Sunday Service on Jan. 11, 2026

Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Jan. 11, 2026

Music Offering

Sermon: Costly Grace

The speaker opens with a personal anecdote about leading a serious workshop, where the atmosphere was initially lifeless until a heartfelt story about pregnant sisters revitalized the group’s spirit. They then shift to a profound reflection on faith, contrasting “cheap grace” and “costly grace,” concepts popularized by the German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who opposed Nazi tyranny and was executed for his resistance. “Cheap grace” is described as superficial, ritualistic faith lacking true conviction or sacrifice, while “costly grace” involves deep personal sacrifice, responsibility, and active cooperation with God. The speaker emphasizes that true faith is not mere activity or external appearance but requires honest internal transformation and a willingness to face trials. Drawing on biblical references such as John 1:6, the story of Job, and the novel Silence, the speaker illustrates how suffering and silence from God can lead to authentic faith and spiritual maturity. They highlight how conformity and fear of conflict can suppress individuality and honest expression, leading to a spiritually dry and hollow faith experience. The speaker stresses the importance of genuine unity centered on God’s will rather than blind obedience to human authority. The talk then personalizes these lessons through reflections on True Mother’s life and teachings, portraying her imprisonment as an embodiment of costly grace that inspired hope, joy, and gratitude despite adversity. The metaphor of amber formation—where tree resin undergoes transformation under pressure to become a precious gemstone—is used to symbolize how tears and suffering, when united with divine grace, can become a lasting legacy of faith and love. The speaker concludes with a hopeful and joyful vision for the future, encouraging honesty, mutual support, and gratitude as keys to living a free and fulfilling spiritual life. Highlights

• Personal story revives workshop spirit after initial dead silence.
• Introduction of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, pastor who resisted Nazis and symbolized costly grace.
• Critique of “cheap grace” as formalized, superficial faith that lacks true conviction.
• Danger of conformity and suppression of individuality for the sake of social comfort.
• Costly grace requires sacrifice, human responsibility, and cooperation with God.
• Amber metaphor: suffering and tears transform into precious legacy of faith.
• Hope and joy for the future rooted in honest expression, love, and gratitude.

Sunday School: Moral lesson from Japanese folk tale Crane Gratitude

The presentation retells the traditional Japanese folktale “The Crane’s Gratitude”, which centers on kindness, gratitude, and integrity.

An old farmer frees a crane whose leg is caught in a trap. Later, a mysterious young woman comes to his home asking for shelter. She stays with the farmer and his wife, helping with household and farm work and bringing them great happiness. She offers to weave beautiful cloth if given silk thread, on the condition that they never look while she works. Each time, she produces exquisite fabric that earns the couple wealth, but she grows increasingly weak. 

Eventually, the couple’s curiosity overcomes them, and they peek into the room. They discover that the woman is actually the crane they saved, magically transformed, weaving the cloth by plucking her own feathers. Because her secret is revealed, she must leave and return to nature, despite their pleas. 

Before departing, the crane expresses deep gratitude for the kindness shown to her and assures the couple they will continue to prosper. She flies away, free, and the farmer later sees her occasionally as a crane, knowing she still remembers their kindness.

The presentation concludes with a reflective exercise encouraging kindness and gratitude, even toward animals, and a concluding slide connecting the crane’s symbolism to spiritual teachings. It highlights the crane as a symbol of uprightness, conscience, and spiritual alignment, including references to Korean cultural symbolism and teachings about maintaining a “straight conscience”.

Sunday Service on Jan. 4, 2026

Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Jan. 4, 2026

Music Offering

Sermon: Report On Victories and Challenges In 2025

The sermon captures a reflective and community-oriented address at the Triangle Family Church, centered on reviewing the past year 2025 and looking ahead to 2026. The speaker begins by explaining the significance of the Sunday of the Epiphany, which celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Savior, typically observed on January 6 or the closest Sunday. The speaker then transitions to a detailed recount of the church’s vibrant activities in 2025, highlighting key events such as peace rallies, family workshops, religious forums, and cultural celebrations. Emphasis is placed on collaboration with other churches, engagement of young people and families, and responding to social issues like religious persecution. A major theme is the importance of prioritizing health and family, especially for senior members, as foundational to sustaining community efforts. The speaker recognizes the tireless work of church leaders and volunteers, stressing that the church’s accomplishments are collective achievements. Several special events are described, including the “Peace Starts with Me” rally, a special grace ceremony that drew infrequent attendees, and a well-received Christmas celebration that successfully attracted young families through a warm, inviting atmosphere. The speaker also highlights the first-ever winter workshop aimed at third-generation members, noting its success despite logistical challenges and chaotic moments. This workshop is seen as a crucial step toward nurturing the future of the movement and strengthening faith transmission across generations. Looking into 2026, the speaker acknowledges the many challenges ahead but expresses confidence in the church’s unity and divine guidance. The address closes with a heartfelt prayer, invoking Heavenly Parent’s support to unite the community and lead them through a hopeful future grounded in love, truth, and resilience. Highlights - Explanation of the Epiphany Sunday and its significance in celebrating the revelation of Jesus as Savior. - God’s guidance to prioritize health and caring for one’s spouse as foundational responsibilities. - “Peace Starts with Me” rally showcased successful collaboration among multiple churches. - Special grace ceremony and Christmas celebration helped attract young families and infrequent attendees. - Forum on religious persecution highlighted global Christian struggles and the importance of solidarity. - The first winter workshop for third-generation members fostered faith education and community bonding. - Closing prayer emphasized unity, hope, and reliance on Heavenly Parent for guidance in 2026.

Sunday School - Bible Study: Parable of Talents

This presentation teaches children about the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) using a hands-on apple metaphor and interactive discussion to help them understand how God gives each person unique abilities and expects them to be used faithfully.

It begins with an icebreaker activity (“Apple of God’s Eye”), where participants choose and polish an apple to represent themselves—highlighting that everyone has strengths and areas for growth. Apples are then used as a metaphor to show that talents, like apples, can shine when cared for or go to waste when ignored. 

The lesson transitions into the biblical story, explaining that a “talent” was a large amount of money and that servants received different amounts based on their abilities. Two servants invested and multiplied what they were given, while one hid his talent. The presentation uses questions and a video to help children think critically about effort, responsibility, and growth. 

Next, it explores the master’s response, emphasizing that faithfulness and effort—not equality of results—are what pleased the master. The servant who hid his talent is used as a warning against fear, laziness, or wasting God-given gifts. 

The final section applies the lesson to real life: children are encouraged to serve God with their talents, give their best even if they are not perfect, and use their abilities to bless others. The presentation closes with reflection questions, discussion, and creative activities such as coloring or crafts to reinforce the message.