I have never been more proud to be a United Methodist than I am in this season. Over the past few weeks, we have watched with increasing dismay as the people of Ukraine have come under attack. They have been driven from their homes into underground shelters and subway stations. Refugees are crammed into trains heading out of the country while dodging bombs and tanks, leaving villages and cities in ruins. Millions of children have been displaced.
Read MoreOur work of providing “Safe Sanctuaries” has become part of the landscape, perhaps moving too far into the background. We have entered a decade of renewed awareness. Over the next few years, there will be an increasing emphasis on this work as we experience the deep scars of those now telling their stories.
Read MoreWe are in an in-between time. In-between fall and winter. In-between Advent and Christmas. In-between the current year and the New Year. In-between a sense that we are on the other side of COVID-19 but also facing another variant circling the globe; its impact is yet to be determined.
Read MorePerhaps this year is the right year to observe "Clergy Appreciation Month."Who doesn't appreciate a word of encouragement, an acknowledgment that life has been hard, or a congregational "hip-hip hurray."
Read MoreThe first session of our 2021 Annual Conference is now behind us as we live into the theme "Jesus Makes a Way." We will meet again on October 1 and 2 for ordination and additional business. Evaluations are still coming in, but again we adapted to our circumstances, making the best of our pandemic limitations. From virtual worship services and Bible Study to electronic voting, the annual conference committee and staff found ways to help us connect, converse and move forward.
Read MoreFor 14 months, the mantra of the United Methodist Churches in Northern Illinois has been "Do No Harm." As we contemplated every step in our ministries during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have done so with an eye toward keeping each other and our communities safe by stopping the spread of disease.
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