Winter 2026

Greetings Beloveds!
February's here! *what happened to January?!*  With Valentine's Day peeking around the corner on the 14th, I can't help but smile at all the hearts, chocolates, and maybe a few eye-rolls at the commercial overload. But let's be real: amid the pink and red frenzy, there's a beautiful, deeper story worth sharing—one that points us right back to God's incredible, never-gives-up-on-us love and God’s amazing grace.
Fun fact: Valentine's Day didn't start with candy grams or sappy cards. Way back in the 3rd century, there was this brave Christian guy named Valentine (or possibly a couple of them—history's a bit fuzzy on the details, but the “heart” of the story holds up). He was a priest who lived under a Roman emperor who thought single guys made better soldiers, so he banned marriages. Valentine? He said, "Nope, not on my watch," and secretly married couples anyway, because he believed in God's design for love and family. For that act of faithful rebellion and compassion, he ended up imprisoned and martyred around 270 AD. Legend says he even sent a note to his jailer's daughter (whom he'd befriended and maybe healed), signing it "From your Valentine." Talk about a guy who lived out love in action!
Isn't that just like our God? God  doesn't play by the world's rules when it comes to love. He went all in for us. As John 3:16 reminds us so simply and powerfully: "For God so loved the world (that’s all y’all) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Valentine's risky, sacrificial love echoes that ultimate Valentine from heaven—Jesus, who laid down His life for us while we were still a hot mess (Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us").
And here's the best part, y’all: we don't have to earn any of it. That's pure grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 hits me every time: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." God's love isn't a performance review or a box of chocolates you have to earn—it's a free, overflowing gift that says, "You're mine, warts and all." How freeing is that? Especially on a day when the world can make us feel like we need to measure up in romance or otherwise.
So this February, let's keep it light and joyful. Enjoy the sweets (I won't judge if you sneak an extra piece of chocolate, or ya know, share some with your Pastor), send a kind note to someone, hug your people a little tighter—but let's also remember the real Valentine spirit: bold, faithful love rooted in Christ's grace. Maybe even share a quiet "thank you" with God for loving us so ridiculously well.
Wishing you a month filled with God’s warmth and tender care.
God loves all y’all…and so do I.
Pr. Suzanne
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