Posted on Nov 9, 2018
Praise God! the 2018 Fisk Fundraiser and Church Anniversary event was a smashing success! Through the generous sponsors and concert guest donations, this year we raised over $10,500 for the Fisk general Scholarship Fund, a 13% increase over 2017. What a way to celebrate Sherman UMC’s 96th Anniversary! Check out more about the history of the Sherman Fisk Fundraiser here.
As always, the reception meal was delivered by MacArthur’s Restaurant in support of this major event.
We would like to offer our heartfelt Thank You to the sponsors and all the members of Sherman United Methodist Church for their support and efforts in making this event a success! Without your generous donations of funds and time we could not have completed this year’s mission! For a list of this year’s sponsors go to the Fisk Sponsors page.
A special Thank You goes out to the 2018 Fisk Committee as they worked tirelessly to ensure we had a great concert and a successful fundraising event for both Fisk and SUMC. Thank You for you continued support. See you in October 2019!
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Posted on Aug 17, 2018
Sherman UMC is proud to present our Annual Tramaine and Friends Concert!
Sunday August 19, 2018 at 5pm
Admission $10
2214 Ridge Ave. at Noyes
Last year’s concert had the audience clapping, praising and rejoicing. This year’s repertoire promises to be another spiritual, soul stirring musical experience. There will be a freewill offering. The funds raised will go towards our church’s support for several ministries including eleven (11) Historically Black Colleges and the Africa University Fund that educates students from 21 African countries.
Tramaine S. Parker has been a member of Sherman United Methodist Church and the choir since 2004. She is the youngest of 4 children born to Mildred H. Thomas-Parker and Aaron Parker Sr. She graduated from Fisk University with a B.A. in Psychology and Roosevelt University with a M.A. in Clinical Professional Psychology. Tramaine began singing at the age of 4 in the Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist church choir. She joined the Chicago Children’s Choir where she began singing and traveling throughout the United States and internationally. While attending Lincoln Park Highschool, she sang in the advanced girl’s chorus, advanced mixed chorus and Lincoln Park Singers. Tramaine also won honor superior ratings in the city and state solo competitions. Tramaine is a former member of the Grammy-nominated Fisk Jubilee Singers and tours with Fisk University Choir. Tramaine serves God by using her gift of song throughout the Chicagoland area.
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Posted on Aug 16, 2017
Tramaine and Friends
Sunday August 20th
5:00 p. m.
Sherman United Methodist Church
2214 Ridge Ave. Evanston, Illinois 60201
Showcasing the talents of Tramaine Parker, Allie Bradford, Anthony Fett, Austin Echols, Brandon Lampkin, Lauren Robinson, Raven Taylor, Stephanie Schroder, Terry Henderson, Timothy Fett
The talented singers are formed from alumni of the world renown, Chicago Children’s Choir, the Grammy-nominated Fisk Jubilee Singers, the Fisk University Choir, and voices from the choir of Sherman United Methodist Church.
Last year’s concert had the audience clapping, praising and rejoicing. This year’s repetroire promises to be another spiritual, soul stirring musical experience. There will be a freewill offering. The funds raised will go towards our church’s support for several ministries including eleven (11) Historically Black Colleges and the Africa University Fund that educates students from 21 African countries.
Tramaine S. Parker has been a member of Sherman United Methodist Church and the choir since 2004. She is the youngest of 4 children born to Mildred H. Thomas-Parker and Aaron Parker Sr. She graduated from Fisk University with a B.A. in Psychology and Roosevelt University with a M.A. in Clinical Professional Psychology. Tramaine began singing at the age of 4 in the Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist church choir. She joined the Chicago Children’s Choir where she began singing and traveling throughout the United States and internationally. While attending Lincoln Park Highschool, she sang in the advanced girl’s chorus, advanced mixed chorus and Lincoln Park Singers. Tramaine also won honor superior ratings in the city and state solo competitions. Tramaine is a former member of the Grammy-nominated Fisk Jubilee Singers and tours with Fisk University Choir. Tramaine serves God by using her gift of song throughout the Chicagoland area.
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Posted on Apr 19, 2017
May 21, 2017 is Women’s Day.
United Methodist Women: Seekers of Justice for All
Part of Justice Weekend 2017
For our 2017 Women’s Day we welcome back Helen Roberts-Evans, our missionary to Liberia, speaking 3pm-5pm.
Helen Roberts-Evans is a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, serving as director of the Department of General Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church in Liberia. She was commissioned in October 2009, having initially gone to Liberia as a mission volunteer in July 2008. Helen was born in Liberia and her return as a missionary was a lifelong dream.
Helen’s work includes meeting needs in such areas as teacher training, scholarships, resources, new school
construction, and school building renovation and repair. “My father taught at the University of Liberia from 1956 to 1958,” Helen says. “During those two years, he traveled throughout the country filming and taking hundreds of photographs. I was only one year old whenwe came to Chicago, but we often watched my father’s slides and movies as my parents told us stories about the history and politics of Liberia. I wanted to return and experience life there for myself.”
As a child, she also experienced the joy of interacting with persons of many backgrounds and religions, through community and university contracts in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. In high school, she and a twin sister became involved with a student Christian organization, but her firm trust in God would come during a difficult marriage and the need to raise her four sons.
“I am thankful,” Helen says, “that my faith in God carried me through the raising of the sons. Now I have the joy of working with hundreds of Liberian children at church and school. I want to share the love of Christ with each child because I know that His love brings peace and gives strength to overcome life’s challenges.”
After attending high school in Evanston, Illinois, she studied in Bogotá, Colombia, and received a degree in special education from Boston University. Helen worked from 1998 through 2007 as executive director of the Child Care Center of Evanston. She was active in the Sherman United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and member of United Methodist Women. Helen is a member of Sherman United Methodist Church in Evanston, Illinois.
Of Liberia, Helen says: “I immediately felt at home. I saw people and met people from my dreams…At my home church in Evanston, I heard we are part of a connectional church, but I did not fully understand what they meant until I came to Liberia. I am meeting people from all over the world who are my brothers and sisters in Christ, and learning about needs of people all over the world. I am a member of the connectional church and the body of Christ.”
Women’s Day at Sherman is a special day in which we lift up:
- The role of women in church and society
- The celebration of our youth and their gifts and graces
- The history and role of women at Sherman UMC
Past speakers include:
2016 – Rev. Dr. Karen Mosby: Executive Director of Programs at Good News Partners
2015 – Rev. Michelle Watkins Branch: Dean of the Maceo D. Pembroke Institute and an Elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church
2014 – Bishop Sally Dyck, episcopal leader: Bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church;
2013 – Mrs. Jamell Meeks: first lady of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago
2012 – Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wilson: Dean of Students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Please join us this year!
Women’s Day and Justice Weekend 2017 are sponsored by:
820 Church St., Evanston, IL 60201
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Posted on Apr 17, 2017
Sherman UMC’s Justice Symposium Kicks off Justice Weekend
Saturday, May 20 at 9am
Executive Director and Juvenile Justice Attorney Patrick Keenan-Devlin of the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy will lead a panel discussion on juvenile justice as well as special education areas.
Mr. Keenan-Devlin was named Executive Director on July 1, 2016. Previously, Mr. Keenan-Devlin served as the Deputy Director/Staff Attorney – representing youth in juvenile delinquency and school law proceedings, as well as leading the agency’s development efforts. Mr. Keenan-Devlin’s experience in the area of public policy in Illinois, as well as his strong ties to the Evanston community serve him well in his new role at the Moran Center. Mr. Keenan-Devlin previously worked as the Health Policy Advocate for the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law and as Legislative Director of Citizen Action/Illinois. He has also held numerous leadership roles in various local civic and community organizations.
Mr. Keenan-Devlin graduated cum laude from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Music, and then received his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Mr. Keenan-Devlin serves on the Boards of the Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University and Citizen Action/Illinois. In his free time, Mr. Keenan-Devlin enjoys quality time with his wife and their growing family.
Seth Green, Executive Director of Youth and Opportunity United (Y.O.U) will address 1) Issues facing our youth on the employment front and 2) Opportunities facing our youth; 3) Y.O.U, its mission and services; 4) How we in the community can help.
Seth joined Y.O.U. as Executive Director in May of 2011 and he feels extremely fortunate to work with such a talented and dedicated staff. Prior to Y.O.U., Seth led the Job Opportunity Investment Network, a social venture that moves vulnerable adults out of poverty and into long-term careers. He also founded Americans for Informed Democracy, an organization that empowers youth to tackle pressing social challenges through community-based action. Seth’s other work experience includes years as a consultant with McKinsey and Company, as well as short-term roles at the American Prospect, the Brookings Institution, and Lazard.
Seth has a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, master’s degrees from the London School of Economics and Oxford, and a law degree from Yale.
Seth is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Evanston. He is also a lecturer at Northwestern University where he teaches courses on non-profit management. He and his wife Caitlin Fitz, an assistant professor of history at Northwestern, live in Evanston and are proud parents of two adorable girls: Sojourner and Lundy.
Interviewing Mr. Keenan-Devlin and Mr. Green will be Mrs. Karen Chavers
Karen Chavers is currently the District Director for Larry Suffredin, Cook County Commissioner of the 13 th District. She has managed the Commission’s overall district office operations since 2002. They share one-stop Constituent Service Offices with State Representative Robyn Gabel and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky at 820 Davis Street, Evanston.
She has held numerous leadership roles in the private and public business sectors,including recent past Treasurer of the Housing Authority of Cook County and served the Evanston community while leading the Evanston Neighborhood Conference and ENC’s nationally recognized Teen Empowerment Program from the early 1980’s to 2000. Karen is an Advisory Board member of SHOREFRONT Legacy Center which collects, preserves and educates people about Black history on Chicago’s suburban North Shore.
She continues her commitment to expanding housing opportunities for all as a board member of Turnstone Development not for profit which creates and preserves affordable housing opportunities for low-income families and seniors primarily in Illinois, and throughout the United States.
Speaking on Immigration – Mr. Luis Huerta-Silva of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
Luis Huerta-Silva serves as the Administrative Relief Regional Trainer at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). As a Trainer he has focused on capacity-building initiatives with partner organizations in anticipation of major immigration policy changes. Prior to transitioning to this position, Luis served in a fellowship with ICIRR focusing on voter registration and mobilization for the 2014 elections. Post-election he focused on community education around the new immigration initiatives concerning parents of US Citizen children or Lawful Permanent Resident children. Luis has experience in community education and leadership development training since his undergraduate career began in 2009 at University of Notre Dame as coordinator of youth mentorship and college-preparation programs. He studied Political Science and Latino Studies.
Justice Weekend 2017 is sponsored by:820 Church St., Evanston, IL 60201
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Posted on Apr 14, 2017
As Sherman celebrates its 95th year of service in Evanston, the women of Sherman continue to do what the Lord requires: be advocates for justice to those who are disenfranchised and marginalized in our local community, our nation and our world. This year we are focused on two issues: 1) Our Evanston Youth and efforts to break the pipeline to prison cycle in our local community. And 2) Our Immigrant Population.
The theme of this year’s celebration is: “United Methodist Women: Seekers of Justice for All”. The biblical texts that we are using come from:
- Micah: 6: 8: “…And what does the Lord require of you: But to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?”
- Zechariah 7:9-10 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Execute true Justice; Show Mercy and Compassion, Everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.”
- Isaiah 61:8: “For I the Lord, love Justice I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant.”
On Saturday morning May 20th, Sherman will host a Symposium with discussions led by: 1) Executive Director and Juvenile Justice Attorney Patrick Keenan-Devlin of the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy of Evanston, focusing on achieving justice in our schools and the courts for disadvantaged Evanston youth. followed by,
2) a discussion led by Seth Green Executive Director, Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) on our youth and employment and opportunities facing our youth; Y.O.U.; and how we in the community can help.
Mr. Green will be interviewed by Ms. Karen Chavers, the District Director for Larry Suffredin, Cook County Commissioner of the 13th District.
After a break we will have a session on immigration led by Mr. Luis Huerta-Silva with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). View that post here.
The Symposium, held at Sherman in Winfield Hall will start at 9:00 A.M. and conclude at 1:00 P.M. Refreshments will be provided.
The Women’s Day Service on Sunday, May 21st will be the culmination of Women’s Day Weekend at Sherman as we examine justice in our communities and how we can effect change. We welcome long-time Sherman member and UM Missionary to Liberia Helen Roberts-Evans, who will speak at services from 3pm to 5pm with a reception following.
Justice Weekend 2017 is sponsored by:820 Church St., Evanston, IL 60201
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