07/14/2026
Happy hot mid-July! A few notes about recent and upcoming events:
--Mark your calendars! We will be having a district Ice Cream Social & Hymn Sing on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2:30 p.m., at the old Emmert Cemetery and Meeting House near Franklin Grove, hosted by the Dixon congregation. See attached flyer for more details.
--Please be in prayer for those attending the Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference in Estes Park, Colorado, beginning this weekend. We have about a dozen youth attending from the district, along with a few advisors and several denominational staff and volunteers. We pray that this will be a meaningful, inspirational, and fun experience for all gathered there.
--Congratulations to Krista Dutt and the Highland Avenue congregation in Elgin! This past Sunday, Highland Avenue officially called Krista—who has been serving as interim there since last spring—as their full-time settled pastor. An installation service will take place Aug. 23. The installation for Gay Bouwmeester at York Center (Lombard) will take place the previous week, Aug. 16.
--Finally, continue to be in prayer for the situation around immigration in our country, particularly as it affects our Haitian Brethren in Florida and elsewhere with removal of Temporary Protected Status, as well as news of recent fatal shootings in Maine and Texas. A page on the denominational website (https://www.brethren.org/walking-together/) shares information on the "Walking Together" resolution recently affirmed by Annual Conference, with resources, Bible studies, and other tools. In addition, the denomination's Deportation Defense Response also continues and is working on raising funds to aid those in need of legal representation and other aid. Learn more at Immigrant Legal and Mutual Aid Fund - On Earth Peace (https://www.onearthpeace.org/immigrant_legal_mutual_aid_fund).