I Believe in the Power of Love

Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,

Epiphany blessings to you, beloved of God

In these challenging and uncertain times, I give you the following statements for encouragement, reflection, and then, action:

When Saint Teresa of Avila was asked what she did in prayer, she replied, I just allow myself to be loved. ―Anthony de Mello, SJ (HT: Grace Modla’s “Following the Path” Facebook Page)

Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest? He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22.36-40).

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, on the night he washed his disciples’ feet, he said I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13.34-35).

So, it seems to me that following Jesus encourages us to be LOVED and then requires us to LOVE.

Come to worship this Sixth Sunday after Epiphany and let yourself be loved by God so you may go out and love. Tom will lead us in our hymns and the Joyful Noise Adult Choir will sing the Anthem “On This Day.” I am preaching from Luke 8.18-35 — John the Baptizer asks Jesus, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?’ — and my sermon title is Go and Tell. In addition, we are now celebrating the Lord’s Supper twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Sundays and so we will come to Jesus’ table of grace and inclusion this Sunday to be strengthened for the journey of LOVE. 

Goodness is stronger than evil, LOVE is stronger than hate, truth is stronger than lies (from A Wee Worship Book).

Keep following Jesus. And keep believing in the power and strength of LOVE.

With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish