Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter | |
Message from Pastor Mori
Dear Ravenswood Fellowship UMC family
After nearly a year and a half of closings, sheltering at home, and regulations, Chicago fully reopened on Friday.
The news was full of the story that Chicago is now the largest city in the country to fully reopen. It looks like people are feeling relief and as of Friday, there are no capacity limits and requirements to use restaurants, buy groceries, going to the gym, and going to other large venues.
This is good news and I hope more eligible people become vaccinated and improve those numbers so we can open the church without worries.
However, Chicago's COVID dashboard shows that new cases are averaging 87 daily and the hospitalization number is 14. Compared with a few months ago, this is incredible progress. However, it does not mean COVID has been fully overcome and we are still required to wear masks and maintain social distance on public transportation, in hospitals, at schools, and in some congregate settings.
Also, there are people who have not yet been vaccinated including young children, and according to state health statistics, only around 55% of adults in Illinois are fully vaccinated.
This is why we are still wearing masks at church. I know that we are eager to go back to our sanctuary and sing praise without a mask and return to choir practice. I want these things as well and they are some of my favorite church activities.
However, we still need to remember that we have young children and people who are very sensitive to immune disease and old members in our church.
I really like Wesley's three simple rules which are do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.
And I want you to remember the first rule: "do no harm" is before "do good." This is a good time to practice this Wesleyan principle.
See you all, I can see your smile under your mask !
Blessings
MORI
| | Community Info & Links
12 Resources for Anti-Racist Discipleship - Week 4 BY KEN SLOANE
For United Methodists who have professed in their baptismal vows to "resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves," standing up to rampant racism in our culture is imperative. As communities of baptized disciples, how we use our financial resources (both individually and as a church) should make a statement of our commitment to oppose the evil, injustice, and oppression as we join the fight against racist policies, practices, and institutions. Read more here  "The Japanese Culture Center (JCC), in partnership with the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce and Japanese Arts Foundation, is hosting an Ikebana Walking Exhibition June 12th and 13th. The exhibition features the Japanese art of flower arrangement, or Ikebana (ee-keh-bah-nah) in local restaurants and business storefront windows throughout the Southport Corridor allowing safe public access to this beautiful and unique art. Ikebana flower arrangements are meant to be viewed from a single perspective, rather than in the round as often seen in western arrangements. This allows for a perfect experience viewing this art through the window fronts of your favorite local business! The Lakeview neighborhood was historically considered the unofficial Japantown of Chicago. This collaboration seeks to connect our neighborhood's past with the present, while supporting local restaurants and businesses affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. The Ikebana Walk takes place from June 12 – 13, in the Southport Corridor with Japanese Culture Center Ikebana instructors, artists, and students will install flower arrangements from two different schools of Ikebana; Ikenobo and Ohara Ryu. This event is free of charge, and there will be a ribbon cutting at an opening ceremony on June 12 at 12 PM CDT with local community leaders and special guests!"
For more info, click here. Ravenswood Fellowship UMC Sunday Outdoor Worship June 13 - June 27 We will have our fourth in-person worship service on June 13 at 10:30 am. This will take place in the garden. We will keep the capacity size to 20 people. Face masks are required. If you are interested in attending in person, please sign-up using the link here.
If you are unable to attend, we will still have our worship online as well, using our Zoom link. Please feel free to bring your own lawn chair if you feel more comfortable!  Broadway United Methodist Church is hosting a COVID vaccination clinic on Saturday, June 26th from 11am till 2pm. The Pfizer vaccine will be available to anyone 12 years and older. Young persons will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Registration info is available using the QR code for easy access in the flyer above. Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches 2021 Pride Service Everyone and we really mean everyone is welcome to join us for a service of song, sharing and reflection. The CWCC Pride Service will be held at Church of the Three Crosses (333 W. Wisconsin St. Chicago, IL 60614) on Saturday June 26, 2021 at 10am -12pm. For more information, click here.
High School Youth Justice Camp Registration Open
 United Methodist high school students (incoming freshmen through graduating high school students). Justice Camp dates are June 13 (in-person and Zoom), June 27 (Zoom), July 11 (Zoom), and August 8 (Zoom). Campers will take a mostly virtual journey toward racial justice at various sites around the country. Registration fee: $25. Space is limited. Click for details and to register. If you're interested in becoming a Justice Camp Counselor, click here for requirements and to apply. Justice Camp is organized in partnership with United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) and UMC Native American Comprehensive Plan (NACP).  From Sunday, July 04, we will joyfully return to the sanctuary for Sunday worship. As we return to in person worship, we will continue to worship online using Zoom. We have scheduled a time to clean the sanctuary.
Please join us for cleaning on July 03 Saturday 9:30-11:30 AM.
During June, (June 13,20,27 Sunday), we will continue to worship in the Japanese Garden. For more details and regulations please keep your eye to the CDC and local health directions. 
Beginning June 1st, the church office staff will work on a temporary abbreviated summer schedule. The office will be operating on the following schedule:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm (Donna in office)
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm (Donna and Lisa in office)
Friday: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm (Lisa in office)
We will review the schedule and notify you of any changes. Voicemails and e-mails will be checked so please feel free to leave a message for Pastor Mori or the office staff at any time.
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!
 Ravenswood Fellowship UMC June 2021
- Calendar Click Here
Church Room Reservation Form
(to request use of the common areas of the church Click Here
Meeting Announcement
Early Adopter Team Meeting Wednesday June 23 6:30 PM Zoom Online Finance Committee Meeting
Thursday June 24 7:00 PM Zoom Online
After Covid-19 Updates.
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.
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