Special Services

 Peace to you. 

Hope that you are doing well.

Sisters and brothers in Christ, I just wanted to keep you informed about our upcoming special services. As we are aware, we are "connectional" churches that share ministries and pastors. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will be combined services for all three churches, being held at different locations. This year's service plan is as follows:

April 6: Maundy Thursday Service at Houlton UMC – 6:00 p.m.
April 7: Good Friday Service at Mars Hill UMC – 12:00 p.m.
April 9: Easter Sunday Services –

• Hodgdon UMC & Mars Hill UMC – 9:00 a.m.
• Houlton UMC – 11:00 a.m.

As we enter into Holy Week, may we share in Christ's death and experience the power of his resurrection. 

Have a blessed week. Love you all. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (March 26, 2023)

How is your Lenten journey so far?

“Fast from Coffee, Feast on Reading” is my Lenten motto this year. Every time I miss drinking coffee, I drink water and say, “Jesus, you are my source of living water.” I also resolved to do a wide reading and regular reading. I read not for information, but for formation. I read it not as a personal luxury, but as a vocational responsibility. I read to learn to see and love all people.

One of the benefits of reading that I have found is to help me to live as a "reader" instead of a main character. All too often I find myself preoccupied with myself, but my daily reading tremendously helps me to take a step back and look at my life from different perspectives. From self-centeredness to self-forgetfulness. 

Eugene Peterson rightly said, "Sabbath is not primarily about us or how it benefits us. It is about God and how God forms us." On the Sabbath day, we intentionally stop and see where God is in all this and what God is up to among us. 

This Sunday you are invited to join us. We will be gathered at the Hodgdon UMC and Mars Hill UMC at 9 am. And we will also celebrate "Family Worship" Sunday at 11 am, experiencing inter-generational worship with our children, followed by "Love Feast" potluck fellowship. 

If you are not able to come in person, you can worship with us online via the following links: 

• Hodgdon UMC
• Houlton UMC 
• Mars Hill UMC 

Let us stop, breathe, and be. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor 

"Life Together Community" (March 19, 2023)

 

"What do you See?"

We hear of wars and rumors of strife every day. Conflicts between Jews and Palestinians, between Ukrainians and Russians, between Republicans and Democrats...

During the Holy Land pilgrimage last year, one of the most memorable places I visited was the "Walled Off Hotel" in Bethlehem. It was an unplanned visit thanks to Bishop Devadhar. This hotel was built in March 2017 to raise awareness of the realities of the Palestinians affected by the conflict. It is known as having "the worst view of any hotel in the world" as all the rooms face the West Bank Barrier. 

The Walled Off Hotel is also well known to many as it is full of Banksy's artwork. Each of his artworks is meaning-full, thought-provoking, and bridge-building. As I was touring each of the guest rooms, one piece of artwork on a bedroom wall particularly caught my eye - Israeli police and Palestinian protester were having a pillow fight! I could almost see smiles on their faces. I too had to smile... then pray for peace. 

Since then, I began to see "people" instead of "issues." Every time our team was stopped at the checkpoint, I saw the nametag of the police instead of the gun. When I was invited to a Palestinian Christian family for dinner, I asked, called, and remembered their names. In the midst of all these complex situations, I began to see "hope" instead of despair, "love" instead of hatred, and "reconciliation" instead of vengeance. 

So what do you see? 

This Sunday we meet a man born blind, then he receives sight (John 9). Not only that, but he also receives new "spiritual" eyes. We too need these spiritual eyes more than ever. Let us come to Jesus. Let us learn from this courageous blind beggar. 

Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will meet at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. If you are not able to join us in person, you can worship with us online via the following links: 

• Hodgdon UMC
• Houlton UMC 
• Mars Hill UMC

May our hearts be flooded with light so that we can see all people as Jesus sees them. 

Have a blessed weekend. I'm looking forward to worshiping together with you all this Sunday. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (March 12, 2023)

 

Peace to you. 

Hope you had a good week. 

Some of you are aware that Joyce is away this weekend to attend her local pastor licensing school. Last night Grace showed me the poem that she had written for her mom. I took a picture of it and shared it with Joyce. She was greatly encouraged and moved as it was written by someone who knows her very well. 

I share this because Grace's poem tells us about the heart of worship. According to Cambridge Dictionary, the word worship is "to love, respect, and admire someone or something very much." In Christianity, worship is to know God truly and then to respond by treasuring God, savoring God, enjoying God. Put simply, worship is declaring the worth and greatness of God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds. 

As we are gathered this Sunday, may we press on to know God. And may we declare his worth with our lips, with our hearts, and with our serving hands. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will meet at 9 am, and Houlton church at 11 am. If you are not able to join us in person, you can worship online at the following links:

• Hodgdon UMC 
• Houlton UMC
• Mars Hill UMC 

Have a peaceful weekend. And I'm looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. 

PS. Please don't forget to turn your clocks spring forward! 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

"Life Together Community" (March 5, 2023)

 

How fast do you think Jesus walked? 

I think he would walk at three miles an hour. That's an average person's walking speed. 

In the Bible, we meet Jesus who always walked slowly enough to see all people - one person at a time. Jesus walked 3 miles an hour to see Nicodemus - his questions and struggles. Jesus walked 3 miles an hour to see the Samaritan woman – her pain and brokenness. Jesus walked 3 miles an hour to see Zacchaeus – his loneliness and thirst. Jesus was never in a hurry, but he was able to say on the cross: “It is finished!” (“It’s done… complete!” Jn 19:30, MSG) 

The ministry of Jesus is the ministry of presence. Jesus still walks at 3 miles an hour today – at the speed of love. He walks with you and me. 

During lent we will follow in the footsteps of Jesus through the Apostle John's eyes. This Sunday Jesus meets his first VIP, Nicodemus. After encountering Jesus, Nicodemus' life was never the same. Like Nicodemus, let us come as we are. 

Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will meet at 9 am, and the Houlton church at 11 am. If you are not able to come in person, you can worship with us online: 

• Hodgdon UMC
• Houlton UMC
• Mars Hill UMC 

Wherever you are in your journey, God sees you. God walks along with you. You are God's beloved. 

Hope you have a peaceful weekend. And I'm looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor