A Word from Pastor Sun Hee
FAMILY FUN NIGHT… MORE THAN JUST FUN
In a couple of weeks, we will be opening up the doors of our church to show some love and hospitality to those that are in our neighborhood. Hopefully, you saw the postcards already, but on Saturday, April 18th, we will be hosting our very first “Family Fun Night”. It will be an evening filled with games, music, laughter, and of course, because we are Methodists… food! For sure this evening is purposed to be an evening of fun for kids and adults of all ages. But this is so much more than just an opportunity to get together to have fun. In actuality, it is a way of sharing our story with those that are geographically immediate around us.
I have joked before, and I know some of you have as well, that when I try to explain to my friends how to find our church, I usually tell them, we are the church “behind the mosque”. I even thought for a few moments about putting that on my business card. But humor aside, I know the stark reality that too often the church remains hidden. Most of what we do as a Christian community tends to happen “inside” the walls of the church. But church is not supposed to exist that way. Church is supposed to be the “light of the world” and a “city built on a hill” as Matthew 5 says. It cannot and should not be hidden.
That’s why we are going build some carnival games, have our music team prepare some entertainment, have tables full of fun crafts for kids, and of course, because we are Methodists… have food… all sorts of food. It’s so that SAINT PAUL can become visible in our community, and especially, our immediate neighborhood can come to understand that we are not just the church “behind the mosque” but rather we are a church that wants to connect with people in their neighborhood – to love them, to offer them spiritual support, and just simply be a blessing to the community.
Rob Bell, in his book, Velvet Elvis, talks about how if the Good News is really going to be the Good News, it has to be Good News to everyone! And what he meant by that was that if a Christian, or a Christian community, or a church for that matter has truly understood and received the Good News of Jesus Christ, their very presence should be Good News to those around them – that their faith in Jesus somehow becomes a positive impact and presence in the neighborhood.
Especially, as we continue to celebrate the resurrection Spirit of Easter, I pray that our presence in Fremont will be more and more of Good News to others. I can’t wait for Family Fun Night. It’s going to be such a great opportunity to love our neighborhood. I hope that you will join me and many other faithful servants of our church in making SAINT PAUL a friendly, warm and welcoming gathering place for fun and for more than just fun – for faith, fellowship, and yes, because we are Methodists, food (especially, the spiritual kind). Amen?
Praying for us to be the Light,
Pastor Sun Hee
St. Paul United Methodist Church 