Greetings dear church and friends of the church!

Rev. Beverly Tye came through her surgery with a good report from the surgeon. We pray now for continued and quick healing for Beverly. We also pray for adequate pain control. She faces many months of rehabilitative therapy and I know she will be strengthened by your love and support. It was great to see the Maxwells this past Sunday. And it was great to celebrate Keith’s birthday! We have a real live WWII veteran in our midst folks. Dan Kessler took Keith out to the Joint Naval Reserve Base where Keith was honored with a cake and small celebration. The pictures are in this newsletter. I’ve never seen Keith smile so brightly. We love you, sir, and are grateful for your service.

Many of you will receive this newsletter on Wednesday, February 14, Ash Wednesday. This first day of Lent is a high holy day in much of the Christian faith tradition, Methodists included. As Max said on Sunday, we will come together to receive the mark of the cross on our forehead, indicating that we are the followers of Jesus Christ. The ashes represent our mortality. The entire exercise is intended to ask God for forgiveness and profess our devotion to God. While I will say the words, “you are forgiven,” I am only the messenger. I am not worthy to forgive you, only our Lord is worthy. I am humbled to be involved in the process. This is one of the reasons I am drawn to Methodism, this focus on the tradition of Lent. These next forty days are ours to use as we can to further God’s kingdom and strengthen our relationship with the One who loves us most. Until tonight, Mary