Rest in Your church

Growing Up in Faith I cannot remember a time when I did not believe in God. I attended church with my family, went to Sunday School, and joined Vacation Bible School. I was happy whenever I was part of church activities. When I said or did something wrong at home, I felt it deeply. Usually, I cried and said I was sorry. Didn’t everybody? In high school, I was the Youth Fellowship leader. I felt like I truly belonged when I was involved in church. We attended rallies, and two of them especially strengthened my faith. At one rally, there was an altar call. I wanted to go forward, but I was scared and stayed in my seat. Even so, that moment made a strong impression on me. The other rally brought together many churches in Maine. Youth Fellowship representatives were sent to Auburn, Maine. It was right after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. We watched it together on television. Oh my! I felt a strong connection to this man’s faith. I was also moved by the youthfu...

Together Tuesday, Fabulous Friday Afternoon school children prepared for Mother's Day gifts!  "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Jesus asked this of the crowd. When they pointed to his biological family, Jesus replied, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:48-50) Who is your mother? As Mother’s Day approaches, I want to ask you this question. If you ask me, my answer is the same as Jesus’. I have my biological mother and my mother-in-law, but I also have many "mothers" in my life who pray for me, care for me, and have raised me in so many ways. I believe that whoever gives "birth" to hope and takes care of others is a Mother! Tomorrow, I will share stories of wonderful mothers, including Teresa of Avila and Mother Teresa , who had no biological children but countless spiritual children. We will also hear a testimony from Terry , who has been such a wonderful mother to...

  1. Cooperative Parish Structure Beginning in July, the four churches will form a 100% cooperative parish . Rev. Craig Taylor will serve as the pastor of the parish. This model is similar to the current shared ministry but will be more unified in structure.   2. Financial Structure Houlton United Methodist Church will serve as the central (paying) church . Houlton will receive and pay all pastoral-related expenses, including: Salary Health insurance Pension CPP (Comprehensive Protection Plan) Workers’ compensation (if applicable) The other three churches (Stetson Memorial, Mars Hill, Hodgdon) will send their contributions to Houlton .   3. Contribution Amounts Annual contributions (including reimbursables): Stetson Memorial: $24,127 Mars Hill: $14,441 Hodgdon: $14,441 Payments can be made: Monthly (recommended ...

        In the beginning, I occasionally met the lay leaders and pastors of our nine churches through my husband. The foundation of our Cluster was built upon the gentle leadership of my husband, Victor, who served as the Cluster Leader, alongside the precise and timely minutes reported by Sue Brown, the dedicated service of Paula Lilley as our Treasurer, and the love and devotion of Retired Elder Mary Miller, who served as a bridge connecting our individual congregations. The close, cross-regional friendship between Mary Miller, Sue Brown, and Paula Lilley, in particular, transformed our group into a community that truly loves and cares for one another. Through our monthly Zoom meetings, we share the Word, brainstorm mission ideas to help our local communities, and lift up our prayer requests together. Twice a year, we hold Leadership Picnics, and in the spring and fall, we gather for Cluster Worship services. Through these events and our regular springtime Pulpit E...

  The Song of My Youth I am a "baby boomer" from New York, and in the world I grew up in, the church was the absolute center of gravity. It wasn't just a place we went on Sundays; it was our social life and our family. I essentially sang my way through the sanctuary, starting in the Cherub Choir and eventually finding my place in the High School choir. Back then, the lines were very clearly drawn. We were the "Methodist Youth Fellowship" (MYF) kids. I remember being so deeply involved in our church activities that I barely knew the girl who lived just down the street because she went to the Catholic church. Even the Girl Scout troops were separated by denomination. While I’m glad those walls have come down today, that early immersion in the Methodist tradition planted seeds in me that I didn't even recognize at the time. Leadership seemed to find me early, whether I was looking for it or not. I ended up as the president of the sub-district for the MY...

      From Mandu(Korean Dumplings) to Holy Communion Every holiday, we used to gather at my grandparents' house to make Mandu (Korean dumplings). Mandu was never just food; it was our family identity, our culture, and our tradition. As we folded the dough, we shared our lives, laughed over old memories, and grew closer. I have taught my children the special way of folding Mandu that my grandmother taught me, and now, my children and I are teaching others. Last Friday, as we made Mandu together, we were really "folding" love into our lives. In Korea, those who eat together are called Sik-gu , which literally means "family of the mouth" or "those who share food." It was such a joy to host the Mandu cooking class with our Patten family. I hope that through these "modern-day sacraments"—sharing recipes and eating together—we continue to become one family in Jesus Christ. Korean Dumplings recipe    The Spirit of Bibimbap: Planting Roots in Aroost...