Life Story Update

Dear church family, 

Peace to you.

It has been a true joy and honor to sit with you and listen to your life stories. Thank you for trusting us and for sharing your lives together with us. 

As shared earlier, we plan to compile these stories into a book for us to keep and to share with our loved ones and friends.

If you have not yet shared your story but would like to be included, please let me know. We will collect all stories by April 24 and then send the book for publishing. We expect the books to arrive by the middle of May.

Thank you again for being part of this meaningful journey.

Have a blessed rest of the week. 

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Life Story Link

Monday Morning Coffee: "Living the Resurrection"

Peace to you. 

This past weekend, Angie and Ryan kindly welcomed our children into their home to watch the boiling sap. For the kids, everywhere becomes a playground. They did not stay long in the steam, but they had a joyful time, especially with Luna, Angie’s beloved dog. As I looked at the picture, a thought came to me: they are already living the resurrection!

 

After Jesus’ death, the disciples’ minds were closed and heavy, burdened by grief, fear, and the weight of everyday life. Then the risen Christ came to them. He restored their sense of wonder and awe. He entered into their ordinary, mundane moments, shared meals with them, and deepened their relationships. He appeared not only to individuals, but to the group. In doing so, he showed them that his presence is made known among a gathered people, “the church.”

 

In this light, the Sabbath is truly a gift from God. It is like a weekly renewal of the soul. As we gather to worship, sing, listen to the Word, and share simple food fellowship, our sense of awe is restored. We begin to recognize the presence of the risen Christ among us in the ordinary rhythms of life.

 

Every moment can become a means of grace – every meal we share, every act of service, every task we carry out. This past Sunday, we experienced such grace through our spring concert, “Welcome Spring with Music.” You can watch it here. You may also revisit our worship services and message:

• Mars Hill service here
• Houlton service here
• Sunday message, “Are We There Yet?” here

 

May God restore in us a childlike sense of wonder this week. And may we respond to God in all things with grateful hearts :)

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Life Together: "Look Up, Lift Up"

 

​

It was Friday morning, 10:30 a.m., in the Bangor District Courtroom.

 

Twenty-four people, from eighteen countries, were sworn in as United States citizens. Joyce was one of them.

 

It was a solemn and joyful moment. As the judge led the ceremony, I found myself thinking of that day – the day when we will stand before the righteous Judge.

 

Last Sunday, we sang “He Lives” with full voice, celebrating the resurrection of Christ together. But now, we may wonder: “What does the resurrection mean for us today?”

 

We still grieve. We deeply miss our loved ones. We feel the weight of aging. At times, we are afraid of the dying process. And we wonder, “How can I finish my life, not with fear or bitterness, but with joy and hope in Christ?”

 

This Sunday, we continue our New Testament journey as we explore the Letters to the Thessalonians. In these letters, the Apostle Paul speaks with clarity and compassion about the end times – death, grief, and judgment. By the Spirit, he offers a living hope for our deepest questions.

 

You are warmly invited to worship with us this Sunday: 9:00 a.m. (Hodgdon and Mars Hill) and 11:00 a.m. (Houlton)

 

In addition, this Sunday at 3 p.m. Houlton church will host a spring concert, “Welcome Spring with Music,” featuring the Houlton Community Handbell Choir, the Houlton Community Chorus, soloists, instrumental pieces, and congregational singing. Come and be encouraged!

 

May we continue to look up and lift up our hearts, remembering that our true citizenship is in heaven. Love you all, and see you Sunday :)

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Monday Morning Coffee: "One Family"

 

Peace to you, dear church family,

I trust you had a meaningful and joy-filled Easter.

During our services, I shared that one of the convincing signs of the resurrection is the transformed lives of the disciples. Fearful hearts became bold witnesses. Broken people became a living testimony of hope.

Another great blessing we share is this: we have been adopted into God’s family. The early church was a resurrection community. Because Christ is risen, barriers fell. Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free. All became one in Christ.

We are still living in that same blessing today. Through the Rue family’s warm hospitality, the Hans experienced a beautiful Easter gathering. Some came from Korea, some from China, one from Germany. We were all different, yet we were united so quickly. How? Because Christ is risen. We are one family.

What a gift it was to celebrate Easter together across our churches. Each place was special in its own way. At Mars Hill, Pastor Mary led with joy and grace. At Hodgdon, we were encouraged by the presence of children, youth, and their families. At Houlton, we shared a full and joyful day, from sunrise service, to breakfast and fellowship, to new member celebration, to special music, and messages for all ages.

For me, this Easter will stay in my heart for a long time. It reminded me deeply: we are family. And once we are family, we remain family through thick and thin. Because Christ is risen, we are eternally united as a resurrection community.

You can revisit our Easter celebrations here:

Services:
Hodgdon Service
Houlton Service

Message:
Podcast Audio
Blog Reading

May we walk this week in the peace, purpose, and power of the risen Christ!

In Christ's love, 
Pastor Victor

Easter Celebration Update

 

Peace to you, beloved church family.

Some of you may be wondering about the Easter Sunrise Service, as the weather forecast for this Sunday is not favorable. Rather than canceling, we will gather indoors for our Easter Sunrise Service at 6:00 am in the Upper Room (Choir Room) at the Houlton church.

It will be a prayerful and joyful time, featuring candle lighting and readings of the disciples’ first-person testimonies based on the Gospel of John. The service will also be livestreamed on the Houlton church Facebook page, so you may join either in person or online.

If coming out early is difficult, you are warmly invited to join us for Easter Breakfast from 7:00 to 8:00 am at Houlton. Special thanks to Gabriel Grimm, Jessica Bonin, our Hope Circle and Outreach Team members for helping make this meaningful gathering possible.

We will also celebrate Easter worship at each church:

• Hodgdon and Mars Hill at 9:00 am

• Houlton at 11:00 am

Come, let us celebrate together.

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Good Friday Service Link

Peace to you,

I pray your day is going well and meaningful in God’s grace.

Although we were not able to gather in person for our Good Friday service, we can still worship and pray together in spirit. You can watch Pastor Joyce’s Good Friday prayer service here:
https://youtube.com/live/k6t3Amr-4ok?feature=share

I also invite you to watch Watch the Lamb by Ray Boltz. This short video beautifully tells the story of Jesus, the Lamb of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNT1AThOgME

May you stay close to Christ today.


In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor


P.S. Maundy Thursday service link:
https://youtube.com/live/x4kWziv1HDM?feature=share

From Cross to Resurrection: Holy Week & Easter

Peace to you.

Blessings on your Holy Week journey.

You may have heard the saying, “No cross, no crown.” It is true. Without Christ’s death, there is no life. Without Holy Week, there is no Easter.

This Thursday, our three churches will gather at Houlton at noon for our Maundy Thursday service. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning “command” or “mandate”—Jesus’ call to love one another. Together, we will worship and meditate on that final night with his disciples.

On Friday, weather permitting, we will gather at Mars Hill at noon for our Good Friday service, led by Pastor Joyce.

Then on Easter Sunday, we will begin early with our Easter Sunrise Service at 6:00 a.m. at the foot of Derby Hill in Houlton. It will be simple, yet powerful, as we wait and witness the joy of the resurrection. Afterward, we will share Easter breakfast together at Houlton UMC from 7:00–8:00 a.m.

We will also hold our regular Easter services: Hodgdon at 9:00 a.m., Mars Hill at 9:00 a.m., and Houlton at 11:00 a.m. At Houlton, we will celebrate new members, Gabriel Grimm and Jessica Bonin, and enjoy special music: a trumpet performance by Adam Metzler and a solo by Jeff Putnam.

Easter is a wonderful time to invite family and friends and to celebrate together. 

It has been a meaningful journey with you. Joyce and I are deeply grateful to be part of this beloved community. 

Have a blessed Holy Week. We love you all deeply in Christ.

In Christ's love, 

Pastor Victor 

*Mrs. Wotton's "All about Maple Syrup" at Together Tuesday (March 31, 2026)