“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)

Dear Church Family,

I am Pastor Sophia. This week, I found myself thinking about “kitchens”.  Not the showroom-perfect ones in magazines, but the real places where meals are prepared, life stories are shared, and people are nourished. Kitchens have a way of turning a house into a home. They feed our bodies, yes—but they also feed our souls.

Scripture tells us that God also cares deeply about such places.

This Sunday, we will hear from Ezekiel 46:19-24, where God’s kitchen is in the temple—spaces designed not for display, but for service.  Also, we will turn to Acts 2:42-47, where the early church gathers, breaks bread together, shares life together, and discovers that God’s grace grows when it is shared.

These passages remind us that God is a God who feeds—again and again.  Jesus called himself the Bread of Life(John 6:51).

And when the church gathers around the table, something holy happens. Hearts are knit together. Joy multiplies. Grace flows.

This Sunday, we will reflect on what it means to keep God’s kitchen open and beautiful—not just for ourselves, but for the world God loves.  We will think about how God’s grace is meant to flow, not to be stored up. And we will celebrate the ways God calls each of us—young and old—to be part of this holy work.

I am especially grateful that we will be worshipping alongside our Scouts this Sunday.  Their values of service, kindness, courage, and faith echo the heart of the gospel so clearly.  It is a gift to be reminded that serving God and serving people are never separate callings.

As we prepare for worship, I invite you to hold this simple prayer in your heart: “Lord, make us good channels of your grace, and generous servants at your table.”

I look forward to worshiping with you, breaking bread in spirit and in hope, and tasting once again the goodness of God—who is always preparing a place, always inviting, and always feeding us with love. Amen

Sophia (Seung Hae) Yoo-Hess

Pastor of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church

43987 Little River Turnpike, Chantilly, Virginia
Office) (703)3274461