Alka's Angle February 13, 2026

We hope that the good news will ground us and inspire us to take action in a world desperate to hear, see, and taste what is good.  Here is a bit more about the season:

• Ash Wednesday, Feb 18, we will have a joint service with Holy Covenant UMC @ 6pm at their facility, 925 W Diversey, 60614.
• On Lent 2, March 1 we will have the Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, Director of Connectional Ministries at Northern Illinois Conference as the guest preacher.
• Rev. Michael Weatherspoon, Assistant Chief of Faith Management, Office of the Mayor will be the preacher on March 15, Lent 4.
• For Lent 5, March 22, we will be joined by the Rev. Victor Melad Jr. District Superintendent, Lake North Dist., Northern Illinois Conference.
• On Palm Sunday March 29 Sam Stanes, who is a final year Master of Divinity Student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, will join us as the preacher.
• Maundy Thursday, April 2 we will have ‘A Service of Silence’ @ 7pm in our building.
• Good Friday, April 3, will be a joint ‘Tenebrae Service’ with Holy Covenant UMC @ 7pm at our facility.
• EASTER Sunday, April 5, will start with a SONrise @ 6 am by the Chevron sculpture near Diversey Harbor  followed by a regular service at 11am at church.

For the Lenten season we will transform our fence into a PRAYER FENCE. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, our church members and people of the community will be invited to write a prayer on a heart or fabric and tie it to the fence. In case you are wondering about the weeks not mentioned, Lee and I will preach on those Sundays.

Beloveds, I hope you will join us for all these services as we find and focus on the good news of Jesus Christ, and following that example, be helpful and compassionate towards people around us. May we continue to find joy amid challenges and do all we can to leave a better and peaceful world for our children and all future generations.