As February approaches, many people turn their attention to love—expressing it, celebrating it, and sharing it. For us as Christians, it’s also a time to reflect on the immeasurable, unconditional love God has for us. This love is not fleeting or dependent on what we do or don’t do; it is a constant, abiding presence in our lives.
When David and I were teaching overseas, I often shared a song with my students called You Are Loved by the group Stars Go Dim. Its powerful lyrics remind us that God's love remains steadfast even in our most challenging moments. The song's chorus has these words:
If your heart's in a thousand pieces,
If you're lost and you're far from reason,
Just look up; know you are loved.
Just look up; know you are loved.
This February, as a church, we want to embrace this truth and share it with our community in a tangible way through our You Are Loved project. As part of this initiative, we're reaching out to 20 young families in our community to remind them that they are deeply loved by God and by the Union Church family. To accomplish this, we will be gifting insulated red tumblers to families that we know who are without a church home. These tumblers say, “You are loved,” along with a fingerprint heart—a reminder of God's unique and personal love for each of us. These tumblers will be filled with:
Bible verses to remind families that they are created in the Image of God and loved unconditionally by him.
Information about Union Christian Church, including details about our youth and children’s ministries.
Invitations to upcoming services and special events.
This outreach is not just about sharing a gift; it's about extending an invitation into a community where people can experience God's love firsthand.
Our youth and children will be active participants in this project. They'll help place the items in the tumblers and deliver them to families in the community.
We invite everyone in the congregation to join us in praying for these young families and for this outreach effort. Pray that God’s love will be evident in these simple gifts and that they will open the door for meaningful connections with families looking for a church home.
Together, let’s share the incredible truth, “You are loved.”
Jesus loves you, Union Family, and I do too!