Year of grace 1654, Monday 23 November, feast of St. Clement . . . from about half past ten at night to about half an hour after midnight, FIRE. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of philosophers and scholars. Certitude, heartfelt joy, peace. God of Jesus Christ. God of Jesus Christ. "My God and your God." . . . Joy, Joy, Joy, tears of joy. . . Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. May I never be separated from him.
Blaise Pascal wrote this down on a piece of parchment and sewed into his coat, carrying it with him always until his death. He met God and found unshakable joy in Jesus Christ.
Today we are constantly bombarded with news of wars and suffering. We experience schism and pain individually and corporately. Yet, the Spirit of the Lord is still with us, sustaining, liberating, and igniting joy where mourning and heartache prevail. Where there is the Spirit, there is joy.
May we experience "joy, joy, joy, tears of joy" as we come and worship as God's people. You are invited to join us for our service this Sunday. Hodgdon church's Christmas Pageant starts at 9 am, followed by the Christmas Coffee Hour fellowship time. Mars Hill church community gathers at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. You can also worship with us online via the church's Facebook Live:
- Hogdon UMC
- Houlton UMC: Youtube, Facebook
- Mars Hill UMC
May God fill our hearts with his unshakable joy as we wait and work for the coming of his kingdom.
In Christ,
Pastor Victor
Pastor Victor
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