What a Sunday!

Dear RockSpring Church Family,

Although every Sunday is a precious and holy day in the presence of the Lord, this sunday was especially joyful and deeply meaningful for me as your pastor. This Sunday, eight members of RockSpring Church officially became registered church members after faithfully completing four weeks of membership training. Since we are still in transitional period, we were not able to establish every structure and process as fully as we hoped in the beginning. I had simply asked that we provide some basic guidance and begin a new members class. Yet, by God’s grace, our ELC (Executive Leadership Council) leaders faithfully carried this ministry far beyond what I had imagined. I am truly thankful for these brothers who served with such care, humility, and dedication. I am also deeply grateful for the new members who committed themselves to the class with sincerity and faithfulness. Watching God slowly build His church through people who desire to grow together in Christ fills my heart with gratitude.

This Sunday was also Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day in the United States began through the vision of a woman named Anna Jarvis. After the death of her mother in 1905, Anna wanted to create a day that would honor the love, sacrifice, and quiet faithfulness of mothers. Her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, had been deeply involved in the Methodist Episcopal Church and spent much of her life serving families, teaching the Bible, and caring for wounded soldiers during the Civil War. The carnation became the symbol of Mother’s Day because it was Anna Jarvis’s mother’s favorite flower. At the first official Mother’s Day service in 1908, held at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia, Anna distributed white carnations to honor mothers. She chose carnations because she believed they represented the purity, beauty, faithfulness, and enduring love of a mother. Traditionally, white carnations came to symbolize mothers who had passed away, while red or pink carnations honored mothers who were still living. That being said, we send out happy and blessed mother's day greeting to all RockSpring moms out there.

At the same time, I also want us to remember that Mother’s Day can be difficult and emotional for some people. Some carry the sorrow of missing mothers who have already gone home to be with the Lord. Others may carry pain because of broken or difficult relationships. Some are single parents faithfully carrying both responsibilities with great sacrifice. Others may be longing to become mothers or quietly grieving in ways we cannot see. As the body of Christ, let us remember one another with compassion, prayer, gentleness, and love. What is a joyful day for some may also be a tender and heavy day for others.

Lastly, I was also personally overwhelmed with gratitude during our 2 PM worship service this week, when many of you gathered after service to pray for my upcoming eye surgery this Wednesday. I cannot fully express how much that meant to me. As I prepare for surgery, I find that my heart carries more peace and joy than fear because I know I am being covered by the prayers of my church family. To pastor a congregation that loves, trusts, and walks together with one another in Christ is truly one of God’s greatest gifts to me. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your pastor. I will do my best through the surgery and, Lord willing, recover quickly and return with renewed strength.

Also, please remember that next Sunday we will have an 11:00 AM Joint Adult Service together with our Korean-speaking congregation as we celebrate our church anniversary. However, our 2 PM RockSpring Church worship service will still continue as usual. While we will take a brief pause from our study through the Gospel of Mark, I believe the Lord has placed a very special message on my heart for this coming Sunday. I hope many of you — including those attending the 11 AM service and all of our leaders will join us again at 2 PM as we seek God together. Church family, thank you again for your love, your prayers, your faithfulness, and your encouragement. I thank God for each of you, and I truly love you all.

With gratitude and love in Christ,

Rev. Won Kim

Lead Pastor of RockSpring Church