Article for newsletter Nov. 2025

Purpose: to reflect on the ongoing reason I get to have this platform to say something so you can use your valued time to perhaps give me your feedback. 

First thought is about the responsibility I have for being the full time staff person facilitating the mission of The Federated Church of Orland(TFCO). I believe it is more than that, but the call to respond. In the face of how church functions, my role is unique and dare I say rather influential(effecting) in that for good or bad(unintended if that is that case and ignorant of it would be sad) in the given context. There is coherence in what this position(in general) is all about going all the way back to the first church, first century. 

It is a bitter sweet kind of reality. Out of necessity but not without great risk, for failure of the responsibilities has great consequences, to my personal life and no less the church family. We set out to do everything in the name of Jesus, for the sake of the Gospel. Therefore, we have an important challenge, which makes our life together interesting and significant. 

But, I want to believe, here is a more important thought, given this conversation with you, valued church family members(and might I add with great pleasure, you the potential member of this church or any Jesus honoring Biblical authority church) as participants in this brief discourse. To extricate ourselves to the freedom to serve Jesus who, as our lord, savior, counselor, teacher, having the purpose for our well being now and looking ahead. The Bible tells us those who apparently were successful as his disciples, as anyone in history since his time, discovered this new life in the context of church, the preserved gathering of believers, who trusted in Jesus, had faith to obey his teachings, and followed his life as he revealed himself, God’s son, savior who has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven and will one day return to take us there. 

I think the above is one way to describe how this space is used  in this newsletter from TFCO. May you be blessed  in the months ahead going into the season. 

Eric C. Cho (pastor)

ericcho73@gmail.com

408-500-2483

Serving in Orland, CA,  since July 1, 2023. Born in Evanston, IL,

raised in Seoul,  South Korea until returning to Rockford, IL in 1971.

Julie, my wife, visits my adult sons in Texas.

Ordained 2005 United Methodist Church