Yes, Valentine’s Day actually falls on Sunday this year.  No, I’m not going to be preaching about St. Valentine, against Lupercalia (the ancient Roman fertility cult that celebrated Feb. 15) or about historical events that have happened on Valentine’s day (like the statehood of Oregon in 1859). 

But as we’ve launched into the beginning of Lent this week, it’s appropriate to think for a moment about how Lent can develop our love life…with God, with each other, with loved and lost ones in our lives. 

What is it that makes Valentine’s Day so special for sweethearts?  Simply this:  it’s special because we do special things, things that say “I love you,” that we may not do every other day of the year. 

That’s what Lent is to our love for God, for our spiritual brothers and sisters and for lost people.  Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter (not counting Sundays which are considered mini-celebrations of the resurrection) is a time when we focus on doing things the build our love for God and prepare our hearts for a whole year of loving God and people.  Taking extra time and effort to serve secretly, pray more regularly, share Jesus more boldly, listen to God in silence more frequently—all these things and many more will build our “love life” with God and towards people.

So don’t miss out on this Sunday.  It’s going to be a once-in-a-year look back AND look forward in terms of how our “love life” has been with God, with each other as a church and with our community God has called us to love.  Trust me, you are going to be blessed, surprised, amazed and apoplectic (well, maybe not that that last one).  God has done great things…and His plans for us this year are good indeed. 

Enjoying our love life,

Pastor John