Urban Village Church

What does it mean to live with wisdom from above? This week, we're reflecting on James 3:13–18, where scripture calls us to lives marked by humility, gentleness, and peace.

This week, we'll explore Luke 24:13–35, the powerful story of the Road to Emmaus. Two disciples, heartbroken after Jesus' crucifixion, walk with a stranger who opens the Scriptures to them—and in the breaking of bread, they realize it's the risen Christ. It's a beautiful reminder that Jesus walks with us, even when we don't recognize Him. Join for a message of hope, revelation, and renewed faith.

This week we dive into the story of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, focusing on the disciples' initial disbelief and the powerful encounter with Thomas. We explore faith, doubt, and the nature of Jesus' resurrection, emphasizing the importance of believing in Jesus even when the evidence as circumstantial.   #resurrection #focusonGod #beliefisfaith #believinginJesus #umc

Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a joyful heart brings healing, while a crushed spirit withers us to the core. Join us as we explore how joy can renew our strength and faith. Discover practical ways to let God's joy be your true medicine! Rev. Pamela Lightsey will end with a thought-provoking theological study afterward.

This Sunday we shared Peter's declaration with the powerful truth: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went around doing good and healing those oppressed. Though He was put to death on a cross. God raised Him on the third day—and He appeared to those chosen as witnesses. Peter says: We ate with Him. We walked with Him after the resurrection. And now, we've been commanded to share this Good News. #GoodNews #JesusIsLord #Acts10 #HopeForAll #NoPartiality #ForgivenessThroughChrist #GospelTruth

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! This week, we reflect on Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem—a moment of joy, praise, and deep compassion. In Luke 19:29–42, we see Jesus celebrated as King, yet moved to tears over a city that missed its moment with God. Experience the hope, power, and peace of Holy Week and Palm Sunday. #PalmSunday #Luke1942 #HolyWeek #JesusIsKing

Six days before Passover, Mary does something extraordinary—she anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, wiping them with her hair. While some criticize her, Jesus affirms her act of love and devotion. This moment reminds us to pour out our hearts in worship, holding nothing back. True love for Christ isn't about cost—it's about surrender. How can we show extravagant love for Jesus in our daily lives? Join us as we experience God's presence together! Whether you're new or a longtime member, we can't wait to welcome you with open arms. Let's gather in faith, lift our voices in worship, and grow together in His Word.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son – A Story of Redemption and Welcome! In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus shares a powerful story of love, grace, and restoration. A son demands his inheritance early, squanders it all in reckless living, and finds himself lost and broken. In desperation, he returns home, expecting rejection—but instead, his father runs to embrace him, celebrating his return with open arms. This story is a reminder that no matter how far we wander, God's love is always ready to welcome us home. Whether you are returning, searching, or visiting for the first time—our church is a place of grace, joy, and belonging. You are welcome here!

In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a man who had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. For three years, he came looking for fruit, but found none. Frustrated, he told the gardener to cut it down, questioning why it was taking up space without producing anything. But the gardener responded, asking for one more year. He would tend to the tree by digging around it and adding manure, hoping it would bear fruit. If it did, great; if not, then it could be removed. This story invites us to reflect on patience and second chances. The gardener's plea for more time symbolizes God's patience with us, even when we don't live up to expectations. It's a reminder that growth and transformation are processes, and we are given opportunities to change and bear fruit in our lives. It challenges us to consider how we might need nurturing or a fresh start, and to trust that, with care, we can become what we are meant to be.

In this passage from John 4:7-30, Jesus has an unexpected conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well. He asks her for a drink, which surprises her, as Jews and Samaritans typically didn't interact. Jesus responds by offering her "living water," a spiritual gift that leads to eternal life. The woman initially thinks He's talking about physical water, but Jesus explains that the water He offers will quench a deeper thirst — one for meaning, connection, and spiritual fulfillment. He then reveals that He knows about her life — that she's had five husbands and is currently with someone who isn't her husband. This leads her to recognize that Jesus must be a prophet. She asks Him about the right place to worship, and Jesus tells her that true worship isn't about a specific location but about connecting with God in spirit and truth. He further reveals that He is the Messiah, the one who has come to bring healing and hope to all. In awe, the woman leaves her water jar behind and goes to tell others in her community about Jesus, asking, “Could this be the Messiah?” Her story draws many others from the town to come and meet Jesus, reminding us that God's message is for everyone, no matter their background or circumstances.

Romans emphasizes salvation through faith, not works, and reminds us that believing in Jesus and the resurrection leads to salvation. Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. Join us Sunday as we deep dive into Romans and are reminded of the importance of salvation for us.

We are reminded to focus our attention on heavenly things rather than earthly. Join us this week as we share about spiritual life and the future we will share with Christ.

Jesus comforts and encourages his disciples as he prepares to leave. As he leaves, he promises that the Holy Spirit will help the disciples continue their ministry after his ascension to heaven. In this verse, Jesus teaches the disciples to lead with truth, not emotion. The Holy Spirit helps the disciples understand the Word, grow in serving others, and stop sin. The Word gives disciples peace, comfort, and protection. Finally, Jesus shows us the importance of obedience and faith in the commandments.

This week we focus on the commands given to the church at Ephesus as they remember and repent, and do the works they did at first. It is important to remember the works we were doing when we first became believers, repent and turn away from where we are now and turn away and bad and return to the work we were doing when we first became believers, and prioritize things of great value, such as loving one another and serving others.

God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeys God and God intervenes to stop the sacrifice.

This week we speak of self-control and the Fruits of the Spirit.

God will meet all your needs to the riches of glory in Christ. We declare provision from God.

Have you ever wondered where God is present in the scarcity of your life? What is God doing when times are tough and hope is in short supply? Have ever wondered how and where God is leading you?

As we continue our sermon series on abundance and scarcity, we focus on how marginalized voices and experiences illuminate pathways toward abundant living and transformation. Who is God inviting you to listen to as we seek the abundance that God offers in the midst of scarcity.

God used the brook to sustain Elijah, and now the means God had used to provide for His servant dried up.

Listen to our recent sermon series from Wicker Park, preached by Rev. Jonathan Grace, Lead Pastor.

This Sunday marked the fourth Sunday of Advent. We prepare our hearts to receive Christ as we focus on God's love. In our Scripture, Mary sings about a God of liberation who pulls the powerful from their thrones and lifts up the lowly. Mary sings a story of hope, one in which justice and joy are interwoven. As we prepare to celebrate Christ's birth, may we also sing stories of hope, justice, and joy.

In the moment of affirming the promise, God restores us. How often do you allow yourself to be amazed? Wonder is all around us—can we recognize it? As we learn how to rejoice in a weary world, can we live in a way that allows amazement and wonder to surprise us often? In Psalm 126, those who expect to reap tears are granted a surprise: shouts of joy. Amazement is a balm for the weary.

In community, our joy expands. When we can't rejoice, we can carry each other's joy. This week we continue our Advent worship by lighting the Hope and Peace candles, finding connection with each other, and by learning how God brings peace and joy in the midst of our weariness.

As Advent begins, we start by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry—and we also affirm that we are made for joy. Sometimes weariness can harden us and prevent us from living fully. We've had hard journeys. Grief has left a scar on us. This is how we show up to Advent. We see how God brings joy in the midst of our weariness.

The prophet Micah contrasts our expectations of sacrifice with the sacrifices that God actually calls for. Instead of vanity and punishment, God desires justice, kindness, and a relationship. This sermon explores why we think of sacrifice and giving to God as a painful experience, and contrast that with the joy that comes with giving.

In this story, Jesus redefines how we think about giving and what God looks for in our tithing. We explore the understanding of abundance to God, and what it means to give out of poverty rather than wealth.

The parable considers how fear and a scarcity mindset keep us from using our resources for God. This week we explored how to shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and how to actually engage with the world in faith that our resources will grow.

We can never outgive God. It often feels like giving is a tough requirement, especially when we have limited resources. However, when we give we find that God takes our giving and creates abundance.

This Sunday we begin our Stewardship sermon, What We Give to the Church. We dive into Leviticus 27:30 as our Scripture reminds us that all things belong to God. Giving back to God is an acknowledgement of the righteousness, goodness, and the lordship of God over all creation. The need to give back also creates a just society in which serving God and keeping God's commandments create a mindset of giving rather than greed. 

This week we join Dr Pamela Lightsey. Our sermon series on Rest dives into Creation as not a one-time act. It is ongoing, though God rested on the seventh day. Similarly, our ability to produce this or that should not be an end goal by which we gauge when we can/should rest. Rest should be our vision for our everyday lives; part of our dreams for the best possible future. Rest is not an end goal but an ongoing reality.

You are made in the image of a God who rested. And maybe when God rested on the 7th day of creation, God dreamed—of you, me, and the best reality for all.  What would it look like for all of us to rest and dream like God? Join us Sunday as we share from Hebrews 4:1-10.

Rest is a form of liberation that should be integrated in our personal and societal lives. We also celebrate World Communion Sunday and celebrate liberation in God's community. Join us as we dive into Deuteronomy 5:12-15.

This Sunday we are continuing our sermon series on rest. We have discussed God's intentions for our rest, but how do we find rest when our lives are not in line with God's hopes for us? Let's discuss how God provides rest when we are restless. See you on Sunday!  This week's scripture will be Exodus 33: 12-14.

Psalm 132 shares that Rest is anything that grounds us in God and keeps us focused on the divine task.

On Sunday we explored the story of the Samaritan Woman whom Jesus encounters at a well. We also considered the people God invites us to meet along our journeys, and how each encounter is a chance to grow closer to God and to grow in understanding of our neighbors.   Our scripture: John 4: 5-26

Allies have the liberty (and have often exercised this liberty) to come and go as they please in the work of liberation. It's easy enough to put up signs or wear clothing stating, Black Lives Matter. But what sacrifices are we willing to make to learn about these Black lives and to ensure their true liberation? Historically, those who claimed to be freedom fighters stayed the course, even to the point of personal harm. Liberation is a dangerous endeavor. We're excited for this sermon as we dive into scripture from Esther 4: 9-17.

This week's sermon, Our Lives Matter: Reintroducing Ourselves to Ourselves, shared Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey's book Our Lives Matter. In writing the book, Dr. Lightsey had to address the fact that her understanding of herself had shifted, and she had to come to terms with who she had become. We need to take the time to reintroduce ourselves to ourselves so that we can understand who God has led us to become, and to know how this new self can answer God's call on our lives. We explored scripture from 1st Kings 19: 9b-18.

We shall continue to rejoice as we face hardships in life.

This week our sermon series on Emergent Strategy, Kin-dom Come: Love and Humility, included scripture from John 13: 1-17 Brown identifies love and humility as essential tools for transformation. These virtues can help us navigate the complexities of social change and build stronger, more resilient communities. This sermon will focus on the transformative power of love and humility. We will discuss practical ways to cultivate these virtues in our daily lives and ministry, emphasizing that true social change begins with the transformation of our own hearts.

This week's scripture is Galatians 6:1-5   This sermon shares that we must open up to relationships and urge to be deeper rather than just conversational. We should spend time with one another, share spiritual conversations, and grow together.

Effective strategy for social change means making tough decisions, being disciplined, and staying focused on our goals. In this sermon, we will explore how Jesus and the early church employed strategic thinking to spread the Gospel and bring about transformative change, and how we can apply these principles to our context.

brown encourages us to practice visioning, to see and create what does not yet exist. This means imagining and believing in the possibilities beyond our current reality. As people of faith, we are called to dream big, envisioning a world where justice, peace, and love prevail. It is safe to say many of us are worried about the future. Genuine concern is not bad, but it could lead us to despair.

This week we will explore Romans 7:14-25 and Romans 8:1-5. We talk about the love and relationship between the law of Moses and humans. We also share the freeing of human sin through love given to us.

Romans 5:8 shares that "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Our responsibility is to shine in this light.

After watching over Israel for 40 years, Moses dies on Mount Nebo, not before seeing the promised land of Canaan from a distance. Moses also lays his hands on Joshua which symbolizes the transfer of authority (and spirit of wisdom and divine gifting) for leading Israel. In Deuteronomy 34:5-9, we explore rites of passage and love.

This week's scripture reading is from John 9:13-34. In this text, we read about the miracles given to us. Pharisees react to Jesus' healing of a blind man, they seek explanations rather than accepting the faith of a miracle. Join us this week as we share our stories, our truth, and our miracles.

Jacob is blessed and named Israel, as he having struggled with God and with humans and has overcome. The scripture reading is from Genesis 32:22-31

In 2 Kings 2:1-12, the Elijah is taken up to Heaven as Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. We explore Elijah's interaction with the prophets and trip with Elisha to Jericho.

This week we read the passages in Matthew 8:18-22. Join us as we talk about the assurances of life.