Monthly Message | February

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” — Luke 2:10–11 (NRSVUE)

If you have attended a sporting event lately, you may notice that when there is a play that is being reviewed and the officials have to look at replays to see what the correct call is, usually the home arena or stadium will play the song, “Tell Me Something Good,” sung by the band Rufus. It is blared out with the hopes that the official will announce a call that favors the home team.

We are in the middle of winter. Current events bring news of divisions in our country that have caused violent deaths, conflicts continuing around the world, and just a general uneasiness about the state of affairs. Maybe you are dealing with challenging times at work or with your health. I am guessing there are plenty of days when you just want to say to a loved one or a friend, “Tell me something good. Please!”

Something good is always there for us to hear. It is the good news of Jesus Christ — the good news that Jesus was born, as the angel declared to some shepherds as we read from the Gospel of Luke; that Jesus showed and told the world the truth about God and God’s love for all; and that Jesus died on the cross and rose from dead, emphatically conquering sin and death for us.

“Tell Me Something Good” is the theme for this year’s midweek worship services during Lent. The services are at 7pm each Wednesday, starting February 25, on Zoom and Facebook Live. The series was created by A Sanctified Art. The creators of the series write that the Good News “should bring us back to our roots. Emulating Jesus and embodying his teachings should ground us in who God created us to be. Can we be ‘good news’ people in a world too often burdened by bad news?”

Being “good news” people doesn’t mean we ignore or brush aside the bad or troubles of the world that we see or experience. It means that we acknowledge them and bring help and comfort to people in need, and we know that there is something better, there is a better way. There is Jesus!

Prior to midweek worship each week, at 6pm on Zoom, I will have what I am calling a time for “Open Discussion and Discernment.” If there are pieces of scripture you have questions about or you are trying figure out what this life of following Jesus and having faith in Jesus really means today, bring them. I can’t promise I will have all the answers. In fact, it will likely be where I am wondering and trying to figure something out just as you are. Rather than me picking a Bible study or topic to go over, I want that time to be for you coming with what is on your heart and mind, and, with however many are there, we can discern together.

We are people of the Good News. “May the good news inspire us to take action in a world desperate to hear, see, and taste what is good.”

Pastor David