A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: A BEAUTIFUL VISION
Grace and peace to you,
This Sunday we end our exploration of the Book of Revelation and what a journey it has been. What surprised you about Revelation? What has challenged you? What more would you like to learn?
If I could sum up the key points of Revelation, it 
would be these:
There will always be evil in our world – through systems and structures and yes, nations and people. How do we recognize evil? Especially the evil that confronts who we know God to be and tries everything in its power to make us believe otherwise. Essentially, that is the dilemma John of Patmos faces as he sits in exile and on a trance-like journey sees the evil, sees the good, sees the challenges, and sees the way to respond to the challenge.
That way is to encourage his listeners/readers then and now to continue to be faithful witnesses to the lordship of God and Jesus, the Lamb. To be active witnesses in word and deed to God’s love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and grace. To embrace that resistance to evil is not futile, but necessary. It won’t be easy, and we will see suffering, pain, hardship along the way, but testifying about the God who so dearly loves us and includes all, is of utmost importance.
John’s vision ends with the beauty of the new heaven and new earth that God transforms out of the old. John sees the New Jerusalem city descending from heaven to earth and there is a river of life-giving water that flows directly from God and Jesus. There are trees of life-giving abundant food. There are people from every nation on earth coming together and God walks among them. What a beautiful vision!
And that is what we will end our series exploring – this vision. What does it mean for us today? How are we partners with God to bring that vision to life? Has God’s desire for us died? Or do we need to more fully embrace it?
Come and see, come and explore!
Pastor Karen