Acolytes

 Peace to you. 

Hope you are doing well. 

During our monthly Administrative Council yesterday, there was a consensus that it would be safe for greeters to serve as acolytes due to safety concerns. Please light the candle on the altar as the congregation sings the "opening hymn," and snuff it out while singing the "closing hymn." 

• 1st Sunday: Donald & Jennifer Metzger
• 2nd Sunday: Duane & Bonnie Quint
• 3rd Sunday: Carolyn Benn & Sandra Malone
• 4th Sunday: Collin Lilley & Jacob Lilley

If you have any questions or concerns about acolytes, please let me know at any time. Thank you, and stay well. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor 

Backpack for Kids Ministry Updates

 

Greetings in the previous name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Our BACKPACK FOR KIDS ministry is going strong this new school year. Currently, we deliver between 40 and 50 backpacks to five schools weekly (Houlton High, Houlton Southside, Houlton Elementary, Hodgdon, and ACAP). It's almost double compared to last year. 

• Tuesday at 3 pm. Under the leadership of Chet and Linda, Our youth group helps bring the food downstairs, then set it up for packing. 
• Wednesday at 9 am. We pack the food and deliver it to the schools. 
  

Do you know any youth who might be interested in helping pack and enjoying fellowship with other youth? Invite them to come to church on Tuesday at 3 pm. Any questions? Please contact Heather Henderson (538-7355) or Pastor Joyce (538-0780).

Or would you be willing and able to help pack and deliver on Wednesday morning? Then please let Linda Maraya know (227-3497).

I want to thank you for your continued support and partnership for this lifegiving ministry. We are making a difference together in Jesus' name. 

Have a blessed week ahead. 

 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Sep 24, 2023)

 

Family... 

It is one of God's greatest blessings. 

While I was in Korea this summer, the highlight of the trip was sharing the meals with the family. We shared rice (instead of breaking the bread!) so many times - day and night, at home and at restaurants. The more we ate together as a family, the closer we felt to each other. I didn't have a chance to really get to know my parents-in-law as I had to come to the US almost right after the wedding. But the meal table brought us together.   

My favorite meal experience was having a picnic in my parents-in-law's backyard. My father-in-law is a good cook. His love language is to feed people. In the same way, our Heavenly Father is a great cook. He invites all of us to his large table. No one is excluded. Around this table, everyone becomes friends and family. 

Once again, this Sunday we are invited to God's round table. There we sing, we listen, we talk, and we eat. The more often we come to this table, the stronger our bond becomes as God's family. So come, and worship with us! 

Our Hodgdon and Mars Hill church families meet at 9 a.m., and the Houlton family at 11 a.m. The Houlton church celebrates Family Worship this Sunday - all generations come and worship together. Do you love to sing praises? You are invited to join us for our pickup choir. We will sing "Wonderful Words of Life" (UMH #600) and have rehearsal in the choir room at 10:30 a.m. this Sunday. There will be also a Love Feast potluck fellowship after the service. Please share your favorite dishes with us, or just come and enjoy the fellowship. There is always enough food and laughter. If you would like to help set up or clean up the table this Sunday, please let me know. 

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

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

Thank you for being with us. Have a blessed weekend, and see you Sunday! 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

 

Peace to you. 

Pray that your week is going well in the Lord. 

I just wanted to keep you informed of our Fall Bible Study groups. 

Our WOW (Women of Witness) had their first gathering this week. They had a blast as you can see in the picture above. It's a 13-week study on "Celebration of Discipline" (Richard Foster). Hodgdon church just finished this study, and several of them said it was one of the best studies they had. WOW meets at the church every Tuesday at 10 a.m. If you have any questions, please contact Joyce at 207-538-0780 or joyfuledro@gmail.com.

Another great Fall Bible Study begins this Thursday (Sep 21) at 6 p.m. "The Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism" This book does not presume that everyone wants to do evangelism and tells us how to do it. We need to know WHY to share our faith. This book helps us address first the Why (motivation) then the How (faith sharing and invitation). I am very much looking forward to learning and growing together with you. 

Most of all, our Bible study is about "fellowship" - knowing one another and watching over one another in love.  

You are invited. 

In Christ,

Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (August 6, 2023)

 

Peace to you. 

Recently, I read an interesting article about why Starbucks cannot crack Vietnam, a coffee-loving nation (BBC News, Aug 4, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66167222). Vietnam is known as the world's second largest exporter of the brew. They just love coffee. Ten years ago Starbucks arrived in Vietnam; however, in 2022 Starbucks accounted for just 2% of Vietnam's $1.2bn coffee-drinking market, according to Euromonitor International. Why? 

One of the reasons is that the Starbucks menu is not diverse enough as well as pricey. To be more precise, it is not localized or contextualized enough. The Java chip frappuccinos and pumpkin spiced lattes couldn't cut it in Vietnam. Today, some local Vietnamese brands make egg coffee, yogurt coffee, fruit coffee, coconut coffee, etc. 

In addition, unlike other places in the world, Vietnamese prefer to drink Robusta rather than Arabica beans. In the 19th Century, French colonizers introduced Arabica coffee to Vietnam. But it didn't adapt well to the country's climate and soil. Then, the French brought Robusta plants which thrived. Robusta has more caffeine and a stronger flavor, while Arabica is more subtle and has a complex flavor. Starbucks uses 100% Arabica beans, whereas most of the local Vietnamese use Robusta. History reveals why. 

The more I learn about the history of our church and our community, the more I fall in love with it. The more I get to know each person in the congregation, the more fascinated I become. In particular, as I was putting together the upcoming four Sunday services of the three churches, I realized how wonderfully, how fearfully each church is made of. Each part is called to serve according to their gifts - from greeters, to coffee hour hostesses, to musicians, to children's message speakers, to scripture readers, to preachers, to tech persons, to acolytes, to communion stewards... how rich, how diverse, how beautiful it is. I feel like our church is a local coffee shop that offers contextualized specialty coffee.

My family and I are grateful that we are part of this community of faith. We are grateful that we are able to visit our family and friends in Korea for a month (Aug 7 to Sep 7) thanks to your prayers and support. Please pray for us. 

God be with you till we meet again. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (July 30, 2023)

Peace to you.

It was a very hot summer day in July 2018 when Bishop Suda and his wife Prema visited my family here in Houlton, Maine. 

My children welcomed them, wearing Korean traditional clothes, and they made a big bow for them as soon as they arrived. Bishop Suda and Prema were gracious and loving just like our grandparents. They genuinely showed curiosity about Korea - its culture, language, history, food, etc... all about who we are. Then they also told us interesting facts about India. We dined together, laughed together, prayed together. Then, they made their way home.

About fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang. It was Bishop Suda, standing at the door and saying, "Victor, I found my bank here in Houlton and just wanted to give this gift to you." Joyce and I were just amazed by his extravagant generosity. When I think about Bishop Suda, I am still amazed today. And I do miss him.

One thing I learned from Bishop is to treat another human being with dignity. His life reminds me of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's words: "He who looks upon his brother should know that he will be eternally united with him in Jesus Christ."

Our Christian fellowship is eternal. When my family and I attended the Mechuwana family camp this past week, we felt an instant bond with six other families there. Because of one reason, one name. And we had fun in Christ! In Christ we are one, though we are many.

I am grateful that we are given to each other and that our Christian fellowship never ends. Hope you have a restful and peaceful weekend. And see you Sunday!


In Christ,
Pastor Victor

PS. Livestreaming/Online Service Links: 

• Hodgdon UMC: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070411631446 
• Houlton UMC: 
• Youtube (https://youtube.com/live/xvOwVl5uePw?feature=share)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/houltonumc)
• Mars Hill UMC: https://www.facebook.com/MarsHillUnitedMethodist   

Life Together Community (July 16, 2023)

How is summer going so far? 

As we know, summer months can be hard on churches - especially here in Northern Maine where summer is very, very short. We get busy, we travel, we have company. That means more empty pews. 

This week I've read an interesting UM e-newsletter article, "Keep your congregation connected during the summer" written by Tricia Brown. In her article one of the main points was: "If you can't beat them, join them." In other words, instead of trying to change minds or ignore the problem, why not meet the congregation where they are. 

I believe summer is a great time to draw closer to God and to one another through non-traditional, creative ways. For instance, today as my family and I were attending Tina and Brandon's wedding and their reception, we got to know new people and enjoyed the fellowship with them very much. We are encouraged to stay connected, wherever we are. 

• Our church offers livestreaming services (Hodgdon at 9 am, Houlton at 11 am, and Mars Hill at 9 am). You can worship with us in real-time or anytime when you are able. 
• How about meditating on the same Bible verses and stories daily via the UpperRoom devotional? 
• Consider attending summer Bible study (Tuesdays at 10 am at the Metzgers), Summer Combined Service & Potluck luncheon (July 23, 10 am at Hodgdon), Women's retreat (August 1, 10 am-2 pm, at Linda's camp), helping VBS (July 17-19, 5:00-7:30 pm), or enjoying good food and fellowship at Strawberry Festival (July 21, 4-6 pm at Hodgdon), etc. 

If you are away and can't attend our church, you are encouraged to find another church to visit. Save a bulletin, and please share your worship experience with us. Let us remember that the church is not a building, but a body of all believers.

May the Lord bless and keep you. May we stay spiritually connected to God and to each other this summer. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Victor