LOCAL CHURCH NEWS
SPEC I AL HISTORICAL MESSENGER
We were able to touch history BY KENT KING-NOBLES Normal First UMC We were able to touch history. We stood on the banks of the river where slave ships unloaded human beings to be marched up to holding cages until they could be sold with the cattle. We heard the echo of crying mothers and fathers whose children were sold away to a life of brutality and abuse. We stood by the capital where Jefferson Davis was inaugurated and where Governor George Wallace declared, “Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever.” We stood in the church where a young Martin Luther King Jr. had once been pastor, and where former Governor George Wallace came by to say that he had been wrong. We stood by a statue of Rosa Parks, shorter than expected, and thought about the strength that allowed her to keep from getting up from a segregated bus seat. We stood by the walls of the 16th Street Baptist Church, and shed tears for young, innocent girls whose lives were taken when a church was bombed on a Sunday morning. We gathered where Monday night meetings of prayer and singing gave a tired people the strength to keep on walking to work and boycotting the busses. We walked the Edmund Pettus Bridge with John Lewis, thinking of angry state troopers, posse men and white thugs waiting to shed blood to preserve the status quo of injustice. We sat in the church where Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth gave sanctuary to beaten Freedom Riders and told old Bull Connor that no one was going to be arrested that day. We stood in the kitchen of the parsonage of Martin Luther King Jr., where the late-night phone call brought another death threat. King found the peace of Christ and the courage to go on. We touched history. Now we are home from our trip, and history is touching us.
Celebrating
Years
Members of the 2024 Civil Rights Tour sponsored by Normal First UMC stand outside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., the site of the Sept. 15, 1963, bombing by the Ku Klux Klan that killed four African-American girls.
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Photo courtesy of Kathy King-Nobles
NORMAL FIRST HOSTS ITS SECOND CIVIL RIGHTS TRIP
On Oct. 23-28, 1824, Methodists in Illinois gathered for its first Illinois Annual Conference session in St. Clair County on what would be a predecessor to the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. At that time, the eastern part of Indiana also was a part of the Illinois Conference from 1825 to 1831 at which time it was united with the rest of Indiana. The Illinois Conference’s predecessor conferences had been the Missouri Conference from 1816-1824; the Tennessee Conference from 1813-1816; and the Western Conference from 1807 to 1812, the same year the first churches were built in St. Clair County. In observance of the 200th anniversary, IGRC Communications, in cooperation with the IGRC Commission on Archives and History, is producing the four-page Historical Messenger, with some of the stories of people and ministries within Illinois of which one may not be aware. It is the goal of this joint project to provide a monthly story over the next year highlighting many more stories that have done much to shape the history of the church and transform the world.
preparation was immensely important for two reasons. It prepared us for the stories and history that we would be encountering. And we were a stronger, more cohesive group, better able to offer care and support to one another. Here are some reflections from a few of our group members: “What I can tell you is that this experience has shifted my internal compass. And I look forward to finding ways to transform that shift into meaningful action.” – Liz, Bloomington Wesley UMC “Two significant factors that stood out for me, in the struggle for Civil Rights, was the importance of the churches both as places to meet and providing the leadership that stepped up. It’s hard to imagine how the laws would have changed without both of them. The second factor was the focus on non-violence as the strategy of demonstration, including practicing before demonstrations. The possibility of death to a demonstrator was taken so seriously, that individuals were encouraged to make their wills and other arrangements. People of God can make a difference!” – Bess, Mennonite Church Proverbs 22, emphasizing the importance of a legacy rooted in integrity, faith, and wisdom. Reflecting on Proverbs 22:1—“A good name is more desirable than great riches”— the pastor urged everyone to appreciate the invaluable legacy grandparents leave, one far surpassing material wealth. Rev. Esguerra deepened this reflection by quoting the late, well-known evangelist Billy Graham: “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things, but a legacy of character and faith.” Drawing a parallel to sports icons like Michael Jordan and Steph Curry, he emphasized that true legacy comes from a life lived in dedication to family and faith, much like these grandparents. A special ceremony honored grandparents with medals, representing their role as life’s MVPs, the medals served as tangible reminders of their significant contributions to their families and communities. As a further gesture of appreciation, each grandparent was also given a gold chocolate coin, representing both the sweetness of their love and the wealth of wisdom they impart to future generations. In a moving moment, the congregation joined in a prayer of gratitude, led by the Rev. Esguerra. They gave thanks for their beloved grandparents and asked for God’s continued blessings on their lives. A group photo captured the joy and smiles shared in the sanctuary, preserving the memories of this special day. GRANDPARENTS' DAY CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
BY KATHY KING-NOBLES Normal First UMC
NORMAL– In April, Normal 1st UMC sponsored their second Civil Rights trip. Our group of 43 was comprised of members from four United Methodist congregations (including Peoria 1st), Moses Montefiore Temple, Unitarian Universalists, Mennonite Church, 1st Presbyterian, and Grace Episcopal. Our trip included the following sites on the US Civil Rights Trail ( https://civilrightstrail.com/ ): Memphis’ Civil Rights Museum and “I Am a Man” Plaza; Birmingham’s 16th St Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, Letter from Birmingham Jail, Civil Rights Institute, and Bethel Baptist Church; Montgomery’s Rosa Parks Museum, Freedom Ride Museum, Dexter Ave Baptist Church, and Legacy Museum sites; Selma’s Brown Chapel AME and Edmund Pettus Bridge; and Tuskegee’s Airmen Museum and University. Our journey together began six months before the trip with bi-monthly meetings in order to get to know another, learn about the sites we were visiting, and studying together The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah Jones. Our KANKAKEE — In a heartfelt celebration of love and wisdom, Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Kankakee and Bradley Wesley UMC’s honored grandparents on Grandparents’ Day. The event paid tribute to the "MVPs of Life"—grandparents whose enduring love, guidance, and wisdom continue to shape their families and communities. The day’s celebration featured heartfelt recognition, prayers, and an inspiring sermon on the theme, A Legacy of Wisdom and Love . Grandparents, revered as the pillars of their families, were honored for their vital role in nurturing future generations with faith and love. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and reverence as grandparents were celebrated for their profound impact. Each grandparent received a medal, symbolizing their role as life’s “Most Valuable Players,” and gold chocolate coins as a sweet reminder of the love and wisdom they’ve passed down through the years. Rev. Dr. Enrico R. Esguerra highlighted grandparents’ vital role in shaping faith, character, and family unity. “Today, we honor you not only for what you’ve done but for who you are—beacons of love and faith to all of us,” he shared during the tribute. The heart of the celebration was a sermon inspired by
CIVIL RIGHTS TRIP CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Kankakee St. Mark, Bradley Wesley celebrate Grandparents’ Day BY ENRICO ESGUERRA
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