February Newsletter

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

As we step into the heart of February, we find ourselves at a unique intersection of the calendar, reminiscent of a few short years ago in 2018. This year, as it did in 2018, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day share the same date, a rare alignment that invites us to reflect on the convergence of love and faith. How do we celebrate love while recognizing our own mortality?

On one hand, Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, a day where we express affection and care towards our loved ones. It's a time of joy, of cherishing relationships, and of highlighting the importance of love in our lives. On the other hand, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn season of introspection, meditation, prayer, fasting, and preparation for Easter. It's a time for deep spiritual reflection, where we are reminded of our mortality and our need for God's grace.

This dual observance offers a profound message. Love, in its truest form, often involves sacrifice and selflessness. Just as Valentine’s Day celebrates love, Ash Wednesday invites us to consider the ultimate act of love demonstrated by Christ. His journey to the cross, a path marked by sacrifice and unconditional love, begins on this day.

This year, as we consider this act of love and embark on our Lenten journey, we will not take the traditional path of dark gloomy days marked by fasting and repentance. Instead, we will consider the ways that our own imperfections mark us as human and that even in the midst of our failures, we are “Good Enough” to receive God’s grace and love.

In this newsletter, you’ll find various activities and gatherings planned for both these special occasions. Whether it’s the Youth Group Fundraiser Shrove/Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner or the special Ash Wednesday service planned for the night of Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday. We encourage everyone to participate and find meaningful ways to celebrate both love and faith.
As we navigate through this special day and this special month, let's remember that love, in all its forms, is a reflection of the divine. May this February be a month where our hearts are filled with love, guiding us through the Lenten season and beyond.

With love and blessings,
Rev. David M. Petty

On Valentine’s Day, when I was in elementary school back in the ’60s, we were given time at school to write Valentine's cards for our classmates. There was one rule: we were required to give a card to every classmate. To me, it seemed the right thing to do. I thought that it would be terrible for someone to see some classmates get more cards than others. The fact that the teacher required us to give each classmate a card illustrated that some students were more popular than others.

When I taught high school, there was no requirement to not show favoritism on Valentine’s Day, or any other day for that matter. There were cliques that restricted who was “in” and who was “out.” There were students who had boyfriends and girlfriends and some who didn’t. The bottom line is that for many, Valentine’s Day wasn’t a good day. Some of the students who felt rejected called February 14 “un-Valentine’s Day.” Feeling alone is not a good feeling.

When He lived on this earth, Jesus wasn’t the most popular person either The government rejected Him. Many of the religious leaders rejected Him. There were times when His own followers rejected Him. If you accept that Jesus was as human as He was divine, there must have been times when He was discouraged and lonely. What does scripture tell us that Jesus did when life was tough? He certainly would have remembered the comforting words from the prophet Isaiah, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). Isaiah’s words are for all people, including those who don’t receive Valentine’s Day cards.

With God as His example, Jesus encouraged, strengthened, and helped others just as God helped Him. As Christians we are called to do the same. But how can we be a blessing to others as Jesus is a blessing to us? I have a challenge for all of us this month.

*Call or visit someone who you have lost contact with. If the last time you spoke with this person didn’t end well, don’t let that prevent you from reaching out to them.

*Reach out to someone who you should have stayed in touch with but haven’t. Don’t be afraid to call this person because you didn’t stay in contact with them. They will likely be glad to hear from you.

*Smile and say “hi” to strangers as you shop or are in the waiting room at your doctor’s office. Even if they don’t respond, it doesn’t mean that they didn’t appreciate you noticing them.

Do these things as often as you can for the month of February and if you are willing, share your experiences with me and others. My hope is that throughout your life you will show people that they are loved, even when they don’t feel like they are. Strive to make everyday Valentine’s Day for as many people as you can.

Remember Jesus’ words about caring for others, “…Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.”

The core belief of Care and Share Food Bank is that no one should go hungry. Care and Share‘s mission is to provide food, partnering opportunities and education to fight hunger and food insecurity across 31 counties in southern Colorado.

Care and Share was founded by sister Dominique Pisciotta in 1972 as she saw many who struggled with hunger and decided to do something about it. Seven downtown churches supported her efforts.

Care and Share began by distributing food baskets that were put together in volunteers’ basements. It then grew into a dedicated two-car garage on South Wahsatch, evolving into the present day’s large, well-equipped centers in Colorado Springs and Pueblo that provide food to a network of 291 partners. Mobile markets and pantries for those with limited access to grocery stores are available.

Food is donated or received at low-cost from suppliers, community partners, and federal programs. One dollar provides five meals. Last year, 22,600,000 pounds of food were allocated to 256,740 people. Almost 10,000 children took nutritious food home to their families through children’s programs.

Last year St Paul’s generously donated $840 to this remarkable agency. May we prayerfully consider increasing our gifts this year? Since Care and Share is able to purchase food at a greatly reduced cost, financial donations are preferred. You may donate on the church website, use the QR code or write a check to St Paul’s with the memo February Mission: Care and Share .

“The King will reply, ‘I will tell you the truth. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 NIV

~Missions Committee

Each communion Sunday thereafter we will have a basket for those who feel called to give above and beyond their pledge. This "second-mile" giving will help fund the pastor's discretionary fund, which helps meet community needs as they arise, such as gas, lodging, clothing, etc. Feel free to bring your spare cash and change to help make a change in the lives of those in need.

Firstly, I would like to thank all who signed up in 2023 to help with the Fellowship clean up. There were 32 people who signed up last year to help out, many of them for more than one month. You are all so special, and I appreciate your willingness to help. There were several folks who would step in and help-out even though they were not signed up for that month. You are all true Quiet Disciples.

We are always looking for donations of coffee, cookies, fruit breads, pastries, cheese slices, fruit or other goodies for Fellowship Time. If you bring something in, please mark it for Fellowship and place it on the metal counter or in the refrigerator. REMEMBER, FELLOWSHIP FUNDS ONLY COME FROM WHAT IS PUT IN THE DONATION BASKETS ON SUNDAY MORNINGS!

I know Palm Sunday (March 24th) seems a long way off, but mark your calendar now for our Annual Palm Sunday Potluck. This will be a traditional potluck, so think about the main dish, side dish, salad, or dessert you want to bring. Plan on a recipe that will serve 10.

You may have noticed a number of homemade goodies on the Fellowship Tables in January. These are thanks to some foster girls here in the Springs. Several years ago, St. Paul’s United Methodist Women started providing first one and now two Foster girl houses with Valentine’s, Easter baskets, Back to School supplies, Halloween treats, and Christmas stockings. Each month, the girls pick a “Give Back” project. This January, the girls selected St. Paul’s as a way to say thank you for what we have shared with them. So, enjoy those cookies, cake, brownies, and other goodies that have been prepared with full hearts by the girls.

“Let us hold unswervingly too the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
~Hebrews 10:23
His Promises Are Unshakable
Promises seem to have lost their value—probably because there’s often nothing to back them up.   Political candidates make promises, knowing that even if they win they won’t be able to hold to their word.  Companies make promises about their products and employees, but we still see product recalls and frequent layoffs.  Couples promise undying love to each other, and yet our divorce rate remains more than fifty percent.

Living in a culture that expects promises to be broken, we become jaded and even cynical when someone gives us their word.  They say they’ll be on time, but end up late.  They promise to deliver the terms of our agreement, but then make excuses for failing.  They offer a warranty for products and services, but find hidden loopholes to justify their broken promise.

All the more reason we must realize that God’s promises are bedrock—unmovable, unshakable, eternal.   Our hope has a foundation in the only One who has never broken a promise.  He is always faithful.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a time when some Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, reflection, moderation, and spiritual discipline.

The service is on February 14, 2024 at 6:00 pm. Join us as we begin our journey together during the season of Lent through song and words of hope, remembering God’s greatest gift to the world.

St. Paul’s members- we need your help. If you know of anyone in our St. Paul’s family who is homebound, in a nursing home, or unable to come to church for a while, please let me know their name and phone number. I will be happy to contact them and see if they would appreciate having communion brought to them. Lu Petersen, 597-2824.

2/11 @ 11:00 am – Adult Sunday School

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, the day before Lent, is Feb. 13th. Make plans to gather in Waddill Hall for our traditional pancake supper beginning at 5 pm. In addition to traditional pancakes and syrup, there will be gluten-free pancakes and sugar-free syrup options. Proceeds from the supper will help support the youth of St. Paul’s and Calvery United Methodist Churches. Don’t miss this opportunity to break bread (pancakes) together.

Lent -  Beginning Feb.18th  We live in a culture bent on defining a good life as continuous upward mobility–climbing ladders of prosperity with increasingly fabulous experiences that we can post to ever-more-likable social media accounts. We may comb the shelves of the self-help section in search of just the right formula to gain success. Perhaps we even gravitate towards spiritual leaders who promise great rewards if we only do “the right thing.” But life happens, right? We are often not moving upward but trying to repair the rung we've just slipped from. So, what if we stopped climbing and started fertilizing, watering, and blooming right where we find ourselves? We invite you to join us for a Lent of affirming a faith in which we are blessed, regardless, and where we can lean into embracing our “good enough” lives.