ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY
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The mission of Hillside UMC is "To share and experience our faith in God through Jesus Christ, to serve one another and our community, welcoming all who come through our doors." Through out our life at Hillside we seek to embody this mission, living it out in all that we do from worship on Sunday mornings to our service in the community throughout the week and in our daily lives.
Hillside UMC is a community of people who function as a family. Members of the church truly care for one another. There are a number of events that occur throughout the week to encourage fellowship, deepening connections with others and spiritual growth. Each week we offer a Children's Message as a part of our worship service and have a time of learning and crafts during worship. In addition, we have a United Methodist Men's group, United Methodist Women's group, weekly Choir Rehearsal, weekly Bible Study, and much more. For up to date information on our community's activities, please see our calendar here. |
OUR PASTOR
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GiL's story #01 Korean name
My Korean name is Gil Pyo Lee. ‘Gil’ means ‘road’ and ‘Pyo’ means ‘sign’ so the meaning of my Korean name is ‘roadsign.’ Have you ever seen some signs on the street like ‘Stop’ sign, ‘Turn Left’ or ‘Turn Right’? My name is something like those. One day I got an idea to make my name more meaningful for God so I added some words to my Korean name like ‘Roadsigns to the Lord.’ I realized that a pastor is not the person who gets attention or fame from the people but the person who guides people where to go or what to do for knowing and building a relationship with God. So I learned that the pastor must be a good and right sign for the people in the world to help them move closer and know God more. Then I thought my name is a very good for pastor. Do you think so? haha! Do roadsigns apply just for pastors? I think every Christian who confess Jesus is the Lord, the Savior, and the Son of the Living God must be a roadsign because God want His people to live as the priests of the world. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) Who is a priest? The priest is an intercessor between God and the people in the world to help connect them to Christ. I hope and pray that all of us who came to worship God today can live as roadsigns for someone else by making ourselves available help guide others on their journey to God and building a good relationship with God. on Sunday, July 7, 2019 Gil's story #02 family background
Today I would like to share my family background. My father was a pastor, my grandfather was a pastor, and my great-grandfather was a pastor making me a fourth generation pastor. This is the biggest blessing in my life. I am so grateful for all the prayers and spiritual heritage from all Pastors in my family. I am so thankful to God for giving me a great spiritual family. Before telling a story, I need to introduce one of the Korean customs. Koreans use the title rather than call someone by their first name. When people gather together, they call me ‘Pastor Lee’ rather than ‘Gil.’ Koreans are very used to using the title of the people to show respect and be polite. When my family gathers together for a special days or holidays, like New Year’s day, Thanksgiving or Christmas in the US. Some of the younger people call me ‘Pastor Lee’ then most of men turn their faces to the person who called ‘Pastor Lee’ because most men in my family are pastors. This is absolutely a huge blessing for my family. One day I began to understand, that I believed in the God my father believed. The God I believed was not the God I encountered but the God I heard about from my father. I also realized that I believed the God my mother believed. The God I believed was not the God I had relationship with. I realized that I need to encounter God personally, I need to know God by myself rather than through my father or mother, or grandfather or even great-grandfather. So I spent time getting to know God and building My relationship with God. My family background is a huge blessing for me but I realized that I must encounter God face to face. And then I can say God is my God so that I can give testimony, about my relationship with God. John 1:12-13 "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” Whose God do you believe in now? Do you have your own relationship with God? Do you have a conversation with God face to face? I hope and pray that all of us can have our own personal relationship with God through the Word of God. on Sunday, July 14, 2019 Gil’s Story #03 As a missionarY
After graduation from theology school , I went to Singapore as a missionary. The decision to be a missionary was made when I attended a mission conference my sophomore year at college. The missionary who was the main speaker shared his dream with the seminary students at chapel. The missionary’s dream was that God wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth in 1 Timothy 2:4. At that time, my thought was changed from ministering Koreans in Korea to ministering other nationals in other countries because I realized that God doesn’t want to save only Koreans but also all people in the world. So I started to learn English in my sophomore year. And I finished missionary training while I was attending the graduate school. I was sent by the Korean Methodist Church in 2000 to Singapore as a missionary. I lived in a town where many Indians lived. When I took the bus, it was always full of Indians. Do you know a unique smell radiates from Indians? When I was sitting on a chair in a bus, I prayed that Lord please let him not sit on the next to me because when a new Indian sat next to me, a unique smell would fill my nose. I am a kind of gentle man with good manners, So I turned my face to the window. I pretended to enjoy the scenery outside while blocking my nose. I thought I was a perfect manner. At that time, God reminded me 1 Timothy 2:4, “God wants all man to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” and asked me,
I repented my tricky gesture to God. I found that mission field is not a place where geographically far way from here. Mission field was in me. I redefined mission field as a place
So from that time, I try to see the people’s heart
I hope and pray that all of us here could have God’s dream as our dream for the rest of our lives because God called us to make His dream come true in the world. On Sunday, July 21, 2019 Gil's story #04 As a Korean diaspora
Diaspora means "the dispersion of Jewish people from Israel to foreign lands" in the past. Nowadays as more people leave their home country and live in foreign lands, the capital ‘D’ is being used as the small ‘d’ because the diaspora doesn’t mean the Jewish only any more. Diaspora in Greek means “sowing” or “scattering, is regularly used in the Scripture to mean “exile”. Now it signifies the life of the Israelites and the people of God in this ages. Today although I am talking about my life as a Korean diaspora, I hope all of you can find some features of diaspora in your life as well as the people of God. Some features of a diaspora life indicate significant aspects of Christian life as the modern Israelite, called as “Sojourner” as well. I left South Korea in 2000 went to Singapore as a missionary. I have trained missionary candidates who had finished course works at the Methodist missionary training centers. After serving five and four months, I moved to the United States to study Missiology as Asbury Theological Seminary. But on the way to Asbury I met a Korean pastor who was serving a Korean diaspora church in Severn, Md. He suggested me to serve an Korean immigrant church in the US so I served a Korean diaspora church for two years from 2005 to 2007. After serving two years, I moved to Asbury with my original plan. I studied Missiology and finished doctoral study at Asbury in 2010. I moved back to South Korea and taught seminary students at Methodist seminaries. The strange thing while I was teaching at seminaries was that more I teach at seminaries more passionate for pastoral ministry. After the first year of my teaching ministry I became the chaplain at Mokwon University that I graduated from bachelor and master. After the second year of my teaching ministry I responded to God’s call to be the senior pastor of Glory Korean Methodist Church in Singapore. After serving the Glory Korean Methodist Church in Singapore, I responded to God’s call of serving English-speaking congregation here in New Hampshire. Looking at a brief summary of my life journey, you can tell my life is a real diaspora life as the Israelite moved along the pillar of fire and cloud. But looking at our lives as the people of God, your life might not like my life physical or geographical movement. but look at your spiritual journey in your life. All of you have experienced a lot of diverse events and situations and went through them with your faith in God. The key feature of the life of diaspora is the move by the Spirit of God. If we decide to move to somewhere or make a decision for critical issues in our lives according to the Word of God, we are moving toward God as the Israelites moved by the pillar of fire and cloud. Our life as the people of God is a long journey on earth. All of us will get there where God promised through His Word. We are all diaspora on earth. I hope and pray that all of us enjoy our journey together in Christ. "Through Him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22) On Sunday, July 21, 2019 gil's story #05 as a permanent allien
My first US life started in Wilmore, Kentucky. "Permanent Allien" Have you heard about "Permanent Alien"? When I come to the United States, I got a card called "Permanent Alien (Resident)." My wife got US citizenship, so I was able to get a green card(not a red card) that allows me to stay in the United States. I was not able to live as Permanent Alien in the United States permanently just for ten years. And I need to renew it after ten years. It was not permanent permission, but a ten years visa. But, any way I got citizenship after three years of living with the legal citizen of the United States, who is my wife so that I got citizenship in December 2008. Before I came to the United States, I heard about 'White Supremacy, Racism, and many other not-good things about America." But, when I came to Asbury Theological Seminary, I experienced the generosity of Americans to share what they can share. I could feel the respect for my Korean culture as it is and learning heart to learn more about Korean culture. Do you know that person who has a learning heart has a humble attitude? I find a humble heart from the people who want to learn something from everything. So one of my favorite English words is' teachable.'
How about our attitude toward God?
One of my favorites verses in the Bible is the confession of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:10.
I hope and pray that all of us hear keep this humble heart and posture so that we can listen and learn from the Word of God every day. As a professor
In 2010, after graduation from Asbury, I went to Korea and taught Missiology at three Koran Methodist seminaries. My vision as a teacher or professor was to build up the next generation of pastors and missionaries. I started teaching whenever I was asked to teach. What I learned from my little teaching experience are two things. One is "Teaching is the Best Way of Learning." As I prepare to teach more, I realized that I learned more and even I learned things the best. The second thing I have found is "The best beneficiary of teaching is myself" because I learned the most from my teaching. I want to encourage all of you to teach something that you want to know more. For example, if you want to learn more about God, teach the Bible to someone, if you're going to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, find one person and serve the person as your disciple by praying, teaching, helping, caring. Then who do you think is going to be the best disciple of Jesus Christ? It will be You. So now I try my best to teach the Bible well to all of you. Why? I would like to know God more and more and deeper and deeper. And I would like to make all of you as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Why? I want to be the best disciple of Jesus Christ. What do you want to be in the Kingdom of God? The best child of God? The best Christian in the Kingdom of God? The best son or daughter of God? Do you know what to do now? Teach a person and serve the person as a disciple of Jesus Christ if you want to be a good disciple of Jesus Christ. Or help the person to be a good son or daughter of God if you would like to be a son or daughter of God. This is the way of God's molding and building us as His people. Strangely, as I had taught more, more passionate, I got for pastoral ministry. At seminaries, I taught Missiology. I could not make a disciple of Jesus Christ. Students registered my course because they wanted to study and learn about the mission. And teaching at seminaries was like an 'armchair argument' which is like doing a mission with our mouths only. And I got more heart and passion for church ministry. In November 2011, I got a call from a leader of Glory Korean Methodist Church to ask me to look for a pastor for his church. Then I responded to him, "how about me? I pray for the next step of my ministry as a pastor or missionary." He said "it would be great!" and he said he couldn't ask me because he thought I become a professor at seminaries. So I told him, "as I teach more, more passionate I get for church ministry. Discuss it with church leaders." They decided to have me as their senior pastor. So I change the route of my ministry from teaching to pastoral ministry. |
OUR CHURCH HISTORY
In 1842, Rev. E. K. Baily was pastor of First Baptist Church located in (Goffstown) Amoskeag Village (which was annexed by Manchester in 1853). The church was in its greatest season of prosperity, and membership numbered one-hundred and fifty members. Like other ministers of the town of Goffstown, Rev. Baily had a great fear for his church, on account of a woman preacher who was drawing large audiences from his, as well as the other churches.
Miss Clementine Parker came to Goffstown in 1841 and began preaching in the old meeting house at Grasmere, which was the center of Goffstown at the time. She claimed to be independent of all churches, but had formerly been a Methodist. The Rev. Isaac Willey said: "Her hearers increased until she had an audience of nearly one thousand persons. In the spring of 1842 more than one half of the voters in town, and nearly all those who had never been willing to support any other preacher, came to her support." Near the close of her labors, she advised her converts to form a Methodist church. Some dissatisfaction arose, in regards to the occupation of the Congregations Church at the Center, by her followers, whereupon, Samuel Little and Capt. Joseph Sargent purchased the building.
In the autumn of 1842 a Methodist Society was organized, and pews were sold in the house to various individuals by Messrs. Little and Sargent. Rev. Mr. Smart, a local preacher, was secured until the next session of the conference, which occurred June, 1843.
On the 18th of August, 1877, the church was struck by lightning and totally destroyed, and a new one was erected before the close of the year.
In 1881 a new parsonage was erected. (It is located across the street, but no longer is a parsonage today).
In 1914 a substantial kitchen and dining room were finished under the church, where church suppers were held. (They actually excavated under the church to gain this space).
June 9, 1918, there occurred a very remarkable instance in the history of this church. Nineteen members were received, and among the number was Irad Poore, 94 years of age, the oldest person in the town, and active. After the service, a photograph of the entire congregation was taken, in which four generations were represented: Irad Poore, his daughter, Mrs. Charles E. Pollard, his grandson, Herman Pollard, and his great-granddaughter, Grendolyn Mary Pollard.
"In the year 1872, with the increasing population of the town, the needs of the people called for more church room, and quite an interest was manifest in Methodist preaching at the village. Accordingly, the annual conference sent Rev. W.E Bennett to preach at the Center. Also to hold meeting as at the west village; this he did with evident success, ministering to good-sized congregations and receiving a generous support”
"The church was to be known as the Second Methodist Episcopal Church of Goffstown. Work on the new church commenced on March 26, 1889.
Recent discoveries and interesting facts:
Remaining Features of the historic church:
Recent work:
Ministry:
Hillside Cemetery:
The cemetery is owned by the town and they have a right-of-way (the only vehicle access) to cemetery over church property on the right side of the church.
* Based upon Town of Goffstown History Research and Hillside UMC Membership Witness
Sources:
Hadley, G. (1922). History of the Town of Goffstown 1733 – 1920: Volume One. Concord, NH. The Rumford Press.
Mitchell and Weston. (1905). The Goffstown Register 1905. Brunswick, ME: H.E. Mitchell Co.
Miss Clementine Parker came to Goffstown in 1841 and began preaching in the old meeting house at Grasmere, which was the center of Goffstown at the time. She claimed to be independent of all churches, but had formerly been a Methodist. The Rev. Isaac Willey said: "Her hearers increased until she had an audience of nearly one thousand persons. In the spring of 1842 more than one half of the voters in town, and nearly all those who had never been willing to support any other preacher, came to her support." Near the close of her labors, she advised her converts to form a Methodist church. Some dissatisfaction arose, in regards to the occupation of the Congregations Church at the Center, by her followers, whereupon, Samuel Little and Capt. Joseph Sargent purchased the building.
In the autumn of 1842 a Methodist Society was organized, and pews were sold in the house to various individuals by Messrs. Little and Sargent. Rev. Mr. Smart, a local preacher, was secured until the next session of the conference, which occurred June, 1843.
On the 18th of August, 1877, the church was struck by lightning and totally destroyed, and a new one was erected before the close of the year.
In 1881 a new parsonage was erected. (It is located across the street, but no longer is a parsonage today).
In 1914 a substantial kitchen and dining room were finished under the church, where church suppers were held. (They actually excavated under the church to gain this space).
June 9, 1918, there occurred a very remarkable instance in the history of this church. Nineteen members were received, and among the number was Irad Poore, 94 years of age, the oldest person in the town, and active. After the service, a photograph of the entire congregation was taken, in which four generations were represented: Irad Poore, his daughter, Mrs. Charles E. Pollard, his grandson, Herman Pollard, and his great-granddaughter, Grendolyn Mary Pollard.
"In the year 1872, with the increasing population of the town, the needs of the people called for more church room, and quite an interest was manifest in Methodist preaching at the village. Accordingly, the annual conference sent Rev. W.E Bennett to preach at the Center. Also to hold meeting as at the west village; this he did with evident success, ministering to good-sized congregations and receiving a generous support”
"The church was to be known as the Second Methodist Episcopal Church of Goffstown. Work on the new church commenced on March 26, 1889.
Recent discoveries and interesting facts:
- Paul Hartigan – State Trooper – during WWII, wound the clock and started a fire in the furnace under the grate in the aisle (center of church) on Sundays. He said the church was never warm in the winter.
- Stones and pulleys for pulling down oil lamps were found in the attic while doing recent insulating.
- The church once lowered the ceiling for energy conservation and the entire ceiling later collapsed shortly after Ms. Imogene William’s sister finished practicing on the organ. There is no record of what she was playing that might have brought the ceiling down.
Remaining Features of the historic church:
- Some of the panes of glass are original.
- The front of church is being maintained in the original wood clapboards.
- The basic structure is the same as when it was built.
Recent work:
- In 2002, the downstairs was remodeled to change that space, creating a pastor’s office for pastoral counseling.
- In 2017 Hillside completed a new addition for a full access bathroom and kitchenette. New covered side and rear entrances provide much better access to the fellowship room and lower level rooms from outside. Three sides of building were sided to make them maintenance free (front was left as wood clapboards).The fellowship room was renovated with new flooring and paint. The flooring was replaced in the pastor’s office.
Ministry:
- At least three women pastors have served the church since Miss Clementine Parker called for the formation of a Methodist Church in Grasmere.
- The Hillside Church had shared a pastor with the 2nd UMC in the village church and eventually a full time pastor when that church closed.
Hillside Cemetery:
The cemetery is owned by the town and they have a right-of-way (the only vehicle access) to cemetery over church property on the right side of the church.
* Based upon Town of Goffstown History Research and Hillside UMC Membership Witness
Sources:
Hadley, G. (1922). History of the Town of Goffstown 1733 – 1920: Volume One. Concord, NH. The Rumford Press.
Mitchell and Weston. (1905). The Goffstown Register 1905. Brunswick, ME: H.E. Mitchell Co.