By Pastor Melaina
One of my favorite devotional books, “You Are Beloved” is written by one of my favorite Christian writers, Henri Nouwen. An April 6 reading is entitled “Come Home to Where Love Dwells.” In this devotion he discusses how we have been loved long before we ever knew what love was or how to love others. We are accepted and invited to dwell in love. We are invited to be at home, the place where love first dwelled. This home dwelled, dwells, and will dwell in, around, through, and to us eternally. The truth is that God’s love for us was initiated by God from the beginning and has dwelled in, around, through, and to us from the beginning, and we are invited to return again and again, to a loving relationship with God. And we are invited to invite others to remember and return again and again. We are invited to dwell in God’s love and share God’s love for the transformation of the world in order that home is on earth as it is in heaven.
During Advent and Christmas, we celebrated how God was incarnate in Jesus Christ — God came and dwelled among us. We celebrated how love came down on Christmas. And as we move towards Lent, we are invited to experience, hear, and witness Christ’s love as we journey to the cross.
Lent begins on February 14 this year. It’s a time when many celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to love. When you first hear that Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day it initially feels like to the two are at odds with one another but that is far from the truth. On Ash Wednesday we have a dual encounter where we confront our mortality and confess our sins in community. Yet, this dual experience must always be grounded in the reality of God’s love — “from love you came and to love you will return.” In our dual experience, we are reminded that we dwell in love, and we can claim God’s love. Claiming God’s love is the foundation of our repentance; we are free to be loved and to love. There will be two Ash Wednesday services, Ashes to Go (drive-thru) from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at the front entrance round-about, and a traditional Ash Wednesday worship service at 7:30 pm.
The story of Jesus’ death is one that we think we know inside and out. We think we know the people involved, perspectives of the witnesses, those who taunted Jesus, and even Jesus’ seven last words. But what if there is still so much more to learn about the story? Challenging the assumptions we think we already know, we are invited to find fresh perspectives and understanding from those who witnessed Jesus’ death that first Holy Week. We will learn how each witness at the cross had distinct roles, diverse perspectives, messages, and experiences of love and grace with Jesus. Join us for the sermon series and book study, “Witness at the Cross” by Amy-Jill Levine, on Sundays between February 18 and March 24. Experience the Holy Week accounts in a fresh way and come away transformed.
Holy Week will begin on Palm Sunday, March 24. Come wave palms as we remember Christ’s triumphal procession and look to the cross during our Palm Passion Sunday services at 9:30 am and 11:00 am. Maundy Thursday service will be on March 28 at 7:30 pm. This service will not be live streamed. Good Friday service will feature a short play, “Have You Seen My Son?” that will be a witness account of the mothers on the last nights of Jesus’ life, along with scripture lessons, inspiring music, and prayers. The Good Friday service will be in person and live streamed on March 29 at 7:30 pm.
On Easter morning we get to come to the empty tomb and proclaim, “He Is Risen—he is risen indeed!” We will bear witness to love that overcomes sin, death, and the world, Jesus’ love, and grace. There will be a sunrise service at 6:30 am at the outside grassy area by the pond. You are welcome to bring a chair, blanket, or stand for this service. The traditional Easter service will be interactive and kid-friendly, in person, and live streamed at 9:30 am, and the contemporary Easter service will be interactive and kid-friendly, in person only at 11:00 am. Come home to dwell in love and witness Christ’s love then go out to share with the world.
