February 22, 2026
Reverend Susan Phillips leading
First Sunday in Lent
| |
9:00 Sunday - Online in Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85677718426
One tap mobile +13126266799,,85677718426#
Or Call +1 312 626 6799 and use
Meeting ID: 856 7771 8426
10:45 Sunday - Sanctuary
Please join us for coffee fellowship in the commons following the sanctuary service.
5:30 Wednesday Worship - Chapel
Please join us for soup afterwards in the commons.
If for any reason the onsite services would need to be canceled,
we will post a notice on our website and Facebook.
| |
Annual Congregational Meeting this Sunday
Join us for the Annual Congregational Meeting this Sunday, February 22nd following the 10:45 service. We will be voting on the Pastoral Terms of Call.
A link to the annual report was sent out yesterday and hard copies will be available in the sanctuary on Sunday.
| |
The season of Lent is a journey.
We travel with Jesus and the disciples to Jerusalem, to the Last Supper, to the Garden of Gethsemane, to the cross, to the tomb. We journey together as a community of faith with prayers, with service, with worship, with song, with love, with justice, with confession, and with hope.
This Lenten season, you are invited to join the ancient tradition of walking a prayer path in our chapel. The labyrinth is an ancient prayer practice that leads us into the center and toward God, then back out into the world. Pastor Susan will lead a labyrinth meditation each Sunday during Lent following the sanctuary service. We will gather in the chapel close to noon. You can take your time praying, walking, listening for God's voice speaking to you. This Sunday, Feb. 22 will be our first gathering following the congregational meeting.
| |
Wednesdays During Lent – Food for Body, Mind, and Spirit
Join us on Wednesdays during Lent starting February 25th for beautiful music, worship, delicious soup, and study. Here’s what we have in store weekly:
- FREE Brown Bag Concerts in the sanctuary starting at 12:15. Enjoy the best $5 lunch in town!
- Wednesday Worship in the Chapel at 5:30.
- Soup at 6:00 in the Commons. Enjoy homemade soup and fellowship immediately following the worship service.
- Study at 6:30 in the Commons. Join us as we walk through the Lenten devotional titled: The Tomb is Empty but the Streets are Full: An Activist Lenten Devotional. This unique study reminds us that activism is spiritual discipline. Through weekly readings, scriptures, and an activist guide you will find ways to promote justice, peace, and love. This will be a hybrid event so you can also join us for the study on Zoom.
| |
Lenten Devotionals
This year the Christian Formation Committee is offering 3 distinct Lenten devotionals. You may choose one, two or all three devotions.
We are offering:
| |
-Tread Lightly for Lent: As people of faith, we seek to 'serve and preserve' God's world. However, some of our collective choices have led to a changing global climate. To turn this tide, we must commit to treading lightly on God's earth. This devotion comes in the form of a calendar with daily activities and reflections.
| |
-Discipleship in a Divided Age (from Presbyterian Outlook): In a world marked by division, uncertainty and competing narratives, Matthew’s Gospel speaks with striking relevance. Matthew’s first audience — a young, fragile community navigating conflict, identity and fear — sounds a lot like the church today. This Lenten devotional by Outlook editor Teri McDowell Ott invites readers to journey through Matthew’s Gospel to discover how Jesus leads us toward humility, courage, compassion and faithful discipleship amid the fractures of our age.
| |
-The Tomb is Empty but the Streets are Full (from Justice Unbound): An activist Lenten devotional. This unique devotional reminds us that activism is a spiritual discipline. Through weekly readings, scriptures, and an activist guide you will find ways to promote justice, peace, and love. The devotional is only available online and is downloadable. Follow the link below for information on how to download.
| |
Faith and Fellowship
Everyone is invited to Faith and Fellowship, Saturday, February 21, 10 am, at First Presbyterian Church in the Cook/Diller lounge. Hope to see you then.
| |
Concerts Begin This Wednesday
Our first concert will feature Kevin Aldrich, singer/songwriter.
Brown Bag Concerts will be Wednesdays, February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1 from 12:15 -12:45 p.m.
Brown Bag Concerts are free. Bring your own lunch or there will be brown bag lunches available for purchase.
Invite a friend!
| |
Meet Our Future Habitat Homeowner, March 8th
Our congregation is sponsoring a 2026 Habitat for Humanity summer build with future homeowner Ms. Felicia and her children. They will be at the Sunday, March 8th, church service where they will be introduced and then at coffee hour following morning worship. We have already purchased a lot selected by Ms. Felicia which is close to her employment and her kid's school. Besides purchasing the lot, sponsoring this build involves providing construction volunteers, providing food for build volunteers, raising funds for the build, and praying for the build. We will also coordinate the Kickoff Ceremony, which will be held at our church, and the Dedication Ceremony; which will be held at the newly finished home. Contact Don Ecklund for more information and to volunteer for this exciting adventure.
| |
One Great Hour of Sharing
The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering answers the call to do justice. Through this offering, we are responding to Christ's call to ministries of compassion for the world's most vulnerable. Together, we answer the prophet Micah's call to do justice by working to address hunger, disaster, oppression, climate change and mistreatment of immigration refugees. When we participate in One Great Hour of Sharing, we create possibility for people forced to flee their homes in search of safety. We support recovery efforts when disasters devastate communities. We empower partners to build sustainable futures. We walk along side our siblings to work for more just immigration laws and processes. Our gifts show people they are not alone. Christians they don't know see them and care enough to respond. So, please consider making a generous donation to this Presbyterian offering, which will be dedicated on Easter Sunday. Thanks!
| |
Greeters and Tour Guides Needed for Summer Sanctuary Tours
We are preparing for this years Summer Sanctuary Tours and are in need of greeters and tour guides. Summer tours will be held one day a week from 1:00 - 3:00, June through August. If you would like to give sanctuary tours or if you would just like to be a greeter when people arrive please contact Michelle.
| |
Devotion Credit
Please know that the excellent devotion to Sancti Spiritus posted in last week's newsletter was from Karen Broquet and not from Greg Krutsinger. However in March, look for a devotion from Greg Krutsinger.
| |
Donations for Cuba
Session has approved collection of funds to support the church in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. The situation in Cuba continues to spiral downward. Flights have been canceled in 9 Cuban airports. Fuel is being restricted to hospitals and ambulances. As of this week we aren't able to send groceries to Sancti Spiritus.
click here to give a donation
Please put Cuba in the memo.
| |
A Call to stand with the people of Cuba
Faithful solidarity in a time of crisis
by Presbyterian News Service
More than a dozen faith-based organizations, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Cuba Partners Network of the PC(USA), have signed a letter urging policymakers and leaders to take steps to reduce hardships for ordinary people in Cuba and to reduce barriers that prevent communities from accessing food, medicine and basic necessities. The letter, being delivered to the White House and Congress, also calls on faith groups to speak out about the suffering of the Cuban people.
Read more.
| | |
Communities of faith are being urged to speak out about the suffering of the Cuban people. (photo by Erin Dunigan)
| |
Heartland Housed Welcome Home Baskets
The Mission Committee and Faith and Fellowship want to thank everyone for the overwhelming success of the Welcome Home Basket for Heartland Housed initiative. Welcome Home Baskets are given to previously unhoused clients who are now being housed and in need of basic household items. From the generous donations you all gave, we successfully filled six baskets (one every other month) in 2025. The Mission Committee donates $100 to Heartland Housed for welcome baskets they put together on our off months. We are ready to collect items for a basket in March and need the following: knife set, cooking utensils, can opener, cleaning supplies, twin sheets, storage containers for food, and a dustpan and broom.
Because of space constraints, we do not have room to store things for future baskets and Heartland Housed only accepts complete basket donations. So please only donate what is requested. Don Ecklund will have a sheet in the Narthex after the worship service, where you can sign up for a March donation. We plan to continue to provide a basket every other month in 2026 and would like to collect the items listed above for the next basket by the end of February. Thank you again for your generous response to this project.
| |
Save one life at a time
IL Times article by Dr. Julia Rozier
“Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.” (Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a).
These words were among the scriptures quoted last Friday at an interfaith prayer vigil held at First Presbyterian Church by Faith Coalition for the Common Good (FCCG) – an emergency gathering in response to the state-sanctioned violence besetting major cities across our country.
READ MORE
| |
Micropantry
We are excited to announce that our micropantry has been restored, installed and is once again open for business!
Click here for a list of items that can be used to stock the pantry.
Thanks to everyone who makes this ministry happen.
Please note that our partners at Grace food pantry bring a number of items to our micropantry every Thursday. So, if you are trying to decide when you might want to bring something to add, we would recommend the beginning of the week.
| | |
Nursery
The nursery is now available for parents to use with their little ones. You are free to use the nursery on Sunday mornings and during church events. Child care is not provided at this time so you will need to stay with your child while there.
| |
Kids Activity Page
Click on this link for a fun activity page.
Share your work with us! We would love to see and display your creativity and talent. Send us your colored pictures (scan, email, regular mail) and we will share them on Sunday mornings and maybe also on our Facebook page.
| | |
We are here for you
Please know that our Pastor and Chaplain are here for you. You may contact them at:
| |
Hospital Notices
Please note that the hospitals no longer contact local churches to let them know when a member is admitted. We encourage members and friends of First Presbyterian to call the church office to let us know when you go to the hospital so Pastor Susan and Chaplain Tim can provide pastoral support if it blesses you. We do not share any information without permission.
| |
Coffee Fellowship
Thank you to all who have provided goodies and made coffee so that we can fellowship together after service.
We are always grateful for coffee fellowship hosts. If you would like to volunteer please sign up in the commons. If you are interested in hosting but don't want to do it by yourself please let Michelle know and we can find a partner for you.
| |
Shelter Meal Volunteers
Jesus says: "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in."
~Matthew 25:35
If it blesses you to help feed our neighbors, please join us on February 24th. You can assist with the preparation of the meals, serving, visiting or all of the above. If you are interested or have questions, please see Denise Bockmier-Sommers, Linda Johnson, Keith Dhom, or Frank Schultz.
| | |
Sandra Y.
Harvey S.
Steve W.
Lacey G.
Taneka T.
Paislee R.
William L.
Becky K.
| | |
All events are via Zoom unless otherwise specified.
February 22
Reverend Susan Phillips to lead Service 9:00 Zoom
Reverend Susan Phillips to lead Service 10:45 Sanctuary
Labyrinth Walks Chapel, following the congregational meeting
February 24
Joy of Movement 1:30 Commons
February 25
Brown Bag Concerts 12:15 Sanctuary
Wendesday Worship 5:30 Chapel
Soup Supper 6:00 Commons
Bible Study 6:30 Commons
February 26
Joy of Movement 1:30 Commons
March 1
Reverend Susan Phillips to lead Service 9:00 Zoom
Reverend Susan Phillips to lead Service 10:45 Sanctuary
Labyrinth Walks Chapel, following the congregational meeting
NOTE: Links to all events are attached to items on the church calendar.
If you click on the Zoom link in the calendar the invitation will open.
| | | Jan. 2026 | Zoom = 208 | Sanct. = 202 | Wed. = 54 | Total = 464 | | Jan. 2025 | Zoom = 146 | Sanct. = 165 | Wed. = 41 | Total = 352 | | Last Week | Zoom = 24 | Sanct. = 63 | Wed. = 53 | Total = 140 | | |
How to Join a Zoom Meeting
From your computer, cell phone or tablet:
Click the link provided.
To join a Zoom meeting via telephone:
Dial number given for the meeting. You will be prompted to enter the meeting ID provided followed by #.
| |
Different Ways to Give
Thank you to everyone that shares in the Joy of Generosity at First Presbyterian! There are several ways to support our ministries and many ministries to support. In order to ensure your gift is credited to the correct fund, please take a moment to include the following information when making a donation:
-
Writing a check – Add the fund name in the memo section (Capital Campaign, Peacemaking, Samaritan Ministry, etc.)
-
Online portal – Select “Other Donations” when entering the amount then enter the name of the fund in the Notes section
-
Text giving – Text “$10 CC” to 217-284-2546, this example is a $10 donation for the Capitol Campaign fund. Other commonly used text codes are: Pledge, SM (Samaritan Ministries), Donate (Non-pledge), Peace, Joy, OGHS, Pentecost and BB (Brown Bag)
| |
Church Contact Information
Our church numbers reach us even while we are working remotely.
Pastor Susan Phillips
RevSusan@LincolnsChurch.org
217.528.4311 X 1020
Chaplain Tim Haworth
Tim@LincolnsChurch.org
217.528.4311 X 1030
Bookkeeper, Tara Kaeding
Bookkeeper@LincolnsChurch.org
217.528.4311 X 1050
Administrative Assistant, Michelle Hastings
Michelle@LincolnsChurch.org
217.528.4311 X 4
| | |
321 South Seventh Street • Springfield, IL • 217.528.4311
www.LincolnsChurch.org
| | | | |
