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July/ August 2015 - Illinois Conference
10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter You're receiving this email because of your relationship with Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails. July\August 2015 Vol 32, Issue 32 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter From the Conference Minister General Synod 2015: Finding Christ in an Unexpected Place Our United Church of Christ General Synod held June 2630, 2015, had as its theme "Finding Christ in Unexpected Places." The Rev. Sharon Watkins, president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and closing worship preacher, said we need to be prepared to do the work for Jesus in unexpected places. General Synod 2015 was filled with uplifting powerful preaching and worship. Nationally known speakers, preachers and workshops addressed issues to grow our knowledge, broaden our world perspective, affirm and grow our faith. There was much celebration about the ministry of Rev. Geoffrey Black, outgoing General Minister and President, as well as the ministry of Rev. Linda Jaramillo, executive for Justice and witness ministries. It was while Synod was in session that news came about major Supreme Court decisions: Upholding of the Affordable Health Care Act/Obama Care and the Freedom to Marry in all the 50 States in the US, issues in which our denomination and our Justice and Witness Ministries were very much involve. Major speakers included: Rev. Molly Baskette, Lead Pastor of the quirky, lovable, and truthtelling community of First Church Somerville UCC in metro Boston, and a senior consultant for the Center for Progressive Renewal; Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, and the founder of a consortium that operates a university on the West Bank; Connie Schultz, a nationally syndicated columnist and a regular essayist for Parade magazine. Other speakers were: Winona LaDuke, Founder and CoDirector of Honor the Earth, a national advocacy group encouraging public support and funding for native environmental QUICK LINKS www.ilucc.org QUICK LINKS TO WEBSITES Chicago Metropolitan Association Eastern Association Fox Valley Association Western Association Prairie Association CALENDERS OF EVENTS Summer Music at Bethel Concert Series Bethel UCC, 315 East St. Charles Rd., Elmhurst Saturday, July 18, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Featuring flutist Tessa Vermeulen Freewill offering https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 1/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter groups; Bishop Dwayne Royster, Founding Pastor of Living Water United Church of Christ located in the North Philadelphia, and Executive Director of POWER: Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower and Rebuild, and Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, who serves as General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada The General Synod voted to retain the current leadership structure, defeating constitution and bylaw changes and putting on hold the shifting of leadership of the national setting from the current fourperson collegium structure to one general minister and president. The vote was a call for more time, clear communication and greater transparency before making significant changes to the United Church of Christ as a covenantal faith community. There were many questions around the process of bringing the proposed changes forward the need for more dialogue and conversation among settings of the church the model of leadership under one person and the future of Justice and Witness Ministries after the retirement of the Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo in September. The Rev. John C. Dorhauer received overwhelming support and was elected as the new General Minister and President of the Church. He was quoted as stating that Justice and Witness Ministries is very important and that : "I am going to ask the board in October to hold that position open and find someone to succeed Linda." The General Synod celebrated the land return to Dakota Association to highlight faithfulness, trust and an emerging partnership with the Association. This land transfer of more than 20 parcels of tribal land from the South Dakota Conference of the United Church of Christ to the Dakota Association brought much joy. The land transfers were for church sites in Nebraska and North Dakota that are part of the Dakota Association. Synod Called Foul on Chief Wahoo, of the Redskins, the Cleveland team, to change its name and drop Chief Wahoo as its mascot. About 80 people marched toward Progressive Field, during Synod carrying a petition with nearly 3,000 signatures. The General Synod took action on a number of resolutions including: A unanimous vote affirming Full Communion with the United Church of Canada. The General Synod voted unanimously to recognize a full communion between the United Church of Christ and the United Church of Canada. The union fulfills the promise the churches made to one another in 2013. This brings the two denominations closer together, much like what had been done with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Church. Music at the Manor The Congregational Church of Park Manor UCC 7000 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago Sunday, July 19, 2015 Jazz Music Worship Service, 10:30 a.m. Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, guest speaker Joan Collaso and trio Inspirational Ensemble Concert, 3:00 p.m. Freewill offering Rev. Dr. Terrill N. Murff, Senior Pastor Widening the Welcome 2015 Inclusion for all Hartford/Windsor Airport Marriott Hotel, Hartford, CT. Sponsor: UCC Disabilities and Mental Health Network Info & registration: WideningtheWelcome.com SAVE THE DATE UCC Youth/Confirmation Day Elmhurst College Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 McCormick Theological Seminary McCormick Days, Oct. 22 & 23, 2015 "The Prophetic: That Which Keeps Us Alive" Speakers, workshops, awards Info: Rev. Nannette Banks at mccormickdays2015@mccormick.edu ASSOCIATION FALL MEETING Joint Fall Meeting: Fox Valley & CMA Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 First Congregational UCC of Elgin 256 Chicago St., Elgin Rev. Dr. Paris Donehoo, Senior Pastor "Creative Sacred Space" for worship Event will stream live at 11 a.m. (EDT) From Amistad Chapel, https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 2/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter Dismantling Racism: In the wake of the resurgence of violence against people of color across the country, delegates of General Synod 2015 overwhelmingly adopted two resolutions on dismantling racism. While AfricanAmerican males, who make up only 6 percent of our U. S. population, represent 40 percent of those in prison or jail. "AfricanAmerican males have a 32 percent chance of serving time at some point in their lives, while white males have only a 6 percent chance." Nearly unanimous Synod support and approval of an emergency resolution to stand in support of the nine men and women slain in the Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Charleston, S.C., community that is anguishing over the violent, hateful act. A call for divestment and boycott of companies that profit from the occupation of Palestinian territories. Synod delegates gave the resolution strong support, calling us to sustain and strengthen our voice against the occupation. This bolsters and supports the work we are doing there, and affirms the authentic voice of our partners, particularly Palestinian Christians in the Kairos Palestine document. Rev. Jim Moos stated that: "The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is one of the most enduring and consequential conflicts of our age. " The resolution calls on the church to engage in specific, non violent actions to help end the ongoing conflict and establish justice and peace. The General Synod overwhelmingly supports divesting from companies "complicit in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza." Synod delegates urge transition to renewable energy and converting the economy from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, energy conservation, and energy efficiency. Synod delegates followed the lead of visionaries such as delegate William Lochstet of the Penn Central Conference, who urged, "We've got to do this and we've got to do it quickly." Our Illinois Conference delegation and staff at General Synod total 55 (including our Honored Guests from Angola Africa.) Participating in Synod is a privilege, wonderful, learning, faith filled experience. Those who attended Synod 2015 are available to share their experience with your congregation. Extend an invitation today. Church House, Cleveland www.ucc.org/creating_sacred_space Midwest Regional Endowment Conference Chicago Theological Seminary Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, 8:30 a.m.4:00 p.m. Info: www.ucfunds.org/future conferences/ https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 3/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter Illinois Conference General Synod Delegates with the Rev. Geoffrey Black and the Rev. J. Bennett Guess. Report from the Associate Conference Minister for Stewardship and Church Vitality "When they had come near Jerusalem and had reach Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." Matthew 21:2 3 NRSV Yes, this portion of Scripture provides us with the prelude to Jesus' triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Yes, it and the words that follow allow us to visualize the arrival of the "King humble and mounted on a donkey." Yes, it speaks of the fulfillment of an earlier prophecy. And yes, it suggests that once believers understand the need, they will willingly surrender their resources in the service of the Lord. In spite of the time between the writing of this Scripture and today, still, God has need of us. We, who are believers, are asked to be faithful in our service to the Lord, surrendering our resources. Yes, beloved, God has need of us, our voices, our witness, and our ministry. Correction to our listing of: FIVE FOR FIVE CHURCHES WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR CHURCHES WIDER MISSION (OCWM), ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING, STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH, NEIGHBORS IN NEED, AND THE CHRISTMAS FUND The following are "Five for Five Churches" and should have been listed as such: Elgin, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Pastor Jill Terpstra; Oak Park, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pastor Sally Iberg; and Sycamore, Mayfield Congregational Church, Pastor Martha Brunell. We wish to acknowledge with gratitude the receipt of the 2015 Covenanted Fair Share Goal Sheet from: Kankakee, St Paul United Church of Christ, Pastor Barbara Lohrbach; Matteson, St. John's Faith UCC, Pastor Terry Krouskoupf; and Oak Lawn, Pilgrim Faith UCC, Pastor Peggy McClanahan. CHALICE AWARDS: During our Illinois Conference Annual Celebration and meeting, we presented the coveted Chalice Award to seven families in recognition of their service to their local church, association, and our conference. These awards are often lovingly referred to as "Extra Mile" service awards. Our Ministry Leadership Team (MLT) presented Chalice Awards to the following servants: https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 4/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter Dorothy Auw; Richard (Dick) and Rev. Nan Conser; Lawrence (Larry) and Patricia (Pat) McCure; Rev. Bill and Rev. Dr. Jane Ann Moore; Rev. Dr. Leroy Sanders; Rev. Dr. Arthur (Art) and Alice Stratemeyer; and Rev. Wallace (Wally) and Tonita Reifsteck. OFF THE PEWS, INTO THE STREETS: During General Synod 30 in Cleveland, Ohio, a new initiative for youth in Illinois was celebrated. "Off the Pews, Into the Streets" was highlighted by Local Church Ministries in the United Church of Christ for its creativity and potential in serving youth. This intergenerational initiative has been awarded startup funding from our National Office. The program was developed in Cluster Six of the Chicago Metropolitan Association, by Dr. Sammie Dortch, and it is a collaborative effort of 12 churches to address the needs of youth utilizing the resources of members in the pews. The two sponsoring congregations are the Congregational Church of Park Manor, Pastor Terrell Murff, and University Church, Pastor Julian DeShazier. For more information about this youth initiative, we invite you to contact Dr. Dortch at (773) 6435101 or visit www.offthepews.org. NEW BEGINNINGS: We are preparing for another orientation session, a "Come and See", of the Local Church Assessment Initiative known as New Beginnings. New Beginnings is designed to assist congregations assess their mission, community, physical plant, and financial resources as they seek to discover what God is calling them to do in the future. If your church can answer yes to two or more of the following questions, you are a candidate for participating in New Beginnings: 1.) Do you have fewer than 70 persons in worship each Sunday? 2.) Are you faced with building maintenance issues? 3.) Is your membership aging? 4.) Are you in a changing neighborhood? 5.) Do you have troubles paying your church bills? Seven churches in the Illinois Conference are currently participating in the New Beginnings Program. "Come and See" Orientation Sessions will be held on Aug. 22, our host church is St. Peter's in Champaign and on Aug. 23, our host church is the Community Church in Morton. Join us for a "Come and See" to learn more about the New Beginnings Assessment Initiative! For more information, call the Conference office at (708) 3444470 or contact us at ilconfcarmen@gmail.com. REQUEST FOR FUNDING PROPOSALS: OUR LOCAL EVANGELISM, ENVISIONING, AND PLANTING MINISTRY (LEEAP) is seeking proposals for the planting of new church starts and the revitalization of existing ministries. Proposals must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2015, to the Conference office. Visit www.ilucc.org for more information or to download an application click here or call us at (708) 3444470. FAITH IN THE FARMLAND: We invite you to join us for a special seminar designed to address the concerns of building small, strong congregations. The seminar "Faith in the Farmland" will be offered on Sept. 12, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Our host church is the United Church of Christ in Granville, Ill. Our guest presenter is the Rev. Dr. Kennon L. Callahan, Ph.D. Dr. Callahan has authored 21 books, served local churches of varying sizes in urban and rural settings, and has traveled throughout the USA, Canada, the Arctic, Norway, Holland, England, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Israel, Mexico, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Chile, Brazil, and the Antarctica, engaging in research. Register now by downloading the registration form by clicking here to reserve your seat. For more information, please call the Conference office at (708) 3444470 or contact us at ilconfcarmen@gmail.com. WORLD WIDE COMMUNION WEEKEND: Please note your calendars and save the date of Oct. 3, 2015, for Conference Wide Worship. We will gather as a conference, with all five associations, joining https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 5/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter in prayer, praise, and singing. Worship will be streamed live to a host church in each association. Plan now to share in worship with us on Oct. 3, 2015! STEWARDSHIP JAMBOREE: We have rescheduled our Jamboree!! Please note your calendar and save the date of Oct. 17, 2015. We will offer energizers and resources to assist with your Annual Stewardship Campaign, discovering Stewardship as a Spiritual Discipline, Capital Campaigns 101, Missional/Narrative Budgeting, Endowment Planning, and more. Save the date, Oct. 14, 2015! EMBRACING OUR COMMUNITIES: Enrollment is open for local churches that are ready to use technology to reach out and embrace their neighbors. MissionInsite is a Church Demographic Program that provides information about local communities. It identifies social economic status, behavioral patterns, religious beliefs, household composition and more. Have you wondered have many youth live within walking distance to your church? Are you aware of the type of communication your community is most receptive to receiving? Perhaps, you are curious about the number of single parents nearby. If so, now is the time to enroll in MissionInsite for data from the last census, current year estimates, and projections into the future. Contact our Conference office, Carmen Torres, at (708) 3444470 or ilconfcarmen@gmail.com for more information. EVANGELISM: Immanuel United Church of Christ in Evergreen Park recently sponsored a Love Fest, in their Fellowship Hall. The table was prepared and the featured dessert was a cross, comprised of twenty decorated cupcakes. Members were asked to invite others to the celebration. Lois invited Barbara. Barbara accepted the invitation. She invited Lisa and Lisa accepted the invitation and brought a child with her. Shirley went to a nearby housing development and knocked on doors; she invited the residents to come and share in worship and the Love Fest. Twelve people accepted her invitation. The Rev. Michelle McNamara is the pastor at Immanuel. With gratitude for the blessings of sharing in ministry with you, I remain Your SisterInChrist, The Rev. Dr. Melbalenia D. Evans All roads led to East Peoria, Illinois, June 5 & 6, 2015 What? 2015 Illinois Conference Annual Celebration: "Continuing Testament: Embracing the Vision." Where? Embassy Suites, East Peoria, Ill. Who? More than 200 participants from throughout the Illinois Conference. Were you there? If not, mark your calendar: same place, almost the same time next year. Expect another inspiring Celebration. Highlights of the Celebration included the keynote address and the preaching on Saturday by the Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes. He is the Chalice Awards recipients with Rev. Dr. Melbalenia Senior Minister Emeritus of Riverside Church in D. Evans at right. New York City and a renowned speaker. The opening worship service on Friday was a panel discussion: "Sacred Conversation on Race," moderated by the Rev. John Thomas, Chicago Theological Seminary. The panelists were: Rev. Vertie Powere, Rev. Bob Meissner and Rev. Jose Jerez. The discussion was informative from https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 6/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter diverse points of view relating to racism. On Friday at the Gatherings, the Rev. Dr. Jorge Morales, Illinois Conference Minister, gave the welcome and introduced the Ministry Leadership Team and the Conference staff. The budget was presented for vote on Saturday. Deceased clergy were remembered in Necrology. Chalice Awards were presented to individuals and families who have made outstanding contributions to the Conference. They are: Dorothy Auw, Nan and Dick Consert, Larry and Pat McCure, Rev. Bill Friday opening worship: "Sacred Conversation on and Jane Ann Moore, Rev. Dr. Leroy Sanders, Race." Rev. Art and Alice Stratemeyer and Rev. Wally and Tonita Reifsteck (not present). Informative Energizers (workshops) were held on Friday and Saturday. Among them were: Oppose the New "Jim Crow" through reforms, and Renewing God's Mission, Angola Team presenter. Business was conducted; the budget was passed. The amended Constitution of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ was passed unanimously. Officers and committee chairpersons were elected and installed. They include: Rev. Vanessa Monroe (CMA), President; Michael Linder (FVA) 1st Vice President; Rev. Kim Wood, 2nd Vice President; Rev. Sandra Florentino, Secretary, and Len Adell, Treasurer. The Celebration was enhanced by excellent praise and worship music. Special guests included representatives from the Angola Partnership, who hosted a reception on Friday night. The Angola guests were able to visit churches through the Rev. Tom Norwalk. Rev. Dr. James Forbes Just before the final Gathering on Saturday, there was a delicious surprise: an ice cream social at the end of the Exhibit Hall. (Yum, yum.) At the final Gathering, resolutions were reviewed and passed. Churches and clergy anniversaries were recognized, along with retiring clergy. At the closing worship, the vibrant and forwardlooking sermon by the Rev. Dr. James Forbes closed out the Celebration on a very positive note. Then it was homeward bound with lots of information and inspiration to take to Conference churches and their members, in the context of the Celebration's theme: "Continuing Testament: Illinois Conference newlyelected Conference president, the Rev. Vanessa Monroe (left); Mary Newcomb, Embracing the Vision." outgoing president at the mike. Jacqueline Moore The Angola Delegation visits the Conference The Illinois Conference was blessed https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 7/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter during the month of June by the presence of a delegation team from our Partner Church, the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola. Our Illinois Conference Angola Partnership Team hosted our visitors after much planning and preparation for the visit of Rev. Andre Cangovi Eurico, General Secretary, Rev. Adelaide Esperanca Catanha, Principal of Emanuel Seminary, Rev. Azevedo Bango Gueve, Director of the Department of Social Assistance, and Luis Samacumbi, Director of Development. Angola delegation and Conference Angola Partnership team. The visit began with their arrival for our Annual Conference Celebration in East Peoria, where many of our Conference church representatives were able to meet and greet these very special persons. The delegation members shared some brief comments during our plenary sessions and led an Energizer, sharing the work of our partner church in a country still rebuilding following 27 years of civil war. During our plenary presentation, the Conference Partnership Team announced that we had reached our Conference Goal of raising $60,000 for our project of building two houses for married seminary students, which will help to increase the number of pastors who will serve the church. The Evangelical Congregational Church in Angolan has over 1.5 million members in 2,750 congregations, but only has 220 Pastors to serve those congregations. Training pastors will continue to be a high priority for the work we do together in our partnership. While in Illinois, the delegation members had the opportunities to visit in churches and homes in Ursa and Fowler, Quincy, Jacksonville, Springfield, Wayne, Lockport, Monee, Hinsdale and Chicago. We spent time in rich conversation with Conference staff, members of the Illinois Partnership Team, staff of The Chicago Theological Seminary, The Association Council of the Chicago Metropolitan Association and staff of the Advocate Health Care System. Some cultural visits included time at the DuSable Museum as well as other sites in the Chicago area. We were blessed by the special hospitality of Plymouth Place in LaGrange who provided guest space for our visitors for much of their visit in the Chicago area. Our visitors then traveled with our Conference delegation in order to be present for General Synod 30 in Cleveland. It was an important time for sharing and learning for our guests as they had the opportunity to observe how our denominational structure functions to provide opportunities for many voices to speak to issues of witness. There were also moments of recognition of international guests to the Synod and opportunities of connecting with many others from around the world. We are pleased to share that our visitors arrived back home safely in Angola on the morning of July 4th, after a time of warm and productive sharing with so many of us in the Illinois Conference. Our partnership team will be working to identify a delegation team from Illinois to travel to Angola in Nov. 2015! We are excited that our Partnership is moving forward with great energy as we now celebrate our 11th year of "Working together to build the one body of Christ in two different places!" Good news from Tower Hill Tower Hill Camp has been working with two local groups in Michigan, Chikaming Open Spaces and Deer Creek Open Spaces, to partner with the SW Michigan Land Conservancy to create a 30acre easement at Tower Hill that will be held in it's https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 8/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter pristine wooded state forever. The goal was to raise $533,000, which will then be used to help maintain Tower Hill. The fundraising began in late July 2013 and was estimated to continue through until July 2016.The exciting news is that the current total amount collected is $528,000. We are so close and hope to complete the project one year early. Once this is completed, the hiking trails, God's Mail Box and the woodland area will be protected and available to generations of Tower Hill users to come. Thank you to all of you who have contributed to this cause, volunteered and used these trails. Woodland area at Tower Hill. News and Events in Fox Valley Association The First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake walked away with second place in the local Fourth of July parade for a Rubik's Cube themed float that promoted the "Mindblowing, EarthShattering, ImpossibletoIgnore Handiwork of God." At the other end of the conference, St. Paul's United Church of Christ collected donations for the local food pantry in the Downers Grove parade, but not in a traditional way. The Precision Shopping Cart Drill Team entertained ala Shriner cyclists while picking up the food. Rubik's Cube float of First Congregational, Crystal Lake. Parade participation also occurred in Chicago's Pride Parade a week earlier, with at least three Fox Valley churches (St. Michaels UCC in West Chicago, First Congregational in Glen Ellyn and First Congregation UCC in Downers Grove) represented. Fox Valley had 10 delegates who attended the United Church of Christ General Synod in Cleveland. You'll be hearing more in future newsletters and email blasts, but if you want hear directly from one of the delegates let us know. They are willing to address groups at local churches about this biennial meeting of our denomination. Shriner Cyclists, St. Paul's UCC, Downers Grove. Madeline Cihak (Lyonsville) madelinecihak@gmail.com Scott Cunningham (Crystal Lake) scottcunningham34@gmail.com Rev. Lindsey HalpernGivens (Harmony) revlhg@gmail.com Rev. Kris Hewitt (Mundelein) revhewitt@gmail.com https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 9/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter Kathy Hummel (West Chicago) kahummel@aol.com Brett Johnson (Downers Grove) brettedit@gmail.com Rev. David Ingles (Crystal Lake) dave@fcccl.org Rev. Lance Lacklore (Huntley) minister@firsthuntley.org Mike Linder (St. Charles) mike60174@aol.com Rev. Michelle McNamara (Crystal Lake) revmichellemcnamara@gmail.com A highlight of General Synod occurred when all delegates and visitors in the Convention Center belted out "O Canada" in honor of our approval to be in full communion with the United Church of Canada. The singing was instigated and led by Rev. Dave Ingles from First Congregational in Crystal Lake. UPCOMING: A farewell service will be held July 19 for the Rev. Bob von Trebra at Lyonsville United Church of Christ in Indian Head Park. He has accepted a call in Utah. Sally Miller will be ordained at 3 p.m. Aug. 2 at First Congregational UCC, Glen Ellyn. She is a chaplain at both Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. Samil UCC ends its ministry Samil (Chicago Korean) United Church of Christ: Servant of Christ, Trustworthy Steward (ICor. 4:1,2) Samil United Church of Christ ends its ministry, leaving a legacy of faithful witness after forty (40) years. Members of Samil UCC celebrated their final worship service on July 12, 2015. Samil UCC church was established in 1975 by eight Korean Families, as the Chicago Korean United Church. The church was nested in the St. Stephens United Church of Christ on North Karlov on the Near Northwest Side of Chicago. The congregation Members and guests celebrate final worship service. officially joined the Chicago Metropolitan Association (CMA) in 1976. It purchased its church home in 1989 at 4201 N. Troy and later moved, purchasing a building at 1575 S. Wolf Rd. in Des Plaines. The Rev. Sang Kyun Chung (at center of the picture), the church's first pastor, retired after 24 years of ministry with Samil in 1999. The Rev. Chung officiated at the final worship service on July 12, 2015. Also in the picture above is the Rev. Keith Scott (4th from left), Moderator of the CMA. The Rev. Dr. Jorge Morales who officiated with the Rev. Chung, at the closing service is not pictured. The Samil United Church of Christ leaves a legacy of continued ministry in the lives and witness of all the people it served, baptized, confirmed, married and saw off to be with our Maker. Samil UCC also leaves a legacy by giving assets totaling $110,000 to our Illinois Conference for continued ministry and mission. Thanks be to God for Samil UCC, for all the lives transformed and for their legacy for continued ministry. Pastor Jamie Frazier preaches at Pride Worship Service Pastor Jamie Frazier of The Lighthouse https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 10/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter Church of Chicago preached at the Pride Worship Service sponsored by the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches, held on Saturday June 27 at Lake View Presbyterian Church in Chicago. The Lighthouse Church of Chicago is a Church in Discernment with the Chicago Metropolitan Association. The Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches is a gathering of 70 churches in the Chicagoland area, including many UCC congregations. All member congregations are welcome to and affirming of the gifts and ministries of lgbtq persons. Pastor Frazier preached on the theme of the service "Welcoming You Home" in Lighthouse Church members with Rev. Wayne MacPherson his sermon, "Somewhere Over the (rear right) at the Pride Worship Service. Rainbow." Connecting the theme of the journey in the "Wizard of Oz" to the biblical journeys of the ancient Israelites to our own journeys for love and justice, Pastor Jamie challenged us to make the connections of all our justice concerns for all communities, so that when one part of the Body of Christ suffers, all suffer. Members of the Lighthouse Church gathered to support their pastor and they are pictured along with Rev. Wayne MacPherson, who represented CMA at the service. A Call to Prayer from the UCC Collegium of Officers We extend our deepest condolences to our brothers and sisters of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina in the loss of their Pastor Clementa Pinckney and eight of their church family. As the body of Christ, we weep in pain and prayer with you in the aftermath of this horrible act of violence. Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives and those who were injured. Each loss is close to us; we just learned that the beloved cousin of one of our UCC national staff persons was one of the victims. Mass killings such as these are heartrending under any circumstances. They are made even more tragic when they happen within the walls and safety of sacred space. The heart of our nation must break wide open to feel the pain of our divisions. The body of our nation must turn itself inside out to expose the sickness of our collective culture. The soul of our nation must cry out in agony and lamentation at this time. We appeal to the United Church of Christ family and the entire nation to pray without ceasing for justice and peace to prevail. We rely on God's abiding love, the presence of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit as we know that God wraps the entire AME family in a blessed embrace. When one part of the body is injured, the whole body suffers. https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 11/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter Dear God of many Names, we come to you in our time of grief. Help us dear God to understand how such tragedy occurs in the midst of your beloved family. Because you have made us One Body, help us dear God to reach across the lines which divide us. At this time, we ask for special prayers for our beloved family in Charleston, South Carolina and all who connect to them in life and spirit. Keep them close to your heart dear One and protect them with power of your Holy Spirit. We pray all this in the blessed name of Jesus the Christ, our Rock and our Redeemer. Pray without Ceasing, Geoffrey, Ben, Jim, and Linda Special offerings for burned black churches in the South The issue of support for burned black churches has been raise in our UCC Cleveland offices and among Conference Ministers, about responding and being supportive of those whose churches have and are being burned in the South. Some local churches are asking if they can take an offering to help these churches that experienced recent fires and burnings. There is a way to direct offering, through our National offices in Cleveland and through our Illinois Conference. I invite our churches to consider receiving such an offering. I would like to ask our clergy to aid our congregations in deciding to receive and designate such an offering. There will be a way to direct it through Conference and the National UCC. This is one way in which we can support victims of violence, be in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters and witness against racism and injustice. Rev. Dr. Jorge L. Morales Conference email and website information Listed below are the email addresses and the website information: Illinois Conference general email: ilconferenceucc@gmail.com Conference Minister Jorge Morales:ilconfjorge@gmail.com Associate Conference Minster (Stewardship and Church Vitality) Melbalenia Evans:ilconfevans@gmail.com Associate Conference Minister (Prairie\Western) Kathy Lawes: ilconfkathy@gmail.com Associate Conference Minister (Eastern\Western) Tom Norwalk: ilconftom@gmail.com Associate Conference Minister (Fox Valley\CMA) Jonathan Knight: ilconfjonathan@gmail.com Associate Conference Minister (CMA) Vertie Powers: ilconfvertie@gmail.com Conference Controller Bill Serritella: ilconfbill@gmail.com Tower Hill Camp: towerhillcamp@gmail.com Pilgrim Park Camp: ilodm.org Illinois Conference support staff: Naomi Else: ilconfnaomi@gmail.com Carmen Torres: ilconfcarmen@gmail.com Wayne MacPherson (CMA): ilconfwayne@gmail.com Tracy Diehl (Prairie): ilconftracy@gmail.com Connie Owens (Western): ilconfconnie@gmail.com Accounting (Conf.): ilconftracy@gmail.com Please visit the Illinois Conference website at www.ilucc.org. The Illinois Conference now is on Facebook; look for us. https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1121641069442&format=html&printFrame=true 12/13 10/15/2015 Illinois Conference UCC ENewsletter Also, online giving now is available on the website. THE ILLINOIS CONFERENCE UCC ENEWSLETTER is published by the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1840 Westchester Blvd., Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154. The Rev. Jorge Morales, Conference Minister; Jacqueline L. Moore, Editor; Carmen Torres, Editorial Assistant. Copy may be sent to: ilconfcarmen@gmail.com. This communication is made possible by your contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission. Forward email This email was sent to ilconfcarmen@gmail.com by ilconfcarmen@gmail.com | Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | About our service provider. 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