Announcements

God in the Wilderness

You shall know that I am the LORD your God.  Exodus 16:12

This series will utilize the Exodus narratives to explore the current climate refugee crisis in the United States.  Over the past 20 years the frequency of $1 billion (CPI adjusted) climate events has increased from  8.3 per year to 20 per year.  The cost has increased to $177.3 billion/year.  The top two home insurance companies have stopped offering coverage in some states and doubled premiums in others.

The Israelites had to leave Egypt which became deadly so that they could live.  In leaving Egypt, they learned new spiritual practices that brought life to them.  We too need to relearn these practices as we prepare for an uncertain future as climate change continues to cause us to move so that we can survive.

 

September 24                   Exodus 16:2-15; Matthew 20:1-16

October 1                          Exodus 17:1-7; Matthew 21:23-32

October 8                          Exodus 20:1-20; Matthew 21:33-46

October 15                        Exodus 32:1-14; Matthew 22:1-14

October 22                        Exodus 33:12-23;  Matthew 22:15-22

October 29                        Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Matthew 22:34-46

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Fall 2023 Christian Education Offerings

September/October

One Day I Wrote Back: Interacting with Scripture through Creative Writing by Jane Herring


Sundays, Sept. 24-Oct. 29; 9:15am – 10:15

Herring leads you to talk back to those scripture passages you don’t understand. Ask questions, explore your life, plead, praise and ponder.
She provides reflection questions and simple practical exercises to encourage writing.

November

Sundays in November 9:15 am

We will kick off this observation by learning about the Papal Bull
Romanus Pontifix, of 1452 that declared war on the non-Christian world and gave Spain and Portugal rights to conquest.

We’ll watch a 45-minute video for this first session.
We will explore our denominational teaching about Christianity and Native Americans the next three weeks by reading United Methodist Resolutions 6025, 3321 and 3334.

December

Advent 2023

Wednesdays, Nov. 29- Dec.20; 10 am- 11am
Sundays, December 3-24; 9:15 am -10:15 am

With the help of Bishop Willimon, we will explore the Incarnation of Jesus with his new book, Heaven and Earth.


“It’s not within our own power to make afresh start. If we’re to have a future different from the past, it must come as a gift, something not of our devising. What we need is a God who refuses to be trapped in eternity, a God who not only cares about us but is willing to show up among us and do something with us, here, now.”

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Keep the Dream Alive

Keep the Dream Alive – CELEBRATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON 

To commemorate the March on Washington, the Anti-Racism Task Force of the Northern Illinois Conference UMC is organizing two back-to-back events in Chicago. Our purpose is to continue to work towards a more equitable society for all and to live out our conviction that “racism is incompatible with Christian teaching.” Sign up HERE.

KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE  – Sunday, August 27, 2023 

Light Lunch , 1:00 at First UMC- Chicago 

Worship Service, 1:30 at First UMC- Chicago 

March & Rally, 2:30 at Daley Plaza, Chicago 

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ASIAN HISTORY & CULTURE

THURSDAY, MAY 25

Over 15 people gathered in Wesley Hall to participate in the Northern Illinois Conference’s Second Quarter Film Series highlighting Asian American and Pacific Islander History and Culture.  Participants watched Pew Research Center’s Being Asian in America.

We gathered over a meal catered by Ming Chef and heard a brief history of AAPI in North America by Dr. Dr. WOOHEE ANNE JOH.  She also facilitated four panelists reflecting on their experiences of living in the United States and the church.  You may watch this presentation by clicking this link.

The next film series is

PRIVILEGE, POWER AND RACE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

Thursday, September 21, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Different locations across the conference

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AI Sermon Series

June 4 and 11 at 10:30 am

What is it?  How is it affecting us?  Human technology offers opportunities to enhance the created order and destroy it.  When the newspaper was introduced in the 1600s, many feared it would stop all human social interactions.  It didn’t.  AI does not have to be feared, only understood.

Join Pastor Joe for this two-part series that will explore these questions and look at how our spiritual practices can help us navigate these waters.