CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS

Canton will offer a “Peace and Serenity Service,” led by Carol Davis and Pam Willison, on Sept. 28. On Oct. 12, the congregation will enjoy at wiener roast at the nearby Champlin farm at 4:30 p.m.

Freeport held its 105th anniversary celebration on Sept. 7 with worship and lunch. The congregation had planned a big event for its 100th anniversary in 2020, but that was derailed by the pandemic, so this provided a chance for some belated festivities. With the theme “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future,” a variety of current and former members and guests shared memories with a large crowd, and pastor Christina Singh gave a hope-filled message, plus special music included the song “The Church at West and Pleasant,” written by former organist Phyllis Rowland and performed by a quartet. … Freeport will also do its annual drive-through pork chop meal on Sept. 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The meal includes boneless pork chop, cheesy hashbrowns, green beans, roll, and peach pie bar or pumpkin bar for $10. 

Lanark will hold its Church of the Brethren Women’s Fellowship annual meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 17, with Paulette Stitzel and Anne Schultz providing leadership. 

Mount Morris accepted an offer for the purchase of its building from a church group (Iglesia Pentecostal Jesucristo Amor & Esperanza AIC) based in Rochelle, and the sale officially took place on Sept. 5. Congregation members have been busy moving out items they want to keep and getting set up in their new space. Mount Morris will be using space in the nearby Pinecrest Community Grove building—located just off McKendrie Street at Evergreen Lane, south of Brayton Road, beginning Sept. 14. The facility is well suited for their needs and will save the significant overhead expenses and needs of the current facility. The long-running Loaves & Fish food pantry is expected to be able to continue to operate out of the current building. [Pictured: Mount Morris board chair/moderator Dianne Swingel, left, meets with leaders of the Amor & Esperanza church to sign the papers for the sale on Sept. 5.] 

The congregation plans to hold a service of celebration and farewell to the building, hopefully in late September or early October. Watch for more details. Our prayers are with the Mount Morris congregation in this time of transition.

Also at Mount Morris, the women’s coffee break group has started a new card ministry to members of the congregation and community. It meets the first and third Thursdays of the month. 

Neighborhood will join with another local church on Sept. 14 for a Bake and Pray Day, 1-7 p.m. at the Neighborhood church building in Montgomery. The free event will focus on the place of bread in our lives, with facilitator Kendall Vanderslice leading participants through the process from start to finish. The event will conclude with dinner. Find more information at https://www.realhopeoswego.org/calendar.html. 

Peoria First will do its annual fall Mountain Mission trip to Kentucky Nov. 13-16. In addition to delivering donations and assisting at the Henderson Settlement, the trip includes meals, a stop at the Berean Artisan Village Center and visit at Natural Bridge State Resort, and good worship and fellowship. For more information, contact Leonard Matheny at mathelw@gmail.com or 309-256-8846 or pastor Dana McNeil at pastordana@peoriabrethren.org or 309-682-3980. A lunch fundraiser for the mission will take place Sept. 21 after worship. 

York Center (Lombard) will be marking its 75th year as an independent congregation in 2026! The leadership team recently sent out a document highlighting important moments and other history in the congregation’s life. Started by Chicago First as members moved to the suburbs, the faith community began meeting in homes in the 1930’s, and the first building was constructed in 1945. The district granted York Center its autonomy as a congregation in 1950-1951. Bethany Seminary moved nearby about a decade later. … A memorial service for Estella Horning will be held at the church on Oct. 11 at 10:30 a.m. 

Are you curious about Anabaptist Disabilities Network’s “All In” project and wondering if it might be a good fit for your church? Join them for a live All In Info Session on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. Central time. ADN will share what participating congregations can expect and leave time for Q&A at the end. The All In Project is the newest venture of ADN, made possible by a grant from the Lilly Foundation. Pilot congregations are currently being sought for this five-year collaborative worship project, and this is an opportunity to have all your questions answered about the process and what the project can offer your congregation. Zoom link: https://MCUSA.zoom.us/j/88688614253. For more information about All In, visit: https://www.anabaptistdisabilitiesnetwork.org/allin/

Champaign and Freeport were among congregations who recently received a Global Food Initiative (GFI) grant. A grant of $9,200 will support food ministries at Champaign---located in an area designated as a “food desert”---including the Randolph Street Community Garden and multiple outreach programs such as food distribution and job training for students. The Randolph Street Community Garden provides fresh vegetables to pantry recipients, allows 48 households space to grow their own food, and supplies produced for sale at the church’s Garden Market. Recently the church has experienced increased demand for garden and food-related resources due to rising community needs, poverty, and government cuts. It has sought additional funding to expand the community garden, support its emergency food pantry, repair picnic tables, and train high school students vocationally. Freeport receives a grant of $2,500 to support a community meal and food pantry. The free community meal is provided every month from September to May, prepared and served by members of the church. Additionally, the church provides meals to a homeless shelter. In total, the congregation serves between 70 to 100 meals each month. The church recently started a small food pantry, which is available to meal attendees. For information on applying for a GFI grant to support efforts to address domestic hunger and homelessness, contact GFI manager Jenn Hosler by email at jhosler@brethren.org. GFI grant application forms are provided on request, via email.

Ecumenism Metro Chicago plans to hold a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ecumenical service on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church (6700 W. Diversey Ave.) in Chicago. The theme is “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” from Eph. 4:4. 

Do you have congregational news: celebrations, milestones, “Jesus in the Neighborhood” stories or other things to share with our district family? Please send them to iwdde@outlook.com.