It’s a Wonderful Life in Patten!
12.24.25
Gathering
in Grief and Hope
Tonight,
December 24, 2025, we gather with many feelings in our hearts. Earlier, we
stood at the site of the fire. Now, we gather here in the church. Two places.
One community. One story.
One
week ago, that place was filled with another kind of light. It was the light of
fire. That fire destroyed thirteen households, Stephen and Cheryl’s business,
and the livelihoods of many workers. We are still mourning. We are grieving. We
are distressed. This loss is real. This scar is our town’s pain.
Yet
tonight, we invite a different light. We welcome the light of Jesus Christ. He
came for us. He lived among us. He died for us. He saves us. This light does
not ignore our suffering. It meets us right where we are. It turns sorrow into
gratitude, fear into hope, and emptiness into love.
Another
Loss We Carry
This
Christmas, we also carry another deep loss. Last Monday, we lost our beloved
pastor, Reverend Kwan Lee. He served as an interim pastor in Patten about
twenty years ago. He served in Houlton about fifty years ago. He also served as
a District Superintendent. He touched many souls, not only by his words, but by
the way he lived.
When
he passed away, my daughter Hannah said, “Mom, I am so sad. I miss him so
much.” She used to play card games with him. Every Saturday, after she recited
her Bible memory verse, she asked him for vitamin C as a prize. Then she said,
“But Mom, I think it’s so cool he is with God. God is holding him in His
hands.” Yes, he is with God now. And while he was with us, we felt God’s
presence through his peace, his kindness, and his life.
God
Came Close
The
Gospel of John tells us, “The Word became flesh and lived among us, full of
grace and truth.” God did not stay far away. God came close. God entered our
human life. God walked with us. God shared our joy and our pain. This is
Emmanuel. God is with us.
In
the Old Testament, people experienced God in rare moments. A pillar of fire. A
pillar of cloud. The tabernacle. The temple. But then came the good news. The
Son of God came down to us. Not so we would visit God once in a while, but so
God would live with us every day.
The
Promise of Emmanuel
Mary
heard this promise when the angel spoke to her. She was a virgin. Humanly
speaking, it was impossible. Yet God had promised long before, “The virgin
shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” Emmanuel
means this: God is with us.
The shepherds also felt God’s presence. They heard the angels. They saw the sign. A baby, wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger. Many managers in those days were made of stone. These stone mangers were often used by priests to examine newborn lambs. The lambs had to be without blemish before they could be offered to God. Jesus was laid in that same kind of manger. Cold. Simple. Humble. Not in a palace. Not in comfort. From the very beginning, his birth pointed to his death. Scripture later calls him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In the same manger, God showed us both Christmas and the cross. God’s love came to us as a baby, and God’s love would save us through a blameless Lamb.
The
wise men followed the star. They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Their
gifts remind us of our own gifts. Our time. Our talents. Our treasures. We
offer them to Emmanuel. God is with us.
A
Wonderful Life
Many of us know the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. George Bailey gave his life to help others. But when the crisis came, he felt trapped and alone. He believed his life no longer mattered. On Christmas Eve, he stood at the edge of despair. What saved him was not money alone. It was love. Neighbors came. Friends came. The whole town came together to help him, and that shared love made his life wonderful again.
Loss was real, but love was stronger.
We
are seeing that same spirit here in Patten. People gave money. People donated
items. Volunteers gave their time. Sister Methodist churches raised $880 in
just a few days. Someone gave $5,000. Other towns came to help. Love spread
quickly and quietly. This is what a wonderful life looks like. This is a
wonderful life with God.
Emmanuel
with Us Tonight
Scripture
tells us, “They shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” As we
light our candles and sing Silent Night, we remember this promise. God
is with us in this place. God is with us in our grief. God is with us as we
rebuild. God is with us through one another.
Dear
friends, may we live this truth every day. Here at the fire site. Here in this
church. In sorrow and in joy. Emmanuel. God is with us. Patten strong. God
strong. Faith strong. Emmanuel. God is with us.
Prayer
Let
us pray.
Lord,
we lift before you the thirteen residents who lost their homes and all who lost
their businesses. Comfort them. Give them peace. Heal the trauma and grief they
carry. We remember those who lost beloved pets, those facing health challenges,
those living with dementia, those struggling in relationships, and those
searching for stable housing. Hold them in your mercy.
We
pray for our firefighters, town leaders, and all who have helped in so many
ways. Give them strength and rest. Remind them they are not alone. Unite our
churches and our community for long-term care, through meals, fundraisers,
presence, and faithful love.
Raise
up this town again by the light of Emmanuel. Make us strong in love, strong in
faith, and strong together. Help us share your light with all.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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