From Pastor Rachel February 2017 Tidings Newsletter First Presbyterian Church of Towanda “Wuv...Twoo wuv…” In college, a popular movie we watched over and over was The Princess Bride. If you’ve seen it, you likely remember The Impressive Clergyman at the Prince’s wedding. In a high-pitched, nasally voice, he states, “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togedda tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam…. And wuv, twoo wuv, will fowow you foweva…. So tweasure your wuv.” February brings upon us one of my least-favorite “holidays,” St. Valentine’s Day. Yes, love is a great and beautiful thing, but often this holiday has been the occasion when I and other singles feel left-out and just plain odd, the fifth-wheel in a four-wheel world. Thankfully, the movie industry and the greeting card business don’t own all there is to say about love, true love. In fact, “wuv” in “mawage” is just a small part of how the Scriptures talk about God’s love… which is revealed most clearly and brilliantly in Christ… and now revealed and experienced in Christians as the loving Spirit dwells in us. Through the New Testament, love is spoken of as a defining trait of a believer and of Christ’s Church. It is one of the premier gifts of the Holy Spirit, one that blossoms in this life and fully blooms in eternal glory. Love is a feeling, but also a choice. Love is selfless devotion that abides when all else fails… and is most evident in actions, such as the perfect Son of God, hanging on a cross. I came across this reading from Our Daily Bread on January 4. It’s titled “A Multiplied Love” by Tim Gustafson. “When a woman in Karen’s church was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), things looked bad. This cruel disease affects nerves and muscles, eventu- ally leading to paralysis. The family’s insurance wouldn’t cover home care, and the stricken woman’s hus- band couldn’t bear the thought of putting her in a nursing home. “As a nurse, Karen had the expertise to help and began going to the woman’s home to care for her. But she soon realized she couldn’t take care of her own family while meeting the needs of her friend, so she started teaching others in the church to help.
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Transcript
From Pastor Rachel
February 2017
Tidings Newsletter
First
Presbyterian
Church of
Towanda
“Wuv...Twoo wuv…”
In college, a popular movie we watched over and over was The Princess Bride. If you’ve seen it,
you likely remember The Impressive Clergyman at the Prince’s wedding. In a high-pitched, nasally voice,
he states, “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togedda tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that
dweam wifin a dweam…. And wuv, twoo wuv, will fowow you foweva…. So tweasure your wuv.”
February brings upon us one of my least-favorite “holidays,” St. Valentine’s Day. Yes, love is a great
and beautiful thing, but often this holiday has been the occasion when I and other singles feel left-out and
just plain odd, the fifth-wheel in a four-wheel world.
Thankfully, the movie industry and the greeting card business don’t own all there is to say about love,
true love. In fact, “wuv” in “mawage” is just a small part of how the Scriptures talk about God’s love…
which is revealed most clearly and brilliantly in Christ… and now revealed and experienced in Christians as
the loving Spirit dwells in us. Through the New Testament, love is spoken of as a defining trait of a believer
and of Christ’s Church. It is one of the premier gifts of the Holy Spirit, one that blossoms in this life and
fully blooms in eternal glory. Love is a feeling, but also a choice. Love is selfless devotion that abides when
all else fails… and is most evident in actions, such as the perfect Son of God, hanging on a cross.
I came across this reading from Our Daily Bread on January 4. It’s titled “A Multiplied Love” by Tim
Gustafson.
“When a woman in Karen’s church was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also
known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), things looked bad. This cruel disease affects nerves and muscles, eventu-
ally leading to paralysis. The family’s insurance wouldn’t cover home care, and the stricken woman’s hus-
band couldn’t bear the thought of putting her in a nursing home.
“As a nurse, Karen had the expertise to help and began going to the woman’s home to care for her. But she
soon realized she couldn’t take care of her own family while meeting the needs of her friend, so she started
teaching others in the church to help.
(Cont’d. from front page)
As the disease ran its course over the next seven years, Karen trained thirty-one additional volunteers
who surrounded that family with love, prayer, and practical assistance.
“Ask God to show you how He wants you to use your gifts for His kingdom.
“’Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister,’ said John the disciple (1 John 4:21).
Karen gives us a shining example of that kind of love. She had the skills, compassion, and vision to rally a
church family around a hurting friend. Her love for one person in need became a multiplied love lived out by
many.
“How might God use your talents and abilities to serve others in need? Ask God to show you how He
wants you to use your gifts for His kingdom.”
This St. Valentine’s Day, maybe you’ll be like me and send a few cards. But let’s think about how to do
more than that. Romantic “wuv” in “mawage” is surely a God-given blessing. But the love of God shown
through Christ is even richer and deeper. How can you and I multiply His love, especially to care for the weak,
the lonely, and the hurting? In what specific ways can you and I show others that we treasure God’s love for
us? This February, may our love, true love in Jesus, abound more and more in feelings, words, and actions
(Phil. 1:9). And let’s celebrate the amazing love God has for each of us. “Surely Your goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6).
February 1 - Day of Prayer
1. That each person in our church family would be consistent in studying God’s Word and praying; that they
would grow in their walk with the Lord and in love for Him and others.
2. That each person in our church family would have courage in sharing Christ with others.
3. That the children of our church would be blessed to know the Lord personally, and grow to have a vibrant
faith in Jesus.
4. That our ministries to children and youth would grow and blossom, and their leaders would be blessed
with wisdom, energy, and patience.
5. That our outreach ministries would show the love of Christ in concrete ways that transform lives for His