Dear CCOV Family,

It was so fun catching up with you all last Sunday during the well-attended potluck!  Again, I am reminded of what fabulous cooks we have at CCOV, and it was great to see Hayden Hall so full of friendly faces.  I want to give you a forecast of my sermon topics through the end of February as well as for the season of Lent.  The lectionary places us in the gospel of Matthew, and for the next few weeks I will continue preaching through significant portions of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  Last week I focused on the Beatitudes.  On Feb. 5 I will preach on being salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-20), Feb. 12 on choosing a good life (Matthew 5:21-27), and Feb. 19 on breaking the cycle (Matthew 5:38-48).  Feel free to read ahead! For the season of Lent, my theme will be the Miracles of Jesus, and I will unpack a miracle each week.  Jesus’ miracles were complex events that challenged attitudes and beliefs through healing, multiplication, and resurrection; but ultimately, they restored a person to community and liberated him or her for service in God’s kingdom.  Together our biblical literacy is really going to increase in the coming months!  Always remember that I am here for your pastoral needs—I’m just a phone call away and can be in the Valley in just a few hours.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Sandi