Fourth Sunday After Epiphany

Message from Pastor Mori 

Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter    Message from Pastor Mori   Dear RFUMC family    The Covid-19 pandemic has many people facing poverty, hunger, and homelessness in the United States. From today until Lent I want to share my thoughts and views about poverty with you through the Weekly Newsletter.    USA Today states, "the unemployment rate in the United States stood at 11.1% as of June. While this is a marked improvement from the 14.7% jobless rate in April, it is still higher than at any time in at least the last 70 years." The media reports unemployment has hit historical highs and thousands are facing living in the streets. Another fact is that the coronavirus is erasing minority women from the work force.    The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics delivered the shocking report that a total of 144,00 jobs were lost in December, the clear effect of the continuing economic downturn. The New York Times reports that "while this makes unemployment increase slightly, 156,000 women lost their jobs, mainly in pandemic-hit sectors such as hospitality and education. And since the employment of white women actually increased on net these losses fell on women of color."    This fact made me sad, because it is widening inequalities by gender, class and race. And this is opposite of our recent history which shows that women in the work force have been making progress. The New York Times said that the woman's average pay has risen from about 62 cents for every dollar made by men to 81 cents. The article shows that 59% of Black women work, up from about 49% at the start of the 1970s, and 58% of Hispanic women work, up from 41% in 1972.    For me, the pandemic has erased progress. The working class of women of color suffer from poverty, they are more likely to have debts, and they are face a higher risk of eviction.  This is not right and is a sad statistic to read because it shows the virus has made the gaps between poor and the rich greater.   I want to ask you, how we will make a difference? How will we rebuild a better future? How can we stretch out our love and care to our neighbors?   Remember Luke 4:17-19 (NRSV)  […and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:   "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,   because he has anointed me         to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives     and recovery of sight to the blind,         to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." ]  Blessings  Mori    Give on PayPal Community Info & Links Lent Bible Study Book This Lent ponder the themes of justice, poverty, freedom, and love. Victor Hugo's Les Misérables is a truly epic story. Whether you've read the novel, seen the Broadway musical, heard its soundtrack, or seen the several screen adaptations, you already know the power in the story. In the six-week Lenten study The Grace of Les Misérables, author and pastor Matt Rawle dives into six ideals found in the story—grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope—each represented by a character in Hugo's story. In keeping with his previous works, Rawle brings us to the intersection of Church and Pop Culture by drawing parallels between the iconic story and musical and our Christian calling, inspiring us to both understand our faith and live it out in the world.                                  Lent Bible Study  Feb 17 - April 06 2021 Every Thursday 7:00-8:00 PM   Zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85235718340 Meeting ID: 852 3571 8340 +13126266799,,85235718340# US (Chicago)                                         Lent Daily Prayer                                               Feb 17- April 03 2021 We will be sending a prayer sanctuary booklet for Lent 2021 to you.  Please join us every day in daily prayer on Facebook live 8:00-8:15 AM.  We hope the Lent daily prayer helps you faithfully journey through Lent as we prepare to experience the joy of the Resurrection.  Join Zoom Meeting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81924573375 Meeting ID: 819 2457 3375  +13126266799,,81924573375# US (Chicago)                                            Lent Kit Delivery                                          We will be mailing or delivering a Lent supply package.  Included in this package are the following:   Holy Communion Supplies Palm Ash for 2/17 Ash Wednesday Plastic Palm for 3/28 Palm Sunday Wooden Cross for 4/02 Good Friday Daily Prayer Book for Lent for 2/17-4/03 Daily Devotion        2021 MINORU YASUI STUDENT CONTEST   The Minoru Yasui Student Contest is proud to announce its 2021 essay competition on Refugee and Immigrant Experiences.  We celebrate the ideas and opinions of students in grades 6 through 12 and challenge them to write an original and thoughtful essay exploring refugee or immigrant experiences. Their essay should also demonstrate an understanding of the life and legacy of Minoru Yasui, who spent over 40 years as a dedicated leader serving diverse and often marginalized communities.  Students are encouraged to research and share meaningful stories about the conditions, challenges, and support experienced by immigrants and refugees coming to the United States. At the same time, we hope to inspire the next generation of leaders who can embrace complex issues as Min Yasui did - with courage, agility, and thoughtfulness. For more information on contest details, please go to the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project website:  minoruyasuilegacy.org/student-contest.   The Flyer here  Laity Convocation  Making Our Churches Vital in a Post-Pandemic World Saturday, Feb. 13, 9 am - 12 noon   Join the Board of Laity for a virtual Laity Convocation on February 13 that will focus on making our churches vital during these uncertain times and beyond. The registration link here. For more information, the flyer here  Martin Luther King, Jr., virtual celebration event January 31 at 3 pm   On Sunday, January 31 at 3:00 pm, the NIC Conference Commission on Religion and Race, in collaboration with Black Methodists for Church Renewal, invites you to a virtual celebration via Zoom webinar of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and ministry. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link for the event. Please click here to register.  The featured speaker is Rev. Dr. Stacey Cole Wilson, Executive Minister of Justice and Service (Baltimore-Washington Conference), whose presentation will assess the current state of affairs in our progress along the path of racial justice and equity for all.  The program will also include a short Q&A time with our speaker, music and invited prayers. January 31- Lay Leader Report Day   The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church explains the Lay Leader; [A]ll Christians are called to minister wherever Christ would have them serve and witness in deeds and words that heal and free. (The Book of Discipline, ¶128) Responsibilities of both the lay leader and the lay member of annual conference include "interpreting the actions and programs of the annual conference and the general church. Communicating the vision and needs of the local church to the annual conference and general church." This is great time to listen annual conference's 2021 goal and and vision from our lay leader, Donna Sagami. Donna will present a lay leader report on Sunday January 31 during worship service.                                                                     Church Office Hours                             We will continue to follow Governor Pritzker's guidelines during the COVID 19 pandemic. Currently, the mandate is to stay at home as much as possible.  The office staff will continue to work remotely until this mandate is lifted.  We will follow the guidelines issued by the Governor as well as the Chicago CDC and provide an update when possible.  Please be assured that the church mailbox and voicemail are checked daily. Pastor Mori can be reached by email at rfumcpastormori@gmail.com or by leaving a voicemail at the church office at (773) 561-2610.      Weekly Sermon Phone Service  If you do not have computer access or cannot access our Sunday worship service through a smart phone, we now have a sermon by phone service, which is available at any time!  The phone number is (773) 219-0861.  You can listen to a recent version of Pastor Mori's Sunday sermon and it's free!   Meeting Announcement  Craft Team meeting for Valentines day project  Saturday Feb 06  Finance Meeting  Wednesday Feb 18 7:00 PM  (Zoom Online)  After Covid-19 Updates.  Read about the Phases for Re-Opening here. Is that document too long? Read the summary version here.  Our Regions 10 and 11 are still at Tier 2 Mitigations     Here our Interim Bishop Hokin's letter          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 service 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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THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

Message from Pastor Mori 

Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter    Message from Pastor Mori   I believe that God gave us language, so we talk, praise God and comfort others. As I watched the inauguration service, I saw the true beauty of language through Amanda Gorman's poem. Having heard so many angry and violent words in the media as I heard her poem I felt the power of hope lift me up in my office. The hope in words can heal and inspire us.  Many media outlets shared the poem so you might have had a chance to read it, but I want to share a part of her poem, "The Hill We Climb," and share her thoughts on hope.   " … We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.   And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn't mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge our union with purpose, to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.   We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised, but whole; benevolent, but bold; fierce and free. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation, because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation……   When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it. "    This is what we need to hear. Her message honors and values the nation, we heard the hope of being united. Her poem reminds me again how amazing is the power of language, how it gives us insight, purifies us, and gives us a chance to restore. I know many members of RFUMC were worried and concerned as we have shared during the prayer group. This is the time for hope rather than worry.   I believe God gave us language to use in the healing and comfort of others, make disciples of Jesus Christ, share the Good News of God, and invite people to peace and justice. As we watched this historic new chapter, I want you to be reminded of the purpose of words and use them to share hope and grace with our neighbors.    Blessings MORI    Give on PayPal Community Info & Links Lent Bible Study Book This Lent ponder the themes of justice, poverty, freedom, and love. Victor Hugo's Les Misérables is a truly epic story. Whether you've read the novel, seen the Broadway musical, heard its soundtrack, or seen the several screen adaptations, you already know the power in the story. In the six-week Lenten study The Grace of Les Misérables, author and pastor Matt Rawle dives into six ideals found in the story—grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope—each represented by a character in Hugo's story. In keeping with his previous works, Rawle brings us to the intersection of Church and Pop Culture by drawing parallels between the iconic story and musical and our Christian calling, inspiring us to both understand our faith and live it out in the world.                                  Lent Bible Study  Feb 17 - April 06 2021 Every Thursday 7:00-8:00 PM   Zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85235718340 Meeting ID: 852 3571 8340 +13126266799,,85235718340# US (Chicago)                                         Lent Daily Prayer                                               Feb 17- April 03 2021 We will be sending a prayer sanctuary booklet for Lent 2021 to you.   Please join us every day in daily prayer on Facebook live 8:00-8:15 AM.  We hope the Lent daily prayer helps you faithfully journey through Lent as we prepare to experience the joy of the Resurrection.  Martin Luther King, Jr., virtual celebration event January 31 at 3 pm  The NIC Commission on Religion and Race, in collaboration with Black Methodists for Church Renewal, is planning a Martin Luther King, Jr., virtual celebration event on Sunday, January 31 at 3 pm.  Rev. Dr. Stacey Cole Wilson, Executive Minister of Justice and Service, Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church. She will make the keynote presentation: "Where Are We On The Arc Of The Moral Universe (Bending Toward Justice)?"  January 31- Lay Leader Report Day The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church explains the Lay Leader; [A]ll Christians are called to minister wherever Christ would have them serve and witness in deeds and words that heal and free. (The Book of Discipline, ¶128) Responsibilities of both the lay leader and the lay member of annual conference include "interpreting the actions and programs of the annual conference and the general church. Communicating the vision and needs of the local church to the annual conference and general church." This is great time to listen annual conference's 2021 goal and and vision from our lay leader, Donna Sagami. Donna will present a lay leader report on Sunday January 31 during worship service.                                                            Get to Know Interim Bishop John Hopkins With the new year, we welcome retired Bishop John L. Hopkins, who is serving as the interim bishop for the Northern Illinois Conference through 2021.  Typically we would host a meet-and-greet event or a formal welcome, but because COVID-19 prevents us from gathering we are introducing him through a Zoom interview.  RFUMC will have a chance to listen to a sermon from Bishop John Hopkins (Ephiphany Cabinet Worship) on Jan 24 Sunday.                                                                                    Church Office Hours                             We will continue to follow Governor Pritzker's guidelines during the COVID 19 pandemic. Currently, the mandate is to stay at home as much as possible.  The office staff will continue to work remotely until this mandate is lifted.  We will follow the guidelines issued by the Governor as well as the Chicago CDC and provide an update when possible.  Please be assured that the church mailbox and voicemail are checked daily. Pastor Mori can be reached by email at rfumcpastormori@gmail.com or by leaving a voicemail at the church office at (773) 561-2610.      Weekly Sermon Phone Service  If you do not have computer access or cannot access our Sunday worship service through a smart phone, we now have a sermon by phone service, which is available at any time!  The phone number is (773) 219-0861.  You can listen to a recent version of Pastor Mori's Sunday sermon and it's free!   Memorial Service  Jan 24 Sunday 2:00 PM    It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing of one of our beloved former members, Flora Hidaka, last week. Her family will hold a virtual memorial service this Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 2:00 pm. (Zoom link available on Sunday Jan 24) Please join the family and friends of the Hidaka family in remembering and celebrating the life of Flora.Flora was the sister of Jr Morita and the late Dorothy Kaneko. Meeting Announcement  STAFF Meeting  Friday, Jan 29 Noon  (Zoom Online)  After Covid-19 Updates.  Read about the Phases for Re-Opening here. Is that document too long? Read the summary version here.  Our Regions 10 and 11 are still at Tier 2 Mitigations             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 service 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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