Archive for July, 2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012
Holy Covenant UMC
Rev. Polly Toner, preaching

Ezekiel 37

This weekend has been declared a Weekend of Peace by the Chicago Clergy Coalition. If you were expecting to hear about stewardship today, never fear, you will, another day! Working for peace IS about stewardship, but Peace in our City is our emphasis today. Before we begin our conversation, I want to acknowledge that the topic of violence- gun violence in particular- is one we come to from various life stories and experiences. Some of you have no doubt been touched deeply by its tragic consequences and know about gun violence in ways far more profound than I do, from all different sides of the issue. Others of of you may have had little to no awareness of the epidemic we are facing in this great city right now. That is okay. That is why we are starting a conversation, to get a dialogue going.

Let Us Pray:
Speak to us, Lord, that we may hear what we need to hear. Guide us that we might live as we ought to live. Amen.

My bones are dried up, my hope has perished. Some mornings, when I read the number of shootings that took place in my own city, this is my first reaction. The problem seems too big sometimes. The issues aren’t simple; recent coverage of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado has increased our dialogue about access to firearms, the banning of assault weapons, access to mental health services and the necessary follow up, public security, internet purchasing…

In our own city of Chicago, there are politics and drugs, finances and gangs, and all these interplay around gun violence in ways it is hard for me to get my head around sometimes. My bones feel dry. My heart is heavy.
But hear the Lord’s Word, says the prophet Ezekiel.

“I will put breath in you,” earlier translations read, “I will put my spirit in you.” Breathe, Arise, Come out of that grave! These dry bones shall live!

And they come to life not because of my power, or your power, but because God gives us life, gives us breath, and God is big enough for the most monstrous of problems. We are not to lose hope, then, even in the face of our current crisis, our current emergency, because God is Lord. God is bigger, even than death.

Often, when reading this story, of the dry bones, we think of life after death. With Christian lenses, we imagine a grand resurrection when we will all break out of our graves, God has conquered death and all humankind shall live ever more.

Other times, this story is used as a metaphor for healing, for new life, life restored after brokenness of some kind or other. (more…)

Nicholas Camacho; Willie Cunnings Jr.; Kenneth Bowens; Marcus Tucker; Mark Watts; Lionel Lane; Olufemi Abdulai; Soraya Gibson; Juan Mendez; Valentin Bahena; Christian Peggs; Shannon Walton; Aaron Price; Cory Campbell; Vernon Cummings; Ruben Colunga; Jason Gatewood; Samuel Patterson; Kurtis Stanton; Devonte Pippen; Troy Cameron; Anton Sanders; Unknown; Derrick Holliday; Dion Miller; Jonathan Bell; Deandre Alexander; Robin Davis; Johnny Henderson; Shaquille L. Rush; Deshun Winfert; Terance Franklin; Lyn Ward; Unknown; Matthew Zavala; Anthony Linnear; Sheroid Liggins; Martell A. Raggs; Edgar Delgado; Asif Memon; Clifton Harlson; Tytus Harris; Rogelio Servantes; Jamal Harris; Gregory Glinsey; Damion Rolle; Reginald Weems; Nathaniel Brown; Mark Steve; Bernard Arnold; Anthony Harrell; George Howard; Albert Guyton; Quinton Davis; Shurron Hawkins; Reginald Ivy; Taki Crews; Quentin Johnson; Mario Montes; Reginald Smith; Eddie Coleman; Joshus Williams; Cordarryl Mitchell; George Dunn; Jorge Valdez; Erick Williams; Ronald Guidry; Gustavo Reyes; Johnny Vargas; Joel Sanroman; Anthony Scott; Aliyah Shell; Jeremy Anthony; Vincent Fitts; Adrian Cruz; Bert Lindsey; Equilla Coleman; George Marrero; Andre Pierce; Michael Gillespie; Deon Freeman; Ricky Brown; Ramon Salgado; Terrence McDougie; Daniel Walker; Timothy Scott; Randy Streeter; Julio Cintron; Joel Verdugo; Cedric Bell; Unknown; Terry Brown; Julius Benford; Michael Nowels; Shawndell Harris; David Galley; Juan Hernandez; Ulysses Martin; Romell Collins; James Brown; Jaleen Armstrong; Priscilla Mercado; Patrick Swinney; Roberto Luna; Tonya Gist; Niven Beluso; Lamont Coleman; David Loggins; Adegboye Oguntade; Michelle Gregory; Erik Loggins; Darryl Davidson; Brandon Miles; Kimberly Harris; Darryl Turner; Marvin Clay; Samuel Clay; Fidel Benitez; James Reddick; Alexander Mendoza; Andre Myrick; John Cepeda; Rudy Correa; Brian O’Neal; Kenneth McCurty; Brian Jones; Marlon Monroe; Tyrone Morris; Emanuel Badillo; Luprentice Mathis; Armando Garza; Maruice Mathews; Christopher Cooper; DeJuan Dennis; Wardick Watts; Donnel Rankin; Devon Paramore; Akeem Morris; Travis Perkins; Max Vallejo; William Herron-Junius; Lamont Matticx; Leon Poe; Christopher Reeves; Felix Lares; Unknown; Lekiah White; Joshua Gonzalez; Larry McGee; Sidney McDowell; Alejandro Jaime; Nazia Banks; Melvin Jacobs; Dwayne Billingsley; Josephy Owens; Estaban Alvarez; Alejandro Munoz; Kenneth Reaves; Rashard Wilson; Tyrell White; Varren Brown; Lorrie Heidrick; Mario Tempana-Vena; Marcus Morgan; Jeffrey Triplett; Jaylin Johnson; Jaleel Beasley; Robert McNear; Natalie Brady; Marley Collins; Malcolm Dowdy; Unknown; Ivan Alanis; Floyd Newell; Jermaine Arnold; Jamal Lockett; Andre Brown; Willie Stallworth; Darius Farley; Gueterris Thomas; Mario Jackson; Rashaun Stephany; Kenneth Jones; Derrick Wilderson; Joseph Briggs; Donnell Smith; Jonathan Duncan; Shondell Adams; Dante Kyles; Davonte Flennoy; Unknown; Lewis Garcia; Kenneth Snulligan; Romelo Golden: David Cocroft; Antonio Buck; Shakaki Asphy; Bernardo Hernandez; Daniel Dilce; Jaime Ocampo; Santiago Delgado; Tiffany Edwards; Henry Soyege; Shavez Wilson; Roy Smith; Antonio Davis; Tyquan Tyler; Hansen Jackson; Anthony Jones; Althea McGee; Heaven Sutton; John Kouzios; Jose Galvan; William Cook; Jamel Shepard; Darnell Walker; Lenard Trust; Demarcus Ervin; Kelly Vann; Myrion Currie; James Thompson; Christopher Banks; Isaiah Prentis Hutsona; Demetrius Tribett; Robert Snipes; Antonio Givan; Corey Parker; Anthony Suarez; Adeniti Adesida; Sergio Garcia; Ricardo Alcantara; Zachary Berrios; Anthony Collazo; Phillip Finley; Martin Tejeda; Mark Carney; James Bell; Andrew Jackson; Daniel Green; Marshall Knights; Nathaniel Gonzalez; Jamauri Askew; Pablo Hernandez; Akil Partee; Gerry Woods; Roshone Eldridge; Shannon Clay; Alixi Johnson; Janeen Hancock

These are the names of the 250 children of God – average age of 26 – who have died so far this year in Chicago’s epidemic of gun violence. It is appalling that there are so many. It is appalling that they are so young. It is appalling they go largely unnoticed. It is appalling that we don’t think we can do anything about it. This weekend, you are invited to join us in a weekend of peace. Pray for the families of the victims and our city. Express your concern and desire for an end of the violence to your Chicago alderman and Mayor Emanuel. Contact your local legislators. Handwrite a letter to President Obama. And open your heart to the possibility that we can make a difference; believe that, by the grace of God, we can and will witness a day when all live in peace and love.

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Sunday, July 8, 2012
Holy Covenant UMC

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Hear the conversation between Pastor Matthew Johnson and congregant Laura Dean Friedrich:

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Stephanie Limesand was born in the great state of North Dakota and raised in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. She works as a nanny for two wonderful children ages 5 and 10. Her degree from UIUC is in acting and she loves doing theatre when life permits. Currently she has started blogging and is finding much joy in writing about relationships and her upcoming nuptials. She recently got engaged to a Scotsman and they are planning a formal and whimsical wedding in Minnesota for next March. Stephanie is very close to her family and credits her Mom for leading by example the ways of a loving and grace-filled life. Stephanie has been affiliated with Congregational Churches, UCC Churches, non-denominational churches, and now a Methodist church. She says it is not about the background of the group but the people that are present in the community. Stephanie is overjoyed to take a more active role in a place that values all of God’s people. In the past Stephanie was an active choir member, she has participated in small groups, and has been on the fundraising and communications committee, but is currently serving on SPRC and finding it to be a great fit. Stephanie and her fiancé, Iain, live in Wicker Park and love to explore this beautiful and vibrant city.

There are moments in our lives when God is evident in everything we see and do. Other times, we catch glimpses of light that give us hope and strength to continue on. Yet sometimes, the maintenance of our lives in our own place obscures that light. Sometimes, we need to journey outside of the comfortable and into the foreign. Ever since the beginning of God’s covenant relationship with humanity, sojourning to seek and follow God has been a key part of our faith story.

This November 1-4, you have the opportunity to add your story to that list of sojourners who have ventured out into the world seeking to follow and find another glimpse of the divine. Join the Holy Covenant Missions Team in Homestead, Florida, as we volunteer with Sembrando Flores Compassionate Care Ministries. Sembrando Flores is a grassroots, ecumenical,faith-based, HIV/AIDS and social service organization whose ministry focuses on promoting wellness of the mind, body, and spirit by providing compassionate care and personal advocacy.

Our time with Sembrando Flores will be spent assisting its staff with one of its free community HIV/AIDS testing clinics, facilitating a night of fellowship with teens in the community, and assisting the organization with other tasks as needed to make the facility a place where the community can feel comfortable.

The deadline to register is Saturday, September 1. To register, or for more information about this or any of the exciting things happening with Missions at Holy Covenant, please email the Missions Team.

We hope that you will consider joining us, and we look forward to finding ways to help you encounter God in service to others.

Lisa Rothman, Mat Schramm, Sarah Tidwell, Emlyn Torres, and Nathan Voris
Holy Covenant Missions Team

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Sunday, July 15, 2012
Holy Covenant UMC

Nehemiah 8:1-10

Hear the conversation between Pastor Matthew Johnson and Rabbi Ami Adler:

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Sunday, July 8, 2012
Holy Covenant UMC

Mark 1:29-39

Hear the conversation between Pastor Matthew Johnson and congregant Rob Rawls:

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I am a fan and practitioner of the “Road Trip.” In spite of my advocacy for local/communal living and continued support of public transportation, I love road tripping. It is the bit of quintessential Americana that I cannot relinquish. Emily, Libby and I just returned from one that spanned two weeks – one part vacation on the Outer Banks and one part work at the Wild Goose Festival – and it had some epic moments.

The most epic was the 800-mile, 17-hour day on the way home. We had planned on stopping in Charleston, West Virginia to sleep, but a deadly storm that went through the night before had left 90 percent of the state (including our hotel) without power. Happening upon the only open gas station in the whole city, we filled up and continued northwest. As we went, we continued to see lights out. And when the lights weren’t out, the hotels were full. This went on for hours. Luckily it was an all-80s weekend on most of the radio stations. Because when my eyes would be at their droopiest, it would happen: Journey. “Wheel in the sky keeps on turning, I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow!” we belted at the top of our lungs. Being that my range isn’t what it used to be, my voiced hopped between my chest and falsetto like a french police siren. It wasn’t pretty, but “Wheel in the Sky” kept us going.

After I woke up in a hotel in Indianapolis, I remembered the scripture that inspired that song. It comes from the beginning of Ezekiel’s story, and reminds us that road tripping is something God does as well. Sitting by a river far from his home, Ezekiel has a vision of a chariot that is fully equipped for a luxurious long haul. This is God’s ride. All of creation is represented in it, every color ever is seen in the paint, and the wheels look as if they can take this chariot it in any direction. For Ezekiel and all the others who were away from their community, this was good news. For while their family and friends may have remained back the land of Judah, their God did not. God, who led them out of Egypt and through the wilderness, was now present with them in the foreign lands of their exile. No matter how far they went (or how far they had to go), they wouldn’t do it alone.

God went with us on our trip as well … and not only in the mercy of St. Steve Perry that kept me awake for that epic drive. God went with us as we shared our family’s traditional prayers at someone else’s dinner table. God went with us as we prayed the Great Thanksgiving and shared in communion with other members of Holy Covenant under a 10-foot canopy in the woods of North Carolina. God went with us as we celebrated where we saw the joy and challenge of God each and every day. The wheel in the sky kept turning.
As you road trip this summer – be it to far off places or where the El ends – may you remember to take the habits of faith with you. God moments can (and do) happen anywhere and everywhere.

Peace and Love,

Pastor Matthew

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Sunday, July 1, 2012
Holy Covenant UMC
Rev. Polly Toner, preaching

Matthew 6:5-14

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IN THE NAME OF JESUS, In the name of JESUS, Heal her, In the name of JESUS!!

As I walked into the hospital chapel, expecting it to be quiet in the wee hours of the morning, I found the two sisters I had prayed with earlier in the evening. Their prayer was loud, their arms waving in the air, they used every bit of energy left in their weary bodies as they threw themselves around the chapel in desperation, tears were streaming down their cheeks, sweat was all over their faces and T-shirts. In the name of JESUS!

Their mother was actively dying upstairs, save for a miracle, and they were praying for one, in Jesus’ name, as they had been taught. Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, right? Whatever you ask in the name of Jesus….

So, I guess my more reserved, white, Protestant prayer at their mother’s bedside had not done the trick, so here they were now, doing everything they knew to do to change the expected outcome of the day’s events. I bet this sounds a bit familiar to most of us. Who doesn’t long to change the course of things once in a while.

This scenario raises some questions. I was not present when their mother died, and I don’t know how these two women responded to what may have seemed not only like a devastating human loss, but also like God’s lack of an answer to prayer, or even God’s broken promise, or their own failure to get the prayers just right. This memory is just one example of the many ways prayer is practiced, used, understood and embodied in our diverse, multicultural world. And of how our different thoughts about prayer make a difference- or maybe don’t…

Earlier that very same evening I had helped create a foot washing station for a group of Muslim women in the public restroom so that they could honor their prayer traditions of Ramadan while holding vigil outside the ICU. It had only been a week or so since a Roma community had requested candles for a prayer ritual they performed at the moment of death of their loved ones. Some of you may have been here months ago when we considered the prayer rituals that takes place on the football field. And, I’m thinking the baseball field a little later today, too…our guests from Louisiana will be checking out Wrigley this afternoon! I assure you all that I was in prayer as I struggled to get through the mob surrounding the Pride Parade last week trying to see our float. Prayer is one of those things that crosses the boundaries of our traditions, our time periods and beliefs- even where religions put up tall boundaries, thanks be to God, prayer seeps through. (more…)