Peace to you.
On Christmas Day, Rev. Lee’s family gathered to give thanks to God for his life. During the service, we shared memories and stories. One family member reflected that, as she looked back on her father’s life, she could see the full circle of life—how he was planted in the Houlton community over fifty years ago, how his three children grew up, spread out, and then returned, and how the Han family now carries on the torch.
For me, the past four years with Rev. Lee have been a gift. I often feel I learned more about life and faith from time spent with him than I did in seminary. Our conversations broadened my perspective and deepened my heart. His family shared that these last four years were also deeply formative for them. I believe many in our church family would say the same. We will surely miss his presence among us.
On Christmas Day, we remember that God gave us the greatest gift—the gift of presence. God gave himself to us. Even today, we can still experience and touch that presence, especially through God’s Word. This is why reading the Bible is so precious. As we read through the whole of Scripture, we begin to see the full circle of life—not only our own story, but the story of humanity held in God’s grace.
C. S. Lewis once wrote, “In reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see.” Through Scripture, we are led to ask deep and faithful questions: Who am I, and how shall I live as part of the full circle of life God has given us?As we begin a new year, I encourage all of us to consider a fresh commitment to Bible reading. I have attached three reading plans:
A Bible Reading Chart (to follow at your own pace, book by book):
The Robert M’Cheyne Plan (reading the Old Testament once, and the New Testament and Psalms twice in a year)
Paper copies are also available on the welcome table.
In addition, our new Bible study will journey through the entire New Testament over five months. My prayer is that our time together will help us see with “myriad eyes” and restore the image of Christ more fully in us.
As we gather for our final worship service of this year, may it be a pleasing offering to God. The service bulletin is attached. The worship service link (Houlton) is:
https://youtube.com/live/-
May the Lord bless you and your family as you trust in Him. Happy New Year :)
Pastor Victor
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