…he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names… (From Philippians, Immerse)

Have you ever watched kids trying to best each other in an arm-wrestling contest, or play “King of the Hill” in the playground? We’re born with a human instinct that the one who is strongest, the one who can overcome physical barriers and come out as victor, is the best. And while we may be more subtle about it as we grow up, this bias for strength and power remains.

In the Greco-Roman world, there was a genre of hymn that sang the praises of just such a man. He started out mortal like the rest of us, but became so strong, was so unflinchingly victorious, that the gods named him as one of their own and deified him, crowning him in song.

In Philippians, Paul turns this hymn genre—and deeply-rooted belief about power and deity—on its head. Using the same structure, he sings about a God with all power and strength and status who let it all go, becoming a human, a servant, submitting even to death. Shockingly, this parody goes further to say that it is this shamefulness that catches the deity’s attention: this utter humiliation is what causes God, the God, to raise this name above all other powers and authorities on the earth and above and below the earth.

In other words, in Jesus, God has gone out of his way to communicate that God’s idea of power and might is much, much different from our human version.

Can you wrap your mind around this unthinkable idea about God, about goodness, about who is the victor of God’s Kingdom…and how? What does this is mean for how we live our lives together, in our society, today?

-Catherine McNiel

Join us for an easter egg hunt, face painting, a magic show, crafts, bounce house balloon creations, snacks, and more. Fun for the whole family!

The egg hunt will start at 10:15 am. 

Join us for our upcoming Congregational Meeting. If you are a member of the church, we ask that you plan on being there. All are welcome to attend. 

We are still looking for help with childcare. If you are willing to hang out with our kids during the meeting, please let Pastor Eliza know.

We are looking for volunteers to help with childcare. Please consider helping, so we can relieve our regular volunteers! Contact Pastor Eliza if you have questions.

April 6, 9:15-10:15 am (Congregational Meeting)
April 17, 6:30-7:30 pm (Maundy Thursday Service)
April 18, 6:30-7:30 pm (Good Friday Service)

Tonight is the LAST week of ESL Classes for the semester.

Kids Club will run for 2 more weeks to make up for our snow days. The last week will be April 2! 

Psalm Sunday: April 13 (Procession at 10:00 am)
Maundy Thursday: April 17, 6:30 pm (dinner at 5:30 pm)
Good Friday: April 18, 6:30 pm
Easter Sunday: April 20

Don't you love the sight of kids running around with whole loaves of bread after church? We need your help to continue providing Panera bread each week!

Sign up to help pick up the bread donations HERE.
Sign up to help wrap/package the bread on Sundays HERE.

We’re making a small but meaningful update to how we access the church building! To better support our ministries and care for our facility, we’re moving to an electronic key system.

Access will be provided based on ministry roles, but don’t worry—our doors will still be open during services and events, and if you ever need special access, the office is happy to help. Our goal is to make church access simple, safe, and welcoming for everyone.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we make this transition! If you have any questions, please reach out—we’re here to help.

We invite you to journey together through Lent in the following ways:

1. Weekly Communion- Every Sunday in Lent, we will practice confession and observe Holy Communion together.
2. Fasting + Prayer- We are joining with other Covenant churches in our area in a corporate fast on Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. We will be praying especially for refugees and immigrants in DuPage County, as well as other prayer topics we will send to you each week. 
3. Wednesdays: Praise & Prayer + Soup Supper- light soup supper from 5:30-6:30 pm; service of praise and prayer from 6:30-7:15 pm in the sanctuary.
4. Almsgiving- We encourage you to adopt a charity or missionary to give an extra love offering to during each week in Lent.

We are looking for a regular, paid childcare worker for Sunday mornings during worship and could include helping with childcare during ESL classes on Wednesday nights. Maybe you know a neighbor who would be a good fit or have a friend who attends another church with a different worship time! Click on the job description below to learn more. Email questions and inquiries to Pastor Eliza, discipleship@faithecc.org.

Support World Relief as they navigate changes in their funding due to recent executive orders issued by our new administration. These changes impact both the critical services World Relief provides and those helping to provide these services.

Continue to keep their staff and clients in your prayers.

Current Class: Women Leaders of the Bible
Teacher: Jessica Johnson

3/23: Eve, Coworker of Adam (Part 2: After Genesis 3)
3/30: Deborah, Governor of Israel
4/6: Congregational Meeting (no Sunday School)
4/13: Palm Sunday (no Sunday School)
4/20: Easter Sunday (no Sunday School)
4/27: Mary, Apostle to the Apostles

Let us know how we can be praying for you or how God has been answering prayers in your life by clicking on the link below!

Pray requests:

• Please be in prayer for Garrett Gutowski.  He saw an ENT on Friday, who determined he has a hemorrhage on his left vocal cord. He is now seeking out another specialist. It requires complete vocal rest and speech therapy. Due to his career in speech and drama, his voice is essential in his work. We pray for his healing and rest. - Cherish Goldman
• Continued healing for my eyes. - Carissa King
• My brother, Tim, has been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. He had surgery 5 years ago, but it has been found in his lymph nodes. He will be starting immunotherapy and radiation treatment. Pray that he would meet God in this journey. - Rita Christensen
• Thankful I had an amazing spring break and that my parents bought a ticket for me to fly home this summer and watch my brother graduate. Prayers that I can catch up on school work, establish good working habits, and be more organized so I don't fall behind again. Strength to finish the semester well. - Laelle Tuggy
• Thank you for continuing to pray for my cousin, Stacey. He has had a remarkable turnaround. He remains in Cardiac-ICU, but is improving. Please continue to pray for his full recovery. - Ben Franklin
• I want prayer for my mouth and teeth and my gums to get better - Ashley Ryan

Continue to Pray for:

• Sally & Gary Hutchinson
• Ben Hayes & the Hayes Family (find updates on Ben's CARING BRIDGE page)
• John & Wendy Wilson

 Pray For Our BLESS people:
BLESS is the Covenant's approach to intentional prayer and evangelism. Listed below are names of people in your lives who you are praying would come to know Jesus this year. We are praying with you.

• Michael
• Nate
• Mason

Pray For Our Church Family:

• Sharon Gutowski
• Sally Hargrave
• Curtis & Melissa Harkrider
• Ethan Harkrider
• Jake Harvey
• Aaron & Sheli Hayes; Caleb, Ben, and Eli

Pray For Our Missionaries/Ministries:

Outreach has grown and changed over the years, but their core purpose has remained the same of transforming lives and communities by creating opportunities where barriers exist; by loving neighbors in word and deed; and by shining the light of hope on all peoples’ God-given potential. Outreach sponsors five faith-based community service organizations in Wheaton, Warrenville, Carol Stream, West Chicago & Lombard.

• Pray for their service to people through education, mentoring, counseling, transitional housing, youth development, and other family services in their multiple locations.
• Pray for the continued success of their high school tutoring program with the addition of more student participants.

Send a word of encouragement to  https://weareoutreach.org/contact.

The Care and Prayer Ministry Team prays for all prayer requests submitted through the digital and paper Connect Cards.  If you have an urgent prayer need, you can email careteam@faithecc.org or call Team Leader Rita Christensen at 630-835-8737.

Week 9
Day 41 pp. 257-263 
Day 42 pp. 263-268 
Day 43 pp. 268-274 
Day 44 pp. 274-279 
Day 45 pp. 279-285 

Week 10
Day 46 pp. 285-292 
Day 47 pp. 293-297 
Day 48 pp. 297-301 
Day 49 pp. 303-308 
Day 50 pp. 309-310 

Looking for the audiobook? Listen to this week's reading here: Immerse website, Spotify, or Apple Podcast.

March 19
Gabe Wild
Grant Wild
March 20
Anna Herpolsheimer
March 21
Maria Olker
March 23
Mel Peterson
March 24
Terri Bartholomay

Wednesday (3/19)
Tiger Breakfast (7:00 am)
Lenten Fast & Prayer (11:00-1:00)
Kids Club (6:00 pm)
Last ESL Class! (6:00 pm)
Soup Supper (5:30 pm)
Lenten Prayer Service (6:30 pm)
Choir Rehearsal (7:15 pm

Sunday (3/23)
Morning Prayer (8:45 am)
Sunday School (9:15 am)
Worship (10:30 am)
412 Youth (6:00 pm)

Wednesday (3/26)
Tiger Breakfast (7:00 am)
Lenten Fast & Prayer (11:00-1:00)
Kids Club (6:00 pm)
Soup Supper (5:30 pm)
Lenten Prayer Service (6:30 pm)
Choir Rehearsal (7:15 pm)

This week we continue our series Messiah with a sermon on Luke 16:1-13.

Sunday worship begins at 10:30 am. Join us in person or via live stream on Facebook or YouTube.

We have two assisted listening devices available at the sound booth every Sunday morning. Ask one of our sound booth volunteers if you would like to use one during worship!

The Community Board is a space for us to...

House Sitting: Hello Church family! We will be in Germany for the month of July, and we are looking for someone to stay in our home and take care of our cats while we are gone. Even if you have friends or family from out of town who would possibly want to come spend a beautiful month in Wheaton, they would be welcome! Our two cars will be available as well. Let me know if you are interested! Email Virginia Johnston, Virginiakeen@gmail.com.

-Kids CDs or tapes to share: I was wondering if anyone has CDs or tapes with kids music that you aren’t currently using? I would love to borrow some music to listen to with the girls, especially Christian music or things that other people enjoyed listening to with their kids. Email me: saraheagee@gmail.com -Sarah Johnson

-Book Give Away: If anyone has been wanting to read "THE REASON FOR GOD" by Tim Keller, I am done and will pass it on. -Susan Aarseth

-Selling or Donating a Car: My brother-in-law is currently studying at a seminary. Unfortunately, their family's minivan, which they relied on for daily transportation, has recently broken down beyond repair. They urgently need a vehicle to help manage everyday responsibilities, such as attending classes and running errands, but they have very limited funds. If you know anyone who has a vehicle they might be willing to sell or, even better, donate, please reach out to Pastor Zachs, outreach@faithecc.org or 331.236.0316. Your assistance would mean the world to them! Thank you! 

Ask to borrow items
Give stuff away that’s useful to someone else 
Announce an event 
Have something to contribute? Send it to the church office: office@faithecc.org

Evangelical Child and Family Agency is looking for Christian mothers with a passion for mentorship. Their Pregnancy Support Services meets with struggling new mothers to help them navigate the challenges of this phase of their lives. Mentors would help provide a support network for these women and share the love of Christ with them. ECFA provides training, resources and support for mentors so they can feel empowered to care for these women well. If you think this could be you, please reach out to Elianna Tuggy in person, by phone (503) 217 9492, or by email eliannat@evancfa.org for more details!