Jon McCoy and Margaret Gramley

In the next two weeks, most of us will be gathering at one of the Bishop's Day Apart gatherings.  It is hoped this will be "a time of learning, sharing in worship, and renewing our covenant and fellowship with one another."  Bishop Jung will lead us in study in the morning and in the afternoon we will receive a report from our General Conference Delegation. 

In addition, the Clergy Committee of the Harvest 2020 Campaign will present briefly on how new people are worshipping in new places and in new ways ... right here in the Northern Illinois Conference! Clergy leaders from one of the new communities will also give testimonies on how they got started what it takes to make it happen. And we'll ask you to make a financial commitment, or a "pledge," to help support the launching of more new communities this year and into the future.

I hope you've taken the time to read the e-mail reflections from members of the Harvest 2020 Campaign Clergy Committee the past three weeks. It's been a moving experience to read their testimonies about what has drawn and excited them about being part of Harvest 2020.  We hope you've been blessed by their stories and commitment. This is the last e-mail you will receive in that series.

And so today we invite you - actually, we expect you - in the coming days - to be prayerful and intentional as you consider making a committment.  You will be asked to make that commitment on the day of the Bishop's gatherings.  And we will be asking that it be shown in two ways. 

First, we ask that you add your voice as a witness and leader in encouraging your congregation and others to be supportive of the work of Harvest 2020 ... with their prayers, their voice, their gifts, their service and their witness.

Second, we are asking for a financial commitment that can be paid over three years.  We know that as pastors you are already supporting your local church, and this is NOT a request to divert resources from the community where you are serving.  But it is an invitation to consider expanding your giving to include a pledge to support Harvest 2020.

Attached to this e-mail are copies of several documents further explaining Harvest 2020 as well as a sample pledge page, which you can use to consider how you and your household will respond.
We look forward to seeing you at the Day Apart with the Bishop in the districts in the coming weeks.  And blessings to you in this holy season, as we continue to journey toward Jerusalem on our way to the empty tomb. 

~The Clergy Committee of the Harvest 2020 Campaign   
                                             
Margaret Gramley and Jon McCoy, co-chairs

Harry Nicol, United Methodist Foundation

Hwa Young Chong, Larry Hilkeman, Bill Landis, Darneather Murph-Heath, Cerna Rand and Chris Walters