NOTE FROM PASTOR JR FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021
Sunday will be the first day of Daylight Savings Time. Do not forget to set your clocks 1 hour forward on Saturday evening before going to bed. Sunday is also the Fourth Sunday IN Lent also known as “Laetare Sunday.” “Laetare” in Latin means “to rejoice”. This Sunday is intended to be a day of celebration within the austere period of Lent. The liturgical color is “Pink” or “Rose.”
The assigned texts this week provides us with ample reason to rejoice as it paints a beautiful picture of knowing God’s purpose and God’s unconditional love, without condemnation. Charles Shultz, creator of the Peanuts cartoon, often conveyed a message in his comic strips. In one strip he conveys through Charlie Brown the need we have to be loved (unconditionally) and through Lucy our inability to love one another (condemnation.) For example: Charlie Brown and Lucy are leaning over the fence speaking to one another.
(Charlie Brown) “All it would take to make me happy is to have someone say he likes me.” (Lucy) “Are you sure?” (Charlie Brown) “Of course I am sure!” (Lucy) “You mean you’d be happy if someone merely said he or she likes you? Do you mean to tell me that someone has it within his or her power to make you happy merely by doing such a simple thing?” (Charlie Brown) “Yes! That’s exactly what I mean!” (Lucy) “Well, I don’t think that’s asking too much. I really don’t.” [Now standing face to face, Lucy asks one more time] “But you’re sure now? All you want is to have someone say, ‘I like you, Charlie Brown,’ and then you’ll be happy?” (Charlie Brown) “And then I’ll be happy!” (Lucy turns and walks away saying) “I can’t do it!”
What Lucy cannot do, sinful as she is, God does. What Charlie Brown needs, lost and alone as he is, is unconditional love which God supplies without condemnation. The assigned text for Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday tells us that God created each of us to have purpose in life; and that God loves us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”
Set your clocks up by 1 hour and join us for worship at Covenant this Laetare (Pink) Sunday via Zoom or Facebook Live Stream at 11:30. My sermon will be “Unconditional Love Without Condemnation” based on Ephesians 2:1-10 and John 3:14-21.
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