In Sympathy: Mr. Vi Tran
Mr. Vi Tran, spouse of Rev. Brian Gilbert of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the age of 37.
An Invitation to Teens and Young Adults
Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration
October 12, 2020
1 – 2:30pm
A Virtual Learning, Fellowship & Worship Experience
The Northern Illinois Conference Anti-Racism Task Force and the Committee on Native American Ministries are jointly planning three events in the coming school year (2020-2021) in the fall, winter and spring. This is part of the Task Force’s Justice Generation initiative which involves United Methodist teens in a year-long service-learning/action journey promoting racial justice.
The fall event is a virtual celebration of worship, learning, and discussion via Zoom in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 12, from 1:00-2:30p CST. UNITED METHODIST TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE WARMLY INVITED and can register for this event by clicking here. Space is limited.
The Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration will feature native music provided by Bill Bucholtz, a traditional flautist, and the Women’s Drum group from Day Spring Fellowship, a UMC ministry in Peoria, Illinois. In addition to music and prayer, Rev. Chebon Kernell, a member of the Seminole Nation and Executive Director of the United Methodist Church’s national Native American Comprehensive Plan, will give words of welcome and opening devotion. Koria Wayekwaakamigaa of the Ojibwe’ Nation will be speaking about the Red Dress Movement, which seeks to raise awareness and bring an end to the violence against Native American women in the US and Canada. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss and reflect together in breakout groups on how as followers of Jesus Christ we can help address the injustices faced by Native American communities.
We invite middle school, high school, college students and other young adults to join us to be inspired in faith and challenged to work for justice in Jesus’ name.
If you have questions, please contact Rev. Jeremiah Thompson at castiger1@gmail.com or 815-592-3764, or Rev. Dr. Michelle Oberwise Lacock, Co-chair of CONAM at mickiol@aol.com.