LENT 2025
Jesus of Lent: Outsider, Outcast, Outlaw
The Christian season of Lent is a five Sunday/five-week season of faithful self-reflection, discipline and commitment to spiritual practices like prayer, study, and service. This season’s focus is given to us from the gospel of Luke with stories of Jesus’ interaction with people on the margins who by religious law and tradition could be identified as outsiders, outcast and outlaws. Throughout his life, Jesus was labeled in much the same way especially as he made his way to Jerusalem and into his last days before his crucifixion.
Let us observe a Holy Lent: March 9-April 12.
LENT RECHARGE STUDY
In our adult Lenten ReCharge study, author Adam Hamilton will lead us through Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts and Outlaws. Pick up a book from the office. Sign up on the church app or here for one of three groups.
- Sundays, March 9-April 6 at 10:45am
- Mondays, March 10-April 7 at 11:30am
- Thursdays, March 13-April 10 at 7pm via Zoom
Journey to Easter
Welcome! We have a variety of events, programs, and services for all ages to take you through your Lent journey.
LENT & HOLY WEEK WORSHIP
Theme: Outsider, Outcast, Outlaw: Jesus of Lent
Wednesday, March 5 | Ash Wednesday Worship Services
• Noon | Service of Scriptures and Prayers
• 7pm | Service with Fox Valley UMC and guest preacher Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer
Sunday, March 23 | 9:30am | 3rd Sunday in Lent: Guest Preacher: Rev. Dwight Stewart |Rev. Dwight Stewart is a Retired Elder of the Northern IL Annual Conference. He has served in several city, suburban and small town settings. Rev. Stewart is a graduate of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Married to Rev. Barbara Good, also a retired Elder, Rev. Stewart is father to two adult sons.
Sunday, April 13 | 9:30am | Palm Sunday | Guest preacher Rev. Mike Ebersohl
Thursday, April 17 | 7pm | Maundy Thursday | Service of the Lord’s Last Supper, Baker Hall
Friday, April 18 | 7pm | Good Friday Service
Saturday, April 19 | Holy Saturday Prayer Vigil
Sunday, April 20 | 9:30 & 11am | Easter Sunday | Celebrative Worship with Music & Communion
CHURCH EVENTS
Wednesday, March 5 | 5:30-6;45pm | Faith, Food & Fun | An intergenerational event with dinner, faith, and an activity for all ages. Free will offering. The theme this month is Inside/Outside. The menu is soup, salad, bread and desserts. Sign up on the church app or here.
Sunday, March 16 | 10:30-11:15am | Sunday Funday | The theme this month is Fruit of the Spirit. Join us for faith and fruity fun for ages Pre-K thru 5th grade.
Wednesday, April 2 | 5:30-7pm | Faith, Food & Fun | An intergenerational event with dinner, faith, and an activity for all ages. Free will offering. Theme: Inside/Outside 2.
Good Friday, April 18 | 10:30am-Noon | Road to Easter | Easter family event & lunch for ages pre-K thru 5th. Look for more information and sign-up info to come soon.
We had lots of clergy in the house for our evening Ash Wednesday service. A special thank you to Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer (in the center) for being the guest preacher. The service was a gathering of Fox Valley United Methodist Churches—Batavia UMC, UMC of Geneva, Wesley UMC of Aurora and Baker Memorial UMC.
Ash Wednesday Guest Preacher: Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer
Born and raised in Chile, the Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer has held leadership positions in the church at local, regional, national and international levels, including as an elected Officer of the World Methodist Council and coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministries. She has served the Northern Illinois Conference in pastoral ministry in Elgin and Rockford. After serving as the Rockford District Superintendent, Bishop Dan Schwerin appointed her to be the Director of Connectional Ministries. In this role, she oversees and resources 25 committees, 2 camps, 5 campus ministries, and a variety of task forces, special groups, ethnic ministries and many more. Grandon-Mayer is passionate about developing leaders and coordinating events to strengthen the life and mission of the church.