Happy Valentines Day!

My hope is that you have had a good week.  I also hope that you are enjoying this weekend –  finding new ways to keep active and enjoy life … in spite of this pandemic tha tis keeping us locked up!

This Sunday is our last service of worship before we enter into the Season of Lent – the time of preparation for Easter.  And given that it is Valentine’s Day, todays service will focus on “Love”!

The music that I have selected is a mixture of religious and secular music and provides for us a glimpse into the different ways that we experience love.

Love Divine all Love Excelling

 Unchained Melody – Allie Sherlock & Cuan Durkin

Paul Simon – Father And Daughter

Announcements:

Public worship:  Session met on Friday, February 12^th, and took the decision to continue to suspend public worship in accordance with public health directives. This decision will be revisited at out next meeting of Session which will be held on March 12^th.

Annual Meeting: The date for the Annual Meeting has been set for March 14th.  As we do not know if we are going to be able to gather as a large group, we have begun to make plans to hold the meeting using Zoom.  I would invite anyone who is not familiar with the platform to reach out to me over the next few weeks so that we can assist you in learning how to use the technology.

Preparing for Easter:   The traditional time of preparation for Easter is the 40 days of Lent.  To help us in our preparation and guide our contemplation, I have selected 2 books.  The first, Create in Me a Clean Heart: Ten Minutes a Day in the Penitential Psalms by Sarah Christmyer, will appeal to those who gravitate toward contemplation and prayer as a way of engaging with God.  The second Entering the Passion of Jesus: A beginners Guide to Holy Week by Amy-Jill,  will be interesting for those who come to God through study and understanding the history of the time of Jesus.

We will begin meeting together on Wednesday February 17^th, via Zoom and will continue to meet for the 6 weeks of Lent.  We will meet from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.  The first hour will focus on Create in Me a Clean Heart, and the second hour on Entering the Passion of Jesus. If you are interested, in either or both of the sessions, please reach out to let me know.  There is always room for one more – so consider inviting a friend.  Both books are available through Amazon.

Staying Connected: We are all connected, and we will be stronger & healthier when we are intentional in nurturing our relationships with one another. So I encourage you to connect to people for conversation and companionship.  Even a short conversation will lift the spirit of the person you call … and miraculously, it will lift your spirits as well!

Blessings,

Patrick