ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT WILL BE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH.   This year’s theme will be the Lord’s Prayer, and we will have another round robin with area NALC pastors.   The Lenten services will be at 6:30 pm.  A light supper will be served at 5:45. For this Wednesday the supper will be a potluck.

LADIES, BE REFRESHED AT LAVENDER SPRINGS SPA RETREAT ON SATURDAY, MARCH 5TH FROM 9:00-4:30 AT THE CHURCH. Get away from the busyness of life as you relax with friends, share laughter and stories, and spend time with God. Lavender Springs Spa is a relaxing spa-themed retreat for women. It includes worship, Bible study, and time for laughter, as well as time for quiet reflection. We’ll be focusing on the book of Psalms and will be encouraged by God’s faithfulness and love. Registration forms are available in the Narthex and on the church website: www.NewBeginningsLutheranChurch.com.  For information contact Bobbie Schnitkey, 898-0358 or rjscpaill@hotmail.com.

WICCA, PAGANISM, AND WITCHCRAFT EXPLORED AT LIFETREE CAFÉ.

The beliefs and practices of Wiccans and pagans will be examined at Lifetree Café on Tuesday at 6:00 pm in the café and Thursday at 1:30 pm at Candlewood. The program—titled “The Witch Next Door: What’s the Appeal of Wicca and Paganism?”—features filmed interviews with self-identified pagans and a Wiccan who says she began exploring the religion as a teenager and still practices it today.

“I think what initially attracted me to Wicca was that it wasn’t the traditional patriarchal, standard American religion,” the woman says. “It was stepping outside of the box. There weren’t rules, and there wasn’t a man at the top.”

50+ VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER: Don’t feel like being part of the crowd at dinner on Valentine’s Day?  Then join with friends for a Valentine’s Day dinner on Sunday, Feb 14 at 4pm hosted by the New Beginnings Social Outreach Team.  We are serving smoked pork tenderloin, cheesy potatoes, green beans, salad, dessert and drinks catered by Bourbon Smoke BBQ, Jason Ishcomer.  Price is $10 per couple/$5 for single.  Advanced ticket sales only due to limited seating.

YOUTH:  The Mission District is hosting a bowling event at the Country Tyme Lanes in Rantoul on February 28th, at 1:00 p.m.  This will be a fun event!  If you would like to attend, please contact Pastor Oman by next Sunday so that reservations can be made.  Plan to come, and bring friends!

A MISSION TRIP IS A GREAT WAY TO SHARE THE BLESSINGS OF GOD WITH OTHERS.  All those who are interested in participating in a mission trip are asked to meet on Sunday, February 21, after worship.  If you cannot attend the meeting, please contact Pastor Oman for more information.  Plan to participate!

EMPTY TOMB MEGA WORK-A-THON (WWW.EMPTYTOMB.ORG) – Calling all Christians attending church.  You are needed!  This fun event combines serving families in Jesus’ name, providing boxes of food, and raising funds for Empty Tomb.  There are 3 times to help with Empty Tomb’s Work-a-Thon – March 3 from 5-8pm and March 5 from 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm.  They ask all volunteers to fill out the registration form (located on the table in the narthex) and to pick up donation sheets by volunteers to ask friends to make a monetary donation.  We have committed to collect 40 – 5 lb bags of corn meal (at Wal-Mart for $2.30 each) for the food boxes that will be put together and delivered at this year’s Work-a-Thon.  See the SOC board in the narthex for information regarding registration, volunteer opportunities and donation sheets.  We are looking for someone to coordinate and provide information to volunteers from our congregation, if you are able to take on this opportunity contact Cheryl Heinold or Pastor Oman. 

ILLINI FIGHTING HUNGER (WWW.ILLINIFIGHTINGHUNGER.ORG) – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in St Joe is asking for volunteers to help pack meals for Illini Fighting Hunger.  They have set a minimum goal of 50,000 meals so need financial and volunteer aid to package these meals.  IFH is a student organization at the U of I and a program with Wesley United Methodist Church to address and educate people about local and international hunger. The packaged meals are distributed to Illinois food banks. This event takes place on April 2 but the time has not been announced.  We will have a special “Noisy Can” offering on February 21 to financially assist Prince of Peace with this program.  If you are able to volunteer to help pack meals contact Pastor Oman.

ATTENDANCE for Sunday, January 31^th was 70 and total offering was $2,550.00.