Community life

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.

*****

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.

 

Is it really almost October? If you couldn’t tell from the weather, you certainly can from our program schedule! We come from all over the map: geographically, politically, and theologically, yet we are gathered together to be the body of Christ. Through our small group and spiritual formation programs, you have the opportunity to share yourself, meet others, learn your neighborhood in a new way, and glimpse God’s vision for this city, this church, and your life.

Here’s what we will be offering this season – some begin this week! Sign up and join us this fall!
(*denotes visitors and drop-ins welcome)

Sundays:
* Welcome Table (at Einstein’s, 10:15 – 11:15a; weekly)
* Family of God (in the Gallery, 10:15-11:15a; weekly)
* Women’s Group (at Pompei, 5:15 – 6:45p; 2nd and 4th Sundays)

Mondays:
* Theology on Tap (Lakeview, Mondays, begins Oct 3rd! 7-9p)
Tales from the Front: Faith meets Life (Location TBA, Oct 17th – Nov 21st; 6:30 – 8:30p)

Tuesdays:
Ordinary Radicals: Join the Revolution (Lincoln Park, 7 – 8:30; Oct 18th -Nov 22nd)

Wednesdays:
* Worship Workshop (at church, 7 – 8:30, begins Oct 5th!)
* Dinner and a Movie (at church, 7 – 8:30, begins Oct 26th)
Food Group, Part III: Take This Bread (Uptown, 6:30 – 8; Oct 12th -Nov 16th)

Thursdays:
The Hospitality of God (location TBA; Oct 13th – Nov 17th)

October 16 – 7th Annual u2charist Sunday
9:30a Hands-On Mission Projects (Off Site)
All ages can join us for opportunities to engage in mission with our community and partner organizations. Contact us to volunteer.

10:30a and 8p Missions Fair (Gallery)
Learn more about what is going on in our church and community, and meet the leaders who are helping us fulfill our mission.

11:15a and 7p Worship featuring the U2charist
Join us for our annual service of praise and worship through the music of U2, featuring a live band and the Celebration Choir. We are very excited to be adding the u2charist to the 7pm service this year. An excellent opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors to Holy Covenant!

As we move into fall and settle in from a summer full of festivals and festivals, we invite you to a Neighborhood Meet and Greet.  This is not only a great opportunity to get to know Pastor Matt, Emily, and Libby better–but also a great chance to get to know other Holy Covenant members from your neighborhood.

There are five Meet and Greets scheduled over the next month in neighborhoods across the city.  All of the Meet and Greets will begin at 6:30 p.m. Once you have signed up, we’ll send you the exact address.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Candie ODell, Rob Rawls, or one of the Lay Leaders.

Wednesday, August 24th
6:30 p.m.
Host: Candie ODell
Location: Rogers Park

Thursday, September 8th
6:30 p.m.
Hosts: Amy and Andrew Schumacher
Location: Albany Park

Thursday, September 15th
6:30 p.m.
Hosts: Jackie and Jodi Neal
Location: West Town

Tuesday, September 20th
6:30 pm
Hosts: Jeff Rossen and Mark Owens
Location: Edgewater

Thursday, September 29th
6:30 pm
Hosts: Liz Dierbeck and Chris Shickles
Location: Hyde Park

Sign-Up:

Dear brothers and sisters in Holy Covenant,

Have you recovered from Pride yet? From the glorious sun all along the route? From all the heart-felt “whoo-ing”? From the amazing music in worship? From your brunch or party? I hope you experienced the whole weekend as a celebration of the diversity of the family of God and that, heading into this week, you felt loved, because you are!

This Sunday, we will be welcoming Pastor Matthew Johnson, his spouse Emily, and their daughter Libby – at last! Please come, celebrate and sing, and pray for the life of this church as we enter the next chapter in our leadership. Your presence, in this time of transition, really is a gift to Pastor Matthew and his family, and to one another! If you’re in town this week, do join us at 10:30am or 7pm.

And put next Sunday, July 10th, on your calendar. We’re going to have a block party and cookout after the morning service to really welcome our new pastor, and to celebrate the good life that is Chicago in the summer in this beloved community.

With all love for you,

Rebecca
Minister of Spiritual Formation

“Heaven,” an art exhibit featuring original paintings, prints and cyanotypes by Chicago artist Ken Marier will be on view through June 30th at the Gallery in Chicago’s Holy Covenant United Methodist Church, opening June 10, 2011.

Screen printing photographic images on paper, raw and white muslin, satin, and leather, Marier’s work conveys that Heaven is a sense of place, a state of mind.

“While in Mexico recently during a brilliantly sunny hot afternoon, I came upon a small traveling circus. I immediately knew I had found the beginning of something special. It was gated and roped, as if anticipating the crowd that would appear later. Then it hit me! Heaven is a state of mind. Consciousness. A resonating frequency. This epiphany quickly led me to create the images and icons featured in this exhibit,” said Marier. “I’ve also created cyanotypes (blue prints) of the images that I believe convey the heaven I experienced that beautiful day.”

Heaven Exhibition of paintings, prints and cyanotypes by Ken Marier
The Gallery at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church
925 W. Diversey, corner of Diversey & Wilton, Chicago, IL
Opening Reception: Friday, June 10, 6-9 p.m.
12-5 p.m. on Tues/Wed/Fri and by appointment
312-305-3600

MEET THE ARTIST RECEPTION – Friday, June 24th, from 7 to 9pm

Ken Marier
Ken Marier is a lifelong artist and Chicagoan. He majored in film making at the Chicago School of the Art Institute. He has exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and was a pioneer in creating music videos for the fledgling MTV. He currently creates hand-printed screened works from his original photography and other legal means. Studio visits welcome by appointment.

Holy Covenant United Methodist Church
Holy Covenant is in century-old neo-Gothic building in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The west side of the church also serves as the canvas for a large public mural, “For A New World.” The church has always lived out of a dynamic vision, as people on a journey, committed to a fresh way of being a church: open and affirming to all people, blending ancient and contemporary forms of worship and arts, and, through radical discipleship, working for a better, fairer world.

Sign up for any of these small groups online.

Cup of Life

Looking for a simple way to deepen your spiritual life while enjoying weekly food & fellowship by the lake? Whether you are seeking an easy guide for 5 minute daily prayer and meditation to deepen your relationship with God, or you are feeling burnt out and in need of renewal, this small group has something to offer you. We will be using Joyce Rupp’s refreshing book The Cup of Life: A Guide for Spiritual Growth. Using the physical symbol of a cup to represent ourselves as spiritual vessels, this guide provides short but profoundly refreshing daily reflections along with options for related prayer, meditation, scripture, & intention-setting. We will gather for weekly potlucks by the lake (outdoors, weather permitting) to fellowship and share reflections on our journey with “the cup”.

Location: Ardmore & the Lake (there is a nearby indoor rain location)
Time: Tuesdays, May 10th through June 21st, 6:30-8:30
Book: Copies are on their way, for $5 each

HC Hiking Group

Do you love nature? Are you craving some fresh air? Have you been itching to get out of the city and into God’s Good Creation? You’re in luck: there are at least 60 great hikes/walks within 60 miles of Chicago! And Holy Covenant is starting a monthly hiking group to explore some of them. Hikes will usually be 2-4 miles in distance and be of easy to moderate difficulty. We will car pool from Holy Covenant. First expedition leaves HC at 10am on Saturday 5/14 (rain date is after church on 5/15). All are welcome – come once or every month. Feel free to contact us w/ trail suggestions!

Location: Meet at Holy Covenant
Time: Monthly on Saturday, 10:00am
Contact: Brit Holmberg or Chris Shickle

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.

Sign up for any of these small groups online.

Lilies represent new and eternal life, which is why they are traditional Easter plants. You have the opportunity to purchase an Easter lily for $12, in honor or memory of someone. The lilies will fill our sanctuary on Easter morning and then you are invited to take your lily home. We will publish the list of those honored in our e-news the following week.

Dear Holy Covenant Family,

Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew in me a right spirit.

This prayer comes from Psalm 51, which Christians around the world read each year on Ash Wednesday, to mark the beginning of Lent. We enter this season of reflection conversing with God about our hearts and our spirits, desiring to be closer to God. Join us at Holy Covenant this Lent as we continue to engage God in conversation:

God’s Conversation Partners:
The Courage to Question

Have questions?

Believe God can’t handle them? Worried we’re not supposed to question in church? This Lent, join us at Holy Covenant as we discover God’s desire for us to ask. Journey with Jesus into the wilderness and join biblical figures who ask questions of Jesus. We’ll speak truths, name doubts, and raise concerns.

God is listening.

*Spring Forward! And join us this Sunday, March 13th, for the first Sunday of Lent, 9:30, 11:15, and 7pm. At 7pm, our District Superintendent, Rev. James Preston, will be our guest preacher. Come to hear him preach and visit with him as we engage the pastoral transition process. THEN, stay for games and pizza! Bring a game, bring a friend.

*Read Holy Covenant’s Lenten Blog:
Members of our community are writing about their Lenten practices and inviting you to join them on the journey. One of my daily Lenten disciplines is to read our blog-please join me: http://www.holycovenantumc.org/get-to-know-us/blog/

I hope to see you tonight and on Sunday and think about who you can bring with you.

Grace and Peace,
Kate

Dear Holy Covenant Family,

From the earliest beginnings of the church, followers of Jesus have been eating together. Describing the first Christian community, Scripture tells us: Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2:45-50)

2,000 years later, we continue to break bread with one another in the name of Jesus! This week, we conclude our worship series, You Are What You Eat: Feasting at God’s Welcome Table. Join us Sunday as we feast at God’s welcome table through the Sacrament of Holy Communion in all three worship services. We’ll also celebrate the end of our series by extending table fellowship to our annual Chili and Pie Cook-Off. Join us at 12:30, this Sunday, in the Sanctuary.

You’re invited! How can you participate?

*Bring homemade chili and pie to share and compete to take home the coveted prize of Holy Covenant’s best of 2011. You can brag on Facebook for days.

*Chili and pie not in your culinary repertoire? We could use other sides: cornbread, chips, salad, drinks-get creative!

*Invite a friend to come with you! Have you been thinking and praying about who to invite to church since our service on inviting others? Now’s a perfect opportunity to extend an invitation. Who doesn’t love a good potluck?

*Just bring yourself. Not a cook? Run out of time or money to bring something? No worries!

Where we find Jesus and his followers eating together, there will always be an abundance of food. Tempt your palate and cast your vote for your favorites.

Come, taste, and see, with glad and generous hearts.

See you on Sunday, and think about who you can bring with you to share in the feast.

Grace and Peace,

Kate

Hello, friends,

We’re doing something new this winter. Have you noticed? The small group sign-ups have a lot of the same group, meeting on different nights around the city: it’s that Forgiveness group. Instead of having many different conversations, we’re having one large conversation as a church about a central Christian belief and practice. You could argue that forgiveness is the central belief and practice. So what’s it matter to you?

Forgiveness is for all of us. It’s been given to us and we’re called to practice it. But how? “Should I forgive him?” “Did she ever really forgive me?” “Can I forgive myself?” “What does it add up to that God forgives me?” Come engage with the rubber-meets-the-road questions of our faith.

One thing that’s not new: these groups are still a great chance to get to know other folks from church in a casual setting. And they’re still an important opportunity to grow closer to God. Groups start next week (although the Monday night group now starts on Feb. 21st) and you can see an overview of the whole curriculum on our blog. Get your juices flowing by listening to the sermon on forgiveness from Jan 23rd or Georgette Kelly’s testimony about being part of a forgiveness small group and then join the conversation.

This winter, try something new. It’ll be hard…and it could change your life.

In peace,

Rebecca Anderson
Minister of Spiritual Formation