Let your hopes and shape your future!

Message from Pastor Mori 

Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter    Message from Pastor Mori The Chicago Public School's CEO made it official that CPS students will not be returning to the classroom in September. The decision made to protect students and staff from the COVID virus. As I read the news, I honestly felt relief because I was concerned about RFUMC's student's health. I think most of us are on the same page that we need to protect the students and older adults in our congregation as well as everyone else. This is the reason why the RFUMC Ad Council was made a decision to not have fall church events such as the rummage sale, the Teriyaki Chicken, Pancake Breakfast, and Halloween events. I know this is such a sad decision, however, we are all going through this struggle together. For the sake of everyone's safety, we need to remember the First General Rule of Wesley to Do No Harm. It should be the primary bar to clear as we make any plans. The situation looks hard but I think about the hope which everywhere. The one true God who is the creator and sovereign overall is the same one who loves us immeasurably. I want to focus on the church's hopefulness and so I want to invite you to the hope project. Please send your children's and grandchildren's pictures about hope so that we can exhibit them outside of the church so that our neighbors can see and remember that they are surrounded by hope.  The due date is Sunday, September 13 Please send it to Ravenswood Fellowship UMC. Let's let people know there is always hope. We will also make an electronic exhibit video too. The other project is a backpack blessing. This is a hard time for students and school staff. We will invite our students to a blessing for their school year to support them. This will be done outside, with masks and social distancing. Feel free to join the backpack blessing prayer on Saturday, August 29, at 10:30 AM. The main church events are canceled; however, we will use this time for our inner spiritual growth and use this as an opportunity to empower our neighbors. Hope is everywhere !!  May the God of hope fill you all with joy and peace so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13) Blessings Pastor Mori PS) Pastor Mori's Q&A Q) What are your hobbies?  A)  here   Give on PayPal Give on PayPal Community Info & Links The Hope Project People say this is a hard situation. It is very true, but the church never loses hope in Christian history. Jesus Christ gives us hope as he defeats death and sin. Please send your children's or grandchildren's pictures to show hope to our neighborhood. We will exhibit the pictures outside of the church. Due date Sep 13 Sunday. More information, please email Pastor Mori email  Backpack Blessings Aug 29 Saturday 10:30 AM This academic year is tough for both students and parents as they need to take online classes. Also, it is a hard situation for teachers and school staff. As a church, we want to bless and support our students and parents and teachers and school staff.    Meet on the Hermitage side of the church, in front of the Japanese Garden Door. We will have a chance to pray and bless them. We plan to give a key holder and a mini sanitizer to all students who come. If you want to participate, please email Pastor Mori email  September Japanese Garden Prayer - Ring Ding Dong  We invite you to the second Japanese Garden prayer gathering for peace and justice. September 05 Saturday 9:00-9:30 AM We have limited to prayer to fifteen people due to garden capacity, so please sign-up here.  United Voices of Children "Kids Above All" Back to School Drive Donation  It is time for the Back to School Backpack Drive! School supplies are an expense that many of our families have difficulty affording. The Back to School Drive is underway and our kids need your help to make sure they are ready to learn--no matter where and how they do it! Please look at the flyer. You can purchase and send school supplies from Kids Above All's Amazon Wishlist. Check it out!  RFUMC Re-Opening Team Meeting Reports The RFUMC Reopening team had a meeting to discuss reopening, talk about government and local health department recommendations, our neighbor church's reopening situations, and the UMC Northern Illinois Conference protocols.  Here is the RFUMC Survey results, please look at it.  We made a decision that during August and early September, we will keep online worship and delayed reopening for the sake of our congregation's health. We will have the next meeting on September, 04 Wednesday to make a review of the situation. We welcome your opinions Please email them to the Reopening team.   After Covid-19 Updates. Read about the Phases for Re-Opening here. Is that document too long? Read the summary version here.                                                                                        Links for 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).  Let's boost our worship! Please sign-up for Worship liturgist and Bible Reader. Sign-up here August Bible Scripture here, Worship Liturgy here. 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: 828 2305 3546, One-tap mobile+13126266799) 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. Youtube Link here Give on PayPal Our mailing address is: 4511 North Hermitage Ave. Chicago, IL 60640 Contact us at: ravfelumc@yahoo.com (773) 561-2610 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

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