Archive for January, 2011

Dear Holy Covenant Family,

This winter, as a community, we’re engaging the Christian practice of forgiveness. If you missed it, I encourage you to listen to Rebecca’s powerful sermon on forgiveness from Sunday. Now’s the time to sign-up for a six-week group on forgiveness; there are opportunities throughout the city on different nights of the week to suit your schedule. As you consider joining one of these groups, I invite you to read the testimony, below, that Georgette Kelly gave on Sunday evening, and pray about the ways you might be transformed by this practice.

See you on Sunday, and think about who you can bring with you.

Grace and Peace,

Kate

Testimony, January 23, 2011
By Georgette Kelly

I don’t mean to brag. But I am really good at forgiveness. I like to think it’s my background in theatre and storytelling-I have had specific training in imagining characters, walking in their footsteps, understanding the forces that cause them to hurt other people. I like to think that with enough insight, and enough time, I could forgive anyone for anything.

For example: If I love you for years, and put your needs before mine, and support you through the most difficult times of your life… And then you break my heart with no explanation? I’ll be angry. And I’ll be hurt. But just tell me where you’re coming from, and give me a year or two-I’ll forgive you.

If you look me straight in the eye, knowing that I am a queer Christian, and tell me that gay people are going to hell? I’ll need a good rant, and a good cry, and a lot of distance. It won’t be easy, and I might not even like it. But just hint about who has excluded you in the past, who instilled this judgment in you, and give me enough time-I’ll forgive you.

I have the forgiveness routine down pat. So, this fall, when Rebecca Anderson asked if I’d be willing to lead storytelling workshops about forgiveness in small groups, I thought it was a perfect fit.

Read Georgette’s full testimony

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Sunday, January 16, 2011
Holy Covenant UMC
Candie ODell, preaching

Isaiah 49:1-7

Candie ODell was a guest preacher at Holy Covenant UMC on January 16th, preaching as part of our worship series “You Are What You Eat”.

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Sunday, January 23, 2011
Holy Covenant UMC
Rebecca Anderson, preaching

Matthew 6.9-15

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Matthew 6:9 – 15
9 Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“Mom has told me that she’s forgiven me. I understand if you’re not ready to.”

Carefully, and without looking at my Dad, I said, “I can’t say that I have forgiven you. I’m not sure what that means. I hope I can.”

It was a Saturday. The day Jesus spent in the grave. My father was preparing a public confession. (more…)

Testimony, January 23, 2011
By Georgette Kelly

I don’t mean to brag. But I am really good at forgiveness. I like to think it’s my background in theatre and storytelling—I have had specific training in imagining characters, walking in their footsteps, understanding the forces that cause them to hurt other people. I like to think that with enough insight, and enough time, I could forgive anyone for anything.

For example: If I love you for years, and put your needs before mine, and support you through the most difficult times of your life… And then you break my heart with no explanation? I’ll be angry. And I’ll be hurt. But just tell me where you’re coming from, and give me a year or two—I’ll forgive you.

If you look me straight in the eye, knowing that I am a queer Christian, and tell me that gay people are going to hell? I’ll need a good rant, and a good cry, and a lot of distance. It won’t be easy, and I might not even like it. But just hint about who has excluded you in the past, who instilled this judgment in you, and give me enough time—I’ll forgive you.

I have the forgiveness routine down pat. So, this fall, when Rebecca Anderson asked if I’d be willing to lead storytelling workshops about forgiveness in small groups, I thought it was a perfect fit. (more…)

Hello, friends,

This Sunday, we’re starting a conversation about forgiveness. We already talk about forgiveness all the time. Each week we pray, asking God to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We know that as Christians we are forgiven and that we are to forgive. But what does forgiveness actually mean?

• Is it possible to forgive someone who hasn’t asked forgiveness?
• Is it possible to forgive someone with whom you no longer have a relationship, or who has passed away?
• Is it possible, or even Christian, to forgive a wrong that is ongoing?

I’ve got good news and bad news for you: the services on Sunday won’t answer these questions. Instead, we’ll be gearing up to continue the conversation, in winter small groups. For 6 weeks, beginning on February 14th, we’ll focus on what forgiveness is, how it functions, and our call to it as a forgiven people.

This Sunday, come join the conversation. And come ready to be changed by it.

In peace,

Rebecca Anderson
Minister of Spiritual Formation

Read more about our Winter 2011 Small Groups

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Sign up for our current small groups online.

Forgiveness

Registration is now closed for the forgiveness groups
Is there someone in your life who, after all these years, you’ve never been able to forgive? Is there someone who extended forgiveness to you and you felt unable to receive it? Do you feel forgiven by God? How do we experience forgiveness in our day-to-day? With movies, radio, Scripture, and our own stories, we’ll examine this central Christian belief and its role in our lives.

There are many opportunities to join a Forgiveness Group so that as many as possible can participate. When we talk with one another as the body of Christ, we’ll have this framework and vocabulary in common. This group will be a chance to build our skills and capacity for conversations that can be hard to have, both in our personal lives and as a church.

Questions? Contact Rebecca Anderson at rebeccaanderson@holycovenantumc.org

Monday Night, 7:30p – 9:15p
(Feb 21 – Mar 28)
Led by Georgette Kelly and Rebecca Anderson (Edgewater)

Tuesday Night, 7p – 8:45p
(Feb 15 – Mar 22)
Led by Teddy Jay and Candie ODell (Andersonville)

Wednesday Night A, 7:30p – 9:15p
(Feb 16 – Mar 23)
Led by Troy Plummer and Walter Treash (Northwest Chicago, near O’Hare)

Wednesday Night B, 6:15p – 8:00p
(Feb 16 – Mar 23)
Led by Amber Kujath and Matt Piechocinski (South Loop)

Thursday Night, 7:15p – 9p
(Feb 17 – Mar 24)
Led by Katie Wickman and Ann Hillman (Andersonville)

WEEK 1 – The Power of Forgiveness
This introductory week will be a chance to get to know one another, and to get some ideas about forgiveness on the table. We’ll be watching The Power of Forgiveness, a movie that tells about the story of the Amish community’s response to the tragedy in Nickel Mines, PA. Pastors, psychologists, and thinkers and religious people as diverse as Elie Wiesel and Thich Nhat Hanh share their understandings of forgiveness.

WEEK 2 – What do we (think we) know about forgiveness?
“I know what ‘forgiveness’ means – until I try to define it!” A conversation about what we know, where we learned it, and whether that matches our own experiences.

WEEK 3 – Receiving Forgiveness
We’ll examine two stories of people ready to receive forgiveness, one Biblical, one from This American Life.

WEEK 4 – Confession and Repentance
Still thinking of our stories from last week, we’ll consider the role and importance of confession and repentance in forgiveness.

WEEK 5 – Restorative Justice
We’ll examine this model of justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by wrong-doing (criminal or not) with the goal of reconciliation. Through case studies, we’ll build our own capacity for using this model in our relationships both in and out of church.

WEEK 6 – Personal Forgiveness Timeline
We’ll think, share, and pray about our own experiences of and need for forgiveness. Group members are invited to tell one story from their own lives – a story that each is comfortable offering to the group.

Film and Forgiveness

Sundays, Feb 6, 20; Mar 20
1 – 3:30 pm, at Holy Covenant
Led by Art and Julie Holmberg
Many of us love movies for the entertainment and escape that they offer. However, this small group will be approaching film from a different perspective. We will watch a recent film together and then pause to how the movie “spoke” to us; what spiritual aspects might the film awaken. Reflecting on forgiveness, we will discuss the “teachers and lessons” that help us to see God in the everyday lives of ourselves and others. Please join us to watch, share or just listen! This group will watch movies as a way of opening conversation about our faith journeys. The group will meet four times for 2.5 to 3 hours to allow time for screening and conversation.

On-going Groups:

Discovery Lunches

Shared leadership, at church
1st Sundays after the 11:15 service
Contact: Rebecca Anderson
New here? Stay after church for pizza, salad, and to find out more about this community. Sessions are planned around our mission statement: Seek God, Love All People, Change the World. After a few sessions, you’ll be well-informed about what HC is all about and will get to know some of the other people sitting next to you on Sunday morning.

Women’s Group

Led by Linda Effinger Quinde at Pompeii (Wellington and Sheffield)
2nd and 4th Sundays at 5:15, ongoing and year round
Join this long-running community-within-a-community. Drop-in or become a regular. We provide a fun, casual place for the diverse women of the church to meet, share our stories, and support each other. A great choice for women who would like to feel more connected within the church, especially newcomers to Holy Covenant. Women’s Group can be attended in conjunction with or in between other groups.

Sunday’s Scripture

Led by Pastor Kate at Holy Covenant
Wednesdays, 7p – 8:30p
Meet with the pastor and others to discuss the text that provides the center of our Sunday worship. Are you interested in engaging scripture outside of weekly worship? Asking questions of the text? Hearing the insights of others? Going deeper into the word of God? Then this is the group for you! Study, explore, and imagine with the Scripture lesson for the Sunday a week and a half away. Your contributions will help shape the sermon and worship services. Join the conversation as we ask ourselves: What’s the history and context of this text? How do we relate to the characters in the story? How does this speak to our lives today? Where is God’s voice for us, here and now? Grow closer to God and one another through the biblical passages that shape our lives as a community.

Men’s Group

Shared leadership
1st and 16th of every month (rotating days, rotating locations)
Contact: Mark Owen, Matt Piechocinski
Join other HC men as we attempt to discern what it means to be a Christian man through acts of service and fellowship. We’ll spend our time in service (at the church, Dignity Diner, and possibly the Night Ministry), in fellowship, and in Scripture/life learning. Hopefully, when all is said and done, we’re better for it.

Sign up for any of these small groups online.

January 16, 2011
Holy Covenant UMC
Rev. Kate Hurst Floyd

Isaiah 49:1-7

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Where is God calling you?

Do you get asked this question very often? Well, as a pastor, I get asked these questions quite regularly. Specifically, the question: What’s your call story?

I began to answer this question when I applied to seminary, and I was asked in my admissions application to describe the call that God had placed on my life. As I entered the ordination process in The United Methodist Church, I was asked this question again and again. In fact, I started that process over six years ago, and I’m still, this week, filling out paperwork, answering the question: What call has God placed on your life? Many of you have asked me this question. I articulate my call so often that it’s become a central part of my identity and I’m constantly listening for where God is leading me next.

Sometimes I can take for granted what a privilege it is for people to ask me this question all the time; what a privilege it is to consider myself called by God and to be on a path of discernment. For implicit in this question is the assumption that God has, indeed, called me. People assume that preachers, pastors, priests have a specific call from God. (more…)

Dear Holy Covenant,

In light of this week’s tragedy in Arizona, I offer this response from our United Methodist Bishop in the Northern Illinois Conference, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung:

This week, our hearts are full of sadness as we look to the shootings in Arizona. We grieve because of senseless violence. So many lives were lost while others still are struggling to survive. We pray for the intended victim of this violence, Gabrielle Giffords. We pray for those who were lost too soon, including Judge John Roll, nine-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, and four others who came just to listen. As we mourn, we are reminded again of those old words of Isaiah 53, “surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”

Today, I call on United Methodists to pray. I call on us to observe a time of sadness and mourning. That is our first duty as Christians.

We pray for healing for our brothers and sisters in Arizona. We pray for the families of those who lost their loved ones. And we pray for those who are continuing to hold on to life. We pray this week with congregations in Tucson, such as Congresswoman Giffords’ faith community, Congregation Chaverim. And we pray with those throughout the country who have opened their hearts to hear the cries of those who mourn.

Already many are pointing to reasons why this occurred. I, too, echo the concerns of my colleague Bishop Minerva Carcaño, bishop of the Desert Southwest Conference which covers Arizona, who is praying “that what has happened today is not an expression of growing intolerance.” Intolerance is a concern of many. There are many other concerns that have been expressed about this shooting, each with their own validity. Yet I feel that our first duty as followers of Christ is to mourn. Our first call is to hear the cries of those who are hurting and to cry with them. In opening our own hearts to hear and feel, we pray that we may begin to be agents of Christ’s healing in our world. We pray for healing for this nation. And we pray that all who mourn may be comforted.

Your Brother in Christ,

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung

Read the words of Bishop Minerva Carcaño.

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You Are What You Eat
Rev. Kate Hurst Floyd
Holy Covenant UMC
January 9, 2011

Matthew 3:13-17

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“You are what you eat”

This is the title of our new sermon series, lasting through the beginning of March.

In my small group this week, a look of worry and dread glossed over people’s faces when this topic came up. Somebody finally said: you’re not going to tell us what to eat and what not to eat, are you? He was ready to defend his food choices to me, having eaten a hamburger earlier in the day. We get enough scolding this time of year, from special K commercials and weight watchers ads. It’s not exactly what we want to hear from church.

Is this sermon series really about what we put into our bodies?

Somebody else in the group said: Aha! I get it: it’s a metaphor. We become what we take in. When we fill ourselves up with scripture, prayer, love, compassion, we’ll become a living prayer, compassionate beings, living the words of the Bible.

Is this sermon series really about preparing ourselves spiritually?

In this New Year, as you make resolutions, break them, keep them, start anew, my hope is you’ll join us at Holy Covenant to find out what it means to be what we eat. To answer the invitation to feast at God’s welcome table. For beginnings, in the life of faith, are critical. Even Jesus had to prepare himself for the years to come. (more…)

Sunday, January 2, 2011
Holy Covenant UMC
Daniel Hart, preaching

Matthew 2:1-12

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Have you ever been unsure which way to go?

Autumn and I returned yesterday from a nice break in Michigan…we went just about everywhere In Michigan and met up with over 30 people between friends and family…

Over the course of our trip we added up that we had spent over 24 hours driving in the car…it was very odd to think about especially if you added in the amount of time we spent going the wrong way…

You see…I always prefer to drive, but I am beyond terrible at directions… even after a very close friend of mine bought me a GPS I still seem to get lost…

I am the only person I know that can pull into a gas station…fill up… and am unsure which way to turn when I get out…

I have become fully dependent on my GPS and even more on Autumn…She would attest to that I am sure…

Part of the problem is that I do not trust myself anymore….I have come to the point where I don’t really believe that I could go the right way even if I tried to guess… (more…)