"Life Together Community" (Feb 26, 2023)

Lent begins. 

Traditionally, Lent is known as a time of "fasting," which has a negative connotation to many. But fasting is more than just abstaining from food consumption. The heart of fasting is about "self-denial." It's about emptying ourselves with spiritual intentions - to be filled with Christ. 

During Ash Wednesday service, I shared my story with you. As I was preparing myself for Lent, I wanted to fast from something I crave, something that gives me "pleasures." Then, I realized how much I enjoy drinking coffee and tea daily. For the first time, I decided to fast from coffee and tea in order to feast on Christ more. Since last Sunday, every time I crave coffee, I drink water and remind myself that Jesus is my joy. And I go back to Isaish 58, "chapter of true fasting" - doing justice and mercy out of love for God. 

How about you? How would you fast from something you cherish in order to feast on Christ? If you are a spender, you may fast from non-essential money-spending and feast on giving away. If you are a people person, you may fast from non-essential gatherings and feast on solitude. If you are a talkative person, you may fast from non-essential talk and feast on silence.

This Sunday we celebrate the first Sunday of Lent. As we are gathered as God's people, may the Lord declutter our souls and draw us closer to God. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will meet at 9 am, and Houlton church at 11 am. If you are not able to come in person, you can worship with us online at the following links: 

• Hodgdon UMC
• Houlton UMC
• Mars Hill UMC

May this Lent be a time of fasting and feasting for your souls. God bless. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Feb 19, 2023)

"How is it with your soul?"

Recently, I changed my guitar strings. I am supposed to change the strings every three months or so, but I often become lazy and wait until the strings begin to sound dull and flat. It's work. First, I need to slowly unwind and throw away the old strings. Then, I painstakingly tighten the new ones, adjusting them until they are properly tuned. But once it's tuned, the guitar sounds smooth and fresh with the new strings.

That made me stop and think about my spiritual life.

Lent reminds us that our spiritual journey also needs a regular "tune-up." Lent is the perfect time for a spiritual tune up since the church offers opportunities through these forty days to slow us down with intentions and realign our priorities with God's will. Our daily Lenten devotions will prepare our hearts to be tuned and drawn nearer to Christ. Our noontime three Lenten "Soup Luncheons & Devotions" gatherings (on Feb 22 at Houlton, March 15 at Hodgdon, and March 29 at Mars Hill) will provide food for our journey.

This Sunday we celebrate "Transfiguration Sunday," which is the last Sunday before Lent begins. I believe that God invites us to see a glimpse of his glory with a bird's eye view before partaking in Christ's death and resurrection for the next forty days.

So let us come and worship with us. Your hearts will be glad, and your souls will be encouraged. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will worship at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. If you are not able to join in person, you can worship with us online at the following links:

• Hodgdon UMC: 
• Houlton UMC: 
• Mars Hill UMC:

I am grateful for Lent. I am grateful for you. Thank you for sharing your Lenten journey with me. 

May God bless on your Lenten journey ahead!

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Opportunities to Serve and Love

Lend a Hand to People in Turkey and Syria
I want to thank you for your grace and support. Several of you already made special offerings this past Sunday. After this coming Sunday (Feb 19), we will send our gifts to UMCOR. If you would like to donate, please write a check to the church (Hodgdon, Houlton, or Mars Hill) with the memo "UMCOR Earthquake Relief." Please join UMCOR in prayer for those who have been affected by these devastating earthquakes, including rescue workers, first responders, and medical workers.

UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief), in partnership with its longstanding partner, International Blue Crescent (IBC), helps provide tents, heaters, blankets, warm clothes, ready-to-eat meals, and first aid kits to those who have been displaced. For more information, you can read the recent article at this link.

Pregnancy Center's Baby Bottle Campaign
Our mission partner of the month is Pregnancy Care Center. Cyndee Randall, director of PCC in Houlton, and I had a chance to share our story with the local newspaper about why it's important to fill our baby bottles. You can read the article at this link. Also, you can read my entire answer to the interview question at this link.

Please return your bottles by the last Sunday of the month, February 26! If you haven't had a chance to pick up bottles yet, you may directly make a donation to PCC's life-giving ministry. Please make a check payable to the "Pregnancy Care Center." If you have any questions, please let me know at any time.

Thank you for your partnership.

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Lent Begins Next Wednesday

 

What Is Lent? 

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by new Christians and then became a time of repentance by all Christians. Still today, Lent is a very meaningful 40-day journey for many Christians. 

Lenten Practices

This year we follow a "year A" lectionary schedule, which assigns texts from John's gospel to the second through fifth Sundays in Lent, as well as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Daily devotions for Lent, "Water & Spirit" based on John's gospel are now available to be picked up at the church.  

I am also pleased to announce that there will be three "Lenten Soup Luncheons & Devotions" during Lent. The gathering schedules are as follows: 

• Houlton UMC on Ash Wednesday, Feb 22 at 12 pm
• Hodgdon UMC on Wednesday, March 15 at 12 pm
• Mars Hill UMC on Wednesday, March 29 at 12 pm 

May God be with you on your Lenten journey this year. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor 

Life Together Community (Feb 12, 2023)

 

(*In the picture, from left to right, Abe Han, Lydia Han, and Bee Master Travis Lynn)

Peace to you. 

Hope you had a good week. 

For the Hans, we had quite a week. We drove all the way up to Fort Kent to attend a County Spelling Bee yesterday. Lydia was the second runner-up, and Abe was the third runner-up. 

Though both of them were born here in the US, they always struggled with their English accents, especially in their early years. Since Joyce and I are not native speakers, there were limits to teaching them even if we had a strong desire to help. Eventually, we surrendered them to God just as by faith Amram and Jochebed put their child Moses in a "papyrus basket" and placed the basket on the river. It was a scary and liberating experience. It was a "crisis of belief" moment. But now, we see them blossoming in every way in the palm of God's hand. 

Anytime God calls us and invites us to join him in God-sized works, we face a "crisis of belief." Do you feel God is leading you in new directions? Do you feel called to new ministries? This Sunday we are invited to hear Moses' call story - how God prepares him and empowers him to live out his calling (Hodgdon UMC and Houlton UMC). We are all called to ministry as followers of Christ. If you are not sure about what your calling is, this Sunday's message, Jesus' sermon on the mount, is for you (Mars Hill UMC). 

Hodgdon UMC and Mars Hill UMC are gathered at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. If you are not able to attend in person, you can worship with us online at the following links: Hodgdon UMC, Houlton UMC, and Mars Hill UMC.

Stay warm and safe. I'm looking forward to worshiping together with you this Sunday. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor 

Sunday Services (Feb 5, 2023)

Peace to you. 

Pray that you are doing well. 

And we continue to pray for those suffering from the cold. If you need assistance, or if you know someone or family who needs extra help at this time, please contact me at 207-538-0778. 

This morning we had some technical difficulties at Houlton church (due to a camcorder battery malfunction) and were not able to livestream via the youtube channel as planned. Instead, we had to do it via Facebook live. We are sorry about the inconvenience this has caused you. 

We missed many of our beloved church family members this morning due to cold weather, but we are grateful, knowing that you are safe and well at home. 

If you haven't had a chance to worship yet, you can watch the service at the following links: 

• Hodgdon UMC
• Houlton UMC
• Mars Hill UMC

Also, you can read the entire message, "Tasty & Shining" at this link. 

Have a blessed week ahead. Love you all. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Sunday, Feb 5, 2023)

"The Flower" (Kim Chun-soo)

Before I called her name,

she was nothing

more than a gesture. 

When I called her name, 

she came to me

and became a flower. 

Like I called her name, 

will someone please call my name

that suits my light and fragrance? 

I, too, long to come to her

and become her flower. 

We all long to be something. 

You, to me, and I, to you,

long to become a gaze that won't be forgotten. 

(*Translated by Dr. Chae-Pyong Song)

It's amazing how we fall in love with someone and stay in love with that person. For me personally, Joyce came to me and became my flower in March 2006. That year my world changed. Everything changed.

In the same way, when Jesus comes into our lives, everything is reordered... our views, our relationships, our dreams. In his sermon on the mount, Jesus tells us what would happen to those who have decided to follow him and what their lives would look like. It's different, revolutionary, powerful, tasty, and shining. 

Last Sunday we learned about eight true marks of Christian character, the beatitudes, especially in relation to humility. This Sunday we will hear Jesus calling us to live a life of discipleship: "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world." It sounds cliche, but what does it really mean to be salt and light? How can we live such a life? 

Please join us for our Sunday worship services. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will be gathered at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. If you are not able to attend it in person, you can worship with us online at the following links: 

• Hodgdon UMC: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070411631446
• Houlton UMC: https://youtube.com/live/s6JFajxwoio?feature=share
• Mars Hill UMC: https://www.facebook.com/MarsHillUnitedMethodist/

Mission of the Month
Our mission project of the month is Pregnancy Care Center’s Baby Bottle Drive. Our support enables PCC to provide free pregnancy tests, peer counseling, parenting classes, ultrasounds, Bible studies and material assistance such as diapers and clothing. Please “Pick up – Fill – Return” by Feb 28. Thank you for your support in advance.

2023 Church Directory

Our church directories are now updated and ready to be picked up this Sunday. Special thanks to Kathy Maclachlan and Mary Taylor for putting them together for us. The directories are also available to view online: 

• Hodgdon UMC & Houlton UMC 
• Mars Hill UMC

New Lenten & Eastertide Bible Study (Hodgdon & Houlton)

New 13-week Bible study on “Jesus Christ: Teacher, Servant, Savior.” If you are interested or have any questions, please let me know at any time. For Houtlon, the study starts on Thursday, Feb 23 at 3 pm, and for Hodgdon on Tuesday, Feb 28 at 3:30 pm. Everyone is welcome! (*Thanks to Kathy Maclachlan for making beautiful posters and signs for us😄)

Church Elevator Doorbell Installed (Houlton)

The elevator doorbell is now installed at Houtlon. The doorbell is located between the elevator button and the external door. Please feel free to use the doorbell, and our ushers and greeters will come out and gladly assist you. 

May the Lord protect all those facing outages, freezing temperatures, ice, and snow. I pray that you stay warm and safe. And I'm looking forward to worshiping with you together online or in person this Sunday. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor