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 THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 5TH FROM 9:00-4:30 AT THE CHURCH. 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.

LUCKY BUNCO, THURSDAY, MARCH 3RD AT 6:30 PM. All are welcome to wear green & seek done “luck of the ol’ Bunco” !

A LOOK INSIDE THE DESIRE TO COLLECT, as well as an opportunity to see unusual collections, will be featured at Lifetree Café on Tuesday at 6:00 pm in the café and on Thursday at 1:30 pm in the Pool House at Candlewood Estates.

The program, titled “The Things We Love…and Why We Collect Them,” features filmed interviews with several avid collectors. From board games to ties to road kill, the collectors will show their collections and explain their fascination with them.

Lifetree participants are encouraged to bring samples from their own collections. There will be time to show those samples to other participants.

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.

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.
VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER: The feedback from the Valentine’s Day dinner has been very positive and despite the snow, there was a good turn out and everyone had a good time.  Thank yous go to Bourbon Smoke BBQ (Jason and Christy Ishcomer) for providing a delicious meal and to Chris Filler and his band for the great music they played.  I also want to give a big thank you to Judy Lane for organizing the event.  Since we did have such a positive response we hope to make this an annual event.
NOISY CAN OFFERING: Thank you everyone that donated in the noisy can offering.  We collected $312 to send to Prince of Peace for their Illini Fighting Hunger program.

EMPTY TOMB MEGA WORK-A-THON (WWW.EMPTYTOMB.ORG) – 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.

ATTENDANCE for Sunday, February 21st was 84 and total offering was $5,822.00.

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!