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Dear San Marco Church Family: Today is Valentine’s Day, and we are offering a fun evening event at the church. Come out and enjoy food, games, and fellowship from 6pm-8pm tonight. You don’t need to bring anything other than yourself and a spirit open to fun. As my wife Colleen mentioned last Sunday, because our last name is Hart, we have accumulated many heart-shaped objects over the years. I look forward to having fun showing off the many items that are made in the shape of a heart. In the midst of the chaos that is social and political life in the 21st century, I am convinced that having a good sense of humor is very, very important. Yes, we can all agree that our world is filled with things that make us anxious. Human history is replete with instances of oppression and pain and suffering. Yet just today, while I was in a hearing advocating for someone with a history of mental illness, we had an instance where my client made us all laugh with a good-natured joke aimed at her social worker. The social worker is a person who is able to laugh at himself freely, and he was able to join in the laughter, even if it was at his expense. The experience was helpful for all involved. Because we are all children of a loving God, we can laugh at ourselves in the midst of challenging times. My understanding of the life of Jesus is that he had many occasions of joy and laughter in his ministry. So I invite you to think about an instance that made you laugh. Relive the moment and laugh at yourself and this crazy world in which we live. The old cliché is true; laughter really is “the best medicine.” Thank you for taking the time to follow this blog, and please reach out to me anytime with ideas, questions, or just to chat. One of my favorite aspects of ministry is getting to know new people and to hear about your faith journeys. I remain honored to serve as your pastor, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday! Steve Hart
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