Patten Weekly Shine: A Creative, but Constant God




                                 Thank you, Jeanie, Chrissy, for a wonderful Sunday school as usual! 


Yesterday, I had the privilege of leading two services at Hodgdon and Stetson Memorial UMC. When I walked into the Hodgdon church, it felt as if I had returned to my childhood home. My original church family welcomed Esther and me with their whole hearts.

So many memories and emotions overlapped. I told them how much I appreciated them being my "guinea pigs" during my early ministry before I went to Patten, and they all had a good laugh. When it was time for me to leave immediately after the sermon, I was deeply moved by their kindness. They were sad to see me go, helped me pack my bags, and even made sure I didn't leave without Easter eggs and other small gifts. I felt a lump in my throat from their overwhelming love.

Then, I had to hurry to the next service. Thankfully, I followed all the traffic rules, and thanks to the congregation’s prayers, there wasn't a police officer in sight! Even so, I arrived about five minutes late. I was so grateful to Penny for leading the beginning of the service. Between Chrissy’s children’s message and Ross’s powerful testimony, I was able to catch my breath. Meanwhile, Denise wittily assisted with the media so I could get my sermon files loaded.

Not a single person frowned at my late arrival. Seeing the service proceed so smoothly reminded me once again that God is the true Master of our worship. I was filled with gratitude for the love and support of our church members.

Throughout my nine years of ministry in Houlton and Hodgdon, followed by my time in Mars Hill, and now serving in Patten since last year, I have experienced many changes in how we worship. Yet, through all those creative transitions, God has remained constant. He is always there, unchanging.

Yesterday’s Palm Sunday marked the beginning of Holy Week. My earnest prayer is that God remains the center of this sacred week. In the midst of changes we could never have imagined, I hope we can all rest in His unchanging embrace. May this be a week where God’s will is truly accomplished in us.

                                              

Sermon: Prince of Peace in Paradox

Service: 3/29/26 

Testimony: Christian by our love by Ross Gowen 


UPCOMING EVENTS:

·       The Faith Story-  If you want to share your faith story, please write around 2 pages according to this guideline, or ask the pastor to interview you. We will collect testimonies until April and publish books with the other three church members. Here is the guideline, 

     Here is Faithbook (You can read others' stories) 


· 

·       Apr.2 – Maundy Thursday(12:pm, Houlton UMC)

·       Apr 3 – Prayer Vigil(11-1 pm), Good Friday (4 pm, SMUMC)

·       Apr. 5   -  EASTER SUNDAY

      Apr. 10 - Women of Faith - 10 am 

      Apr. 12 - Family Worship & Coffee Hour  

                     Community Handbells Choir Concert (Houlton UMC) 

·       May 3   – Cluster Service with the Bishop  Grant Memorial UMC 

                Presque Isle. (Hybrid)

May 31 - Combined Service of Farewell (10 am Houlton UMC) 

 

   Weekly Program:

           Every Sunday – Sunday School

           1st & 3rd Friday:  Fabulous Friday

                                    (Afternoon School Program) (3:15-4:45 pm)

           2nd & 4th Friday:  Family Karaoke (5:30-7:30 pm)

          

Thursday:  BTS (Thursday Bible Study)  9:30 – 11:00

            Sunday:  SBS (Sunday Bible Study)  9:00 – 10:00

            Nursing Home:  Bible Study (Friday 10 a.m. at Gardiner)

                                     Service (3rd Sunday 2:00 p.m.)



Prayers for the World, especially Ukraine, Russia, Gaza and Israel

 

Prayers for our country and its leadership

 

Prayers for our denomination, especially our Bishop and Cabinet

 

Prayers for our community, especially Fire Victims, and Calvary

Baptist Church

 

Prayers for those who don’t know Jesus

 

Prayers of Comfort for Those Who Mourn:  the families of

      Carrol Plecs, Carl Perrin, Jeff Cole

     

Prayers for Bodily Healing: Especially Sandra's daughter & Lisa.  

      Donnie Adams, William Barton, Little Beckham, Gary Blake,

      Rev. Dan Blevins, Robin Bosse, Dana Carver, Mike Casey,

      Kempton Coolong, Gordon & Roseanne Daughinee, Ron Dennis,

      Raymond Deshaines, Kathy Duffy Family,  Patsy Dyer, Ross

      Gowen, Zachary Gowen, Emily Harris Family, Chris Heath,

      Dicki Heath, Hope Heath, Justin Karcher, Coty Kelso, Matt Lane,    

      Ricky Lyons, Jim Mason, Judi MacArthur, Dean McFarland,

      Pam McGary, Amy Milo, Danette Moddy, Roberta Moore, Rick

      Murray, Ed Noyes, Robin Pettengill, Barbara Porter, the Richards

      Family, Dennis Sanborn, Kari Sanborn, the Alfred Savage Family,

      Cora Savage, Keith Sheilds, Rena Shorey, Butch Smallwood,

      Dicki Somers, Steve Trembly, Jolene Webber, Zach Weeks,

      Linda Zalieka


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Still Here, Still Faithful by Sharon McPhee

Image
Three generations of Grace   A Heritage of Harmony When I look back on my life, I see that the church has always been part of my story. It wasn't just something we did on Sundays; it was who we were. My mother was the organist at our church for fifty years. Fifty years—that still amazes me. She was quiet, steady, and faithful. She also taught music to fifth graders. In our house, if you could sing, you were in the choir. That was just how it worked. The Fullness of the Sanctuary When I was in high school, the choir loft was full. So many people sang that we had to sit up there for the whole service because there were no seats left in the pews. If you didn’t get to church early, you didn’t get a good seat. In those days, everybody went to church. It wasn’t unusual; it was life. My mother received a plaque for her fifty years of service. She retired in the late 1990s but kept playing almost until she passed away. Music was her gift, and she gave it wholeheartedly to God a...
Read more

It Is No Secret What God Can Do by Sharon Batchelder

Image
My name is Sharon Batchelder, and I was born in Danforth, Maine. When I look back over my life, I see pain and hardship, but I also see the faithfulness of God. My story is not always easy to tell, but it is a testimony of how God has carried me, healed me, and given me hope.   Childhood and Early Struggles When I was only eight months old, my stepfather threw me down a flight of stairs. That fall left me with lasting damage. My whole right side was affected, almost as if I had a stroke. It took me sixteen years just to learn how to tie my own shoes. My stepfather was an alcoholic. He drank constantly, and with the drinking came anger, cruelty, and abuse. My mother had twelve children, though one died at birth. That left eleven of us growing up together, and life was not easy. My mother was afraid of my stepfather. I don’t know why she married him, but she did, and the fear never left her. He was a hard, cruel man. He abused us, and worse, he even harmed my older sister i...
Read more

My New Journey with you by Katie Lovett

Image
7.13.25 Stetson Memorial UMC    Good morning, Stetson Memorial Church family. If you had told me just a few months ago that I'd be standing here, actively participating in church, perhaps even joining in church karaoke, I might not have believed you! For years, I would have found every excuse not to attend. I always felt a quiet tugging at my heart, a sense that there was something more, but I constantly ignored it. Sometimes it was because I didn't feel like I fit in, or I was simply embarrassed to admit how I truly felt. But today, with a humble heart, I share that I am genuinely embracing this journey. After some significant challenges in my life, God, in His grace, led me to find peace where I needed it most. I now feel a deep peace I longed for, the profound love of forgiveness I desperately needed, and for that, my heart is beyond thankful. I remember the profound love and bond I felt when I became a mother – a love unlike any other. I was raised in a Christian h...
Read more