Urban Village Church

Dreams inspire us, nourish us, and keep us moving towards a future we can’t see quite yet. This week’s dreamer, Ella Baker, once said “This may only be a dream of mine, but I think it can be made real.” We will follow her and Daniel of the Bible through their journeys to make dreams real in the midst of an oppressive, imperfect world, and in the process, hopefully get a little closer to making some of our dreams reality. 

 

(At 4:40, we listen o Sweet Honey in the Rock’s ‘Ella's Song’ which you can access online here: youtu.be/S2T216XgiO0)

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If you grew up with in a family with a strong Protestant work ethic, it may seem sacrilegious to talk about sleep, napping, and rest as powerful acts of faith. But Number Three in the Big Ten (of commandments) puts it right there: Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Sabbath. Shabbat Which means "rest."

As we talk about dreams this month, it makes sense that we would also talk about sleep and rest and that's the focus of this Sunday. What does it mean to rest as an act of faith and resistance in a society that constantly asks more and more of us?

In scripture, God tells Joseph in a dream to flee Judea with Mary and Jesus and go to a town called Nazareth. At one of the most pivotal and courageous moments in our nation’s history, Harriet Tubman received dreams from God that directed and protected her on a perilous journey to freedom from slavery, freeing over 70 other enslaved people. In their dreams, Joseph and Harriet receive guidance on how to protect themselves and community. 

 

This Black History Month we’ll explore all the ways God works through our dreams and invites us to be dreamers too: dreamers of grace, liberation, rest, and joy.  Please join us! All are welcome and affirmed!

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Pastor of Emerging Ministries Christian Coon reflects on how God intercedes in our lives (including in our dreams) to provide guidance and protection. The Scripture focus is Matthew 2:19-23.

When Jesus enters the home of Mary and Martha, things happen! Raw emotions are expressed, people are calling people out, and Jesus brings to the surface the topic of care in a shocking way. This passage is both a favorite to many and also frustrating to many (are you Team Martha or Team Mary??). 

This Sunday in online worship Pastors D’Angelo and Alexa will be in conversation with healthcare workers to explore this scripture from the lens of workers rights, exhaustion, and our healthcare system. There is much to say. Please join us! All are welcome and affirmed.

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Sign up to receive our eNews and stay in the know! (link to sign up is at the bottom of our webpage). Follow us online and support our bold, inclusive, and relevant ministry into the new year

Familiar with the Great Resignation? It’s a term to describe a current economic trend where millions of workers are leaving their jobs during the pandemic and redefining work in relation to one’s life, purpose, and meaning. In scripture, the first disciples Jesus calls have a similar experience! In worship, Pastor Chan discusses this “great acceptance” in conversation with South loop member Julie to explore this radical decision and how to re-evaluate our own relationships to work and how it defines us.

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This Sunday's Choose Your Own Adventure service was a justice edition in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  We still have opportunities to advocate voting rights, make meals for neighbors in need, learn Chicago music history, and more!

In worship, Pastor Hannah connects Dr. King's message of civil rights and economic justice to modern movements and the ways we can be a part of that work today.

In testimony, Marlon Chamberlain from the Fully Free campaign spoke about voting rights efforts for people detained in Cook County Jail. You can support Fully Free's work and hear Marlon's story from our full worship stream on our YouTube channel: Urban Village Church.

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Grab your favorite hot drink of choice as Pastors D’Angelo, Hannah, Christian, and Emily gather around a virtual fire place to have a conversation about life in such a time as this. Focusing on Isaiah 40:26-31, we will explore challenges, grief, creativity, and fresh ways to imagine being relevant as people of faith, starting with an honest word

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Happy New Year! We hope this throwback from a few weeks ago is a helpful reminder about how we hope to be community in the months ahead - and - invite you to join us! As you listen, let us know how we can meet you with our resources. Whether through our online community of one of our sites meeting in-person, we hope to see you around. 

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Sign up to receive our eNews and stay in the know! (link to sign up is at the bottom of our webpage). Follow us online and support our bold, inclusive, and relevant ministry into the new year! 

In our Weslyan Covenant New Year's service, we celebrate God's faithfulness and love while being honest about our circumstances. Responding to God's presence in our lives invites us to renew our commitments to one another as people of faith. This type of covenant is worth celebrating! We are empowered to love ourselves and to love our neighbor because God loves us. Join us! All are welcome. All are affirmed. 

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urbanvillagechurch.org

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Sign up to receive our eNews and stay in the know! (link to sign up is at the bottom of our webpage). Follow us online and support our bold, inclusive, and relevant ministry into the new year!