100 Words of Hope: Here Are People of God Who Love You

Here Are People of God who Love You

[Editor’s note: Sung Ran Kim has submitted this poetic, kinetic sermon for 100 Words of Hope for Christian education. Sung Ran Kim has shared this poetic kinetic sermon with children in worship, after contemplating Genesis 15:1-12, especially verse 5. "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can! As many as that, you will have for descendants.” (from The Inclusive Bible) Children are sitting in the front of the sanctuary.]

Minister: Cover your eyes.*
What do you see?

Children: Nothing (Minister could tell it to the children if they answer a bit differently.)

Minister: Open your eyes.**
Who do you see?

Children: We see people at our church.

Minister: Here are people of God who love you.

Minister: Cover your eyes.
What do you see?

Children: Nothing (Minister could tell it to the children if they answer a bit differently.)

Minister: God is telling us to open our hearts to see the stars in the sky.   
Open your eyes.

Here are people of God who love you at our church.

God opens our hearts to see and meet these people of God who love you at our church.

Thanks be to God!

Together: Thanks be to God!

*ears, or whatever senses the children use to experience the world
**or uncover your ears/eyes

—Sung Ran Kim, Alpha Korean United Church, Toronto, ON

Hope Unwavering

Hope is the ember that never fades, the quiet light in shadowed valleys. It is the song carried on the wind, whispering: You are not alone. In loneliness, it reaches out; in illness, it strengthens; in grief, it cradles the weary heart.

The United Church stands as a beacon—welcoming, embracing, healing. In the face of homelessness, it offers refuge; in despair, it kindles faith. Rooted in love and committed to justice, we proclaim hope—not as a distant dream, but as a living truth.

God walks with us still—through sorrow, through trials—always leading toward dawn. Always, toward home.

—Rohan Pushparajan, Lakeshore United Church, Goderich, ON

God Never Left Me

Raised Roman Catholic, I once left the Church after a falling out with our priest. Yet, through life's darkest moments—marriage struggles, raising children, and keeping a business afloat—God never left me.

Now, in my second marriage, my wife and I have returned to church, Main Street United Church, finding a community of hope.

Prayer became my conversation with God, providing strength when I felt abandoned. It’s not the building, but the love of God, and the community within the building we call Church, that lifts us. As Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

—Ray Macneil, Main Street United Church, Mitchell, ON

We encourage you to share your own "100 Words of Hope" (prayers, poems, or reflections).

The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.