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Archived Items Previously Posted on the CMA Website through OCTOBER 2004
Call for Justice - March for Peace
Saturday, October 30, 9:00 am
A day long Peace March, from Wheaton to Geneva, will bring unmistakable focus on
the tragic loss of life in this war on both sides. We will call for an end to the war.
We will call for bringing US troops home.
Marchers will carry approximately 100 cardboard replicas of coffins. Some will be
draped in black cloth representing over 13,000 Iraqi civilian dead. Some will be
draped in US flags, representing almost 1,100 US service personnel killed. The Peace
March will proceed from Wheaton's Second Baptist Church, through Winfield and West
Chicago to Geneva's historic Kane County Courthouse. Churches will toll their bells
along the March route, to recognize those killed in the Iraq War.
OPENING EVENTS in Wheaton:
9:00 am - Kick-off Rally at Second Baptist Church, 1520 Avery, Wheaton; Featuring
Rev. Calvin Morris, Michael McConnell, Rev. Andre Allen, Military Families & more.
10:00 am - March Begins from Second Baptist Church, 1520 Avery in Wheaton;
free parking is available all day in 2nd Baptist Church parking lot; to get to the
church by train, get off the Metra at Wheaton's College Avenue Station and follow signs
one block south and one block east.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30: IN CARE UCC PROFILE WORKSHOP
CMA will conduct a workshop for In Care students on how to prepare and use the UCC
Profile Form in seeking a call. Preparation of this profile is a requirement for
UCC Ordination. The workshop will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2004 from
9:30 am to 12 noon at Chicago Theological Seminary - Rm 133, 5757 S. University, Chicago
This year's workshop will be led by The Rev. Michael Denton and The Rev. Edward Goode,
both Association Co-Ministers at CMA, and by The Rev. Betsy Bueschel, CMA's In Care staff
Consultant.
Learn how to create your UCC Ministerial Profile which must be prepared in anticipation
of ordination by every person seeking an authorized call. This workshop will be
especially helpful for those in the second year of In Care.
RSVP to CMA at: 312-939-5918 or cma@cmaucc.org.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28: CTS ADVENT-CHRISTMAS LECTIONARY WORKSHOP
Chicago Theological Seminary's annual Advent-Christmas Lectionary Workshop entitled
Prophetic Experience with JoAnne Terrell, Ph.D., CTS Associate Professor of
Ethics and Theology will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2004 from 9 am to 3 pm at
Plymouth Place, 315 N LaGrange Rd, LaGrange Park, IL 60526 (708-354-0340).
The cost is $30; register by October 13, 2004; more information is available from CTS
at 773-322-0275 or by email from gsoule@ctschicago.edu.
OCTOBER 26: STILL SPEAKING TRAINING SESSION
Tuesday, October 26, from 7-9:30 pm at St. Pauls UCC, 2335 N. Orchard, Chicago.
Parking is available at Children's Hospital garage on Lincoln south of Fullerton;
please have the ticket validated at the church
RSVP to CMA at 312-939-5918 or by EMAIL
The God is Still Speaking Initiative is a new cooperative effort among UCC
Conferences and the national setting of the UCC to meet two inter-related
challenges:
Lack of a distinctive identity for the United Church of Christ among its
members, congregations, and the public
Declining financial support for the church in all settings: local,
conference, national, and international.
Come to one of our training sessions to get the complete picture of
the STILL SPEAKING INITIATIVE and find out what it could mean to your Church.
The Still Speaking Initiative will create and manage an identity advertising
campaign for the United Church of Christ based on the "God is still
speaking" theme.
The campaign will include television commercials broadcast here in Chicago.
The "God is Still Speaking" campaign is directed at current members of UCC
churches just as much as outsiders or potential visitors or new members.
Resources including Bible studies and adult education materials will be made
available to make UCC identity part of congregational life.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21: All-Options Clergy Counseling Training
University Church partners with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
to offer ordained clergy an opportunity to add All-Options Clergy Counseling to
their skills. The All-Options Clergy Counseling is our response to and support for
women and families facing a pregnancy that has become problematic for them for
whatever reason. In this training we will explore all options that are available:
parenting, adoption and abortion.
The training will take place on Thursday, October 21, 2004 from 9am - 4:00pm at
University Church which is located at 5655 S. University in Chicago. Parking is
available in the University of Chicago parking lot. Continental breakfast and
lunch will be provided. Suggested donation is $15.00. A portion of the donation
will be given to AAWE, an organization that helps women and families gain access
to reproductive health care and works on issues related to reproductive rights.
To register contact Rev. Penny Willis, Director of Christian Development at
University Church, at pennyw@ppca.org or
at 773-651-1182.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17: TERRILL MURFF ORDINATION
Terrill Murff, a member of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, will be ordained
to the Christian ministry on Sunday, October 17, 2004 at 6:00 pm. The service will
be held at Covenant UCC, 1130 E. 154th Street, South Holland, IL 60473 (708-333-5955)
where the Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr. is Pastor. The ordination preacher will be
the Rev. Frank Thomas.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16: CMA FALL MEETING
Glenview Community Church
Saturday, October 16, 2004
8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
All CMA Laity and Clergy, Congregations, and affiliated social, health and
educational agencies & institutions are encouraged to attend the CMA Fall
Meeting at Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm Street in Glenview, Illinois,
for worship, reflection and fellowship.
This year's theme is:
United Church of Christ: How Welcoming Are We?
Download the Official Call Letter
which includes IMPORTANT TRAVEL DIRECTIONS and which
also includes a brief biography of the speaker.
This meeting will be built around the
General Synod Pronouncement
and Proposal for Action: Calling the United Church of Christ to be a Multiracial and
Multicultural Church adopted by the Nineteenth General Synod of the United
Church of Christ, meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, July 15-20, 1993.
Our keynote speaker will be The Rev. Vilma M. Machin-Vazquez, Minister for
Multiracial/Multicultural Transformation in the Justice and Witness Ministries
of the United Church of Christ national office in Cleveland.
Our reflections will be guided by a
Bible Study
developed by The Rev. Dr. James
L. Forbes, Senior Pastor at Riverside Church in New York City, which was prepared
to assist local churches discuss implementation of the General Synod Resolution.
The guide, entitled "A Church for All People: Becoming a Multiracial and
Multicultural Church" is distributed by the UCC Justice and Witness Ministries
in Cleveland.
The meeting will include five workshops, each presented twice, so you will have
an opportunity to attend two workshops of your choice. Each workshop will
focus on a different section of the Bible Study guide:
The Origins of the Vision: Acts 2:1-21. Led by our keynote speaker, this
workshop will consider the beginnings of the United Church of Christ and how we
have evolved into a multiracial/multicultural church.
The Call to Live Together: Acts 2:41-47. Led by Ms. Susan Ozawa of Christ
Church in Chicago, this workshop will focus on stewardship and on a film Ms Ozawa
is producing for the UCC
Beyond the Enclaves of Our Native Upbringing: Acts 8:1B. This workshop
will feature members of CMA's ethnically diverse congregations talking about
who they are in the UCC.
New Encounters: Acts 8:26-39. Led by the Rev. Stan Davis, recipient of t
he 7th Annual Interfaith Unity Award presented by the Islamic Institute of North
America and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. Stan will be
joined by a guest from the Muslim community to lead a discussion about challenging
our fears as Christians living in this world hysteria of terrorism.
Yes to a Church for All People: Acts 10:1-20. The UCC God is Still Speaking
initiative will be presented by Mr. Roger Wright, a member of Epiphany UCC in
Chicago and a CMA organizer-consultant for the UCC "God Is Still Speaking" campaign.
During our time together we will also be led in worship by our host pastor, The Rev.
Howard Roberts, and Glenview Community Church's inspirational music team. CMA Youth
will actively participate in the program. Our meeting begins with registration and
continental breakfast at 8:00 am and ends at 1:30 pm after lunch.
We urge each clergy person with standing in the Association to be present and each
congregation to be represented by two elected lay delegates. All local church members,
representatives from our affiliated agencies and all friends of CMA are also encouraged
to attend.
The registration fee of $15 includes breakfast, snacks and lunch. You can download a
Registration Form
which may be photocopied. A separate form should be filled out for
each person who will attend. Please mail or fax your registration form and mail your
registration fee to CMA by the deadline of October 4.
FALL MEETING SCHEDULE:
8:00 am - Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45 am - Worship and Keynote Address
10:00 am - Workshop Sessions: select one of the five workshops to attend
11:00 am - Workshop Sessions: all workshops repeat so you can attend a second one
12:10 pm - Our Church's Wider Mission
12:30 pm - Lunch
1:30 pm - Adjourn
OCTOBER 15-17: CHILDREN'S SABBATH
The 2004 Children's Sabbath is October 15-17. This year's theme is Say
That I'm a Child of God: Assuring Justice and Care to Leave No Child Behind.
As a national interfaith observance promoted by the Children's Defense Fund,
the goals of the Children's Sabbath are to generate new, long term efforts to
meet children's needs by raising awareness, serving children directly, and
advocating for their needs.
The Illinois Conference of Churches encourages congregations to observe the
Children's Sabbath during the weekend of October 15-17. The Children's Defense
Fund has prepared an excellent Children's Sabbath Manual that includes a variety
of ecumenical and interfaith resources for worship, education and activities
for adults and children.
For more information on the Children's Sabbath observance and how to order a resource
manual, visit www.childrensdefense.org.
This message came from Rev. David A. Anderson, Executive Director, Illinois Conference
of Churches, 522 East Monroe, Suite 208, Springfield, IL 62701; Telephone: 217-522 7099;
Fax: 217-522 7105; Email:
davidanderson@ilconfchurches.org;
Website: www.ilconfchurches.org.
OCTOBER 14-16: UCC MISSIONWORKS TOO!
The second biennial Missionworks event in Cleveland, Ohio, welcomes UCC and Disciples
of Christ friends and members to learn and be inspired by our work done through Global
Ministries. Come away with a renewed sense of excitement about mission. Enjoy first-hand
accounts from recently returned missionaries; share your ideas about mission ministry;
listen to local congregations share their wildly successful mission fund raising projects;
hear updates from Africa, East Asia, Southern Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Olivia Masih White, new Co-Executive of Global
Ministries and Executive of Wide Church Ministries of the UCC in Cleveland.
Evening Featured Speaker is Mary Doria Russell, PhD in Paleoanthropology, Author
of critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Sparrow and Children of God,
speaking on The Mission Enterprise - From Mission to Mars?
Missionworks Too begins Thursday, October 14, 2004 at 12 noon and concludes on
Saturday, October 16 at 12 noon. Registration Deadline is September 17th. Cost is $100
for event plus meals; $199 for event, meals & lodging.
Contact Jan Aerie, UCC Missionworks, 700 Prospect Ave East, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100;
866-822-8224 ext 3204; wcm@ucc.org
OCTOBER 12-14: GREAT LAKES ASSN OF UNITED CHURCH EDUCATORS CONFERENCE
Church Educators:
Claiming Who We Are:
An Immersion into the Ethos of the United Church of Christ
October 12-14, 2004
Cleveland, Ohio
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness
Proverbs 4:11
Sponsored by GLAUCE, The Great Lakes Association of United Church Educators
For Pastors, Christian Educators, Youth Ministers, Church School Teachers,
and Other Educational Volunteers
Resource Leaders:
Rev. John Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.
Rev. Roger LaWarre, Pastor at Lowell Congregational Church in Lowell, Michigan.
Rev. June Boutwell, Minister for Youth, Young Adults and the Outdoors on the UCC National Staff.
Ron Buford, Public Relations and Marketing Manager for the United Church of Christ.
Rev. Kenneth Ostermiller, Minister for Curriculum Development with the UCC Worship and Education Ministry Team.
Jane Frederickson, Education Consultant for the Great Lakes Region and an educator at First Congregational UCC in Elyria, Ohio. Jane will be leading the Warehouse tour.
Rev. Carl Richter, the Education Consultant for the Middle Atlantic Region and Pastor of First Congregational UCC in Loraine, Ohio. Carl will be leading worship time together.
Rev. Dr. Marian Plant, Schauffler Chair and Assistant Professor for Christian Education at Defiance College.
Rev. David Holden, Minister for Adults and Educational Leadership Development on the UCC Worship and Education Ministry Team.
Workshops:
Pastor as Teacher
Curriculum Selection
Resource Rotation
Back to the Future: Who Are the Youth of Today
Crisis in Christian Education
Men's Ministry: Beyond the Boy Myth
GLAUCE Seeks:
To provide a supportive community of people.
To promote and interpret the teaching ministry as a vital element in the life of Christ's Church.
To maintain and provide supportive learning and growth opportunities for persons engaged in the teaching ministry.
The schedule of activities begins on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at 2pm with Registration at the UCC national offices, 700 Prospect Ave, Cleveland, Ohio. The program concludes after Closing Worship & Communion at 12 noon on Thursday, October14.
Costs:
Resident Fee: (includes double occupancy lodging, program and all meals)
- AUCE members: $190
- Non members: $210
- Parking fee is not included
- Single room requires additional $90 fee
Non Resident Fee: (for those not staying at the Radisson; includes program and all meals only)
- AUCE members: $90
- Non members: $120
- Parking Fee is not included
Late Fee:
- After September 17, 2004, members & non members: $25
Receipt of registration by September 16th is the absolute deadline to guarantee a room. Rooms may not be available after this date.
AUCE Dues: $40. If you're not a member, why not join now?
Make check payable to GLAUCE. Send registration information and fees to: Janice Davis,
1765 Chateau Drive, Green Bay, WI 54304 3111; for information, contact Janice at
jaloda@hotrnail.com
Upon receipt, you will receive a confirmation postcard or email.
Additional information, driving directions and a list of attendees (for carpooling purposes) will be sent immediately prior to the event.
The Radisson Hotel Cleveland - Gateway is located at 651 Huron Road in downtown
Cleveland. Driving directions to the hotel will be included in the packet you will
receive prior to the event.
For scholarship assistance, please contact your Illinois Conference representative,
Ms Judie Foust at 309-688-9412
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13: CRLN ANNUAL FALL LUNCHEON
The Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) will host its
Fall Luncheon on Wednesday, October 13 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at the
Episcopal Church Center at 65 E. Huron, with a world renowned keynote speaker from
Colombia who is an experienced, effective speaker with a wealth of knowledge and
experience on many Colombian issues.
For information contact Gary Cozette, CRLN Director, or Megan Kennedy, CRLN Program
Coordinator, 4750 N. Sheridan Rd., Suite 429, Chicago, IL 60640; 773-293-2964;
773-293-3677 (fax); mkennedy@crln.org.
OCTOBER 13: LEADERSHIP AND ANXIETY WORKSHOP
Leadership and Anxiety in the Church: a Family Systems Perspective will be held
on Wednesday, October 13, 2004, 9a - 4p, at Calvary Reformed Church, 15101 South
80th Ave, Orland Park, IL; sponsored by Lombard Mennonite Peace Center and Chicago Christian
Counseling Center; Contact: LMPC at 630-627-0507 or on web at:
www.LMPeaceCenter.org
OCTOBER 13-14: ATiiM ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Illinois Association of Trained Intentional Interim Ministers (ATiiM) will
hold their Annual Conference at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois, beginning
at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, October 13, through 3:00 pm on Thursday, October 14, 2004.
This year's program is entitled Leading Change in the Congregation: Spiritual
and Organizational Tools for Leaders, and will be led by Dr. Gilbert Rendle,
Senior Consultant at The Alban Institute.
For more information contact Dave Kniker at 309-853-7814 or by email at:
kniker@bwysy.net
OCTOBER 11-15: PROVIDING SPIRITUAL CARE IN DISASTERS
Training for Clergy and Endorsed Laypersons
Police, firefighters and emergency workers are dispatched immediately to the
scene of a disaster to aid victims and their families. Yet there is another
kind of first responder - the spiritual caregiver. Faith communities and
professional chaplains need to become an integral part of the response to
disasters in the Chicagoland area.
Join with Chicago-area clergy of all faiths on a Spiritual Care Response Team
to meet spiritual needs born of disaster.
The University of Chicago Hospitals and the Chicago Department of Public Health,
through a federal grant from the Human Resources and Services Administration,
will offer training programs to prepare clergy of all faiths to respond to
disasters ranging from attacks
using weapons of mass destruction or bioterrorism to events such as the E2
nightclub tragedy, the County Building fire, and last year’s north side porch collapse.
A Five-Day Training will be offered again October 11-15, from 9-5
each day at Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn Av, Chicago, IL 60637.
This training will include:
emotional, physical, spiritual responses to trauma
specific spiritual care responses to people in crisis
interfaith and multi-cultural sensitivities in disaster response
incident command structure and the role of spiritual care providers
mock disaster scenario
There is no charge for this event.
Those who complete the Five-Day Training will be eligible to receive a Disaster
Spiritual Care credential from the City of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management
and Communications. Through a comprehensive disaster response network they will
be called upon to provide spiritual care in the event of a disaster in the City
of Chicago, or in the case of a bio-outbreak at medical centers such as The
University of Chicago Hospitals. There will be quarterly follow-up meetings to
continue the education process and to keep team members abreast of the latest developments.
Please pass this information along to clergy who would be interested in such training.
A brochure can be downloaded by clicking
Here (1) and
Here (2).
Spiritual Care in Disaster: Become Part of the Team
Contact: Therese M. Becker, Manager, Department of Spiritual Care, University of
Chicago Hospitals, 5841 S Maryland Av - MC2120, Chicago, IL 60637-1470; Phone:
773-702-6574; fax: 773-834-2526; email:
therese.becker@uchospitals.edu
Mon, Oct 11 — Indigenous Peoples' Day; CMA office will be open
Tues, Oct 12, 11:30a-2:30p — Cluster Deans Meeting at Bethlehem UCC,
2746 N Magnolia, Chicago (773-281-6480).
(posted thru 10/12/04)
Hurricane Relief Efforts
Faith-Based Groups at Work
Bringing Hope to Florida
The United Church of Christ continues to provide relief funds
from the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering and Emergency USA Special Fund
to the UCC Florida Conference. UCC funds have also been sent to Church World Service
as part of our ecumenical commitment. Anticipating a long recovery process for
persons affected, and in order to allow the UCC to make a greater response, additional
funds is being sought from UCC members and friends.
To make a secure on-line donation, visit the
One Great Hour of Sharing Donation Page
on the UCC Website.
For the latest update on relief efforts, visit the
Disaster Response Page
on the UCC Website.
For more information you may also contact
Andrea & Bennett McNeal,
CMA Disaster Ministries Coordinators.
LET JUSTICE ROLL
A National Election Year Initiative Challenges Candidates and Voters to Address Poverty
In Chicago: October 10 & 11
What will you do to end poverty? A new national alliance of community and
faith-based groups is demanding an answer to that question from public officials,
delegates to the Party Conventions and this year's candidates for public office,
especially the presidential candidates. The alliance, Let Justice Roll: Faith
and Community Voices Against Poverty, also is working to register, mobilize
and protect voters, especially low-income voters, whose voices must be heard on
policies that affect them.
Let Justice Roll takes its name from the Bible book of Amos: Let
justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream ...
(Amos 5:24 NRSV).
Let Justice Roll events are being held in cities across the United States,
This multi-city initiative began in Seattle in June and continued in Portland and Eugene,
Oregon; Rochester, New York; Minneapolis; and in Boston and New York City concurrent with
the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister of the Riverside Church in New York
City and featured during the 2003-2004 season of the PBS Program NOW with Bill Moyers,
is the featured speaker for many of these events.
The National Council of Churches and the
Center for Community Change are co-sponsoring
these public events with national, state and local partner organizations to keep the
issue of ending poverty front and center in this presidential election year. Participants
sought commitments from local, state and national public officials and delegates
to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions that they would work to shape public
policies to meet the needs of people living in poverty and, ultimately, to end poverty.
Local Let Justice Roll events are one or two days in length and typically
include meetings of religious and community leaders with elected officials and Party
Convention delegates; a news conference on local and national issues; voter education,
registration, mobilization and protection, and a worship service or rally that roots
the work to overcome poverty in religious convictions.
Visit the Let Justice
Roll website to learn more and to get resources for upcoming events.
Want to be part of this growing initiative? Email the NCC's Poverty Mobilization
Coordinator Paul Sherry at
LetJusticeRoll@ncccusa.org or phone 212-870-2298.
Donations to Let Justice Roll help keep the momentum going. Send your
tax-deductible contribution, payable to National Council of Churches (designated "for LJR"),
to NCCUSA, 475 Riverside Drive, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10015.
Let Justice Roll comes to Chicago
October 10-11
Let Justice Roll, Chicago! is a rare opportunity for the whole Christian
community to participate in a non-partisan religious witness on the issue of poverty
in this year's election. We invite you to be a central part of this campaign to demand
that candidates for office clearly articulate how they will address the divisive and
debilitating reality of poverty in our nation.
Let Justice Roll, Chicago! is part of a Week of Faithful Democracy that
will gather Christians from around the region across denominational and political lines
to raise the issue of poverty before candidates and the electorate.
It is part of the national Let Justice Roll campaign sponsored by the
National Council of Churches and the
Center for Community Change
with events in more than 15 cities around the country.
It is also one of 12 stops on the Rolling to Overcome Poverty bus tour
sponsored by Call to Renewal
that will be passing through the mid-west in early October.
If poverty and the poor are of central concern for Jesus, how can Christian leaders
be silent? How can we allow candidates for office to be silent! In all of our diversity,
we find unity in our concern that the critical issue of poverty be addressed in this
election. In a world of abundance, resignation toward poverty in our community and world is sin.
More than two dozen Chicago churches and community groups have joined Let Justice
Roll, Chicago! coming together across political and denominational lines to lift
their voices on behalf of those whom our candidates could otherwise ignore.
We invite you and your congregation or community to be a part of our campaign. Please
plan to attend the following events on Sunday and Monday, October 10 and 11:
Sunday, October 10th at 6 pm:
Praising the God Who Cares for the Poor: A Service of Worship
- North Park University Gymnasium at the corner of Foster and Kedzie in Chicago.
- With preaching by The Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Pastor of the Riverside Church in
New York City, and The Rev. Dr. Jim Wallis of Call to Renewal; with music by the Sons
and Daughters of Levi of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, and Quaker folk singer Carrie Newcomer.
Gather with Christians from around the city to raise a voice in prayer, praise and
protest. We will invite you to join us in signing the Covenant Against Poverty
and For the Common Good (see below) as well as to participate in the clergy
and banner procession. The event is free and open to the public. A free will offering
will be accepted. If you plan to vest and process or supply a banner for the service,
please send an email to Lydia York
or call her at 773-288-2583.
Monday, October 11th at 8 am:
Clergy and Lay Leaders Prayer Breakfast and Press Conference
- Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut, Chicago
- Speakers will include Revs. Forbes and Wallis, as well as local pastors providing
information and insight on ways to raise these issues in congregations around the city
in the days leading up to the election. The press conference will follow at 10:15 am.
Tickets for the breakfast are $10 and are available by calling Steven McCullough at
Bethel New Life at 773-473-7870 or contact him by
EMAIL.
You can download Bulletin Inserts
for your church about these two events in PDF format. Please come and bring your friends!
For more information and materials visit the Let Justice Roll, Chicago!
website
You can also contact Rev. Jennifer Kottler, Director of Education and Outreach,
Protestants for the Common Good, 200 N. Michigan Ave, #502, Chicago, IL 60601; phone
312-223-9544 x 223; jennifer@thecommongood.org
Or you can also contact Lydia York, Our Faith Our Vote Intern, United Church of Christ,
Justice & Witness Ministries, c/o UCC Illinois Conference Office, 1840 Westchester Blvd
- Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154; phone: 708-344-4470 or 773-288-2583;
email: ourfaithourvote@lydiayork.com
website: www.OurFaithOurVote.org
For a printable copy of this entire article
CLICK HERE
COVENANT AGAINST POVERTY
AND FOR THE COMMON GOOD
As people of faith in Illinois, we covenant to run a marathon against the moral
evil of poverty and for the common good of all: the poor, the rich, and the in-between.
We run to let justice roll through our communities, our state, our nation, and our world.
A million-plus reasons cause us to join the race for human lives without poverty:
A million-plus poor children and adults in Illinois, nearly 36 million Americans in
poverty, over one billion people across the globe living on less than one dollar a day.
A million-plus people in Illinois without health insurance, nearly 45 million in
the nation, worldwide the greatest burden of health risks borne by poor nations.
A million-plus people in Illinois who are homeless or without affordable housing,
over 32 million U.S. households paying more than 30% of their total income for housing,
more than 500 million people worldwide (half of whom are children) living in substandard
housing or are homeless.
A million-plus people (one in six children) in Illinois who are hungry, 25.5 million
people (13.1 million children) nationwide in food insecure households, 842 million
malnourished people around the world.
To win this race against poverty, all people need:
a fair start in life - high quality pre-school and public education, and
opportunities for higher education and job training.
food for the journey - nourishment that frees them from hunger;
rest and security - safe and affordable housing;
strength and stamina - health care and a healthy environment.
We call on our fellow citizens in the marathon to let justice roll, as well as
religious communities and civic organizations, to publicly join in this covenant,
and by so doing raise a united voice to our elected officials.
We call on the Governor of Illinois in conjunction with leaders in the Illinois
General Assembly to convene a Joint Task Force on Poverty to formulate recommendations
to: (1) reverse the trend of increasing poverty through strategies that reduce poverty
annually by 1% in each of the next four years, and (2) reduce "extreme poverty" by
half during the same four year period.
We call for the next President of the United States to convene a White House
Conference on Poverty within the first 100 days in office to establish goals for
reducing poverty and strategies to meet them on both a national and global scale.
We covenant and pledge to be active in the democratic process in support of public
policies that fight poverty in our communities, across our nation, and around the globe.
For a printable copy of this covenant
CLICK HERE
(Posted 03/22/04; Amended 08/17/04; Removed 10/12/04)
YOUTH MINISTER (Part-time): ST. PETERS CHURCH, Elmhurst, Illinois
Senior High Youth Ministry Placement Opportunity available at St. Peter's United
Church of Christ, 125 W. Church Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126:
St. Peter's United Church of Christ is looking for a college or seminary student
interested in growing in his/her youth ministries skills and growing with a dynamic
group of senior high youth.
Specifically St. Peter's is seeking a youth minister who will continue the Senior
High Youth Program which presently includes one youth meeting and one "activity"
meeting each month. The present program focuses on the quadrants of worship,
fellowship, mission and fundraising. St. Peter's wants its youth program to grow
in new and meaningful directions.
St. Peter's Church is a suburban congregation of 1,300 members in the western
suburbs of Chicago. Founded in 1876, the church celebrates its close ties with
Elmhurst College where United Church of Christ students receive one-third tuition
grants. St. Peter's is the largest giver to seminary education in the United
Church of Christ in the United States. Active Christian Education, confirmation
and Junior High ministries make this a good field placement to hone skills of
faith development, creativity, and collegiality as St. Peter's works with the
other UCC churches in Elmhurst and in the Western Suburbs in joint ministry endeavors.
The youth leader would work closely with the Associate Pastor and the Youth Committee
in developing relationships with youth, building experiences that meet needs of
youth and offer the opportunity to grow in Biblical, spiritual and community
development. There is a strong component of mission at St. Peter's Church with a
yearly summer mission trip.
Beginning date: September 2004
Ending date: May 2005 or August 2005
Hours: 12 hours weekly for academic year; or negotiable for year placement
Further Information, or send resume to:
Rev. Dr. Elaine Eachus, Associate Minister, or
Rev. Dr. Gary Hodges, Senior Minister
Phone 630-530-6000, fax 630-530-6007
E-mail eeachus@smartgate.com
(Posted 12/09/03 - 10/08/04)
PASTOR: THE PEOPLES CHURCH, Chicago, Illinois.
HOLD ON PROFILES
We are a diverse, Open and Affirming church in Chicago's Uptown Area seeking a Senior Pastor
to grow our vital urban witness. 1/2 time salary +.
A Prelude to the Profile
or
Caution: Live Bumblebee Within
As the saying goes, we've got good news and bad news for you. You don't get to choose which
to hear first because it's actually the same news. The Peoples Church of Chicago may very well
be the most unusual and uniquely challenging church in the entire Chicago Metropolitan
Association of the UCC. It is a place where faith is routinely tested by adversity.
A quick sketch. Six miles north of Chicago's downtown, on the shores of Lake Michigan, is the
Uptown neighborhood, a "gateway community" for immigrants where the hospitals and banks
work in 90 languages. It has one of the city's largest populations of homeless people mixed in
with million dollar homes. It is a neighborhood in transition as city planners attempt to
"improve" it via policies that are forcing out affordable housing and critical support services.
Near the heart of the neighborhood stands an imposing, 78 year old building, The Preston
Bradley Center, home to The Peoples Church of Chicago. The values of the congregation are
clearly stated on the back of our bulletin, "You are welcome here - male or female, old or young,
gay or straight - you are welcome here. Whatever your language or color or economic status -
whatever your gifts - you are welcome here." In a place like Uptown, our beliefs make us friend
and shelter, partner and advocate.
On first glance, we do not appear up to the task. The auditorium seats 1500. Our congregation
numbers around 35 on Sunday. Many among us face personal struggles that mirror those of the
community. We lack financial resources. Our sanctuary space shows its age, filled with chipped
paint, torn carpeting, and damaged seats dominated by a massive mural in need of restoration.
We seem like the proverbial bumblebee, an insect that science tells us should not be able to fly.
And yet ... the bumblebee flies. From this church springs a job program serving 3,600 people a
year, a meals program serving 18,000, a ministry in the Philippines, and much more. Worship is
lively and varied, characterized by active participation and by a prayer spontaneously offered by
somebody in the congregation each week reassuring us that we are loved.
So, friend candidate, if you seek a financially stable church with a large congregation and lots of
existing education and fellowship programs, you're welcome to worship or volunteer with us but
your gifts may be put to better use elsewhere. If, however, you wish to directly engage some of
the most pervasive urban social justice issues of our time - here lies the struggle. If you feel
honored by the idea of taking charge of a pulpit held for decades by the Reverend Preston
Bradley, a minister who the city saw fit to name a hall after in the Chicago Cultural Center - here
lives a history to be continued. If, above all, you are excited by the prospect of facing challenges
on all sides with faith and a few helping hands as your primary resources - here are a people
seeking a leader.
That's all we wanted to say up front. If the spirit is calling you to turn the page, then by
all means do. Take the time to learn more and contemplate the ways your ministry may combine
with ours to better serve God and the world. If not, peace and love be with you on your own path.
Contact The Rev. Edward Goode at the CMA office to submit your profile to our search committee.
OCTOBER 10: NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY SERVICE
An Ecumenical Service of Worship in Observation of National Coming Out Day
will be held on Sunday, October 10, 2004 at 6:00 pm at Lake View Presbyterian Church,
614 W. Addison (at Broadway) in Chicago, conveniently located two blocks east of
the Addison Red Line Stop and on the #36 bus route.
The Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches is collaborating with That All May
Freely Serve (a GLBT advocacy group of the Presbyterian Church USA) to provide
ecumenical leadership and presence in the only ecumenical Coming Out Day Service
(that we know of) in the Chicago area. Preaching partners are Rev. Curran Reichert
and Rev. Katie Morrison of Open Prairie UCC in Princeton, IL.
Rev. Curran Reichert is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and is
serving as the pastor of Open Prairie United Church of Christ in Princeton, Illinois.
She has been a professional performer for over twenty years and continues to be
an active member of both Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity, she also loves
to exercise her Cabaret muscles whenever the opportunity arises. Rev. Reichert
is a licensed Spiritual Director and enjoys practicing this contemplative art form
with individuals and groups. Curran is deeply committed to bringing the arts and
worship together. Her ministry is grounded in a theology of abundance and inclusion,
chocolates and velvet for everyone!
Rev. Katie Morrison is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In fact,
she was the first out lesbian candidate for ministry to be ordained in the denomination.
She has worked for several churches and non-profit organizations and has done considerable
outreach to youth, young adults, and seminarians. She is also a trained graphic designer,
painter, and illustrator. Katie enjoys opportunities to bridge both ministry and graphic
design skills. Katie recently moved to Princeton, IL where her spouse, Rev. Curran Reichert
has been called to be a new church start pastor. She says, "As urban gals, we sure are
learning a lot about corn!"
For more information, please contact David Murad at
dcmurad@yahoo.com
CRS SENATORIAL FORUM: OCTOBER 1
The Community Renewal Society is sponsoring a Senatorial Forum on Friday, October 1,
2004, from 6 - 8pm at the Methodist Temple, 77 West Washington St in Chicago.
State Senator Barak Obama & Mr. Alan Keyes will both appear at this town hall meeting
to discuss issues of seniors, medical care and prescription drugs, juvenile and
criminal justice, public and affordable housing and foreign policy. Senator Obama
is scheduled to speak first followed by questions from the audience. Mr. Keyes
will appear after that, also taking questions from the audience.
You must RSVP to attend by calling Don Washington at CRS at 312-427-4830.
OCTOBER 1-2: ILLINOIS CONFERENCE WOMEN'S FALL RETREAT
Space is still available at the Illinois Conference Women in Church and Society Annual
Fall Retreat which will be held October 1st and 2nd at Pilgrim Park Camp and
Retreat Center. The theme for this year's retreat is about finding and
exploring various "Pathways to God". Led by three exceptional women clergy
in Illinois, Rev Nancy Pfaltzgraf of Plainfield, Rev. Barbara Lohrback of
Kankakee and Rev. Tonda Martin of Mazon, participants will experience and
enjoy the benefits of inspirational workshops, personal meditation time,
song, prayer, dance, leisurely walks, meeting new (and former) friends,
plenty of good food, some shopping, and "just plain fun".
We invite all women of Illinois - clergy and lay women - to come join us for
some crisp Fall weather, colorful leaves, good companionship, and a restful
and re-storative time away.
Registration flyers can be downloaded HERE.
Please tack this flyer on your church
bulletin board and hand deliver copies to women you know who could use
a little time away with Christian sisters.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2: CMA VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
CMA VOTER REGISTRATION DAY, hosted by CMA Church in Society Committee with UCCis
Our Faith Our Vote:
at Hilliard Homes
2031 South State Street
in the lobby
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Show care, protect rights, communicate one-on-one, reach out -- voter registration
can be all of these! Everyone is welcome - you don't need to be a deputy registrar to
help out.
Every Person Matters
Every Vote Counts
Last day to register voters: October 5
For more information contact Lydia York, Our Faith Our Vote Intern,
United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries, c/o UCC Illinois Conference Office,
1840 Westchester Blvd Suite 200, Westchester, IL 60154 (708-344-4470);
Email: OurFaithOurVote@lydiayork.com
Phone: 773-288-2583
Web site: www.OurFaithOurVote.org
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2: GOOD NEWS COMMUNITY KITCHEN BANQUET
Good News Community Kitchen is holding an Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 2nd
at 5:30 pm at the White Eagle Restaurant, 6839 N Milwaukee Av in Niles, IL, (Lots of
free parking is available).
Good News Community Kitchen is a soup kitchen run by Good News Community Church UCC
in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago north of Howard Street.
This is a fundraiser banguet and costs $50 per person. The food will be
great, and there will be a really good all female jazz band performing named KCR.
The Good News Kitchen serves dinner 365 days a year in the North of Howard area of
Rogers Park to those who otherwise may not be able to afford a meal. They also have a
lunch program for children in the summer who count on receiving a meal in school during
the school year. Recently, the Kitchen has begun some exciting projects around assisting
the patrons of the Kitchen with other needs, such as housing and employment, with the
goal of eventually getting them to a place where they no longer require the services of
a soup kitchen.
To purchase tickets, make a contribution or get more information, contact Claudia Travis
at 773-551-6894 or by email at:
claudiatravis@yahoo.com
Sat, Oct 2, 12:30p — Illinois Conference Youth Initiative meeting
in the Bryan Room of the Frick Center of Elmhurst College from 12:30 - 4:30 pm.
The Office of Admissions is officially hosting the meeting and a
representative from their staff will be attending to talk about the
plans for the Midwinter Retreat in January, so a good showing is important
RSVP to Rev Lori Keller Schoreder at Westchester Community Church (708-865-1282).
Grant Requests for New Church Starts and Revitalization
The Illinois Conference Church Extension Redevelopment Committee invites local
churches, new church development core groups, associations and clusters to submit
grant or loan requests for new church starts and the revitalization of existing
congregations. Deadline for 2005 funding is October 1, 2004. Revitalization
funding is for doing a new thing and must be evangelistic in nature. The
applicant should be willing to participate in revisioning / revitalization processes.
Forms may be obtained from the Conference office at 708-344-4470; e-mail:
illconfjorge@aol.com
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