After three years of inactivity, Beautiful Messenger has moved from blogspot to our new home here on Zion’s own new website.

Beautiful Messenger is the online journal of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Rahway, NJ.  The mission of this journal is to share God’s love – revealed in the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth – with one another and with our neighbors, by publicly speaking to matters of Christian faith and practice, service to our neighbors, discipleship, and the witness of Scripture.  Posts may explore a variety of issues and are expected to offer a diversity of ideas and ruminations, but will always be consistent with our stated mission.

While free to explore issues, contributors – and those leaving comments – will be expected to exercise that freedom consistent with St. Paul’s understanding of Christian freedom:

“For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Gal 5:13-14)

All that we do, including what we write, should produce the fruit of Christ’s Spirit.  And, as St. Paul reminds us, the fruit of the Spirit “is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)  This precludes disparaging or maligning individuals, as well as gossip or innuendo.  Additionally, this journal will not permit campaigns to disparage or undermine the witness and mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its affiliated ministries, or of the New Jersey Synod, or of our congregation.

Beautiful Messenger posts and comments are subject to editorial review before publication to ensure content is consistent with the stated mission and guidelines.  Comments must be respectful and relevant to the posting to which they reply.  Nothing will be published without being reviewed by editors, so comments will be subject to delay between the time of their submission and the time of their publication.

If you would like to contribute posts to this blog, send an email to the blog editors to request Contributor Access, using the Contact Us link in the main menu. 

Love God, love your neighbor, tell the world!