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The Flaming Times November 2017

Houlton United Methodist Church

By the power of God’s Holy Spirit, we are bridging the gap between young, old,

the broken, the lost and Jesus Christ so that Christ’s love is experienced,

Christ’s teaching is understood and Christ’s healing is a reality.

“Worship”

- What We Value I – Pastor Victor Han

What Is Worship? Last month I raised the following foundational meaning question: “What is the church?” “What is God’s vision for his church?” “What are the essential marks of an authentic church?” And we have found that there were at least four distinguishing marks found in the early church (Acts 2:42-47): worship, discipleship, fellowship, and evangelism. At our last vision meeting, we have discussed this question and tried to get a bird’s eye view of it. And now each month we will explore one mark at a time. This month our theme word is worship. So, what is worship? Perhaps the best scriptural definition of it is to be found in Psalm 105:3. To worship is to “glory in God’s holy name.” Similarly, in his book Worship, John E. Burkhart says, “The heart of worship, at least for Jews and Christians, is the celebration of God.” The focus of worship is God. When we worship, we remember who God is and who we are to be as God’s people. Worship is the church’s preeminent duty and privilege. What Makes for Meaningful Corporate Worship? Some people say that they find it easier to worship God on their own than in a crowd. Certainly there is a place for private worship. But the psalmist focuses more on corporate worship (cf. Ps 113:1; 149:1). What makes, then, for meaningful corporate worship? Perhaps we may have a long list of important qualities, such as biblically true, relevant, visual, focused, and so on. Above all of these, however, one word arises: transcendence. Transcendence means we come into an encounter with the presence of the living God. Transcendence is what makes a worship service meaningful. And it comes from the content of the worship. It’s seeing who God is and leading people to see themselves in light of who God is. Affected by the New Age movement, many people search for transcendent reality with the recognition that materialism cannot satisfy the human spirit. They are seeking it everywhere, from religion to science, from ancient pantheism to evolutionary optimism, from spiritism to reincarnation, and from

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ecology to alternative medicine. We know, however, only God through Jesus Christ can quench our thirst. As we worship God, he truly satisfies our souls. How Do You Experience God in Worship? Now the question remains: how do you experience God in worship? Have you stood before “the throne high and lifted up,” heard the seraphim song, seen the vision, felt the rush of that awful holiness, and had your life renewed, your heart touched, purged, inflamed by the live coal from God’s altar? Let us stop, pause, consider. Where are you? What are you doing? Why are you worshiping God? Another aspect is that we as a church must make an honest assessment of our worship today. Does our worship add up? Is there any hindrance to an effective worship service? Is our worship atmosphere like a funeral parlor, or joyful and contagious? Is our music dead, or alive and bright? Are our visitors ignored, or welcomed? Does our worship have an evident theme and relevant, or no clear one? Is our announcement time is distracting, or well blended into service? Do we feel the move of the Holy Spirit in each component of service, or disjointed and abrupt? So, where are we? What are we doing? The heart of worship is God. But, worship also affects us. Worship shapes us and transforms us. When a large number of us attending the service are privately worshiping God, we will encounter him in glory and be transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. Soli Deo Gloria! For the glory of God alone!

-- Pastor Victor

HUMC Missions

In NOVEMBER our “Share the Harvest” mission outreach offering will be for the Salvation Army. Our November donations to the Salvation Army will be used to make Christmas food boxes for people in our community.

Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday,

November 5 at 2:00 a.m. Remember

to turn your clocks back one hour on

Saturday night. (Or you may arrive an

hour early for church.)

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FROM MALAWI TO HUMC…

These two pictures represent a five day

pastoral and leadership seminar that was

organized by another organization but we

were invited to be the main facilitators.

Few weeks ago we commuted Monday

through Friday to teach pastors and leaders

from different part of Malawi. These were

leaders from different denominations and

backgrounds. It was truly empowering for us

to do this.

Finally, please continue to pray with us and

for us as we seek God's provision, direction,

wisdom and strength.

It is most of the times hard not because of

the work we do but necessities like power,

water, internet etc. This is especially hard

for my wife, and many times things like

these makes her to miss home more than

usual.

We are always grateful and thankful to God

for your partnership and your generosity.

Many blessings to you, your family and our

church family and HUMC.

We love you dearly,

Robson and Mary

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NEWS FROM THE PEWS - Mary Taylor –

Member of the Month…Evelyn Goding

Evelyn Goding is a thirty-year member of Houlton United Methodist Church. Evelyn has decided to move to Florida to live with her daughter. She has already made the move.

Evelyn was born in Washburn, Maine, on November 9, 1927. She will be 90 years old this year. She grew up on her family farm between Washburn and Perham. As a child, Evelyn helped around the farm carrying water and wood. They had 200 chickens, two cows and pigs which Evelyn helped feed. She picked berries and potatoes. At five years of age, Evelyn’s father took her to the potato fields where she began helping him. Her mother, Elsie Smith, taught school.

Teaching was a natural for Evelyn as she has a strong love for children. She went to college in Rhode Island and taught school before she was married. She went to Clark University to learn home care. She continued her education and became a practical nurse working as a pediatric nurse and on the medical/surgical unit in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Evelyn met her husband, Emmons Goding in Washburn in the “tater” plant. They were married on September 8, 1950 and were married for 55 years. They lived in Massachusetts. Her husband drove a truck delivering groceries for 37 years. They had five of their own children, Evelyn’s daughter, Elsie, who lives in Florida (Evelyn will be living with her), and four sons, Jason in North Carolina, and David, Benjamin and Jeffrey all living in Massachusetts. She and her husband also raised five foster children; and Evelyn took care of two of her many grandchildren for five years.

Upon moving to Houlton thirty years ago, Evelyn has been active in Houlton United Methodist Church. She was a member of UMW and Ebbets Circle where she served as treasurer. She helped with the church suppers, and with the children and babies.

Evelyn likes all hymns. Her favorite Bible verse is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, what whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Evelyn’s parting words are that her house is still for sale with Andy Mooers. There are apple trees and berries on the property. She said she “loves us all and will miss us very much.” We will miss her too!

Her new address is: Mrs. Evelyn Goding Phone: 407/870-9514 1546 Regal Court Kissimmee, FL 34744

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Ongoing Meetings for October…

Backpack for Kids – Wednesday mornings we prepare backpacks for the week. Some food items that are always needed such as peanut butter, soup, tuna, boxed macaroni and cheese, pudding cups, crackers, raisins, instant hot cereal.

Disciple Groups:

W.O.W. (Women of Witness) – Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Disciple Group - at 6:30 p.m. These groups will meet weekly.

Disciple II: “Into the Word, Into the World” – This 24 week in-depth study offers a deeper examination of Genesis, Exodus, Luke, and Acts.

Gardiner Nursing Home Bible Study every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome!

Prayer Fellowship – Fridays at 10:00 a.m. The goal of our prayer ministry is to support our pastor and help to equip and keep our church members praying faithfully and effectively on an ongoing basis. If you feel called into prayer ministry, please come pray with us.

Dates to remember on the October calendar…

Joint Communion Team – will meet Sunday, November 5 at 12:00 noon at Houlton UMC to visit our homebound in Hodgdon and Houlton.

Service at Gardiner – Sunday, November 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Sunday School teachers meeting – Sunday, November 12, meet in fellowship hall immediately after service.

Service at Madigan – Sunday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m.

Church Bazaar – Saturday, November 18, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Bazaar will include a food sale, crafts, knitted items, and a table with small household gift items. Chicken stew luncheon will be served 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

UMC Cluster Thanksgiving Service – at Grant Memorial UMC in Presque Isle. Sunday, November 19 at 4:00 p.m. followed by a potluck supper.

Trustee Meeting – Tuesday, November 21 at 6:30 p.m.

SAMA Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service – Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Mary’s.

Family Worship – Sunday, November 26. Please join us for Family Worship, as our children worship with us in the sanctuary every fourth Sunday.

Worship Committee Meeting – Wednesday, November 29 at 10:00 a.m.

Joint Church Conference (Hodgdon, Patten, Houlton) – to be rescheduled.

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Hope Circle getting ready Church Bazaar…

Hope Circle has been meeting to work on crafts and also enjoying a time of fellowship as they work together. This year’s bazaar will include crafts, food, and a bakesale. Hope Circle will serve a chicken stew luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will also be a table with small household gift items – similar to “Grandma’s attic” but limited to small items that children and young people may buy as gifts for their family.

And your help is needed…

Do you have a favorite recipe for baked goods that you would like to contribute? Or maybe jams or jellies? Or any types of crafts, knitting, crochet work? Please begin thinking about how you could participate? There are sign-up sheets on the side table in the vestry for items you would like to contribute for the food / bake sale.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the sales tables and to clean-up after the luncheon. Please consider signing-up to help.

Also for the household gift table any donations of small household items that need a new home will be appreciated. Please no clothing, electronics, or large items.

Saturday, November 18

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Preview of

craft items…

And lots, lots more… Come and see - November 18.

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Wednesday, December 6 from 11:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m.

in the dining room

with a program and short business meeting

Donations will be accepted.

For all women in church…

R.S.V.P. required by November 30

October 15

Laity

Sunday

27 members of HUMC who are 80 years or more

were honored during Laity Sunday.

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Happy Birthday!

November 1 Jennifer Tonzi

Pete Howe

November 2 Jessica Hutchinson

Madelene Anderson

November 3 Erica Alexander

November 4 Patty Crawford

November 6 Travis Hardy

November 7 Tessa Lilley

November 9 Evelyn Goding

Amy Russell

November 14 Gloria Jones

November 16 Nathanael Lilley

November 21 Allen Larson

November 22 Jeannie Thibodeau

November 24 Lindsay Boutilier

Chet Husted

November 24 Chris Anderson

Happy Anniversary!

November 4 Perry & Paula Lilley

November 6 Bernard & Susan McMann

November 12 Chris & Liz Anderson

November 24 David & Kathy Hutchinson

Listen to Sunday sermon online, following the link on our homepage, www.houltonumc.org, or by following Houlton United Methodist Church on Facebook. Like / Follow Houlton United Methodist Church on

Facebook to receive updated announcements and reports about church events taking place during the week.

*** Through sermoncloud.com, HUMC is able to store a year’s worth of sermon audio online at no charge. You may stream the audio or download the audio file to listen to on your MP3 player while not connected to the Internet. This is also a ministry outreach, and we don’t know who may be listening to the Word of God through these recorded sermons or how God may use the message.

http://www.houltonumc.org/

NOVEMBER 2017 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Houlton United Methodist Church 1 2 3 4

Wednesday Disciple Group – 6:30 p.m.

Gardiner Bible Study 2:00 pm

Prayer Fellowship - 10:00 am

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DAYLIGHT SAVING

TIME ENDS

Joint Communion Teams – 12:00 noon

Gardiner Service - 2 pm

W.O.W. - 10 a.m.




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Sunday School Teachers Meeting after service

Madigan Service – 2 pm

W.O.W. - 10 a.m.




Church Bazaar – 10 am - 2:00 pm (Chicken Stew

Luncheon 11:30 am – 1 pm)

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UMC Cluster Thanksgiving Service – Grant Memorial, PI – 4 pm Potluck after service

W.O.W. - 10 a.m.

Trustee Meeting – 6:30 p.m.

SAMA Thanksgiving service – 7 pm St. Mary’s Church


THANKSGIVING

DAY


Ad Council – 9 a.m.

26 27 28 29 30 Family Worship

W.O.W. - 10 a.m.

Worship Committee Meeting – 10 am

Wednesday Disciple Group – 6:30 p.m


The Flaming Times – November 2017 Houlton United Methodist Church

57 Military Street (corner of Military and School Streets)

Houlton, ME 04730

(207) 532-3332

SECRETARY: Kathy Miskelly

PASTOR: Rev. Victor Han [email protected]

[email protected] Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9-noon

HOULTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

57 MILITARY STREET

HOULTON, ME 04730

mailto:[email protected]

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