NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Message from Pastor Mori 

Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church The Weekly Newsletter    Message from Pastor Mori Dear Ravenswood Fellowship UMC family Last week's weather was so wonderful, wasn't it? Now, we expect more hot weather. However, last week we had great weather and I heard my neighbor's chatting that "This weather! How can we keep this weather?" and I thought that "Yes, I hope that, too!!" It looks like summer is going deeper and people are enjoying outside summer activities.    As people become free from restrictions, the retail shops, restaurants, and coffeeshops are fully opened. My gym no more asks us to wear a mask. And church people are asking about the RFUMC health policy.  Currently, we are required to wear a mask during worship, and I know many of you are eager to take them off during worship.    Last Thursday night, the RFUMC re-opening team had a meeting to make decisions about the sanctuary mask wearing policy and we decided that we will keep wearing masks during Sunday worship service until mid-September which is the next scheduled meeting of the team.    According to public health officials around half the state's population is fully vaccinated. In recent days health authorities across the country have been warning that the delta corona variant, which is roaming the country is as much as 60% more transmissible than the original virus. Some officials in other countries put that figure even higher.    Illinois is not safe from the delta variant. According to Mayor Lori Lightfoot if case counts continue to rise, "The city may have to reinforce some of the restrictions that infamously defined 2020 and part of 2021."    As the delta variant takes off in the United States this might well result in more restrictions on vulnerable groups. Our intention is to keep our faith community healthy and safe, and the church will do our best to protect the congregation.    I am so glad that we are back to worshiping in person, as we try to keep our policies safe for each other. We hope and pray that we will soon be back to our "before-pandemic" church life.   I want to deeply thank you for understanding and wearing your mask during the worship service. I cannot see your smiling faces, but I can feel your big smile behind the masks!   See you all at worship with your mask smiles. :) Blessings   MORI         Give on PayPal    Community Info & Links         12 Resources for Anti-Racist Discipleship - Week 10                                                                                       BY   BRYAN TENER                                                                                             This article presents highlights from the webinar series "Decolonizing the Church," which focused on anti-racism as a way to move the church into the future. From naming the present reality to delving into United Methodist history to having conversations about leading through the local church, much wisdom was offered by academics, pastors, and community organizers. Read More Here                                                                         Kids Above All's Back-to-School Backpack Drive is here! Each year Kids Above All partners with members of the community, as well as our faith, corporate and community partners to make sure the school-aged kids in our programs have what they need to succeed this upcoming year. The Backpack blessing will take place here at church on Saturday August 28. (Time to be determined).  As with our recent drives, we've created Amazon Wishlist to help make ordering items for our kids and easy as possible. Please send or drop off donated school supplies at the church office (4511 N Hermitage Ave Chicago IL 60640) by August 27.  The Director from Kid's Above All will pick up the supplies the following Sunday. Download a copy of the flyer for distribution here.                                 Rainbow Sunday                          During the months of August through November, we will be celebrating Rainbow Sundays where we will invite guest preachers from the community to participate in our Sunday morning worship service.  Remembering that we are a reconciling congregation who welcomes everyone, our first Rainbow Sunday will be August 15, 2021.                                The Night Ministry Volunteer                                                       Next Sunday, August 1st, we will be preparing meals for distribution with the Night Ministry.  We will be assembling the sandwich meals after worship service.  If you have some available time to help, please stay after worship service.  Thanks to Lisa Goodman for gathering the supplies and coordinating with the Night Ministry.                August Bible Scripture Reader for the Sunday Worship                          Please sign up for reading the scripture during worship in July and August. The scriptures and sermon titles are here: If you have a plan to attend online using Zoom, you can still read because the congregation will be able to hear your voice! Sign-up link here!                                  The office will be operating on the following schedule: Monday:        Closed Tuesday:       9:30 am - 12:30 pm  Wednesday:  9:30 am - 12:30 pm Thursday       9:30 am - 12:30 pm  Friday:           9:30 am - 12:30 pm   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!                                                                           RFUMC Building Ministry                  Ravenswood Fellowship UMC July 2021Calendar  Click Here Aug 2021 Calendar Here  Church Room Reservation Form (to request use of the common areas of the church Click Here                                                                              After Covid-19 Updates.  Read about the Phases for Re-Opening here. Is that document too long? Read the summary version here. Chicago is currently in Phase 5. Click here to view phase 5 recommendations. Chicago Reopen guidelines 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 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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