Calvary UMC will mark the beginning of the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday on March 5. Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter), a season that is traditionally seen as a time to prepare for Easter through repentance and devotion. On Ash Wednesday, we confront our own mortality and confess our sin before God within the community of faith. The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship, and the Imposition of Ashes can be a powerful way of participating in the call to repentance and reconciliation that characterizes the Lenten Season. Calvary will offer two ways to observe Ash Wednesday:
Drive Through Ash Wednesday, 7-9 a.m. Pastor Vince Rohn will be available in the Calvary UMC parking lot to offer the imposition of ashes for anyone who would like to stop by in the morning. This will be available for anyone in the community who would like to stop in.
Ash Wednesday Worship, 6:30 p.m. Calvary will offer a traditional time of worship with hymns and the imposition of ashes. We invite you to join us for this special time of worship recognizing the beginning of one of our holiest seasons.

During the season of Lent this year, Calvary UMC will be joining in an All Church Study of the book "The Walk" by author and pastor Adam Hamilton. This book, and its connecting study, asks us to consider some of the spiritual practices that we can include in our lives to help us draw closer to God.
Our Sunday morning worship services will be focusing on "The Walk" from March 9-April 13. Small Group and Sunday School classes are offering a group study connected to this worship series. Alternatively, you can find or create a group to connect with during the season of Lent. Reach out to staff if you need assistance connecting with a group.
Starting February 23, copies of the book will be available for sale in the atrium on Sunday mornings for $12. Everyone is encouraged to pick up a copy and read a chapter a week through Lent.

Share your lucky charm! Calvary is hosting a blood drive on Monday March 17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the gym. Donate in March and receive a $10 gift card. Sign up online or walk in.

Men’s Faith and Fellowship will begin a new 6-week study on February 26th entitled “The Message of Jesus” by Adam Hamilton. This study will help us know what he taught about God and God’s will for humanity. We are meant not only to embrace these words, but to seek to live them. This study is designed for Lent and will lead us up to Easter. We will take 3/26/25 off for Spring Break.
We meet at 6:30 am on Wednesday mornings in Room 111, and begin with refreshments and coffee, share joys and concerns, have a video study, and discussion among the group. There is plenty of room for any man that would like to seek to follow Christ more fully by engaging in this study together.
If you would like to participate, please contact Gil Dorsey or Jim Brown for us to make certain we have enough study books available.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will begin meeting Tuesday, February 11. We will be working on shawls as well as hats, scarves, and mittens of all sizes. Join us as we work and pray every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 9:30-11am in L7.  No experience is required. All materials are provided, including yarn, patterns, and needles/hooks. We also have shawls available to be given to individuals in need of warmth and comfort. For more information, contact Linda Ferrence.

Work Camp will be July 5-July 11 this year in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Registration is now open! Are you interested in attending Work Camp this summer but have some questions or want more information before you sign-up? Join us for an informational session on Sunday, February 23 from 10:05-10:30 in Room 113/115 (Preteen Room). Anyone currently in 8th-12th grade is welcome to attend as students. Adults are welcome to attend as leaders. Come find out more and be part of this great ministry team! Can't make it on that Sunday, but still have questions? Check out info on our Calvary website on the Senior High page or contact Lori Short or Pastor Vince Rohn with your questions.

Faith in Action is a community service that helps people 60 and older live independently. There are many flexible volunteer opportunities including medical transportation to doctors, physical therapy, etc., grocery shopping, friendly visiting, and special projects. See www.bnfia.org for more information.
This year we have a couple trips planned. New Orleans in May (already filled) and Montreal & Quebec & Canada's Capital City - Ottawa in September 27-October 4.
Faith in Action is also celebrating its 20 Anniversary in 2025. One of the events planned is 20 over 60 where nominees over 60 are making a difference in McLean County via their professional, volunteer, philanthropic or community activities. See nomination form on www.bnfia.org under News & Events. Or, contact Jan Kibler at (309) 824-3783.

We are excited to connect with our neighbors at Evergreen Village (1701 S Evergreen Ln in Normal) once again! Our next visit is taking place in the Evergreen dining room from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26. Plan on engaging in some fun activities, good conversation and sharing tasty snacks with them. All ages are welcome. Contact Erin Scott if you are interested or have any questions. 

We are in need of an additional assistant for Jr High Youth Group on Tuesday nights from 6-7:30 p.m. This person would help facilitate small group discussions and encourage our Preteens. We are also in need of some additional Sunday morning volunteers for KidVenture, specifically with our Preschoolers and Toddlers. If you are interested in serving in either of these ministries, please contact Lori Short at Lori.short@connectwithcalvary.org

Calvary United Methodist Church's Youth Group will now be meeting on Tuesday nights. Fifth through 8th grade Youth Group will happens from 6-7 p.m. Youth from Middle School and Hight School are invited for "hang-out time" until 7:30, and High School programming occurs from 7:45 to about 8:45 p.m. Come to the Gym entrance for all youth programming. If your youth has another commitment and needs to arrive late, that's absolutely fine. If your youth hasn't been attending, this is a great time to encourage them to come! 

Workcamp for students currently in 8th through 12th grade (and adults as leaders) will be July 5-July 11 this year in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Registration is now open! Check out the registration form for more information. Scholarships are available. More information about this experience can be found on Group Mission Trips website. We’ll have a more specific informational session as the week gets closer. Experience this transformational week, serving and growing closer to God and others.

Join us for season 3 of The Chosen Bible Study. Purchase your book on Amazon. We will be meeting in room 111 starting January 8 and meeting from 10 a.m. to noon for 8 weeks. Contact Sharyl Jennings for any questions.

Our Calvary family is committed to serving meals on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at Safe Harbor. This is a great way to serve your community with your friends and family. Preparing and serving doesn't take long and isn't difficult, but it is a great need you can help with. We have 22 spots open for 2025. When could you serve?
If you have never served or would like more information, please contact Tammy Carlson at 309-533-6663 to help you get started or connect you with a group. We do need more groups on our mailing list.

The Backpack Ministry provides food for students in the free and reduced lunch program at Parkside Elementary School. We pack bags of food for the students to take home on Fridays so that they have food over the weekend. The bulk of the food that we pack comes from Midwest Food Bank. We are looking for volunteers to help us on one Wednesday morning a month for an hour or two to help with the packing of the bags. No experience is required and we welcome all ages. We meet next on Wednesday February 19 at 10:45 a.m. in the lower level classrooms. Contact Brenda Leopard for any inquiries.

We will be building from October to April on the third Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. No experience necessary. Must be at least 16 years old. We are building the Faith House for Dionne Anding and her two grandsons. Contact Jon-Eric Fujmoto for more information. 

Greetings, all. We have once again heard that an email has gone out alleging to be from staff members of our church. If you receive an email claiming to be from Pastor Vince or any other staff member that is not from an official church email, it should be treated with great suspicion if not completely disregarded. Please be safe and vigilant to protect yourself from scammers.