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The Pastor's Corner
I'm composing this article on January 2, 2012, while the Rose Bowl parade is being staged; Penn State is playing a Bowl game; and we must get the agenda ready for the Consistory meeting this evening. Christmas and New Year are still fresh in my mind. Well, it is time to shift gers and begin to think and plan for Lent and Easter. Well, goodbye to the holidays!

February brings us the celebration of Valentine's Day as well as the beginning of Lent. Let's take a brief look at February as a month of LOVE! Valentine's Day is for lovers-does that include you? I enjoyed articles on the internet when I typed in to search "Valentine's Day." Consider doing this yourself.

There were at least three priests who were called Valentine. Over the years this has become a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines") . In the U.S. 190 million valentines are sent by mail eaach year. Half of these are sent to family members other than husband and wife, usually to children. Add to this the ones exchanged in schools and digital greetings and you have an extraordinary expression of love. Who are you going to express your love to on Valentine's Day? What would happen if we hand delivered 2000 valentines to families in our community? The wording might be, "Jesus loves me (and you) this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Please share in this LOVE any Sunday at Dubbs Memorial UCC at 10:15am. This is our Christian valentine to YOU!

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012. Our service of ashes will be at 7:30pm. This service is the beginning of our self-examination in preparation for the LOVE event of all times-Christ giving his life for us! This, my friends, is Christ's sacrifice sufficient for all people for all time. Our Savior has opened the door to meaningful life on earth and eternal life in heaven.

With Love ,
Pastor Carl