February 25, Second Sunday in Lent

Adult Sunday School

This week, we begin our four-week curriculum created by Faith In Place entitled Just Eating: Healthy Body, Community, Planet, & Spirit. In the spirit of the Lenten discipline of self-examination, this curriculum explores how our choices related to food have implications not only for our personal lives, but also for the lives of our neighbors and all of creation. We'll meet in the Hoffmeister Room, and these sessions will also be available to join by Zoom via the Grace Meeting Link (see the bottom of this email).

Lenten Devotionals

Lenten devotional books for all ages are available in the narthex. Look on the top of the cabinets in front of the sanctuary windows.

Readings and Psalm

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16: God blesses Abraham and Sarah

Psalm 22:23-31: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord. (Ps. 22:27)

Romans 4:13-25: The promise to those who share Abraham’s faith

Mark 8:31-38: The passion prediction

The second covenant in this year’s Lenten readings is the one made with Abraham and Sarah: God’s promise to make them the ancestors of many, with whom God will remain in everlasting covenant. Paul says this promise comes to all who share Abraham’s faith in the God who brings life into being where there was no life. We receive this baptismal promise of resurrection life in faith. Sarah and Abraham receive new names as a sign of the covenant, and we too get new identities in baptism, as we put on Christ.

Worship Support

Assisting Minister: Helen Repp

Reader: Emily Dorsey

Deacon: Lois Wilken

Ushers: Jim and Kathy Eckstein

Greeters: George and Ben Kieffer

Livestreamer: Dave Brown

For the upcoming Worship Support schedule, see the spreadsheet found here on Google Drive.

Stitch and Craft

Stitch and Craft will be meeting at 7 p.m. on February 23 in the narthex to make our projects. You may work on whatever project you want. We also make hats for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and baby blankets for babies born to our congregation. If you are having a baby, please tell the office when you know you are pregnant so we will have time to knit or crochet a blanket.

Grace Book Club Announcement

Ladder to the Light:

An Indigenous Elder’s Meditations on Hope and Courage

Our next Book Club selection for March is Ladder to the Light by Steven Charleston, who is a member of the Choctaw Nation and an Episcopal Priest. The book is filled with meditations building upon traditional imagery of Indigenous Americans to provide wisdom, blessing and hope for our world’s faith traditions, including Christianity.

We will be meeting to discuss this spiritual book on Friday morning, March 8, at 10 a.m. at the Fleming home.

For those who wish to read the book and attend the discussion there are books available for the reduced price of $10. Please contact Janet Lepp or Jo Fleming if you are interested in purchasing a book. Otherwise, they are available from your favorite bookseller or through Broadleaf Books.

Social Ministry Lenten Project

Flowers are often a symbol of love or gratitude. This Lenten season, the Social Ministry Committee is sponsoring a project that reflects God's infinite love to those in need. We will partner with LSSI to help children in their foster care and adoption programs. These children often arrive at the LSSI office hungry and in soiled clothing and diapers.

We would like to assist to feed and clothe these children at this critical time.

Due to limited space, we are asked to provide gift cards to Walmart, Target and fast food restaurants. LSSI will then use our gifts to meet the basic needs of children in their care.

Please look for the Social Ministry "flower pots" in the narthex to "plant" your donations.

Thank you.

Contact Tina Fehrenbacher with any questions.

ISU CHOIR Concert

Grace will be hosting the Illinois State University Concert Choir here on March 21. The choir, directed by Andy Bruhn, will present an hour concert of varied music. It should be an enjoyable evening!

February 25 to March 1

Sunday, February 25

9:30 a.m.: Worship Service (in-person/livestream)

11 a.m.: Adult Sunday School

12 p.m.: Women's AA (Hoffmeister Room)

Monday, February 26

10 a.m.: Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)

6:30 p.m.: Wood Carving Group (Kitchenette)

7 p.m.: Bell Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)

Tuesday, February 27

6 a.m.: Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)

Wednesday, February 28

6 p.m.: Lenten Soup Supper (Fellowship Hall)

7 p.m.: Lenten Midweek Service (Sanctuary)

7:30 p.m. (or after service concludes): Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)

Thursday, February 29

10 a.m.: Food Pantry (Fellowship Hall)

5:15 p.m.: Mutual Ministry meeting (Hoffmeister Room)

Sunday, March 3

9:30 a.m.: Worship Service (in-person/livestream)

11 a.m.: Adult Sunday School

12 p.m.: Women's AA (Hoffmeister Room)

Prayer Requests



We have two formal ways of praying for one another at Grace. One is in the Sunday morning worship service, where we pray for people by name in the Prayers of Intercession. They will also be listed in the emailed and printed versions of GraceNotes, but not in the web version. Please send prayer requests for the Sunday-morning prayers to office@glccu.org. You may also submit prayer requests on our website at https://glccu.org/prayer-requests/.

Using GLC Facilities



Our facilities are available for use by members and by outside groups. If you would like to use any part of the facility, please fill out a Facilities Use Request, found on the web site, and contact Alex in the office to ensure that it is on the calendar, so that the space is ready for you and that you are aware of how to adjust the appropriate thermostat.