My goodness – it’s cold. I suppose that’s what one is to expect in January/February. The secret is just to enjoy
life whatever the weather.
Lent is coming in just a couple of weeks on Feb. 18 (Ash Wednesday). I encourage each of you to come to
fellowship suppers on Wednesday nights at 6pm during Lent and then attend services at 7pm following. I plan
to share some thoughts on Psalms this year.
Lent is a time to make a special effort to come closer to God by either giving up something (chocolate is
probably the most given up food during this time) or adding another discipline to your day to day life. This is to
bring you closer to God and prepare ourselves for the glorious Easter Day.
I have printed here the Prayer of St. Francis that may assist you in that endeavor. If we could all pray this
prayer each day, truly taking it to heart, it would bring us all closer to fulfilling a life lived as a Christian.
PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
May God bless you day to day! Stay warm.
Welcome to Emmanuel United Church of Christ
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. — Luke 2:8-11 (NASV)