Make A Joyful Illinoise

08/17/2026

I'm late in posting this, but many thanks to United Methodist Church of Libertyville for their amazing hospitality in hosting the cabinet last week! Their generosity was beyond compare.

Plus, a great and simple idea for churches: They have a bulletin board out with pins in the locations of all their members. It helps give others a sense that they have a bigger footprint than they realized *and* it connects people in their neighborhoods.

07/28/2026

A great story and a great ministry!

Through a small immigrant congregation and an unmarked guest house for women in crisis, the Rev. Misook Park has quietly built a ministry that extends beyond Sunday worship.

07/27/2026

Many thanks to Pastor Scott Himel and the folks at First UMC Park Ridge for the invitation to preach yesterday. They are doing a sermon series on the animal kingdom so it was a first for me to preach on deer! I'm grateful for this church's warm welcome and openness to their community..

It's truly been a privilege to get to see so many sanctuaries in our conference, each one unique and striking in their own ways. I particularly love the stained glass in this church.

07/20/2026

I'm very grateful for Jason Moore of Midnight Oil Productions and his presence with us last Friday and Saturday. He shared very helpful insights on how we can use AI tools in ministry and also how to practical steps to be hospitable churches both in person and online.

We're always eager to hear from all of you about what topics we can help address. What are challenges for you right now? What are you curious about? Never hesitate to reach out!

07/15/2026

Our first cabinet meeting of the new appointment year complete with celebrating DS Vik's 60th birthday, DS Brian's 29th birthday and apparently it was green day yesterday!

07/13/2026

I'm very grateful to Pastor Luis Felipe Reyes-Rosario, Becca Rome and other leaders from Sycamore United Methodist Church for the invitation to preach yesterday! It was a wonderfully welcome service and experience. I love Sycamore UMC's building and the fact that there are cornfields right across the road tugs at my Iowa heart.

07/07/2026

It was great to reconnect with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez last year, a faithful and longtime member of Humboldt Park United Methodist Church! (And Rev. Juan Pablo Herrera, too!) Rep. Ramirez was featured in an article in the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday about how some elected officials are responding to AI. The link to that article is in the comments.

The church, of course, is wrestling with how we respond to AI, as well. We're grateful to have Jason Moore with us next week to think about this important issue. Please join us on July 17 to learn more! Info about this gathering is also in the comments section.

06/30/2026

I was grateful for the invitation from Pastor Marcia Peddicord and Disciples UMC Mt. Morris to be in worship with them last Sunday! It's a good sign when I receive a warm welcome from their members and they think I'm "just" a visitor. And there aren't many better views than looking out through their windows at the small orchard and fields. Disciples received a revitalization grant last year and they are doing a great job of listening and reaching out to the Mount Morris community!

06/23/2026

I've been seeing several "pass the baton" posts like this one from Renewed Hope United Methodist Church as we draw closer to July 1. If your church is going through a transition, United Methodist Communications is hosting a webinar on July 8 on how you can communicate these changes both to your church and your community. It's worth exploring! Link is in the comments section.

06/22/2026

Those who serve in extension ministry (like myself) are expected to have a charge conference and I've been a little uncertain where to end up. It's best not to make a church I once pastored be that place so I decided to make Holy Covenant United Methodist Church my "home," even though I'm usually visiting another NIC church on Sundays. HCUMC and Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist were pivotal for me as a field ed site in the mid-1990s as I was wrestling with my call so it's a way to honor them, plus I'm grateful for Rev. Seth Botts and his ministries there and with Free Recovery Community - Chicago.

My whole family came along yesterday as we visited and it was a lovely way to begin Father's Day!