Pray that you and your family stay safe on this snowy day.
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the founder of Ephyra. Hades punished him for cheating death twice by forcing him to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity. In today's world tasks that are laborious and repetitive described as Sisyphean.
This week I felt like I was Sisyphus as I was taking care of my children as a full-time single parent while Joyce was away. You can easily picture my daily routine. After my morning devotion, I have everything ready for school - their clothes, breakfast, snacks, and lunches. Then, I wake them up from old to young in order. After breakfast, I help to wash the younger ones' faces, brush their teeth, and tie their hair, then walk them over to the school. Now Hannah is ready for Dad's School. We go on a field trip to Walmart or IGA. We have recess at snow mountain in the church parking lot. After having simple lunch, I put her to take a nap. While she is sleeping, I wash dishes, do laundry, or clean rooms. Then it's time to pick up the children from school. Now it's a full house again. No peace until they go to bed...
As I repeated the same routine every day, I felt like my days were so ordinary and mundane. I felt like what I was doing was so laborsome but unimportant. But it was the moment I so desperately cried out to God to come and redeem my time and my work. And he did. Surprisingly, as I look back, more than any other time of the week I was able to stay close to God, feeling his living and active presence moment by moment.
According to the lectionary, this Sunday we listen to the story of how Jesus comes to common people's ordinary lives and redeems them - Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, etc. Jesus still comes into our ordinary and mundane lives today. And he invites us to join him in his great work. May we hear him say, "Come, follow me."
Hodgdon UMC will celebrate "family worship" at 9 am followed by a monthly coffee hour fellowship, Mars Hill UMC gathered at 9 am with "communion" service, and the Houlton community at 11 am. If you are not able to come in person, you can worship with us online via the following links:
- Hodgdon: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070411631446
- Houlton: https://youtu.be/WUtJkjcDbu8
- Mars Hill: https://www.facebook.com/MarsHillUnitedMethodist
Let us come, taste and see that the Lord is good at first hand. I'm looking forward to worshiping together with you all this Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Victor
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