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 Mandell UMC

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

Worked with others in the area on a "World Sabbath Day" program involving and members of various religious groups worshiping together as an avenue toward understanding, peace, and reconciliation.

J. Snider Palos UMC

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 First UMC Chicago

First UMC. 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 Rockford: Court Street and 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 Community UMC Naperville, IL

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 Zion UMC in Hampshire

The one person at my table who was from a Muslim congregation was a doctor. Their Mosque was at Irving Park in the city so it was not that close. We never connected.

Vickie Hadaway Oak Park

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 Orland Park UMC

Not much went on in Hebron except for the boxes the church collected and sent 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, and they were so thankful. I'm glad the nephew got in touch 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 is at planning stage of linking with Sommer Eksili of Niagara Muslims

Mar.10 Turkish coffee night for women only

Mar. 17 Bible/Quran study

Mar. 26 a Turkish cooking club at Addison.

Member of Advisory board of Niagara Foundation

November Good Samaritan UMC, Addison, and the Niagara Foundation (mainly Muslims from Turkey) joined together for a Thanksgiving Dinner, prayers and dialogue. The church provided the traditional Turkey. had both Ramadan dinner & Thanksgiving in 2005. Niagara Foundation and Good Samaritan United Methodist Church Ramadan's fast-breaking dinner, Friday, October 20, 2006 6:00 PM Catiana McKay pastor of Good Samaritan UMC

Grace United Methodist Church, Naperville September 13, 2006 Wednesday

What is going on, and could go on Naperville, modeling for other areas too.

1. Grace Women's prayer group invited Muslim women

2. ETO End the Occupation meets at Wesley United Methodist Church Naperville

3. When relationships feel safe, discussion can move to difficult subjects. E.g. a Silk Road Theater production

4. After 9/11/2001 Grace UMC and Islamic Center of Naperville worked together. Grace put up a Peace Pole

5. Sisters (UM sisters, and Muslim sisters) discussed faith stories, Sacred Stories.

6. Naperville Inter Faith Leaders NIFL having four meetings on dialogue. "How do you describe someone who is religious in your tradition."

7. Mutually invite to each others events.

8. Open House October 24 Eid at end of Ramadan

9. Do mutual charitable work (e.g. Habitat, Hesed House, PADS, Katrina, Loaves Fishes pantry)

10. Display for Ramadan being put up in Naperville Library. Library has room for courses such as Islam 101. Children's library could display multi cultural books on for children, eg in Ramadan on Islam.

11. Resource lending: Books, films to share

12. Do something in October (Tent of Abraham) confluence Jewish, Muslim, Christian holy days.

13. DuPage County Interfaith Thanksgiving Program (Rabbi Bob) at St. Procopius (Monday or Tuesday?)

14. Confirmation classes learn, visit, join in activity such as sleepout with Bridge Community

15. Put online recommended books. clarify it is 5 pillars, not 7 pillars

16. There are video resources at UMCNIC

The Naperville group decided to meet every other month. First meeting. November 1. Mike Doll convening.

Oak Park River Forest Community of Congregations 2006 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with Muslim preacher, Charles Muhammad.

All United Methodist cluster churches

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

Attended by NIC UM dialogue participants.

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 of Calvary Villa Park, First Oak Park, and Good Samaritan Addison United Methodist Churches Islamic Foundation of Villa Park for prayers and explanation of Islam.

Chalres Emery

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 with United Methodists. Thanks again for giving me his name.

Blessings, Rev. Deanna Mede Minister of Discipleship, Kingswood UMC

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 is Associate Pastor of Our Saviour's United Methodist Church

We hold a "Books Between Bites" bring-your-own lunch every 2nd Tuesday 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)

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 ChicagoFriends,

Hope you can make it:

Pastor Ron Greene will lead a book-discussion luncheon Tuesday, 10/10/2006, on the roots of Muslim,

Christian, and Jewish hopes for peace. You're invited, bring others! The First United Methodist Church invites the community to a discussion of The Tent of Abraham: Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians and Muslims by Saadi Shakur Chishti, a Scottish American Sufi Muslim, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, an American Jew, and Joan Chittister, a Benedictine sister. 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.

According to a starred review in the "Library Journal": "The Palestinian/Israeli conflict has elicited many books exhorting political and religious peace in the Middle East, but none has appealed to individual minds and hearts quite like this one…Delicate in telling but bold in message, the book encourages every reader to take an inner pilgrimage to understand better others’ viewpoints."

There is no charge for this event. Discussion is always geared toward an audience of people who have not had time to read the book. "If you’re having lunch anyway, bring it along and join us," says Pastor Greene, "and learn enough about the book to decide whether or not to read it. The coffee is on the house, but it’s BYOB! (Bring Your Own Bites!)"

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".

More information is available by contacting Pastor Ron Greene at 969-0649.

May all your endeavors arise from a sacred place of rest, renewal, and delight!

Shabbat Shalom!

Ron Greene Westmont UMC

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 Arlington Heights UMC

United Methodists attending

ISNA Interfaith Banquet

ISNA Convention September 2006

United Methodist s attending Ramadan dinner at MECCA Muslim Educational & Cultural Center of America) invites United Methodists to a Wednesday, October 4, Ramadan breaking of the fast, at 6:00 -- Willow Brook

Niagara lunch talks

Niagara Ramadan dinner (

BARRINGTON

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

1

Ed -

On behalf of Pathway UMC, Oak Forest, I have 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.

SWIFT is also beginning work to do interfaith service through Habitat for Humanity, Chicago South Suburban chapter, hoping to have work teams of Jews-Christians-Muslims working together on a regular basis.

That's about all for now.

Bob Haight 2/2/07 email

Reflecting upon your request I realize that my followup is intricately tied to the trip I took with Bishop Jung last year to Palestine and Israel. While there I spent an over night in a Palestinian Muslim home. Since my return I have spoken to four groups about my experiences and particularly about the knowledge I gained about persons of the Muslim faith. Ronald Graham Feb. 6

Dear Ed,

I have nothing to report. Because of the uncertainty of my leadership here, I have not been able to attend the Lake County United event that was held at the local Muslim center. Keep Waukegan in mind for the future. First UMC hosted an interfaith Thanksgiving service including the Muslim community in 2003

Perhaps in a new setting this will be possible.

With regrets, B.J. Birkhahn-Rommelfanger 2/15

Alka Lyall

Christians, Jews, and Muslims discussed how they approach scripture Feb. 18, 2007 to a packed sanctuary at First Church of Glen Ellyn. Bob, senior rabbi at Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard; Imam Mubasher Ahmad of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam Mosque in Glen Ellyn; and the Rev. Diana Facemyer, pastor of St. Thomas United Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn, served as panel members moderated by Rev. Tom Potenza, pastor of First Church of Glen Ellyn, for an annual interfaith dialogue. This year’s event focused on the role scripture plays in the beliefs and practices of Christians, Jews and Muslims. First Church of Glen Ellyn and St. Thomas, both United Methodist congregations, organize an interfaith dialogue each year with Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam Mosque. This is the sixth year the three congregations have held such an event. St. Thomas United Methodist Church, Glen Ellyn originally provided temporary housing in for the Ahmadiyya Muslim group prior to their building their own masjid.