Pulpit Exchange Sunday (April 30, 2023)

(*Christ on the Mount of Olives by Giovanni)

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, admonished the preachers that they should be ready to preach, pray, or die at the moment of notice. Here I believe Wesley was saying that we should always live in the presence of God 24/7 – whether we are at work or on vacation, whether we are awake or asleep.

This Sunday we celebrate Pulpit Exchange Sunday. Some of us may wonder why we are doing this. I think pulpit exchange is a great way to demonstrate unity and celebrate diversity in the body of Christ. For me personally, pulpit exchange is also a great reminder that the church I dearly treasure is not “my” church, but “our” church and “His” church. It helps me to be ready to preach, pray, abide, move, or die at a moment’s notice and travel light.

Pray that all the traveling preachers this Sunday may preach the good news of Jesus Christ boldly and joyfully. And please join me in the Wesley Covenant Prayer as we prepare together for our Sunday service in one spirit:

“I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things

to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

Life Together Community (April 23, 2023)

Peace to you.

First of all, Joyce and I want to thank you for all your prayers. We had a very meaningful family sabbatical time this week. We were able to have a "parents-children" connection time in such a special way - all by God's grace and by the love of the church family. Thank you!

You are invited to join us for our Sunday Worship as we have special preachers. Duane Quint will preach at Hodgdon UMC (9 am) and Houlton UMC (11 am), and Pastor Sue Brown at Mars Hill UMC (9 am).

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

• Hodgdon UMC: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070411631446
• Houlton UMC: https://youtube.com/live/GPUGAHk1axY?feature=share
• Mars Hill UMC: https://www.facebook.com/MarsHillUnitedMethodist

I am blessed. I am grateful to be part of this worshiping community with you together. May God give you rest and peace this weekend.

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (April 16, 2023)

 

Peace to you. 

I pray that you are doing well in Christ today. 

This morning I read one of my mentors' reflections on his recent retirement. Somehow he always thought retirement as a "finish line," but now he realized that his race was not over yet. 

He then shares three standards to evaluate the person - who this person really was: 

First, eulogies at his or her funeral. 

Second, moral evaluation by historians or next generations. 

And most importantly, God's judgment on the Last Day.  

The other day I visited God's faithful ones at the nursing home. As I was listening to them and spending time with time, I saw the ones entering the final lap, holding on steadily to the finish line. There I experienced the presence of the risen Christ at an unexpected time and place. 

I can't wait to share this experience with you, along with the story of the Supper at Emmaus. Christ lives! May our eyes be opened and recognize him as we are gathered as a church this Sunday. Hodgdon UMC and Mars Hill UMC will worship at 9 am, and the Houlton UMC at 11 am. 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

Have a joyous weekend. And I'm looking forward to worshipping with you this Sunday. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

(*Garden Tomb in Jerusalem)

Peace to you.

Hope that you are doing ok - especially if you had a power outage yesterday.

As it was getting dark and cold, my family and I experienced a "life without power" for a few hours. I was involuntarily forced to slow down... literally to be still. There was really not much to do without power. So I decided to read the resurrection accounts in all four gospels. And I found there those living a life without power - the apostles, the women, and those grieving. Then, something happened. They encountered the risen Christ in person, and their lives were never the same.

Do you know someone who lives a life without power? Let us reach out to that person and invite them to the church this Sunday! In so doing, both they and we will experience the power of His resurrection.

You and your loved ones are invited to join us for our Easter Celebration. Hodgdon UMC and Mars Hill UMC are gathered at 9 am, and the Houlton UMC at 11 am. If you are not able to attend in person, you can worship with us online via the following links:

• Hodgdon UMC: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070411631446
• Houlton UMC: https://youtube.com/live/Ck_x9KmI_eQ?feature=share
• Mars Hill UMC: https://www.facebook.com/MarsHillUnitedMethodist

Hope you have a very blessed Easter. And I'm looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. Christ is risen today! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Special Services Livestreamed

Peace to you. 

I just wanted to share that Holy Week's special services would be livestreamed via the following links:

• Maundy Thursday Service (April 6, 6 pm at Houlton UMC): https://youtube.com/live/3pV9Cp2hSmY?feature=share
• Good Friday Service (April 7, 12 pm at Mars Hill UMC): https://www.facebook.com/MarsHillUnitedMethodist

I give thanks to God as we are able to worship together in person and online. God bless.

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Easter Lilies & Special Services

 

(*Special Thanks to Kathy Maclachlan who made this beautiful poster for us)

Peace to you. 

Pray that your Holy Week journey has been meaningful so far. 

I just wanted to remind you of our special services during Holy Week. We will have combined Maundy Thursday service at the Houlton UMC at 6 pm. (*Sorry about the confusion as it was written as the Hodgdon UMC in the bulletin. My apologies!). There will be also Good Friday service at the Mars Hill UMC at 12 pm. 

Also, if you would like to order Easter Lilies through the church/Chadwick florist, please let me know. Or if you plan to bring your own lilies, please let me know the name that you would like to honor. These are the names that we have received so far: 

• In memory of Mrs. Kum Hwa Lee by Rev. Dr. Kwan Lee and family 
• In memory of George "Red" & Phyllis "Sis" Ritche by Jane Lynds 
• In memory of Burns & Juanita Lilley, Waldo & Eleanor Gellerson by Perry & Paula Lilley 
• In memory of Charles & Irene Taylor, Kenneth & Emilie Stevens by Chuck & Mary Taylor 
• In memory of Joan Stearns and Christy Stearns by Pauline Cosman 
• In memory of Jim & Addie Woods, Rev. Karl & Edna Drew by Donald and Helen Woods 
• In memory of Bill Conway by Judy Conway 
• In memory of Mike Swallow by Mary Miller 
• In memory of Aileen & Charles Smith, and John Smith; Hallie & Vivian Miller and Wayne Miller by Dana and Teri-Ann Miller
• In memory of our grandparents by Victor & Joyce Han 
• In honor of Autism Awareness and  the children who have it by Susan & Elizabeth Boyd

If the information needs to be updated or edited, please let me know. 

Thank you, and have a blessed Holy Week. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (April 2, 2023)

 

​As we enter into Holy Week, may Jesse Brown Pounds' words be our prayer. 

“The Way of the Cross Leads Home” 

(Jesse Brown Pounds)

“I must needs go home by the way of the cross,

There’s no other way but this;

I shall ne’er get sight of the gates of light,

If the way of the cross I miss.

The way of the cross leads home,

The way of the cross leads home;

It is sweet to know as I onward go,

The way of the cross leads home.

Hodgdon UMC and Mars Hill UMC meet at 9 am, and Houtlon UMC at 11 am. If you are not able to come 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/HOu2h6Ro07Y?feature=share
• Mars Hill UMC: https://www.facebook.com/MarsHillUnitedMethodist

May Bless you on your Holy Week journey ahead. I'm looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. God bless. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor