Urban Village Church

On the final Sunday in our “Inward Journey” series, Pastor Chan speaks about the quest for God being a lifelong journey. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, the community is struggling with understanding God’s truths. Paul, in the midst of his own sufferings, addresses the community’s fear and anxiety.  Join us in worship this morning to explore what it means to be a community on this journey to k...

In Acts 2, those gathered were celebrating a festival marking the first fruits of the harvest, and more importantly, when God gifted God’s people with the Torah law. This law binded God’s people together centered around loving God, living abundantly, and caring for the least of these. This morning, Pastor Emily asks ask how the Spirit invites us to open our heads & hearts to remove barriers, becom...

This morning we continue our series “The Inward Journey” with Paul’s letter to Philippi. Today’s scripture connects peace & rejoicing with a conviction that God’s peace does not rest on external circumstances. Pastor D’Angelo reflects that while the presence of God does not always deliver us from all anxiety, God’s presence does offer peace amid our circumstances. How is God present with you this...

We conclude our three part series "UVC 101: Honest Answers To Frequently Asked Questions." In this episode, we discuss prayer. How do I start praying? Are meditation and prayer the same? What if my prayers aren’t answered? Our panel includes Teaching Pastor Hannah Kardon, Site Pastor D’Angelo Smith, and UVC member J Dayvid Green. Join us every Sunday for online worship on Facebook and YouTube (/uv...

Welcome to part 2 of our three part series "UVC 101: Honest Answers To Frequently Asked Questions." This episode tackles tough questions about what it means to be a Christian: What does “being saved” mean? If I'm not sure I believe in God, do I still count as a Christian? Do I still want to be a Christian? Our panel includes Teaching Pastor Hannah Kardon, Church Planting Resident Juan Pablo, and U...

Welcome to our three part series "UVC 101: Honest Answers To Frequently Asked Questions." In this episode, we're talking about the Bible. Where do the different parts of the Bible come from? What does it mean to take the Bible literally (and do we have to)? What do I do with contradictions in the Bible? Our panel includes Teaching Pastor Hannah Kardon, Student Pastor Lijia Xie, and UVC member Glor...

As we think about what it will look like to come back together, we have many questions and anxieties. It will help for us to go back to doing what we know how to do. Jesus shows us how: To love.

A year ago we started quarantining and began a sermon series called “Now What?” to help us navigate an uncertain future. Today we’re facing similar questions.  This morning, we’ll turn once again to the Scriptures, when after Jesus’ resurrection, the Church found itself asking, “now what?” Student Pastor Lijia explores the early Church’s attempts to be faithful while recognizing the scars, wounds,...

Christ is Risen! Jesus’ resurrection is a story that is constantly being written over and over again. This morning, Pastors Hannah, D’Angelo, and Juan Pablo share their own stories of God’s  ability to resurrect and call us in to something new. Join us in worship! Happy Easter :)   CCLI # 3211711 / CCLI Streaming #20104183   D’Angelo Smith (Site Pastor – Hyde Park-Woodlawn & Wicker Park) Hannah Ka...

Our world is in an "in-between time" as we wait for the opportunity to fully be back and engaged with our friends and family. Can Easter speak to us in this limbo? Yes! Mary experienced the risen Christ in that uncertain time, too.

It’s Palm Sunday! In many ways this is a culmination of Christ’s ministry. Jesus is publicly recognized as the Messiah and the massive crowds, even the Empire, are expecting this triumphant leader. But God does something different. We reflect on this expectant hope, what today represents, and also, what comes next. We’re heading to an empty tomb, but first: Hosannah!!  

Many of us (beloved and wonderful just as we are!) still crave to be made new in some aspect of our life. We conclude our “Made New” series by exploring the final question asked during a baptism: “Do you commit to faithful participation in God’s work in the world?”  In Acts 2, we read about ancestors in the faith who “devoted themselves” to the teachings of apostles like Deborah and Peter. We’ll c...

Many of us (beloved just as we are) still crave to be made new in some aspect of our life. This Lent, we’re focusing on how we can change through studying the transformational promises of Jesus, the science of personal change, and the spirituality of recovery.   Today, as we consider change, Pastor D’Angelo invites to focus on the constant: the amazing and liberating power of the Holy Spirit. Acce...

Many of us (beloved just as we are) still crave to be made new in some aspect of our life: a habit, character aspect, or circumstance that still hurts. We all hope for change. This Lent, we’re going to focus on how we can change through studying the transformational promises of Jesus, the science of personal change, and the spirituality of recovery.    This morning, Juan Pablo Herrera (Church Plan...

Hannah Kardon (UVC Teaching Pastor; she/her) discusses with Drew Jones (Hyde Park Woodlawn; Loyola University Chicago; he/him) and Victoria Slabinski (Yale Divinity School; she/her) touch, care, pleasure, trust, partnership, joy, community, relationships… and how the Church hasn’t always been faithful at exploring such important aspects of being. As Sunday just fell on Valentines Day, we were exci...

Hannah Kardon (UVC Teaching Pastor; she/her) discusses with Drew Jones (Hyde Park Woodlawn; Loyola University Chicago; he/him) and Victoria Slabinski (Yale Divinity School; she/her) touch, care, pleasure, trust, partnership, joy, community, relationships… and how the Church hasn’t always been faithful at exploring such important aspects of being. As Sunday fell on Valentines Day, we were excited t...

Many of us (beloved just as we are) still crave to be made new in some aspect of our life: a habit, character aspect, or circumstance that hurts. We all hope for change. This Lent, we’re going to focus on how we can change through studying the transformational promises of Jesus, the science of personal change, and the spirituality of recovery.    This morning, Pastor Hannah begins our "Made New" s...

“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Milani (@ Millusi0n )! In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultimate...

“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Willa Vawisp (@WillaVawisp)! In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ul...

“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Fonda Koxx (@fkdrag)! In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultimatel...

“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Stargirl (@Stargirldrag)! In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultim...

“Drag & Spirituality: Named & Known” is an ongoing series with hostess B0NNi33 Vi0L3T (@aqueerchaplain). On this episode, B0NNi33 Vi0L3T speaks with Mick Douche (@MickDouch)! In each conversation B0NNi33 Vi0L3T will guide a conversation around drag & spirituality, with drag artists of a variety of spiritual experience, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, size, ability, and styles of drag. Ultim...

God has been called by thousands of names - from El Roi (the God Who Sees Me) to Mother Bear Who Protects Her Cubs- and everything in between. What we call God matters. It can change how we pray, how we experience God in our lives, and open us up to new parts of God’s very nature. Pastor Emily, alongside UVCers from our South Loop, Hyde Park-Woodlawn, and Edgewater sites, reflect on Jacob’s strugg...

God has been called by thousands of names - from El Roi (the God Who Sees Me) to Mother Bear Who Protects Her Cubs- and everything in between. What we call God matters. It can change how we pray, how we experience God in our lives, and open us up to new parts of God’s very nature. Today, Pastor D’Angelo (they/them) focuses on God the Deliverer and Yahweh Rophe- the God Who Heals. Transitional time...

God has been called by thousands of names - from El Roi (the God Who Sees Me) to Mother Bear Who Protects Her Cubs- and everything in between. What we call God matters. It can change how we pray, how we experience God in our lives, and open us up to new parts of God’s very nature. Today, Pastor Chan (he/him) speaks about the name of God most known to him- Haneunim (God Who Watches Us From the Sky,...