Ash Wednesday, Greater Love

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
-John 15:12-13

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.  It coincides this year with Valentine’s Day, which I find to be the perfect way to celebrate a holiday about love.  When Jesus met with Nicodemus in John 3, he explained how much God loves us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17

Last Sunday, we welcomed the Ukrainian House of Hope Church into our Main Sanctuary to hold their weekly worship services from 1:30pm-3:30pm.  It was a joyous celebration and a powerful example of God’s love for the whole world.  What a blessing to have a Spanish-speaking congregation, Iglesia Vida Abundante, worshiping in the Garden Sanctuary and now the Ukrainians sharing our Main Sanctuary worship space.  It is our hope that we will have some occasions to worship and fellowship together as one Body of Christ later in the year.  God continues to move among us and we see growth and new life springing up all around us.

As we begin the season of Lent, our Route 66 journey takes us through the gospels in the New Testament, may we experience the full extent of God’s love for us and for the world.  Please join us tomorrow at 6pm for our Ash Wednesday service.

New Testament readings through Lent:
Feb 18 New Testament Overview (begin the Gospel of Matthew)
Feb 25 Gospel of Matthew
March 3 Gospel of Mark
March 10 Gospel of Luke
March 17 Gospel of John
March 24 Palm Sunday
March 31 Easter Sunday

Holy God, Your steadfast love endures forever. We forget that we are created in your image.  We act as if we are undeserving of your love. Your steadfast love endures forever. We limit your love by choosing who we think is worthy; by refusing to share; by choosing judgment rather than love. Your steadfast love endures forever. We define what love is and looks like. You love us unconditionally…forgive our conditions. Your steadfast love endures forever.  Amen.