Rest in the Word

Acts 7:9-16 1/26/25 Mars Hill UMC Family Worship   <Ice Suncatcher> Have you ever waited for freezing weather? Usually, we don’t, but recently my children and I wished for cold weather so that our ice suncatcher wouldn’t melt. A few weeks ago, we made it with dried flowers that held memories. Pink carnations were from last Valentine’s Day. Purple and yellow petals came from flowers my husband gave me after my last surgery. Happy and sad moments are woven into that ice. It shines beautifully in the cold. This reminds me of Romans 8:28: “All things work for good to those who love God and live according to His will.” Like the suncatcher, our lives hold invisible moments—woven together with joys and sorrows. When God’s light shines through them, they reflect His glory.   <Joseph’s Suncatcher> The Bible paints a beautiful picture of God’s work in Joseph’s life, much like a suncatcher reflecting light through every trial and triumph. Joseph was the long...

1/19/25 Hodgdon Family Worship   A Resilient Life in Christ Two weeks ago, I asked, “Is your life like sightseeing or a pilgrimage?” Both involve travel, but they are very different. Sightseeing is about glancing at things and following your own plans. Pilgrimage, however, is walking along the path God gives us. It’s not about where we want to go, but where God leads us. Tourists expect and demand, but pilgrims give thanks. Pilgrims walk with gratitude and trust in God, even during hardships, keeping their eyes on the light ahead. Our lives are like fragile paper. We’re easily hurt, physically and emotionally. Satan whispers lies: “You’re not good enough,” “You’re worthless,” or “You’re a failure.” These words tear and crumble our hearts. But when we stick to God’s Word, like paper reinforced by glue, no harm can destroy us. God’s Word makes us strong, even when we feel weak or broken. Last week, our Sunday school children began their Bible-reading journey. Each child received a “R...

Luke 3:15-22 (Jesus' baptism)   1/12/25, Mars Hill UMC Life Is a Pilgrimage The year 2024 quietly said goodbye, and 2025 has already walked 12 days with us on this journey of life. We didn’t push time away, nor did we invite the new year to come. Yet here we are, walking together. Life is like that. Many things happen without us asking. Sometimes, unexpected and unwelcome events fall into our lives. Jordan Rieger asks in his book, Is it Tourism or Pilgrimage? , "Is life like sightseeing or pilgrimage?" Both involve travel, but they’re vastly different. Sightseeing is about passing by and glancing at things with our eyes or walking according to our own plans. Instead pilgrimage is about walking along the path given to us, using our feet to move forward. It’s not about walking where we want to go, but walking where God leads us. Pastor Yongbong Kim highlights the key difference: attitude. A tourist demands and expects, while a pilgrim walks in gratitude, as expres...

"Sightseeing?” Or “Pilgrimage?" Epiphany Sunday  1/5/25  Hodgdon UMC Life is a Pilgrimage! The year 2024 quietly said goodbye, and 2025 has already walked five days with me on this journey of life. I didn’t push time away, nor did I invite the new year to come. Yet here we are, walking together. Life is like that. Many things happen without us asking. Sometimes, unexpected and unwelcome events fall into our lives. That’s why life is not a sightseeing trip but a pilgrimage . It’s not about passing by and glancing at things with our eyes or walking according to our own plans. Instead, it’s about walking along the path given to us, using our feet to move forward. It’s not about walking where we want to go, but walking where God leads us. On this journey, we meet people and situations that help us see ourselves more clearly. We learn to walk with others and to feel awe for someone greater than us. [1]   Abraham’s Pilgrimage God called Abraham on a pilgrimage to ...

  * Handbell Choir at Gardner Pastor Joyce Kang 12.21.24. Church Conference   Last Sunday, the beautiful sound of bells filled the Gardner Nursing Home. It seemed impossible three months ago because we didn’t have enough people. Yet, seven dedicated individuals, including conductor Mary Miller, gathered for an hour every Thursday to pray and practice. A bell choir is an instrument of teamwork—waiting, teaching, and supporting one another. If one person makes a mistake, it affects the whole harmony. From the 4th grade of elementary school to the “7th grade of life” (over 70 years old), we became friends and companions, encouraging each other. I took over the seven bells at Bass Cliffs that Lydia played last year. Initially, it felt overwhelming; I was used to ringing only three bells. However I focused on what was essential in each song and played only what I could manage. Sometimes I hit the bells too quickly, and sometimes I missed entire measures. Yet, gradually, I learned. ...