Simply the Sermon for February 18, 2026: Ash Wednesday

Our Bible texts for Feb. 18, 2026, Ash Wednesday are: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.

On Ash Wednesday we begin the forty-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust re-traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.

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Simply the Sermon for February 15, 2026: Transfiguration of Our Lord

Our Readings for Transfiguration Sunday, February 15 are: Psalm 2 (used as our call to worship); Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; and Matthew 17:1-9.

Today’s festival is a bridge between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close today and the Lent-Easter cycle that begins in several days. On a high mountain, Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son, echoing the words at his baptism. This vision of glory sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in Jerusalem. From this perspective, we know so much more than the disciples but still so little about who and what God is. It is a Mystery that we continue to explore even as we have faith in God, trusting God's word. 

We turn this week to Ash Wednesday and our yearly baptismal journey from Lent to Easter. Some churches put aside the alleluia at the conclusion of today’s liturgy. This word of joy will be omitted during the penitential season of Lent and will be sung again at Easter.

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Simply the Sermon for February 8, 2026: Fifth Sunday After Epiphany

Our texts for Sunday, Feb. 8, the 5th Sunday after Epiphany are: Isaiah 58:1-12; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; and Matthew 5:13-20.

Isaiah declares that when we loosen the bonds of injustice and share our bread with the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. We all know folks who live that spirit of grace for our siblings in need. We are called to join them. In another passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the light of the world, calls his followers to let the light of their good works shine before others. Through baptism we are sent into the world to shine with the light of Christ.

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