A Special Weekend Ahead – Join Us!

 

*Photo: Sledding Party (Feb 19, 2025)

Dear Church Family,

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood! I pray that you are doing well by God’s grace.

This week, during the school break, our church is filled with wonderful opportunities to gather, serve, and worship together. I want to personally invite you to be part of these special moments. There is something for everyone, and your presence will be a blessing!

Thursday – Sunday School Ice Skating Outing

Our Hodgdon and Houlton Sunday School children and youth are coming together for a fun afternoon of ice skating! Join us at the church at 2 PM for snacks, and then we’ll head to public skate at 2:45 PM. Thanks to the Hope Circle, rental fees for children will be covered. Come and enjoy the fun!

Friday – “Love & Meals” (Senior Meals) Day

This is a day of love in action! We’ll prepare, pack, and deliver meals to seniors in our community, sharing Christ’s love through good food and warm hearts. If you’d like to help cook, bake, pack, or deliver, there’s always a place for you. Contact Linda Maraya at 207-227-3497 to be part of this beautiful ministry.

Saturday – Administrative Council (9 AM)

This is more than a business meeting—it’s a time of fellowship, visioning, and dreaming together for the future of our church. Everyone who cares about our church’s mission is welcome. The agenda and minutes will be sent in a separate email.

Saturday – Bob Anderson’s Funeral Service (1 PM)

We will gather to honor the life of Bob Anderson, a beloved church member and community leader. The service will be held at the church and will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person:
Watch Here

Sunday – Family Worship & Love Feast

This Sunday is Family Worship Sunday, a special time where all generations come together to worship as one body in Christ. After the service, we will continue in fellowship with a Love Feast potluck luncheon. Bring your favorite dish to share, but most importantly, bring yourself—we’d love to see you there!

I hope you can join us in these moments of joy, service, and worship. May God bless you and keep you in His grace. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

P.S.: "A quick reminder—if you took a baby bottle for the Pregnancy Care Center fundraiser, please remember to return it this Sunday. Your generosity is making a difference in the lives of mothers and babies in need. Thank you so much for your support of this important ministry!"  

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Today

 

*Painted by Joyce Kang, "Psalm 84:5"

Dear Church Family,

Peace to you! I hope you are staying safe and warm in this snowy weather.

Many of us were uncertain until yesterday whether we could gather for worship in person, but by God’s grace, the snowstorm held off until the afternoon. I was so thankful that we could come together for Sunday service! I was amazed by how many of you showed up to worship—it was truly a blessing to see our church family united in praise.

Each Sunday is a little Easter, a day of celebration. We celebrated the risen Christ. We celebrated birthdays. We celebrated each other. What a fellowship! What a joy!

This Sunday, we reflected on the life of a disciple through the Beatitudes (Luke’s version). Esther listened to my message, and her favorite part was the “wild duck” story—perhaps it resonated with many of you as well. If you missed the service or would like to revisit the message, you can watch and read them at the following links:

• Hodgdon: [Service | Message]
• Houlton: [Service | Message]
• Mars Hill: [Service | Message]

Joyce and I are praying for you this week. May you feel Christ’s presence in every moment, and may His love strengthen and sustain you. We love you deeply.

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Church Directory – Please Review Before Printing

 

*2024 Ash Wednesday Service

Dear Church Family,

I hope you are staying safe and warm after the recent snowstorm.

Have you ever wondered why so many names are recorded in the Bible? In the book of Nehemiah, nearly five chapters are dedicated to listing names. At first glance, it might seem unnecessary, but when we look closer, we see that these individuals played a vital role in rebuilding the city. They restored the gates and walls in front of their homes, renewed their covenant with God, and chose to remain in the vulnerable city of Jerusalem. Their names mattered because their lives and faithfulness mattered.

As I worked on updating our church directory, I felt the same way about each of you. Every name represents a beloved member of our church family—precious, indispensable, and deeply valued. This directory is not just a list; it is a reflection of the body of Christ, knit together in love and faith. Joyce and I regularly pray for our church using this directory, lifting up each name before the Lord.

Before we print the final version, I invite you to review the draft and check that all your information is correct. If anything is missing or needs to be updated, please let me know. Here are the links:

 Hodgdon UMC & Houlton UMC: View Here
 Mars Hill UMC: View Here

Joyce and I are so grateful to be part of this beloved community. Thank you for your faithfulness, your presence, and your love. Together, we are building Christ’s Church for another year, and we give thanks to God for each of you.

"Let the kindness of the Lord our God be over us. Make the work of our hands last. Make the work of our hands last!" (Psalm 90:17, CEB)

With gratitude and prayers,
Pastor Victor & Joyce

Embracing God's Call

 

Dear Church Family,

I hope this message finds you well.

It’s just hard to trust, isn’t it?

One of the many blessings of living in Northern Maine has been the opportunity to learn how to ski. It took me a while before I felt comfortable sliding down with a "pizza" shape. I often marvel at how quickly children learn, gliding down without fear.

Recently, as I watched my children and other skilled skiers, I noticed how naturally and effortlessly they moved. Their bodies, ski gear, and the slope seemed to be in perfect harmony. They simply followed the flow. As for me, I struggled to surrender to the flow. I resisted, out of fear—fear of falling, fear of going too fast—and each time I resisted, I fell.

This experience reminded me of our spiritual lives. Saul, before his transformation into Paul, fought against the flow. He worked hard, persecuting Christians, thinking he was doing God’s work. But on the road to Damascus, he heard the risen Christ ask, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It’s so hard for you to kick against the goads.” That encounter led Paul to surrender, to go with the flow of God’s call. Though his journey wasn’t without trials, he found deep satisfaction, because he was finally aligned with God's purpose.

Have you discovered God’s call in your life? Are you going with the flow?

This past Sunday, Joyce and I shared a message on God’s call based on Luke 5:1-11, the story of Peter’s calling.

Victor: https://pastorvictorhan.blogspot.com/2025/02/call-again-luke-51-11.html
Joyce: https://restingodsword.blogspot.com/2025/02/history-is-his-story.html

May God bless you and keep you. May you glorify Him as you are deeply satisfied in His call for your life.

Stay warm and well. Love you all.

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Join Us in This Month’s Mission – Baby Bottle Campaign for PCC!

 

Dear Church Family,

This month, we have a special opportunity to support the Pregnancy Care Center (PCC) through their Baby Bottle Campaign! It’s a simple but powerful way to make a difference. Here’s how it works:

 Pick up a baby bottle at church.
 Fill it with coins, bills, or checks. (Please make checks payable directly to PCC.)
 Return it by the last Sunday of the month (February 25).

To make this even more meaningful, Joyce and I have started a "Be Kind" campaign in the Han household! Each day, our children receive one kindness coupon. At the end of the day, they place their coupon into the baby bottle of a sibling who showed kindness (they can’t put it in their own!). Joyce and I also add to theirs. At the end of the month, each coupon will be converted into a $1 donation to PCC!

The Pregnancy Care Center is doing incredible, grassroots, life-changing work—supporting and empowering the most vulnerable among us. This is a chance for us, as a church family, to come alongside them in love and action.

Would you consider joining us in this mission? Pick up a bottle this Sunday and let’s make a difference together!

With joy and gratitude,
Pastor Victor & Pastor Joyce

Important Update from the Administrative Council

Dear Church Family,

Grace and peace to you in Christ!

I want to take a moment to update you on an important decision from our recent Administrative Council meeting. As we continue to be faithful stewards of our church’s financial responsibilities, we recognize the additional shared commitment toward the pastor’s health insurance this year.

After prayerful discussion, we have decided to pause contributions to World Missions and New England Missions for now, while continuing our Ministry Support as part of our Mission Shares. This decision allows us to meet our financial obligations while remaining committed to the heart of our mission.

However, my prayer is that we will stand strong in faith throughout this year. As we approach the end of 2025, we will review our finances and seek God’s guidance on recommitting to 100% Mission Shares. I ask for your prayers as we navigate this journey together, trusting in God’s provision.

Thank you for your faithful service and partnership in ministry. Your commitment and generosity enable us to continue sharing the love of Christ in our community. Attached are the Administrative Council meeting minutes and the Mission Church Grant update for your reference.

Please join me in prayer as we trust in God’s guidance for our church.

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

Share Your Story – Life Review Project

 Dear Church Family,

Over the past ten years, I have learned that everyone has a story to tell—beautiful, unique, and too precious to be forgotten. You may think your story isn’t special, but I assure you, it is. And I would love to help you share it.

I invite you to take part in the Life Review Project, a special opportunity to reflect on your life and faith journey. Here’s how it works:

1. Read the Attached Questions – These will help you think about key moments in your life, your faith, and the wisdom you want to pass on.
2. Schedule a Life Review Interview – If you’re willing and interested, we can meet at your home or the church for an interview (about 60–90 minutes).
3. Recording & Documentation – I will record our conversation and put it together as a written document for you.
4. Your Choice – You can keep your story private for your family, or, if you’d like, share it with the church family. I hope to create a Faith Storybook that captures the incredible testimonies within our congregation.

Would you consider being part of this meaningful project? If you’re interested, simply reply to this email, and we’ll set up a time to meet.

Looking forward to hearing your story!

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor

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Life Review Questions

Personal History & Reflections

• What is your earliest childhood memory?
• What world events had the most impact on you while growing up?
• How is the world today different from when you were young?
• What was a proud moment in your life?

Spiritual History

• What is your faith tradition, and how did you arrive at it?
• Can you share a time when your faith helped you through a difficult period?
• How has being part of a congregation or organized religion shaped your life?
• Apart from the Bible, what books have been the most meaningful to you?
• What’s your favorite hymn, and why?
• How has your faith influenced your family life, marriage, or personal challenges?

Family & Relationships

• What is your greatest hope for your children and grandchildren?
• If you could leave one important message for your family, what would it be?
• Can you share a story about a close friendship that has impacted you?
• How did you meet your spouse, and what drew you to them?
• What do you believe is the key to a strong marriage?

Legacy & Wisdom

• What do you believe is the most important life lesson you’ve learned?
• If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?