Dear Church Family,
We celebrated Presidents’ Day this week, especially honoring Washington and Lincoln, two presidents born in February.  You know my ongoing interest in Lincoln, and how I am always reading something about him.  I was intrigued by a recent article focusing on Lincoln’s earliest recorded speech, given before the Young Men’s Lyceum in Springfield, Ill.   Just twenty-eight years old, at the beginning of his political ambition, and speaking at a time when the nation was erupting into acts of violence related to divisions over slavery, Lincoln stressed the importance of remaining committed to the Constitution.  Reverence “for the law must become the political religion of the nation.”  
Lincoln was concerned that people would turn from the important project of the founding fathers to establish and maintain “civil and religious liberty” and would instead turn against each other.  He called for Americans to exercise “general intelligence, sound morality, and in particular a reverence for the constitution and laws.” That remained his lodestone his entire political career. 
Lincoln’s words are prescient in this time when we are so polarized and desperately need to unite on our core principles and find ways to work together. My hope is that churches can lead the way.  At the very least we need to be praying for our political leaders, as instructed by Scripture, that they may transcend narrow political self-interest and work for the common good. 
Worship for the 2nd Sunday in Lent will center on “Comfort and Crosses.”  The texts are Genesis 17:1-8 and Mark 8:31-38.  
We have been in Tennessee this week, enjoying time with our children and grandchildren.  We have had fun adventures with each of the three girls. We start back on Friday.  
See  you in church.
Rich