This Week's Update

Greetings in Christ!

It’s the last week of the Epiphany season! That means Transfiguration Sunday is this week, with Ash Wednesday just nine days away. As we enter this holy time, remember that the call to penitence is not about self-loathing, but rather about appreciating the work of God to save us from the brokenness of this world, marred by our sin.

 

Weekly Notes

• Congregational Meeting to approve the annual report will be held February 15th at 12pm (or right after worship).
  
  
• If you’d like to dedicate the altar flowers, help with coffee hour, serve as a communion assistant or read scripture in worship, please schedule ahead of time. Email Matt at admin@clcradford.org, call the church office, or sign up just inside of the 2nd Street door.
  
  
• Our Ash Wednesday service will be Wednesday, February 18th, at 7pm. We will use the Holden Evening Prayer liturgy, recalling that Christ guides us forward toward the repentance and reconciliation of Lent.
  
  
• We’re collecting nail clippers, toothbrushes, bar soaps, combs, and lightweight bath towels (all new) for Lutheran World Relief Health Kits. Feel free to bring these items and leave them on the display table in the fellowship hall.
  
  

 

Devotional

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he reminds the church that God, “made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Light plays a significant theme in the development of our faith. God’s light shines in the darkness, and darkness cannot overcome it. Upon a mountain, God’s light makes Jesus radiate, pulsing with divine energy. As his followers, Christ gives us the commission to become “The Light of the World,” an identity close to his own heart.

 
In this imagery, light is about illumination. God’s light shining in our hearts illuminates to us Jesus’ identity as the God of Israel. God’s light shining in our hearts illuminates to us the roles we have to play as coworkers in God’s kingdom. In Jesus, we see God’s purpose of revelation, of revealing to all creation the good will of the Creator. A will of redemption. A will of reconciliation. A will of love. That is the light that shines in our hearts and helps us to see Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Andrew