From the Desk of Pastor Savannah Goodman
Happy February! The month of love. In the musical, Fiddler on the Roof, there is a tender, surprising song sung by Tevye and Golde, a married couple who have shared twenty-five years of life together. In the song “Do You Love Me?”, Tevye asks Golde a question that seems almost absurd given their long marriage: “Do you love me?” Golde is initially confused. They were matched by a matchmaker. They raised five daughters, survived hardship, and worked side by side. Love, as a feeling, was never part of the original bargain – or so Golde thought.
As the song unfolds, Golde answers with a list of faithful actions: cooking meals, washing clothes, bearing children, standing beside Tevye through sickness and struggle. Finally, she concludes, “After twenty-five years… yes, I suppose I do.” They demonstrate how love can be shown through a long pattern of commitment, sacrifice, and presence.
This insight helps us understand Jesus’ command to love: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus commands a way of life – a love expressed through faithful obedience and concrete action.
Love, in this biblical sense, is covenantal. To love God is to order our lives around God’s will. To love our neighbor means showing up and bearing one another’s burdens. Love leads to action.
The song “Do You Love Me?” reminds us that real love grows over time through faithful practice. As followers of Jesus, we may not always feel loving. But when we choose to follow Christ through our actions, we discover that love is being formed in us. After years of loving God and our neighbors, we may look back and say, with humble surprise, “After all this time… yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
~ Pastor Savannah ~
February Mission Updates and Opportunities
Feed My Starving Children
Join us as we support Pines Presbyterian Church in this annual act of mission. Kids and adults of all ages hand-pack nutritious MannaPack® meals specifically designed to assist in reversing and preventing undernutrition. You can sign up for a 2-hour time slot on February 21st from 9:00am – 11:00am to go over with a group from SBPC. Please reach out to Patti Nanney to sign up with our group. You can also go to www.fmsc.org to register for a time to volunteer on your own at another time that day or on February 20th.
SBPC Hot Meals on Weekends
The 4th Saturday of each month we look for individuals to deliver meals to shut-ins. We have 2 routes, so we usually need a total of 2 pairs of volunteers each month. Please contact Lu Taylor if you are interested in volunteering to deliver meals.
Mission of Yahweh Supplies Drive
SBPC sponsored 288 reusable fabric bags for use in Mission of Yahweh’s annual Thanksgiving food distribution event.
March 29th Blood Drive
Save-the-date for our next blood drive. In preparation for the March event, it is important to take consistent iron supplements or enjoy a high iron diet. In addition, high water intake and physical activity 24-48 hours before donating, and a hearty breakfast on the day of can boost your success as a donor! We challenge you to be a first-time donor!
CUPS School Supply Drive
We are collecting basic school supplies this month. Please bring new supplies to the collection tub outside of the church office.