January 24, 2022
Dear friends,
Today the church remembers St. Timothy, the young disciple that Paul met on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-3). Paul brought Timothy with him on his way and trained him up in the faith to be an evangelist. He sent Timothy to minister where he couldn’t and to help build up the churches that had been planted along the way.
In the two letters to Timothy that we possess today, Paul encouraged him to remain faithful to Jesus by standing firm on the Gospel. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15), and that is our source of life. It is the source of Paul’s energy and the drive for Timothy’s labor of love. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Tim. 6:12).
One of the striking details of Timothy’s story is an observation that Paul makes in 2 Timothy: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2 Tim. 1:5). The painting above shows a young Timothy with his grandmother Lois and a Bible in his hand, studying the word of God.
In remembering Timothy, the church takes the opportunity to thank God for those who have been diligent in teaching the faith, those who taught us and to whom we are so indebted, for parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors, friends, pastors, and teachers. Faith comes by hearing, but how are we to hear unless someone speaks?
Praise God for those who trusted Jesus, stood firm on the Gospel, and passed on to us the saving truth of God’s mercy!
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Annual Meeting – Sunday, January 30 @ 11:30am
Family Night – Wednesday, February 9 @ 5:30pm
Elders and Council – Thursday, February 10 @ 6 & 7pm
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesday, February 17 @ 8pm