At the church where I serve, we have been debating whether the native flowers planted in our memorial garden should be deadheaded as the summer growing season gives way to fall and winter. If we leave the spent blooms intact over the winter, people may assume we’re neglecting to care for our garden – and…
On November 22, Casper ter Kuile and Angie Thurston of Sacred Design Lab gave the keynote at the 182nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago. In their presentation, they discussed their project “How We Gather,” which studies how people find meaning, connection and community in an increasingly secular world.
Dear Friends in Christ: As my time as your bishop winds down, I have begun to do some things with the people of this diocese for the last time. Many of these occasions are bittersweet, but I am looking forward with great joy to celebrating the holy seasons of Advent and Christmas as your bishop…
Bishop Lee preached this sermon on November 23, 2019 at the 182nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago. It was his final annual convention Eucharist as bishop; he will retire in August 2020. Some of you may have heard me tell what is quite possibly my favorite story from all the twelve years I…
In the Fall of 2019, CCD Weekends will be offered for Year B. The series of four weekends spread throughout the 2019-2020 program year will be equivalent to the summer week-long residential training. Year A is not required prior to taking Year B. The weekend series is a great opportunity for lay teams, along with their clergy, to take the CCD training. Lay teams may take the training on their own if their clergy have participated in the week-long summer session.
Participants must commit to attending all four seminars to receive credit for the Year B program.
On January 11 from 9 am to 1 pm at St. James Commons, the diocese’s Antiracism Commission will hold a facilitator training to help congregational leaders learn to use Pathway to Reconciliation, the congregational study guide for the Legacy of Slavery Task Force Report.
Learn more and register online by January 8. For more information, contact Diane Shalda by email or phone (815-867-6721).
The workshop is an excellent opportunity for individuals & institutional leaders responsible for diversity or social justice. Using a variety of interactive tools, it explores the historical development of institutional racism and its continuing impact. Participants will also be introduced to strategic methods to dismantle systemic racism.
