Mrs. Adeline DeGraaf, surviving spouse of deceased Northern Illinois Conference clergy member Rev. Douglas P. DeGraaf, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2020. During his ministry in the Northern Illinois Conference, Rev. DeGraaf served Ottawa: Epworth, Aurora: Fourth Street, Schaumburg: Our Redeemer's, and Addison: Good Samaritan.
Read MoreWe're all doing the best we can! Happy Easter and congratulations on getting through to Easter Monday! Many of you, both clergy and laity, have been working so hard to present Holy Week and Easter services throughout these challenging and very different times.
Read MoreThis Easter may feel empty for many of us as we all are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our churches are empty. No lilies nor hyacinths wafting their strong sweet smell. No pews filled with people dressed in their best clothes. No choirs singing the alleluias or trumpets sending chills down our legs just hearing the introduction to “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.” Our tables are emptier than we would like; we have empty chairs that friends and family would otherwise be filling.
Read MoreOn Friday, April 10, Bishop Sally Dyck will be joining a diverse group of Christian religious, civic and community leaders and representatives in a special service, The Ecumenical Stations of the Cross.
Read MoreWe are witnessing an unprecedented time of chaos due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Corporations, school districts, universities, non-profit organizations are all suffering loss and uncertainty. Churches are no exception.
Read MoreAs we begin this Holy Week going toward Easter, we acknowledge that it’s a journey we take that’s unlike any other year. We may have gone through Holy Week while experiencing our own time of difficulty before. But this one we do with others: not only our church community but the communities, nation, and world around us. We are taking a collective journey together toward Easter.
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