Holy Week Greetings as April arrives after a [shhhhh] mild winter. For Jesus, the pomp of Palm Sunday and the final opportunities to teach and lead by example, unfold before us. Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and sharing the Passover with them as a memorial meal are often celebrated as services during Holy Week.

Lent begins February 22nd with the observance of Ash Wednesday. Our Lenten theme this year will be ”Looking for Love.” We spend a good deal of our lives Looking for Love, which, of course, means various things to each of us. Our faith tells us that God is Love and that in Christ Jesus “Love looks for Us.” Ultimately Easter tells us that “Love Wins.”

December is upon us – the season of lights! Starlight and candlelights. The dawn of the Son of God is remembered with joy by all creation.

November is my favorite month! For years it was all about partying. My birthday is in November; Thanksgiving is in November. Then my grandchild decided to be born in November! Upstaging me and Thanksgiving by a week… more reasons to party.

The fall is upon us and October will call us to don sweaters and contemplate evening fireside chats. The earlier nightfall will encourage most of us to put on our slippers and give up forays abroad in the dark. It is hard to imagine what life was like for Jesus in a world without electricity and running water. A light in the darkness was truly appreciated and the proximity to a fire was a blessing.

While worship may never be conducted exactly the way it was prior to the pandemic shut down, some practices are representative of our theology and are worth re-establishing while new practices become part of our “new normal.”

The term “hospitality” refers to the relationship between a guest and a host. If you invite a friend or family member over to your home for dinner, for example, you’ll perform hospitality by accommodating the guest’s needs. Hospitality is understood to be the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.

So much to celebrate!

As we bid farewell to March we also complete the Lenten season on APRIL 9th.

We are in the liturgical season of EPIPHANY for the entire month of February. Some years there are only a few weeks between 12th Night and Lent, and this year we have a rather significantly long season of Epiphany which began January 6th and will continue to March 1st.