10805 Main St. Huntley, IL 60142
     

A Note

From Pastor Mark

Love Outpoured: Waiting With Hope
Romans 8:18–21
(Scripture reading for March 11)

Paul writes in Romans: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed… creation itself waits with eager longing.”

Lent understands those words.

This season never asks us to pretend life is easy. It makes room for worry, grief, fatigue, and the quiet burdens we carry. Yet Paul does something surprising — he does not deny suffering, but reframes it. He says creation groans not because hope is lost, but because hope is coming.

That is the heart of our Lenten theme: Love Outpoured.

God’s love is not poured out after everything is fixed. God’s love is poured out in the middle of the waiting.

Our daily Love Outpoured devotion is meant to be a simple pause each day where we practice that hope. Not dramatic faith, but steady trust — the kind that learns, slowly, to expect God’s presence in ordinary moments.

We often think growth comes from big spiritual experiences. But Romans 8 shows something quieter. Transformation happens over time, when God meets us again and again in small ways. A few minutes in Scripture may seem small, yet day after day the Spirit reshapes how we see life.

Paul says creation waits with “eager longing” — standing on tiptoe, leaning forward. That’s what daily Scripture trains our hearts to do.

Instead of letting schedules, worries, or headlines define the day, we begin with God’s promise. Gradually we notice changes: patience comes easier, forgiveness sooner, hope steadier. Not because life got simpler, but because love has been poured into us.

So this Lent, don’t aim for perfection — aim for presence.

Miss a day? Begin again tomorrow.
Busy morning? Read it later.
Late night? Let it be your last word before sleep.

The goal isn’t completing a religious task.
The goal is letting God meet you daily.

Together at Shepherd of the Prairie, these small daily moments form a shared rhythm of hope. We practice trusting that the present moment is not the end of the story.

Love is already being poured out.
God is already making all things new.

So each day this Lent, open the devotion, stand on tiptoe, and
wait with hope.

I’ll look forward to seeing you worship!

Pastor Mark

Contact Pastor Mark at: pastormark@sotpmail.com

Ministry Musing

By Donna Kelly

Recently, I was sitting in a long line of traffic waiting for a light to change. I looked up and saw a big, beautiful hawk sitting in a tree. As I was admiring the hawk, I noticed it was sitting on a tiny little branch at the edge of the tree. The branch was so small that it barely poked out beyond its feet. It was a teeny, tiny little branch at the end of
a little bigger branch, connected to a little bit bigger branch… You get the idea.

As I watched, the hawk didn’t seem to know how precarious its perch was. It simply sat peacefully on the tiny
branch and looked around with seemingly no thought that the branch might give way. I was amazed at that tiny branch being able to hold up that big hawk.

Later, as I thought about the hawk and the branch, I considered how often we may find ourselves sitting out at the end of a tiny branch, looking at the world around us. Have you ever been there? I know I have. Life sometimes seems to take a wrong turn; a loved one dies, a job is lost, a rift in a relationship, a difficult diagnosis, and so many other things can have us sitting out at the end of that teeny, tiny branch, holding on for dear life.

Just as the hawk trusted that tiny little branch to hold it safely, when we feel like we are at the end of our tiny little branches, holding on for dear life, we can trust that God is holding onto us. Our God will never let us go, never let us fall off our tiny branches. Our God will sit on the branch with us, holding on to us firmly until it is time for us to fly again.

Donna Kelly

Contact Donna at Donna at: donna@sotpmail.com

Lent Offerings

Distribution

During our upcoming Lenten offering season, SOTP collections will be distributed to the following three charities evenly. Your generosity is truly appreciated.

1) Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to provide essential medical services off the coasts of West African nations. SOTP supports efforts through periodic donations.

2) Feed My Starving Children: Feed My Starving Children’s mission is feeding God’s starving children. SOTP supports efforts by periodic donations and organizing volunteer sessions to pack meals at their Schaumburg location.

3) Habitat for Humanity: SOTP is part of the New Hope Partnership which consists of churches in Elgin, Dundee and Huntley helping to build homes in the northern Fox valley for those in need. SOTP supports efforts by periodic donations and volunteering at on-site work sessions.

Contact: John Witt, Mission Team at john_witt@outlook.com

Upcoming Special Events

Click on Blue Links for More Information

March

Sunday, March 1

Friday, March 6

Friday, March 13

Saturday, March 14

Friday, March 20

Sunday, March 29 (Palm Sunday) – NOTE SPECIAL WORSHIP TIMES

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Recycling Plastic

February 2026 Update

We are off and running with year three of our NexTrex plastic collection.  With our window opening in January, we are already at 348 pounds!!!!  Since we have been doing this for so long, the number of unacceptable items that show up in our plastic collections have increased.  I’d like to take some time to clarify what types of plastics are appropriate:

If the plastic has either of these, DO NOT BRING IN.

 

NO plastic containers of any kind – see below

I have some wonderful volunteers that help to weigh, document, and drop off the large collection bags each week. Please help them out by doing your part and bringing the appropriate items. The Outreach team is still trying to find a place to donate this next

bench. If you have any ideas of establishments needing a bench or would be interested in helping out with the plastic collection, please reach out to Tara.

Get Involved

So Many Ways to Participate in Our Community

God’s Work, Our Hands

Are you looking for ways to use your talents and participate in our church family?

Click on “more” below to see ideas of how to get involved and who to contact for more information for each one:

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Stay Connected

Receive our email communications

  •  Daily Devotionals (Food for the soul)
  • Weekly Friday Flourish (Church info)
  • Monthly Newsletter (More detailed information)

To start receiving any (or all) of the above, please go online to:

www.bit.ly/SOTPEMAIL

Contact: Michelle Rankin at michelle@sotpmail.com 

 

 

 

T-Coil - Hearing Loop System

In the Sanctuary

Ask your hearing care professional how. Some hearing aids are set up where they might have an app on your cellphone that says “telecoil mode”, and you’ll activate that. You might have the ability to adjust the volume up and turn down for the microphone level. But again, talk to your hearing care professional, they should be able to show you all those options, and then play around with it, when you’re in church.

We also have two headsets to use while you are in the sanctuary.  These are in our Welcome Center desk if you don’t have a compatible hearing aid.

Link to video with more information:  www.bit.ly/SOTPloop 

 Contact: your hearing aid professional