Cluster Thanksgiving Service, "Songs of Thanksgiving" This Thursday

 

Peace to you. 

It's time to celebrate Thanksgiving as God's people. 

We will sing and dance, read and listen to the psalms as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Our churches (Hodgdon, Houlton, and Mars Hill) will bring our offerings of combined "worship dance" and "choir anthem" to God. There will be offertory time for UMCOR as well as non-perishable food offerings for the homeless shelter in Presque Isle. 

There will be choir rehearsal at Mars Hill UMC this Thursday, Nov 16 at 5 pm. We plan to leave at 4:15 pm-ish at the Houlton church parking lot. If you would like to carpool or need a ride, please let me know. 

God is our Host, and there is enough room for everyone. You're invited. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Nov 12, 2023)

 

(The Houlton Festival of Trees, Nov 10, 2023)

"Light Up" 

Leif Peterson, Eugene Peterson's son, said that his father 'fooled' everyone - how for 30 years every week his dad made people think he was saying something new. But in fact, he had only one message. The same message that he whispered softly to his son's sleeping head every night: "God loves you. He's on your side. He's coming after you. He's relentless."

We may dread the start of winter. We may dread the dark night of the soul. But even in the dark valley we have reason to celebrate. We have reason to light up. God loves us, He's on our side, He's coming after us, and He's relentless. This is good news. 

So come and celebrate with us. You are invited to join us for our Sunday Service. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches will gather at 9 am, and the Houlton at 11 am. If you are not able to come in person, you can worship with us online via the church's Facebook Live:

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

God loves you, and there's nothing you can do about it. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Cluster Thanksgiving Service (Nov 16th at 6 pm)

 

Peace to you. 

It's November, the month of Thanksgiving. It is a season that reminds us to renew our efforts to live life with an attitude of gratitude.

As God's people, all United Methodist churches will gather to celebrate God's goodness. We will meet at Grant UMC (Presque Isle) on November 16th at 6 p.m. 

Our combined choir will be singing, "For the Beauty of the Earth." There will be a rehearsal at Mars Hill UMC on November 16th at 5 p.m. We sing because God is worthy to be glorified. Join us! 

If you would like to carpool or need a ride, please feel free to contact me at 207-538-0778. 

Stay well in God's abundant grace. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Nov 5, 2023)

 

Philanthropist. 

A person who seeks to promote the welfare of others by the generous donation of time, money, experience, skills, or talents. 

If I had known this word earlier, I would have called my grandparents "philanthropists." 

As a Korean Methodist pastor, my grandfather was appointed to the most remote areas. There he visited the sick and the forgotten at the nursing home. He took initiatives to eradicate the night crime by installing streetlights with the men's group. He opened the church and officiated a mass wedding for those who couldn't afford it. As a nurse and midwife, my grandmother provided care and support for the women in need and their babies during pregnancy and labor. She gave away formula and medication to them for free of charge. Those moms and children later became members and leaders of the church. 

My grandparents died, but through their faith they still speak. I am sure you have those saints who have shaped and impacted your faith. 

This Sunday we celebrate All Saints Sunday. It's a day to remember and honor those who have passed away, including Christians of every time and place as well as our loved ones. During the service we will have an opportunity to call the names of those lost in recent years, to ponder the impact their lives have had on us, and to give thanks to God for them. 

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

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

Have a blessed weekend. See you Sunday! 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Sunday Services on Nov 26 and Dec 3

 Peace to you. 

I am writing this email to ask for your favor and support. 

Joyce is leaving after Sunday service on Nov 19 and will have surgery on the 23rd in local time. If things go well, she is planning to be home on Dec 4th. That means, there are two Sundays that need some adjustments. 

Pastor Mary Miller graciously offered to help lead the service at Mars Hill on Nov 26th. So I will be able to lead the service here at Hodgdon and at Houlton that Sunday. 

On December 3rd, I will need to lead the service at Mars Hill at 9 a.m. I would like to suggest that we have a combined service with Houlton at 11 a.m. 

Thank you so much for all your support and love. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know at any time. Have a blessed weekend. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Oct 29, 2023)

 

"The Power of One" 

The nation is still in a state of numbness and shock from the recent mass shooting. It's hard to believe that one person can cause so much harm to so many others. We are grieving. 

In the midst of all human suffering; however, we still can see God's goodness. The other day I met a devoted Christian who was on the way to offer her therapy dog to the students in the Lewiston area. This act of kindness might be like a little drop of water. But we know that even a great waterfall begins with only one drop of water. We are grieving, but still rejoicing, knowing that God's grace is greater than human brokenness. 

This Sunday we gather as God's beloved people - to worship our God and to comfort and encourage one another. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches meet at 9 a.m., and the Houlton at 11 a.m. You are invited. 

For Houlton church, it's Family Worship Sunday. All generations will come and worship together, followed by the Love Feast potluck luncheon. If you are interested in joining our pick-up choir, there will be a rehearsal at 10:30 a.m. We will sing "Let There Be Peace on Earth." What a timely and needed hymn prayer! 

If you are not able to come in person, you can worship with us online via the church's Facebook Live:

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

May we be an instrument of peace for such a time as this. Have a peaceful weekend. 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Life Together Community (Oct 22, 2023)

 

Revival. 

In the Bible, the word "revival" comes from two Latin words: "vivo" meaning "to live" and "re" meaning "again". Revival means "making alive again those who have been alive but have fallen into what is called a cold, or dead, state." From dry bones to a mighty army. That's revival. 

Nowadays I feel the Holy Spirit awaken me in several different ways. I had always prayed, but somehow I sensed that the Spirit wanted me to deepen my personal prayer life, as well as to pray together as a church. Robson's surprise visit was one of the signs to reinforce this message. 

Robson Mulumbe is my brother in Christ from Malawi and now serves a church in Needham, MA as a lead pastor. As I was spending half a day with him, carpooling to Mars Hill church Bible study together and having lunch together, I was fascinated by his story - in particular, about "prayer." He shared how he and his family had learned to fully rely on God about everything by prayer since its resources were very limited. He prayed for daily provision, for healing, for education. He prayed for everything. And he still does. In the midst of all the challenges in life and ministry, he prays in his secret closet and prays together weekly with his congregation. Sometimes one or two, sometimes no one shows up. But still, he prays for the revival of the church. 

I was refreshed, renewed, revived. And I prayed, "God, may our church be a prayer-driven church. May each ministry and mission of the church be shaped by prayer. May we do everything with prayer. May we do everything with love." 

Do you feel the Spirit awaken you? Come and worship with us. Do you feel distant from God? Come and be encouraged. You are invited to join us for our Sunday service this Sunday. Hodgdon and Mars Hill churches meet at 9 a.m. and the Houlton at 11 a.m. If you are not able to come in person, you can worship with us online via the church's Facebook Live:

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

Have a peaceful weekend. And see you Sunday! 

In Christ,
Pastor Victor