Newsletter of the Ravenswood Fellowship UMC
Telephone
773.561.2610
Church Office Hours: Tues – Fri. 9:30am – 2:30pm
email
Website
IRCLE
[email protected]
www.ravenswoodfellowshipumc.org
Worship Warm-up – First Cup of Joe: 9:00am book discussion group
Sunday Worship Service: 10:30am
Sunday School/Nursery Available
Pastor
Rev. Linda Misewicz-Perconte
Circle Staff
Editor
Reporter
Circle Crew
Lisa Sloan
Betty Morita, Donna Sagami
Members of the RFUMC Walking Group
We are a Christian community that celebrates diversity and values social justice. All who seek
God, inclusive of age, race, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity and special
needs, will find a place here.
Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church
February 2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Greetings and Peace in the Name of Jesus Christ!
Ravenswood Fellowship UMC
4511 North Hermitage Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60640-5303
This
IRCLE Made Especially For
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
The People of the United Methodist Church
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February 1 begins the month-long observance in Canada and in the United States
of Black History Month (also known as African-American History Month). The
purpose of this observance is to recognize the rich and varied contributions Africans
have made to the culture and history of North America and the world. The idea was
the brainchild of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard scholar and founder of the
Association for the study of Afro-American Life and History. In 1926 he initiated
Negro History Week choosing to include it in the month of February, the birth month
of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. Dr. Woodson
hoped that a special observance of African-American contributions might encourage
people of all ethnic backgrounds to examine their roots, ultimately leading to a
coming together of racial groups out of mutual respect for each other. In 1976, the
week evolved into a month-long observance known officially as Black History Month.
In Lent we will do a short-term Bible study that combines an in-depth look at scripture
and the music and lyrics of six African-American Spirituals. The book is entitled
Plenty Good Room. The six session study provides biblical, social, and historical
analysis of the spirituals:
Ev’ry Time I feel the Spirit
This Lonesome Valley
Bow Down on your knees
Plenty Good Room
Ain’t Dat Good News
Were You There?
Marilyn Thornton and Louis Baldwin are the authors.
We will have books available at church. Please let Charlotte or Pastor Linda know if you’ll
need a book.
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Linda
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SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to Chris Johnson and the men and friends of the church for providing the delicious
chili at the Chili Fest. The chili really warms us up on a cold, winter afternoon! It was a
wonderful event enjoyed by all!
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SPECIAL MUSIC
Did you know our church is on Facebook? Find our page “Ravenswood Fellowship United
Methodist Church” and like us! We have also been working on our website which you can
find at www.ravenswoodfellowshipumc.org
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PRAYERS FOR HEALING and STRENGTH
Anne Myers recovering from a broken ankle, Hisa Takami, Nora Yoshimura, Merle Kaneko,
Diana Dinager, Adrien Chely, Steve Johnson (grandson of Rev. Bill Johnson), George Eng,
Rosalie Brozik, Diane Schmidt, Arnold Watanabe, Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, Donna
Govas, Barbara Sechrest, Cristeta Villamin (Angelina’s sister), Kane Senda, Tom Shinsato,
Robert Omachi, Susan Schroeder, Connie Long, Georgia Chilton, Russell Johnson, Sho
Fukawa, Chiyo Omachi
December Special Music: Mark Aparece on the viola, Andrew Martin – bassoonist and
Matt Hannau – vocalist, bass joined Jonathan in December which heightened the musical
portion of worship service. Many thanks as we enjoy your visits very much! Also thanks to
Gloria Grasse for performing a solo. We love seeing you at worship service!
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Please visit our new website, designed
by Isamu and Dave Handwerk, at
www.ravenswoodfellowshipumc.org
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ALTAR FLOWERS
Sunday December 18 – floral arrangement in memory of Kiyo Yoshimura from the Murata
family.
Sunday January 29 – flowers in memory of Mits Hidaka from Marietta Hidaka and family.
Many thanks to all who stayed to assemble the sandwich suppers for the Night Ministry on
January 22nd. Thanks to the volunteers who braved the weather to serve the meals in
Uptown. Thanks to Lisa Dyer and Lisa Goodman for heading this mission. The next date
for Night Ministry is Sunday February 19. Please plan to stay after worship
service to help!
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Charge Conference January 21, 2017
BIRTHDAYS
1st
3rd
5th
12th
14th
15th
17th
18th
19th
21st
24th
25th
27th
28th
29th
Don Logsdon, Jr.
Keisha Lamina
Karen Oh
Maomi Asai
Brittany Wilson
Enoch Kanaya
Glynis Lamina
Losic Minaspour
Florentino Parangat
Vincent Johnson
Janet Ayers
Mary Bingo
Michal Perconte
Anil Prahlad
Samantha Lamina
Kelsey Lawlor
Helen Doe
Sandy Pool Rizzo
Janice Hasegawa
Nicol Miyata
Alexis Dunton
Julie Fujii
Taylor Fujisawa
Happy Birthday to All!
By: Cheryl Kato
Members of the congregation were joined by our District Superintendent Rev. Zaki Zaki as
our Lay Leader Donna Sagami opened us in prayer followed by singing “Here I Am Lord.”
The required reports were received and thank-you’s extended to the leadership for their
faithfulness, hard work and accomplishments this past year. We continue with visioning and
the next steps to meet that vision. Plans are already in place for the church to extend our
reach into our immediate community. Rev. Zaki has challenged us to move forward with
our discussions to support an emerging Latino faith group. A light lunch prepared by Andrew
Lawrence, concluded the gathering.
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THE ANNUAL SYAA FREE BASKETBALL CLINIC WILL BE
HELD HERE AT CHURCH
FOR 8 WEEKS ON SATURDAYS FEB. 4-MAR. 25 FOR
KIDS 4-18YRS.
BEGINNERS 12:30PM-2:15PM, ADVANCED 2:30PM4:15PM.
DONATIONS OF CANNED FOOD REQUESTED.
REGISTRATION FORMS ON THE TABLE OUTSIDE OF
THE SANCTUARY
Upcoming event at Broadway UMC
Sunday, March 5, 2017 1:00pm
Broadway United Methodist Church,
3338 N Broadway, Chicago IL
Broadway Church’s People of Color Group (POC) and Anti-Racist White Caucus (ARWC) are
pleased to present "The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation: A
Conversation with Natalie Moore."
The event is open to the public and everyone is invited. The church and the event are handicap
accessible, and nongendered restrooms are available on the lower level. A freewill donation is
suggested at the door, though all will be welcome, regardless of ability to contribute. Ms. Moore
will discuss her book and take questions. Following the presentation, Ms. Moore will sign copies
of her book. Books will be available for sale throughout the event, and light refreshments will
be served.
Cost of the book at the event will be $27.99 plus tax.
Please stop downstairs and visit
Midori
Market
A gift shop featuring
Fair Trade,
Repurposed,
Recycled,
Eco Friendly,
Vintage and New
Jewelry and Gifts
“The South Side” is a lyrical, intelligent, authentic, and necessary look at the intersection of
race and class in Chicago, a Great American City. In this intelligent and highly important
narrative, Chicago-native Natalie Moore shines a light on contemporary segregation in the city's
South Side; with a memoirist's eye, she showcases the lives of these communities through the
stories of people who reside there. The South Side shows the impact of Chicago's historic
segregation - and the ongoing policies that keep the system intact.
Natalie Moore is the South Side bureau reporter for WBEZ, Chicago’s NPR–member station.
Before joining WBEZ, she covered Detroit’s City Council for Detroit News. She worked as an
education reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and as a reporter for the Associated Press in
Jerusalem. Her work has been published in Essence, Black Enterprise, the Chicago Reporter, In
These Times, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. She lives in Chicago.
Broadway United Methodist Church is Broadway United Methodist Church is a community
full of life& activity. Together we worship, study, offer community service, sing, and play. We
strive to be a multi-cultural church and have proclaimed our commitment on the journey as an
anti-racist institution. We are a Reconciling United Methodist congregation -- part of a
connection of congregations committed to the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons.
Lent begins on March 1st
February 28 - Shrove Tuesday
The day before Ash Wednesday is known by a variety of names, depending on one’s culture:
 Shrove Tuesday – from the Old English, meaning “to have confessed” because
people were urged to go to confession prior to Ash Wednesday.
 Mardi Gras – French for “fat Tuesday” because of the custom of using up fat, butter,
and other rich foods prior to the Lenten fast.
 Carnival – Spanish for “to take away meat,” referring to a period of several days
leading up to Ash Wednesday, during which meat was consumed, again prior to a
Lenten fast.
 Pancake Day – a more recent nickname, given to the tradition of eating pancakes
on this day as a way to use up sweets and rich food prior to giving them up for Lent.
March 1 – Ash Wednesday
The beginning of the 40-day long Season of Lent, Ash Wednesday is a solemn day of
fasting, repentance, and prayer. In many churches, services are held during which the
imposition of ashes takes place, often in the shape of a cross on the forehead or back of the
hand. In some traditions, a small amount of oil, ancient symbol of healing, is combined with
the ashes. Wearing ashes was an ancient Hebrew way of expressing grief or shame. Black
or purple vestments and banners are used on this day.
This is Lent:
a journey;
a wilderness:
a grounding;
a calling;
a presence;
a silence;
a pilgrimage;
a revelation;
a hillside;
a tomb-side;
a resurrection.
Come, let us journey into Lent. Amen.
Ash Wednesday services (in the sanctuary):
March 1 Wednesday 12 noon
March 1 Wednesday 7:00 pm
Day of Remembrance Main Program
February 19, 2017
Chicago History Museum – McCormick Theater
1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
This year’s program will feature the screening of two short films produced by local
filmmakers titled “The Orange Story” and “A Song for Manzanar.” This will be followed by
a poetry reading by acclaimed local poet and writer Dwight Okita, who will read two widely
anthologized internment camp poems from his book “Crossing with the Light.”
The program will conclude with a panel discussion moderated by Sandra Yamate, and
featuring “The Orange Story” Executive Producer Jason Matsumoto and Writer & Director
Erika Street Hopman, as well as “A Song for Manzanar” Writer & Director Kazuko Golden,
and Novelist and Poet Dwight Okita.
New Group Forming in March. E-mail Gloria at
[email protected] for details.
Spaghetti Dinner
Saturday March 18, 2017
4:00 – 7:30 pm
Ravenswood Fellowship UMC
4511 N. Hermitage
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 561-2610
EVERYONE WELCOME, COME JOIN US!