Posts

The Patten Shine Weekly: Patience for the Re-Creation

Image
                                                                      Photo by Kathy Case Have you ever had to endure a messy and chaotic season just to reach a better future?" I have lived here in Maine for eleven and a half years now. Recently, our furniture has been getting old, and my children’s bookshelf was on the verge of collapsing, so we finally replaced it. During that process, books were scattered everywhere. We had to endure a messy house for several days. However, when the books were finally tucked perfectly into the new shelf, the joy was truly great. Over the past month, we have also had to go through a season of waiting and adjusting as we updated our sound and media systems. It wasn't always easy, but I was so happy that the livestream went well last week. I was even more delighted to hear that som...
Post a Comment
Read more

It’s good to be back together!

Image
Yesterday, we had a wonderful restart of our afternoon school program! We are calling it 'Fabulous Friday.' With 8 children and 7 adults gathered together, we felt a warm spirit filling our hearts. We all survived Covid, the flu, pneumonia, snowstorms, and the bitter cold of January! I hope we can share that same warm spirit during tomorrow’s service. Today, I visited Debbie and Kempton Coolong. I learned that their families have grown up in Patten and in our church for generations. Personally, I am so grateful to Debbie for creating our church history book. It has helped me understand our church so much better; whenever I have a question, I can go back to that book to find the answer. Tomorrow, we will look at the Gospel of Luke. In a way, Luke was like our own Debbie Coolong—he was a writer who recorded history in a clear, orderly way. Through Luke, we will see what true worship looks like, what Jesus’ mission was, and what our mission should be during these difficult times....
Post a Comment
Read more

The Patten Shine Weekly: A warm blanket on the snow day

Image
The first day of BTS (Bible Thursday Study) (1/15/26) It’s a snow day! One of our snow day traditions is gathering together on my heated mat, snuggled under warm blankets with my children and plenty of books. We talk, laugh, and read together—wrapped in cozy blankets that warm us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Every Sunday in January has been cold, windy, or snowy. However, we can still feel the warmth of our church family’s 'blanket' and the comfort of the Holy Spirit! May God uplift you and provide everything you need as you navigate this winter season. Sermon: The Hidden Self-Portrait (Series: The Kingdom of God – Mark) Daily Devotion: Rest in the Bible (Today’s meditation: Missionary Robert Hardie )     UPCOMING EVENTS: ·        2026 My Spiritual Growth Plan by the End of January ·         Please check your information: Birthday, Anniversary & Directory Update in the bottom! ·     ...
Post a Comment
Read more