Midweek Check-in (Feb. 18, 2026)

Happy Holidays, church family!

No, not those holidays. I know it’s February. But a unique quirk of the 2026 calendar means we are wrapping up a run of four holidays in five days!

Saturday was Valentine’s Day.

Monday was Presidents’ Day.

Tuesday was Mardi Gras.

Wednesday (today!) is Ash Wednesday.

Not only is that a lot of holidays in a short time frame, but it represents a diverse mix of emotions!

·      Valentine’s Day is all about love.

·      Presidents’ Day is the honoring of great American leaders George Washington and Abraham Lincoln (their birthdays are in February).

·      Mardi Gras is a party before entering the Lenten season.

·      Ash Wednesday is a sacred Christian observance unlike any other holiday.

Today, Ash Wednesday, we remember our sin and mortality as we begin a 40-day journey to Easter. Without the resurrection of Easter Sunday, we are nothing but ash, dirt – a vessel of soil that will one day return to the soil (read more about this in Genesis 2 and 3).

On Easter Sunday, we will celebrate the fact that Jesus’ victory over the cross and the grave means that our story doesn’t end in death. Jesus overcame death, and we will one day do the same thanks to His resurrection power!

But today we sit 40 days (plus Sundays) from Easter. That’s a long time. So for the season of Lent we wait in hope, but we also wait in sacrifice, prayer and fasting.

Last week I challenged each of us to consider fasting for Lent. To fast is to give something up for these 40 days. For many it will be some type of food, snack, dessert or drink. For others it may be an activity, a form of entertainment or something else. Then, in the moments when the fast becomes inconvenient, difficult or even seemingly unbearable – we lean on Jesus in prayer and suffering.

Here’s one more thing to consider when fasting: hide it. This is a very personal sacrifice between you and the Lord. Fasting is not meant for show. It’s not meant to make you look holy to others. In fact, Jesus told us that others shouldn’t even know about it.

"And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

-Matthew 6:16-18

May the Lord of all strength sustain you in your fast this Lenten season, and may His promise of resurrection power provide hope as we journey to Easter Sunday!

Your pastor,

Billy Byler

This Saturday (Feb. 21) is a busy day of ministry at our church. Check out these upcoming events:

·      Our monthly men’s breakfast will meet at 7:30 a.m. All men are welcome to attend, bring a friend and come hungry! The meal is free, but donations are accepted.

·      Our monthly cancer support group will meet at 10 a.m. and will include lunch after the meeting! If you or someone you know is dealing with the weight of a cancer diagnosis, this is a loving, supportive community full of prayer and encouragement.

·      Craft Connections, a group for those interested in crafting and craft projects, will meet from 3-5 p.m. at the church. All are welcome!

LADIES EVENT: All ladies are invited to our next ladies’ event on Saturday, March 7 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Cyndee Price as our featured speaker.

CLEAN WATER 5K: The Clean Water 5k is a race right here in Wichita where you can walk, jog or run while supporting the mission to provide clean water wells to villages in Africa. One hundred percent of your $25 registration fee will go to the mission field! I helped start this race several years ago, and it’s a really fun event. So join me the morning of Saturday, April 11 along the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita. Check out more info and sign up at cleanwater5k.com.

PRAYER: I’d like to know how I can best pray for you. We have a way to submit prayer requests online anytime day or night, which will help me join you in prayer.

ALABASTER: In the month of February we are receiving an Alabaster Offering to help support missions. All funds collected for the Alabaster Offering go to missionary building efforts, including churches, hospitals, orphanages and parsonages around the world. Bring your Alabaster Offering any Sunday in February.

JUST FOR FUN: Hey, you read Pastor Billy's midweek check-in all the way to the end! As a reward, check out these crazy stories I came across recently:

• People on the streets of London are seeing something new and confusing: vertical pizza boxes. Pizza Hut has confirmed the upright boxes with handles are real but hasn’t yet revealed how storing pizza upright works.

• Here’s one way to celebrate “Fat Tuesday”: Dress up in a weird costume and run as fast as you can while flipping pancakes with a frying pan.

• A new trend for travelers… instead of a vacation, try a sleepcation. Basically, you just go somewhere that is intentionally designed to help you experience uninterrupted, blissful sleep.