Together Chicago held our annual Next Steps Lunch last Wednesday at Vineyard Church of Hyde Park. Over a shared meal, we looked back on the past year and made space to connect and align our hearts and calendars for what comes next.
Next Steps Lunch is the fall rhythm of our Faith-Community Mobilization focus area. It follows Chicagoland United in Prayer in the winter, Building Blocks of Peace in the spring, and Hands Across Chicago in the summer. Each gathering offers a different opportunity to unite the capital-C Church for prayer and action.
At this lunch, representatives from over a dozen organizations—including the Chicago Partnership, World Relief, Christians Against Poverty—led conversations such as “What is giving you hope?” and “What is something you are lamenting?”
Those questions made room for encouragement and honesty. One participant shared that their hope comes from knowing God is in control of their life—and if God is good, they are in good hands!
We come from different congregations, organizations, and neighborhoods, but gathering helps us see beyond our own work and recognize the people serving alongside us. Together Chicago’s role is to nurture those connections, creating opportunities for unity to become shared prayer and action.
As we welcome the season ahead, we invite you to explore our Faith-Community Mobilization rhythms calendar. These gatherings are opportunities for churches and organizations across Chicago to connect, coordinate, and serve together.