1. shopping
2. gifts

The Beacon
Newsletter of the United Methodist Church
December 2014
PASTOR’S FORUM
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they
bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and
presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh”. Matthew 2:11
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH
439 PARK AVENUE
AUBURN, MAINE 04210
Telephone: (207) 782-3972
www.auburnmethodist.org
Church Secretary, Joan Spitzform
Email: [email protected]
Sunday Worship 8:30 and 10 a.m.
Sunday School
Children and Youth 10:00 a.m.
Staff
Rev. Jackie Brannen, Pastor
[email protected]
Norma Rice-Gould, Organist
Caroline Coffin, Choir Director
William Buzza, Bell Choir Director
Children’s Choir, Claire Cote
Peter Poliquin, Custodian
Edith Ellis, Beacon Editor
Cherie Downing, SS Superintendent
Mitch Thomas, Music Director, early
service
Email articles to
[email protected]
BEACON deadline for submission
is the 10th of the month prior to
publication date.
Next due date is January 10th
December is upon us and it is the perfect time to reflect once more upon the
gift of Jesus as we celebrate with family and friends. I am sure that you are
deeply involved in a flurry of activity; gift buying, holiday cooking, singing
carols and worshiping our Lord and Savior here at AUMC. I imagine that Jesus
is enjoying each moment of the celebration as well. After all, it is all about
HIM!
Our scripture tells us that shepherds and wise men stopped what they were
doing two thousand years ago, so that they could follow the star that led to the
baby Jesus and once there, they worshiped the Lord with reverence, delight
and gifts.
While you celebrate this Christmas, I invite you to take some time out to
ponder the mystery of the Christ child in your heart just as Mary did so long
ago. While you gather with loved ones, take the time to remember the true gift
of the season. Bring that sweet baby, child into your Christmas so that others
might also remember and respond.
We will have many opportunities to respond with worship as we prepare for
two worship services on Sunday mornings; one at 8:30 and one at 10, our
annual Christmas concerts on the 6th, Mitch’s concert, as well as our
Christmas Eve service at 7PM on the 24th.
Of course, many of us are responding with service and generosity. Thank you
for your special gifts to the church, and your gifts to the needy though our
Giving Tree ministry.
This year, Matthew and I will be giving the Hope School, in Bethlehem, a
special monetary gift as well. We invite you to join us in this worthy ministry.
As most of you have heard, this school educates both Christian and Muslim
children in Bethlehem; many of whom are orphans residing at the school. Our
visit to this school, when the Bishop led our Holy Land Pilgrimage last year,
showed us that this ministry is a wonderful way to offer baby Jesus, another
Bethlehem child, a special gift that will last long after the Christmas tree has
been put away.
This Christmas, I know that I will be thanking God for the gift of Himself;
Immanuel; God Among Us, as I thank Him for the gift of my family and for
each of you! I pray that you will be profoundly blessed this season and that
you too will follow that star to the Christ child where you will indeed find the
only gift you will ever need.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Jackie
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Pastor’s Office Hours
Pastor Jackie has Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
from 9 to noon for office hours unless a district
meeting is scheduled on one of those particular days.
Most visitations occur in the afternoons. If you would
like to schedule an appointment please feel free to
call her cell 242-2770. The door is open!
•
•
It is no surprise that reading
the Bible is very good for us!
And yet so many of us shy
away from it. Our Church
council leaders have been
sharing a bible reading and
short discussion in each
committee meeting this past
year and it is going great! We are all getting into the
habit of reading and hearing the bible being read.
Author Robert Mulhound suggests that we begin a
reading, not wondering what the passage means but
instead, what does God want me to hear in this
reading? How does that make me feel? Why do I feel
that way? How is the spirit of God touching my
spirit? These simple questions can take the fear out
of reading the bible. They encourage us to listen for
God instead of worrying that we may not be
intellectually up to the challenge of understanding the
text. I encourage you to try it! `
•
Advent 2014 Scripture Themes and
Winter 2015
I AM THE CHURCH...YOU ARE THE
CHURCH..WE ARE THE CHURCH
TOGETHER...
The Church Retreat was held at Turner Highlands
with 26 people in attendance. Bonnie Marden led
the group with an inspiring, motivational workshop
to take the church community forward.
•
•
•
•
•
•
November 30, 2014: Psalm 80 Mark 13:
24-37 Watching For God In Suffering
December 7, 2014: Psalm 85 Isaiah 40:1-11,
Mark 1:1-8 Watching For God via His
Messengers
December 24: Christmas Eve Lessons and
Carols
December 28, 2014: Guest Preacher
January 4, 2015: Psalm 72 Matthew 2:1-12
Finding The Messiah Epiphany!
January 11, 2015: Psalm 29 Mark 1:4-11
Responding to the Messiah
•
•
•
January 18, 2015: UMW Sunday
January 25, 2015: Psalm 62 Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Mark 1:14-20 Following The Messiah
February 1, 2015: Psalm 111 Mark 1:21-28
Growing With the Messiah
February 8, 2015: Psalm 147 Mark 1:29-39
Healing Work of the Messiah
February 15, 2015: Psalm 50 Mark 9:2-9 In
Awe of the Messiah Transfiguration Sunday
December 14, 2014: Psalm 126 Isaiah 61:1-4,
8-11 Watching For God in Acts of Love
Christmas Trees for Boy Scouts
Boy Scout Troop 121, based here at the church will,
for the third year, collect discarded Christmas trees
and deliver them to the local recycling centers in
Auburn and Lewiston. While the cities of Auburn
and Lewiston provide locations for free tree disposal,
they no longer collect the trees at curbside. For a
minimum donation of $5, the scouts will pick-up
Christmas trees on the weekend of January 10th and
11th. Trees must be at curbside by the morning of
January 10th. To make a pick-up request, drop your
donation off at the church office. The Troop in turn,
will send you a tag to place on your tree when you
place it curbside. Tree tags can also be picked up at
Auburn/Lewiston tree sale locations. For more
information, talk with Don, Rosemary or Cody
Malpass or call 783-0790. We appreciate your
support of this fund raiser.`
An intergenerational group of longtime members,
newcomers, young and old were talking, working
together and coming up with ideas for the direction
of the church. Those who attended left the day
feeling energized, renewed and filled with excitement
about the future. As time goes on the congregation
and committees will be hearing more details about
the day. `
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A Huge Thank you to our Youth who have been
participating in the service on the first Sunday of the
month.
Our survey response to the question... How did you
learn about Jesus? ...indicated that most people got
their knowledge from home and Sunday School. We
need to make sure that our children and youth come
to church as often as possible.
Have you noticed a picture in the Fellowship hall
entitled "DO YOU KNOW WHERE THIS IS? If
you are stumped ask a Sunday School student to
show you.
JESUS IS THE REASON
In Bethlehem, God gave to us
The source of Christmas joy;
A star shown on a miracle:
The virgin birth of a boy.
He was born both God and man,
A Savior for us all,
The way to get to our heavenly home,
If we just heed the call.
So as we shop and spend and wrap
And enjoy the Christmas season,
Let's keep in mind the scared truth:
Jesus is the reason.
Dear Jesus,
It is YOUR birthday. We pray we won't get so
caught up in the celebration, decorations and gifts
that we miss the that we miss the REAL Christmas.
Amen
Pre-School December Collection
Mittens...a size that will fit a little hand of a 3 to 5
year old
Boy and Girl underwear Size 2-4 and 4 to 6
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
December 21 during the church service
This is an intergenerational program for ALL ages
entitled:
A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Practice will be held Sunday December 7 and 14
after church.
WELCOME to Dayna Bennett our new Nursery
provider. Dayna is a graduate of Leavitt High
School. She spent her summer being a Nanny for 2
children. Currently she is enrolled at Central Maine
Community College for Early Childhood `
Development.
Warm Hands Project
High Street Congregational Church along with
Auburn UMC, St. Michael’s Parish and West Auburn
Congregational Church are looking for volunteers to
help make mittens for youth and children ages 5-15.
We hope to distribute 500 pairs of mittens to clients
during the month of January. They can be knitted or
fleece. Mittens may be dropped off at High Street
Church, 106 Pleasant Street, Auburn, ME on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursday during office
hours. Deadline is December 31st. You can also
place them in the box on the Fellowship table. Please
contact Jeanne at High Street Church: 784-1306 ext.
10 or Stephanie at 784-1915. Also, see flyer on the
fellowship table. `
Don’t forget to
smile
when you shop at Amazon. www.smile.amazon.com
`
High Street Food Pantry
The following items are needed on a weekly basis:
peanut butter, toilet paper, and pasta sauce. Please
place items in the grocery cart outside the sanctuary.
If you have questions about the pantry or wish to
volunteer, please speak with Leroy Brown or Eric
Howes. Thank you for supporting this mission and
helping local people meet their most basic needs. `
3
Poinsettias for the Sanctuary
Soup Labels Box Tops
This year the Worship Committee would like to give
you a choice in how you Remember or Honor your
loved ones on Christmas Sunday. You may order
plants at $10 each to decorate the altar as you have in
the past or you may give the same amount as a
donation to the High Street Food Cupboard to help
feed the hungry in our midst (OR DO BOTH!) This
will be done with the same form found in your
Sunday bulletins at church; names of loved ones will
appear in the bulletin insert on Christmas Sunday no
matter which option you choose. Just fill out the
appropriate parts of the form and leave it in the
church office with your payment attached by the
deadline of SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14. We ask that
you not leave your plants in the cold Sanctuary to be
disposed of; please take your plants home to enjoy or
share them with someone after the 7 p.m. Christmas
Eve service or after worship on Sunday, December
28.
Thank you to all those who have
been so faithful in saving Campbell
Soup labels and Box Tops for
Education. Gail Theberge,
secretary at the Washburn
Elementary School, coordinates
this endeavor. Please continue to
save them- this is a worthy community service! `
GIVING TREE
It is that time of year again! The Giving Tree is up
and loaded with tags. Gifts must be delivered to the
Church by Sunday, December 7th. Thank you for all
your continued assistance with this Mission. If you
prefer to make a donation to this Mission Project, we
will shop for you. Please put ‘Giving Tree’ in the
memo section of your check. Thank you.
E-beacon Invitation
To receive your Beacon, send an email to
[email protected]. If you would
like to receive an electronic version of the Beacon
and still receive a paper copy please be sure to
specify this otherwise you will be removed from the
mailing list for the Beacon. Many thanks to those
that are already receiving their eBeacon! The group is
growing.
P.S. You can also find the most recent and the last
issues of the Beacon on our web siteauburnmethodist.org so please check it out. `
Take the Paper Challenge!
One of our biggest office expenses is that of paper.
Each year, there are 10 issues of the Beacon
newsletter to be printed. It is estimated that we use
approximately 45 reams of paper (packages of 500)
just to print the Beacon. So, we are challenging each
church family to donate as many reams of paper as
you can to help defray the cost of paper, especially if
you prefer a printed copy to the eBeacon. Typically,
reams of 8 ½ x 11 paper cost about $6.00 each. When
you are out shopping look for a paper bargain and
take the “Paper Challenge” and help us save!
Donations may be left in the narthex on the table.
Thank you all so much for your help!!`
Multiple Sclerosis Support Group
New meeting time and place:
Coffee and Conversation the last Tuesday of each
month at the Auburn Library Café, located under the
Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St., Auburn, ME.
04210.
When: The last Friday of every month
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
For questions or information please contact: Marcia
Akers @ 998-4944.`
Note from the Editor:
I apologize for the lack of graphics in this month’s
Beacon. Adding them was making the program
crash. Hopefully, the issue will be resolved by
next month.
4
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The annual Christmas Concert will be held on
Saturday December 6th with performances at 2:00
and 7:00 pm.
PIES! COOKIES! Needed for the Christmas
Concerts on December 6th.. Please add your name to
the sign-up sheets which can be found on the table in
the fellowship hall. We need your help! Please
bring your pies/cookies to the church kitchen Friday,
Dec. 5th, or Saturday, Dec. 6th by noon. Thank you.
Contact: Please see Donna Manson if you have any
questions. `
October 26. It was also sent via e-mail for those not
able to be in church on that date so they could
participate. THE RESULTS: 1) Most would prefer
not go out for a late night service. 2) The majority
preferred the more Traditional Lessons and Carols
service. So the decision has been made to have one
Lessons and Carols Service at 7 p.m. on Christmas
Eve.
We will be singing lots of Christmas Carols and
reading the Lessons that traditionally have been read
at the later service. We hope that you will fill the
sanctuary with young and old alike as we celebrate
on December 24. Thank you again for your help! `
PAINT PARTY
The church will be hosting a paint party on Saturday,
December 13th at 2:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Our instructor will provide step by step instructions
to create a beautiful winter evening scene (see sample
on hallway bulletin board). All supplies are included
and you will bring home your masterpiece on a
stretched canvas. Seating is limited, please register
with Marissa Deku at 207-754-4865 or
[email protected] to reserve your seat. The
cost is $30.00 for a fun filled afternoon! `
Naomi Circle
will meet on Tuesday, December 16 at 1:30 pm. `
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
An intergenerational Christmas Pageant entitled: ‘A
Simple Christmas Pageant’ will be held Sunday,
December 21st during worship. Non-speaking roles
for the Nativity scene, animals, angels and shepherds
are needed. December 7th and 14th Rehearsals after
Church. Contact: Cherie Downing. `
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
DECEMBER 24 at 7 P.M.
The Worship Committee thanks all of you who
helped us make the decision about the timing of the
Christmas Eve service by completing the survey on
Church Calender
December 2014
Sunday:
8:30 am
9:00 am
9:15 am
9:45 am
10:00 am
11:15 am
Worship Service
Wesleyan Singers
Pastor’s Prayer Circle
Youth Choir Rehearsal
Worship and Sunday School
Coffee and Conversation
Monday, December 1st
CHURCH CONFERENCE
6:00 p.m.
SPRC
7:00 p.m.
Church Conference
1:30 p.m.
Auburn Art Club
5:30 p.m.
Solutions Group
6:00 p.m.
Girl Scout Troop 178
6:00 p.m.
Bell Choir
7:00 p.m.
Serenity Group
7:30 p.m.
AA/Alanon
Tuesday, December 2nd
6:00 p.m.
Girl Scout Troop 1606
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Wednesday, December 3rd
7:15 a.m.
Rotary Breakfast
6:00 p.m.
Private Men’s Group
6:00 p.m.
Wesleyan Singers
Thursday, December 4th
10:00 a.m.
Faith Journey
11:30 a.m.
Outreach Committee
6:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 121
6:00 p.m.
Cub Scout Den 2
6:00 p.m.
Cub Scout Wolf
6:30 p.m.
Cub Scout Bears
6:30 p.m.
Cub Scout Den 1
7:00 p.m.
Church Council
Friday, December 5th
10:15 a.m.
Music Together
5:45 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 111
Saturday, December 6th
7:30 a.m.
Men’s Breakfast
2:00 p.m.
Christmas Concert
7:00 p.m.
Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 7th
8:30 a.m.
Worship
11:30 a.m.
Nurture Committee
11:30 a.m.
Pageant Costume Fittings
12:30 p.m.
Advent Bible Study
1:30 p.m.
Norma’s Piano Recital
6:00 p.m.
Private Men’s Group
Monday, December 8th
5:30 p.m.
Solutions Group
6:00 p.m.
Bell Choir
7:00 p.m.
Serenity Group
7:30 p.m.
AA/Alanon
Tuesday, December 9th
6:00 p.m.
Girl Scout Troop 1606
Wednesday, December 10th
BEACON DEADLINE
7:15 a.m.
Rotary Breakfast
5:15 p.m.
River Valley Girl Scouts
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Girl Scout Troop 1606
Private Men’s Group
Wesleyan Singers
Thursday, December 11th
10:00 a.m.
Faith Journey
6:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 121
6:00 p.m.
Cub Scout Den 2
6:00 p.m.
Cub Scout Wolf
6:30 p.m.
Cub Scout Bears
6:30 p.m.
Cub Scout Den 1
Friday, December 12th
10:15 a.m.
Music Together Workshop
5:45 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 111
Saturday, December 13th
1:30 p.m.
Paint Party
Sunday, December 14th
8:30 a.m.
Worship
11:00 a.m.
Finance Committee
11:30 a.m.
Pageant Rehearsal
12:00 p.m.
UMW Christmas Tea
12:30 p.m.
Advent Bible Study
6:00 p.m.
Private Men’s Group
Monday, December 15th
5:30 p.m.
Solutions Group
6:00 p.m.
Girl Scout Troop 178
6:00 p.m.
Bell Choir
7:00 p.m.
Serenity Group
7:30 p.m.
AA/Alanon
Tuesday, December 16th
1:30 p.m.
Naomi Circle
6:00 p.m.
Girl Scout Troop 1606
6:30 p.m.
Ruth Circle
Wednesday, December 17th
7:15 a.m.
Rotary Breakfast
6:00 p.m.
Preschool Christmas Pageant
6:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 121 Committee
6:00 p.m.
Private Men’s Group
6:00 p.m.
Wesleyan Singers
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Thursday, December 18th
10:00 a.m.
Faith Journey
5:00 p.m.
SPRC
6:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 121
7:00 p.m.
Trustee Committee
Friday, December 19th
5:45 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 111
Saturday, December 20th
2:00 p.m.
Mitch and Friends Concert
Sunday, December 21st - Pageant
8:30 a.m.
Worship
11:30 a.m.
Mission Committee
12:30 p.m.
Advent Bible Study
6:00 p.m.
Private Men’s Group
Monday, December 22nd
5:30 p.m.
Solutions Group
6:00 p.m.
Bell Choir
7:00 p.m.
Serenity Group
7:30 p.m.
AA/Alanon
Tuesday, December 23rd
6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 1606
Wednesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service Candlelight
Thursday, December 25th
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
Friday, December 26th
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED – NO ACTIVITIES
Saturday, December 27th
NO ACTIVITIES
Sunday, December 28th - Jackie on Vacation
6:00 p.m.
Private Men’s Group
Monday, December 29th – Jackie Vacation
5:30 p.m.
Solutions Group
6:00 p.m.
Bell Choir
7:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Serenity Group
AA/Alanon
Tuesday, December 30th – Jackie Vacation
No Activities Scheduled
Wednesday, December 31st – Jackie Vacation
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
OFFICE CLOSED
FACES OF
AUBURN METHODIST CHURCH
Maynard and Gladys Chapman
64 Forest Drive
Poland, Maine 04274
998-5331
On June 21, 1944, up in Maine’s roof top, a son was
born to Judson Chapman (born in 1920) -- a farmer
and a carpenter -- and to Harriet Hathaway Chapman
(born in 1921) -- a home maker. The new baby was
named Maynard Galen Chapman. This new addition
to the Chapman family was destined to affect all of us
reading this today.
During Maynard’s youth growing up on a farm in
northern Maine, at six years of age he began to earn
his own money by picking potatoes to help buy new
clothes necessary for the beginning of the school
year. As he grew up, he worked delivering the
Bangor Daily News (a beginning move up the ladder
of success) and also by working in the local movie
theater, where he mastered all the jobs that needed to
be done, the most pleasurable he found to be that of
popping the popcorn.
Maynard’s formal education consisted of grades K-6
at Teague Park Elementary School in Caribou, grade
7 at Caribou Junior High School, and grades 8-12 at
Caribou High School. He graduated in 1962, and
immediately joined the Marine Corp, serving his
country for four years, an accomplishment we all
thank him for.
On returning home from his stint in the Marines, he
7
began working in a tire retread plant. He soon moved
on and sold furniture for the next eight years. After
trying that he decided to move on again, next
working 14 years for Hall and Knight Distributors.
His final full time position was with Down East Food
Distributors. He retired from that position in 2007
after having worked since the age of six. But, did he
really stop working? You know the answer:
Absolutely not! You now see him doing many jobs
around the church, keeping him busy and out of
Gladys’ hair. However, he is frequently seen assisting
Gladys in her many endeavors working for her
church. Maynard is also for hire in assisting his
church family in need of help around their homes.
Gladys was born to Merle S. Merrill and Marjorie
Parsons Merrill in Lewiston (CMG) on July 14, 1942.
Her father, Merle, was born in 1911. Her mother,
Marjorie, was born in Monmouth in 1915. Merle ran
a furniture store (Merrands) in Turner and was mayor
of Auburn. Marjorie was a teacher (a profession that
seems to run in the family).
Gladys attended grades K-6 at Lake Street School
and grades 7-9 at Webster Junior High School. She
went to Edward Little High School and graduated in
1960. After high school, Gladys went on to Gorham
State Teachers College for two years and to Bliss
College for one year. Her formal post high school
education was interrupted for a short while when she
had a full time position teaching, even though she
did not yet have her degree. There was a desperate
need for teachers at that time. After completing the
course work needed to get a B.S. degree in education,
she graduated from the University of Maine, Orono.
Gladys’s many money-making endeavors consisted of
babysitting (at $0.50 an hour), working at The
Miramar Tea Room in West Auburn and at Pineland
Hospital in Pownal (working with special needs
children). Gladys went on to teach grades 2, 3, 4, and
7 both in Auburn and in Turner. After retiring from
teaching, she became the Christian Education
Director for ten years at our church -- with Maynard’s
support -- and loved every minute of it.
I went on to ask some more questions -- a little more
personal -- the answers to which proved to be very
interesting. I wanted to know how Maynard (way up
in Caribou), met Gladys (way down in Auburn).
Gladys has a very special friend, Barbara Hardison,
who wanted to make a weekend trip to Caribou to
visit her folks. She asked Gladys to go with her. At
first Gladys was not too keen on going, yet finally she
gave in and off to Caribou they went, a weekend that
proved to change both of their lives. During that first
trip to Caribou, Gladys and Barbara discovered out
what happens in Caribou on Friday nights when the
businesses close and the street lights come on. It
seemed the favorite activity in Caribou was for the
youth to get reacquainted with each other. You might
ask, how did they manage to do that? They got into
their cars and drove around the Caribou area,
stopping side by side at parking lots and parking
areas. They would chat for a while and move on to
another area where they would chat some more. After
the first weekend of getting to know Caribou, Gladys
was introduced to a happy, energetic and interesting
young man who just happened to strike her fancy. As
time progressed they found that they enjoyed each
other’s company very much. The following weekend
turned into a trip south for Maynard, and later, one
north for Gladys. Maynard did not care what the
weather was for a weekend, he just headed south
regardless; he was on a mission. The first time he met
her family, Gladys’s father told her he liked him. Her
mother told him she would cook him a meal he
would never forget, which she did. Her famous
biscuits that always came out four inches high were
the talk of the town. What happened? That first night
when she really wanted to impress this young man
who had won Gladys’s heart, the biscuits failed her.
They only rose about one inch. What happened? Oh,
no! . . . she had forgotten to put the baking powder
in. No matter, Maynard, being so very enamored
with Gladys, didn’t even notice and ate several of
them, commenting on how good they were.
In 1967 Gladys got a diamond and they married on
December 23, 1967, at the Park Ave. Methodist
Church. They left immediately for Florida and headed
directly into a storm that stopped them in Portland.
They weathered the storm for a few days and then
8
decided to just go back home to Auburn where they
moved into their apartment above Gladys’s parents.
Maynard and Gladys have two daughters and three
grandchildren. Shelly was born on Feb.1, 1969 and
Sarah was born May 1, 1973. Shelly graduated from
Farmington State Teachers College with a B.S. in
Education and a Masters in Administration. She
taught science at Edward Little High School then
after many years she moved on to Curriculum
Advisor for Auburn She and her husband, Todd, who
is a former teacher, have one daughter named
Hannah.
that everyone needs to find their own niche in life -and in the church! -- and help carry the load. She
likes to make people happy, an endeavor she
succeeds in. She feels blessed to have so many
people willing to help her with church activities.
Thank you to two very interesting and hardworking
members of our church for sharing some interesting
highlights of their life story.
Marilyn Rice
December Celebrations!!
Sarah graduated from Edward Little High School and
Springfield College with a B.S. in Education and a
Masters in Physical Education. She taught in Turner
and now teaches Physical Education in Auburn. She
and her husband, Christian, have two children, Alissa
and Alex. They are the two beautiful red heads you
probably have seen at the church.
Maynard and his family were never church goers, so
he was first introduced to attending when he married
Gladys. Now, Maynard never misses being present at
the church, diligently working for it. Gladys has
helped her church for many years, doing every job
except serving on the finance committee. She has
served as Christian Education Director, head of the
church pre-school and wedding and funeral director.
She has been active in the UMW and Ruth Circle,
along with her mother, when she was alive. You can
see Gladys in the kitchen for various events in the
church. Maynard likes to golf in his spare time.
Gladys likes to be around people, as she is a “People
Person.” Maynard loves Gladys’s French onion soup
and her Swiss chicken, a meal that makes both of
them happy.
December Birthdays:
1
Becky Skilling
2
Tom Mower
Thomas Petit
3
Don Nason
4
Jay Turner
9
Jonathan Damon
10
Kim Visbaras
11
Russ Peppe
13
Kelsey Nicolas
Jim Sargent
14
Marjorie Arnold
17
Lisa Gould
Brayden Walter Beaule
19
Kelly Higgins
Marissa Zink
20
David Waters
22
Susan Allison
23
Barry Skilling
25
David Sargent
Beverley Heath
26
Carol Anne McFadden
28
Reggie DeRocher
29
Lincoln Hayes
Kim Humphrey
Jeanie Sasser
30
December Anniversaries:
Tim and Nancy Lander
Don and Billie Linscott
Maynard and Gladys Chapman
Tom and Libby Reichard
John and Wendy Mitchell
David and Betty Young
Many Happy Returns of the Day!
They would like to see everyone in the church
contribute to make it the best it can be. Gladys feels
9
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
439 PARK AVENUE
AUBURN, MAINE 04210
CHANGE SERVICE
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE PAID
AUBURN, MAINE 04210
PERMIT NO. 9
REQUESTED
The United Methodist Church of Auburn is an
inter generational Christian Community whose
mission is to embody Christ's love through a
commitment to serve God by fulfilling the
spiritual, emotional and physical needs of our
congregation and of our local and global communities.
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