For the third consecutive year, you’re invited to participate in a 2020 conference-wide Lenten video study. This year’s study will feature the cabinet members from both the Dakotas and Minnesota Conferences and focus on the book “Reckless Love: Jesus’ Call to Love Our Neighbor,” by Rev. Tom Berlin. Order the book
here.
In his exploration of Jesus’ teaching and travels with his disciples, Berlin—senior pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia—suggests that Jesus teaches us how to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength by showing us how to love our neighbor.
His book contends that maybe we have it a little backwards. As Christians, we strive to follow Jesus’ teaching to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength which, in turn, we hope will help us better love our family, friends, and leaders…our neighbors. But what if we turned that around and put the emphasis on loving our family, friends, leaders, and, yes, our neighbors? Might we then find that becoming a better neighbor leads us into the deep and loving relationship we’re striving to have with God? In “Reckless Love,” you will consider how to follow the Greatest Commandment and learn how your love for the people around you can completely renew your faith and give you a new experience of loving God.
Every Thursday, starting on February 27, 2020, one of the book’s six chapters will be highlighted in a video. The video series will begin with an Ash Wednesday message and end with an Easter message from Bishop Ough.
In the video below, Rev. Cindy Gregorson, director of connectional ministries for the Minnesota Conference, introduces the book and invites every Minnesota United Methodist to participate in the study.
2020 Lenten Study Introduction: 'Reckless Love' from Minnesota Annual Conference UMC on Vimeo.
Here’s a schedule of what you can expect and when each video will be released:
Ash Wednesday message (Feb. 20)—Bishop Ough
Week 1 (Feb. 27)—Begin with Love: Rev. Kermit Culver and Rev. Susan Nienaber
Week 2 (March 5)—Expand the Circle: Rev. Randy Cross and Rev. Fred Vanderwerf
Week 3 (March 12)—Lavish Love: Rev. Kermit Culver and Rev. Cynthia Williams
Week 4 (March 19)—Open-Hearted Love: Rev. Ben Ingebretson and Rev. Dan Johnson
Week 5 (March 26)—Value the Vulnerable: Rev. Cindy Gregorson and Rev. Roger Spahr
Week 6 (April 2)—Emulate Christ: Rev. Laurie Kantonen and Rev. Rebecca Trefz
Easter message (April 9)—Bishop Ough
