Upcoming events

Parents and members of the church are invited to attend Sunday School with our children of the church on Sunday, January 24 at both morning services. Come find out more about Sunday School and offerings for children and families at Holy Covenant. Our new Minister for Children and Families, Jeff Dodson, and members of the Children and Families Committee will be present to share what we are doing and to answer your questions. For more information contact Jeff at jeffreydodson@holycovenantumc.org.

Sign up to join any of these small groups using this online form or by e-mailing groups@holycovenantumc.org.

New groups:

Sundays

Seeking God…at the Cineplex
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 video together and then pause to how the movie “spoke” to us; what spiritual aspects might the film awaken.  Reflecting on these themes, 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 three-hours to allow time for screening and conversation.

Feb. 7th, 1pm: Phoebe in Wonderland

Feb. 21st, 1pm: Amreeka

March 7th 1pm:  Waking Life

March 21st 1pm: Precious

Leader: Julie Holmberg
Contact: holmbergjulie@gmail.com
When: Alternate Sundays, 1:00 – 4:00; February 7 and 21; March 7 and 21
Where: Holy Covenant gallery

Mondays

“Come Unto Me:” an invitation to a deeper life – REGISTRATION FULL
We invite you on a small group journey to discover the joy of life lived deeply. We will explore and practice spiritual disciplines that enrich our spirits and deepen our relationship with God. We will also practice intentional community and accountability in covenant with each other.  As we grow as a group, we will listen for God calling us by name to a mature life of faith, and explore extending our commitment meeting together as community.

Leaders: Kristin Kumpf and Lisl Heymans
Contact: klkumpf@yahoo.com, lislheymans@hotmail.com
When: Monday evenings, 7:30 –  930 pm, BEGINS February 8^th
Where: TBA

Tuesdays

The Spirituality of Food – REGISTRATION FULL
Come explore spirituality around choosing, preparing, eating, and sharing food.  There will be two readings per week, including one scriptural reading and one reading chosen from literature, non-fiction, and poetry pertaining to our topic.  The readings will be provided in advance and participants will come prepared to discuss.  Along with group discussion, we will also share a meal together each week.  Can preparing and consuming food be an everyday spiritual practice?  How do our food choices impact God’s creation?  How does food create community? Can feeding and nurturing ourselves connect us to our Mother/Father God? Come hang out in the kitchen with us. We’ll chew on these questions and some delicious food as well!

Facilitators: Anne Cumings, Cassie Meyer
Contact info: annecumings@comcast.net, cassiemeyer@gmail.com
When: Tuesdays, 7:30 pm, February 2 – March 23
Duration: 8 weeks
Where: 2536 N. Kedzie Apt. 304

Wednesdays

Newcomer Orientation and Small Group
This weekly gathering on Wednesday nights is designed to introduce newcomers to each other and to give some basic information about Holy Covenant, the United Methodist Church and the Christian faith. Each session covers a different aspect of our mission statement: Seek God, Love All People, Change the World. After three visits, we hope that visitors will be well-informed about what Holy Covenant is all about and will get to know some of the other people sitting next to them on Sunday morning.

Sign-up is not necessary, and all are welcome to visit for any or all sessions.

Facilitator: Matt Kuzma
Contact info: matt.kuzma@gmail.com, 773-419-1146 cell
When: Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30, beginning Feb. 3
Duration: Ongoing
Where: Holy Covenant

Thursdays

Freed-up Financial Living
Times are hard.  There are big questions to figure out.  But we’re not in it alone and our finances are not separate from our spiritual lives.  Come for this 6-week video and conversation series.  Using the Good $ense curriculum, we’ll each come away with a budget for our households and maybe even a renewed sense of our priorities.  Participants who are able are asked to contribute $18 for participant workbooks but that fee shouldn’t keep anyone away.  Please contact Rebecca if financial assistance is needed.

Facilitator: Rebecca Anderson
Contact: groups@holycovenantumc.org
When: Thursday evenings, 7:30 – 9:15 pm, February 4 – March 11
Where: Holy Covenant Gallery

Sign up to join any of these small groups using this online form or by e-mailing groups@holycovenantumc.org.

On-going groups:

Sundays

Women’s Group, 2nd & 4th Sundays <NOTE NEW LOCATION>
The Holy Covenant Women’s Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at Pompei, at the corner of Sheffield and Wellington, right at the Wellington Brown Line stop.  Pompei offers wonderful, inexpensive food and beer/wine. It is a drop-in group – no sign up or commitment is required.  The purpose of the group is to provide a fun, casual place for the diverse women of the church to meet, share our stories, and support each other.  It is a great choice for women who would like to feel more connected within the church, especially newcomers to Holy Covenant.  The Women’s Group runs year round and can be attended in conjunction with or in between other groups.

Leaders: Linda Effinger Quinde
Contact: effinger@umich.edu, 630.670.8774.
When: 2nd and 4^th Sundays of the month, 5:00 – 6:45, on-going
Where: Pompei at Sheffield & Wellington, right at the Wellington Brown Line stop

Wednesdays

Sunday’s Scripture
Sunday’s Scripture is a group that meets with the pastor 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! Each week, we will 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.  We will 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? Join us as we grow closer to God and one another through the biblical passages that shape our lives as a community.

Facilitator: Kate Floyd
Contact: revkate@holycovenantumc.org
When: Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm
Where: Holy Covenant Gallery
Duration: On-going throughout the year.  You are welcome to drop in.

Thursdays

Holy Covenant Book Group – January 28^th but usually 2^nd Thursday of the month
Gather to discuss a book with other folks.  The book will be listed in the eNews, on line, in the bulletin.  Drop in for one month, or plan on coming every month and getting to know your fellow book-lovers.  Spread the word and bring a friend.  Consider hosting in months to come or suggesting a book!  You are welcome to come even if you don’t finish.  There is grace in our group.

Leader for January meeting: Ali Mostrom
Contact: ali.mostrom@gmail.com
When: January 28th, 7:30 – 9:15
Where: 1100 W. Wolfram St
The January book: A. J. Jacob’s The Year of Living Biblically (available at libraries and bookstores)

Theology on Tap
Theology on Tap is an independent gathering of men and women who share an interest in Christian theology and, of course, beer. We are committed to an open discussion of the life and teachings of Jesus and the doctrines that developed in the aftermath of his death and resurrection. ALL are welcome, with the caveat that each individual be respected and treated with dignity and kindness. (We also want to respect the staff and build relationships with them, so please budget in order to leave at least a 20% tip.)  NOTE:  This is an on-going group.  Drop in any week.  Look for us on Facebook at T.o.T. (Chicago).

Facilitator: Jonas Grey
Contact: jonasdavid@me.com
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Hidden Shamrock on Halsted at Diversey
Duration: On-going.  Drop in, or commit to going every week for a season.  Bring a friend!

Celebration Choir
Join other singers in preparing music for Sunday’s services – whether you’re an old hand at choral singing, or have mostly sung in the shower.  Bring your own dinner and share a time of fellowship and practice, all with an eye and heart towards worship.  You can check it out any Thursday; commit for a month, a season, or the year.

Leader: Andrew Collins
Contact: acmusic@andrewcollinsmusic.com
When: Thursday nights, dinner and chatting at 7; practice 7:30 – 9
Where: Holy Covenant Gallery

Sign up to join any of these small groups using this online form or by e-mailing groups@holycovenantumc.org.

From Children & Families Minister Donelle Sommer

It’s hard to believe in just a few short weeks we will begin our rehearsals for the next CHRISTMAS PAGEANT! This will be held on Sunday, December 13th during both morning services!!! REHEARSALS will begin on each Sunday morning starting November 22nd, during the Sunday School time-frame.

Like last year, we will invite the children choose what character they would like to be in the pageant. They will choose from the following speaking or non-speaking roles: Narrator/s, Angel Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Angels, & Shepherds. Please let your child choose what s/he would like to be in the pageant.

Here is the rehearsal schedule:

SUNDAY MORNING Rehearsals:
November 22 – During the 9:30 & 11:15am services after TFYC (your child may come either)
November 29 - During the 9:30 & 11:15am services after TFYC (your child may come to either)
December 6 - During the 9:30 & 11:15am services after TFYC (your child may come to either)

DRESS Rehearsal & Performance:
Saturday December 12th – 9am – 11am: We will rehearse in the sanctuary, in full costume and will run through the pageant twice. Children will need to arrive in costume so we can begin promptly as there are always a few things to work through!

Sunday December 13th – 9am – 12:30pm –  Children need to arrive no later than 9am; a light breakfast will be available. The children will gather in the basement to get ready, and  they will perform at BOTH MORNING SERVICES. In between services they will have an opportunity to snack & play downstairs to get their wiggles out before second service.

PAGEANT VOLUNTEERS – We will need a variety of volunteers to help with several aspects of the pageant including but not limited to: costumes, hospitality, “shepherding” during the performance and behind the scenes, and publicity. To help, please contact: donellesommer@holycovenantumc.org

Come see the first concert series in the United States dedicated to American tap and contemporary percussive arts companies. This year, Chicago Human Rhythm Project presents the Chicago debut of Washington D.C.’s celebrated Step Afrika! while sharing 50% of the proceeds with more than 50 Chicago area non-profits through the innovative Thanks4Giving program.

Mention/enter code CHRP-UMC to get a 10% discount and ensure half the proceeds come back to the church

Performances:
Thursday, November 19, 2009 @ 7:30 PM
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 8:00 PM
Saturday November 21, 2009 @ 8:00 PM

To find see a video, and purchase tickets, check out the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s event page. Or call 312-334-7777.

Dear sisters and brothers at Holy Covenant,

This coming Sunday is All Saints Day, when we recognize that we are part of the on-going communion of the saints. In the morning, we’ll have our annual Folk and Bluegrass Services, with home-y and plaintive music, and the naming of those who have died. In the evening, we’ll have a contemplative Service of Remembrance, followed by an autumnal potluck. Wait — is this day a party or a funeral? Well, it’s a little bit of both: we will mourn those who have gone before us and celebrate gratefully what they’ve given to us.

In the United Methodist tradition, the saints are the ones who have gone before us in the faith, and we ourselves are the saints, as people who are witnesses to the Gospel. If the word “saint” trips you up – as it did me for a long time – think of the way the apostle Paul started his letters, the way he might’ve written to us at Holy Covenant:

“To the church of God that is in Chicago, to those who are called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of Jesus, grace to you, and peace!” (See Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 1)

For Paul, the word that we translate “saints” was “holy ones.” We are indeed called to be holy and to live in the faith that we are being made holy by God’s Spirit. So we will be remembering saints that we have read about in Scripture and those who we’ve known, as well as acknowledging our place on the long roster of holy ones.

Hands are needed on Sunday: after the 11:15 service, we’ll prepare the sanctuary for the evening, and get ready for the meal afterwards. Of course, we could also use a few folks to wash soup bowls at the end of the evening. In addition, we need soup-makers and bread-bakers (or, let’s face it: bread-buyers!). Interested? Contact Rebecca Anderson.

Please join us for this day of remembering and celebrating: we’ll get a sense of the cloud of witnesses that surrounds us, unseen, whispering of the faith they have known, and the joy we will all know together.

Peace and grace to you,
Rebecca Anderson
Minister of Small Groups

Dear Holy Covenant Family,

Dogs and lizards and cats,
Birds and hamsters and rats,
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

This Sunday morning is our annual “Blessing of the Animals” service, where God’s creatures, human and animal, will fill our sanctuary with glorious sounds of praise. There won’t actually be lions and tigers and bears, but we will worship side by side with our beloved pets and the pets of our brothers and sisters at HC. We will have a wonderful and wild and wooly time together, indeed. But, we also include animals as part of our worship service because celebrating pets, honoring all of God’s creation, helps us draw nearer to the divine.

Congregations all over the world observe the Blessing of the Animals, usually during this month, because Oct. 4th is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis lived in Italy in the 12th and 13th centuries, and is most famous for his love of animals; he’s often depicted in garden statues with birds on his shoulders and bunnies at his feet. But his love for animals wasn’t a sentimental affection; he cared for creation out of a deep conviction to share God’s love with the whole world. In his time, a world of violence and wars, animals were treated cruelly. He both recognized the call to care for the least of these and the face of God that resides in all of creation. St. Francis continues to be a model of love for Christians, as these ancient words of his “Canticle of All Creatures” inspire us today:

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.

Praised be You my Lord through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give thanks,
And serve God with great humility.

Join us on Sunday morning with your pets. If, however, you are allergic or not comfortable around animals, you can still come to church! Join us at our 7pm, animal-free service, for Eucharist, contemplation, and singing.

Grace and Peace,
Kate

This Sunday, we will celebrate Children’s Sabbath at Holy Covenant with a guest preacher, Gennifer Benjamin Brooks. This will be a Sunday when the children are more involved with the leadership of the morning services and those who are in 3rd grade (or older if they are new to Holy Covenant) will receive a copy of the NRSV translation of the the Bible. However, all the children will be recognized that morning and will receive a gift of love from Holy Covenant UMC.

Gennifer Benjamin Brooks is the Styberg Associate Professor of Homiletics and Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She is an ordained elder and full clergy member of the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. Before coming to the seminary, she was the pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York for eight years, having previously served in two cross-racial appointments in the New York Conference. She was also the Assistant Dean of New Brunswick Theological Seminary for four years.

Gennifer holds a Bachelor of Business, cum laude and a Master of Business Administration from Pace University, a Master of Divinity, summa cum laude, and a Doctor of Ministry from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and a Master of Philosophy and a Doctor of Philosophy in Liturgical Studies from Drew University.

Gennifer is a Harry Hoosier member and has served at the local, jurisdictional and national levels of Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR). She is a founding member of Black Clergywomen of the United Methodist Church (BCWUMC).

For more information about the Children’s Sabbath, contact Rev. Kate Hurst Floyd.

Morning Services – Folk/Bluegrass All Saints at 9:30am and 11:15am
Join us for our Folk/Bluegrass All Saints on Nov. 1 when we remember the great cloud of witnesses as we celebrate their lives through song, prayer, and candlelight. During the service, we will read the names of saints who have gone before us and influenced those in our congregation. If you would like to add saints from your life to the list to be read, please e-mail their names to office@holycovenantumc.org by Oct. 28. Together, we’ll remember that unbroken circle of saints, through God who connects us all.

Evening Service – A Service of Remembering at 7pm
Come at 7 pm for a contemplative, Taize-style service, with stories of saints we’ve known or read about, haunting music, and the opportunity to remember those we’ve mourned. Bring photos of those you’ve lost to share.

Autumn Soup and Bread Social
Stay after the evening service for an Autumn Soup and Bread Social. We’ll hunker down in the sanctuary to share a meal and fellowship, participating in the ongoing and everlasting communion of the saints.

Friday, November 6, 6pm-9pm
Presented by the MGR Foundation & Dignity Diner
Every Tuesday evening at 6pm, Chicago’s homeless and hungry are invited to be our guests for a sit-down vegetarian dinner at Holy Covenant.  Following the meal, Dignity Diner patrons and volunteers connect weekly with a variety of activities.  We hope you will join us on Friday, November 6, for our 3rd Art Opening entitled “At 7 O’Clock We ART”.  View the work of our artists as they reveal their unique expressions on identity and Chicago life.

View the poster.

Dear Holy Covenant Family,

Hear these words from the U2 song Magnificent, off of their latest album:

I was born, I was born to sing for you, I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up and sing whatever song you wanted me to, I give you back my voice, From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise.

On Sunday morning, we will be giving God our voices, voices that God first gave us, by joyfully singing the songs of U2.  As the lyrics wash over our hearts, the melodies pour forth from our mouths, and the rhythms permeate our hands and feet, we will be worshipping with our whole bodies.  We’ll receive the bread and the cup, the ancient practice of taking our faith inside of us, of feeding our souls with the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

And, of course, we will rock. (more…)