Spread the Joy of Christmas—Join Us for Caroling!

 

Dear Church Family,

Christmas is a season to celebrate and share the joy of Christ’s love. This Sunday, December 15, we have a wonderful chance to bring smiles to others through caroling!

We’ll gather for a Taco Luncheon (and Hot Cocoa!) at 1 PM at Houlton UMC. Bring your favorite ingredients or sauces to share. After lunch, we’ll head to Gardiner Health Care for caroling at 2 PM. We’ll sing carols with the residents at the beginning and end, and the Hand Bell Choir will delight everyone with a special concert.

To add to the festive spirit, we encourage everyone to wear something red or festive, and if you have a Christmas hat, bring it along! Let’s create a joyful and colorful atmosphere that will brighten everyone’s day.

This is a simple yet meaningful way to share the love of Christ and make the season brighter for others. I hope to see you there!

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Consecration Sunday: A Love We Can Never Outgive

 

Dear Church Family,

Recently, Joyce and I were preparing a special gift for my parents as a way to show our love and care—especially for my dad, who is currently in the hospital recovering from a ruptured disk. Before we could send our gift, a package arrived from them. Their gift to us was far more precious than anything we could have given. It was a humbling reminder that a parent’s love is always higher, longer, wider, and deeper than anything we can offer in return.

Reflecting on this, I am reminded of God’s love. It’s impossible to outgive Him. Think of how He has saved us, rescued us from the depths, and set us on solid ground. When we try to respond with gratitude, we find His grace is always greater. His love is beyond measure.

This Sunday is Consecration Sunday, a special time for us to say, “Thank You, God.” It’s an opportunity to express our gratitude and commit ourselves to letting His love flow through us into the world. During worship, we will turn in our commitment cards for the coming year, pledging to share our time, treasure, and talents in service to Him.

Here’s what this might look like:

• Committing to serve in a ministry.
• Sharing your resources to further God’s mission.
• Inviting a loved one to church or sharing the good news of Jesus.
• Mentoring someone in faith.

We know we can never outgive God, but we can give Him our heartfelt thanks and honor Him with our lives. Imagine the joy and transformation that will come when we, as a church family, pour out His love into our community!

Will you join me this Sunday in lifting up your hands and heart in gratitude? Let’s commit ourselves fully to the work of God, trusting that His love will sustain us and His grace will continue to amaze us.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever!" (Psalm 136:1)

In Christ,
Pastor Victor

Advent: A Time for Wonder and Reconnection

 

Dear Church Family,

Happy New Year! Did you know Advent marks the beginning of the church’s new year? It’s a season of waiting, watching, and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. This year, as we journey through Advent together, I’m reminded of a story—Moana 2.

In the movie, Moana’s tribe faces a crucial challenge: their story will either end in isolation or continue by reconnecting with others. They realize that the only way forward is to return to their roots, to reconnect with their ancestors' story. In the same way, Advent invites us to go back and reconnect with the old story—the story of God’s love revealed in the nativity. There, we find our true identity, our Savior, and the hope that anchors us.

But Moana’s journey isn’t one she can make alone. She needs a team. Each person in her crew plays a vital role, and together, they accomplish what none of them could do alone. Similarly, our Advent journey is not a solo mission. It’s communal. We are called to walk together, support one another, and seek Christ not just as individuals, but as a community.

Finally, the story teaches us that it’s not about personal glory. It’s when Moana and Maui sacrifice for the greater good that transformation happens—the island emerges, and the people are drawn together as one. Likewise, Christ, the grain of wheat, came and gave His life for us, drawing us to Himself and making us one people in Him.

Though Advent comes every year, each season holds the potential to transform us in new and powerful ways. If we journey with open, watchful hearts, this Advent could be a life-changing experience.

Joyce and I invite you to join us for our 4-week sermon series, A Time for Wonder, which aligns with our Advent daily devotional. You can pick up a copy of the devotional at the church. 

We look forward to journeying through this season of wonder with you. May we reconnect with the story of Christ, walk together as His people, and experience the wonder of His presence in new and profound ways.

Blessings on your Advent journey,
Pastor Victor and Joyce 

Grateful for You This Thanksgiving (Hodgdon & Mars Hill UMCs)

Dear Church Family,

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, Joyce and I want to share our heartfelt gratitude for each of you.

Over the past few months, Joyce and I have had the privilege of preaching and sharing God’s Word with you, alternating Sundays between us. Though we spoke from different passages and books of the Bible, we were just amazed to see how the Holy Spirit orchestrated it all. 

Week after week, the overarching theme remained the same—reminding us who we are as God’s church, how the gospel transforms our lives, and how we are empowered to live as His people.

When we reflect on this journey, we are reminded again of God’s faithfulness in guiding His church. He calls us to belong to Him, to be transformed by His love, and to live out the power of the gospel in our relationships, community, and daily lives. For this, we give thanks.

This Thanksgiving, we invite you to pause and reflect on the many blessings God has given. We also encourage you to watch Gratitude, a short film by Louie Schwartzberg, which beautifully reminds us of the gift of life and the power of a thankful heart: Gratitude – The Short Film

May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy, peace, and God's abundant goodness. Joyce and I send our blessings to you and your families and look forward to continuing this journey of faith with you.

With a thankful heart,
Pastor Joyce and Victor

Grateful for You This Thanksgiving (Houlton UMC)

 

Dear Church Family,

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, Joyce and I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for each of you.

Over the past two months, we journeyed through the book of Ephesians together. We’ve seen how God found us, rescued us, and gave us a new identity in Christ. We’ve learned how the gospel transforms our relationships and unites us as one family.

When we reflect on all these truths, our hearts overflow with praise and thanksgiving to God.

Here’s a quick recap of our series Belong:

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (Ephesians 1:3-14)
2. Spiritual Eyes (1:15-23)
3. Who Is Your Lord? (2:1-10)
4. One People (2:11-22)
5. With All the Saints (3:14-21)
6. Our Church Speaks (4:11-16)
7. Life in the Spirit (5:18-21)
8. Ambassadors in Chains (6:10-20)
9. Tychicus the Helper (6:21-24)

Together, we “belong” to God and to one another. For that, we give thanks.

This Thanksgiving, we invite you to take a moment to watch Gratitude, a short film by Louie Schwartzberg, which beautifully reminds us of the gift of life and the power of gratitude:
Gratitude – The Short Film

May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy, peace, and the goodness of God. Joyce and I send our blessings to you and your families.

With a thankful heart,
Pastors Victor and Joyce

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Dear Church Family,

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we reflect on this year’s ups and downs, twists and turns, one thing remains constant: God's unwavering faithfulness. Thanksgiving reminds us to pause and praise Him, our Savior and Provider, for His countless blessings.

This Sunday, we’ll gather for a special Thanksgiving service to celebrate with gratitude and joy. Here’s what’s planned:

Hodgdon UMC – 9:00 AM

• Special Music to lift our spirits and give thanks to God.
• Message: We’ll conclude our sermon series, "Belong," based on Ephesians. Together, we’ll explore how Paul remained joyful even in suffering (while in prison) and how we, too, can cultivate gratitude in every circumstance.  

Mars Hill UMC – 9:00 AM

• Family Worship led by Pastor Joyce. Do you ever feel unworthy or insignificant? Come and hear what God has to say! Pastor Joyce will share a message from Psalm 132, reflecting on how God considered David "a man after my own heart," even though he was a broken man. Like David, we are deeply loved and blessed by God, no matter our brokenness—and that’s a reason to celebrate!  

Houlton UMC – 11:00 AM

• Family Worship followed by a special coffee hour* (*instead of the Love Feast Potluck this month).
• Pick-Up Choir: Everyone is invited to join us in singing "Morning Has Broken" (UMC Hymn #145). Whether you’re an experienced singer or just love making a joyful noise, please come! We’ll rehearse briefly in the choir room before the service.
• Intergenerational Band: Special music led by musicians of all ages, sharing their talents in worship.

Additionally, we’ll be giving out a meaningful Advent devotional gift, "A Time for Wonder." This 4-week devotional will guide us as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. It’s a beautiful resource for personal reflection and family devotions.

We can’t wait to gather with you for this time of praise and thanksgiving. Bring your family, invite friends, and let’s worship our faithful God together.

Looking forward to celebrating with you,
Pastor Victor

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“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” – Psalm 106:1

Watching Over One Another in Love

 

Dear Church Family,

What a meaningful 8-week journey it has been as we explored Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero! This study has taken us into the deep, internal work of spiritual and emotional growth—challenging at times, yet joyful and life-giving.

Across our four groups in Hodgdon, Houlton, and Mars Hill UMCs, we met weekly in homes and churches. Personally, it has been a blessing to be part of three of these groups and to witness God’s work in our lives together.

Two themes from the study stood out to me: family tree and Sabbath.

When I revisited my family tree, I discovered new insights about my parents and grandparents. Despite the difficult circumstances they faced, they did their best. This renewed my appreciation for their resilience and deepened my understanding of the legacy I want to pass on—and the brokenness I need to leave behind.

Regarding the Sabbath, I was reminded that it’s not optional but essential—a commandment, not a suggestion. As I reflected on how to honor the Sabbath more fully, I developed a personal rule of life—a rhythm to center my daily and weekly life on God. For the next three months, I’m limiting my use of technology to minimize distractions, such as checking email only twice daily and keeping my evenings tech-free. Mondays are now my technology Sabbath, and I’ve already noticed a difference—I feel lighter, freer, and more focused.

Looking ahead, we will take a break for the holiday season and resume small groups in mid-January 2025 with a new 13-week study titled Our Church Speaks. Mars Hill will begin a 6-week Lenten study in March.

This new study will explore the lives of 52 Christian heroes, from the first-century martyr Polycarp to the martyrs of Sudan in the 21st century. Their stories—grounded in Scripture, prayer, and faith—will inspire us and remind us of God’s faithfulness across all times and places.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our small groups this fall. Your presence, vulnerability, and encouragement have made this journey rich and transformative. Let’s continue to grow together and watch over one another in love.

With gratitude and hope,
Pastor Victor