These past few weeks I’ve been traveling in Korea. It’s where I was born and it’s the cultural home for my family and all the generations before me. Visiting places connected to my family and hearing stories about the history there, I had new thoughts about my own self and how I move in the world.

This week, as we prepare to say farewell to Pastor Karin — someone who has had a powerful role in shaping our faith community over the past decade and a half – we can also reflect on who we are as people of faith, especially in the context of Sunnyvale Presbyterian. Our reflections about our identity and our community also stand in relationship to the story for this Sunday, about Jesus and his hometown and his community of disciples.

What are the relationships that really matter, that make us who we truly are? As we stand at an important inflection point for our community, let’s take time this week to consider this question, together.

Your friend,

Hardy

“In everyone’s life, there is great need for an anam ċara, a soul friend. In this love, you are understood as you are without mask or pretension. The superficial and functional lies and half-truths of social acquaintance fall away, you can be as you really are. Love allows understanding to dawn, and understanding is precious. Where you are understood, you are at home.”

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.