Weekly Groups
Testimony
Being Gay and Christian has its own unique challenge. Many churches would flat out reject me; others might accept me, but the relationship would be uneasy and awk ...
Life Groups
Often we – that is, people of faith – go through life with faith contained. Any examining or practicing we do happens within certain constructed boundaries. It can be difficult to give ourselves permission to unscrew the lid, pop the bubble, break open the box and see what might be. Who would we be, what would we do, if our faith, our love, were unleashed?
Life groups are about asking this question, discovering and practicing the answers, and then asking the question again, together. They’re about learning to love God and neighbor with our whole self, in our stillness and activity, at church and far outside it.
Urban Village’s DiscipLeship map will be our guide on this yearlong journey. That’s right, it’s a commitment! But, really, with the above as our hope, eight weeks just won’t cut it. To discover and practice life together as people of faith requires space. We hope you’ll join us!
There is much more to say, and you probably have questions, so please feel free to contact Emily Jones, Student Pastor for Discipleship, or any of the Life Groups leaders below. You can find us at church on Sundays or reach us via email or phone. We’d love to talk with you!
FAMILY LIFE GROUP
Day|Time: Every other Sunday, 4:30-6:30p
Place: Larimer’sHome (Lincoln Park)
Leaders: Kelly Cantwell, Chris Cantwell, and Monica Isaac
Contact Info.: Kelly: kellycantwell@gmail.com; Chris: christopher.d.cantwell@gmail.com; Monica: isaac.monica@gmail.com
DiscipLeship Stops: All
An opportunity for families to connect socially and spiritually, each session will have time for the whole family as well as parent discussion and children’s activities. This is a time for families to learn from each other, support one another and share ideas and questions about parenting, childhood and more!
About Kelly and Chris: Chris and Kelly Cantwell are parents to an amazing little boy Emerson, turning 3 in May, and are excitedly expecting their second child to arrive in early July. They have lived in Chicago for just under 5 years and currently reside in the North Center neighborhood. Chris works as a historian at The Newberry and Kelly works in Human Resources for a non-profit. They are passionate about small groups and truly living life with people, so they’re beyond thrilled for their first family small group to get started!
About Monica: Monica is a hospital chaplain working part-time at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and even more part-time at Children’s Memorial Hospital while working on an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy. Born (but not raised) in Chicago, Monica has been back for six years and currently lives in Roger’s Park. She is excited to be a part of this group and to have the chance to share in the spiritual development of UVC’s youngest. She is also thrilled to be expecting her first child in June!
EDGEWATER LIFE GROUP
Day|Time: Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm
Place: 5430 N. Sheridan Rd., #501 (Edgewater)
Leaders: Trey Gonzales
Contact Info.: (773) 578.3000, trey.arbonne@gmail.com
DiscipLeship Stops: All, with a focus on vocation
Are you living to your full potential? This group will explore the full spectrum of DiscipLeship, creating a safe space for you to share your hopes and dreams and how to make them a reality. Believing that all of our gifts and talents were given to us for a reason, we will explore together how to deepen our faith, find our purpose, and use our gifts well. This is the first season for the Edgewater Life Group — please join us for this powerful, year-long journey!
About Trey: Trey was born and raised in a tiny town in West Texas, then moved away to attend Oral Roberts University. After visiting Chicago only once, he decided this would be the city he would call home. He spends his days as a sales associate at the Holly Hunt showroom in the Merchandise Mart and is an independent consultant with Arbonne International. He and his partner, Clint, live in Edgewater with their two dogs, Trek and Parker.
LGBTQ LIFE GROUP
Day|Time: Wednesdays, 7:30-9:00p.
Place: Veronica and Jen’s home (643 W Briar Place, Apt. 3)
Leaders: Bryan Blaise, Jenifer Nyhuis, & Veronica Pena
Contact Info.: Bryan: (312) 343.6757 (texts preferred), bryan.blaise@gmail.com; Jen: (765) 661.8144 (texts preferred), jeniferd23@hotmail.com; Veronica: (765) 661.5591, veronicapena20@hotmail.com
DiscipLeship Stops: All with a focus on Bible Study
This Life Group is entering its sixth season of meeting and is excited about welcoming new members! This season, we will continue to support one another, share our stories, engage deeply with Scripture, and grow together in faith.
About Bryan: Bryan Blaise is a local communications and branding strategist at GolinHarris, where he daily plans campaigns for the Golden Arches. He previously worked for Fleishman-Hillard where he was a leader in FH Out Front, the firm’s LGBT communications practice group. He has passionately committed his professional and personal time to creating constructive dialogue between the LGBTQ and Christian communities that God loves so much. A Southern gentleman at heart, he’ll gladly share his story and the awesome relationship he has with a God who loves him more than he knows.
About Jen: Jen Nyhuis is a Master of Social Work student at UIC and a full-time nanny. She has social work experience and a special place in her heart for children and the LGBTQ community. She has been married to her beautiful wife for 3 years, and is always open to sharing her story and experience of the work of God’s hand guiding and protecting her throughout her life.
About Veronica: Veronica Pena is a midwestern girl who loves being outdoors and being with family and friends. There is not a sport she won’t attempt, from dodge ball to golf. Camping is what she lives for during the summer months, although she could try to go more frequently. You would find a variety of music on her iPod, such as: rock, blues, pop, gospel, and a tiny bit of country. In her spare time, she enjoys reading true crime and mystery books. Veronica has been married to her wonderful wife for 3 years, and together they share 3 lovely pets. Her New Year’s resolution is to “do good” – to find opportunities to make a positive difference in her everday life.
NORTHWEST SIDE LIFE GROUP
Day|Time: Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30p.
Place: Lincoln Square Area
Leader: Meg Park & Rachel Pierce
Contact Info.: Meg: teos4u2003@gmail.com; Rachel: rachel.pierce99@gmail.com
DiscipLeship Stops: All
Meg and Rachel invite you to come as you are, to deepen your experience of the worth and beauty that is in you and in everyone who’s ever lived. We hope to build a sense of community and explore our faith and nourish it by sharing our ups and downs, joys and vulnerabilities, inspirations and disillusionment. Our time together will include personal sharing, Bible study, book discussion, spiritual practices as well as ideas you bring.
About Rachel: Rachel Pierce loves to read, study the architecture while walking down city streets, play games and eat Lou Malnati’s pizza. She enjoys learning how things work and how things are in the world, sharing knowledge, and collaborating on improvements.
About Meg: Meg has taken a long journey until Urban Village, searching for the true sense of who she is and who she is to be. In transitioning from seminary to a real world to serve, she now confesses that God gifted her with such Bohemian spirit that she would just flourish and blossom wherever God’s spirit leads her into. At Urban Village, she’s been able to find another side of herself, wishing it to sparkle as she shares her journey with others in faith. She is also currently in the writing phase of her research project titled, Myth-makers: Stories that Korean American Christian Women Weave Together. As the research title proposes, her academic/pastoral heart is set on the exploration and the co-construction of our faith narratives. She also is an extreme feline-obsessive, living with 18-month-old extraordinarily beautiful cat named Cara (full named, Caramel Meg Park).
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