Called to Witness, Care, and Act!

Message from Pastor Mori 

Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter    Message from Pastor Mori Dear Ravenswood Fellowship family,   Laity Sunday celebrates the ministry of everyone. Christians love both God and neighbor. This week is Laity Sunday (October 18, 2020), and we lift up the vocation of everyone who follows Jesus Christ and leads others to God.  Laity Sunday is a special Sunday defined by the General Conference "to celebrate the ministry of all Christians," (2016 Book of Discipline, ¶ 264.2).  If you want to learn more about Laity Sunday and its history, please click here. Also, if you want to know about the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders, please click here.  I want to share a highlight from the 2020 Laity Sunday overview. The theme this year is "Therefore, God with Hope through ENGAGEMENT." The theme brochure is here. "The year 2020 has brought challenges to gathering in person that we could not fathom last October. This year, our celebrations of lay calling and leadership take place in the shadow of a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and the unavoidable conviction that the body and soul crippling racism still plaguing our communities must end.  This dramatic context of God's call to discipleship has only amplified our longing to connect, to experience Christ's empowering presence in ways that strengthen us as we share grace with those God so loves.  In recent months, too, church 'rules of engagement' have been rewritten before our very eyes. COVID-19 has created a new focus on those who aren't in our buildings (because all of us can't be in our buildings). We all know what it's like to be 'shut-in.' With this experience, a light has shown on many we hadn't seen before, people who for a variety of reasons haven't had access to the in-person experiences of grace we used to take for granted.  In the mix of our embrace of (or resistance to) live-streamed services, Zoom committee meetings, online Bible studies, and virtual VBS, there continues to be critical conversation about what constitutes "real" gathering, togetherness, and connection. As definitions of engagement broaden, attention has shifted from familiar experiences of worship and learning in our buildings to forms of participation that extend well beyond sanctuary walls. 'Can we be Christ's witnesses online? Can people cry for help through virtual spaces? Can we respond to those in need through online platforms? Laity know all too well that the short answer is 'yes.'  As we welcome and offer the good news of Jesus' love for all, we know that the most engaging opportunities to grow deep and wide in our faith come from relationships with those beyond the comfort and security of our church walls. The stories and situations of those struggling with fear, loss, trauma, and injustice – as well as freedom, joy, and delight – become altar calls for the wholeness and holiness work of justice, mercy, and reconciliation. This is the ministry of the "all called," the laity. This is relational discipleship and participation in the mission of God (mission Dei). Therefore, we will go (with hope) through engagement!" (From Laity Sunday 2020 Overview -written by Discipleship Ministry)     This upcoming Sunday, October 18, we will listen to messages from our lay leaders, learn about their role as a leader in the church at the same time they are leaders in the community. We will also hear what they learn from their ministry and how we can help and support them as a Christian faith community.    See you all on Sunday Blessing   MORI    Give on PayPal Give on PayPal Community Info & Links REMINDERS!!! No in-person worship this Sunday.   We have canceled in-person worship this week (October 18) and will re-schedule for a future Sunday. Following worship service this Sunday, we will have a Trustee meeting as well as a meeting of the Re-Opening team on Zoom.  Please stay on Zoom following the worship service to join in on these meetings.                                            Japanese Garden Work                                  Saturday, October 17, 10-11:30 am  This Saturday we will transport the bottom soil with the wheelbarrow to the pond. Then transport the topsoil to fill up the pond. If you have a shovel and or wheelbarrow, please bring them. For more information and questions -Yuko Darcy(Email: here.) Laity Sunday  October 18 Sunday   Methodism has a long history of celebrating and recognizing the ministry of the laity. It is important to say to the Ravenswood Fellowship family, "This church is your church."  We always work together as a faith community and without lay leaders, we would not be called the church. In the early days of American Methodism, the laity served and maintained congregations between visits of the circuit riders. Today, laypeople are the front line of daily ministry at the workplace, in the home, and within the community. Laity Sunday is celebrated on the Third Sunday of October in the Methodist tradition. I want to invite you to an October 18th celebration of Laity Sunday to give thanks to our lay leaders. We will take the time to introduce our lay leaders and share their work. This year they have needed to work with two new pastors under the pandemic situation. We need the whole Body of Christ as we seek to become a more vital congregation who makes disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! Pumpkin Spice Cinema Club Do you like movies? I love movies!  If you like movies and pumpkin spice tea, please join the Ravenswood Fellowship Church Pumpkin Spice Cinema Club. From October 22 to November 19, we will have a cinema club with five movies through Zoom online. These five movies will allow us to talk about social justice issues such as racism, justice, and global warming. Also, we will talk about the love and beauty of relationships.  If you want to just come and enjoy with your popcorn, please log-in on the zoom links here:  (Meeting ID: 883 6694 3163)  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88366943163 Thursday,  October     22  7:00-8:00  Movie   To Kill a Mockingbird  Thursday,  October     29  7:00-8:00  Movie   Get Out  Thursday,  November 05  7:00-8:00  Movie   The Trial of the Chicago 7 Thursday,  November 12  7:00-8:00  Movie   Parasite Thursday,  November 19  7:00-8:00  Movie   Wonder   UMW Annual Celebration October 24 via Zoom This year's theme is "LISTEN: WITH FRESH EARS AND EYES!" The guest speaker is Rev. Danira Parra, who is pastor of Dayspring Native American UMC in East Peoria, Ill. Look for more information and registration at umwnic.org. UMHEF Virtual Homecoming  October 27, From 10 am to 3:00 pm The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) will host a virtual "homecoming" to celebrate Methodism and higher education, UMHEF scholars, and more. Festivities will include messages from United Methodist students, spotlights of UM-related institutions of higher education, interactive activities, messages from prominent leaders, and more. Click here for free registration and schedule for the day Introduction to Coaching   October 29  From 9 am to 4 pm Coach Jum Griffith will lead this interactive webinar for a new, turnaround, or vital churches. Sponsored by the NIC Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment. Learn more here, registration here      All Saints Day - Sunday, November 1, 2020 On Sunday, November 1st, we will celebrate All Saints Day.  If you would like to remember a loved one who has passed in 2019 or 2020, please submit a picture with info to the church office.  We would like to share the photos during worship on November 1st.  Also, please share any other prayer concerns for those needing comfort and care during this time.   2020 Church Conference Save the date! The Church Conference season will look very different this year with most Conferences taking place through Zoom video conferencing. Ravenswood Fellowship UMC's Church Conference date is Sunday, November 15, at 12:00 PM. The SPRC meeting is at 11:30 AM. Click here to access the 2020 online forms for the committee chairs. Meeting Announcement Finance Committee  Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 pm Zoom Nomination Committee  Date and Time: TBA Trustee Meeting Sunda, October 18, 11:30 am Zoom 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 Bible Reader. October Worship  Bible reader sign-up here. October Bible Scripture here November's Scripture here. November Bible reader sign-up 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.  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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