Encourage Love in One Another

Even though it was Valentine"s Day night, there was a good turnout for the meeting of the church work area " the members knew the work they were in the process of accomplishing together was worth giving attention to, even on that special evening.

And our attendance was not taken for granted. At each place was a tiny Valentine's gift - a ribboned bag of conversation hearts and chocolate kisses. No one took credit for the gifts, but we were pretty sure it was the handiwork of our Chairperson. A nice gesture that said, "your presence is valued."

Downstairs, others were offering hospitality, shelter, and supper to our guests here for PADS. As simple as the accommodations are, the offering of them as a gift of love says, without words, "you matter to us. You matter to God."

We are walking through the Lenten Season, a season that leads us toward the events of Holy Week. We"ll be remembering and reflecting together on the Last Supper, the prayer in the Garden of Gesthemane, the walk to Golgotha, the crucifixion...and the astounding emptiness of the tomb on the third day.

One Gospel mentions a simple gift Jesus gave to each of his disciples on the evening of the Last Supper. He took out a basin, became their servant, and washed their tired, earth-caked feet. And then he made it clear what he was giving: "a new commandment I give to you. Love one another as I have loved you...if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."

It seems pretty clear that the disciples didn't grasp what that really meant that evening, but in the months and years that followed, as they shared together in the fellowship of those who were followers of the Resurrected Christ, they discovered that life was most abundant when they lived out that new commandment. The New Testament letters are filled with "one another" reminders for the Christians in their life together - reminders that are every bit as relevant and as life-giving today as they were in the first Century. "Accept one another, as Christ accepted you" (Romans 15:7); "Have equal concern for one another," (1 Cor. 12:25): "Encourage one another" (1 Thess. 4:18): "Spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24).

Our church-wide theme for March, April and May is "Encourage Love in One Another." Each day, and in each person-to-person encounter, we have an opportunity to see and care for one another as Christ does. What a gift we have in one another - and in sharing Christ"s love in our midst!