Sumgmu’s Monthly Message, November 2025

As we celebrate All Saints Sunday on November 2nd, we remember the lives of our church ancestors and friends, including those who have died during the past year. Among them are Ruthellen Corbett, Walter Sargent, and Paul Anderson. It was heartbreaking to lose those active members and good friends. Yet, their families and I are thankful that they are in a better place now with God and other saints.

Ruthellen Corbett was faithful to God and God’s church. I still envision her sitting at the pew during the Sunday service. We modern Christians try to find a good excuse not to come to church. But she was in the sanctuary to praise and worship God, although she was challenged physically. You and I should learn from her example how to be faithful to God. It is true that she had a hard time because of her illness. But she had never lost her faith. She had the wisdom and sound Christian faith to meet Jesus Christ through difficulties.

A couple of weeks before she passed away, I visited with her in Avon Health Center and tried to console her. But when I came back, I realized that I was also consoled by her positive thinking. Whenever I saw her, I was encouraged to do ministry with great joy. She often said to me, “Pastor, I like your sermon. And I am very thankful that you came to our church.” She was one of the best supporters in my ministry.

As you know, Walter Sargent had served faithfully as our church treasurer for many years. About a month before he passed away, he was in the hospital. I called him to know if I could visit with him. He said, “I am going home this afternoon.” I said, “That is good!” He responded, “I am going home to die.”

When he said that, his voice was not unhappy at all but plain. I knew that he was ready to go to heaven. In such a difficult situation, he was able to be calm as he depended upon God. Because he had strong faith in God, he was able not to be afraid of anything, even of death. Walter had never lost his faith.

What comes to mind when you think of Paul Anderson? Earlier this year, when I prepared the sermon based on Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, I thought about Paul a lot. I said to myself, “Paul was the good Samaritan.” As the Samaritan helped the victim in the parable, getting directly involved and even paying for his follow-up care, so Paul Anderson was willing to help others in need, serving Habitat for Humanity and many other non-profit organizations. He was a good Samaritan.

I am grateful that I was able to visit with him four days before he went to heaven. He was very glad to see me. And as we had Holy Communion together, we felt God’s presence strongly. In fact, Paul looked well on that day and said that he was thankful for our prayers, and that he missed the church family. He kept asking about the church: How is the choir doing? How is the Sunday worship attendance? How is the church financial situation?

I was able to know how much he loved our church. He walked me to the door and smiled at me. I never imagined it would be the last time to see his smile in this world. It is true that he had a hard time after his wife Jean passed away last year, and after he had a minor stroke, but he always smiled. He never lost his faith.

Do you feel tired of serving God and God’s church? Remind yourself of our faithful saints: Ruthellen Corbett, Walter Sargent, and Paul Anderson. Remember how faithfully they had dedicated themselves to the church. And refresh yourself so that you may continue to serve God and God’s people with great joy. Happy All Saints Day!

Sungmu Lee