Rest in Your church

I grew up on a dairy farm in Massachusetts. What I remember most is space—wide-open fields, old barns, and a house built in the early 1700s. Life on the farm was steady and demanding. We had chores twice a day, every day, with no breaks. In the spring, we planted corn. In the summer, we made hay. In the fall, we harvested for feed. Life was simple, but it required discipline and endurance. As a child, I was surrounded by work, but also by moments of wonder. Early in the mornings, especially in April, I would hear the sound of a small plane spraying for mosquitoes over the nearby swamp. I would run outside and stand under it as it passed overhead. I did not know it at the time, but that sound and that sight planted something deep in me. That may have been the beginning of my desire to fly. I enjoyed farming, but I did not want to spend my whole life milking cows twice a day, seven days a week. There was always a sense inside me that I was meant for something more. In high school, I play...

                                           The children got the Bible, and some of them started reading right away!!                                                   Dear Church Family, Tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday!  Jesus once said to us, "It is for your good that I am going away...  I will send the Holy Spirit to you... and I will be with you always" (John 16:7).  The disciples could not fully understand what those words meant at that exact moment. However, 50 days after Easter, God sent us His greatest gift: the Holy Spirit. Jesus was physically with us on Earth for 33 years, but through the Holy Spirit, God will never, ever leave us until the very end of time! I am so deeply glad to celebrate my last Sunday with you in Patten on Pentec...

Gardiner Nursing Home Ministry!! For 12 years, God has provided 8 people for Friday Bible study and 10 more people for the third Sunday service from our four Methodist churches. Praise the Lord! Before COVID, Victor led the Bible study once a week, and Liz Taylor and Judy Conway played card games with the residents. After COVID, we restarted the nursing home ministry with a once-a-month service. In January of last year, Roberta asked for a Bible study, and God provided volunteers, especially Kristy Swallow, Jiang, and Hong. Now we have three new people joining Roberta and Sharon at Gardiner! God provides all we need!! They are still looking for other churches to lead services during the remaining weeks. May God bless those who have willing hearts to serve! 1. Friday Bible Study (10:00 AM) 2nd Week of the Month: Led by Sue Carr, Denise Jutras, and Penny Gowen. All Other Weeks: Led by Kristy Swallow.   2. Third Sunday Service (2:00 PM) Hymns: Marion Co...

Jeanie Goode, Sheila Giles, Katelyn's daughters(Madi & Haven) My Life as a Sunday School Teacher by Jeanie Goode    On November 2, 1976—fifty years ago—we moved to Patten and into Jayne Cratty's house across the street, which was all part of God's perfect plan. Jayne attended our church and was moving into the new senior citizen complex at the time. We moved here because our children were just starting school. We began coming to church, and our children attended Sunday School. They were quite shy, having only had each other to play with in the park, so I had to stay in the classroom with them at first. In 1977, I decided to become a Sunday School teacher to help my children feel more comfortable in class. It worked! Soon, they were happy to come on their own. Back then, we held Sunday School from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. before the church service. Cora Savage was one of the teachers, and we became very good friends; she was absolutely wonderful with the children. Debbie Coolo...

                                                  (Revelation 21:1-8) 5/17/26 < The Relay Race > Dear children of God, do you like relay races? Lately, my three oldest children have been participating in track and field. Watching their relay races brought so many thoughts to my mind. I realized that a relay race is a wonderful team sport; it’s not about just one person running well. Success requires the right posture to pass the baton, a ready posture to receive it, and perfect synchronization between runners. Even if one runner falls behind a bit, the next runner can make up the distance. Reflecting on this, I realized that we, too, are running a spiritual relay race.   < Creation, Fall, Redemption, Recreation > Creation: Almighty God created us. It wasn't because He needed us to do His work; rather, because God is love...

Do you like spider plants? A few years ago, a teacher shared a spider plant with me. It grows so well and multiplies beautifully from generation to generation. I can’t even count how many baby spider plants I have given away to people over the years! Just yesterday, I made almost 30 baby pots out of 5 mother plants! Scripture reminds us, “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”  (John 15:2)   Repotting stretches the roots. Pruning cuts away old parts. Both look painful at first, but they create room for new growth. God sometimes does the same in our lives. Tomorrow, we will celebrate how our spiritual spider plants are growing in our Children’s Sunday! Jeanie Good has been teaching Sunday school for 50 years! God blessed us with 6 teachers and helpers, 5 youth, and 10 children last year! Tomorrow, there will be a ceremony to thank our volunteers and encourage our beautiful children. Everyone is welcome!!  Children will meet at 10:00 am for...