FEBRUARY 2024 EDITION
THE WOODLANDS METHODIST CHURCH
ADULTS 55 OUTLOOK
+ MONTHLY
LENT BEGINS WITH LOVE
by Rev. Margarita McCarthy, Pastor of Caring and Prayer Ministry For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – John 3:16 (NKJV) February is the month of love. Americans will spend approximately $4 billion dollars on flowers, chocolates and cards in order to give love and receive love on Valentine’s Day. In 1944, Hallmark cards executive marketing director Ed Goodman jotted down these words on a 3x5 index card that became the successful slogan and ad campaign for the company to this day: “When you care enough to send the very best.” Love is the most powerful human emotion on the planet and the greatest gift to us as image bearers of our loving Creator. As we enter into the Lenten season beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14, that is exactly what God did out of His great love for you, me and the world. God sent us the best Valentine’s gift in Jesus — His only begotten Son. The greatest demonstration of love towards humanity is in the birth, life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this Lenten season as we journey with Christ to the cross, we remember the holy love of God poured out through Christ on the cross. We reflect on this holy love and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal to us how we might love God and others sacrificially. Most people will be thinking and praying about giving something up for Lent to spend more time in prayer and reflection with God. Still others will be adding something to their day to sit at Jesus’ feet. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, believed that fasting would be a regular part of the believer’s rhythm and a means of grace, so he wasn’t a proponent of adding fasting to the Lenten journey. Whether you give something up to use that time in fasting, prayer and reflection or you add something to your spiritual rhythm, I invite you to prayerfully consider how you might love God and love others sacrificially this Lenten season. Then, join us each Wednesday in Lent, beginning February 21 at noon in Robb Chapel, as we journey through the Gospel of Matthew in a time of contemplative prayer using Lectio Divina.
FASTING OR FEASTING by Rev. Chris McLain, Pastor of Caring and Adults 55+ Ministry I don’t know if you keep up much with your diet. Do you track calories, count points or exercise? It seems like every podcast that deals with fitness or “living a whole life” is highlighting fasting. The science, the benefits and the transformation that can happen are everywhere before us. Entering the season of Lent, I am drawn to the phrase from Luke 4:4, which takes from Deuteronomy 8:3: “Man does not live by bread alone.” For me, this Scripture highlights consumption. The sin of gluttony pops up all around us — from Little Debbie cakes to soft drinks, from constant busyness to extreme retail therapy. We seemingly can’t get enough of everything ... except Jesus. Sunday mornings, maybe a mid-week Bible study and nightly prayers seem to be good enough. The verse in Deuteronomy continues with “but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” If we committed our lives of consumption towards God’s Word and laid aside gluttony of everything else, it would not be a wasted life. Spend some time feasting on the Word this Lenten season. You’ll probably see better results than counting calories!