New Look and Production Schedule!

Faithful Fridays has a brand new look! You will still find the same news, events, resources and more, but the format has changed and we are going to have a different production schedule at least for the first part of 2024. Our Support Staff for Communications and Technology has several large projects to complete, including building our new database. In order to clear up their plate, we will have fewer communications coming out. There will not be a full monthly newsletter for at least the first quarter of the year, and Faithful Fridays will be published every other week instead of weekly.

If you have questions or would like to submit an article, email Sarah Lohrbach.

UCC Yearbook - March 6 Deadline

United Church of Christ

It is time to submit information for your church to the UCC Yearbook. Letters were previously sent to all churches, but in case you have not received the information you can find everything you need below. The Conference office is doing a BIG push to have our churches submit their yearly information.

In case you were unaware:

1. Your church's 501(c)3 status is dependent on a current updated listing in the UCC Yearbook. 
2. When your church is searching for a Pastor you will need current and updated data which comes from the UCC Yearbook. If no reports have been submitted for your church for five (5) years, all data reverts to zeros.  

Linked below are documents from the National UCC office to help you get started:

• Yearbook Letter to Churches
• Church Yearbook Instructions
• 12 Important Reasons to Report Annual Church Data 

Data Hub closes to churches at midnight Eastern Time on March 6th. Thank you for all your hard work in collecting and reporting. Your participation is the ONLY way our records are kept up-to-date. If you need help, please contact Naomi in the Conference Office (708-344-4470). 

Health & Human Service Sunday

Every year, the United Church of Christ designates a Sunday in January as the time to uplift the many gifts of the Health and Human Service Ministries across the church. This year, Health and Human Service Sunday takes place on January 28, 2024.

Liturgical resources for observing Health and Human Service Sunday are now available on CHHSM's website or by clicking on the blue button below. This year's materials were composed by the Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry, and include unique elements such as a Sound Meditation for Healing and Wholeness and meaningful prayers and litanies.

CHHSM 86th Annual Gathering

The deadline for early-bird registration is TODAY (January 19), for the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries' 86th Annual Gathering in St. Louis from March 12-14, 2024! We hope you will take advantage of this special rate and join us!

Collaboration as the Gateway to Innovation is our theme. With collaboration taking center stage, we will explore how working together can spark innovation that changes lives. This year's Annual Gathering will ignite fresh ideas and new partnerships for your ministry as you witness firsthand how CHHSM agencies in St. Louis and beyond are pioneering new realms of innovation through dynamic collaborations. Learn more and register online here.

Candlelight Prayer Vigil

On Thursday, February 1st at 7:00 p.m., Pilgrim Faith United Church of Christ (9411 S. 51st Ave., Oak Lawn) will hold a Community Candlelight Prayer Vigil for Peace in Israel and Palestine. For more information, call 708-422-4200.

First Congregational UCC Pecatonica Celebrates 170 Years!

First Congregational United Church of Christ in Pecatonica (633 Reed Street, Pecatonica, Illinois 61063) will be celebrating the 170th anniversary of their congregation's founding on Sunday, February 18th during their 11:00 a.m. worship. There will be a potluck after worship in their Fellowship Hall. The church is handicap accessible. The celebration is open to all! For questions, call the church office at 815-239-1195.