February 17, 2026
Ash Wednesday – Lent Begins
Lessons for Ash Wednesday Feb 18
• Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17
• Psalm 51: 1-17
• 2 Corinthians 5: 20b-6:10
• Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21
Lessons for Lent One, Feb. 22
• Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
• Psalm 32
• Romans 5: 12-19
• Matthew 4:1-11
Lent arrives this Wednesday with our Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm.
I remember the catholic kids coming to grade school with Ashes on their foreheads. I thought
it was strange at the time. I have come to appreciate the tradition and we offer it now at our
Ash Wednesday Service.
Lutherans came back to that tradition early in my ministry. I remember trying to turn the
palms of the previous Palm Sunday into ashes. I had let them dry a full year. But in the humid
Kansas City air they keep moist, making them hard to burn. I even use lighter fluid. The best I
got was gray flaky ashes that dripped down the faces of those who came forward.
For some this was their first experience of ashes and not a good one. The next year I bought
ashes from the Catholic supply house. I thought I needed a large quality, but the bag I bought
has lasted for all the years since then. Catholics knew what they were doing.
The ashes are made from palms of praise from the previous year. A sign that the celebrations
of life can quickly fade. What we cling to in life can crumble.
We saw last Sunday that Peter wanted to contain the marvelous moment on the Mount of
Transfiguration in three tents. It was not to be. They would go down the mountain and journey
toward the peril that awaited them in Jerusalem.
The more we study the universe the more we find that there is nothing in all of creation that is
static, including ourselves. We may desire to project strength and self-sufficiency. But there is
nowhere where we can stake our irrevocable claim. We are finite, fragile. We are prompted by
knees, backs, and obituaries to: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
The ashes mark us with the wisdom that we are not God and do not need to be.
The ashes in the sign of the cross confirm for us that God does not abandon us to dust. God
formed Adam from the dust and breathed in life (Genesis 2:7). Jesus as the second Adam will
“make all alive”. (2 Corinthians 15: 22).
Jesus walks down the mountain to the cross, trusting that death is not the final word. With
arms outstretched Christ takes our dust not discarding it but redeeming it. God meets us at
the foot of the cross reminding us that our mortality is held by him in redemption.
Life moves through cycles, which is why we have the seasons of the church year. The
Wednesdays in Lent this year will focus on the Message of Jesus with the book by Adam
Hamilton as the background. I would encourage you to purchase a copy. Jesus states in
Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
So, we want to study those words as we make our own way to the New Jerusalem. Our study
of creation confirms for us that not one atom, not one joule of energy is lost only transformed.
God transformed the bloodied body of Jesus into Resurrection and Life. Our hope is that for us
also, the tomb is empty. Life marches onward but always circles back to Love, which will have
the last Word.
PRAYER:
Merciful God, we live in a world marked by ashes. As we begin our Lenten journey, the ashes
we choose for our foreheads are ashes of the cross. Burn away all that is false, lead us to a
place where the broken is healed and where dust is animated with your breath.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor John Bunge
Reminders:
Ash Wednesday Service – February 18 @ 7pm.
Lenten Souper Bible Studies Wednesdays @ 5:00 pm. February 25 – March 25. Several
have already signed up to bring soup; add your name to the list in the narthex.
Note if you are bringing soup, you are the Host for the evening for set up & clean up.
(Others in attendance also can assist).
Pastor Bunge is in the office Mondays and Tuesdays.
Offerings Thanks for all your support, if you need offering envelopes they are available in
the narthex.
Elisha’s Yucaipa Choir Elisha Mkanza made an appeal for support for his High School
Choir’s trip to the Southern California area competition. Wow what a response, WE MADE
IT. Faith will be recognized as a Platinum sponsor in their program.
Ash Wednesday service will be streamed. The sound for the streaming is much
improved and does include Closed Captioning.
Thanks:
Kyle for working on the drainage by the sacristy door and working on the walls of the
sacristy. He also added metal strips by the oven in the Fireside room.
Lou repaired wood vents by the front of the sanctuary and fixed the toilet in the women’s
bathroom and the doorknob in the preschool. You guys are Great.
Connie will be doing the touch-up painting in our updated kitchen.
Pantry – We were blessed with two vans loads of cereal unpacked by Joe and Carol. We
are good with cereal for now. We had lots of food to share with the community last week.
Again if you have extra sweaters, coats or sweatpants, we could use them. The next
pantry date is February 28. If you know of someone with needs between now and then give
Carol Jensen a call. We are glad to help but do need to track who we are helping with the
pantry.
QUILTING – Over 250 prayer quilts have been made and blessed. 4 quilts so far this year
for Lutheran World Relief. 4 for our San Bernardino Wellness Center have been
completed.
Thanks to all who continue to give shoes for Soles 4 Souls. The box was full
and so was taken for its good use. The box is still in the Narthex for
continued donations. Thanks to David Strack for coordinating. Thanks to
Holly from Family Assistance Center in Yucaipa for making donations as well.
PRAISE
• It was fantastic to see Jan Wheeler was back in church with us.
• Bob Jensen was back as well. Together with his urologist, he is moving forward on
what procedure would best deal with the sist on his kidney.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
• Scott Hemre would appreciate prayers for his brother, Jim, who fell.
• Craig Baker and family as they mourn the death of his uncle Gayle Dean Baker.
• Maria Baker is facing back pain from a previous car accident.
• Heather Lewis’s mother Rosalind Lara’s recovery has been slow. She is still at
Arrowhead Springs Healthcare had a smile on her face on Monday.
• Bonnie Strack is still seeking relief from back pain and has not been able to be with us.
But things are finally moving forward on possible procedures. She also appreciates
prayers for her son Brendan Simms, who has suffered years from a series of strokes.
• Barbara Kuerzinger’s son Ian, who was fortunate to have his colon cancer discovered
early but is facing radiation and chemotherapy.
• Lauren Shaffer’s surgery has not happened yet. They are still working on the swelling
in her right leg.
• Jeanne Koening’s surgery was also postponed.
• Michael Shea has continuing health issues and would also appreciate prayers for his
and Ann’s son, Andrew.
• Eloise still has some double vision. Parkinsons is acting up.
• Bonnie Hallberg is finally moving forward with her shoulder surgery. They will leave the
clot for now.
• Nelson Hall continues to have health concerns including his heart function and
breathing but he and Karen were able to move to their new home, and he is doing
better in that situation. Celebrate the sale of their home.
• Kim Guevara appreciates your prayers for granddaughter, Kayla, who is now living
with her father, their son, Kyle.
• Continued prayers for Jacque Kottmeier who, due to her eyesight, is no longer able to
drive. Nice to have her neighbor Elaine Risso back with us in worship.
FELLOWSHIP/OUTREACH
SMALL PRAYER QUILTS – Thank you to Pastor John for
blessing the prayer quilts. Thanks to Barbara for the idea, and
Emily, Dana, Dona, Linda D, Connie B. for helping to make them.
.
They are available for you to pick up in the Narthex. Please help
yourself as we have made plenty. They are meant as an outreach
to all.
NOTE on MAILING THE PRAYER QUILTS – THEY REQUIRE $1.27. YOU CAN PURCHASE
A $1.27 STAMP AT THE POST OFFICE AND MARK THE ENVELOPE HAND CANCEL TO
AVOID DELAY.
(you can also put 2 first class stamps on the envelope or put any combination of
stamps you may have to total $1.27.)
PRAYER BLANKETS- to blanket and surround people in love and prayers.
Thanks to Karen’s idea, we will also be providing PRAYER BLANKETS to those who
are homebound and people who have received a challenging medical diagnosis.
Thanks to Karen for crocheting a beautiful variegated blue one. Thanks to Sharon &
Steve Cady for their willingness to provide an action team to help with this. Thanks to
Chris Ladd for donating a one made by her mother. Each will have a label sewn on them
from Faith.
We plan to have them blessed by Easter. We have started a list, please let Connie
know if you know someone that would like to receive them.
HANDMADE CARDS – We still mail about 37 BIRTHDAY CARDS AND ANNIVERSARY
CARDS AND CARDS TO THOSE ON THE PRAYER LIST monthly. And we will provide
CARDS IN THE NARTHEX for members to mail. We will include Monthly Seasonal cards and generic Thinking of You
cards (can be sent for Thank you or Get Well.)
Thank you to our watercolor color class that meets on
the 1st Sunday – Holly, Kim, Alec, Sharon, Barbara,
Pat T., Connie for their fabulous heart creations.
These cards will accompany prayer quilts to be mailed to the prayer list the week of the
16th. Thanks to Linda D. for her marvelous fabric creations.
WATERCOLOR CLASSES WILL BE ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH. WE’LL
PAINT CARDS FOR THE MONTH. NEXT CLASS ON MARCH 1
PRAYER/FRIENDSHIP ROCKS –
Karen, Connie B., Sharon C., and Carol Hamre continue to paint prayer/friendship rocks
for you to keep, give to someone, surprise someone, or put in your garden, etc.
Rocks are available in the Narthex, Chapel and Fireside Room for members, friends and
the AA, NA, Al-anon, pantry etc. groups.
SUNDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP HOUR
FEBRUARY – CELEBRATING LOVE
15 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
Thanks to Nancy for her fantastic Spaghetti
Thanks to special Diane Watson for cookies from the
Cookie Company!
22 POTLUCK – note the 4th Sunday will be Themed Potlucks
THEME: LOVE IS IN THE AIR WITH APPETIZERS
MARCH
1 Fellowship in Narthex – Thank you to Karen for providing baked goods
8 WELCA
15 HAPPY St. Patrick’s Day – Thanks to Kim & Connie for providing lasagna,
salad, bread and dessert.
22 POTLUCK – It’s Spring Celebration with Salads – Please signup in
NARTHEX
29 PALM SUNDAY – WAFFLES – Thank you to Richard & Jenny
NEEDS LIST & THANK YOUs
o Thanks to Kim & Cesar for donating creamers, tea and juice
o Thanks to Kim for donating stamps for prayer card mailings
o Any monetary donations can be given through the offering, marked Fellowship
o Stamps can be left at the office marked card ministry.
o Thanks to Pat T., Sharon C., Pat M. for donating Bingo prizes.
o Thanks to Mimi for the monetary donation for stamps for the card ministry.
o Thanks to Karen Hall who provided a new coffee pot for Fellowship and Pantry use!
o Always any Bingo Prizes are welcome
o Thanks to Carol for the donation of coffee creamers
