We are told (1 Thess. 5:18) to “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God

This has been a challenging year for our church community, having much of our congregation sort of exiled – if you will – throughout the pandemic, and then discovering that our century-old building is under threat of collapse.

But on close reading, we understanding that Paul wrote these words to the young church at Thessalonika at a time when the fledgling congregation was being heavily persecuted by the Jewish community, who considered Paul – the letter’s author – to be a seditionist. This very young church was on the edge of ruin.

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