CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS

Canton on Dec. 21 enjoyed a special “Carols for Christmas” musical service assembled by Carol Davis, drawing almost 50 people. It was followed by a cookie feast in the fellowship hall organized by Brenda Carper. Canton also shared the following story that figured into the musical service:

In the 1980s, Carol Davis searched for a children’s book that could be adapted into a musical for the Fulton County Playhouse. After searching the children’s section of Parlin Ingersoll Library, she discovered The Little Band and the Inaugural Parade by John Travers Moore. From that point, she set the wheels in motion by contacting Moore and continued a letter-writing friendship, which lasted the remainder of his life. Little Band evolved into a musical written by Carol, with Denise Adams creating the musical numbers. It first premiered at the Fulton County Playhouse and was included in Bradley University’s theatre season the following year. A theatrical adaptation of The Story of Silent Night followed. During the Dec. 21 musical service, Carol and the choir treated the audience to a mouse ornament for everyone’s Christmas tree.

Chicago First concluded its centennial year with a Christmas party in the fellowship hall.

Naperville featured a special song by a Gujarati choir for its Christmas Day service, a tradition in the Indian church. The service was followed by a catered lunch. The congregation also held a New Year’s Day service and potluck lunch.

Woodland (Astoria) enjoyed a Christmas program put together by Paul Sager and reported that “the church was filled” for the event, which received a good response from the community.

Mark your calendars! The 2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference will take place Nov. 6-7 at Polo Church of the Brethren. Program & Arrangements Committee has begun working on plans. Watch for more details in the months ahead.

Brethren Press has informed customers with standing orders for the Church of the Brethren Yearbook that it will not be published for 2025, and their standing orders are suspended for the time being. The 2024 edition is still available to purchase from Brethren Press, go to www.brethrenpress.com/product_p/year2053.htm. The Yearbook office was moved from Brethren Press to Mission Advancement. More information about the Yearbook is expected to be made available by the Mission Advancement office.

Illinois/Wisconsin District is participating in Ecumenism Metro Chicago’s ecumenical prayer service as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Jan. 24, from 2-4 p.m. at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Chicago. The service’s theme “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4) reflects the mission of the organization that “seeks to engage all the baptized, their communions and extended ministries in Chicagoland in living together with prayer, action and a coordinated voice that respects distinctions among traditions and extends God’s love through Christ and the Holy Spirit, for all the world.” Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford (Highland Avenue) will be representing the district. At the close of the service, representatives of the church bodies that participate will sign joint statements of actions grounded in the organization’s declaration, “To care, protect, and preserve God’s gift of creation, for all of the earth is the Lord’s” (Psalm 24:1), affirming the Paris Agreement on climate change. The two statements will “proclaim our Christian resolve to Protect Children, Grandchildren, Future Generations by Adopting Climate Change Mitigating Strategies and Protect Children, Grandchildren, Future Generations by Providing Clean, Safe Drinking Water…. These statements are a clear public witness of EMC’s Declaration that ‘taking decisive restorative action is a moral and religious imperative.’” Find out more at https://eia.archchicago.org/ecumenical-relations/ecumenism-metro-chicago-emc.