'We will stand with you in protest'
UCC Leadership
The national officers of the United Church of Christ are speaking out against the U.S. Supreme Court decision eliminating, after almost 50 years, the constitutional right to an abortion.
Long before the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, the United Church of Christ, by action of the General Synod, affirmed the right of every individual to follow their personal religious and moral convictions regarding their reproductive healthcare. We continue to stand by this conviction today. This religious and moral agency includes the autonomy of birthing people to decide whether to complete or terminate a pregnancy.
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Advocate Aurora Merger
Advocate Aurora Health
Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health have announced plans to combine to create a leading health and wellness delivery system that will redefine how, when and where care is delivered. Click here to read the letter addressed to Rev. Molly Carlson, on behalf of the Illinois Conference, answering some key questions regarding the merger and the impact it will have. If you have further questions, you can reach out to Rev. Carlson. |
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Restorative Church: Engaging the Wisdom of our Faith Traditions and Science to Reclaim Our Call to be Peacemakers
July 11, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Chicago Theological Seminary
An open invitation to church leaders / members who want to:
- Learn more about restorative justice
- Find out what science teaches about trauma and healing
- Connect biblical narratives to restorative work
- Apply restorative practices to church conflicts
- Hear about church-supported restorative ministries
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"Letters to home" is a reminder that being away in nature can create a path of transformation, to discover and rediscover yourself. For close to 100 years Tower Hill and Pilgrim Park have uplifted, shaped and spiritually formed guests of all ages and we are here today, promising a joyful experience.
Call Tower Hill at 269-426-3881 or Pilgrim Park at 815-447-2390 to experience transformation. If you have the ability, a donation to our General Fund to keep our doors open for the coming seasons is appreciated.
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Ordinations, Installations, Ecclesiastical Councils & More |
None currently scheduled for July. |
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Events in the Illinois Conference & Beyond |
There will be no All Conference Chat during July and August.
July 4: Conference Office Closed in observance of Independence Day.
July 6: UCC Webinar: Wartime Threat. 12:00 p.m. CST via Zoom. Register Here.
Oct 19-22: Illinois Conference Annual Celebration. SAVE THE DATE!!
Click here to submit a workshop proposal. Deadline is July 22.
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Conference and Association Meetings |
July 5: Property Committee Meeting. 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.
July 7: Prairie Committee on Ministry. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
July 14: Fox Valley Committee on Ministry. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
July 14: CMA Church & Ministry. 12:00 p.m. via Zoom.
July 19: FAB Committee Meeting. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
July 19: Western Committee on Ministry. 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
July 24: Western Council Meeting. 2:00 p.m. via Zoom.
July 25: CMA Justice & Witness. 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
July 27: Eastern Committee on Ministry. 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
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Events and Training Opportunities |
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Webinar: Wartime Threat
July 6, 12:00 PM CST
United Church of Christ
The fossil fuel industry is using the war in Ukraine to push for ramping up production in the United States. As a result, communities on the frontlines of the industry face the wartime threat of more pollution and more harm to their health. In this webinar, we will learn about the history that shapes the threats faced, and we will hear directly from those fighting at the grassroots to protect their families and communities. Featured speakers will include Roishetta Ozane from Healthy Gulf, Lois Bower-Bjornson from the Clean Air Council, and David J.X. González from the University of California-Berkeley. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 12 PM CST on Wednesday, July 6th, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register here.
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National ONA Gathering
August 5-7, 2022, Virtual
UCC Open & Affirming Coalition
Join us August 5-7 for our first National ONA Gathering since 2019! Our virtual event celebrate the 50th anniversaries of the ONA Coalition and Bill Johnson's ordination as the first openly gay man authorized to serve an historic Christian church as a minister of word and sacrament. From Friday to Sunday evenings, our celebration will offer inspiring worship, powerful testimonies, and stories from our growing movement. We'll honor the past, lift up the present, and claim our visions for the future.
The theme is "Shaping Generations: Queer Justice and Love in the UCC."
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New Retreat Offerings at Tower Hill Camp & Retreat Center |
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Men's Retreat
September 23-25, 2022
Through thoughtful conversations, intentional vulnerability, and embodied practices of the Christian mystical tradition, we'll enkindle our hearts again as we discover new ways to offer our male experience for the holding and healing of our world in this vulnerable moment in history.
This retreat is open to all who identify as men, and we stand in whole-hearted solidarity with men who are sexual and gender minorities. Download the flyer here.
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Book Lovers Retreat
October 7-9, 2022
Rev. Maren Tirabassi, author of “Death at Fair Havens” will be our leader and guide for a weekend retreat where we look at the mysteries in our lives, the clues we find to God’s presence, and the people who are ‘sidekicks’ or ‘Watsons’, friends who have seen us through the toughest ‘detecting’ we’ve known. Our time together will include games, campfires, hikes in the woods and walks on the beach. And of course, plenty of time to read! Each participant will receive a copy of “Death at Fair Havens.” Download the flyer here.
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Association of Interim Ministers Conference
October 5, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
In this time of rapid change, it’s hard to imagine what a church will be like even one year in the future. Gone are the days when church planning was a matter of deciding which of the standard areas of church life to emphasize. How can we plan when so much is in flux? One good way to focus planning is by asking questions. Featured speaker is Dan Hotchkiss.
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Juneteenth Webinar Recording
UCC Join the Movement
In case you were unable to be part of the UCC’s 2022 Juneteenth Celebration: Revealing Hidden Histories, a recording is now available here. We hope that each of the stories you encounter remind you of how important it is that people of African descent remain vigilant in telling these hidden stories: stories which are an essential part of the American story and stories which challenge us to close the gap between our declarations of emancipation and the realization of freedom in its fullness.
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Reproductive Justice Resources |
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‘Our work does not end here’: UCC leaders offer prayer, resources, presence.
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Worship Resources: Faithfully Supporting Reproductive Justice
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Youth Service Project Curriculum
United Church of Christ
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Climate Justice Grants
UCC Council for Climate Justice
The United Church of Christ Council for Climate Justice is allotting $20,000 in grants of $2,500 and $5,000 each to UCC churches, conferences, and associations as well as UCC affiliated theological schools and non-profit organizations for the purposes of developing and furthering the work of youth and young adult leaders in the movement for climate justice. Click here to learn more and apply. If you apply and receive a grant, please share the news with the Conference so that we can celebrate the ministry you are doing! |
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Advocate Aurora Health Care
Safely Reopening Our Doors Toolkit
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Recently Added Lay Employment Opportunities:
For more lay employment opportunity postings, click here.
Please let us know if you have a job opening you would like to share,
and also update us once the position is filled. Contact Sarah Lohrbach.
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Church Newsletter Request |
Please send us your newsletters so we can keep up with what's going on in your church.
Address for printed newsletters: Illinois Conference UCC, 1840 Westchester Blvd., Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154. Electronic newsletters: Please add Sarah Lohrbach at SarahLohrbach@ilucc.org to your church’s mailing list.
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THE ILLINOIS CONFERENCE UCC E-NEWSLETTER is published by the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1840 Westchester Blvd., Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154. The Rev. Molly Carlson, Conference Minister; Sarah Lohrbach, Editor. Copy may be sent to: SarahLohrbach@ilucc.org.
This communication is made possible by your contributions to
Our Church's Wider Mission
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Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ | (708) 344-4470
1840 Westchester Blvd., Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154
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