Rest in the Word

  4 generations of the Underwood family 04.19.26 <The Garlic that Braved the Winter> Dear, sisters and brothers in Christ. Do you know what this is? This isn’t just your average grocery store garlic; this is a "Winter Survivor." Every year, my family and our After-School kids plant garlic before the snow hits. A few years ago, our dear Paula gave a children’s sermon about planting garlic in late autumn to harvest in the summer. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first. I thought, "Planting this in the frozen Maine ground? Is that a gardening plan or a test of faith?" But we planted it anyway, tucking each clove into the earth with our hopes and even our hardships, praying they would grow strong. For six months, those cloves slept under a heavy blanket of snow and bitingly cold winds. But when spring arrived, I saw it—tiny green faces peeking through the straw! By summer, we harvested garlic with a fragrance and flavor that was out of this world. On...

Majorie is teaching Brandy to play the piano after service  (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18) 4.12.26. Stetson Memorial UMC < Every Day Easter > Dear brothers, sisters, and my precious young friends, Christ is Risen! How was your Easter last week? Here in Maine, we looked out our windows and saw the messy mix of sleet, slush, and snow. Meanwhile, our friends down in Florida were basking in the sun and enjoying blooming flowers. But even though our Easters looked different on the outside, we shared one glorious thing in common: we all rejoiced that Christ is Risen! It did not matter what we had for dinner, what the weather was like, or where we were sitting. We shared resurrection joy with one another. But I have been thinking: How many days should we celebrate Easter? Is it just one Sunday a year? Is it the fifty days leading up to Pentecost? My friends, I believe we should celebrate Easter every single Sunday—actually, every single day! Resurrection is not just a dusty...

Easter Sunday | April 5, 2026 The Flashlight with a Dead Hope Dear brothers and sisters, imagine a man who walked a mountain path every night. He carried a flashlight passed down through generations in his family. It was a sturdy, high-end brand, wrapped in a beautiful leather case. From the outside, it looked perfect. Yet, strangely, this man constantly lost his way. He tripped over stones and stumbled in the dark. One day, a passerby asked him, "You have such a magnificent flashlight; why do you keep falling?" The man replied, "Because it has no batteries." How are the batteries in your spiritual flashlight today? A flashlight or a camera, no matter how expensive the brand or how precious the family heirloom, is useless without power. Many of us are living our faith with "Dead Hope"—a flashlight that looks good on the outside but flickers or remains dark because it lacks the internal power of the Resurrection. Among all the seasons of the chu...

  Good Friday Online Service | April 3, 2026 Good Friday Today is Good Friday. Children often ask us, "Why do we call the day Jesus died 'Good' Friday?" Death itself usually means separation, suffering, and pain. However, Jesus’ death is "good" for us because it gave us life. Although we cannot gather in person today due to the weather, I believe we are gathered as one through the Holy Spirit, who works beyond any physical location. I feel a bit of sadness holding my last Good Friday service with you online. But I believe God is speaking to us today—telling us that wherever we may be in the future, we will always be one in Him. Originally, I planned to walk the "Way of the Cross" with 16 readers. Instead, I invite you to meditate on this word from your own homes. If possible, please prepare a single candle to light during our time together. Lydia will assist me by reading the Holy Scriptures.   The Lamb in the sacrifices of Leviticus  To understand...