Pastors
Pastor Jenny
Jenny R. Weber, an Elder in the Northern Illinois Conference, comes to North Shore United Methodist Church with a variety of ministry experiences. Born and raised in Nebraska, Jenny grew up in a family of strong United Methodists. She sat in the pews as her mother played the organ and directed the choir and participated in worship, education and service as a youth and young adult.
After graduating from college, Jenny served as a young adult missionary through the General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC. Her placement was at The Mary Elizabeth Inn in San Francisco, a women’s residence for women in transition and crisis. During that time, Jenny heard her call to ordained ministry and after completing the two-year missionary program, she entered Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Jenny earned her MDiv. in 1997.
After a year of chaplaincy education at Rush Presbyterian Medical Center, Jenny began serving United Methodist Congregations in Northern Illinois. They include Berwyn UMC (1998-99), Broadway UMC in Chicago (interim, 1999-2000), The United Church of Sandwich (2000-2004), The United Methodist Church of Geneva (Associate Pastor, 2004-2007), Broadway UMC in Chicago (2007-2009) and began her appointment at North Shore UMC in 2009.
Pastor Jenny has a passion for missions and is gifted in the areas of worship, preaching, teaching and administration. Her husband, Matthew Eaton, is a hospital chaplain, and they have one son, Spencer.
Barbara Javore, Deacon
My passion in the ministry is to bring the Sacred Story to Children and Youth by embracing the creative power of the Holy Spirit. The Sacred Story, integrated into the life of the Congregation through Worship, Mission, and Fellowship is woven into an experiential education process following the model of our Teacher, Jesus Christ. Interpreting the Sacred Story through art, music, drama, play and movement provides an avenue for Scripture to be infused into the life experience of children and youth.
I am a United Methodist Deacon serving as the Director of Christian Education at North Shore United Methodist Church in Glencoe, Illinois. I also serve as an Adjunct Professor at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in the Vocation Formation and Christian Leadership Program and teach a course on Children and Christian Faith. I have recently completed a PhD in Christian Education, centering on the recovery of creativity in the methods and practices of Christian Education. I also have a Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett-Evangelical and a Masters in Music Education from the University of Illinois. I am the Youth Coordinator for the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, a Candidacy Mentor and am on the Board of Outdoor and Retreat Ministries.
I have a passionate commitment to the children and youth I serve. They are our hope for the future. As Christianity continues to adapt to the challenges of the new millennium, our children and youth have a unique opportunity to bring about transformational change to a broken and hurting world. Assisting children and youth to discover and implement their role in the life of Christian ministry to the world is the heart of my ministry. Sharing in the dialogue of teaching and learning with Christian educators is a privilege.
