Pastoral Letter: Light in the Hidden Corners
Dear Simsbury UMC Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Last Wednesday, a small cleaning crew came to the parsonage. They focused on places I hadn’t thought to clean—the tops of window frames, behind radiators, the corners of kitchen cupboards, even the narrow space behind the bathroom sink. These were spots I passed by every day without noticing. But when they were done, the air felt fresher, and sunlight reached places it never had before.
It made me think of our spiritual lives. Even when things seem in order on the surface, we all have hidden corners in our hearts—places with stains or dust we cannot clear away on our own.
That’s when we ask for help. Someone who knows what to do, who has the right tools, and who will approach with care. On the journey of faith, we call upon the God who knows us completely and walks with us faithfully. The psalmist says, “You know everything I’m doing, my every move; You go before me and follow me; You place your hand of blessing on my head” (Psalm 139:3–5, The Message). God not only sees every corner but also shines light into them.
That’s why we walk together in the church community. This is a place where we don’t have to face the hidden corners alone—a place where grace can be shared. Each of us has gifts God has entrusted to us, and the Holy Spirit weaves them together to build God’s Kin-dom. As Paul writes, “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits” (1 Corinthians 12:7, The Message).
This summer in worship, we’ve been asking: What moves us? Love that bears one another’s burdens. Mercy that reaches across boundaries. Courage to pause in hospitality. Prayer that deepens our trust in God. Each of these themes has drawn us closer to God and to one another.
As we turn toward fall, I pray that the same Spirit who has moved us this summer will also prepare the way ahead. Rally Day on September 7 will be more than the start of programs—it will be a day to reaffirm our mission and prepare ourselves anew. I look forward to seeing the specific ways God will bless our neighbors through our prayers and commitments that day.
In preparing for Rally Day, I’ve seen again how many in our church quietly and joyfully share their gifts. Someone sets up tables, another prepares music, another welcomes newcomers with warmth. Someone else prays for the day long before it begins. Every role matters, and every act of service is a prayer: “Lord, use me.”
I hope Rally Day will be a day when God’s light shines into the hidden corners among us—not with soap and water, but with grace and light. God may reveal gifts we didn’t know we had, restore joy to a ministry we’ve done for years, or simply give us rest so our service flows again from Christ’s love.
If there’s a corner of your heart that needs light, please reach out. Let’s read Scripture, reflect, pray, and listen for the Spirit’s gentle voice together. We are companions on this journey.
Dear church family, thank you for living out your faith—whether in unseen places or in public witness. As we move toward Rally Day and a new season of ministry, I pray we will keep offering our gifts to God, trusting the Spirit to weave them into something greater than we could imagine.
This Sunday, we continue our "What Moves Us" series as we reflect on Luke 12:49–56 and the sermon is titled "Kindled by Christ". I trust and give thanks that the Holy Spirit will move among us in worship, and I warmly invite you to be present in that grace.
Your Pastor
DH Choi