Sunday, February 22, 2026 | | |
An Open & Affirming Community of Faith
We Welcome All Beliefs!
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UPCOMING NEWS
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LGBTQ+ Hybrid Discussion Group (formerly Sage) meets every Friday at 1 PM. Check here for the church calendar for the link.
- We have updated our Amazon needs list. Please see below!
- Worship Team Meeting Thursday, March 5th, 7pm via Teams
- Next Board meeting is March 19th via Teams Meeting at 7pm
- Do not PARK on our side of the street (Grant & Maple) when there is over a 2" snow fall on Sunday morning. See Below.
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Support Holy Covenant MCC
with Your Generosity Today!
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Giving Needed Weekly (4 WEEKS) $350 -
The end of the month difference is -$825
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Our bills are listed for the month of February 2026. Your generosity helps us pay the bills. Any amount helps us meet our obligations.
If you would like to pay one of the bills,
please designate that in your donation.
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SEASON OF LENT - FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
BY REV. ELDER RICH HENDRICKS
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Reading 1: Genesis 2: 15-17
Reading 2: Matthew 4: 1-11
The stories in Genesis and Matthew are about so much more than just what happens in them, but about what happens afterwards, and what messages they still bring to us today.
Here’s my retelling of the tale of the fruit in the garden, where Eve is clearly the hero:
The LORD God put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden to responsibly farm it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded them both, "Eat up, but not the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil or you’ll die." The man: OK. Eve rolls her eyes, but keeps her mouth shut.
Later the crafty serpent says to the woman, "What did God say about not eating this fruit here?” Eve says to the serpent, "Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it. Here’s this tree that God put right in the middle of our garden and said don’t partake or you’ll die. My first question: What’s death? And Second, why put this tree here in the first place and then tell us all this crazy stuff?
And the serpent – or perhaps it was just Eve’s inner knowledge – said, "You won’t die, but your eyes will be opened; in fact, you’ll know good and evil, just like God does!”
So this smart woman eats, and being kind and not wanting Adam to be such a dolt, she gives some to him -- and Adam said OK, chomp chomp!
And the patriarchal morality police add that not only were their eyes opened but that their nakedness was somehow shameful.
Didn’t Eve resist God in pursuit of ethics? That’s what the knowledge of good and evil is. Shouldn’t we also resist someone else’s notions of who God is and what God wants when it flies in the face of our own lived experience?
And there’s no going back. In no possible reading of scripture was Jesus’ vision of God’s reign that we all become blissfully ignorant again of the knowledge of good and evil.
Instead, Jesus resisting temptation shows us how to properly navigate the knowledge of good and evil. The devil whispers in your ears, there’s a shortcut to making bread – just deliver these drugs for me and you’ll have all the bread you need. Jesus instructs that the right answer is that doing what’s right is more important than any amount of money we might be offered.
And the devil gets more bold and says, you are invincible! You can do whatever you want and not get hurt no matter how you treat others, because you are God’s special one and the rules don’t apply to you. Jesus instructs us not to be show-offs, not to try to test God’s favoritism towards us no matter who we are.
Finally, the devil whispers in our ears, look at all this worldly power and wealth, all yours… for the cost of your soul. And Jesus exhorts us to worship God, not money, not power; but to simply be in right relationship with a God who loves you for who you are and for who you are becoming.
When we follow the Way of Jesus, the devil leaves us. And God sends angels to come and look after you.
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LORRAINE HANSBERRY
Writer - Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry's Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by a Black woman to be performed on Broadway. The play about Black Americans living under racial segregation earned her a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, the first ever for a Black person. But Hansberry was more than an award-winning playwright. Her father had successfully challenged and won a famous lawsuit against the discriminatory practice of racial "red-lining" and she clearly inherited the activism gene. She wrote openly of the struggle for Black liberation as well as her own lesbianism alongside W.E.B. DuBois and editor Louis E. Burnham in the Black newspaper Freedom. Married and divorced earlier in life, she took on a string of female lovers in her later years and surrounded herself with queer friends. Sadly, Hansberry died of pancreatic cancer at the young age of 34.
You can read more about Lorraine here on Wikipedia.
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THRIVE WITH PRIDE/AGING CARE CONNECTIONS EVENTS
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VIRTUAL COMMUNITY
ROUND TABLES
FOR LGBTQ+ and ALLIED OLDER ADULTS RESIDING IN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, IL
What does thriving as you age mean to you? Share your needs, wants and ideas for affirming aging experiences, programs and services during one of these structured listening sessions. We hope you will join us and be a part of the changes you wish to see in your community!
Wednesday, February 25 from 6-7pm on Zoom – Session 1
Friday, February 27 from 11am-12pm on Zoom – Session 2
Pre-registration is required. Participants may choose their preferred date/time. Click on the image to download the PDF.
| | PARENTING A SECOND TIME AROUND - WORKSHOP SERIES | | |
FREE 8-week series designed to provide support to grandparents and relatives who have stepped into a parenting role. This workshop will provide support, connection, tools, and resources. Topics and themes discussed include mental health, legal concerns, developmental stages, communication, parenting styles, living with teenagers, and more!
Where: Zoom
Time: 11 am - 1 pm
When: February 10 to March 31st on Tuesdays
Click on the image to download the flyer.
For more info or to register, please call Cynthia Ayala at 708-934-2229!
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Are you grieving the death of someone you cared about? Do you feel like you could use support and community with others who are grieving?
Join our friends at The HAP Foundation for their monthly virtual grief circles offered in English and Spanish. These groups, facilitated by HAP Community Health Workers (CHWs), utilize a peer support model for honoring and processing grief. This group is open to any adult who is grieving the death of any person.
Held on the third Tuesday - English third Wednesday - Spanish at 6-7:30 pm on Zoom
Questions? Email English -mburns@thehapfoundation.org
Spanish - Email mgomez@thehapfoundation.org
| |  | LGBT+ PROGRAM MONTHLY BOOK CLUB | |
Join the West Suburban LGBT+ Program for a new Monthly Book Club, moderated by Frank Serafino, lecturer at College of DuPage.
Click on the image to download the flyer.
February meeting:
Tuesday, March 17th
Time: 12:00 pm
In-Person or Zoom
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COOK COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE PRESENTS:
TRANSFERRING PROPERTY AFTER DEATH
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Join the Cook County Clerk's Office, Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton and the Clerk’s Office Staff for an informative discussion about Property After Death and how residents can avoid costly and time-consuming hurdles after their death or the death of a loved one. Representatives will also discuss the Clerk’s Property Fraud Alert System which allows homeowners to prevent fraud against their property.
This is an in-person event.
Location: Arlington Heights Public Library, 500 N Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights, IL
Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Time: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
To register for the event please provide us with your name and email.
For more information contact our Outreach Division at (312) 603-2866 or clerk.outreach@cookcountyil.gov.
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MEDICARE & TRANSGENDER OLDER ADULTS: WHAT ADVOCATES NEED TO KNOW: SAGE AND JUSTICE IN AGING
Transgender older adults are navigating health systems that can be complex. This resource explains what to expect from Medicare coverage.
Click here to download the fact sheet in PDF.
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POTLUCK FEBRUARY 22nd
"SOUL FOOD"
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Soul food is the traditional cuisine of African Americans, originating from the dishes made by enslaved people in the American South using available resources, evolving into a celebrated part of Black culture, known for its rich, flavorful, and hearty dishes like fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread, often featuring pork and cornmeal. It's a flavorful legacy of ingenuity and survival, distinct from general Southern food by its deep connection to Black heritage, with the term gaining prominence during the Black Power movement of the 1960.
We celebrate Black History Month by sharing the food that is the traditional cuisine of African Americans.
Key Characteristics & Origins
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Slavery Roots: Developed from ingredients enslaved Africans were given (like "leftover" pork cuts, cornmeal) and adapted with West African and Indigenous ingredients.
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Cultural Identity: Became a symbol of pride and identity, celebrated during the Black Power movement when the word "soul" was used to describe Black culture.
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Ingredients: Staples include cornmeal (for cornbread, hush puppies), pork (chops, ham hocks, chitlins), beans, greens (collards, mustard, turnip), and sweet potatoes.
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Techniques: Features slow cooking, frying, and "smothering" (cooking in gravy) to create deep flavors from simple ingredients.
Typical Dishes
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Entrees: Fried Chicken, Smothered Pork Chops, Fried Fish, Chitterlings (Chitlins).
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Sides: Macaroni and Cheese, Collard Greens, Black-Eyed Peas, Candied Yams, Cornbread, Okra.
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Desserts: Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potato Pie, Banana Pudding, Pound Cake.
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Drinks: Often includes sweet, red-colored beverages.
Soul Food vs. Southern Food
- While soul food is a form of Southern cooking, not all Southern food is soul food; soul food specifically signifies the culinary traditions and heritage of African Americans, emphasizing flavor and resourcefulness from historical scarcity.
Are you looking for a more healthier soul food, well here is a link for some recipes. So put your soul into your cooking and bring some of that food to church to share with everyone else.
FEBRUARY SIGN UP HERE
| | BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES | | |
Attention all members of the Holy Covenant community! We've heard your voices loud and clear - birthdays and anniversaries deserve to be celebrated and recognized. That's why we're excited to announce that we will begin posting these special occasions in the upcoming weeks, using the records we have at hand. If you want your milestone to be included,
simply drop us an email at socialmedia@holycovenantmcc.org with your name, the details you want to share, and the important dates. Remember, years are optional for birthdays. Let's make every celebration count!
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HOLY COVENANT BOARD MEETING
MARCH 19th VIA TEAM MEETING
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The next Board meeting will be held on Thursday, March 19th, 7pm via Team Meeting. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact Roxann Victory for the link so you can listen and observe.
You can find all the 2026 Board agenda, minutes and financials on our website. They are also posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.
You can find a PDF of the past Board Meetings Agenda, Minutes and church financials here
| | WEEKLY SERVICE INFORMATION | | |
HYBRID - IN PERSON AND ON YOUTUBE
MARY BRAKE - CELEBRANT
10:00 AM CST
Lent 1 - "Power of God's Grace"
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Our worship celebration this Sunday is at 10:00 am CST. If you would like to join us, you may join us in person or go to our YouTube page and click to watch the service or previous services.
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Psalm 32:6-9, 12
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Matthew 4:1-11
Message "The Devil Made Me DO it...or Not"
Have a candle ready to light, a cookie or bread, and a glass of your favorite libation for communion if you are watching online.
You can also find previous services on our YouTube Channel here.
If you have any pastoral needs, please send an email to board.hcmcc@outlook.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Want to help with service: reading, offering prayer, usher etc. Click on this link and sign up for MARCH!
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Join us all month long for informative seminars, health programs, fitness, entertainment, and more!
Hello Neighbors! Below is our February 2026 schedule. Join us all month long for informative seminars, brain health programs, fitness, history, entertainment, and more online and in person! Just click here for the list of classes.
We encourage you to share our class schedule with friends, family, and neighbors, near & far, of any age – everyone is welcome to join us! All of our classes are free & no advance registration is required. We hope to see you soon on Zoom!
Thank you all for being a part of the Aging Well Neighborhood!
For questions about the programs listed, please email AWN@agingcareconnections.org.
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PANERA FUNDRAISER FOR
SHARE FOOD SHARE LOVE
We're excited to invite you to join us for a Panera Fundraiser in support of Share Food Share Love Food Pantry on March 4, 2026, from 4:00-8:00 PM at 439 North LaGrange Road, LaGrange Park, IL.
This is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with fellow volunteers, friends, and family while also supporting the important work of the pantry. Whether you dine in, take food to go, or place an online order, your participation helps make a meaningful difference in our community. Please share with your friends and family!
When ordering in person, please be sure to show a printed copy of the flyer or a picture of it on your phone so your purchase counts toward our fundraiser total. I encourage you to take a quick photo of the flyer now so it makes things easy when you arrive!
You may also order online or through the Panera app using the fundraiser code listed on the flyer.
| | SHARE FOOD, SHARE LOVE FOOD PANTRY | |
Hey there, amazing community! Let's get real for a sec food insecurity is a major deal right now, and its hitting families hard, especially with those recent SNAP cuts. But guess what? We're not just going to sit around and let this happen! We have an incredible opportunity to come together and make a real difference through our awesome partner, Share Food Share Love. This organization is like a superhero for those in need, and they need our help more than ever!
Can you believe that with just a buck, you can provide THREE meals to a family? That's right! Your small change can become a big game-changer for someone struggling to put food on the table. It's not just about giving; it's about creating a lifeline for our neighbors who are facing hunger every single day. So, lets rally together and support the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry because every little bit helps, and together, we can totally smash food insecurity!
You can drop off your non-perishable food items at super easy locations like the outside box at Tischler's or right here at the church. Let's show our community that were all in this together, hand in hand, heart to heart. Thank you for being a hero in someone's story. Your kindness matters, and we appreciate every single one of you! Let's do this!
They have also launched an Amazon Wish List which a link is below and their new Families First Wishlist that provides essential early needs for mothers and young children. Anything you order for them on the wish list is automatically shipped straight to the pantry. Check out the list and see if you can help out with any needs.
Check out the new video from Share Food Share Love here.
If you are in need of food, you can stop in on Tuesday evenings 7 pm to 9 pm and Saturday mornings 10 am to 12 pm to apply and gather up some food for you and your family. If this is your first time, please have some identification with you. Please try to bring your own reusable bags but if you forget, we will have bags for you.
Thank you!
| | WSSS (SAGE) CALENDAR, EVENTS & MENU | |
West Suburban Senior Services (previously known as West Suburban SAGE) a social support group for LGBTQ seniors, meets both via ZOOM here and in person on Fridays at 1 pm.
For questions about lunch or activities, please contact Senior Center Director Maggie Dodd at 708-234-1869 or maggie.dodd@cmsschicago.org.
You can click on the blue links below to bring up each of them to see what is going on. We hope to see you soon at 439 Bohland Ave in Bellwood!
West Suburban February Activity & Neighborhood Events - Meal Calendar
West Suburban Senior Services website click here
WSSS Facebook Page click here
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AMAZON HAS OUR LIST OF NEEDS!
UPDATED LIST! CLICK HERE TO SEE IT!
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We have updated our "needs" list online at Amazon. We ask that you look at our list of what items we are in need of and purchase something for the church.
This list is available to see here HC Need List and is updated as needed. You can order and pay for anything off this list and have it shipped directly to the church. We appreciate anything you can order for us!
We thank you for your continued support of Holy Covenant!
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MAYO CLINIC
IMPROVING CANCER OUTCOMES FOR
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES
Cancer experts know a lack of specialized care has contributed to poorer outcomes for people in the LGBTQ+ community. Mayo Clinic is working to change that. You can read more here.
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GRIEF GROUP FOR LGBTQ+
Center on Halsted is starting a new 10-week LGBTQ+ Grief Therapy Group. The group is for those 50+, is offered a no cost and will be held in-person at Center on Halsted starting in mid-January.
An intake is required for participation in the group. Please see additional info on the attached flyer and share with your networks. Click on the image to download the flyer.
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NEED POWER OF ATTORNEY OR WILL? | | | |
T-SHIRTS FOR
HOLY COVENANT
NOW AVAILABLE! ORDER NOW! Show your support of Holy Covenant by buying a t-shirt. Many sizes, shirt types and colors to choose from. These shirts will be used throughout the year when we attend Pride parades or fests and for our garage sales so we are known to our neighbors. A small portion of the proceeds goes to Holy Covenant. Any questions please see Roxann Victory or email her at roxann.victory@outlook.com.
Click here to order! https://www.bonfire.com/holy-covenant-mcc/
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We mourn and pray for all the families who have suffered personal losses from gun violence at our schools, churches, hospitals, public venues and other places.
Prayers for Connie to heal from her knee replacement surgery.1
Prayers for Cathy who is overwhelmed with her job.2
Prayers that we will find funding to buy out my brother for his part of the house.2
Prayers for Tony's back.2
Prayers for Mary who was in a serious car accident.2
Prayers for all who are ill.3
Prayers for all who are traveling.3
Prayers for continued healing for Andrews granddad from an inflammation of his heart and that they find the cause.3
Prayers that all that are unemployed or underemployed find gainful employment.
Prayers for those with harden hearts that feel the need to deface places of worship.
Prayers and strength for Ukraine, for those who are relocating, and to end the war and unnecessary deaths.
Prayers for all our first responders that they stay safe while helping others.
Prayers that God will provide for those who are hungry, unemployed, and homeless,
or in financial difficulties.
All those affected by HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, COVID-19, and other life-threatening illnesses.
All communities of faith.
| | LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION | | There is a universal help line 211 for Cook County. They can help residents with housing, food, health services and more. It is a 24 hour seven day a week operation and have trained professionals answer the phone and are able to help you | | |
Missed a sermon?
Click here to catch up and watch on the Holy Covenant YouTube channel!
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If you or someone you know is in an emergency call 911 for help.
Need someone to talk to? Call the suicide lifeline by dialing 988.
NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Health
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Dial 988
Other Useful Links
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Every day brings something new—
and God is with us always!
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9145 Grant Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
Phone: 708.387.1611
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