I love the way kids never shy away from hard questions.If you spend any time around children, you’ve probably been hit with a hard question or two. If you’re a parent, probably before you’ve had your morning coffee. “Mommy, how does it feel to die?” “Uncle Joe, what is a soul made of?” “Grandma, why is there war?” I can still feel the mild panic I experienced when my own kids asked me impossible questions...
As we continue to process our many feelings about the Highland Park shooting, we want to share some comforting images from the Candlelight Vigil we offered on Thursday, July 7. Should you wish to partake in part (or all) of the service, yourself, visit our YouTube Channel. Though loss, grief, and doubts may assail us, we find strength: in God’s presence, and in one another’s presence. We pray this service offers you the solace and sanctuary you...
We invite you to a special Ash Wednesday service, which will premiere on our church's YouTube channel at 7 P.M. on Wednesday, February 17. This service will introduce our Lenten theme (a timely and poignant one, to be sure) and empower us to deepen our faith as we journey toward Holy Week's sobering depth and Easter's uplifting joy.https://youtu.be/8TXc_HjXhPs...
The Psalmist tells us to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.” This Thanksgiving week, as these wreaths adorn the gates to our church yard, we are reminded to give thanks in all circumstances for the generosity and kindness God has shown to us and that we, in turn, share with others. While this has been a difficult year, we still have so much to be thankful for. What are you...
Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends in Christ, This is a difficult time. The pandemic is surging in unprecedented ways. Within our county. Our state. And our Country. Concern is rising. And, as of 12:01 A.M. November 20, Tier 3 mitigations will go into effect in all 11 Illinois regions. These mitigations aim primarily (but not exclusively) to limit gatherings and to encourage people to stay home to the greatest extent possible while permitting some industries to...
With the decision to return all programming to virtual this week, The Navigators group would not able to stuff the stockings as planned so the Servants group stepped up this past Sunday and completed the project. All 50 stockings are ready to be delivered to The Night Ministry for Holiday Celebration 2020 which will be held throughout the month of December. The Night Ministry is a Chicago-based organization that works to provide housing, health care and...
The Leadership of WCC gathered virtually on Tuesday, Nov. 10th for our annual Leadership Retreat. Many of our leaders have been attending the leadership conference for years, and for some, it was their first one. In all cases, we were glad to be together. Traditionally, this meeting is held in Tolman Hall, with lots of round tables set up for great brainstorming, discussion, and discovery. This year, if it had been a normal year, perhaps we...
The Covid 19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis has led to extreme hardship for many families in the Chicagoland area in 2020. In addition, the WCC Rummage/Benevolence Committee was unable to hold either of its large public sales in 2020, the proceeds of which in a typical year fund around 40 agencies. For many the situation is bleak, but the news is not all bad. This year the Winnetka Congregational Church Council voted to release a...
These days, we have plenty of connectivity, but sometimes, feeling deeply connected to others, to our deepest selves and to God…that seems much harder to come by. We think that’s partly because there are very few places in our world today where we can bring our un-curated selves, where we can be real and vulnerable. This is the kind of community we are cultivating here at Winnetka Congregational. A community where we don’t all look alike or think...
Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends in Christ, In 2016, our congregation identified four “threads” within our broader ministry; four focal points to ensure our faith intersects with the pressing issues of our day. These four threads both spring from, and seek to realize, Jesus’ call that we love God above all else and, relatedly, that we love our neighbors as ourselves. These threads empower us to concretely enact what it means to be “A House of...