February 22, 2026 – Return to Me – Joel 1:10-12; 2:12-13, 21-24

Return to Me: A Journey through the Minor Prophets. I will be preaching through the minor prophets in the Old Testament in worship for the next several weeks. We will do a deep dive into this section of Scripture that is filled with some great imagery and themes that relate directly to Lent. These prophets of God were interesting characters. The narrative arc of this series is the journey from sin to repentance to restoration. This is the pathway to transformation and all the good things that God has for us – full salvation, freedom, healing, greater peace, abundant life, etc.

One more thing about worship. In both worship spaces, a “Lenten tree” has been set up by our creative design team led by Tara Holmes, Lorraine Gilbert, and Sarah Beth Rowland. Why a tree? Because Scripture says the righteous are like trees planted by streams of water. Because repentance leads to new growth. Because what looks bare in winter doesn’t stay that way.

Over the next 40 days, this tree will transform to mirror the inner journey we make during Lent. And by Holy Week, we’ll see what God has grown among us.

Joel 1:10-12 

10 The fields are destroyed,the ground mourns,because the grain is destroyed,the wine dries up,the oil languishes.11 Be ashamed, O tillers of the soil;wail, O vinedressers,for the wheat and the barley,because the harvest of the field has perished.12 The vine dries up;the fig tree languishes.Pomegranate, palm, and apple,all the trees of the field are dried up,and gladness dries upfrom the children of man. 

Joel 2:12-13

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,“return to me with all your heart,with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”Return to the Lord your God,for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;and he relents over disaster. 

Joel 2:21-24

21 Fear not, O land;be glad and rejoice,for the Lord has done great things!22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,for the pastures of the wilderness are green;the tree bears its fruit;the fig tree and vine give their full yield.23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,and rejoice in the Lord your God,for he has given the early rain for your vindication;he has poured down for you abundant rain,the early and the latter rain, as before.24 The threshing floors shall be full of grain;the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.