February 2026 - Love Wins

This year we are in one of those calendar situations where Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday are just a few days apart. Just three days separate the secular celebration of love and the liturgical event that marks the beginning of the Lenten journey commemorating the ultimate expression of God’s love for us – Jesus’ death and resurrection. That calendar event as well as positive messages coming out of some of the protests in Minneapolis and messages from a certain football halftime show have brought the importance of love to the forefront of my mind.
 
It is in Jesus’ resurrection that God’s love conquers sin and death and offers us a transformation as children of God. That love is an unconditional love that sets us free from despair, reorders life, and ensures that nothing can separate us from God. It is a love that empowers us, transforms us into the likeness of Christ, and enables us to live out our God-given purpose.
 
With the events of the world I, like probably many of you, have been struggling with what that God-given purpose might be. What am I called to do? I am just one person. What difference can I make? I felt helpless. Then at our synod’s Together in Mission event I hit on a bible passage.
 
Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
God’s love is our strength against all hardships. Throughout my life I have used that strength when facing illness, the death of loved ones, and other trials. However, Paul is clearly saying that we are more than conquerors of ALL things through Christ’s love. Nothing separates us from that love. A love that compels us to share the gospel and live out that grace towards others in all we do.
 
On Saturday we will have the first meeting of what has been called our “Rapid Response Team”. This is a group of individuals who would like to be a part of a  team that is ready to respond when we learn of the needs of our neighbors. Some folks might engage by actually mobilizing food, finances, or other forms of support. Some folks may want to show up to a prayer vigil, or a protest (should that become necessary), but that is not the expectation of every member of the team. The expectation is that we will be a prayerful and love centered group who can respond appropriately to the needs of our neighbors when they arise.  Because of that I would propose that this group consider a new name. Perhaps something like the “Love in Action Team”. So that it services as a reminder to them and us that is through the love of God in Christ Jesus that LOVE WINS. 
 
Blessings, Tom