|  One can do great things, speak eloquently, understand many of life's mysteries, have all kinds of things and more, but without love...that one has nothing and gains nothing. It gets down to that. But where can one "get" this love? Can one muster it up from deep down inside, or find it on some kind of pilgrimage or retreat? No. As Pastor Shelly reminded us yesterday, the one place where one can "get" this kind of love that truly fills and renews is from the source of love, and being in relationship with that source of love, God himself. "In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice or our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another." (I John 5:10-11) And I'd like to add to that, not only "ought" we love one another, but as a loved people, we "get to" love one another. Thanks Pastor Shelly for choosing that Scripture reading from I Corinthians 13 from yesterday for us to think on and live out this week. So, as loved, and in turn able to love, people we live out our lives, with all its complexities and challenges, but with that center...love. Following is a list of all kinds of great things going on at and around Our Savior as the next weeks unfold. Please take a look through, because I'm sure there is something in there for you. (These are just highlights...please also check our website for more information and details.) In chronological order, here we go: This Wednesday, Feb. 6, supper at 6pm, Chicken and Dumplings. Also on Wednesday, Hand bell practice 5:30, Outreach Meeting 6:30, Youth Group 6:30 and choir practice 7pm. Thursday, 11am, Memorial Servicefor long time faithful member of Our Savior, Carl Hefferon. Sunday Feb. 10 at 4pm "Transfiguration/Transformations: A Festival of Poetry, Art and Hymns". This is another in our Fine Arts series along with the Advent Lessons and Carols back in December and our visit from the Russians early in January. Both of those events were wonderfully received, and this one coming up has all the makings of being another one of those that you just don't want to miss. The event lasts about an hour, and as the others, will I'm sure be inspiring and meaningful. Hope you can join us. Then already, Wednesday February 13 is Ash Wednesday. There will be a service at 11am and 7pm with the imposition of Ashes, as we enter the season of Lent. There will be no supper Wednesday evening, but beginning the following Wednesday there will be Lenten lunches following the 11am Lenten Morning Prayer services and Lenten suppers at 6pm preceding the 7pm Lenten Holden Evening Prayer services. The weekend of February 16-17 is our 3rd annual Seminary Weekend! This year, Rev. Dr. Dirk Lange, a much loved professor from Luther Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota will be our guest preacher and Sunday School class leader. Dr. Lange has lived in the Taize community, and brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into what it means to be a worshiping people in today's world. On Saturday February 23 our Women of the ELCA will be holding a rummage sale. Donations for the sale (no clothes) may be brought to the church beginning Monday February 18. On that same day, Saturday Feb. 23rd, a Senior Festwill be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palm City, just about 45 minutes south of us. This event is from 9am til 3pm. The Keynote speaker is Dr. Mary Manz Simon (daughter of the well known organist, Paul Manz). Included in the day will be many interesting workshops such as: "How to Write Your Life's Story", and "Laughter is Serious Business" and "Avoiding Sr. Scams" among others. There will also be a nice lunch provided and some great worship and fellowship with other Lutherans from around the east coast. We'd love to have a group attend. See Pastor Diehl for more info. Cost is $30 per person. Looking ahead, it's also Scholarship time around Our Savior! How to Apply for a Scholarship? Scholarship Applications are available online. Applicants must be active members of Our Savior and accepted at or enrolled in an accredited college, university, seminary, vocational or other educational institution. Further criteria and application forms can be found at: http://www.oursaviorelca.com/contact-us/forms/. Applications are due in the church office by April 1st. How to be a part of giving a Scholarship? Our congregation has the wonderful tradition of giving scholarship gifts to help our young people further their education. Anyone can help with this by giving a general gift or memorial gift to the Scholarship Fund and/or by buying an Easter lily (or poinsettia at Christmas time). And looking farther ahead, 2 more things: 1) First Communion Classes will be offered for any children not yet receiving communion. These classes will be held during the Sunday School hour March 3, 10 and 17 and are for both the children and parents. Call either pastor if you have any questions, but plan now to join us those Sundays. The child's "First Communion" will be on Palm Sunday. 2) A number of people have asked about becoming a member of Our Savior. In mid April we will have several informational gatherings for all interested. Watch for details as we get closer, or ask one of the pastors about these. As mentioned earlier on, these are only some of the highlights of what is going on at Our Savior. For more information about these and other events not listed, please check our website, www.oursaviorelca.com. Now, go into this week as a loved and loving people, into a world that very much needs both. See you in church! Pastor Jack Diehl + | 
