Welcome to another week!
We have a lot of upcoming events in the Atlantic community this month.
Stop by Kennard United Methodist Church at 8 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, for a hot breakfast.
Fallowfield United Methodist Church will make and sell chicken pies on Saturday, February 8, and Saturday, February 22. This annual United Methodist Women fundraiser benefits missions.
February 9, is Boy Scout Sunday. Boy Scouts of America annually celebrates its founding on February 8, 1910. The Scout Sunday tradition began as a method of informing Christians about Scouting, and to help Scouts live out their "Duty to God," which they pledge each week.
The Scout Law says that a "Scout is Reverent" and Scouts of all ages promise to do their "Duty to God". The idea is to promote young men of honor and good character in the family and community.
We celebrate President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12. Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, on February 12, 1809.
Lincoln is best remembered as our 16th president, and also as the first American president to be assassinated. People also think of Lincoln as the man who freed southern slaves with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
According to popular history Lincoln’s Birthday was first celebrated as a holiday in 1866, one year after his death. Pennsylvania honors Presidents Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays on Presidents’ Day, which falls on Monday, February 17, this year.
February 14, is Valentine’s Day. So who was Valentine? He was a Roman Priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, who decreed marriage of young people illegal. He believed unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to their wives or families if they died.
Valentine secretly married young Christians because while polygamy was popular in those days, the Bible clearly prohibits marriage between more than one man and one woman.
Valentine was later imprisoned and executed for marrying young people.
According to legend, Valentine helped convert one of his Roman judges, Asterius, who had a blind daughter. Valentine prayed for her and God healed the girl. Asterius became Christian as a result.
In the year 269 AD, Valentine was executed because of his stand for Christian marriage. The tale says that Valentine’s last words were in a note to Asterius' daughter. He signed it, "From your Valentine." This partially explains why we show love to our valentines.
But the true meaning of Valentine’s life is a far cry from Hallmark cards, conversation hearts, and red roses. It’s about loving others by living out the rules of marriage that Christ laid out. Young Christian marriage is a blessed and holy institution. Valentine gave his life to preserve it.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!