Beloved,
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As Christians, we are invited to experience time differently. The seasons of the church year call us to notice with intention the story of our faith and the times of anticipation, celebration, reflection, suffering and joy. In this second of our Pacific Mountain First Third Ministry Faith@Home magazine, we Embrace Love as we seek to reflect and heed the call of Love through the seasons of Lent, Holy Week and Easter.

Lent is the time to turn away from the things where we try to find life. only to realize that they can't give life. And, in being free from them, we turn instead toward God, the Abundant Source. In Lent we carve out time for silence and reflection. We fast, we seek practices in our faith communities and in our homes so that we might experience the reality of God through love.

Holy Week is a time we hear a story we do not want to hear, knowing it is there whether we listen or not. We all have experiences of brokenness and deep sadness; we see and know the suffering in our world. Holy Week is a time when our faith community and those who are close to us remind us: We are not alone – we are blessed, forgiven and held in the arms of Love.

Easter is a time for celebration and rejoicing, for Christ has risen indeed! All that God has made is made new! God’s love surpasses all possibility – Alleluia! Resurrection is not about a happy ending, or about returning to life as it was. Easter is about being in love with life in a new way.

We hope the stories, practices and activities in this magazine support your household in deepening your relationship with the Sacred, and engaging the story of our faith at home. May you Embrace Love this Lenten and Easter time.