The Flaming Times December 2018 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. Discovering the Possibilities?? ~~ Pastor Victor Han ~~ Perhaps you may have heard about a tale of two shoe salesmen. The story goes like this: One man calls his wife the moment he lands, telling her, Honey, I m coming back home. There s no hope here. Nobody here is wearing shoes, so there s no one to sell to. He boards the next flight home. The second man calls his wife and says, Honey, you wouldn t believe what I found here. There is so much opportunity. No one here is wearing shoes. I can sell to the whole country! This tale reminds us of the importance of perspective: Do you see the glass half full or half empty? Currently, we as a church are doing a Discovering the Possibilities (D.P.) study in partnership with our conference Congregational Development team. What is then DP? It is a facilitated process designed to assist congregational leaders understanding the realities of their ministry context and current ministries, and to begin discerning possibilities for their future in ministry. In summary, it is a process tool to help us know who we are, what we do, and find out what s next. For this, so far we have collected our congregation data, including membership list, financial reports, current ministries information and so on. We have also interviewed our community leaders to find out what the greatest needs are in the area and how our church can be part of the solution.
Here is the question: Why are we doing all this? We are doing this because we believe God had a plan when our church was established here in Houlton in 1831. We believe God is not done with us yet today. We believe God is still powerfully at work among us and around us and inviting us to join Him in what He is doing. December 8 th (Sat. 8:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.) is the day of our final workshop. On that day we will gather together to listen to God and to each other. It s a wonderful opportunity to be part of God s work. You re invited! My prayer is that the Lord may open our eyes to see things from His perspective and accomplish His work through us. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rm 15:13). Have a blessed Advent! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HUMC Missions for December Our Sharing the Harvest mission offering in December will be for the Salvation Army and their ministry to help those in our community. This includes the fuel fund, Christmas food boxes, Christmas gifts for children, and other needs. There are many opportunities to help. Which one will you choose? The church is again partnering with Salvation Army this Christmas season. The barrel money for December will go to the Salvation Army Fuel Assistance Program. There are 8 angels remaining on the Angel Tree with requests from a child in need. Please take an angel from the tree, purchase the gift, and return it unwrapped to the church by Sunday, December 9 th. Food items (pie filling; pie crust such as Jiffy Mix, Graham Cracker Crust or Chocolate Crust; gravy mix and cranberry sauce) will be collected to go in food boxes assembled at the Salvation Army on Monday, December 17 from 9 a.m. to noon. You may leave food items in the basket on the side table. Saturday, December 15 is HUMC s day to help the Salvation Army with bell ringing. A sign-up sheet is available on side table for those who can volunteer to ring the Salvation Army kettle bell. We will be ringing the bell from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. outside of Mardens. 2
UMW Christmas Party 3 * Saturday, December 1 * 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. * Lunch, Fellowship, Program by Joyce Kang. * For all women in our church. Lost and Found Did you lose a new coat? A bag containing a women s red-burgundy quilted coat, size large, was found in the church parking lot about a month ago. The coat appears to be new. Also in the bag was a bag of chips. Perhaps someone had been shopping and removed the bag from their car at church and forgot it. It was found on a Monday, after the church mission supper and Sunday service. The bag with coat (and chips) is in the church office. No one has asked about it, so mentioning it here. Senior Ministry at HUMC Each month we will honor one of our seniors with cards, telephone calls, and visits. In December we recognize: Dellie & Georgia Mailman, (532-6817) 66 Franklin Ave, Houlton, ME 04730 Super Saturday 1:00 3:00 p.m. every Saturday - for children and youth a lot of fun things planned for everyone! Korean class, snacks, baking, music, games, crafts, costumes, and Sunday School helper preparation. This time is for all children and young people. Come and invite your friends and neighbors. On Saturday, December 15, our children and youth will join others from HUMC going out to our community and singing Christmas carols for our homebound friends. All ages are welcome to come sing with us!
Pictorial Church Directory Every Sunday until the task is completed, Peggy Robinson and Mary Taylor will be taking individual (or family) pictures of the congregation in the vestry after each service. These photos will be used when we update our church directory in February, 2019. Having your picture with your name in the directory will help new people in the congregation to be able to place names and faces together and to feel known and welcomed here. Have you had your picture taken yet? 4 Sunday, December 23 Family Worship & Christmas Pageant Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6:00 p.m. A glimpse by photo at some of the ministries here at HUMC Super Saturday
W.O.W (Women of Witness) meets every Tuesday for fellowship and study of the Word of God together. Here we see another talent of this group as we get a glimpse of artists at work. 5 Mission Supper Korean BBQ, beans, hotdogs, salads and desserts. The church praying and serving together to reach out to our community and to benefit hurricane relief.
6 November 26 Family Worship Sweet Hour of Prayer for Our Children One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4 Ongoing Meetings for December Adult Bible Study Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the church library. Chancel Choir Practice Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in choir room. W.O.W. (Women of Witness) Bible Study meets every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Backpacks for Kids meets at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays to prepare backpacks for the week. Wednesday night Disciple Group Bible Study meets at 6:30 p.m. every week. Gardiner Nursing Home Bible Study every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Prayer Fellowship Fridays at 10:00 a.m. If you feel called into prayer ministry, please come pray with us. Super Saturday from 1:00 3:00 p.m. - Children and youth meet together for Korean class, music, Sunday School helper preparation, and other fun activities.
Dates to remember on the December calendar 7 Ladies UMW Christmas Fellowship Saturday, December 1, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fellowship luncheon (chicken pie, salad, rolls and dessert by Marion and Jeannie) and a brief business meeting. Program by Joyce Kang. Please bring a box of mac and cheese in support of backpack ministry. Bishop s Day Saturday, December 1, 1:00 4:00 p.m. Bishop Devadhar visiting Northern Maine District, meeting with all clergy and any laity who wish to attend at Bangor First UMC (703 Essex St., Bangor). Rev. Scott Campbell will speak in morning from 10:00 11:30 a.m. Joint Communion Teams meet Sunday, December 2 at 12 noon at Houlton UMC to go visit our homebound in Hodgdon and Houlton. Service at Gardiner Nursing Home Sunday, December 2 at 2:00 p.m. Discovering the Possibilities Workshop Saturday, December 8 from 9:00 a.m. 12 noon (check-in at 8:30 a.m.) led by Rick McKinley, director of Congregational Development. Service at Madigan Nursing Home Sunday December 9 at 2:00 p.m. HUMC Ringing the Salvation Army Bell Saturday, December 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Mardens. Christmas Caroling Saturday, December 15. Please join us as we go out into our community to sing Christmas carols to our homebound friends. Sunday School Teachers Meeting Sunday, December 16 after the service. Trustee Meeting Tuesday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m. Family Worship and Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 23. Please join us for Family Worship, as all generations celebrate and worship together. Today is also our Christmas Pageant. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service Monday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
8 Happy Birthday! December 10 December 14 December 17 December 24 December 26 December 27 December 28 December 30 December 31 David Hutchinson Daniel Cottle Brenda Richards Dawn Matthews Susan Richards Donald Brushett Ann Brown Lori Stiles Joey Woodie Rhonda Foss David Brushett Lydia Hann Mallory Woodie 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.
DECEMBER 2018 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Houlton United Methodist Church 1 2 1 Gardiner Bible Study 2:00 pm Prayer Fellowship - 10:00 am 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Adult Class 9:15 am Joint Communion Teams - 12 noon Gardiner Service 2 pm W.O.W. 10 a.m. Backpacks 8:30 am Disciple Group 6:30 pm Gardiner Bible Study 2:00 pm Prayer Fellowship - 10:00 am 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Adult Class 9:15 am Madigan Service 2 pm W.O.W. 10 a.m. Backpacks 8:30 am Disciple Group 6:30 pm Gardiner Bible Study 2:00 pm Prayer Fellowship - 10:00 am 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Adult Class 9:15 am Sunday School teachers meeting after the service W.O.W. 10 a.m. Trustee Meeting 6:30 p,m. Backpacks 8:30 am Disciple Group 6:30 pm Gardiner Bible Study 2:00 pm Prayer Fellowship - 10:00 am 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Adult Class 9:15 am Family Worship & Christmas Pageant Christmas Eve Service 6 pm 30 31 CHRISTMAS DAY Disciple Group 6:30 pm Gardiner Bible Study 2:00 pm UMW Christmas Fellowship 10:30 am -1:30 pm Bishop s Day Bangor 1 4 pm Super Saturday 1-3 pm. Possibilities Workshop 9 am 12 noon Super Saturday 1-3 pm. Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Mardens 9 am-5pm Super Saturday 1-3 pm. (Caroling) Super Saturday 1 3 p.m. Prayer Fellowship - 10:00 am Super Saturday 1 3 p.m.
The Flaming Times December 2018 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 secretary@houltonumc.org pastorvictor@houltonumc.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9-noon HOULTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 57 MILITARY STREET HOULTON, ME 04730