Pastoral Letter: From the East Coast to the West Coast
Dear SUM Family,
I came to San Francisco this week to attend the 2026 Annual Convocation of the Korean Association of United Methodist Church (KAUMC). My family came with me. The convocation brought us together to consider our shared ministry and responsibilities within The United Methodist Church. When pastors from across the country begin sharing stories of life and ministry, the time passes so quickly.
The theme of this year’s convocation was “Encounter, Engage, Empower.” These words have woven their way through our conversations. We have shared how God’s grace shapes each of us—our calling and our commitment—through the communities we serve. As we share our stories, we share something of our hearts, too.
I have also been sharing news from SUM with other pastors. We have shared what we have learned in ministry and the questions we are still working through. I am grateful for their wisdom and experience as I consider how to better serve the church God has entrusted to my care.
Now that the convocation has concluded, my family and I have a little time to explore San Francisco together. By the time you read this letter, we may be making our way through another corner of the city, receiving the grace God gives us along the way.
Thank you to everyone who is caring for our worship and ministries while I am away. Your care has made it possible for me to take part in this convocation and, afterward, spend some time with my family.
This Sunday, you will worship at SUM, and my family and I will worship at a church here on the West Coast. The East Coast and the West Coast. We will sing, pray, and hear the Word in different places, but we belong to the same Lord. The grace of Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit hold us together. When we meet again, we will have stories of God’s grace to share—from there and from here.
At SUM, our conversations through Understanding SUM continue. Discussions about the Accessibility Project, the Capital Campaign, and the Stewardship Campaign are also opportunities to take the pulse of our congregation: to look at where we are and ask what our community needs.
We bring different hopes, concerns, and questions to these conversations. I hope we will take time to hear one another. We cannot work everything out in a day. We need time to pray, ask, listen, and talk again. Through these continuing conversations, I pray that we will better understand the work God is calling us to share.
I carry those three words from the convocation back to SUM: meeting one another prayerfully, offering our hearts and hands in care with the love Christ has shown us, and trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us as we give one another strength. We can share what we have and walk together.
From the East Coast to the West Coast, we are held in the grace of the same Lord. I am remembering you in prayer. Please remember my family, too. I look forward to being with you again.
Grace and peace,
Pastor DH
Simsbury United Methodist Church