WEDNESDAY EVENING LENTEN SERVICES CONTINUE. 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. Join us for a potluck supper at 5:45.

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: http://www.NewBeginningsLutheranChurch.com. For information contact Bobbie Schnitkey, 898-0358 or rjscpaill@hotmail.com.

HELPING OTHERS COPE WITH CANCER EXPLORED AT LIFETREE CAFÉ. Practical tips for helping loved ones cope with cancer will be discussed at Lifetree Café on Tuesday at 6:00 pm in the café and Thursday at 1:30 pm at Candlewood Estates. The program, titled “Loving Those with Cancer: How to Cope, Care, and Give Hope,” features filmed interviews with a cancer caregiver and a cancer patient who both share insights they’ve learned while dealing with the disease.

“We pray for everyone who comes through our doors,” says Frida Probasco, owner of a wig shop that often provides services to cancer patients. “We don’t just put wigs on their heads and send them on their way. We actually listen to them, and we let them know we care for them.” During the episode, Lifetree participants will also be given an opportunity to share stories of how cancer has impacted their lives or the lives of those closest to them.

YOUTH 4TH GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL: Bible camp is happening this summer! There are great opportunities to be with youth your age in a great Christian community! Camp CILCA, near Springfield, has fantastic plans for the summer! Plan on attending Bible camp this summer, you will have exciting experiences! We will have an informational meeting on Sunday, March 6th, after worship. If you cannot attend the meeting on March 6th, but are interested in Bible camp, contact Pastor Oman.

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 today so that reservations can be made. Plan to come, and bring friends!

OFFICE ASSISTANT: We are looking for an office manager at New Beginnings Lutheran Church. Primarily the position will be to run the office during the week, including bulletin preparation each week. A job description and application are available from Bobbie Schnitkey or Pastor Oman. Also, a job description is posted on the bulletin board. Interested members of New Beginnings should contact either Bobbie or Pastor Oman by March 1.

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 today 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, February 14th was 78 and total offering was $2,920.67.

THE MID-WEEK LENTEN OFFERINGS THIS YEAR WILL BE DESIGNATED FOR ST. ELIAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN CHICAGO, a North American Lutheran Church congregation, which ministers to people from the Middle East who speak Arabic. Because there are very few printed materials for worship in Arabic, the congregation needs a computer and projector so that the worship service, including music, can be projected. The cost is about $1,200. This is a great way we can help the people at St. Elias to worship the Lord!