Church News

25 Mar

Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends, One month ago, Russian forces invaded Ukraine. In the stories and images which ceaselessly stream from this deeply embattled yet resilient country, we see both humanity’s best. And humanity’s worst. We see enlightened leadership grounded in hope. And despotic leadership fueled by fear. We witness brutal attacks. And unspeakable courage. We are aggrieved by the millions so ruthlessly displaced. And inspired by the compassion of neighbors both within and beyond Ukraine’s...

19 Nov

Rehearsals for the 106th annual Winnetka Congregational Church Christmas Pageant on December 12th have already begun. As preparations for this beloved event gain steam, I’ve found myself reflecting on why we’re so committed to doing everything we do here intergenerationally – to remaining open to hearing God’s grace expressed through voices of all ages. A story that keeps coming up for me is one about a particular fifth grader.She’s a natural introvert, known for her...

30 Sep

Multifaith solidarity is something our congregation has been committed to for a long time. One of the ways we’ve lived that out is by offering our sanctuary to Congregation Hakafa to use on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We’ve done this since 2016 and were privileged to do it again this year on September 6-7 for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. And on September 15-16 for Yom Kippur, the “day of atonement.”Because of the...

26 May

After worship this Sunday, we invite you to gather in the Churchyard for a time of remembrance of loved ones and those who served in the U.S. military. Flags will mark the resting places of those who served. If anyone wishes to wear a uniform, ribbon or other items representing their military service, or that of a family member, please do so. The Churchyard is a place of peace and reflection. You are welcome to visit at...

22 May

Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends, This past Thursday (5/20), I was pleased to announce Winnetka Congregational’s new masking and distancing guidelines, which align fully and without exception to the CDC’s new recommendations. Before sharing the announcement, I’d tested it with numerous people to ensure that the message I intended was the message people were hearing. However, a very helpful email exchange with a congregant yesterday (5/21) revealed that there was another way to interpret one key...

06 May

Starting Sunday, May 9 at 9 am, along with our continuing online worship option, we will be offering worship outdoors on our church’s front lawn (unless weather conditions move us indoors). This setting will offer us plenty of space, with our sanctuary’s beautiful front porch as a backdrop.Have questions? Here are three that we’ve heard…answered. If you have more, don’t hesitate to be in touch. Photo by BP Miller on Unsplash 1. What will outdoor...

19 Mar

This virtual challenge was inspired by one of the Winnetka Congregational Church Servants who decided she wanted to do something to give back during these strange and extraordinary times. Sparked by this motivation, a team of middle school and high school youth got together with our Outreach councilors to plan a virtual fundraiser to support The Harbour, a non-profit supported for many years by the church that offers immediate, stable and safe housing and support...

17 Feb

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...

09 Feb

More than thirty years ago a single church youth group was driven to do something different on Super Bowl Sunday after hearing a simple prayer: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.” That was 1990. Since then, ordinary young people have generated an extraordinary $163+ million for soup kitchens, food banks and other charities in communities across the country.This...

02 Dec

In this Advent season, it has been a church tradition to gather for the lighting of a beautiful tree on our front lawn. This year, we gathered virtually to view the lighting. We heard some humorous words of wisdom from Senior Pastor Jeff Braun as well....

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