Sojourner is a community of people from different backgrounds in life and on different places in our spiritual journeys. We are united by our community life together, our desire to live lives of service, and our growing relationships with Jesus.
Imagine a place where you are welcomed as the person who you are, and treated as the person you are becoming. Imagine a community where relationships stretch across barriers of class, culture, and race. Imagine friends who are willing to put aside their own opinions and comfort for the sake of your growth in relationship with the God who created you. Welcome to Sojourner Covenant Church!
Below are pictures and highlights of various community events at Sojo... |
posted Dec 13, 2011 8:38 AM by Sojo Community
[
updated Dec 13, 2011 8:42 AM
]
In Fall 2010, our church was seriously considering discontinuing the warming center we have hosted on Friday afternoon for many years. Our key volunteers had moved away and while the remaining members were passionate about continuing this ministry, we had few people who were free on a weekday afternoon to staff the center. Thankfully Interfaith Action of Evanston, the organization which coordinates and sponsors the warming centers throughout the city, was able to step in a provide a team of volunteers to keep this ministry going for the year.
So much has changed in the last year! God has sent new people to Sojourner, schedules have changed for longtime members
, and a new group of college and seminary students have arrived excited about serving our community. This F
all God provided all the volunteers we needed to continue running this ministry. Now, every Friday afternoon from November through March, a group of our
homeless neighbors gather with members of the church
in the church basement for coffee, hot chocolate, popcorn, games, and a
movie.
In addition, thanks to an anonymous donation, we were able to purchase some new supplies for our warming center and Interfaith Action received a grant to purchase some new sleeping mats for those who are looking for a warm place to rest in the afternoon. May God continue to bless this ministry!
 |
posted Oct 11, 2011 4:50 PM by Sojo Community
[
updated Oct 25, 2011 10:47 AM
]
On a beautiful, brisk fall morning, members of Sojo (and friends!) gathered in Grant Park for our last "Running with Compassion" event of the season. This time we joined with people from all over Chicago in the AIDS walk... well, walk, race, run, stroll, skip. We did it all. Our team raised money for Children's Memorial Hospital which provides care for pregnant women with AIDS, helping to prevent the virus from being passed on to their unborn children. They also provide ongoing care for children with AIDS and other diseases, often free of charge. As we gathered before the race, we ran into members of New Life Covenant Church (different denomination, but connected through North Park) and gathered with them in prayer. Look for more "Running with Compassion" Events in 2012. |
posted Sep 13, 2011 7:33 AM by Sojo Community
[
updated Oct 11, 2011 6:45 PM
]
This weekend, Sojourner Covenant Church was once again "running with compassion" as we participated in the 2011 Traffick Free 5K in downtown Chicago. Traffick Free is an organization members of our congregation are connected with that works to prevent human trafficking. Yes, that is John Baldauff dressed up as a pirate. No, it has nothing to do with our church or the run itself! Not exactly... John is just fulfilling a promise made by his wife if enough people showed up! Running With Compassion is one of the ways Sojourner stays involved in various justice and compassion issues in the Evanston and Chicago area. |
posted Aug 31, 2011 5:44 PM by Sojo Community
[
updated Aug 31, 2011 6:02 PM
]
Our Summer 2011 Picnic took place at Elliott Park in Evanston on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The clouds parted, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and the humidity stayed away. It was a perfect afternoon with our church community (dogs included!) and some new friends. |
posted Jul 18, 2011 4:29 PM by Sojo Community
[
updated Jul 18, 2011 4:38 PM
]
Sojourner Covenant Church is once again taking part in the Northside Chicago Covenant Softball League. We have a great team with coaches Aaron Boock and Ryan Snyder, chaplain Greg Reiner, and team parents Ron and Dorothy Boock. Believe it or not, we are even winning a few games this year! If you would like to join us, we are at Winnemac Park most Tuesday and Thursday evenings. You can check the calendar for exact dates and times. Below are a few pictures of our team in action... |
posted Jun 28, 2011 12:15 PM by Sojo Community
[
updated Jun 28, 2011 12:31 PM
]
Runners, walkers, and volunteers from Sojourner Covenant Church once again joined over 4,000 people in the 2011 Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate sponsored by the Northshore/Evanston YWCA.
This race was part of a growing ministry at Sojourner called "Running with Compassion." Other upcoming events on the calendar include Traffic Free 5K to fight human trafficking which will take place on September 10, 2011 and the AIDS Run & Walk on October 1, 2011.
If you are interested in running with the Sojourner Team, contact John Tanagho at jtanagho@hotmail.com. |
posted Jun 18, 2011 8:01 PM by Sojo Community
[
updated Jun 18, 2011 8:09 PM
]
Once again Sojourner Covenant partnered with First Presbyterian Church of Evanston to participate in Rebuilding Together 2011. Rebuilding Together is a nation-wide movement to improve our communities that took place on April 30 of this year. Sojo worked on a house owned by an elderly couple in Evanston who was not able to keep up with the maintenance inside or outside of their house. Ceilings were repaired, kitchens updated, bathrooms repaired, painting done, brush was cleared, weeds were pulled, and flowers were planted. The couple was very happy with the work done on their home! And we were very grateful to participate in this project to serve those in need within our community. |
posted Oct 18, 2010 3:03 PM by Sojo Community
[
updated Jun 11, 2011 4:45 PM
]
On Sunday, Sept 12, Mike and Michelle Frechette hosted
a BBQ & Football fundraiser event put on by Sojourner Covenant
Church. The goal of the event was to raise money to support Ben
Wickstrom, a member who will be going to Oaxaca, Mexico for one year as a
missionary. That Sunday was the opening day of the Chicago Bears 2010
football season, so everyone was able to cheer them on to their first
victory. Besides a Bear's win, the event was complemented by good
fellowship, beautiful weather, delicious food, a raffle, a silent auction, a
Bags game tournament, and even a pinata stuffed with goodies for the children.
The whole event was a great success! Everyone had a great time, many
people went home with prizes and full stomachs, the Bear's pulled out a
victory, and at least $1000 was raised for Ben's mission work.
Many thanks to all of you who attended. It
is your commitment and support that will make it possible for Ben to serve in
Oaxaca. Many thanks to local businesses and people that donated to the
raffle and auction. Items ranged from wine tasting, to hand-made picture
frames, to gift cards, to a night of babysitting. It was a great
time, where the whole church was able to gather and support one of their
members who is going to serve and show Christ's love in other parts of the
world. |
posted Oct 10, 2010 12:59 PM by Sojo Community
[
updated Feb 10, 2011 8:56 AM
]
Our Latest
Community Potluck! We
met after the worship service for our first fellowship event of the
fall. This was a great opportunity to meet new people, get connected and
eat great food!
|
posted Jun 22, 2009 2:30 PM by Sojo Community
[
updated Oct 9, 2010 8:39 AM
]
... some responses from Rebuilding Together 2009:
"Thank you so very much for the kindness and assistance that we received from you and all of the volunteers. I had the opportunity to meet and work with some very special people. This has been an amazing experience. God bless you all. This will always be a memorable part in my life."
-TM, homeowner
"I am so grateful to you two and all the volunteers. I wish I could tell
each and everyone who volunteered thank you. [...] Our family realizes
our blessing and ReBuilding Together was it. Our family has not seen
such kindness for a really long time. [...]"
- JC, homeowner.
"I'm grateful to everyone that stepped up to help out this year. It's fun for me to have old friends that have been doing this with us for many years now, and also new friends that are just beginning to get involved. Thanks again for your willingness to work to make such a tangible difference in the lives of a family from our own community. I'll be in touch with all of you again next year!"
- SC, volunteer coordinator
|
|
