Beloveds,
I pray this first week in Lent has been good to you. Have you had any revelations about “looking for the resister” or indulged yourself in a game of Scrabble®? As we approach the Second Sunday in Lent, we continue our journey of “Lookin’ for Love in All the Wrong Places” by looking for the Helper. Marcia McFee of Worship Design Studio offers this reflection:
“Oftentimes we believe that we must ‘deserve’ the love we receive. We work, work, work to get approval and to feel like our life is justified – pulling our own weight, thinking that whatever life we create and love we get is only what we ourselves can conjure up. But the scriptures today offer the image of God as our ‘keeper’ – always helping, always present. Nicodemus has followed all the rules and done everything HE can do, and yet he is still looking for love – for tangible connection with God. Jesus says that he must be born ‘of the Spirit.’ It’s not all up to simply ‘doing the right thing!’ It is about allowing the Spirit to help birth love in our lives.”
This week we will look at Psalm 121 and John 3:1-17 (Jesus teaches Nicodemus). It will be an opportunity for us to examine those voices within that question our worthiness for love. What do we need to let go of and release to God, trusting in that unconditional love?
Speaking of Psalm 121, I invite you to hear this beautifully moving Brooklyn Tabernacle piece My Help Cometh from the Lord, which has been added to the Island United YouTube Channel Lenten playlist.
I look forward to seeing you on 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream at 10 am Sunday. Keep each other in your hearts.
Share the love,
Rev. Michael