In Sympathy: James Wilson
Rev. James M. Wilson, a member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Monday, October 6, 2025.
Location: Zoom
LAKE NORTH DISTRICT SHEPHERDING TEAM PRESENTS:
Saturday, January 29 from 8:45-Noon
LAKE NORTH DISTRICT SHEPHERDING TEAM PRESENTS:
LEAD 2022 Encourage. Equip. Empower.
Gather with Lake North clergy and laity for a morning of inspiration!
Be encouraged, equipped, and empowered for spiritual leadership in 2022!
Online via Zoom
Cost $15
Please do not let cost prevent you/your church from joining us. Reach out to our District Superintendent to inquire about scholarships.
Schedule:
- 8:45 until Noon:
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Encouraging interactive worship
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Julian Davis Reid will ENCOURAGE us with worship and reflection on scripture
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Jennifer Stephens will EQUIP us to think creatively about how to strengthen our online ministries.
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Shanta Premawardhana will EMPOWER us to build bridges with our neighbors, for effective action in the world. (Download Presentation)
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Testimony from local churches on “what has worked for us”
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Discipleship tools for post-pandemic faith communities
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Questions?: Contact Wendy Hardin Hermann - email
Presenters
Julian Davis Reid is a disciple, husband, son, brother, and friend. He identifies as an artist-theologian, meaning he is a musical artist with widespread love for different genres, and a theological educator with widespread love for Jesus’ worldwide Church. Hailing from the Southwest side of Chicago, Julian grew up playing classical, gospel, and jazz piano. He is a proud alum of Whitney Young High School and Merit School of Music. His degrees include a B.A. in Philosophy from Yale College, and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Julian is thankful to be back serving the local church in Chicago. Currently, he serves principally at Renewal Church of Chicago and First United Methodist Church of Oak Park. His retreat style ministry, Notes of Rest, is focused on helping the Church rediscover the gifts of rest, contemplation and creativity intrinsic to our Christian faith.
Jennifer Stephens is the Interim Digital Pastor for Urban Village Church, a congregation whose mission is: “creating Jesus-loving, inclusive communities that ignite the city.” Jennifer received her MDiv from Brite Divinity School and remains committed to social justice activism while building relationships and walking beside oppressed and marginalized people. Jennifer is also a certified personal trainer and loves to workout and run along Lake Michigan.
Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana is president of OMNIA Institute for Contextual Leadership, a global interfaith organization training people of faith to build power by collaborating across religious and other boundaries that divide human communities for effective action. Previously, he was the director for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation at the World Council of Churches (WCC), a worldwide association of 349 Protestant and Orthodox denominations, and the Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations at the National Council of Churches of Christ, a national association of 38 Christian denominations. Premawardhana earned his Ph.D. in Religion at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.