Taught a session to our confirmands on Islam

Took a group of confirmands and adults to Bridgeview Mosque for a service and conversation

Became members of SWIFT (Southwest Interfaith Team) and attended several of events

J. Snider

Our best effort these days is collaborating with the Silk Road Theatre Project. They are an independent theatre for whom we provide performance space and basic support. Their plays are about, and by, people from the historic Silk Road. The next play, starting in March, is "Golden Child," by Henry David Hwang. The autumn play is about Muslims and Hindus in California (I think). Anyway, check their website.

Also, they are hosting a national conference on Asian theater this summer at our church, sponsored by the Ford Foundation. I think their work can become an occasion for interfaith dialogue. One of the founders is a Syrian Orthodox Christian and the other a Muslim from Pakistan.

Phil Blackwell

In Rockford, there was an event that encouraged members to visit mosques and temples in the area - though few (if any) of our church members participated. Yet it did spark a bit of a dialogue.

Michael Mann First UMC Hinckley

Al & Mavis Streyffeler are active members and teachers in our congregation. They keep us connected with the dialogue and related issues. Several of us will be present at the dialogue Thursday/Jan 25 at North Central College.

Tom Babler

Dr. Abdul Malik Mujahid, Connie Baker, Chris Pierson and myself are founders of a new organization called the Greater Chicago Caucus. Dr. Mujahid has worked on me on issues like a Living Wage, police brutality etc. Mohammed Khan of the National Bank of Pakistan introduced me to the Pakistani Muslim/Christian business community as well as the Saudi Minister of Industry and Commerce and we've talked about the possibility of some major projects.

Gregory Seal Livingston

We have continued to attend the dinner-forums of SWIFT, the Southwest Interfaith Team. I serve on the board along with several other lay members. I attended the Catholic-Muslim dialogue with the Islamic Foundation leader along with Cardinal Francis George at the Orland Mosque in the late fall. Our Confirmation class went to the Frankfort Mosque this last Saturday.

Ted Jones Pastor

As a result of my experience on the interfaith bus trip last year, my church has entered into a special relationship with the Niagara Foundation. In August of 2006, thirty-eight men, women and children from Niagara joined us for a Picnic in the Park here in Hampshire. We prepared a meal (using Halal meats purchased at the Istanbul Market in Mt. Prospect) that was enjoyed -- along with worship -- by seventy people. Following the picnic the men from Niagara got out their prayer rugs and set up for evening prayers on the grass of the park district ball fields and fulfilled their prayer obligations. It was a truly cross-cultural experience for the folks in Hampshire. We plan to continue this annual picnic each summer. I would greatly appreciate it if the bishop would share this at the dinner.

Steve Ziegler

In Hebron the church collected boxes and sent them to Iraq. There were twelve, and they included balls, small toys and cars, colored pencils, pens and paper, shampoo and lotion sample bottles from hotels and other toiletries. They went to a burn center in Falujah, anf they were so thankful. I'm glad the nephew got intouch with his aunt and made us aware of this.

Also the picnic with the Niagara Foundation and Zion UMCin Hampshire.

Meg Ziegler

On October 1, 2006 during the World HIV/AIDS day, I participated in the ecumenical worship service at New Covenant Church on Grant and Maple, Brookfield. The service was attended by other denominations too. New Covenant Church is Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Congregation. It was a fulfilling experience when we came together for a common goal.

Amos Oladipo

Good Samaritan UMC Addison

Grace United Methodist Church, Naperville

Community of Congregations Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with Muslim preacher.

Ameen celebration for children of CIOGC dialogue partners. Ameen celebrates a child's ability to read recite the Koran in Arabic.

Connie Baker is a part of this church, and through her I have met some of the Muslim Women that she had met in other settings. Dr. Azra Haque participated in our community Thanksgiving service this past year. She is associated with the Villa Park Islamic Foundation. She has been very open to working together with us and we plan to have her do some programming with us in the spring. She invited and several of us attended the breaking of the fast in the fall. Our ministerium (Elmhurst pastors from different denominations) is hoping to include other faiths next year when we do our Thanksgiving celebration. This year it was just Jewish and Muslim.

Rev. Norma Lee Barnhart

The confirmation classes attended Islamic Foundation of Villa Park for prayers and explanation of Islam.

Dr. Musa Qutud has been wonderful to work with. He will personally be leading our prayers and the following tour afterwards. He speaks very highly to the ecumenical seminar that he was involved with United Methodists. [He addressed the NIC Annual Conference ecumenical dinner in DeKalb]

Rev. Deanna Mede Minister of Discipleship,

The first workshop: A Time to Think: Multicultural views of peace will be on Monday May 15th from 7-9 p.m. at the Schaumburg Township District Library: 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. It will be held in the Rasmussen Room. In this workshop, The concept of peace will be examined in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, as well as other religions. Members of the community are invited to look at similarities and differences of the concepts. Together, participants will also develop ways to create a sense of community specifically in the northwest suburbs. The collective participation of all will provide the framework for subsequent sessions. Members of all faiths are encouraged and requested to attend this event!

The workshop will be facilitated by the Rev. Harriette Cross. It will be based on the study Shalom, Salaam, Peace. This study is published by the General Board of Global Ministries for the United Methodist School of Christian Mission

Rev. Harriette Cross

The Church presents "Books Between Bites" on the second Tuesday each month in conjunction with the Westmont area Friends of the Arts (www.wafota.org), to "promote health of body, mind, spirit, and community". Bring-your-own from 12 noon to 1pm.

On October 10, I will discuss the Book: Tent of Abraham - Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians and Muslims by Sister Joan Chittister, Murshid Saadi Shakur Chisti, & Rabbi Arthur Waskow (Beacon Press) The Tent of Abraham seeks to tell the many aspects of Abraham’s story as found in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sources and to show how Abraham’s story can serve as a basis for peace and reconciliation. Pastor Ron Greene will lead the book-discussion

I would like to host a small interfaith discussion - using Tent of Abraham guidelines. -- with the flexibility to be a fairly large gathering if it seems enough groups are responding. I recommend Saturday, October 21 or Sunday, October 22, in the afternoon or evening either day. (Also open to other dates.) I sent an email request for input and leadership to the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago Friends, More information is available by contacting Pastor Ron Greene at 969-0649.

Our adult education committee upcoming program. Reza Aslan, author of No god but God.: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam. You may have read Sojourners recent 3 page article on his work, heard him on NPR or if you watch late night TV, he was recently on COMEDY CENTRAL! His mother-in-law has joined our congregation and we are planning to have him for a lecture.

Bonnie Beckonchrist

ISNA Interfaith Banquet

ISNA Convention September 2006

Ramadan breaking of the fast dinner at MECCA (Muslim Educational & Cultural Center of America) Wednesday, October 4,

Niagara lunch talks

Niagara Ramadan dinner (

The adult education program "Christianity and World Religions: Buddhism" will be presented at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, in Methodist Church, 115 W. Lincoln Ave. Call 847-381-0524

Pastor Bob Haight has continued to be involved in SWIFT, now serving as the secretary to the Board. We have been involved with Jewish-Christian-Muslim exchanges primarily, including a couple interfaith dinners and one program on how the three faiths view Abraham.

I took my Confirmation class to the American Islamic Association mosque in Frankfort (a SWIFT member) where one of the members presented a summary of beliefs of Islam. After a visit to the prayer hall, we did some question and answer time with questions from both Christian and Muslim youth of the other.

Northbrook: North Northfield UMC