[From the version for children and families]

We turn to a letter of St. Paul to a church in ancient Greece, way up in the north on the Aegean Sea.  Like Corinth, it was a busy seaport city with bustling trade going on all the time. 
As often happens in St. Paul’s letters, he begins by praising the church to which he is writing.  Think about it: once there was a community that received this letter for the first time from their dear pastor, Paul.  In place of e-mail and letters to individuals, this letter was read aloud to a community, perhaps gathering in someone’s house to worship and pray to the Lord Jesus. 
Pray about the three great spiritual gifts from God that we call the virtues of Faith, Hope and Love.  Hope is a wonderful extension of faith, being confident that something is really going to happen along the lines of what we believe in.  Love is the very essence of God that is radiating out from God through us. 
So let’s sit down with all those hearing this letter of St. Paul that will be our focus for six autumn Thursdays.

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1 Thessalonians 1

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In season of Kingdomtide this year,
we read 1 and 2 Thessalonians; Revelation 4—11.

For all the Firestarters in the original version, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.