The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” (Ezkiel 43:4-5)

My Church Family,

I am pastor Sophia. I want to share a question I’ve been carrying with me this week.

Why do we come to church every Sunday?

So often, worship can begin to feel like something we have to do—another responsibility added to an already full life. Sundays arrive quickly, sometimes faster than our laundry gets folded or our coffee gets finished. So, some weeks we wonder if we have the energy, focus, or strength to come to worship service. If you’ve ever felt that way, please know this: you are not alone. One of famous joke among pastors is “Sundays never stop coming,”

Worship was never meant to be an obligation that weighs us down. It is meant to be a gift that lifts us up.

The scriptures Ezkiel 46:1-3remind us that God does not call people into worship to burden them, but to restore them, as God’s face turns toward them. Again and again in the Bible, God meets people not when they have everything figured out, but when they are tired, uncertain, or in need of renewal. Worship becomes a place where God’s face gently turns toward us and reminds us that we are seen, known, and loved.

That is why I hope you will join us this Sunday—not out of obligation, but out of trust. Trust that God meets us even when we come with mixed emotions. Trust that God can speak through familiar words and simple moments. Worship does not demand perfection. Trust that showing up, just as you are, is enough. You don’t need to have the right words, the right clothes, or the right energy level. (Coffee helps, but it’s not required.)

Worship does not demand perfection. It simply asks for presence. And in that shared presence—through prayer, song, scripture, and community—God works in quiet but meaningful ways.

My prayer is that when you leave worship this Sunday, you will feel a little lighter, a little steadier, a little refreshed, and a little more aware of God’s grace walking with you into the week ahead.

I look forward to worshiping with you soon.

With gratitude and hope,

Sophia (Seung Hae) Yoo-Hess

Pastor of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church

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