Do you have a friend who radiates joy?
In his book Here and Now, Henri Nouwen talks about his friend who keeps speaking about the sun. Henri was often depressed by the world around him – the wars between nations, the starvation among children, the corruption in politics, and so forth. But whenever he tried to impress his friend with the brokenness of humanity, his friend shared stories of how he found new hope and courage from the simple poor people he had met. The more Henri was with him, the more he realized that there is a sun, even though the skies are covered with clouds.
This past Friday we as a church could catch glimpse of the sun shining through the clouds as our handbell choir performed a miniconcert at the Madigan House. We didn’t deny the sorrow that surrounded the room, nor were we blind or deaf to the agonizing sighs of the people there. But in the midst of all this we recognized God’s presence who sustains all of us. So we sang and played, rejoicing together.
We rejoice not because life is easy, but because we see God’s power, God’s presence, and God’s goodness in our lives in the midst of all our suffering.
You are invited to join us for our worship service this Sunday. As we are gathered and keep speaking about the sun, may the God of hope fill our hearts with his joy and his peace. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will meet at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. You can worship with us online via the church’s Facebook Live:
- Hodgdon UMC
- Houlton UMC: YouTube I Facebook
- Mars Hill UMC
May we always keep speaking about the sun even while walking under a thick cloudy sky. Have a joyous weekend.
Pastor Victor
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