"Love that Shows Up"
February Church Newsletter 2026
🌿 A Pastoral Word for February
February always feels like a month caught between seasons. The holidays are long behind us, spring is still a distant promise, and the days can feel gray and unhurried. Yet it’s often in these quieter stretches that God does some of His most faithful work.
Winter teaches us something important: not all growth is visible. Some of God’s deepest shaping happens beneath the surface — in the roots, in the waiting, in the places where nothing seems to be moving. And maybe that’s why February matters. It invites us to slow down, to breathe, and to trust that God is at work even when life feels still.
As we gather for worship, for Church from the Steps, and for communion this month, my hope is that we will notice the quiet ways God is strengthening us. Not with fireworks or fanfare, but with the steady, sustaining grace that carries us through the middle places of life.
May this month be a reminder that God is present in every season — even the slow ones — and that His love continues to hold us, guide us, and prepare us for what comes next.
Pastor Stephen
❤️ Feature Article: Love That Shows Up
1 John 3:18 — “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
February often brings talk of love — cards, flowers, and all the familiar symbols that fill the month. But Scripture reminds us that real love is far more than sentiment. It is something lived, embodied, and practiced in the ordinary moments of our days.
John’s words call us to a love that shows up: a love that listens, a love that serves, a love that notices the needs around us and responds with compassion. It’s the kind of love Jesus modeled — steady, humble, and willing to step into the lives of others with grace.
In a month where the world celebrates love in its own way, we are invited to reflect on the deeper, quieter love God calls us to share. A love that doesn’t depend on perfect circumstances. A love that doesn’t wait for grand gestures. A love that moves through simple acts of kindness, encouragement, and presence.
May this February be a month where our faith becomes visible — not just in what we say, but in how we care for one another. And may our church continue to be a place where God’s love is not only spoken, but lived out in truth.
📅 February at Abbott Methodist Church
Sunday Worship Services
• February 1 – Worship with Pastor Robyn, bringing the message “Suppertime” and serving Holy Communion.
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• February 15 – Worship with Pastor Ron Oden, bringing the morning message.
Church From the Steps (CFTS)
• February 8
• February 22 *The bulletin is available on the website*
🎹 Ministry Spotlight: Our Faithful Pianists — Jan Oden & LeeAnn Ewing
Some ministries happen quietly, faithfully, and with a grace that becomes part of the very heartbeat of worship. This month, we honor Jan Oden and LeeAnn Ewing, whose shared piano ministry blesses our congregation week after week.
Alternating months, Jan and LeeAnn bring their own unique touch to the music of our services. Their ministry is more than playing hymns — it is prayerful preparation, early Sunday mornings, sensitivity to the Spirit, and a deep love for the church they serve.
We are grateful for their dedication, their musicianship, and the steady presence they bring to our worship life. Their gifts help lift our voices and draw our hearts closer to God.
🕯 Spiritual Formation Corner
Practicing Love in the Small Things
February invites us to reflect on what it means to love “with actions and in truth.” Spiritual formation grows through small, steady practices that shape our hearts over time. Consider choosing one practice this month:
• A Listening Practice: Sit quietly before God and ask, “Who needs encouragement today?”
• A Kindness Practice: Offer one unnoticed act of service each week.
• A Gratitude Practice: Write down one person each day you’re thankful for and pray for them.
• A Presence Practice: Give someone your full attention — a simple but powerful act of love.
As we practice love in these small ways, we open ourselves to God’s transforming work.
🙏 Prayer Concerns for February
Please remember the following in prayer:
• Brenda Girsh
• Joyce Reed
• Lennon Wilkerson
• Susan Collins
• Teresa Parker
• Mark Collins
• Larry & Miriam Phillips
• Colter Clements
• Ray & Mary Thomas
And also:
• Our church and its ministries
• Our military personnel
• Our first responders
• Our country
🌅 Closing Reflection
February may be a quiet month, but quiet does not mean empty. God often speaks most clearly in the still places — in the pauses, in the waiting, in the gentle rhythms of ordinary days. As we move through this month, may we look for God not only in the big moments, but in the small ones: a kind word, a shared prayer, a simple act of love.
May we become people who carry Christ’s love into the world in ways that are humble, steady, and real.
🙏 Pastoral Prayer
Gracious and loving God,
As we enter this month of February, we thank You for Your presence in every season of our lives. In the quiet days, in the gray days, in the days when we feel strong and the days when we feel weary — You remain faithful.
Teach us to love not only in words, but in actions that reflect Your heart. Open our eyes to the needs around us, and give us the courage to respond with compassion. Strengthen those who are hurting, comfort those who are anxious, and guide those who are seeking direction.
Bless our church, our ministries, our leaders, and every home represented in our fellowship. May Your peace rest upon us, Your Spirit lead us, and Your love shape us more and more into the likeness of Christ.
In His holy name we pray. Amen.
