Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter | | Message from Pastor Erin I am married to a historian. Joel studies the history of religious and social movements in America. While I'm interested in what he studies, I would not consider myself an expert. Talking about my pride in our collective effort to support the Mutual Aid Society in our area by offering them our building where they can clean, organize, and prepare to distribute necessities to our neighbors, Joel reminded me, "Ya know, throughout history after great crisis comes a time of great social renewal?"
After Jesus was raised and ascended, the followers of Christ began sharing their story and way of ethical living with their neighbors. But moved by the Holy Spirit they took to traveling and sharing the good news far and wide, to the ends of the earth.
After the passage of Executive Order 9066, Japanese Americans would not let the history of internment die quietly, but fought for justice. In 1960, inspired by the Civil Rights movement, folks began the "Redress Movement" seeking an apology and reparations from racial discrimination experienced during the war. It wasn't until 1988, after many years of pressing for acknowledgement of wrongs committed and recompense for lost security, the Civil Liberties Act became law and awarded reparations to those Japanese Americans wrongly detained in internment camps.
After the public death and outcry over Trayvon Martin's death, a black teenager taking a shortcut from the store while wearing a hoodie was followed, approached, and murdered by a neighborhood coordinator with a gun in Florida, there was the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the continued elevation of devastating stories of killings of black Americans, but also public outcry for justice for the families of those who lost their lives under objectionable circumstances. This renewal of concious people advocating for increased number of body cameras on police, commitment to police and community relations, and protection for all people involved.
This renewal out of crisis is usually hard won through protest, advocacy, prayer, and guidance from God. History tells us that renewal is never perfect and does not include all the people it should because we are not perfect creatures. And renewal, much like resurrection, is possible with the help of our God. It will require us working together to make God's kingdom a reality here on earth as it is in heaven.
Oh yeah! And Sunday (May 24) at church, we'll practice the prayer of loving kindness again. Remember from a few weeks ago? "May you be held in compassion. May your pain and suffering be eased. And may you be at peace." We'll do it again. It might feel different this week. More meaningful. Less meaningful. Come prepared to not judge yourself or your experience. See you soon! | | UPDATE
After Covid-19 Teams You all are so generous with your time and care for each other. Many of you have signed up for teams and I'm so grateful. This morning (Saturday) our Re-opening Team met for the first time to think about logistics, plan for visitors, and making our space a hospitable and healthy place to be. While we aren't ready to announce a plan for Re-opening, please be praying for us to be guided by care of other and self, to be guided by our Methodist commitment to "do no harm" and "do all the good you can". After we have some phases for safe re-opening, we can access how our other teams start planning. Please consider joining one of these teams to help us prepare for this "new normal". - Love to research new technologies and help others feel impressed with a new skill? Sign up to help us prepare to continued live streaming of our service.
- Love being outdoors in Chicago in the summer? Sign up to help the in church garden.
- Love feeling the satisfaction of completing a large task and seeing evidence of your hard work? Sign up to help us declutter sections of the church.
- Love meeting new people and talking about thing you love with them? Help us think about creative ways to do outreach now and after the pandemic is over by joining the outreach team.
We need your help. Yes, you! Read this message and think some else will sign up? Maybe. But they won't list their name until they see that others, like you, have put your name on the list. Be brave. Be the first to express interest and welcome others to join you. Express interest to help here or email Pastor Erin with questions and ideas. | | Community Links Coffee Hour with Pastor Erin. Miss talking with your friends from church? Need to get all the latest news and hear how everyone else's life is going? Join Pastor Erin (and other RFUMC folks) for coffee hour on Tuesdays at 1 PM at this link or call at 312.626.6799 (Meeting ID 896 3613 2612). Pastor Erin will bring a thoughtful question for us to ponder and discuss.
Craft Group. We share our updated craft projects, get creative, and pray together. If you want to fellow project makers during this quarantine, please email Yuko Darcy at yukochcago@gmail.com or join the Craft Group on Wednesday at 5 PM at this Zoom link.
Young Adult Virtual Happy Hour. Calling all 20-30-somethings! Tired after a long day of staring at screen? Join us for another hour of staring at a screen but this time with a delicious drink in your hand and good company. Log on and hang out with your fellow RFUMC young adults. Email us for the contact info.
Walking Group. Every week people walk together in our church gym for health and community. But while our building in closed the Walking Group takes their community online. And maybe now you can join their Zoom call to check in, support one another, and pray for each other. 8:30 AM on Wednesdays and Fridays. Go to this link here or dial in at 312.626.6799 (Meeting ID: 771 188 446). Young People's Bible Study. Ages 12-18 are invited to join the Zoom discussion of Jesus stories at 9 AM on Sunday mornings. Join the Zoom call here (Meeting ID: 732 784 767). | | Giving Back Did you see?! UM Foundation. The United Methodist Foundation of the Northern Illinois Conference, Inc. will match $-for-$ your donation to three food banks for a total match of $50,000 during the month of May. Learn how to double the amount of your donation to local food banks with the UM Foundation here.
Mutual Aid Networks. As individuals struggle to respond to the public health crisis of COVID-19, the Mutual Aid Networks of Lakeview, Andersonville, and Lincoln Square/Ravenswood are hosting a fundraiser to directly help our neighbors with groceries and supplies. Consider contributing here.
2020 Census. for every person who doesn't get counted, communities lose about $1400 in funding for critical resources like healthcare, education, affordable housing, school lunches, libraries, fire departments, and senior services, all of which help get us through difficult times. Learn more about the census from the Japanese American Service Committee here. Stick around after worship to learn more about the 2020 Census, why it is important, and how you can help!
Inclusive Collective. An inclusive Christian community for college students at UIC. Learn more about how to support their work of helping young adults learn more about Jesus, grow in community, and give back to the city.
Giving to RFUMC. Of course, we continue to share our finances to support God's work in our faith community. Support the ministry of Ravenswood Fellowship UMC online and by the mail. Your financial support helps us transform lives and make disciples. Go to our PayPal page here or mail in your gift to 4511 N Hermitage Chicago, IL 60640. | | Worship Looks Different Below are some continued learnings for helping you grow confident and participate in our worship experience. And please remember, our building is closed! - Worship. Join Zoom worship by going to this link at 10:30 AM on Sunday: https://zoom.us/j/806489040. Or call in at 1-312-626-6799 (Meeting ID: 806 489 040).
- Want prayer? During our Prayers of the People, we will read your prayer requests. Submit your prayer requests here.
- Download. Get your bulletin here.
- Having trouble? Try logging off and logging back on to Zoom during the video. Or simply log off and call in.
- Missed last week? Check out the Facebook Live video on our page here.
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