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Welcome to Lent!

We began our Lent observation on February 22nd, Ash Wednesday. At that service we received ashes on our foreheads or hands and were reminded that we are dust and to dust we will return. It’s a heavy reminder for some that our lives are temporary, that the earth will receive us again, and that God is the only one who can know when our earthly lives may be at an end.

For some this reminder is a relief. For those who suffer, for those who are living in poverty, for those who live in fear for life or safety, Ash Wednesday can be a powerful reminder that to God we are all the same, that our lives will end and we will all return to the God who made us. The ashes are an egalitarian reminder that dust is dust.

However you think about being ash or dust then I invite you to a Lenten practice that centers our relationship with God and neighbors rather than a practice of temporary denial.

If you have a particular prejudice or fear of the “Other” that you struggle with, that causes you not to love your neighbor. I invite you to use this time to learn and pray on that prejudice. If there is a wall between you and other people then I invite you to find a way to open your heart to the lives of those you have been living in tension with.

If you have a habit or practice in your life that pulls your attention or time away from a relationship with God or neighbor then you are invited in this season to examine that part of your life. You may want to make a shift, you may want to re-center your time or your attention.

If you feel that your own relationship with God has been compromised by health, financial, or spiritual problems then I invite you to a season of forgiveness. Forgiveness for yourself for the ways you might think you have failed, forgiveness for those who may have not been the partners or friends you’d hoped for, and even forgiveness for God who may not have felt as present as you would hope.

Friends, God’s desire for our lives to be joyful, connected, life-affirming! In this season find a way to return to God’s love for you. Give up whatever separates you from love of God and neighbor, make this season the season of open-hearts and expanded understanding.

This is not easy work, this is why we call it the discipline of Lent, but God is with you all the way, and it is through God that we will emerge from this season with the sure and certain hope in the resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Peace be with you in this season,

Pastor Heather

Wittenberg Preschool News!

In the month of March, our Preschoolers will be learning about St. Patrick's Day, butterflies and plants. Our bible story is Noah's Ark.

We are collecting children's shoes for CameraKidz's shoes for El Salvador. A project our photographers at CameraKidz are passionate about.

We are also collecting can tabs for our sweet Merritt. Her goal is 2 million!! She already collected 1 million. Merritt is our miracle kiddo who has fought cancer since she was 2 years old. She is in remission and we all couldn't be happier!

Our next BIG event will be our Easter Egg Hunt and our Annual Spring Silent Auction!

Every month we have expenses and items that we need to replace or purchase. We have created an Amazon Wish List for those items and others we "wish" for. You may also purchase items in honor or in memory of a loved one. Just let Christy Cook know. Below is the link.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18tLq8rZ8GxWkb2VRf4Z2CPogWPPZexI0?usp=share_link

To Give Online: Go to www.wittenberglc.org, click GIVE tab, then click Give with Tithe.ly

Or click the button below!

Give Online

January total offering amount was $19,427.37 while our total expenses for the month were $ 23,706.08

Our Year-to-Date (fiscal year-began April 1) total offering $172,316.84 and total expenses $178,726.78.

General Fund offering totaled $19,427.67
Budgeted Expenses totaled 23,706.08 and exceeded income by $4,278.41
Maintenance Expense for January totaled $3,846.09 bringing a total for the fiscal year to date of $8,620.64

To the Columbarium Fund in memory of Vivian Stauffer by Pat Fisher.

To the Columbarium Fund in memory of Vivian Stauffer by John and Joy Fisher.

To the Columbarium Fund in memory of Don Swadley.

Thank you Notes:

Dear Wittenberg Family,

Thank you for the wonderful Valentine gift bag. I appreciate it very much. I enjoyed your visit and our time together getting to know each other better.

Love, Nancy Wright

See the Full Church Calendar HERE!

Monthly Helpers!

Our Church Administrator is looking for individuals to call monthly helpers and funeral volunteers. These phone calls will help out immensely!

Please let Christy Cook know if you would like to volunteer your time.

We hold in prayer...

Our Members: Bill and Kim Fraley, Ed and Faye Harper, John Fisher, Gene Miller, Nancy Hylick, Mildred Peeler, Casey and Karen

Grieving Families of: Lori Hammill Hartsell, Chase Fritz, Roy Pethel, Upright Family

Active Duty: J-Hylton Tucker, Dominic Minor, Noah Wiles, J. Michael Shuping, Adam McCombs, Daniel S. McDonald, Toler Alexander, Bitt Bryant, Jake Earnhardt, Bobby Wheeler

Deployed Military: Dorian Pine, Dakota Mace, Isaac Jones, Anthony Burton, Brandon Smith

We hold always in prayer the victims of gun violence, chronic and acute illness, mental health struggles, our partner agencies in mercy and assistance to our neighbors and all those who we lift to God’s care in our hearts or aloud.

March Birthdays and Celebrations!

03 Ronnie Loflin

03 Cecil Whitley

05 Pastor Heather Bachelder

09 Mildred Peeler

12 Addison Carman

13 Jordan Daniels

23 Jon Ketner

27 Phyllis Fisher

28 Regina Wilhelm