Northern Illinois Conference Cabinet’s Summer Tour Begins at UMCL — and the Coffee Was Legendary

Because the Bishop spends much of the year overseeing two annual conferences, the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Cabinet decided to take its summer meetings on the road, gathering in different places across the conference. It's a great way to build connections. Cabinet members get to visit churches, meet the people who make each one special, and see local ministries firsthand. UMCL had the honor of being the first stop this August and was grateful to host Bishop Dan Schwerin, Rev. Dr Hwa-Young Chong, Rev. Christian Coon, Rev. Dr Brian Gilbert, Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, Rev. Wendy Hardin Hermann, Rev. Victor Melad, Jr., and Dr. Audrea Nanabray.

Below, District Superintendent Rev. Victor Melad Jr. shares a letter about the Cabinet's visit:

On behalf of Bishop Dan Schwerin and the Cabinet, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the pastors, ministry leaders, and staff of United Methodist Church of Libertyville for your radical, first-class, and amazing hospitality during our Cabinet’s monthly meeting on August 10–11.

We cannot adequately express how impressed and grateful we were for the way you prepared and arranged our meeting room. Wow! It was incredible! Everything was thoughtfully and beautifully prepared, creating such a welcoming and comfortable environment for our two-day meeting.

And then there were the snacks and meals! They were absolutely fabulous. We almost thought you had brought in an omelet bar like the ones you find in a premium airport lounge!

But what really made us smile was discovering that Starbucks apparently has a new name and owner in this part of Libertyville: “Starbross”! [See photo below.] It was our main coffee sponsor on Tuesday morning. I’m not sure what was in that coffee, but whatever it was certainly made us feel a little more “brossy for the day!

A special thank-you to Pastor Jeffry, Pastor Lino, Faith, Tammy, and Emily. We deeply appreciate all that you did to make our meeting so memorable and enjoyable.

Most of all, it was wonderful to experience firsthand the vibrant United Methodist presence in the Libertyville community. Your hospitality reflected not only your generosity but also the spirit, warmth, and vitality of your congregation.

Thank you, UMCL, for setting the bar so high. You welcomed us with open hearts, excellent food, great coffee, and a spirit of joy. We are grateful for you and for the ministry you continue to offer in Libertyville and beyond.

With deep gratitude and appreciation,
-Bishop Dan Schwerin and the Cabinet