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Message from The King's Crown IN NOMINE JESU CHRISTI  This year of the Lord 2018 our Church Calendar gives us Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent, on Valentine’s Day, February 14. This conjunction of secular and religious calendars is merely coincident. Yet, it is a fortuitous pairing as the day of "hearts and flowers" in conjoined with the day of "sackcloth and ashes." For at the bottom of each holiday is the theme of unconditional love and care. In the case of Ash Wednesday, the unconditional love of Jesus Christ that leads Him to give His very life that we might be saved. Our theme for our Lenten midweek observances beginning Ash Wednesday, Valentine’s Day, this year is "Return to the Lord!" Each week we will focus on a facet of God’s grace and love in Christ that gives us faith and repentance into the forgiveness of sin. Each week the strong admonition and invitation, Return to the Lord! Return to the Lord who is gracious. "Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding is steadfast love and He relents over disaster." As we repent of pride and selfishness in the face of the worst disasters God is ready with His never failing love and mercy. Return to the Lord Who has redeemed you. "I have blotted our your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like a mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you." Bought back from sin, death and Satan, you may be assured of God’s welcome as you come to Him in faith. Return to the Lord, who will restore you. "If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them." In repentant faith you return to God, though it be a long, long time of separation. God makes you His own for His own purpose and, wonder of wonders, your loved ones will turn to Him also. Return to the Lord, who "Come, let us return to the Lord; will raise you up. for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up." The things of this life in this vale of tears are used by our loving Father to point us to the love of Christ and the healing that comes in His forgiveness and everlasting presence in Word and Sacrament. There’s so much more to learn of in Christ’s love and mercy. And you can’t learn it outside of Christ. Friend, don’t miss out on contemplating God’s love for you and entering into that love with your friends and family Wednesday evenings in Lent. Return to the Lord! The February edition of The King's Crown is now online - Read More TAGS: Pastor Loewe's Messages
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