Dear Friends,

Many years ago, I heard a preacher say that God was "reckless in God's love." Throughout my life, I have witnessed to the recklessness with which God lavishes us with sacred love. I have seen many, myself included, transformed by this extravagance. With awe and wonder I consider how much God entrusts us with this love.

This Sunday, we hear again the portion from Jesus' sermon on the mount which we call "The Beatitudes." Jesus recites a very long list of recipients of sacred blessings. In fact, Jesus is pretty reckless in his blessings. In this passage from Matthew, it appears that Jesus is saying, "And you, you are blessed..and you too ...and by the way, you over there, you are blessed..." This is a powerful statement to both hear spoken to you and to consider when said to "the other" in our lives.

Jesus teaches us the Way of Reckless Love and Blessings. May we follow in this path, never counting the cost.

In the Way of Love,

Debbie

This Sunday

Parish Prayer List

Please keep the following in your prayers:

Jeremy Parker, Cindy Rhodes, Ron, James Phillips, David Stonehouse, Linda Layne, Daniel Brundige, Whitney Goodhue, Evan Wagner, Garrett Graves, Gerald Tucker, Allison Mascolo, Melissa Glassman, The Bishop-Tanquay Family, Max Joyce, Inga and Todd and Family, Mel, Melissa Glassman, Corey MacNeil, Helen Phillips, Zan Duffy, Dianne, Sarah Colvin Duffy, Michael Towey, Jenny, Loretta and Kris, Deb Papps, Derek Fuller and Family, the people of Palestine, Afghanistan, and Ukraine; the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem, the Salem Public Schools and for an end to racism, war, anti-Semitism, gun violence and oppression. If you have prayer requests, please email regathering@gracechurchsalem.org by Tuesday at noon for publication in that week's e-news. week's e-news. If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please email gcis1@verizon.net.

Knitting Group Tuesdays at 7:00 pm

Love to knit? Want to learn how? Looking for something to do during these dark winter evenings? Come to Grace Church and join others as we knit hats for our Hats OFF to Warm Heads project. We meet from 7:00 - 8:30 pm in the Common Room. We hope to see you there!

Craft Night with Kourtni

Come join Kourtni Patten as we learn to make a variety of crafts while just hanging out on a Friday Night. You are welcome to bring an appetizer and other refreshments while she leads us in creating expressions of faith and love. This event begins at 6:00 pm on Friday, February 10.



Upcoming Events

Candlemas Celebration February 5th:

On February 2, exactly 40 days after Christmas, we commemorate Mary’s adherence to the Mosaic law as she entered the Temple for the ritual purification, as explained in Leviticus 12:2-8. Also, forty days was the time when a firstborn was brought to the Temple to be dedicated to the Lord (Exodus 13:2-12). The Gospel reading for The Feast of the Presentation describes the scene: “And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” The story continues as Simeon holds the baby in his arms and says that Jesus will be a light for the Gentiles (Luke 2:22-32).

Some call the day Candlemas (Candle Mass), which comes from the activities associated with the feast. Often local churches hand out candles to be blessed. After an antiphon, during which the candles held by the people are lighted, there is a procession into the church. During the procession to the church, the Nunc Dimittis is sung, replicating the words that Simeon proclaimed.

We will also bless candles on the following Sunday for your use during the upcoming year and repeat the words of Simeon. Following the service, the family of the child being baptized invites us to a reception in Abbot Hall.

Sunday, 12 February: Young and the Restless