In Sympathy: Gwen Janet Oliver
Mrs. Gwen Janet Oliver, spouse of Rev. Richard E. Oliver, retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Fri., Oct. 2, 2026.
Emmanuel UMC in Evanston is celebrating Christmas with a stunning display of traditional Indian Christian decorations, featuring thousands of individually hand-cut paper elements crafted from special decorative paper imported from India.
Suspended across the sanctuary ceiling, the installation forms colorful geometric patterns, symbolic motifs, and large circular designs—each piece placed together one by one by volunteers.
“In Indian churches, decorations are expressions of faith, love, and hope,” said Rev. Scort (Sanjay) Christy, pastor of Emmanuel UMC. “This display reflects our cultural heritage and our unity as a community.”
See more photos and information here.
Mrs. Gwen Janet Oliver, spouse of Rev. Richard E. Oliver, retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Fri., Oct. 2, 2026.
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