CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS

The next Illinois/Wisconsin District Potluck Experience event will take place in spring 2027 at Cerro Gordo Church of the Brethren. Watch for more details in the coming months.

Help for Honduras: Bill and Betty Hare’s daughter, Beth Taylor, is working on completing one more big project as part of Bill’s long-running mission work with impoverished communities in Honduras. A shipping container of 50,000 pounds of food originally brought to Honduras by a different mission group is awaiting distribution. Bill’s group has someone ready to go to Honduras to pick up the food from the warehouse, move it to another location, divide it up into family packages and then deliver it to many remote villages in need. The cost for all of this will be close to $20,000. Contributions toward that goal are urgently needed. Any donations can be made payable to “Honduras Mission Project” and sent to Bill and Betty Hare at 408 S. McKendrie Ave., Apt. 144, Mount Morris, IL 61054.

Ecumenism Metro Chicago will hold an ecumenical “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” service on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m., at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Plans are also in the works for a possible ecumenical Festival of Sacred Arts in fall 2027.

Canton on May 31 held a 95th birthday celebration for member Bob Champlin, themed with cows and Caterpillar equipment.

Chicago First recently announced the Heaven’s Window Scholarship Program 2026 to support its young people who are attending college. For the 2026-2027 school year, scholarships of up to $1500 will be awarded through an application process. Awards will be announced during worship on June 21. Funding for this scholarship is through an initial donation from longtime members of Chicago First, Brian Miller and his parents, Don and Phillys Miller, and Brian’s grandparents.

Freeport recently held a surprise celebration with gifts and cake to mark the 10th anniversary of pastor Christina Singh’s ministry with the congregation. We wish Christina well on the next decade!

Highland Avenue (Elgin) will share worship with Elgin’s First Presbyterian Church over several weeks this summer to promote community and relationships. First Presbyterian members will worship at Highland Avenue July 5 and Aug. 9, while Highland Avenue will worship at First Presbyterian July 19 and Aug. 16.

Naperville will hold Vacation Bible School June 19-20 with the theme “Galaxy: Launching Kids on a Mission of God’s Love.”

Neighborhood (Montgomery) on May 3 held a Pray for Peace Sunday, with six areas of concern forming specific prayer focus areas that covered places around the globe. Various congregation members participated through readings, music, and prayers. It has sparked continued study on some of the areas in the weeks since.

Polo on May 24 held a retirement celebration for Martin Stauffer, who wrapped up 26 years of teaching science at Milledgeville High School. Congratulations and best wishes, Martin!

York Center (Lombard) is working on plans for a 75th anniversary celebration this fall. Details are still in the works. The congregation also held an outdoor Worship in the Park Sunday on June 14, and earlier, on May 24, the congregation held a session on refugee resettlement with Exodus World Service following worship.