Category: Pastor’s Blog

A Word from Pastor Sun Hee
Wow! I can’t believe that it’s already June! I know that I seem to say this every year, but the fact that half a year has already passed has caught me a bit off guard. Of course, June is that month where there are so many different things going on. Students are moving into a time of summer break, graduations are taking place, there’s Father’s Day, and of course, we cannot forget about Pentecost Sunday! And for us United Methodists, June is that month of preparing for some significant transitions. Although, thankfully, this is not the case with SAINT PAUL, many other United Methodist Churches will be experiencing pastoral changes at the beginning of July, and it is in June where many are sadly exchanging their goodbyes.

I cannot help but think about that Ascension scene in Scripture where Jesus ascends into heaven for the final time. After all the emotional roller coaster experiences of the crucifixion, resurrection and reunion, the disciples are faced with a time of transition. In Acts 1:1-14, we see the depiction of this scene. Jesus offers his final words, ascends into heaven, and the disciples are left behind as they just stare off into heaven… in the direction that Jesus left their presence. I can imagine the disciples eventually turning to one another and asking each other, “What now?” This is the question that we often ask ourselves in times of transition, whether it be a positive or negative change. Think of any big day, such as graduation or wedding day. We tend to live for and work hard for these moments of glory and grandeur – and when they arrive, we are focused on the celebration. But then, after the high of these amazing events have passed, we realize we need to figure out how we are going to live from that point on. The journey continues. For good or for bad, we human beings struggle with the unknown. No one has a manual or clear map on how to effectively navigate transitions, but we’ve got to live it out and continue on. This is also the case in our spiritual journeys. Once in a while, we will have a mountain top experience at a retreat, be inspired through confirmation, or receive an epiphany in study or in prayer. But soon afterwards, we will find ourselves challenged by daily living. And we will find ourselves asking, “What now?”

In many ways, I feel that SAINT PAUL is also going through a transitional time. We just recently shared in the long-awaited celebration of Ground Blessing Sunday and our 50 Year Celebration will be coming soon on September 14th(it’s also the 20th year of our life in the current building!). As our District Superintendent said, “We are called to be mindful of what God is leading us to, not just celebrating this big moment.” As much as all these things may be positive changes, it can certainly cause some anxiety around the unknown future and the questions of “What now?” It is our human tendency to be anxious and be impatient to get to the next big moment.

For me the only thing that helps me to get through these transitions of life and in the spiritual journey is to hold on to the promise of the presence and the guiding of the Holy Spirit, which, by the way, is what Jesus promised to the disciples before he ascended to heaven. The passage in Acts reminds us of that promise and calls us to move forward as disciples of Christ and be faithful and be mindful of that promise in our walk. In some ways, our life as a Christian is living in that huge transition between Ascension and the Second Coming of Jesus. Truth is that our Lord didn’t just want us to get through the transition nor ride out whatever wave just to get to the next big moment. Jesus came to us so that we would have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). One faithful moment on top of another faithful moment is what will lead us to live the life that God had in mind for us. Not just the big moments, but more so the faithful ones.

So, here is my hope and prayer for you this June. I pray that God kindly give you the wonderful mountain top moments that you can take notice of and cherish. I pray that God will get you through those mundane moments with faithfulness and grant you peace. I pray that God will be with you and give you comfort if you’re struggling with low moments in your life. I pray that in all these moments, you notice God’s working and blessings in your life and give thanks to your God, your Creator and Lord of your life.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Sun Hee

A Word from Pastor Anne
Leading, Growing, Getting Ready for God’s Coming!

We have really been blessed to be part of the Readiness 360 training in our Annual Conference. For the last four months we have met for training with other churches, Pastor SunHee and I meet with our coach, and our team meets together with our coach for reflection and discussion of the training material. We are quite blessed in our Annual Conference with resources and leaders. Our coach, Rev. Craig Dale at Antioch Church on the Rock, has been a great part of our team helping us to listen and focus.

We recently discussed a model for training and discipleship. You may have heard or seen this in other settings.

D1. I do, you watch (unconscious incompetence/directive)
D2. I do, you help (conscious incompetence/coaching)
D3. You do, I help (conscious competence/collaborative)
D4. You do, I watch (unconscious competence/delegation)

People experience a great challenge moving from D2 helping to D3 doing. In D3 we become very aware of what we don’t know or conscious incompetence. We were incompetent before and not aware of how much we did not know. At this stage of moving from D2 to D3, it can feel overwhelming and very anxious. Some would describe it as feeling stuck in a pit. If we cannot move further on, we often slip back to D1 and are more comfortable being directed. We have all felt this before.

To get out of the anxiety pit and move ahead, we need help to stay focused on the Vision and Grace. Vision keeps pointing us to where we are going to. We need to have Grace for ourselves and others as we continue to fumble and learn on the way. A coach can help us get out of the pit and on to D3 and D4.

As we considered this, we realized two wonderful things happening at SAINT PAUL. First is that anxiety is a sign of movement and growth and not necessarily cause for concern. We have faced different times of anxiety over the years and will likely in the future. We have trusted and followed God and seen people and ministry grow.

Second, we see this growth in many existing teams deepening, more recent teams becoming more stable and new teams being formed. For example, our Small group leaders and resource teams are well established and continue to improve and adapt. Teams formed in recent years include the SAINT PAUL Youth (SPY) leaders, Praise team, Outreach, Heritage Sunday and Memorial Care, among others. These teams continue to gain experience, grow in listening to the Spirit and serving in our community.

Finally there are new groups that formed or reorganized this last year. These include Kingdom Kidz, Preschool Board, Greeters and Ushers, Intermission College class, Men of Faith and Visitation.

How wonderful that these teams are functioning and in place so that when I went on vacation, Pastor SunHee and I knew things would be well cared for. We have many hands doing the work of God’s ministry. We praise God for all of you and the good work happening!

As we each work with different teams, we see tangible fruit of God’s Spirit among us. We coach one on one and also with teams or groups of people. As we look to our ongoing expansion in ministry, we are looking at how we might use our time more wisely to support and build up SAINT PAUL as we continue this journey of faith together.

Please keep us and SAINT PAUL in your prayers that God will keep preparing us for His Spirit’s outpouring!

Summertime!
It is July and we are moving into that summer rhythm of vacations and visitors, picnics and a more relaxed schedule for some. For United Methodists with Annual Conference completed, Pastor Sun Hee and I are reappointed to St. Paul for another year of ministry together.

A while back our youth group had an exercise where they thought about when they feel valued – “when people listen and talk to me, when people understand what I am trying to say, when someone cheers me up when I am sad.” These are things we all want! A place to belong and be loved and heard. A community that encourages and knows me. A place where I have something to contribute and learn. This is the kind of place we want St. Paul to be with Jesus at the center!

Many of our ministries and small groups take breaks or daytrips in the summer while others will be getting even busier! I pray that God’s Spirit continues to move among us, guiding and growing us closer to the Lord and one another. That you will find a place to learn, grown, serve and be known through St. Paul UMC!
Take some time to try something new, meet new people and see what others are doing. I give God thanks for the many people who are using their gifts to serve God and spread the gospel through St. Paul!

• July 20th 7 p.m., SPY Showcase (all ages are invited to come and share your talents!)
• July 21st, Shawl Ministry (come learn and bring your knitted, sewn or crocheted items)
• July 21st, Ice Cream Social (United Methodist Women-UMW)
• July 23rd- 27th mornings, Vacation Bible School (VBS by Children’s Ministry)
• August 18th, Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser (St. Paul Youth-SPY) for Christmas Institute

New ministry possibility…

St. Paul is part of CityServe, Faith Communities United in Jesus. It is a Tri-City (Fremont, Newark and Union City) network of churches, pastors and ministry. Compassion Network is an outreach of this group to be the church in the community. Recently the Youth Network (youth ministers) shared a vision – “to have every school in the Tri City Area adopted by a Church for a sustainable, relational outreach, bringing more kids into the Kingdom and therefore increasing academic performance, restoring lives.” This is for public schools from elementary to high school.
I know many of you care about children and our schools and the declining funds going towards nurturing our community’s children. Many of you are active or retired teachers and coaches, can tutor a student or play games and listen. You may want support at your school.
We know that Jesus loves children! And they are among the most vulnerable in challenging times.
If you are interested in caring for children and youth in our community, please contact me. There will be an exploratory meeting Sunday, July 22nd from 4-6 p.m. We will talk and pray together and hear what others have done and learned and seen God do. See me for more details. I pray that St. Paul will gather a team to reach out to a school in our community.