Warmth and Remembrances

Beloved:

      Winter rain outside but so cozy inside because my new furnace  is here.  Four men worked eight and a half hours to install it.  Mine is a sleek gray with navy blue trim, two water heaters and its own wi-fi router.  I can change the settings from my computer or my phone.  I keep going downstairs to stare at it and making up reasons to call my new best friend, the HVAC man.

      Who knew a person could have such tender feelings for her furnace?  Anyone without heat for three weeks in the winter, I expect.  Expressing my excitement to Jack, the HVAC man, he replied, “Oh, I know what you mean.  When I was a kid my mom didn’t have the money to fix our furnace so she bought propane a little at a time to keep a space heater running for us.”  I expect it will be a long time before I take a warm house for granted again. 

      In other news, my sister’s husband passed away Thursday after a long illness.  He’s to be remembered and buried tomorrow.  As I need to be with my family I will not be preaching an Ash Wednesday Service this year.  I’ve listed a couple of other local congregations also having evening services, so please do find another to attend.

      I look forward to worshipping and serving with you this week.

~ peace & prayers,
pastor annette

St. Thomas Lutheran Church ~ 3800 E. 3rd St.
7 PM:  Ash Wednesday Service
(A daytime service will be held at 12:00 Noon.)

Bethel AME ~ 302 N. Rogers St.
6 PM:  Ash Wednesday Bible Study
7:30 PM:  Imposition of Ashes

First United Methodist Church  ~ 219 E. 4th Street
7 PM:  A family-friendly service featuring Taizé music
           and Imposition of Ashes in the sanctuary