“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”  John 6:68

Dear Beloved Church Family,
I am Pastor Sophia. Someone once said, “Being a Christian is simple—just love your enemies, forgive everyone, and never lose your patience. Piece of cake, right?” Then they added, “Except sometimes the cake feels like it’s stuck in my throat!”

We laugh because we understand. Sometimes it is hard to follow Jesus. We get tired of being patient, forgiving, and loving in a world that often seems to reward the opposite.  In John chapter 6, we see many followers of Jesus feeling the same way. At first, they were excited—Jesus fed thousands with only five loaves and two fish! Who wouldn’t follow a teacher who provides free bread? But when Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever,” many people were shocked. They didn’t understand that He was speaking spiritually offering Himself as the true nourishment for our souls. They wanted comfort without commitment, miracles without the message. And so, many walked away.

But then Peter spoke words that echo through time: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” That is the heart of our faith. Even when life feels heavy, even when God’s ways are hard to understand, there is truly no better place to go. No one loves us like Jesus. No one forgives like Him. No one stays with us through every valley and every storm the way He does. When we feel weary and uncertain, He feeds our souls and renews our hope. He keeps us going, serving, and doing good things. Our lives become worthy. Our acts of love, our prayers, our service—none of these are wasted. Even when we can’t see the fruit yet, God is growing something beautiful through our faithfulness. So, to whom shall we go?

This Sunday, we’ll reflect on what it means to keep walking with God—even when it’s hard—and why trusting Jesus always leads us to life, hope, and strength.
So come hungry for the Bread of Life—both for your body and your spirit. (And don’t worry, Methodists always find a way to include some real food too!)
With love and peace

Sophia (Seung Hae) Yoo-Hess

Pastor of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church
43987 Little River Turnpike, Chantilly Virginia
Office) (703)3274461