“ . . . Jesus took . . . Peter and James, and John his brother . . . up a high mountain . . . And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (Matthew 17:1-2)
February is a month of transition in the church calendar. I wrote in January about how Epiphany is the season in which we celebrate that Jesus’ mission is to be the Savior of all people, including us. The season of Epiphany ends on Sunday, February 16th.
On Wednesday, February 26th @ 7:00 p.m. we will celebrate Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent; when our focus shifts from His mission to be the Savior of the whole world, to how He carries out His mission to be Savior of the whole world in His suffering and death on the cross and His resurrection.
In between Epiphany and Lent, on the weekend of February 20th / 23rd, is the Transfiguration of Jesus, when we celebrate His display of His divinity before the eyes of Peter, James, and John. Jesus is transfigured, and we celebrate it, so that all remember and believe, during this season of His suffering and death, that He remains true God. This transitions us from the season of Epiphany to the season of Lent.
During Lent, we add a special service theme and sermon in our Ash Wednesday (February 26th), Thursday Lenten Midweek, and Holy Week services, to help us reflect even more upon Jesus’ suffering and death. That special theme is, “The Eyes of Jesus”.
Every worship service, in every season of the church year reminds us of His great love for us in Jesus. We respond in thanks with our expressions of love using the time, talents, and resources He’s blessed us with.
In the month of January 2020, we had a number of brothers and a sister step forward to serve as Congregation Officers, keeping up the calendar boards, still another brother to assist with our desire to begin Junior High (5th – 8th grade) Youth Study on Sunday mornings, and a sister considering serving as a church officer.
These add to the already numerous people who have served and continue to serve God in our congregation in so many different ways. All glory be to God alone, who draws our hearts to service!
May your thankfulness to God for His love to you in Jesus, continue to draw your hearts in offering your time, talents, and resources to serve Him even more in all the time ahead—through Epiphany, Lent, and beyond!!!
Shalom in Jesus our Risen Messiah—Pastor Peter M. Peitsch