Dear friends,

In our sermon text from Sunday, Jesus says, “You still lack one thing: sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). Wealth is incompatible with the kingdom of God, and as those who are part of God’s kingdom, our resources are no longer for ourselves but for the poor. I suggested some ways to start putting this into practice:

• Live simply
• Cultivate a lifestyle of modest consumption
• Resist lifestyle inflation (what you consider “essential” for living continues to increase)
• Spend your money ethically
• Convenient buying options and cheap products often mean someone is being exploited or treated unethically, usually the poor.
• Knowing a company's ethical practices will help you be more considerate about where you spend your money.
• Intentionally prioritize the family of God
• Consider how your finances, home, and lifestyle are oriented around your biological family, and consider how you could reorient your finances, home, and lifestyle around the family of God to which you belong (the local and global church).
• Downsize
• Start selling your possessions; divest of your finances
• Give to the poor, and know the poor
• Find a ministry that tangibly supports those most in need and support them.
• Give financially and volunteer so that you’re getting to know these neighbors

Courtney Zboncak shared how her family practices stewardship through sustainable living. Caring for the environment and caring for the poor actually go hand-in-hand (but that’s a sermon for another time!), so I’m attaching a document with some of Courtney’s suggestions for sustainable living.

Let us know if you have questions or want to chat more!

Pastor Eliza

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. (From 1 Peter, Immerse pg 295)

Who or what do you love? How do you know you love them? Why do you love them?

I suspect we love more, and deeper, than we realize, simply because we don’t stop to think about it. We know we love our spouse, kids, parents. We suspect we might love our friends, extended family, maybe even colleagues. We share our lives, bit by bit, day by day, overlapping our words, actions, energy to build connections, create life—together. We see each other. We lean on each other. This love we weave together is what we live within.

What about God? The powerful, poetic way Peter describes his community’s love for God hits me every time I read this passage: Even though we have never seen him, we love him. And even though we don’t see him now, we trust him. We receive from him inexpressible joy.

Does this ring true to you? Do you love the God you cannot see so much that your body is filled with inexpressible joy? Is your life marked by the trust that comes from loving so deeply and being so thoroughly loved?

I’m going to give the rest of my word count to Peter’s beautiful, love-ly message:

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (From 1 Peter, Immerse pg 295)

-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. 

Our denomination's annual meetings are coming up, and we need to send delegates from our church to represent us at these meetings. If you're a member of our church, you're eligible to be our delegate!

Central Conference Celebration: May 2-3 at Libertyville Covenant Church in Libertyville, IL.
Gather 2025 (ECC annual meeting): June 25-28 in Orlando, FL (can be an in-person or a virtual delegate; celebrating our denomination's 140th anniversary!)

If you're interested in being a delegate, contact Peter Smith.

Whether you live at Windsor or not, COME AND JOIN US for a sweet time of fellowship.

This month we will be observing the Lenten fast together and will gather to pray for the weekly prayer points. Meet us in the Patio Dining Room (when you come into the building, look to the right instead of the left, and its the doors along that right wall). 

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)
April 20, 10:15 am-12:15 pm (Easter Sunday)

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

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 pray for my friend, Aby. She has been seeking work for months, and her mother’s pay was cut as well. She is not a believer, but I sense a willingness in her.  Also, please pray for my friend, Hannah. She is moving to London today and is worried about the transition (originally, I planned to move with her). She is not a believer. - Jessica Johnson
• I have a lot of homework due this coming week, and because the semester is drawing to an end it's going to keep piling up. I'm struggling to keep up the motivation to complete assignments on time and do them to the best of my ability. Prayers that I can finish strong. - Laelle Tuggy
• Tamara and I have a deadline for an important decision coming very soon. Pray that the Holy Spirit would have a powerful presence in our hearts and minds and would give us wisdom, clarity, and peace as we make this decision. - Joey Milligan

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.

• Jean-Luc
• Rosemary
• Fred

Pray For Our Church Family:

• Nancy Hoeft
• Lloyd & Dot Hoekstra
• Bill & Diane Humer
• Sally & Gary Hutchinson
• Dan & Amy Huttenlock; Gail, David, and Lynnie
• Toby Jacobson
• Jessica Johnson

Pray For Our Missionaries/Ministries:

Manuel & Loida Barbosa Ramos have been appointed as missionaries of Mesa Global, accepting an invitation to join the faculty at Central American Theological Seminary (SETECA) in Guatemala. Manuel is pursuing a Ph.D. at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Please pray:

• For Manuel as he prepares for the comprehensive exams that he will take in June.
• For God’s protection of our family in Colombia. There has been a rise in violence from guerrilla rebels, affecting thousands of civilians. 
• For God's healing for our family, both here and in Colombia.

Send them a word of encouragement at  ramosmanuelalejo@gmail.com.

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 11
Day 51 pp. 311-318 
Day 52 pp. 318-324 
Day 53 pp. 324-329 
Day 54 pp. 330-336 
Day 55 pp. 337-340 

Week 12
Day 56 pp. 340-345 
Day 57 pp. 345-351 
Day 58 pp. 351-358 
Day 59 pp. 358-363 
Day 60 pp. 363-366 

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

April 2
Les Wittekind
April 5
Caroline Broman
April 8
Hanamel Gaiya

Wednesday (4/2)
Lenten Fast & Prayer (11:00-1:00)
Wednesdays at Windsor (12:00 pm)
Kids Club (6:00 pm)
Soup Supper (5:30 pm)
Lenten Prayer Service (6:30 pm)
Choir Rehearsal (7:15 pm)

Sunday (4/6)
Morning Prayer (8:45 am)
Congregational Meeting (9:15 am)
Worship (10:30 am)
412 Youth (6:00 pm)

Wednesday (4/9)
Lenten Fast & Prayer (11:00-1:00)
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 19:1-9.

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.

-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