Bishop Cliff Ives will celebrate the 50th anniversary of becoming the Cape Elizabeth Methodist Church Minister on June 10.

Children’s Sunday — and much more

This Sunday, June 10, is Children’s Sunday, at which time we will celebrate the end of the year for Sunday School, celebrate the baptisms of Ellie and Luke Gagne, celebrate special music, and celebrate our soon-to-be summer weather.

But we also will celebrate one more thing — the 50th anniversary of Bishop Cliff Ives conducting his first service at the Cape Elizabeth Methodist Church, which at the time was down the street at what is now the Church of the Nazarene.

It was on June 10, 1962 that Rev. S. Clifton Ives, still at theology student at Boston University, delivered his first sermon to the Cape congregation.

This Sunday, Bishop Ives will return to our church and offer some reflections on what the past 50 years have meant to himself and his family.

“It was my first appointment,” Bishop Ives said recently. “I was 24 years old with little experience. It is impossible to thank all of those who took us under their wings in those days, but I thank God there are still a few who remain.

“I hope that all who have come since will accept my thanks on their behalf and continue to love and support your present and all future pastors, as I was 50 years ago.”

Jane and Cliff Ives were welcomed to our church in June, 1962.

Biishop Ives was this church’s minister from 1962 until 1968, but later served Maine pastorates in Bangor, Waterville and Westbrook. He also was Director of the Conference Council on Ministries from 1973-76 and Superintendent of the Southern District from 1986-92.

Perhaps most significantly during his time with  the Cape congregation, Bishop Ives was behind the purchase of land and the construction of our current church building. He conducted the final service in the old church on June 18, 1967 and the first service in the new church on June 25, 1967.

When Bishop Ives returns this Sunday, he said his remarks will be “A Psalm of Thanks,” inspired by Psalm 100 from the Common English Bible.

“It will be my Psalm of Thanks for my baptism and my ministry which Cape Methodists shaped and launched,” he said. “It will be more of a sharing than a sermon.”

Please join us for this special occasion and pass the word to family and friends who have or did have a connection to this church — today or 50 years ago.