Lent and Easter 

Learn a New Practice for Lent

Sunday, March 2nd 12:00pm-1:00pm- Dining Room

John Wesley encourages us to pray without ceasing. In our busy lives, with so many distractions, it can be difficult to keep to a regular prayer practice. Beads have been used by many faiths over the centuries as a meditative way to focus attention on prayers. Join us on Sunday March 2 to create a set of beads and learn about this ancient prayer practice just in time for Lent. We will meet in the dining room at noon. There will be a fee of $12.00 to cover materials costs. Contact Mari Leonard with questions and to register for the class. mari.leonard@comcast.net

Lent Contemplative Prayer Group

Mondays March 10th-April 14th, 10:30am-11:30am- Zoom

In the 1960s, the well-known Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, brought contemplative practice out of the cloister into the realm of ordinary people. In the 1970s, Father Thomas Keating developed a form of contemplative practice called centering prayer; and John Main, a Benedictine monk, advocated a practice of contemplative meditation. We will be utilizing the small group format for contemplative practice outlined in the book “Where Two or Three Are Gathered” by Rev. Daniel Prechtel with an emphasis on lectio (reading), meditatio (meditation), oratio (prayer), and contemplatio (contemplation). The contemplative practice group will meet on Mondays, March 10th – April 14th during Lent, from 10:30am-11:30am on zoom and will be facilitated by Glynis Doyle and Maryellen Scott. If you have any questions, would like to receive an outline of the format of the class, or would like to register, you can contact Glynis at dleedoyle@gmail.com.

The Third Day: Living the Resurrection

March 9-Holy Week

Each spring, our church chooses a common book which everyone is invited to read. This year, our book is Tom Berlin’s The Third Day. Dedicated teachers offer classes on various days and times during the week, both in-person and via Zoom.

To guide us on our journey of reflection and preparation, Tom Berlin’s book puts the devastating experience of Jesus’ followers after the Crucifixion. When it appeared to them that Jesus was dead, they all faced despair. But when Jesus reappears, they take new hope and move forward to launch a world-wide movement. In addition to exploring the biblical characters’ feelings, the author interlaces contemporary stories of people facing hopelessness and despair and finding renewal in Christ. It offers inspiration to us in our own trying times. The book is available at the church office for $10.00 per copy or through Realm. Please email class teachers for Zoom information.

Below is the current list of class offerings and registration information.

FOR ONLINE GATHERINGS, PLEASE SIGN UP BY 10 AM THE DAY BEFORE YOUR GATHERING SO YOU MAY RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK 

Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:15 In-Person, sign up here. 

• The Christian Experiment, Room 33
• Abide, Room K

Sundays at 1:00 p.m., Men’s Fellowship In-person, Glenna Hall, email Jim Hagedorn with questions or to share your participation.

Mondays, 2:00 p.m., at the Mather, Teacher: Pastor Grace Imathiu, sign up here. 

Tuesdays, 4:oo p.m., via Zoom, Teacher: Joe Agne, sign up here. 

Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., via Zoom, Teacher: Linda Brennan, sign up here. 

Thursdays, 6:00 p.m., via Zoom, Teacher: Pastor Grace Imathiu, sign up here. 

Lenten Book Study by the Social Justice Intersections Group- Sundays 9:15 AM Dining Hall

Antiracism as Daily Practice: Refuse Shame, Change White Communities, and Help Create a Just World by Dr. Jennifer Harvey 

WHY THIS BOOK?

It offers a daily guide for White people to join anti-racism efforts.

It encourages ways that anti-racism can be part of our everyday lives.

It explores the ways that grief, anger and shame block White people from knowing how to engage in the struggle to counter racism.

It’s point of view is one of intersectionality.

The author is Jennifer Harvey, the Academic Dean of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She will join us in person  on the Sunday after Easter, April 27, 2025.

Books are available at the church office for $15 each or through Realm. The schedule below corresponds with different chapters of the book. 

March 9: Matt Johnson leading- “White People Do Your Own Work, “Where Are We” and “Why is This So Hard”

March 16: Marianne Griebler leading- “Let’s Run Around the Block” and “The Freedom of a Ruined Party”

March 23: Joyce Hodel leading- “Beyond White Fragility and “Finding Our Way Through Paradox”

March 30: Pastor Britt Cox leading- “Accountability as Belonging” and “So, What Do We Do With Our Families”

April 6: We take a Sunday off to focus on our church’s annual Earth Care Celebration. This morning I asked Judith Cambell to offer a paragraph

April 13: Chris Nieuwsma leading- “Mapping Our Spheres of Influence,” “How Do We Change Our (Predominantly White) X and “Let the Real Dance Party Begin”

April 20: On Easter we will sing the social justice verses of ten favorite Easter Hymns.

April 27: Author Dr. Jen Harvey leading- An “in person”conversation with Dr. Jen Harvey, author of ANTI-RACISM AS A DAILY PRACTICE: Refuse Shame, Change White Communities and Help Create a Just World.

“Why Methodism?” In Lent

Dr. Ron Anderson is doing a 4 week study on sacraments beginning Feb 23…March 2…March 9… (first Sunday of Lent) and March 16…

March 23 Jim is doing the Theology of Suffering…or where do or can we find the wonder and awe of God in human suffering…

Could we affirm that…

1. God suffers with and responds to creation
2. God receives and transforms creation’s hurt and anger
3. God needs creation’s grief and participation to transform suffering into hope.
4. God transforms tragedy, violation, and sin into whatever is possible within the present world…seeking to reconcile God’s self with creation and to reconcile every part of creation with the whole…

In Lent we remember Jesus’ suffering…does this suffering honor and provide identity to all who suffer?

March 30 Jim is continuing the Theology of Suffering series with a look at the Book of Job…Richard Rohr’s views…He writes: “The Book of Job proclaims from the beginning that there is no correlation between sin and suffering, between virtue and reward. That logic is hard for us to break. This book tries to break it, so that a new logos, called grace, can happen.”

April 6 Jim is continuing the Theology of Suffering series with a look at the Book of Job…Gustavo Gutierrez views… He writes: “The West has not had a theology of the evil of misfortune, the evil suffered by the innocent. In my view, the basic importance of the theology of liberation, that which gives it a major importance that I hope it will not lose, is that it takes into account the widespread, objective evil that entails no fault in the sufferer.”

April 13 The Mystery of Suffering: How does this expand our understanding of God and our relationship(creation’s) with God. A summary of insights gained from the Book of Job.

Palm Sunday, April 13th 

• Palm Sunday Walk- 9:00 AM, Raymond Park
• This year we will be joining other Evanston congregations in our witness of God’s reign of justice and peace.
• Hot Crossed Buns Baking for all ages- following the Palm Sunday Walk and located in the kitchen
• Worship- 10:30 AM, Sanctuary
• Children are invited to meet in the back of the sanctuary at 10:15 am to process into worship with their palms.

Maundy Thursday, April 17th

• Family Service- 5:30, Tittle Chapel 
• Worship- 7:00 PM, Tittle Chapel

Good Friday, April 18th 

• Worship- 7:00 PM, Tittle Chapel

Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 19th 

• Worship- 7:00 PM, Tittle Chapel
• Community Hour following

Easter Sunday, Sunday, April 20th 

• No Education Classes for Children at 9:15 AM
• Join the Social Justice Intersections Class at 9:15 AM in the Dining Hall for singing the social justice verses of ten favorite Easter Hymns.
• Worship- Festive Prelude begins at 10:00 AM, Call to Worship begins at 10:30 AM, Sanctuary
• Eggstravaganza following worship