Pastor’s Corner

“Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for You in  Christ Jesus” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In times like these, every small thing has to be looked upon from the perspective of joy, prayer, and gratitude. I give all the glory and honor to God through Christ for opening up of our church building and resuming our Sunday worship services in the sanctuary! In the midst of terrible pain and loss, God has brought Community United Methodist Church through the storms toward a brighter tomorrow; and for this we cannot forget to be thankful. What a joy it has been to see people face to face (mask to mask) as opposed to through a phone or computer screen! While technology is also a tremendous gift that God has given us, nothing beats looking into the eyes of people whom you consider family. 

But the problem seems to be that for every good thing, there seems to be some sad, bad, or disappointing situation that is not far behind. For every church reopening, there is more news of the spread of COVID-19 and another story of someone passing away. What I have come to realize during this time is that in the end, each person has to make a conscious decision whether they will fix their eyes on what God is doing or whether they will realize all the things that are wrong with themselves, others, and this world, and be filled with negativity. 

As Paul reminds the church in Thessalonia, be joyful, pray continuously, and give thanks “in all circumstances.” More than a reaction to our situation, this positive attitude is a proactive decision we choose to make each day. Our health and well-being depend on it. Otherwise, we can find ourselves filled with all kinds of negative thoughts. For me, this has been the inward battle during this season of coronavirus. The evil one wants to steal my joy and bring me down but by the grace of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I choose to focus on all the good that God has done, is doing, and will continue to do. I choose to thank God for our church, for our reopening, for the health of family members, for the sunshine and the rain, and for the gift of  one more day, one more breath. 

Church, focus on the things that bring you joy, realize they come from God, giving God thanks, and continue to pray for God’s strength in your life and in the lives of those around you! Make it your choice today and everyday. God is good! All the time!

In Christ, 
Pastor Eumin