Last week’s Assembly had business, motions, and votes. We had great storytelling about acts of justice in the diverse communities in the presbytery. We ended our time in the Buchanan Center at Fourth Presbyterian Church with communion. Instead of the table being prepared in advance, Rev. Shawna Bowman invited participants to bring the elements and table coverings up from the congregation. Source ..read more

I wonder how we are walking in newness of life throughout the presbytery in 2024. What new things are you trying? Where are you seeing new signs of new life in the church? In our communal life right now, we are called to walk in newness of life marked by reconciliation and justice. In fact, “Do Justice” is the theme of our presbytery assembly this month. As we navigate the ripples from changes… Source ..read more

The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs is seeking several other churches in the Presbytery that might like also to host an indoor exhibit of approximately 25 pieces of art during the next 12 months taken from the juried exhibit of the nonprofit organization Embracing Our Differences. The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs (PCWS) is planning to print the digital files of about 25 of the… Source ..read more

A growing concern in our culture today has to do with the way more people are allowing their emotions to disrupt and disrespect others around them. Learning self-compassion and how to handle our emotions is an essential part of acquiring good mental health. Emotional Intelligence is defined as the ability to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle emotions. Daniel Goleman’s book… Source ..read more

The reaction to the Board of Pension changes is sweeping through social media and other communications like a mighty wind! Anxiety is high, worry about the future, and real concern about the fiscal realities of greater demands on shrinking budgets are apparent. Ken Hockenberry and I spent a couple of days last week in Denver at a Board of Pensions event to learn about the upcoming changes. Source ..read more

Chicagoland Christians United for the Care for Creation is honored that the Archdiocese of Chicago will archive the Declaration for the Care of Creation in Holy Name Cathedral, 735 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60654. An Ecumenical Prayer Service, at which time the Declaration will first be displayed, will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 7:00PM, after which the Declaration will be made… Source ..read more

We are working to make our assembly gatherings engaging and meaningful for people in person and online. One way we’re doing this is to collaborate with you! If you have some thing you’d like to report, teach, or learn at an assembly meeting, you can use this form to make that suggestion or request. When designing Presbyterian meetings, we will contact you to think together about how your… Source ..read more

Jim Wallis and Craig Howard at Fourth Presbyterian Church. (Photo courtesy of Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago) A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to interview author Jim Wallis at Fourth Presbyterian Church. At the end of the interview, the audience submitted questions for Wallis to answer. His book, The False White Gospel emphasized the role of voting and participating in the… Source ..read more

The Nominating Committee has a new way for you to nominate a teaching elder or ruling elder to presbytery teams and committees. Use this form to nominate someone you think has gifts that will serve the presbytery — or nominate yourself! Right now, the following committees are looking for new members: Click here to fill out the nominating form… Source ..read more

“They don’t talk to each other.” These are the words from another executive presbyter about two congregations within a short distance of each other. Neither church has over 30 members. There are so many ways they could collaborate in ministry. They could share ministry events, share one pastor, or even merge to become one congregation. But this will not happen because they don’t talk to each other. Source ..read more