The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22b-23a)
Our world is filled with a profound unease. We know there is something out of alignment. And we can see it in political divides, school board elections, violence in the streets, and more. This disquiet is found in every corner of human existence and there is a wrestling match for power to define the problems and corner the market on the solutions. It has affected our youth, our economy and our climate. Sadly the global church rather than offering a way through this morass has engaged in the same strategies often becoming part of the problem.
The Apostle Paul found himself in the same situation. Rather than the church uniting against factions, jealousy, and quarrels they multiplied them.
Paul knew that Christ gave us a profound gift not only to help us navigate our challenges but to forge a community that can live out its witness filled with love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
It is the Holy Spirit.
This Fall our theme will be The Fruit of the Spirit: Antidote for the Modern World. We will experience the joy, love, and fellowship this Spirit gives us in our worship and fellowship as we gather. We will be equipped through Sunday School, the sermons and programs to live by this Spirit so that we might not only be transformed by God’s presence but be agents of this transformation in the world.
I pray you had a glorious Summer and I cannot wait for us to be together again!
Blessings and Peace,
Tom