Bishop’s Column: We are in a Holy Saturday Moment

Sure, we are living in post-Christendom, days that the culture is not filling our churches with citizens who wish to make a missional contribution, but rather days our culture seethes with white Christian nationalism. We are facing powerful monied interests that seek to divide us for political gain, both in the culture and the mainline churches. We are living in a Holy Saturday period. We are people who know grief at the foot of the cross but also that resurrection hope is found on the road to Emmaus. I am praying that the One who can bring us hope will stay at the table with us because the night is near.

New Communications Director Joins NIC Staff

Rev. Victoria Rebeck joined the Northern Illinois Conference staff as Director of Communications, effective March 15, 2023. She will oversee the communications strategy and execution for the conference.

Display highlights the history of our conference

During the Laity Convocation 2023, one of the host churches, Disciples United Methodist Church (DUMC) in Mt. Morris, created a display about the rich history of the Rock River Conference that then became our Northern Illinois Conference. The church’s history team hoped to share with guests, many of whom had never been in Mt. Morris, how our early Methodist settlers, ministers, and circuit riders followed a path of discipleship as they moved west from Maryland, Ohio, and Kentucky into the frontier of northwest Illinois.

Black Teens Matter event encouraged students

Chicago Black Methodists for Church Renewal’s (BMCR) Black Teens Matter held its 4th Annual Presidents’ Day Holiday Hook-Up on Feb. 20. Black Teens Matter is a component of the Rev. Maceo D. Pembroke, Sr., Memorial Institute, which is now in its 50th year. The theme was Guaranteed Scholarship > Guaranteed Success, based on the book entitled "Raise Your GPA: God’s Way to Win @ School & Life", written by Jonathan Banks.

More united than ever before

The Tri-City area of Illinois, comprising the cities of St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia, has come to be seen as a community in and of itself over the years. The cities share a history of being three of the oldest in Illinois, they share borders featuring the Fox River, and have similar population sizes. Since 2020, for area United Methodists, this joint community has taken on new connection in the form of the Tri-City Methodists: a trio of churches – Baker Memorial United Methodist Church of St. Charles, the United Methodist Church of Geneva (UMCG), and Batavia United Methodist Church.

Sharing God’s love in the community

At Hanover UMC, several church members and leaders gathered to assemble Valentine’s baskets to deliver to folks in Hanover, Ill. The baskets contain fresh fruit, home-baked goods, and various snack items.

News

Categories