Faithful Fridays, March 1

March 1, 2024

UCC Yearbook - March 6 Deadline

United Church of Christ

Data Hub closes to churches at midnight Eastern Time on March 6th. Thank you for all your hard work in collecting and reporting. If you need help, please contact Naomi in the Conference Office (708-344-4470). Your church's 501(c)3 status is dependent on a current updated listing in the UCC Yearbook. Linked below are documents from the National UCC office to help you get started:

Climate Action Assembly

The UCC Council for Climate Justice will be hosting a Climate Action Assembly to hear updates on three endeavors launched for this year: the Freedom from Plastics Campaign, the Electrification Checklist Initiative, and the Vote for Climate Hope Campaign. Each of these programs is rooted in recent General Synod resolutions. Climate Action Assemblies are open to all members of the UCC. Register here.

Exploring the UCC

An overview of the birth, development, structure, beliefs, values, and ethos of the United Church of Christ. Participants will get an overview of the five major streams that contributed to the UCC, how our Congregational polity works, understand some important UCC beliefs, and discuss how the UCC views scripture. Please note: this does not meet UCC MID requirements. Learn more here.

CTS André LaCocque Lecture

Chicago Theological Seminary is pleased to present the 2024 André LaCocque Lecture on March 14, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. Our guests will be Dr. Anthony B. Pinn and Dr. Brad R. Braxton, co-authors of A Master Class on Being Human: A Black Christian and a Black Secular Humanist on Religion, Race, and Justice. The program will begin at 5:30pm and run to sundown (6:57pm), followed by breaking fast, prayer, and an iftar dinner. Click here to register to attend.

UCC Clergy Women Leadership Event

Registration is now open for the 2024 UCC Clergywomen Leadership Event. “Weaving our Tapestry” takes place April 16-18, 2024 in Charleston, SC, with the 2023 Antoinette Brown Awardees as the keynote presenters. This event is open to all authorized UCC Clergywomen. Please share this with all the clergywomen in your Conference.

How Long Till Justice Webinar

In April, the 10th anniversary of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan will be marked. Yet, justice, in many forms and by many measures, has remained elusive. In Jackson, Mississippi and near the U.S. Navy’s toxic Red Hill facility in Hawai’i, justice has also been difficult to achieve in the wake of water crises. Learn how leaders from these communities envision the path to justice in this webinar on March 13th at 12:00 p.m. CST. Register here now!

Sense of Wonder

Women's Retreat

During the weekend retreat, women of all generations will explore what it means to be embodied in themselves and as the communal Body of Christ. This gathering is expansive to include all women, trans and cis, as well as non-binary people comfortable in a space that centers on the experience of women. Our retreat leader is The Rev. Dr. Elyse Wagner Berry. The cost is $275 for double occupancy, $325 for single. The fee includes meals and materials.

Brush Harbor Retreat

for Clergy of Color

Now is the time to connect with your tribe. Come join us Thursday, May 2 - Saturday, May 4 at the Tower Hill Retreat Center in Sawyer, Michigan. As Clergy you constantly pour into others - our job is to pour into you. Come to connect deeply with your peers surrounded by the healing power of nature. The Brush Harbor Retreat for Visionaries of Color is led by Rev. Michelle Hughes and Eyvette Jones-Johnson. The cost is $150/person and includes meals and lodging.

Regional Youth Event

Registration is open for the Great Lakes/West Central Regional Youth Event this summer, July 17-20 at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois! The theme for the event is "Love is Greater Than Fear." The Many will be providing music and worship leadership, along with a special appearance by Flamy Grant! The event is open to youth who will have completed 6th grade through 12th grade in 2024. Groups are required to bring one chaperone for every 1-5 youth. Click here to download the flyer.

Recent Statement from Churches for Middle East Peace

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) calls on US Government to hold Israel accountable to US laws and for the deaths of American citizens. Click here to read the recent statement issued on Feb. 23 by CMEP, of which the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ are founding members.

Conference/Local Church News & Events

Governance Listening Sessions

The Illinois Conference Governance Task Force is continuing to develop the framework for our proposed renewed model. We appreciate the comments and insights previously shared during listening sessions and presentations at Association meetings and the 2023 Annual Celebration. Our next round of listening sessions will be on Tuesday, March 12, one session will be at 10:00 a.m. and the other will be at 6:30 p.m. The agenda is the same for each session. We are wanting further input on the model for the Ministry Teams/Board of Directors as well as the Nominating process. There is no need to register in advance. Click on the link below to join the session of your choosing at the time of the event.

Tuesday, March 12th at 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, March 12th at 6:30 p.m.

Messy Church Conference at Northfield

You don’t want to miss the Messy Church USA National Conference “Celebrate the Mess” coming April 18-20, 2024 in the greater Chicago area! Celebrate the Mess Conference begins at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 18th and ends with a take away lunch at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20th at Northfield Community Church, a UCC church, in Northfield, IL. The conference will include workshops, large group sessions, and Messy Church sessions with worship, music with Music Makes Community that all will: help Messy Churches start, create, and grow; share wonderful successes and fantastic failures; and connect old and new friends. Check out messychurchusa.org for more conference info, workshops and keynote speakers, discount rate to the Renaissance Hotel, and more.

Conference MID Gathering - SAVE THE DATE!

Save the Date for the MID Annual Gathering on April 6th from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Congregational Church. This event is for MIDs, Advisors, and COM members from all Associations. More information coming soon.

Boundary Training

The Illinois Conference is hosting Clergy Boundary Awareness Training, facilitated by the Rev. Molly Carlson, on Tuesday, April 23rd from 9:00-11:00 a.m. This two-hour training via Zoom will be based on the book Sustaining Ministry: Foundations and Practices for Serving Faithfully by Sondra Wheeler. There is no cost for Authorized Ministers in the IL Conference. In order to register, participants are expected to read the book and submit a short 1-2 page reflection on the book. This training needs a minimum of 10 participants will be capped at 48. In order to register, please email your reflection to the Conference office. You will then be sent the information to register online for the training.

Does your church have news to share or an upcoming event you would like to advertise? Email us the information and any accompanying graphics/flyers.

Calendar At a Glance

Mar 1-2: ODM Meeting. Retreat at Tower Hill.

Mar 6: DATA HUB CLOSES FOR CHURCHES.

Mar 7: ACPC Meeting. 6:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 9: Camp Forward Team Meeting. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Mar 9: Stewardship Meeting. 3:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 12: Governance Listening Session. 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Mar 12: LEEAP Meeting. 6:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 12: Governance Listening Session. 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 14: FVA Committee on Ministry Meeting. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Mar 14: CMA Committee on Ministry Meeting. 12:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 16: Summer Camp Directors Training. 2:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 17: Western Council Meeting. 3:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 18: CMA Council Meeting. 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 19: FAB Meeting. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Mar 19: Western Committee on Ministry Meeting. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Mar 20: Eastern Committee on Ministry Meeting. 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.

Mar 25: FVA Council Meeting. 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Mar 27: Eastern Council Meeting. 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Installations, Ordinations, Ecclesiastical Councils

Mar 4: Ecclesiastical Council for Victor Parrott. 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Chicago Metropolitan Association Cluster 6.

Employment Opportunities

RECENT POSTINGS

Chapman University is seeking a Director of Church Relations. They are looking for a deeply gifted Disciples or UCC minister who can shepherd recruiting and fundraising efforts among Disciples and United Church of Christ congregations as well as offer exceptional chaplaincy service to the Chapman University community. Disciples on Campus is an Open & Affirming ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. Chapman was founded by Disciples and, as of 2010, is also a recognized UCC university. Learn more and apply here by March 23rd.

United Protestant Church in Grayslake is seeking a Music Director.

Winnetka Congregational Church, a progressive, non-denominational church with an active membership of 400, is seeking a full-time interim associate pastor to start this summer and serve for about a year. The interim associate pastor shares all pastoral duties with the senior pastor. Ordination required. Interim training and experience a plus. Please contact Rev. Jeffrey Phillips, acting senior pastor, by email (jeffrey.phillips@winnetkacongregationalchurch.org) or phone (847-636-6111).

Lay Employment Postings

Ministerial Positions

National UCC Openings

Please let us know if you have a job opening you would like to share,

and also update us once the position is filled. Contact Sarah Lohrbach.

Mon-Fri 8:30 - 4:30

708-344-4470