Ocotber 2024

Typos Keep Us Human 

A couple of weeks ago, I sent worship materials to our secretary, Dawn, to share with the worship leaders and musicians. Soon after, I started receiving emails kindly pointing out numerous typos and mistakes. That’s when I  realized—I had accidentally sent an incomplete file. Oops, my mistake! This small blunder reminded me of how many hands and hearts come together to make our worship truly meaningful, and I knew I needed to be more mindful. After sending an apology, I received a gracious reply: “Typos keep us human.” 

In need of a break, I decided to head out to Hartman Creek State Park for a trail ride. But upon arriving and opening the car trunk, I realized I had left my bike at home. Oh God, have mercy! In that moment, I found myself praying for grace over my absent-mindedness. I later shared this story during joys and concerns, asking for your prayers. As I spoke, I saw smiles and heard your laughter. It was comforting to know that my concerns over mistakes brought you some joy, reminding us all that we’re not alone in making blunders. We all need grace—and we live by it every single day, especially when we extend that grace to ourselves in our imperfections. 

The world often sets high standards, defining what it means to be "enough" based on our ability to meet those expectations. While societal norms can provide structure, they can also leave us feeling inadequate or as though we’re missing something. There are certain stereotypes associated with age, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, disability status, marital status, education level, socioeconomic status, body type, language, and   religion. These labels often lead to unfair assumptions. Though these factors shape our identity and experiences,  influencing how we interact with society, it’s important to recognize that they can become deeply ingrained in our hearts and minds, shaping how we see ourselves and others. 

In Jesus' time, people often viewed others through the lens of religion, and many were labeled as "sinners" simply because they didn’t conform to societal or religious expectations. The poor, the sick, and the marginalized were pushed aside, unable to meet the rigid laws that defined righteousness. They were made to feel as if they weren’t "enough." Yet Jesus, filled with grace and love, saw beyond those labels. He didn’t focus on their perceived failings but recognized their inherent worth. He befriended them, welcomed them, and invited them to the table of grace— showing that God’s love is not dependent on human standards. 

We believe Jesus is God’s gift of life, a sustaining grace for all people. Thank God for the gift of grace! But this grace isn’t just for us—it’s God’s shared grace for everyone, even those we struggle to accept. When you think about it, this is radical and challenging: we are called to love not just those who are like us, but also those we find difficult—the  misfits, the mistakes, and even our enemies. In God’s grace, there is room for all of us. That’s the beauty of the gospel. 

One of the great privileges I have as a circuit-riding pastor for WARM is witnessing this grace at work in our three churches. God has given us the power and freedom to unite these different entities in mission. As you know, we’ve created food chains that have revealed God’s feeding grace to the community. It’s a testament to grace that we have been able to serve together, impacting both our local and global communities. I believe we will continue to discover, rediscover, and celebrate this grace among us. 

Humanly, 

Rev. Hyunwoong Hwang