Dear Church Family,

I’m Pastor Sophia. Does this sound familiar? —The alarm’s been snoozed (again). You spill coffee on your shirt while trying to find your phone, which turns out to be in the fridge for some reason. Someone’s yelling, “Where’s my charger?” like it’s a national emergency. And before 9 a.m., you’ve already broken a sweat.

Many of us are living like this—not just once in a while, but every. single day.  We’re exhausted—not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. We carry heavy loads: work stress, family needs, financial concerns, personal worries. Somewhere deep down, we ask: Is this how life is supposed to feel?

This Sunday, we’ll turn to the comforting and powerful words of Jesus:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus isn’t offering a weekend escape or a brief moment of quiet. He’s offering something deeper—a rest that reaches the soul. A rest that renews us from within. A rest that helps us move through life’s demands, not just away from them.

We’ll also reflect on the words from Ecclesiastes 3, which remind us that life unfolds in seasons: a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Whatever season you’re in right now, God is there—faithful, present, and ready to carry what you no longer can.

Too often, we believe we must hold it all together on our own. But Jesus says we don’t have to. He invites us to walk beside Him—to find peace not in escape, but in His presence. Not just relief, but renewal.

So, if you’re feeling stretched thin or just need to know you’re not alone in the madness, I invite you to join us this Sunday. Come as you are—coffee-stained shirts and all—and meet the One who is gentle and humble in heart—and who offers rest that truly restores.

Grace and peace,

Sophia (Seung Hae) Yoo-Hess

Pastor of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church

43987 Little River TPK, Chantilly, Virginia

Office: (703) 327- 4461