Experiencing Lent and Holy Week with old and new traditions

Lent has always been considered an important time in the worship and discipleship life of a community of faith. Lent is a time for the church to journey together toward Easter and reaffirm their baptismal covenant. It is an opportunity for self-examination and reflection, as modeled by Jesus in Matthew 4: 1-11 when he prayed and fasted for 40 days before beginning his ministry. It can also be a time of great creativity and innovation, even while maintaining valued and sacred traditions. Many congregations and ministries across the conference are participating in tried and true traditions, as well as looking toward something new.

Remembering Lent and Holy Week

We recently asked our readers, "What is the most meaningful or most moving part of your Lent observance? Why?" These are some of the answers we received. Submit your response to communications@umcnic.org and it will be added it to the list.

Bishop’s Column: We are in a Holy Saturday Moment

Sure, we are living in post-Christendom, days that the culture is not filling our churches with citizens who wish to make a missional contribution, but rather days our culture seethes with white Christian nationalism. We are facing powerful monied interests that seek to divide us for political gain, both in the culture and the mainline churches. We are living in a Holy Saturday period. We are people who know grief at the foot of the cross but also that resurrection hope is found on the road to Emmaus. I am praying that the One who can bring us hope will stay at the table with us because the night is near.

New Communications Director Joins NIC Staff

Rev. Victoria Rebeck joined the Northern Illinois Conference staff as Director of Communications, effective March 15, 2023. She will oversee the communications strategy and execution for the conference.

Display highlights the history of our conference

During the Laity Convocation 2023, one of the host churches, Disciples United Methodist Church (DUMC) in Mt. Morris, created a display about the rich history of the Rock River Conference that then became our Northern Illinois Conference. The church’s history team hoped to share with guests, many of whom had never been in Mt. Morris, how our early Methodist settlers, ministers, and circuit riders followed a path of discipleship as they moved west from Maryland, Ohio, and Kentucky into the frontier of northwest Illinois.

Black Teens Matter event encouraged students

Chicago Black Methodists for Church Renewal’s (BMCR) Black Teens Matter held its 4th Annual Presidents’ Day Holiday Hook-Up on Feb. 20. Black Teens Matter is a component of the Rev. Maceo D. Pembroke, Sr., Memorial Institute, which is now in its 50th year. The theme was Guaranteed Scholarship > Guaranteed Success, based on the book entitled "Raise Your GPA: God’s Way to Win @ School & Life", written by Jonathan Banks.

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