Raising Our Voices – UVC Annual Awards Ceremony
United Voices for Children (UVC) has announced the recipients of its 2020 annual awards for outstanding advocacy and service for children and youth throughout Northern Illinois.
Read MoreNorthern Illinois Annual Conference moves to teleconference meeting in November
Given the uncertainty of how long we will need to maintain safe distancing, and how long before gatherings of about 1000+ people will be permissible, the Annual Conference Committee and Bishop have approved to hold a ‘virtual 2020 Annual Conference session’ on Saturday, November 14, 2020.
Read MoreYet Again…Death Comes to Black People
It keeps happening over and over again. People are exhausted…even some of us white people and other people of color. Exhausted from praying and hoping for change. And it keeps happening over and over again. I can cite all the scriptures and champions of justice like Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and countless others. But really? Black. Lives. Are. Sacred.
Read MoreReTurn Team Gives Churches Five-Phase Guidance
The ReTurn Team’s Plan for returning to our ministries in a safe and healthy way is now available. As the situation surrounding the pandemic has been somewhat fluid, we expect to adjust the Plan periodically as new information surfaces and new developments occur.
Read MoreBishop responds to President calling to reopen churches
As many of you may have heard, President Trump has just declared the opening of all houses of worship throughout the country. He rightly recognizes that we need “more prayer, not less,” but doesn’t realize that people, including the people called United Methodist, have been praying and worshipping all along through these months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreBishop's Monday Message: The Time Given to Us
It was hard to provide leadership—clergy or laity—in the church before the coronavirus pandemic. It’s really hard now! The first lesson of leadership for these times is to know we aren’t in this alone—God is with us!
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