Hello Everyone,

This month of February is the month of love and presidents. It is also a month of snow and cold. A month of contrasts. We sit and rail against the cold and the snow while our blood boils at politics then our hearts warm over the love offered on Valentine’s Day.

We don’t know much about St. Valentine. Seems he spent life concentrating on what we are to do every day, love. One account says he was martyred because he married a Christian couple when Rome banned such marriages. The feast of St. Valentine is one of the oldest traditions of Christianity. Once again love wins. This love thing sounds so easy until we really think about it. Really, love your enemies? Jesus gives us a mini lecture in Matthew 5 when he says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

This month let us concentrate on the love that we are commanded to express. Not just to each other but to those around us. After all Jesus also says, “35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 Let the world spin as it will but let us not lose sight of the true nature of the savior who has redeemed us and the example we are to set in the world.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Mark