Life Together Community (Dec 31, 2023)

 

"God is our refuge and strength, 

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, 

though... though... though... though..." (Ps 46:1-3)

Hannah made it. 

She has been to a trampoline park several times. For four years Hannah didn't think she could ride a zip-line. She always admired her older siblings. But the other day she was different. She carefully observed and checked a safety cushion under the zip-line, then she made up her mind to give it a shot. And she made it. After this, she so much enjoyed flying down the zip-line over and over again. 

It's nerve-racking to navigate in an unknown territory. But as we ring in the new year, we are reminded that God is our "safety net." We may stumble and fall, but God is always there for us. We may have a lot of "though" moments (cf. Ps 46:1-3) in our lives and the life of the church, but God is always our refuge and strength - yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

This year we are given an excellent opportunity to gather for Sunday worship on New Year's Eve. Beginning in 1755, John Wesley always encouraged gathering for worship on New Year’s Eve for a Covenant Renewal Service. Let us be gathered to worship, pray, sing, and welcome new year together. You are invited. You can also worship with us online via the church Facebook Live. 

• Hodgdon UMC
• Houlton UMC: Youtube I Facebook
• Mars Hill UMC

May God be our refuge and strength today and always. Have a blessed New Year. Love you all.   

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Dec 24, 2023)

 

It's Christmas. 

On this day we celebrate the coming of Jesus and also anticipate his second coming. 

What makes Christianity different from all other religions can be summarized in two words: Jesus Christ. After his conversion, Sundar Singh visited a Hindu college in India, and a professor accosted him aggressively and asked, “What have you found in Christianity that you don’t have in your old religion?” Sundar Singh replied, “I have Christ.” The professor continued impatiently, “Yes, I know, but what particular principle or doctrine have you found that you did not have before?” Sundar Singh replied, “The particular thing I have found is Christ.”

Christ is our reason to hope, to love, to rejoice, to have peace - no matter what. 

Come, let us adore Christ together this Sunday. There will be both morning and evening services. In the morning, Hodgdon church gathers at 9 am. Mars Hill church celebrates with a Christmas Pageant at 9 am. Houlton church will welcome our new church members as well as present a Christmas Pageant at 11 am. Also, our all-ages choir will be singing "Do You Hear What I Hear" and rehearsal will be in the choir room at 10:30 am. All are welcome to join in. 

In the evening, there will be three Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at Hogdon (4 pm), Mars Hill (4 pm) and Houlton (6 pm). You can also join us for all our Christmas services via the church's Facebook Live: 

• Hodgdon UMC
• Houlton UMC: Pageant (Youtube, Facebook), Candlelight Service (Youtube, Facebook)
• Mars Hill UMC 

May God richly bless you and your family as you celebrate Christmas. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Christmas Services

 

As we enter the Christmas week, let us remember and celebrate the real gift of Christmas, the Christ Child. What better way than to be together as God's people and worship together? 

This Sunday, on Christmas Eve, there will be both morning and evening services. Hodgdon church gathers at 9 am. Mars Hill (9 am) and Houlton (11 am) churches will present Christmas Pageants. In the evening, there will be Christmas Eve Candlelight services at Hodgdon (4 pm), at Mars Hill (4 pm), and at Houlton (6 pm). 

Also, on Epiphany Day, January 6, we are going to Christmas Caroling at Northern Light Continuing Care (Mars Hill). We will meet at the Mars Hill church parking lot at 2 pm. Everyone is welcome!

I wish you and your family a very blessed and meaningful Christmas this year. Love you deeply. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Dec 17, 2023)

 

Year of grace 1654, Monday 23 November, feast of St. Clement . . . from about half past ten at night to about half an hour after midnight, FIRE. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of philosophers and scholars. Certitude, heartfelt joy, peace. God of Jesus Christ. God of Jesus Christ. "My God and your God." . . . Joy, Joy, Joy, tears of joy. . . Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. May I never be separated from him.

Blaise Pascal wrote this down on a piece of parchment and sewed into his coat, carrying it with him always until his death. He met God and found unshakable joy in Jesus Christ. 

Today we are constantly bombarded with news of wars and suffering. We experience schism and pain individually and corporately. Yet, the Spirit of the Lord is still with us, sustaining, liberating, and igniting joy where mourning and heartache prevail. Where there is the Spirit, there is joy. 

May we experience "joy, joy, joy, tears of joy" as we come and worship as God's people. You are invited to join us for our service this Sunday. Hodgdon church's Christmas Pageant starts at 9 am, followed by the Christmas Coffee Hour fellowship time. Mars Hill church community gathers at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. You can also worship with us online via the church's Facebook Live:  

• Hogdon UMC
• Houlton UMC: Youtube, Facebook
• Mars Hill UMC

May God fill our hearts with his unshakable joy as we wait and work for the coming of his kingdom. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Dec 10, 2023)

 

Where do you find "peace" in a troubling world? 

Achieving peace seems impossible in conflict nations, in the congress, in our family, and even in the church. But still, we proclaim that Christ is our peace because he already brought peace on earth and will bring real peace, true peace, just peace. 

Please join us in singing "Let There Be Peace on Earth" this Sunday. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will gather at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. You can also worship online via the church's facebook live: 

• Hogdon UMC: Facebook
• Houlton UMC: Youtube, Facebook
• Mars Hill UMC: Facebook

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with you and me. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Dec 3, 2023)

 

Advent is here. 

The Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “visit.” Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the Christian year. So during Advent, we remember, look back, and celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. But more importantly, we also eagerly anticipate the second coming of Christ Jesus our Lord in this special season of Advent.

This Sunday Hodgdon and Houlton churches will have a combined service at Houlton at 11 am, while Mars Hill church gathers at 9 am. You are invited to join us for our Sunday service as we prepare the way and celebrate Christ's coming to us. You can also worship with us online at the following links:

• Houlton UMC: Youtube and Facebook
• Mars Hill UMC: Facebook

Thank you for being among us. May the Lord Jesus richly bless you and draw you closer to him as you eagerly await his return. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor