An Open And Affirming Community Of Faith -
We Welcome All Beliefs!
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Sage meets every Friday at 1 pm. Check here for the church calendar for the link
- Congregational Discussion on Sunday, April 16th after service (around 11:15)
- Meditation with Mary Ann on April 12th, 7 pm - All are welcome!
- Pints with the Pastor is April 13th
- Saturday, May 6 is World Labyrinth Day
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HOLY COVENANT NEEDS YOUR
DONATIONS TO PAY OUR BILLS!
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YOUR GENEROSITY IS NEEDED!
Your generosity is needed, now more than ever! You may give via:
PayPal — access it through our website or send your donation on PayPal which takes out a fee, to donations@holycovenantmcc.org
Zelle - You can send your donation directly to the church using Zelle via the email address donations@holycovenantmcc.org. It will go directly into the general account and there will be no fees attached to the giving.
Electronic Check
Send an electronic check from your financial institution, or by sending a personal check. Our address is 9145 Grant Ave, Brookfield, IL, 60513.
Please remember that when giving through PayPal they do charge a percentage fee to the church unless it shows an option to help out the church and for you to pay that fee.
See the weekly giving below. Holy Covenant needs at least $4,672 a month to meet its obligations for bills and salary. We are now showing what the percentage of giving is and how we are doing on a monthly basis.
MARCH 2023 GIVING
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Giving Needed Weekly
(4 WEEKS) $1,169
The monthly difference is -$2,386
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Our bills are listed for the month of March 2023.
Your generosity helps us pay the bills. Any amount helps us meet our obligations.
If you would like to pay one of the bills,
please designate that in your donation.
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VANDALISM AGAIN AT HOLY COVENANT! |
Dear Friends,
We are saddened to have to report another incident of vandalism at Holy Covenant.
Sometime between late afternoon yesterday (3/30) and this morning (3/31), an unknown individual or individuals spray painted on the church banner, our front steps, and front door. They covered the rainbow cross on our sign and added a cross on either side of the rainbow. On the front steps, they covered the “rainbow steps” and the
rainbow stripes on the doors.
Unfortunately, our Ring camera on the back door did not capture any video by the sign. Our front door camera has not yet been installed, and none of our neighbors captured any video either.
Rev. Martha notified the Brookfield Police Department, who took a report, including
photographs of the damage. Their investigation is in progress, and we will keep you
informed.
We will repaint the door and steps when the weather permits it. Several local
affirming churches are ready to join with us in a painting party to repair the
damage. We are grateful for their support, and that of the alert pastor of a
neighboring congregation who saw the damage this morning and notified us.
We have removed the banner, but we will replace it, just as we will repaint the steps
and doors. We will not give in to those who would threaten, harass, or try to erase
us.
The late Jack Layton, onetime Prime Minister of Canada, said: “My friends, love is
better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let
us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.”
Right now, we may be feeling anger, fear, grief. But we must, in time, come back to
hope, in this Easter season of resurrection. We won’t let these individuals have the
last word, nor will we allow hate to take over.
We will gather when the time is right, with our neighbors who support us, and repair
the damage, and celebrate the renewal of the rainbows on our church. Until then,
please send your prayers and good thoughts to Holy Covenant.
Blessings,
Holy Covenant Board of Directors
Rev. Martha Daniels, Moderator
Roxann Victory, Vice-Moderator
Barbara Adams Latsaras, Clerk
Joanie Baird, Treasurer
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WE ARE HERE FOR YOU -
CAN YOU BE HERE FOR THE CHURCH?
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Finances are not at the top of anyone’s list for favorite discussion topics, but Holy Covenant’s Board, in the interest of transparency, has difficult news to share with you. Giving has not kept up with our expenses. The Board has done everything we can to cut expenses to match our income, but this has become impossible.
Holy Covenant offers an affirming, caring, and supportive community in the suburbs through our worship, special events, community outreach, and witness to God’s love for all people. But we do need donations to make all this possible. Remember that Holy Covenant does not receive funding from any other source than donations for our ministries.
The Board is asking you to please make a donation to the church to help us meet our financial obligations. Our bills include items such as utilities (water, sewage, electricity, gas), internet, insurance, and Rev. Daniels’ salary (which is also a contractual obligation).
Some of you have paid some bills directly, or on a regular basis, or made large donations, and we thank you for your generosity.
If you have not donated recently, or feel called to increase your donation, you may do so via PayPal, Zelle, which is the preferred way, (donations@holycovenantmcc.org), or electronic/paper check.
Note: An anonymous donor has volunteered to match total donations,
up to a total of $1000.
For more details, contact any Board member or read our recent letter here.
Blessings,
Roxann Victory, Vice-moderator (roxann.victory@outlook.com)
Barbara Adams Latsaras - Clerk (chitownbarb@yahoo.com)
Joanie Baird, Treasurer (jb14700@yahoo.com)
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CONGREGATIONAL DISCUSSION APRIL 16TH
ON FISCAL SITUATION AND OPTIONS
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The Board of Directors of Holy Covenant announces a congregational discussion on Sunday, April 16, at 11:15 (after worship).
All members and friends of Holy Covenant MCC are invited to an informal discussion of Holy Covenant’s fiscal situation and possible options going forward. This will be an open, non-binding forum to explore what choices are available to Holy Covenant and how best to move forward.
Please join us on April 16, 2023 at 11:15 am as we consider options for Holy Covenant’s future.
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GOOD FRIDAY -
WALK THE LABYRINTH!
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On Good Friday, April 7, our sanctuary will be open from 3 pm to 6 pm for individuals who would like to walk the labyrinth. We will have explanatory materials and music to accompany your walk. A community worship service will be held that evening at 7 pm; at 2nd Baptist Church of La Grange. |
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MEDITATION IN PERSON! WEDNESDAY,
April 12th! MEDITATION IS OPEN TO ALL!
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The next meditation is on Wednesday, April 12th, at 7 pm at the church. Mary Ann will be leading the meditation upstairs in the church. This event is
open to all men and women.
Please be prompt at 7 pm so there are no distractions.
- Please bring your mask even if you are vaccinated.
- If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
- We ask that you use hand sanitizer as you enter the building
For more information about meditation please contact Mary Ann Latsaras at only1amar@yahoo.com.
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PASTOR'S PICK CORNER -
Rev. Daniels Reading/Listening/Watching Suggestions
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An eclectic collection of books, movies, TV shows, magazines, etc. that I have come across, which I found good or interesting and you might too!
WHAT'S NEXT?
On February 26, the congregation reviewed the suggestions and ideas from our brainstorming session of February 5. Together, we chose two or three items for each value in our mission statement.
Social Justice
- Increased awareness of social issues
- Supporting other organizations (rallies, letter writing campaigns, witness slips, etc.)
Community Action
- Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner (and other meals/potlucks)
- Leverage garage sales to promote ministries
- Open house
- More presence at Prides
- Increased advertising of events/programs
Spirituality
- Bible/theology class, especially comparative religion
- Expand use/visibility of labyrinth
- Outdoor worship
- Greater diversity in worship liturgy (prayers, etc.)
Diversity
- More racial diversity
- Companionship
- Youth outreach/support Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)
- Continue live streaming
Some of these have already been implemented—we sent out a letter from Equality Illinois requesting witness slips on an Illinois bill requiring cultural competency for physicians, the labyrinth will be available on Good Friday, and regularly going forward, and ongoing work on increasing the diversity of our worship.
But most of these need some hands-on help from, you guessed it, YOU! We are a small congregation, but if enough people step up and get involved with one or two of these suggestions, we can do great things! Did you know that when people were asked why they decided to join a church, it wasn’t powerful sermons (who can do that every week, anyway?), or excellent music, or even elaborate children’s programs—it was a sense of connection to the others in the congregation. Working together on any of these will build that connection and draw others in.
Choose whichever interests you and you feel called to do, find a couple of others to join you (or ask Rev. Martha for suggestions) and get started!
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UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST |
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THRIVE WITH PRIDE -
SMALL GROUP
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Is Caregiving Different for LGBT+ Caregivers?
There is often a conception that “caregiving is caregiving,” but there are ways that gender norms, cultural norms, policy and other structural issues create unique challenges for caregivers, and unique opportunities. In this presentation, Dr. Elliot Montgomery Sklar, associate professor of health science at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, will provide a forum for caregivers to share experiences and learn from one another.
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AN EVENING OF MUSIC BENEFITING LGBT+ OLDER ADULT PROGRAMMING |
Chicago Methodist Senior Services will benefit from this concert April 27th.
WHEN: Thursday, April 27, 2023
WHERE: Fitzgeralds in Berwyn, IL
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Please join us for our first annual Pride Gala! We will be hosting our event at Sovereign on May 12th! We have had such a wonderful year filled with a lot of support and community involvement and we would love if you would join us to celebrate! We will have music, food, drinks, some speakers, and an amazing silent auction! Donations due by March 31st.
Sponsorship opportunities available! If you would love to support the cause but can’t make the event you can make also make a donation! https://donorbox.org/pride-gala
We hope to see you there to celebrate our community!
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PRIDE SEASON IS COMING UP -
WANT TO BE A PRIDE COORDINATOR?
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Pride season is almost here, and it's time to start planning! Several locations near us are hosting Prides--Aurora, Plainfield, and Naperville. However, we need folks who are willing to coordinate one or more of these events.
This would involve completing the application to participate, making sure any fees are paid (working with the treasurer and the board), finding others willing to staff the booth or march in the parade (or provide a vehicle), selecting and obtaining any giveaways (pamphlets, candy, flyers, church business cards, etc.), set-up and take down of the booth, and so on. Please let Rev. Martha or a Board member know if you are willing to be a Pride coordinator! We need to know by April 15 in order to begin applying.
If no one steps up to help coordinate any of the Pride celebrations, then we will not be able to appear at any Pride events.
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RESOURCES FOR SUPPORTING
PEOPLE ON THE INSIDE
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Pushing Envelopes provides connections and support for LGBTQ+ individuals who are incarcerated, system-impacted (families of LGBTQ+ people on the inside), formerly incarcerated, and allies. Here you can sign up for a penpal (with suggestions and tips), learn about what’s going on in the legal world that will impact LGBTQ+ people, and more
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I especially recommend their resources list—lots of opportunities out there!
The Marshall Project researches and reports on the criminal justice system. Recent articles now up on their website include: “Drug Addiction and the Path to Prison,” “The Mercy Workers (an examination of the work of mitigation specialists), and “Police Shootings in Rural America.” They also have a podcast, and I follow them on Twitter.
Queerbilltracker.substack.com
A brand-new addition to my list! This is a daily newsletter from Rev. Lori McPherson (full disclosure—she is a good friend of mine) reviewing the newest anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in various states. You can sign up for the newsletter or just track it on the website. Did you know Arizona’s legislature has a bill before it to have drag performers, if convicted (of performing in front of minors) added to the sex offender registry?
Named after the historic Supreme Court decision that declared all defendants had the right to legal counsel, and that the court must pay if the defendant cannot afford it, Gideon’s Promise works to change the way public defenders learn to do their work, and their approach to clients. While the main focus is on attorneys (specifically public defenders), much of their work is of interest to lay people as well.
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WEEKLY SERVICE INFORMATION |
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
HYBRID - IN PERSON AND ON YOUTUBE
REV. MARTHA DANIELS PRESIDING
10:00 AM CST
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Our worship celebration is every Sunday at 10 am CST. If you would like to join us you may join us in person or go to our Facebook page at Holy Covenant Facebook Page and click on the LINK to YouTube to watch the service.
Sunday April 2, 2023, Palm Sunday
Reading: Selected Readings From John & Mark
Sermon Title "A ParadeTo A Tomb"
Have a candle ready to light, a cookie or bread, and a glass of your favorite libation for communion if you are watching online.
You can also find previous services on our YouTube Channel here.
Rev. Martha is available by email, phone, Facebook Messenger, and text for any pastoral needs you may have revmarthadaniels@gmail.com
- Masks are now optional. If you want to sing you have to wear a mask.
- No temperature check required
- Social distancing required
DO YOU WANT TO HELP WITH WORSHIP?
Do you feel a call to help with worship? To read a prayer, or a reading, or to usher or serve communion? Whether you are here in person or virtually, we need and want your gifts! Contact Rev. Martha or Roxann at roxann.victory@outlook.com.
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AGING WELL APRIL PROGRAMS |
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Join us all month long for informative seminars, health programs, fitness, entertainment, and more!
Hello Neighbors! Below is our March schedule. Join us all month long for informative seminars, brain health programs, fitness, history, entertainment, and more online and in person! Just click here for the list of classes.
We encourage you to share our class schedule with friends, family, and neighbors, near & far, of any age – everyone is welcome to join us! All of our classes are free & no advance registration is required. We hope to see you soon on Zoom!
Thank you all for being a part of the Aging Well Neighborhood!
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HOLY COVENANT BOARD MEETING - APRIL 20TH |
The next Board meeting will be on April 20th at the church.
You can find all the Board agenda, minutes and financials on our website. They are also posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.
You can find a PDF of the past Board Meetings Agenda, Minutes and church financials here
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SHARE FOOD, SHARE LOVE FOOD PANTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP!
FOOD INSECURITY UP BY 19%!
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Food insecurity has continued to rise throughout our communities. Overall, the number of households facing hunger is up 19% compared to pre-pandemic levels, and the number is 37% higher for Black households. The recent cancellation of extra money in the SNAP program makes it even more vital to help keep Share Food, Share Love going with your donation.
This is a public health crisis!
Our communities are in great need of healthy food to survive and thrive and just by giving to the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry you can help those in the area not go hungry!
You can make a real difference. Donating just a $1 can help provide 3 meals for a family. It is so important please take a minute to give so we can feed the hungry in our area.
Thank you!
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Join us at Pub 78 in beautiful downtown Brookfield for no-host dinner and/or drinks. conversation and good times from 6 pm - 8 pm.
Time: 6 pm, Thursday, April 13th.
Pub 78
3733 Grand Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
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SAGE CALENDAR, EVENTS & MENU |
SAGE, a social support group for LGBTQ seniors, meets both via ZOOM and in person on Fridays at 1 pm. We hope to resume our lunches in July. Please contact Eric Eugenio Vironet (evironet@cmsschicago.org) if you plan to attend in person as space is limited. Click here to join the meeting
West Suburban Senior Services calendar click here
SAGE CAFE MENU click here
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AMAZON HAS OUR LIST OF NEEDS! |
We have a "needs" list online at Amazon. We ask that you look at our list of what items we are in need of and purchase something for the church.
This list is available to see here Charity Lists and is updated as needed. You can order and pay for anything off this list and have it shipped directly to the church. We appreciate anything you can order for us!
We thank you for your continued support of Holy Covenant!
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NEED POWER OF ATTORNEY OR WILL? |
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We mourn and pray for all the families who have suffered personal losses from gun violence at our schools, churches, and hospitals. public venues and other places.
Prayers for the Baté family that their home will be sold.1
Prayers for Barbara & Mary Ann's who's neighbor Sharon C. has transitioned and for her children Christine and Paul for peace.2
Prayers of thanksgiving on the Baptism of Felix Michael Ikonnikov on Sunday.2
Prayers of thanksgiving on the birth of twins to Joanie's daughter Bethany and prayers for their healthy growth.2
Prayers for Cathy to be healed of hives.2
Prayers for Kim to be healed from breast cancer, with her treatments not to be too hard on her, to be kind and patient on herself as she heals and for her daughter Garnett.2
Prayers for Barbara R.'s four grandchildren in high school and college.1
Prayers for Jim, Tony and Jim's mother as she mourns her husband.2
Prayers of thanksgiving for Laura & Patti as they just learned they will be first time grandparents and for their daughter Renee to be healthy in the upcoming months.2
Prayers for Laura & Patti's friend Jeff V. as he navigates the next chapter of his life.2
Prayers for healing for Holly's friend Yvonne who has cardiac concerns.2
Prayers and strength for Ukraine, for those who are relocating, and to end the war and unnecessary deaths.
Prayers for all our first responders that they stay safe while helping others.
That God will provide for those who are hungry, unemployed, and homeless,
or in financial difficulties.
All those affected by HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, COVID-19, and other life-threatening illnesses.
All communities of faith.
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LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION |
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There is now a universal help line 211 for Cook County. They can help residents with housing, food, health services and more. It is a 24 hour seven day a week operation and trained professionals answer the phone and are able to help you |
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Missed a sermon?
Click here to catch up and watch on the Holy Covenant YouTube channel!
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If you or someone you know is in an emergency call 911 for help.
Need someone to talk to? Call the suicide lifeline by dialing 988.
NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Health
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Every day brings something new—
and God is with us always!
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9145 Grant Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
Phone: 708.387.1611
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