the longest married coupled as certified by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter. According to Wilbur Faiss, who is 100, it’s all about “give and take and compromise.”

The Websters also talked about another couple who have written love letters to each other ever since they have been married — every day for 22 years. 

As for their own experiences, Bob and Linda explained that the root of a successful marriage is knowing the difference between “hearing and listening.” “Listen to one another with the heart,” they said, “and go beyond the words to listen to someone who is saying something about himself or herself.”

The decision to listen, they said, is to “give your full attention, get your whole person involved — your ears, eyes, body language, mind and heart.”

Bob and Linda also used the morning’s gospel lesson, Matthew 13:3-9, to show that the way we love each other is important to God. “For some people,” they said, “the closest they will ever come to seeing God is seeing you love one another.”

In closing, Bob and Linda read Bob Croft’s poem “Love” as a reflection of what they mean to each other and an example of what we should consider thinking about in our own relationships.

Click here to read Roy Croft’s poem:

“Love”

By Roy Croft

I love you,

Not only for what you are,

But for what I am

When I am with you.

I love you,

Not only for what

You have made of yourself,

But for what

You are making of me.

I love you

For the part of me

That you bring out;

I love you

For putting your hand

Into my heaped-up heart

And passing over

All the foolish, weak things

That you can’t help

Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out

Into the light

All the beautiful belongings

That no one else had looked

Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you

Are helping me to make

Of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern

But a temple;

Out of the works

Of my every day

Not a reproach

But a song.

I love you

Because you have done

More than any creed

Could have done

To make me good

And more than any fate

Could have done

To make me happy.

You have done it

Without a touch,

Without a word,

Without a sign.

You have done it

By being yourself.

Perhaps that is what

Being a friend means,

After all.

Click here for more information on World Marriage Day: WMD

Stephen Bither, and Megan and Katie Connelly display their Valentine's Day hearts.

Cape Elizabeth cupid

To recognize and appreciate St. Valentine’s Day two days early, Stephen Bither was the Ambassador of Hearts before the 10 a.m. service on Feb. 12, handing out hearts to everyone who walked into the sanctuary.

Mary Anne Champeon, Kathie Hackett, Gloria Kierstead and Joanne Scontras were busy Super Bowl morning preparing Italian Sandwiches.

Super Bowl fund-raising

The United Methodist Women once again prepared Italian Sandwiches on Sunday, Feb. 5 for members of the congregation to enjoy during their Super Bowl celebrations.

Mary Anne Champeon, Kathie Hackett, Gloria Kierstead and Joanne Scontras had an assembly line of sandwiches going, long before the 8 a.m. service even began.

Kathie reported that the UMW made 55 sandwiches, 11 more than last year,  for its Super Bowl fund-raising event. Proceeds from the sandwich sales go toward helping children of our church to attend Camp Mechuwana during the summer.

Thank you, UMW!

While Rev. Ruth Morrison listens and remembers, Mark Braun reads his original poem about Ruth's 40 years of ministry work.

Forty years of ministry work

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, Rev. Ruth Morrison will likely look back to Jan. 31, 1972 and reflect, reminisce, and remember.

The date marks 40 years of Ruth having served thousands through ministries in Baptist and United Methodist churches, including the past eight years with the Cape Elizabeth UMC. It all began as an associate minister with the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Portland.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, the congregation listened while Mark Braun read his original poem, touching on Ruth’s path through these 40 years: the light moments, the challenges, the successes, and the indelible influence Ruth’s words and actions have left on every congregation of which she has been a cornerstone.

Thank you, Ruth — from us all!

With assistance from Eric Higley Parker, Rev. Ruth Morrison cuts a cake recognizing her 40 years in the ministry. Ruth asked Eric to assist because Eric's 17th birthday falls on the same day -- Jan. 31 -- as Ruth's 40th anniversary.

Sunday School Superintendent Carol Hubbard and some members of her class present Rev. Ruth Morrison with a creation from that morning's class to recognize Ruth's 40th anniversary.

Prior to serving her Properity Salad, Jo and Melissa Stewart hand out chop sticks.

Diversity on Sunday morning

Celebration of the Chinese New Year found its way into our Sunday service  on Jan. 29, thanks to Jo and Tim Stewart and their family.

As part of fellowship time following the 10 a.m. service, the Stewart family intoduced the 15-day celebration of the Year of the Black Water Dragon to our congregation with traditional holiday food from Singapore, Jo’s home country.

At the center of the Chinese New Year buffet was the Prosperity Salad, which also graced the special Asian Dinner at our church last November. Jo explained that he or she who eats the Prosperity Salad will receive 10,000 blessings during the new year. She and her daughter Melissa then handed out chop sticks and everyone joined together to toss the salad as part of the ritual.

It was a post-worship fellowship not to be forgotten!

It was all hands in to toss the Prosperity Salad and a chance at its 10,000 blessings.

A dialogue to honor MLK

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

This quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the foundation for a spirited evening of “getting to know each other” and “communication” at the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church on Sunday, Jan. 15.

The gathering was part of the nationwide America’s Sunday Supper, promoted by United Methodist Communications and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society.

 Forty people gathered at our church for its version of America’s Sunday Supper and spent two hours learning more about each other and perhaps, a little more about each of themselves as a way to honor the birth and life of Dr. King.

Members of the CEUMC congregation joined with members of the Hope Gate Way United Methodist Church in Portland, along with guests from the Greater Portland community, to find a common means of communication to better understand our similarites in our shared society.

Following a welcome from Rev. Ruth Morrison, event organizer Steve Hill launched an exercise to help everyone better understand each other’s common threads. After pulling everyone together into a large circle, Steve began calling out general questions, such as “Do you speak a language other than English?” Anyone who could answer yes was invited to join inside the circle and offer a high-five to anyone else who could answer yes to that question. Other subjects for the sharing experience were “Are you a happy person?” “Are you an only child?” Have you broken a bone in your body?” “Have you marched in a parade?”

It turned out to be a perfect ice-breaking exercise and opened the door to acknowledging each other’s interests and backgrounds.

A lot of high-fiving took place after the question was asked, "Are you a happy person?"

Following a half-dozen questions and the corresponding high-five responses, the overall group was broken into three smaller groups with each being sent to a different part of the church. This is when a more thought-provoking dialogue began.

Each group was given a suggested list of topics to discuss and there was plenty of freedom to take each discussion in any direction. The groups opened their discussions with the simple question  “Where were you born and when?” Responses brought forth a clear geographic diversity with people explaining they were from San Diego, Chicago, Minnesota, Seattle, Florida, Boston, and, of course, right here in Maine. But then there were also people in the groups from Burundi, Moldova, Ethiopia, and Singapore. Those cultural differences led to more discussions, including the realization that there were as many similarites as differences.

Rev. Ruth Morrison asks a question in one of the evening's breakout groups.

Click here to read more of this story and to see more of the images from America’s Sunday Supper in Cape Elizabeth:

In one of the groups, the question was asked, “If you had the power, what one thing would you change in the world?” Almost immediately, responses focused on food — the availability, distribution and waste.

“When you come to this country from another part of the world,” one of the participants said, “the perception is that there aren’t hungry and sick people living here. When you’re from outside this country, you don’t hear about homelessness and poverty. But once you begin to live here, it’s amazing how quickly that perception changes.”

Continuing on the subject of food, another person concluded, “There clearly is enough food to distribute throughout the world, but there are choke points that get in the way — intentional choke points. That’s where the injustice comes in. It’s very clear that 1 percent of the population controls far too much and that’s social injustice.”

In another group, the topic was education. “Learning is knowledge and power,” one participant said. “When you put an emphasis on learning — really learning — that’s where true power comes from.”

The subject of freedom of religion and faith surfaced as another topic when the discussion focused on dreams for the future. “All dreams, all we wish for comes from how we rely on God and Jesus,” one person said. “You live you life , you build your life from what you read in the Bible. That’s the future.”

In the same group, another reponse for “dreams for the future” delve into our carelessness with the environment and what will happen if we don’t change our ways.

Thoughts for dreams was the closing discussion for the group sessions and event organizer Steve Hill pointed to Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence as his final thought: “Our future should be life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

There were many shaking of heads in agreement.

In addition to the group discussions, the evening included a poignant video on the life and quotations of Dr. King, scripture reading of Amos 5:24 and Genesis 37: 19-20 and hymn singing, including “We Shall Overcome.”

And appropriately, the evening with the theme “America’s Sunday Supper” ended with supper for all — pizza and salad — and a group prayer for having brought everyone together — to learn more about each other and communicate what was learned.

In conclusion, Steve Hill, the event organizer and church lay leader, talked about “the amazing path everyone has followed to join us here tonight.” And to emphasize that thought, Natalie Charles drew one final conclusion: “I would like to see us do this again”

Until next time . . .

  Here are some more images from America’s Sunday Supper at the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church:

Mariah Parker

Song with a message

Adding some warmth to a frigid Sunday morning, Mariah Parker graced the congregation on Jan. 15 with a solo singing of Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” There was a message in the song and Mariah wanted to pass it on.

Thank you, Mariah:

Here are the lyrics: 

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati

On a snow white Christmas Eve

Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat

Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline

It’d been a long hard year

She had a lot on her mind and she didn’t pay attention

she was going way too fast

Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass

She saw both their lives flash before her eyes

She didn’t even have time to cry

She was sooo scared

She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus take the wheel

Take it from my hands

Cause I can’t do this on my own

 I’m letting go

So give me one more chance

Save me from this road I’m on

Jesus take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder

And the car came to a stop

She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock

And for the first time in a long time

She bowed her head to pray

She said I’m sorry for the way

I’ve been living my life

I know I’ve got to change

So from now on tonight

Jesus take the wheel

Take it from my hands

Cause I can’t do this on my own

I’m letting go

So give me one more chance

Save me from this road I’m on

Ooh, Jesus take the wheel

Ooh, I’m letting go

So give me one more chance

Save me from this road I’m on

From this road I’m on

Jesus take the wheel

Ooh, take it, take it from me

Ooh ooh wah ah ooh ooh ooh