Dear Friends, October News!!!
October 2024 and Fall are here, a good time to fall in love all over again. The book of Revelation contains seven letters to seven churches in seven important cities in the Roman province of Asia Minor (or Modern Turkey). These seven letters came from Jesus. Jesus addresses the spiritual condition of each church: he states their strengths and lists their faults. There are only two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia which have no faults.
To the Church at Ephesus: their strengths include, hard work, patient endurance, rejection of evil and perseverance. Their faults include, losing its identity. Forsaking its first love, which was Jesus, places the church at Ephesus in danger, because love and faith are the wellspring of the believer’s deeds. Their challenge: “You have forsaken your first love”. They are called to “Repent and do the things you did at first” Rev. 2:4,5.
To the Church at Smyrna: their strengths include, endurance through suffering and poverty, yet they are rich. Smyrna has no faults. The church at Smyrna has been faithful in the face of persecution and even martyrdom, but it shouldn’t become complacent. Their challenge: none. “Do not be afraid, be faithful” Rev. 2:10.
To the Church at Pergamum: their strengths include, loyalty to Christ and a refusal to deny Christ. Their faults include compromise. The church at Pergamum has tolerated the teachings of people who want to practice idolatry while remaining in the church. Their challenge: Compromise, “Repent therefore”. (Rev. 2:16)
To the Church at Thyatira: their strengths include, deeds, love, faith, service, patient endurance, and constant improvement. Their faults include the toleration of pagan practices. The church at Thyatira has justified their teachings that have led to idolatry. Their challenge: tolerating paganism. “I will repay each of you according to your deeds” Rev. 2:23.
To the Church at Sardis: their strengths include faithfulness (but only a few). Their faults include engaging in idolatry has made the church at Sardis’ garments dirty and caused the church to be spiritually dead. Their challenge: to repent of their errant ways of the cult of Cybele (a cult of the dead and death).
To the Church at Philadelphia: their strengths include faithful to the word and true to Jesus’ name. Philadelphia has no faults. Despite its relative weakness, the church at Philadelphia is strong because it remains faithful to God. Their challenge: none. “I will keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world” Rev. 3:11.
To the Church at Laodicea: their strengths include: none. Their faults include they have lost their identity. It’s self-sufficiency and search for wealth has made it lose its love, faithfulness, and direct relationship with Jesus, which are central in the identity of a Christian church. Their challenge: losing their identity in Christ. “I am about to spit you out of my mouth” Rev. 3:16.
Jesus said to his disciples, “apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5. Our lives, individual and in our churches, must reflect our connection to the risen Christ. His example of love, service, humility, sacrifice, and obedience must shape our lives. What do you/I/we need to reevaluate in our lives in light of Jesus’ example? Each letter assures Christians of the ultimate victory of God and God’s people over the powers of evil and death. Jesus’ victory over the powers of evil and death is the first decisive step. Christians can claim this victory by being faithful in their devotion to Christ and faithful witnesses of the Good News in this world.
Have a blessed October, Pastor Jean
UPCOMING EVENTS IN OCTOBER:
Saturday, Oct. 5: Chapel Heights UMC Fall Festival 9 – 2 pm Lunch is $8.00
300 E. Hamilton Ave. Eau Claire, WI
Sunday, Oct 6: World Communion Sunday with H.C.
Tuesday, Oct. 15: Meet and Greet Bishop Dan Schwerin
at Chapel Heights UMC 2 – 4 pm Clergy; 6 – 8 pm Laity
Saturday, Oct. 19: Altoona UMC Thrift Sale 8 - 1 pm 428 1st St. Altoona, WI
October 2024 and Fall are here, a good time to fall in love all over again. The book of Revelation contains seven letters to seven churches in seven important cities in the Roman province of Asia Minor (or Modern Turkey). These seven letters came from Jesus. Jesus addresses the spiritual condition of each church: he states their strengths and lists their faults. There are only two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia which have no faults.
To the Church at Ephesus: their strengths include, hard work, patient endurance, rejection of evil and perseverance. Their faults include, losing its identity. Forsaking its first love, which was Jesus, places the church at Ephesus in danger, because love and faith are the wellspring of the believer’s deeds. Their challenge: “You have forsaken your first love”. They are called to “Repent and do the things you did at first” Rev. 2:4,5.
To the Church at Smyrna: their strengths include, endurance through suffering and poverty, yet they are rich. Smyrna has no faults. The church at Smyrna has been faithful in the face of persecution and even martyrdom, but it shouldn’t become complacent. Their challenge: none. “Do not be afraid, be faithful” Rev. 2:10.
To the Church at Pergamum: their strengths include, loyalty to Christ and a refusal to deny Christ. Their faults include compromise. The church at Pergamum has tolerated the teachings of people who want to practice idolatry while remaining in the church. Their challenge: Compromise, “Repent therefore”. (Rev. 2:16)
To the Church at Thyatira: their strengths include, deeds, love, faith, service, patient endurance, and constant improvement. Their faults include the toleration of pagan practices. The church at Thyatira has justified their teachings that have led to idolatry. Their challenge: tolerating paganism. “I will repay each of you according to your deeds” Rev. 2:23.
To the Church at Sardis: their strengths include faithfulness (but only a few). Their faults include engaging in idolatry has made the church at Sardis’ garments dirty and caused the church to be spiritually dead. Their challenge: to repent of their errant ways of the cult of Cybele (a cult of the dead and death).
To the Church at Philadelphia: their strengths include faithful to the word and true to Jesus’ name. Philadelphia has no faults. Despite its relative weakness, the church at Philadelphia is strong because it remains faithful to God. Their challenge: none. “I will keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world” Rev. 3:11.
To the Church at Laodicea: their strengths include: none. Their faults include they have lost their identity. It’s self-sufficiency and search for wealth has made it lose its love, faithfulness, and direct relationship with Jesus, which are central in the identity of a Christian church. Their challenge: losing their identity in Christ. “I am about to spit you out of my mouth” Rev. 3:16.
Jesus said to his disciples, “apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5. Our lives, individual and in our churches, must reflect our connection to the risen Christ. His example of love, service, humility, sacrifice, and obedience must shape our lives. What do you/I/we need to reevaluate in our lives in light of Jesus’ example? Each letter assures Christians of the ultimate victory of God and God’s people over the powers of evil and death. Jesus’ victory over the powers of evil and death is the first decisive step. Christians can claim this victory by being faithful in their devotion to Christ and faithful witnesses of the Good News in this world.
Have a blessed October, Pastor Jean
UPCOMING EVENTS IN OCTOBER:
Saturday, Oct. 5: Chapel Heights UMC Fall Festival 9 – 2 pm Lunch is $8.00
300 E. Hamilton Ave. Eau Claire, WI
Sunday, Oct 6: World Communion Sunday with H.C.
Tuesday, Oct. 15: Meet and Greet Bishop Dan Schwerin
at Chapel Heights UMC 2 – 4 pm Clergy; 6 – 8 pm Laity
Saturday, Oct. 19: Altoona UMC Thrift Sale 8 - 1 pm 428 1st St. Altoona, WI