Urban Village Church

Talk About It - Ephesians 4:25 | John 1:43-46 (Hannah Kardon, Teaching Pastor)

The scriptures are clear: as neighbors, we are all "members of each other." But how often do we act like Jesus' neighbors who refused to see him, referencing stereotypes like "Can anything good come from Nazareth?!" The truth is there is so much good everywhere, if only we take the time to build the connections and see it. This Sunday, as we continue our neighborhood tours, we’ll explore how to deepen our love and responsibility towards one another. Please join us!

UVC, All Site Drag Worship Service | Loving Our Neighbor Panel (Mark 12: 28-34)

The Parade was cancelled- but the celebrations go on! Enjoy our panel conversation featuring Pastor Hannah Kardon, Blanche DoBoys, and Shea Evangelipstix during our All UVC Drag Worship service at Wicker Park! This week, continue celebrating all of who God made us to be!

 

Malia (Shea Evangelipstix) is an Afro Latina American Transwomen native of Springfield, Illinois, that spent most of her life in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2015, Malia moved to Chicago. Being the oldest of four loved and loving children, Malia has developed a great appreciation and passion for helping others. Although Malia has many passions like performing Drag, singing,acting, making clothes, cosmetology, spending time with friends and family, crocheting, painting and drawing just to name a few. her most harbored and embraced passion is dance. It has been a lifelong dream of Malia to be the founder of her own liturgical dance company. She is in the very early stages of doing the hard ground work to build up her dance company and bring her dream and purpose of changing the world and building the kingdom of God through Dance.

 PP: $rytheminfaith

 

Blanche DoBoys is a Chicago drag queen originally from rural Indiana. She is a performer who loves both lip-syncing, speaking, and live singing, as well as a designer who creates all her own looks and wigs. “Thank you so much for including me! I am so grateful to be in a church body that not only allows, but affirms and celebrates queerness and expression!”

Instagram: @blanchedoboys. 

Venmo and Paypal: @BRJ97

 

UVC, Emily McGinley, Executive Pastor | “Being a Neighbor” (Galatians 6: 2-10)

“Who is my neighbor?” is a question at the heart of our faith that Jesus uses to teach us about what it means to care for one another, love one another, and grow closer to God. In Chicago, with our history of redlining and segregation and deep neighborhood cultures, it’s an especially provocative question. 

 

On Sunday, Pastor Emily spoke about our partnership this month with the #FoldedMapProject which invites us to understand ourselves not only as in the context of our own neighborhood, but also in relationship with neighborhoods across Chicago. How can we practice belonging to one another, carrying one another’s burdens, calling people in - and expecting our community to do the same for us? Starting where we are, with what we have, is a great first step to reflecting God’s love in our neighborhoods. 

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UVC, Emily McGinley, Executive Pastor | “Restored After Conflict” (John 21: 15 - 24)

What do we do when a trust has been broken or a betrayal has occurred? Our culture would tell us to cut off, walk away, and never look back. But our faith tells us there is a different way. 

Finishing up our sermon series on restoration, Pastor Emily reflects on John 21, we encounter the original “Come to Jesus moment” and learn that when we make amends in our broken relationships, we can also make amendments that help us begin to trust again.

Christian Coon, Pastor of Emerging Ministries, ”Surprising Restoration” (2 Kings 5:1-16)

When we're in need of restoration, we sometimes look for that healing in familiar places. But God can surprise us by restoring us in unexpected ways. Christian Coon reflects on this using the story of Naaman.

Christian Coon, Pastor of Emerging Ministries, ”Putting the Pieces Back Together” (John 21:1-19)

How can we find restoration when others have harmed or betrayed us? Christian Coon reflects on how Jesus shows us a way.

UVC, Chan Choi, Site Pastor | EW & SL, “Restored By Unexpected Means” (2 Kings 5:1-16)

In 2 Kings there is this mighty character, Naaman, who’s seeking healing and restoration from an illness. Naaman is disappointed though with the instructions he receives to be made well. It takes the encouragement of his community, getting out in nature, and a readjustment of perspective to take next steps. In worship, Pastor Chan discussed how part of finding restoration and wholeness is being open to all the ways it may come to us, and the surprising forms it may take in our lives. 

UVC, Hannah Kardon, Teaching Pastor, “Restored After National Tragedy” (Nehemiah 8:1-12)

We are not the first faithful people to return to worship together after a long time away - others have done so too, under even harder circumstances, and we can learn from them. 

This morning, Pastor Hannah encourages us to look to the Israelites who returned from exile to rebuild the Temple under Ezra and Nehemiah. How did they return to one another and what did they do? How can we embrace God while moving forward in recovery and care together? .

UVC, Emily McGinley, Executive Pastor, “Living Into Community: Gratitude” (1 Thessalonians 5: 9-19)

In our fifth (and final) week of ‘Living Into Community’ - we’re running it back!! In week one, Pastor D’Angelo spoke about gratitude, and it’s such an important aspect of community, we're speaking about it again. 

Pastor Emily invites us to consider how Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians centers around hope being restored in the midst of despair. How does hope encourage us to contribute towards abundance within community, and, cover that commitment in gratitude? Please join us!

UVC, Christian Coon, Pastor of Emerging Ministries, “Living Into Community: Truth Telling” (Colossians 3: 9-15)

Yesterday, we concluded our “Living Into Community” series by discussing truth telling. In the letter to the Colossians the author talks about taking off something old to put something new on, and in this process, there is a period of nakedness and vulnerability. 

Pastor Christians asks us what does it mean to be fully truthful and transparent with ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities? And how can we remind others that we are God’s beloved?