Healing the TUMC Angel

Overview

This project will guide Trinity in recovering the gospel message that God saves God's people, and to help create a sense of expectation that God's saving grace is at work in our midst. The project will invite our congregation to explore a theology of the "angel of the church" referenced in the Book of Revelation.

Trinity might easily see ourselves like the church in Ephesus: "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'" (Revelation 2:1-7).

A great burden can be lifted from our members when we realize that it is the church's angel who is wounded and sick, not our members themselves. This realization has the potential to cause a shift in thinking toward compassion for the wounded angel and to focus our congregation on ministering to the church's angel so that the angel can discern God's vision for the church.

Want to know more? Click on this link to read the full project prospectus OR this link for a brief discernment process tutorial to be used by committees and our members. When you're done, click browser's "back" arrow to return to this page.