Pastoral Letter: When Joy Meets Sorrow, Christ Walks With Us
Dear SUMC Family,
Grace and peace of Christ be with you.
On Tuesday night at 10:20 p.m., I received the message that my family had landed safely. Waiting at a rest stop near the airport, I rushed toward the terminal with joy. As I scanned the crowd, wondering when they might appear, my heart was already racing toward them. At 11:50 p.m., I finally saw my wife and children, arms full of luggage, coming through the gate. In that moment, gratitude overflowed in prayer. I gave thanks for the smooth immigration process, while also remembering those who face difficulties in such moments, and prayed for them as well.
The late-night drive home was calm. By 2:20 a.m., we reached the parsonage, where the boys quickly washed up and went to bed, knowing school would begin in just a few hours. My wife and I unpacked a little before resting. I, however, could not resist a midnight snack of kimchi lovingly packed by my mother-in-law. Soon it felt as though I had only blinked, and it was time to prepare for the first day of school. We took pictures before sending the boys off. Watching them step forward to meet new teachers and friends filled me with pride. I remembered our blessing of backpacks last Sunday, and once again I prayed—for our children, their teachers, local leaders in education, and all of God’s children who begin the school year with hope and courage.
With the family back, the parsonage has regained its energy. Spaces once quiet are now filled with footsteps and laughter. Bathrooms are busy, and the kitchen and refrigerator are always in use. I once heard it said that one human life contains an entire universe. If so, four universes have entered this home, bringing profound change.
This reminded me of Christ’s presence. When the Lord dwells in our lives, our hearts, minds, time, and spaces are no longer empty. Some parts of life come alive. Some are rearranged or cleared away. Yet through it all, life grows more abundant and vibrant. My attention shifts toward where the Lord’s gaze rests. My steps begin to follow His. Just as the return of family changes me, so the presence of Christ transforms us and draws us into the building of the Kin-dom of God. That Kin-dom is not far away; it begins in our daily lives, in our homes, in the ways we love and serve one another.
That same afternoon, however, heavy news reached us. A shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, claimed the lives of two children and injured many others. My heart cried, “Lord, how can this be? We prayed, we asked for Your help—why again?” I could not help but weep, imagining the cries of the children, the fear of teachers, the grief of parents. The joy of the morning stood in painful contrast with the sorrow of the evening. How long must we send our children to school with a simple goodbye, while fear lingers in our hearts?
Beloved friends, even when our prayers seem unanswered, we must not give up. Beyond our longings and hopes, God desires peace in this world, where people live in love and respect for one another. With that vision in our hearts, let us continue to pray, to share love, and to sow peace in daily life. May God’s comfort, hope, and love flow through us to those who need it most.
I believe the Holy Spirit is already present—crying with those who cry, comforting and encouraging in the midst of pain, anger, and despair. Still, God calls us into those very places, inviting us to take part. The world still needs our persistent prayers because God works through our prayers. And prayer is not only with lips and hearts, but also through our hands and feet—through simple kindness, words of encouragement, and standing alongside neighbors in need. Christ calls us to be the church: a people who gather faithfully, who lift one another in prayer, who encourage one another, and who live out God’s Kin-dom in the world.
Even in a world where violence and despair try to overwhelm us, we remember the resurrection. We gather on the Lord’s Day because we hope in that resurrection. And as we gather, the Triune God reveals Himself among us once more.
Tomorrow, through Luke 14:1, 7–14, we will hear a message titled “The Table Turns.” Together, we will listen for God’s heart and will. I warmly invite you to join us in this grace-filled gathering, where we hold fast to resurrection hope and practice the life of God’s Kin-dom together.
With gratitude and prayer,
Pastor Dong Hyun (DH)