Monday Morning Coffee: "Reflect, Repent, Renew"

Peace to you, church family.

This new year, we are exploring the New Testament book by book each week. Yesterday, we listened to the glory of the gospel in the book of Romans. We were reminded that the gospel not only saves us, but continues to transform us from one degree to another.

It feels timely as we prepare to enter our 40-day Lenten journey this week. In Scripture, the number 40 marks a season of transformation—Israel in the wilderness, Moses on Mount Sinai, Elijah’s journey, Jonah’s warning, and Jesus in the wilderness. Forty days is a sacred time. It is space for God to reshape our hearts.

This year, I invite us to practice the 3R’s:

Reflect

For 40 days, beginning this Wednesday, we will share one faith story each day through email and Messenger. Please set aside intentional time to read and prayerfully reflect.

Day 1: "Learning to Love like Christ" – Rev. Kwan Lee’s Story
👉 Read Day 1 Here

Repent

After reflecting, we turn to God. Yesterday you received a Prayer of Confession bookmark (adapted from the Book of Common Prayer). Let us pray daily:

Merciful God, I turn to you. Forgive what I have done wrong and what I have left undone. Renew my heart, teach me to love you fully and to love my neighbor well. Lead me in your ways, for the sake of Jesus. Amen.

Renew

As we reflect and repent, God renews our minds. Then we begin to discern God’s will. Each day, practice one small, intentional act of love. This is how we make room for the Holy Spirit to work in us and transform us from one degree to another.

If you missed the service, you may watch or listen:

Services
👉 Hodgdon Service Recording
👉 Houlton Service Recording

Sermon Message
👉 Podcast Audio
👉 Blog Reading

This Wednesday, we will gather for Ash Wednesday service at noon at Hodgdon. You are warmly invited.

Have a blessed week. Happy Lunar New Year :)

In Christ's Love, 

Pastor Victor 

Life Together: "From Glory to Glory"

 

“Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.”

Do you recognize these words?

They come from Love Divine, All Loves Excelling by Charles Wesley.

This hymn beautifully tells the story of our Christian pilgrimage from beginning to end—how God reaches out to us in Jesus Christ, how the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and how we are changed from glory to glory until the day we are made perfect in His presence.

Today I sang this hymn with Liz Taylor, who is now under hospice care. Though her body is tired, her spirit is bright. As we began to sing her favorite hymn, her face began to glow. She smiled. She sang from memory. It was holy ground.

Her room is a quiet testimony to her faithful walk with Christ. The pictures on her shelf. The books that fill her room—Bible studies, hymnals, small group materials. Each one tells a story. Liz sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, led Social Saturday (children’s outreach), organized the Thank You Ministry for First Responders, preached from the pulpit, and faithfully served on many committees. Her life has been poured out in love.

Though she is now bedridden, her spirit is not bound. I often hear her softly humming hymns. It reminds me of what John Piper once said: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” In this way, Liz continues to glorify God simply by being who she is in Christ.

Thanks to her daughter Lisa, Liz was also the first person to share her life story for our Life Review project. If you would like to read it, here is the link:
https://faithbook2025.blogspot.com/2025/03/walking-with-god-through-every-season.html

“Finish, then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in Thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place…”

Our journey continues.

This Sunday, we will sing this hymn together. May God be glorified as we rejoice in Him. May we breathe in His loving Spirit. May we find that “second rest” in Christ.

Stay well, and see you Sunday!

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Monday Morning Coffee: “Who Is the Happiest Person in the World?”

Dear Church Family,

Good morning. I hope you are well.

“Who is the happiest person in the world?”

If you google this question, one common answer is Matthieu Ricard, a French-born Tibetan Buddhist monk and author who writes about happiness. He himself dismisses the title “the happiest man,” saying it is impossible to measure the happiness of billions of people.

St. Augustine famously prayed, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Pastor John Piper echoes this truth: God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

For me, this has been deeply true. Before Christ, as Blaise Pascal described, I felt a “void” in my heart—restless and wandering. But since Christ came into my life, I have known wholeness, purpose, and direction. With humility and gratitude, I can now say, “I am a happy person,” because my joy is rooted in Christ.

Recently, Esther made me a handmade birthday card titled “Dad on the Pulpit.” I treasure it. It reminded me that even my child can see how deeply joyful and fulfilled I am when I share the good news with God’s people. God willing, I want to continue to study the Word, live the Word, and preach the Word for as long as I can.

Last Sunday’s message was also about our calling. If you missed it, I invite you to watch or listen and be encouraged:

• Service recordings: Mars Hill | Houlton
• Message: Podcast Audio | Blog Reading

May the Lord bless you this week. May God be glorified as you find your deepest satisfaction in Him. Love you all.

In Christ's Love,
Pastor Victor

Souper Bowl Sunday Celebration! 🏈

 

Together, our three churches collected 84 canned goods and $260 for the Salvation Army food pantry (Hodgdon: 25 cans/$46, Houlton: 48 cans/$122, Mars Hill: 11 cans/$92).

Special thanks to the Hodgdon Life-Together Bible Study, Houlton Hope Circle, and Mars Hill UMW for their generous matching gifts.

Thank you, church family!

Have a fun and meaningful Super Bowl Sunday! 

In Christ's Love, 

Pastor Victor 

Life Together: "How Long?"

 

“How long will it last, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?” (Psalm 89:46)

Have you ever questioned God, “Why?” or “How long?”

I want to be honest with you. Recently, Joyce and I have felt quite discouraged by what has been happening in the life of the church and in the world around us. More than once, I found myself praying, “Why, Lord?” and “How long?”

At times, God felt distant, as if God were hiding his face. I could not see him at work—north, south, east, or west. So I prayed for signs of hope, for signs that God was still working among us.

Then I listened to Gabriel’s life story. And all I could say was, “Wow. God, You are awesome. You are always working, saving, and redeeming.”

Gabriel, too, asked God, “Why?” For many years, he felt as though God had put a target on his back and then walked away. From his teenage years into his late thirties, he wanted nothing to do with faith. Yet the truth is this: God never let go of him. God was faithfully at work all along.

In God’s time, Gabriel came home, back to faith and back to a spiritual home. He shared these words:

“I started looking for a church. I wanted my daughter to have a fair shot… Then we came here. This place felt like home. Small. Real. Loving. Like the church I grew up in. People knew each other. There was space to belong. Space to help. Space to be needed. And that mattered to me.”

You can read Gabriel’s full life story here: "Uncovered" – Gabriel Grimm’s Faith Story

In many ways, we are like the two disciples walking to Emmaus, our eyes clouded by sadness, grief, and discouragement, even as the risen Christ walks right beside us.

Yet God comes to us in every season and through many means—through prayer, through the scriptures, through shared meals, through Souper Bowl Sunday, through tonight’s Prayer Vigil, and through stories of redemption happening in our midst.

As we gather for worship this Sunday, may God open our eyes and set our hearts burning anew.

Have a blessed weekend. I truly look forward to worshiping together.

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

P.S. If you are able, please consider sitting closer to the front during worship. It helps those who worship online and also helps me preach more clearly. Most of all, it strengthens our sense of closeness, connection, and community. We are better together :)

Monday Morning Coffee: “Signs of Spring”

“But now, O Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in you.” (Psalm 39:7)

Where do you see signs of spring today?

Though it is Groundhog Day, many of us may feel that it is still winter rather than spring.

There are times when sorrow and burden accumulate little by little, until one day the weight feels heavy. For me, this past Sunday was one of those days. As I looked at the empty pews - seats once filled with our beloved church members, smiling, chatting, singing, and worshiping together. I felt a deep heartache. Some are sick. Some are homebound. Some have drifted. Some have moved on. After the service, sitting in the quiet, empty sanctuary by myself, my heart felt even more empty.

Normally, I do not listen to my own sermon, except to make sure it is uploaded correctly. But this morning, I needed encouragement. I needed hope from the Word. So I listened and prayed that God would open my eyes to see signs of hope and to encounter the God of today.

And slowly, I began to see...

Two smiling faces who traveled from Danforth to worship with us. My children’s honest and encouraging feedback. Bob’s children’s message, boldly sharing good news and God’s love. A joyful Sunday School time at Hodgdon, creating a Mission Board with Jennifer and Jill. A Bible science class with Chet. Meaningful conversations during coffee hour. "Faithful ones" who keep showing up, stepping up, and watching over one another in love... one person at a time.

Today, you may feel like Lazarus, alone in a cold, dark tomb. If so, look for Mary and Martha, God’s angels who show care and support. Or perhaps you are in the place of Mary or Martha. If so, look for Lazarus, someone struggling, tired, or hurting. Reach out. Love that person. One person at a time.

Our hope is not in ourselves or in this world. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is for us, not against us. He intercedes for us, and He is able.

If you were unable to join us, you are welcome to watch or listen:

• Worship Services: Hodgdon | Houlton
• Message: Read the blog | Listen to the podcast

Let us hold fast. Spring is coming. Happy Groundhog Day :)

In Christ's Love, 

Pastor Victor 

Life Together: “Moving Forward”

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” 

(Hebrews 12:1)

“How do you do that?” I asked.

This is Brian’s second healing journey. He fell and fractured his hip. From ICU, to rehab, to home, he worked hard and returned to normal life. Then he fell again and fractured the other side. He had to start again from Day One.

And yet, as you can see, Brian still smiles. He stays positive.

“Well,” he said, “I’m 88. I can’t do many things I used to do. I didn’t choose where I am now, but I accept it and do what I can in the time I’m given. I take one day at a time.” I replied, “I admire both of you, Brian and Diane, for your strength, perseverance, and wisdom.”

So how do we learn to persevere?

Abe and I recently registered for our first half-marathon, which will take place in March. We are training on our own, increasing our distance by one mile each week. This week, we ran ten miles.

Not until I started running did I truly understand Hebrews 12:1. Running can be boring. It can be cold. I feel hungry, sore, sometimes even nauseous, with stomach pain. And yet, I keep running. My goal is simple: to move forward without stopping or walking.

Here is the lesson I am learning: We learn to persevere by persevering. In the same way, we learn to love by loving, to forgive by forgiving, and to give by giving. Yes, our spiritual journey is from grace to grace. But it is also "responsible" grace. We say “yes” to God’s grace, then we roll up our sleeves and practice it. As we do, we begin to bear more of the fruit of the Spirit.

The early Christians were known for two things: sexual purity and radical generosity. The Romans were confused by this. It was not simply rule-keeping. It was the fruit of their deep intimacy with the Lord Jesus.

We may not choose our time or our circumstances. But my prayer is that, in the time and situation we are given, we as a church will practice what pleases God and spread the aroma of Christ, especially in times like these.

This Sunday at Hodgdon and Houlton, we will explore the Gospel of John. Through the story of Lazarus, we will reflect on how it is possible to have faith after doubt - a faith for the here and now, even in the midst of loss, grief, and despair.

Have a blessed weekend. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

In Christ's Love, 

Pastor Victor