Church Info

Emily Johnson

Emily grew up in Sycamore, IL, and shortly after graduation, met her husband, Pastor Matt. Emily received her Music Education degree from Illinois State. Although this is her first year at St. Luke Parish School in River Forest, this is her twelfth year teaching music. Emily and Matt have a daughter, Libby who is 4 1/2. Emily enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing piano, singing and crafting.

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Ginny Dickman-Lopez

Having grown up in Michigan and lived in Hawaii and Sweden I am now happy to call Chicago and Holy Covenant home. I currently reside in Lakeview East, am happily married and work full-time as a business consultant for the Swedish Trade Council downtown. I love business, reading, working out, singing, traveling, sewing, cooking and trying new things. I also love helping out with my family’s all natural local fruit butter business, the Southwestern Michigan Buttery. What keeps me coming back to Holy Covenant is that honest approach to life and faith – we’re not perfect and we don’t pretend to be because God loves us all exactly where we’re at right now.

*****

Rob Dickman-Lopez

I am a 5 year resident of Chicago by way of Los Angeles, Hawaii and New York. I currently live in Lakeview East and am happily married. Some of the things that keep me coming back to Holy Covenant include the warm and loving people, and of course the beautiful music and heartfelt services. I work full-time as a trade analyst for Northern Trust in the South Loop. And if I’m not at home, work or the gym you’ll more than likely find me at a 16 candles concert somewhere in the city.

The Staff Parish Relations Committee is excited to announce that we have hired an Evening Worship Leader and a Ministry Associate. Steve Thorngate will be our Evening Worship Leader starting the week of January 2. Rev. Polly Toner will be our Ministry Associate starting the week of January 9. Please help us welcome them into the Holy Covenant Community.

Evening Worship Leader – Steve Thorngate
Steve grew up in an evangelical church, where he cut his musical teeth playing in praise bands. He studied classical music at Wheaton College and has since worked in several churches that have welcomed his passion for music that a) is stylistically eclectic and b) encourages everyone present to sing. Steve loves many kinds of music but has a particular interest in traditional country gospel.

By day Steve works in nonprofit journalism. He’s currently an editor at the Christian Century magazine; before this he interned at Sojourners and the Utne Reader and edited publications for a social policy advocacy organization. Steve is also the music director at Christ Lutheran in Albany Park, a job he’ll continue alongside his work at Holy Covenant.

He and his wife, Nadia Stefko, live in Hyde Park, where Nadia is a student at the University of Chicago Divinity School. They like to cook, preserve food, geek out about beer, play Scrabble, and lavish embarrassing amounts of attention on their cat.

Ministry Associate – Rev. Polly Toner
Polly has been a resident of Lakeview/Lincoln Park since 1997 where she currently lives with her Beagle, Bella. She has also lived in Idaho, Massachusetts, Southern California, and briefly in both Wisconsin and Salt Lake City. She completed her undergraduate work and Occupational Therapy school at the University of Southern California.

She attended Divinity School at the University of Chicago with some extra work at McCormick Theological Seminary, and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, Polly has been involved with Protestant churches since junior high when she persuaded her family to give the Presbyterian church in San Diego a try. Both Fourth Presbyterian and Lakeview Presbyterian churches in Chicago have been formative during her journey into ordained ministry.

Polly enjoys her work with older adults and youth in physical rehabilitation, mental health and school settings, and in faith communities. She continues to work at St. Joseph Hospital where she has been on staff for 15 years. She looks forward to getting to know the Holy Covenant community, learning and growing along side everyone, and participating in God’s work in the world here.

Those who look at her eclectic music collection, books or inbox may struggle to put her into a category. She is passionate about people, inclusion and health care; loves the outdoors, travel and dogs; and is happiest when she makes time to exercise regularly.

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As you know, Rebecca’s last Sunday is November 20th. The Staff Parish Relations Committee is actively working to hire to fill Rebecca’s position. We have decided to divide Rebecca’s current position into two positions – one to focus on worship in the evening service and one to focus on spiritual formation and small groups. We felt it made sense to divide the position since they need very different skill sets. Here are the job postings for the two positions: Evening Worship Leader and Ministry Associate. If you know anyone who would be a good fit for either of these positions, please send them the job postings. Thank you!

If you have any questions please, feel free to talk to me or any of the members of SPRC or the Lay Leaders. You can also email questions to the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

Mandy Leifheit, SPRC Chair

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Pass it on to anyone you think might be interested!

Holy Covenant UMC, a dynamic, progressive congregation full of many young adults and families in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, is seeking a Ministry Associate to share pastoral responsibilities for the Holy Covenant community focusing specifically on Spiritual Formation for all ages.

Responsibilities include planning and developing small groups, worship leadership, and worship preparation (multi-media creation, volunteer recruitment, and communications). Bachelor’s degree is required and working toward a Master of Divinity is strongly preferred. Position is 20 hours per week. Position starts immediately and continues through June 2012 with potential to be extended. If interested in applying, please send a resume and cover letter to office@holycovenantumc.org.

We are also looking for an Evening Worship Leader.

Pass it on to anyone you think might be interested!

Holy Covenant United Methodist Church, a dynamic, progressive congregation full of many young adults and families in the Lakeview neighborhood, is seeking an Evening Worship Leader for our Sunday evening service. The evening worship service at Holy Covenant is acoustic, candlelit, peaceful and restoring–an unplugged atmosphere with plenty of room for contemplation and reflection. The acoustic music in the evening services ranges from hymns to Sufjan Stevens, from old-timey mountain songs to spirituals, from traditional Americana to acapella rounds.

Responsibilities of the Evening Worship Leader include leading worship, choosing and preparing music and liturgy, recruiting volunteers, and planning and leading rehearsals. We are looking for someone with many musical gifts who is willing to work to find musical talent within the congregation and then plan and rehearse with an ever changing group of volunteers.

The Evening Worship Leader position is 12 hours per week. In order to apply, please email us with the following: description of your style, repertoire, and experience, a short resume including 3 references and their contact information, and three-five audio or video links to samples of your music/music leading.

We are also looking for a Ministry Associate.

The following is a letter from Rev. Rebecca Anderson regarding where her call to ministry is leading her in the coming weeks. My spirit is torn. I have greatly appreciated having her as a colleague and have learned much about God from her passion and personality, so I will miss her presence immensely. At the same time, I am very excited for her as she endeavors on this leg of her journey with Jesus. We are a church in the business of forming and sending out world changers, and I know Rebecca will continue that great tradition. I, the Lay Leadership team, and the Staff Parish Relations Committee understand you may have many questions about where Holy Covenant UMC goes from here, so please know you may contact us with any questions or concerns.

Peace,
Pastor Matthew

Lay Leaders
Linda Effinger Quinde
Adam Bogucki
Andrew Schumacher

Staff Parish Relations Committee
Mandy Leifheit
David Braden
Rachel Harvey
Dale Jones
Natalie Taylor

***

Beloved friends,

We will talk much more about this in person in the weeks to come, but so that you might all receive the news at about the same time, and so that you might have time to digest it a bit, I am writing to tell you that at Thanksgiving I’ll be leaving Holy Covenant and moving into my first full-time call to ministry. Sunday, November 20th will be my last day with you.

Both at my home church in Boston and here at Holy Covenant, I had the experience that some of you did too: I felt as though I’d walked into a wide space full of fresh air. I breathed in deeply and learned “God still wants me.” There need to be more churches where this is the case!

Because of this, I’ve known for several years that God’s call on my life is to transform churches; to work with congregations that are ready for and in need of change; to help vivify places that want to remain vital or become more so. I couldn’t yet picture what it would look like, but I came to know that I would work in churches who needed my zeal for

• fostering the community that grows up around the light of God wherever it flares up and
• creating worship opportunities that invite people to move more deeply into their faith and practices in new ways.

Because this is so clear to me, I have accepted a call to be Associate Minister at Glencoe Union Church, a non-denominationally affiliated church on Chicago’s north shore. There’s an experiment underway there to see what kind of life and faith are possible in that place; that experiment is work that I want to put my hands to.

When I accepted the call to be your Minister of Spiritual Formation, both the Staff Parish Relations Committee and I understood that it was a position that would extend through the end of this year. We knew I would be ordained by this point and that, as such, I would begin the process of “search and call.” Since I’m ordained by The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), this is a system different from the United Methodist appointment system. “Search and Call” is a process in which churches and clergy mutually discern a call. I have been casually and unofficially in the process of “search and call” for a long time; it is the process that led me to accept a call to HCUMC last year and it is the process that kept my eyes and ears open for where God would have me go next.

This place has incubated, nourished, and strengthened me. Go back and look as those two things I feel most called to as a pastor: community and worship. Where on earth could’ve been a better place to learn those than Holy Covenant? God called me, the Disciples ordained me, but you made me a pastor. I love this community, though, not for what you’ve done for (or to) me, but for who you are. Your love for one another and for the world, and your yearning toward God light up the corner of Wilton and Diversey. This is one of the ways I’ve come to love that thorny old problematic apostle Paul. When I read about his longing for churches he has known and loved, I’m right there with him:

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ… For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more…[from Philippians 1]

I very much look forward to spending this fall with you – U2 Sunday, Blessing of the Animals, All Saints services, and a 2nd Story evening on Nov 2nd (did you know about this?), evening services, conversations over coffee and at Mayan Palace, and getting small groups rolling. Friends, let us love one another. Let us pray for this church and all of Christ’s Church.

Grace and peace to you,
Rebecca

Rev. Rebecca Anderson
Minister of Spiritual Formation

Dear friends in Holy Covenant,

We’ve got some big changes in store this week, and beyond. It’s the first Sunday of our summer service schedule! Starting this week, we’ll be meeting at 10:30am (childcare provided) and 7pm.

Come this week at either service (that’s 10:30. And 7. Got it?) to hear Dan Hart preach on love! This will be Dan’s last Sunday with us in his capacity as student intern. Come say “thank you” – for his killer sense of humor; vulnerable, honest sermons; guitar-playing and song-leading; role in small groups; worship leadership both in the pulpit and behind the scenes. As all of us do, he has left his mark on this place and will be missed so dearly. Let’s bless Dan and Autumn as they head into the next leg of life and ministry.

Other quick hits:

• Please vote on songs for our Pentecost hymn sing
• Put Pastor Kate’s Going Away Party and Dessert Potluck on your calendars. Thursday, June 2nd, 7-9pm at church. And start planning what recipe you’re going to bust out!

As we go into all of these big changes, your presence really is a gift. Some of us are nervous about who and how we’ll be when the cast of characters keeps changing (as it always does in this place). Please come and worship together, study together, eat meals together; remember the truth that God’s love is steadfast and unchanging and that God’s church is rooted and grounded in that eternal love. You can see it in one another’s faces (at, let’s see, what times? Oh, that’s right. 10:30am and 7pm).

With love, in hope,

Rebecca

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Dear Holy Covenant,

The Staff Parish Relations Committee at Holy Covenant is pleased to announce that the Bishop and Cabinet of the Northern Illinois Conference have appointed the Rev. Matthew Johnson to serve as our new pastor starting July 1, 2011. SPRC and Lay Leaders had a chance to meet with Pastor Matthew and his wife Emily this past Saturday and we were all impressed with his approach to preaching, mission work, and commitment to social justice. We look forward to the congregation welcoming our new pastor and his family in July. Please join us on Sunday at 12:30 to learn more about our pastoral transition process. To learn more about our new pastor read his information below and check out his blog, www.unfilteredwesleyan.com.

Rev. Matthew Johnson
Matthew Johnson is an ordained elder and is currently under appointment at The United Methodist Church of Geneva where he has served as associate pastor since 2007. While at UMCG, he has been a lead researcher in an experiment to see if a traditional congregation can live with and love a community of non-traditional Christians. He was responsible for the launching literature, film and pub groups as expressions of this experiment. He has also taken the responsibility of being a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for the marginalized in the Fox Valley. This has led to advocacy for the homeless, underemployed and shadow populations which has grown into lay-led programs like meal ministries and a coalition for transportation equity.

In 2003, Johnson left his publishing job to enroll at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He was the pastor of two rural congregations northeast of Rockford while at UDTS. And, while ordained ministry may technically be his second career, it has always been his first calling. From his initial interest in political action to his work as a community journalist and a not-for-profit leader, Johnson has always sought to point to the greater truth, build meaningful relationships and advocate for justice.

He believes that the canon of Christian faith rings true in all of creation and is just as likely to point to evidence of God’s grace in literature, art, film, television and social networking as he is scripture. For him, liturgy isn’t a script for worship but rather the holy interaction we all share in being God’s children. He’s a storyteller preacher, but thinks the best proclamation is persistent living and relationship.

Johnson is excited to become the leader of a congregation that has such a great history of advocacy for those who the church and world has traditionally disenfranchised, specifically the LGBT community. “I am overjoyed and humbled to practice ministry in a place where there are no limits on grace, and be a part of a community that practices openness and welcome to all people in the way I believe Jesus does,” he said.

Johnson will celebrate 12 years of marriage to his wife, Emily, this June. Together, they have a precocious four-year-old daughter, Liberty. For fun, he enjoys all things bicycle and tweaking the controls on circuit-bent instruments while pretending he’s Trent Reznor.

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Dear Holy Covenant Family,

Over the past two years, you’ve welcomed me with open arms and made this community home. It’s a joy and privilege to serve as your pastor, and a blessing I’m grateful for each and every day. So it is with mixed emotions and a heavy heart that I share important news that I announced in worship this morning. In June, I’ll be leaving Holy Covenant and moving back to North Georgia. You’ll be receiving a new pastor July 1st. It was never my plan to leave Holy Covenant after two years; but as I continue to learn, the Holy Spirit often has other plans for our lives.

As many of you know, I am engaged and will be married at the end of May. My fiancé, Kyle, is in school in Atlanta. His program is five years and he’s completing his first year. We contemplated having a long-distance marriage, but after much prayer have discerned that living apart is not how we want to begin this next phase of our lives. I’m clear that God is calling me first and foremost to my relationship, and that I’ll be better able to live out my call to ministry while Kyle and I are living in the same place. I’ll be taking an appointment at a church somewhere in North Georgia, though I won’t know the specific church until May.

With that said, I will miss you deeply. This difficult decision has nothing to do with who you are nor the experience I’ve had here. On the contrary, your influence upon me is incalculable. You are vibrant, compassionate, justice-minded, and filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit. I move forward with a deep gratitude for all that you have given me in our time together.You embraced me as your pastor when I came here from Georgia, have allowed me into sacred times and places with you, and have taught me much about what it means to truly love all people. I can’t imagine a better first appointment as a pastor with a more gracious community of faith.In short, you’ve given me the gift of the Gospel, which is love. And I’m a better person, and pastor, for it. I love you deeply, which makes leaving so difficult.

During this time of transition, which brings uncertainties, you will continue to be healthy, strong, and clear in your identity. You embody our mission, as you Seek God, Love all people, and Change the world. This mission is not tied up with a particular pastor, but is central to who you are as the church, and will continue to be true for years to come. Your unconditional love for one another and the world will continue to change lives in radical ways.

You’re probably wondering what’s next; in the coming months, we’ll journey together through the reflective season of Lent, and emerge on Easter with the gift of new and abundant life. The process of receiving a new pastor will be the same as it was when I was appointed, and the same as it was for your previous pastors. The United Methodist Church is an appointive system, so the next pastor will be chosen by our Cabinet and appointed by the Bishop. James Preston, our District Superintendent, will be in conversation with our Staff Parish Relations Committee, chaired by Mandy Leifheit. They’ll review our church profile, which the church composes every year, describing our needs, gifts, and vision for the future. I can assure you that the Cabinet has the best interest of Holy Covenant at heart and will match the gifts and graces of the next pastor with the needs of this community. Please join me in prayer for our staff parish relations committee, the cabinet, and the church as we engage in this process.

I look forward to the next four months together, and send prayers of gratitude, peace, and vision as the church makes this transition. Please know that I am here for discussion and questions. Additionally, Mandy, Rebecca, and our lay leaders, Teddy and Linda, are available for conversation in this season of transition. It’s hard to put into words how much you mean to me and what a truly special community of faith you are. So I can only conclude by saying thank you, thank you, thank you, for blessing me with the gift of being your pastor and for letting me into this community of love.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kate

Caroline West

Caroline West is thrilled to have finally joined Holy Covenant after being a regular attender for over a year. A life-long Methodist, she grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas. After moving to Chicago four years ago for graduate school in public policy, she now works in public finance. Caroline is a member of the Disciple Bible Study group and looks forward to participating more in church life, particularly music!

…

Jess Woodward

I am transferring my membership from the United Methodist Church of the Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan which is near Fruitport, MI where I grew up. I moved to Chicago in 2002 to finish my Interior Design degree at Harrington College of Design in the loop and I currently work for a commercial office furniture dealership as a project designer. I am happy that I have finally found a church that I feel welcome and at home and I look forward to further getting involved and getting to know the Holy Covenant family.