Reflection 

 

 Dear <<Name>>          
     Someone asked me some time ago why I preached so much about love. I told them that for me God’s love is the main thing. We have been given a special gift of the love of God. God didn’t just say God loved us but God proved it by sending Jesus. I also talk more about love than other things because of how our community had been turned away from faith.  We’ve been turned away at communion tables, from churches and other religious communities. Over and over these communities forget about Gods love. I think is important to share the love of God above all things because it is the love of God that can change us, bring us hope and eternal life.
 
I believe as people of faith we have a responsibility and a purpose to share the powerful gift of love. Scripture reminds us that without a purpose people perish.  Having a life purpose is important because it gives us direction.  As a church community, we have the best thing to offer others and that is of course is God and God’s love. The interesting thing about sharing Gods love is that many times churches like Valley Ministries and God have gotten a bad rap!
 
What we choose to do is critical because we may be the only hope and love of God people ever see. We have a tremendous opportunity to be the bringers of God’s love. You may not think of yourself as a person who has something to say, but you do! You may not think you have a message, but you do! The time is now for us in this moment to share the love of God.  You may just be the most important piece in the puzzle of life. Your, hope your faith, your kindness can be exactly what someone else may need to make it though.  I don’t think it matters how live out God love it only matters that you do. You have potential to speak your heart, tell your story and bring the hope to others.   
 
You can be the change you want to see because every person you reach has the potential to touch a thousand more.  You are an important part of a great story if you choose to act. What you say and do matters; let me encourage you to speak up, take a risk, and share the love of God with someone new, someone on the streets even!
 
There are other ways you can show up this week. Wednesday, you can come and volunteer at the church because we need your gifts to make sandwiches or a number of other things.  You can show up on Saturday at Sacramento Pride and March in the parade or serve for an hour in our booth. Or you can serve on Sunday by helping in our worship, setting up the altar, reading, ushering, or many other things. God’s love is all around and in you, will you share it? Will you be that love for others?
 
In All That is Holy -- Rev Terri

 Valley Ministries Purpose