Jubilee Weekend!

NCF Office – June 16, 2026 2 Comments

Click and scroll down here for the amazing video on the Jubilee tab of our website that Jonathan Linder created of Saturday’s event. Carolyn Vance, secretary to the Leadership Team and the NCF Board, shares reflections on the Jubilee weekend below. It was amazing and blessed, and we are so grateful. -Renée

God is with us
Building us into a household
Sending us into the world

Marty Shupack reminded us that NCF was birthed during a time of renewal, when that early Bible study became a fellowship (not a “church”)! Folks who had been a part of NCF at various times in our 50-year history came from near and far to celebrate what NCF had meant to them and their journey with God and one another.

FRIDAY
Our Jubilee started at Papa Del’s where they had lost some power due to the storm the night before. They recalibrated and the celebration and reconnecting went on, a little messily, a little chaotically, reflecting our life together for much of our history. We weren’t a well-oiled, smooth production, but a family figuring it out together. 

There were joyful conversations filling the two rooms. Lots of smiles, laughter, joy. Some of the “children” of NCF, now adults, some with children of their own, gathered ’round the pizza as siblings from the four corners of the earth delighted in the opportunity to catch up, share stories from the past, and just to be together.

SATURDAY
It was a lovely day at Lake of the Woods in Mahomet. Bless that wild Thursday night storm which brought us such beautiful weather! We started by remembering those who have passed from among us.

The Lord is with us
Bearing us through every loss we may grieve
The Lord is with us
The Lord…

Throughout the day we worshiped with many of NCF’s beloved songs from the past, including some of Bill Nagy’s contributions, and with songs we have added more recently. Worship through song is a huge part of who we are and have been.

For our life together we celebrate

From the sublime to the hilarious, many shared stories of what NCF has meant to them. I wish I could remember them all. We heard from the early leaders of the church, in those days called “elders” though none were remotely elderly at that time! Then Ron Simkins taught and recalled:

God is with us and continues to be
Building us into a household
Sending us into the world
Still. Fifty years on.

Saturday evening we re-gathered at NCF for a lovely concert by Jim Croegaert. His music has been a part of our community’s body of worship music, one of our soundtracks.

Changes coming upon us
It keeps moving, moving around us
Got to keep dancing knowing He loves us
Got to keep joy in our hearts
So we enter a new time
There are places where it’s a hard climb
But in the long run there will be glory
Glory to rival the sun

SUNDAY
More worship! Pastors Melissa, Jeff and Renee gave mini-teachings. Melissa emphasized that the same Spirit of God is upon us to bring good news as it was on Isaiah and Jesus. Jeff shared about the Champaign County Christian Health Center and his current work advocating for Reparations. Renee told about NCF’s collaboration to host various homeless shelters, the process of becoming fully affirming, and the pandemic which propelled us into online worship. We’ve had a building refresh with hand rails and new carpet and paint. We’ve seen scripture lead us into new understandings of LGBTQ+ affirmation and the necessity of reparations to African Americans. We have set up education savings accounts for the grandchildren of African American participants in NCF over the years as one way to express repair. We’re not sure what’s next, but know we want to continue to live out mercy, justice and repair in our world. And we acknowledge that we need ongoing forgiveness of each other, of ourselves, and of this fellowship.

We’re grateful for our past and look forward to what new things God will do among us.

What is this love
What is this love that won’t let loose of me?
That has a hold upon my soul that I can’t break.
What is this love

Reflections by Carolyn Vance with thanks to Jim Croegaert for his song lyrics.