For Christians, the word discipleship carries both blessing and burden—a sense of direction and a sense of responsibility. In Luke 14:26–27, Jesus speaks with startling clarity about the weight of following him: "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

What is Jesus getting at here? He is calling us to look beyond the primacy of our biological family and to enter a larger family grounded in faith, love, and commitment to God. Family can open our hearts to deeper love and connection, yet when it becomes an end in itself—or our sole focus—our capacity to care for others diminishes dramatically. Such a narrow focus can make our faith feel limited and small.

On this Welcome Sunday, as we gather for Kickoff Sunday worship and our church picnic, we hear these challenging yet honest words about the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25–33). Following Jesus is not a casual commitment; it asks us to carry the cross, release what holds us back, and dedicate our whole lives to God. At first, this may feel heavy. And yet, in Christ, the burden becomes sweet: carrying the cross also carries the joy of belonging, the gift of community, and the promise of abundant life.

This Sunday, we celebrate both the challenge and the blessing of discipleship—the cost of love and the deeper joy of walking this journey together. Our church community is a place where this larger family takes shape, built on love, service, ministry, and faithful work for God’s world—a family in which we live out Christ’s calling together, learning that the sweet burden of discipleship expands our hearts rather than limiting them.

All are invited to enjoy a special Welcome Worship Service on Sunday, September 7, beginning at 9:30 am. We look forward to welcoming visitors and people who may be seeking a new church home, as well as members and friends!

Enjoy the spiritual presence and preaching of our pastor, Rev. Dr. Jinyong Choi, be moved by music from our Praise Band, Bell Ringers, and Adult Choir, and enjoy joyous congregational hymn singing!