February

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Ottawa Evangelical receives
Igniting Ministry radio grant

(Feb. 24) Members of Evangelical UMC, 1116 Illinois Ave. in Ottawa, have received an Igniting Ministry matching grant to help them run radio advertising throughout the season of Lent.

The congregation will be airing radio commercials developed as part of the United Methodist Church’s Igniting Ministry advertising campaign and customized to include the name of the Ottawa church.

Total cost of the campaign, which will run on the local Ottawa radio station, is $350.

“The matching grant was only $175, but it still made it possible for us to do this,” said the Rev. Doug Williams, Evangelical UMC pastor. “It really encouraged us to find the other part of the funding. And we’re really looking forward to getting it going.”

Williams said the church does not have a finalized schedule from the radio station, but the goal is to start on March 1, or very soon afterwards, and continue through the season of Lent.

Something brand new

“We’re just looking really forward to it,” Williams said. “This is something brand new. This congregation has never done anything like this in the past.”

Williams said the congregation first learned about Igniting Ministry programs in March 2005 when a group from the church attended an Igniting Ministry training program held at First UMC in Elgin.

“When I asked if there would be anyone who would like to go to the training with me, I wasn’t sure that I could get anyone interested,” Williams said. “But we filled my van. Six other people came with me to the training session.”

After completing the training, the group went back to Evangelical UMC and went to work. Last fall the congregation put up a billboard for the church in Ottawa.

Unheard of before

“Before, that was unheard of,” Williams said, “but the church came up with the cost for that.”

The church received visitors who came because they had seen the billboard, Williams said. And the congregation decided to put up a Web site. After that the question was, “What do we do next?”

“Knowing that Lent was coming,” Williams said, “we filled out the application for the matching grant — and we got it! So we’re on our way.”

The Ottawa congregation is taking a two-pronged approach to the advertising campaign.

“First is to let people know that we are here and invite them to come,” Williams said. “The other part is to make sure we are ready and to be welcoming and to be inviting. That’s part of what we got at the Elgin training.”

Interesting to see effect on church

Williams said it’s interesting to see the effect this has had on the church itself. “Now we are thinking differently from saying ‘If we build it, they will come,’ to thinking that ‘The people of the church really need to go out and find them and invite them to come,’” he said.

The results of the advertising will be measured because, as part of receiving the matching grant, the congregation will be monitoring church attendance, the number of first-time visitors and how many people came to the church as a result of the advertising.

“The thing that really excites me,” Williams said, “is that once we do something, the question is, ‘What do we do next?’ It’s making us look outside the box and outside of our comfort level.”

Williams admitted that sometimes the effort is “a little scary,” and then he relies on prayer.

“We’re really praying that these radio spots are going to reach people where they are, so they can make a decision to Christ and draw closer to Him,” Williams said.

$1 million in matching funds

United Methodist Communications offers $1 million in matching funds annually to local churches, districts and conferences to help establish an advertising presence in their community. Matching funds can be used for placing television, radio, cinema, outdoor media or a combination of these media types. One stipulation in receiving a matching grant is that recipients must use the Igniting Ministry creative materials.

Grant applications are accepted for media placed three times a year in coordination with the national cable TV advertising schedule: Lent, Back-to-School and Advent.

Two more opportunities exist for churches to apply for 2006 Igniting Ministry matching grants. Applications may be submitted from May 1 through June 1 for grants for advertising in Back-to-School and Advent. During that time frame, applications may be filed online at www.IgnitingMinistry.org by clicking on “matching grants.”

Grants are awarded, to the extent of available funds, based on optimum media coverage, giving the best reach and frequency throughout the United States. Applicants are encouraged to cluster with other churches in their media market to pool resources and make an effective buy with a single application. For more information, contact the Igniting Ministry Media Grants and Services office at (877) 281-6535 or IMmediaservices@umcom.org.

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Immigration task force urges
contacting Durbin, Obama

(Feb. 24) The Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Immigration Task Force urges local church members to contact Illinois U.S. Senators Richard Durbin and Barack Obama to take action on two bills currently pending in the U.S. Senate that deal with immigration rights. The senators are encouraged to vote against one bill, introduced by Cong. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. of Wisconsin and to vote for the other, introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

In December, the House of Representatives passed Sensebrenner’s HR 4437, the “Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005.” The bill, now in the Senate, is expected to be “marked” up for consideration by the Judiciary Committee as early as March 2.

“This bill fails to address comprehensive immigration reform,” said the Rev. Oscar Carrasco, NIC director of Connectional Ministries. “In particular, it does not include any provision for a guest worker program, an earned legalization program, nor a reduction in the backlogs for family- based immigration.”

Instead, Carrasco said the bill criminalizes undocumented people for unlawful presence in the United States, and criminalizes people who work or volunteer with faith-based organizations for helping someone in need who turns out to be undocumented.

The task force requests that United Methodists contact Senators Durbin and Obama and ask them to oppose the Sensenbrenner bill, and support comprehensive immigration reform as provided in the “Secure American and Orderly Immigration Act” (S.1033), introduced by McCain and Kennedy.

“This bill provides a comprehensive approach to solving the ills of the current system,” said Carrasco. “It recognizes that law and border enforcement strategies will only be successful when our laws provide more responsive legal avenues for immigrant workers and those seeking to be with family.”

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Africa University receives $10.5 million gift
from anonymous sale of Illinois farm land

(Feb. 24) United Methodist-related Africa University, a 1,200 student school in Zimbabwe, is benefiting from an anonymous $10.5 million gift involving sale of property in the Northern Illinois Conference.

About three-quarters of the gift, realized from the proceeds of the sale of an Illinois farm, will go into the university’s permanent endowment fund, including scholarships, said James Salley, associate vice chancellor for institutional advancement. The remainder will be used for a capital project.

A couple with a love for Africa and the United Methodist Church, but who wish to remain anonymous, donated the 320-acre farm. This is their second major gift to Africa University.

“This was an extraordinarily generous gift of real estate,” Salley said. The land was valued at about $2.5 million when it was donated to the university three years ago. Following the advice of its investment counselors, university officials let the value increase more than fourfold until it was recently sold.

“The benevolence of donors like this has made it possible to create an oasis of learning in a continent fractured by war, poverty, hunger, AIDS, malaria and harsh living conditions. Education is our best hope for Africa’s future,” Salley said.

The university, located in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, now has a permanent endowment fund valued at $36.2 million. Students from 19 African countries attend the university. It is the first private university in Zimbabwe and the only United Methodist degree-granting university in Africa.

The United Methodist Church has had a presence in Zimbabwe since 1897, with the creation of a mission school at Old Mutare. Africa University was granted a charter by the Zimbabwe government in 1992 when its first 40 students enrolled. Its first graduation took place in 1994. In 2004, 319 students received Bachelors degrees and 20 students received their MBA degrees.

While the growth of the endowment is important, it is the year-to-year support from United Methodists that keep Africa University operating, Salley said. “We need every dollar from the apportioned Africa University Fund to keep the university operating,” he said.

Africa University’s endowment needs to be at least $60 million in order to generate enough income to keep it stable and self-sustaining, according to Salley.

Since the school was established in 1992, 1,594 students have graduated with undergraduate degrees and 156 with MBA degrees.

Each year, the university receives about ten times as many applications from students as its can accommodate: between 2,500 and 3,000 applications for about 300 placements.

“A scholarship for one student at Africa University covers tuition, housing, meals and medical care at a cost of $5,200. Support from donors can make such a difference in the lives of young African men and women,” Salley said.

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Pan-Methodist Gathering is March 3 in Chicago

(Feb. 24) The Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union will present A Pan-Methodist Gathering Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m. Guest preacher will be Bishop Roy A. Holmes, AME Zion. The gathering will be at Greater Walters AME Zion Church, 8422 S. Damen Ave., Chicago.

The Pan-Methodist Commission will be meeting in Chicago on Friday and Saturday, March 3 and 4, at the Oak Lawn Hilton Hotel.

The Pan-Methodist Commission consists of members from each of four Methodist denominations: African Methodist Episcopal (AME), African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion), Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) and United Methodist (UMC).

The Commission has 36 members. Each denomination has three each bishops, clergy and laypersons, elected by their respective General Conferences.

Harriett McCabe, member of Grace UMC, Naperville, is serving her second four-year term from the UMC and the Rev. Pamela Lightsey, pastor of Southlawn UMC in Chicago, is serving her first. They serve under the auspices of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. The Rev. Larry Pickens, its top executive and a member of the Northern Illinois Conference, is a frequent attender at the Commission meetings.

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung is expected to attend also.

“Our purpose, generally, is to discover and implement ways of working together,” McCabe said. “We do not consider ‘union’ to mean ‘merger,’ but we do seek much closer union in all we do.”

McCabe urged people in the Northern Illinois Conference to attend the “Community Gathering” of the Pan-Methodist Commission. “This is something that we do at each meeting,” she said. “It is a wonderful celebratory worship service, under the leadership of whichever denomination happens to be sponsoring that particular meeting. This time we are under the leadership of AME Zion.”

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Rubey to lead retreat for deacons
from Illinois, Wisconsin March 16-17

(Feb. 24) Twenty-five deacons from Northern Illinois and Wisconsin are preparing to gather for an Overnight Retreat Thursday and Friday, March 16-17, at Aurora University’s Lake Geneva campus.

The Rev. Sharon Rubey, director of Candidacy and Conference Relations at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, will be retreat leader. She will guide deacons in a conversation around the ministry study commissioned by the 2004 General Conference.

“This is an important conversation to address at this time in the life of our denomination,” the Rev. Adrienne Ann Ilseman, chair of the Northern Illinois Conference Order of Deacons, said. “It gets to the root of how it is we understand the mission of the church, the ordering of ministry and the identity of those in ministry.”

Ilseman also expressed excitement that Northern Illinois deacons will be engaging this conversation with deacons from a sister conference. “While this marks the third year Northern Illinois deacons have met in retreat at Aurora University,” she said, “this year marks the first time we have done so with deacons from a neighboring conference.”

All Northern Illinois deacons are encouraged to complete the on-line Study of Ministry survey that can be found on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Web site, www.gbhem.org.

For more information regarding the Order of Deacon or this overnight retreat, contact Ilseman, (630) 469-3510.

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Freeport Faith mission fair includes
3 other churches from area

(Feb. 24) Faith UMC, 1440 S. Walnut St., Freeport, hosted a mission fair last month that included exhibits provided by First and Embury UMCs, Dakota Rock Grove UMC and the Freeport Area Church Cooperative (FACC).

More than 50 persons gathered for a potluck lunch and to view exhibits that described ministries which ranged from local to around the world.

Youth groups from Faith UMC and Dakota Rock Grove UMC described recent work trips. The Rev. Bruce and Mozelle Janes, who arranged the event with Faith’s Mission Committee, described their annual work trip to Red Bird Missionary Con- ference in Kentucky, which they have been leading for the past 15 years.

Other mission outreach opportunities included support of United Methodist Committee on Relief, Volunteers in Mission, Public Action to Deliver Shelter through FACC, Church World Service’s Blanket Sunday, Africa University, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project International, United Methodist Women and the Advance for Christ and His Church.

Pat Lininger and Phil Bardel described Faith UMC’s ministry that provides free produce to area residents. The produce is grown on the church property.

The fair was part of a mission Sunday observance that featured Wayne Rhodes, North Central Jurisdiction field representative of the General Board of Global Ministries, as a guest speaker at Faith UMC’s two worship services. He also spoke to Sunday School classes about United Methodist mission.

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Plainfield First auction raises
$4,000 toward apportionments

(Feb. 24) Members of First UMC, 600 N. Illinois St., Plainfield, raised more than $4,000 toward payment of their church apportionments by auctioning off a variety of gifts and services last month.

Among the items auctioned were computer services, knitting and cake decorating lessons, preparation of a future dinner for a group, two home-baked pies for a future family event, two “chauffeured” rides in an antique car, four golf lessons by a golf pro, and preparation of a family will.

The auction began with a chili supper, during which members submitted bids on silent auction items. After supper, members Chuck Anderson of Yorkville and Phil Glotfelty of Shorewood served as auctioneers for the “live” auction items.

Some of the gifts auctioned included a week at a member’s second home in Florida, a hand-made rocking horse, two hand-knitted Afghans and a prayer shawl, two one-of-a-kind bracelets with Swarovski crystals and silver beads, Teddy bears, a treadmill, collector pieces and gift certificates to area stores.

“The fellowship was great, and we raised more than $4,000 to help pay our apportionments,” said Estalee DeCou. ”It was a very easy way to raise funds, and we all had a good time.”

Chuck Anderson auctions a service certificate during an auction at First UMC, Plainfield, that raised more than $4,000 towards payment of the church’s apportionments.

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Local pastor scholarships available

(Feb. 24) Local pastors may apply for scholarships to attend licensing school and Course of Study School. Deadline for submission of scholarship applications is May 1 for those who plan to attend school this summer and Sept. 1 for those who plan to take Course of Study extension courses this fall. Available scholarships are up to $500 a year per local pastor.

Contact the Rev. Juancho Campañano at (630) 257-5210 or e-mail him at jcampanano@gmail.com to request a scholarship application form.

Each completed application must be accompanied by letters of endorsement from the chair or registrar of your District Committee on Ordained Ministry as well as from your District Superintendent.

They should be sent to the Rev. Paul (Nick) Nicholas, youth pastor, First UMC, 1032 Maple Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515.

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16 from NIC take part in study
for peace, justice in Palestine

(Feb. 17) A delegation of 16 laity and clergy from the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC), led by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, was part of a group of 51 United Methodists from across the United States who spent 10 days in Israel and Palestine searching for ways to bring peace and justice to that war-torn area.

The study trip, “Seeking Peace and Pursuing Justice: Mission Education and Advocacy for Israel and Palestine,” was sponsored Jan. 17-27 by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), the denomination’s worldwide mission agency. In addition to the NIC group, participants were from the California-Nevada, California-Pacific, Virginia, Oklahoma Indian Missionary and North Central New York conferences.

Organized by the Rev. Sandra Olewine, GBGM missionary serving as Liaison to Jerusalem, and David Wildman, GBGM executive secretary for Human Rights and Racial Justice, the event was designed to strengthen the United Methodist Church human rights and peace-building advocacy work both in the Middle East and in the United States by creating and empowering advocacy teams in annual conferences.

Advocacy-oriented trip

“It was an advocacy-oriented trip to the Holy Land to walk where Jesus walked and to walk as Jesus walked in terms of justice and peace,” Wildman said. “It included meeting with Palestinians, Israeli peace groups, human rights groups and our mission partners. One day was devoted to visiting mission projects and partners supported by the United Methodist Church to learn how they are impacted and how they are working under the current situation.”

The group heard representatives from the Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolition, Israeli Information Center on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, Council for Unrecognized Villages, Coalition of Women for Peace, Rabbis for Human Rights and “Breaking the Silence” organization of former Israeli soldiers.

There were also presentations from Badil Palestinian Refugee and Residency Rights Organization; Palestinian Civil Society for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Against Israel; Open Bethlehem; Center for Bedouin Studies at Ben-Gurion University; Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem; and Emil Touma Center for Palestinian Studies.

Members of the Parent’s Circle Family Forum, which consists of Israelis and Palestinians who have lost family members to acts of violence, spoke about their work for peace and reconciliation between the two peoples.

’Unrecognized’ Palestinian villages

The United Methodists listened to panel discussions with Jews, Christians and Muslims; toured the West Bank; visited “unrecognized” Palestinian villages; saw the remains of destroyed villages; and spent one overnight stay with Palestinian families. They also observed the first Palestinian election in more than a decade.

The mayor of Bethlehem, Victor Batarseh, greeted the group and expressed his thanks to the United Methodists for their willingness to spend 10 days in Bethlehem during a time when most tourists are afraid to cross through the checkpoints to visit holy sites in Palestine.

“Your presence grants us extra courage and the will to stand in our struggle to pursue peace,” Batarseh said.

Batarseh described difficulties Palestinians in Bethlehem face, including being surrounded by “22 illegal Israeli settlements,” a 30-foot high concrete “separation” wall and settlers’ roads and checkpoints that “cut Bethlehem into slices.”

“The wall erected by the Israelis is a great violation of human rights and international law,” Batarseh said, explaining that most Palestinians are not allowed access to their farmlands, jobs or relatives located on the other side of the wall. “Today we live in a big prison.”

’Walls of separation’

Batarseh said the only way to peace is establishment of a “fully sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” withdrawal of Israeli settlements from Palestinian land, removal of the segregation wall, and allowing Palestinian refugees to return to Israel.

“We don’t need walls of separation,” Batarseh said. “We just need bridges to peace.”

Numerous speakers and conference participants noted that most Americans are unaware of the Palestinians’ situation, partly because U.S. news media seldom report the Palestinian side of the conflict.

While some members of the NIC delegation were already members of the NIC End the Occupation Task Force and were knowledgeable about the Palestinian situation, many in the group said they learned for the first time about the atrocities of the Israeli government.

“For me, the trip to Israel/Palestine was a life-changing experience,” said the Rev. Alka Lyall, pastor of First UMC in Freeport. “I had never seen or experienced anything like this before and was certainly not aware of the extent of humiliation and torture — plain, simple torture — that the Palestinians endure on a daily basis.”

Code of silence

“I witnessed how a state can be irrational, immoral and cruel to other people when its existence is wrongly promoted under the name of God,” said Choon S. Lim, member of Glenbrook UMC. “Under Israeli occupation, the Palestinians are suffering. I saw first-hand their despair, agony and humiliation. The code of silence against the injustice imposed on Palestinians, not only by Israel but also by funding from the U.S.A., is strangling the people in Palestine. We must stop funding Israel if we want to bring peace and restore human dignity to the people in the Holy Land.”

“I am saddened, pained, angered and hopeful after listening to the personal stories of people living in Israel/Palestine,” said the Rev. Robert Sathuri, pastor of Emmanuel UMC in Polo. “It is time for the people of Jesus Christ to arise and take a stand for peace and pursue justice for all of God’s children.”

Many on the trip expressed dismay when they first visited the “separation” wall the Israeli government is building around Palestinian villages.

“I’m shocked that in the 21st century this wall is being built,” said Lonnie Chafin, Chicago. “It reminds me of what I imagine the Warsaw ghetto was like. It’s hard to see how this is different from apartheid.”

Chafin said he is concerned about the number of Christian sites being destroyed in Israel’s expansion of settlements. “And I am saddened by how many Palestinian Christians are being driven from their historic villages,” he said.

Overnight visit to Taybeh

During an overnight visit to the Palestinian village of Taybeh, Chafin stayed with a family in which the mother teaches in elementary school, the two youngest children are finishing school, but the father and two oldest children are living overseas.

“Of the 10,000 people who lived in that Christian village, only 1,000 remain because there is no future for them in Palestine,” Chafin said. “The Palestinians are being economically forced off their land. By making life impossible, the Israelis are driving the Palestinians off the land their families have owned for centuries.”

Wildman noted that in May 2004, the United Methodist General Conference (the denomination’s top policy- making body) passed a resolution on “Peace in the Middle East” calling United Methodists to engage in advocacy, study the situation, support programs providing financial support to the Palestinian people, and engage in interfaith dialogue promoting justice and peace in the Holy Land. GBGM was directed to facilitate the advocacy to be done by local congregations and annual conferences.

The January event was part of GBGM’s efforts to help annual conferences in their efforts to “move the General Conference from words to action,” Wildman said.

“Unless both sides act with generosity towards one another, there will be a hellish future,” said the Rev. Oscar Carrasco, NIC director of Connectional Ministries. “Israel should give complete autonomy of Palestine territory to the Palestinians, and the new Palestinian government should give assurances to Israel about their right to exist as a Jewish state, and change their desire to destroy it.

“As a committed follower of Jesus, I join the millions who work and pray for peace today and, also, pray for the Messiah to come soon!”

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Bishop Jung calls Israel-Palestine ‘deeply
spiritual crisis’ that involves us all

(Feb. 17) United Methodist Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, episcopal leader of the Chicago area, called the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “a deeply spiritual crisis that involves all of us: American, Israeli and Palestinian.” And he called on Americans to repent of their part in the conflict and work toward a just peace in the area.

Jung was preaching for Sunday morning worship services at East Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jerusalem during his visit to the area as a participant in a study trip, “Seeking Peace and Pursuing Justice: Mission Education and Advocacy for Israel and Palestine,” Jan. 17-27.

Sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), the trip provided 51 United Methodists from six annual conferences across the United States a chance to see the situation first-hand and gather information to build advocacy teams to work for peace.

“We are crucifying Christ again,” Jung told his listeners, and he called for “intentional work together” to achieve a just peace in the Middle East.

“Somebody said you can’t be a Christian if you’re not a peacemaker,” Jung said. “I truly believe that.”

The bishop also said people in the United States “are predominately informed with the wrong information.” He said often Americans “don’t hear what someone is saying to us because of cultural or racial issues.” And he noted that when people speak with heavy accents or talk about cultures that Americans don’t understand, they tend to “shut people off and don’t listen.”

“While I am here, I am asking God to give me a real heart so I can listen to the people and be with the people,” Jung said. “We must be willing to test our preconceived notions in order to avoid stereotypes and hear the truth.”

Jung recalled his youth when he was a young Christian student in Korea protesting against imperialism. “In my heart I was very frightened,” he said. “I knew I had to go do this, but I was frightened.”

The bishop said an older man told him:

“Steady, my young friend, God is on our side. We’re going to finish this together.”

Jung urged the Palestinians in the congregation to remain “steady” and have faith in God.

Jung said that he and other Americans “must repent” because in the United States “we have remained aloof” and don’t even know about the situation and our complicity and responsibility for the oppression of the Palestinians. But he encouraged the Palestinians not to be discouraged, not to be pessimistic and not to give up.

“God is bigger than oppression,” Jung said. “God is more powerful than any human empire.”

And the bishop said that even though there is a long way to go, it is important that we continue to work together. “Let’s stay together. Stay steady. Let’s not give up in our journey together for peace,” he said.

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Wonderful legacy

By The Rev. Harry Nicol, President, United Methodist Foundation

(Feb. 17) The wonderful article (8.5 McCoy acres to become site of new Shorewood congregation, Feb. 3) about the gift by Tom and Phyllis McCoy for development of a new congregation meant something special to me. I know what wonderful people Tom and Phyllis are from the time I spent as their pastor at Minooka UMC from 1978-84.

I was particularly struck by Tom McCoy’s statement that “It’s time to give something back,” and the sentiment of both Tom and Phyllis that this gift is from the whole McCoy family. Phyllis stated that Tom’s mother, as a person of faith, would be very happy with them.

This gift was very generous and will leave a tremendous legacy of the McCoy family in the community forever. Not only that, this gift offers the opportunity to provide a new church home to many in the Shorewood area, thus expanding the ministry of the United Methodist connection.

One of the missions of the United Methodist Foundation is to encourage just this kind of gift. We fervently hope that this gift from Tom and Phyllis McCoy will be an incentive to others to consider their own legacy. Each of us has the opportunity to determine how our assets might be used generously to extend the ministries of our own local churches or, as in this case, assist in the development of new churches in communities where no United Methodist church currently exists.

Such gifts give each of us the opportunity to leave a lasting and positive legacy, to make a dramatic statement of our faith, and as was the case for Tom and Phyllis, give us great joy!

Anyone who might like to discuss a major gift to a local church or to the Northern Illinois Conference to be given during one’s life or as a bequest may call me or Janet Boryk at (312) 346-9766, ext.104, at the United Methodist Foundation.

This wonderful story of generosity by a Northern Illinois Conference family is inspiring.

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Naperville Wesley consecrates $1.4m renovation

(Feb. 17) Bishop Hee-Soo Jung was guest preacher at a consecration service at Wesley UMC, 21 E. Franklin Ave., Naperville, for its $1.4 million renovation that included a remodeled sanctuary, new narthex and elevator.

Bishop Jung prayed for the “radical integrity and honesty to Jesus” as Wesley UMC rededicated its sanctuary, praying that “this is a sanctuary for those in need.”

The Rev. Jason Reed, pastor, said Wesley UMC has indeed been blessed and transformed. “We gather in a great opportunity to be faithful to a faithful God,” he said.

Reed said $640,000 was raised to fund the project, although the “experts” said the congregation would raise about $400,000.

“As we began this project,” Reed said, “we recognized that we were looking into the future. Many who contributed time and money knew they could not live into that future. I am grateful for the faith that older folks in this congregation have exhibited.” He noted that Les Burris, chair of the fundraising effort, died during the campaign.

During the consecration service, Wesley UMC thanked members of DuPage Korean UMC, who share its facilities and who contributed an audiovisual digital projector for the renovated sanctuary.

Wesley UMC, at the corner of Center Street and Franklin Avenue, entirely reconstructed its altar area, which makes it much more flexible to be used for different styles of worship or fine arts productions.

The sanctuary has the capacity to sit roughly 250 people. The church claims to be the oldest in Naperville and has existed since 1832. Its first sanctuary was constructed in 1925, but was damaged in a 1956 fire. This is the first renovation in nearly 50 years.

The narthex and elevator were added on the north side of the building. The narthex provides a covered entrance to the building from a new drive-through area.

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'Day apart with Bishop’ being held
for clergy, laity in each district

(Feb. 17) “A Day Apart with the Bishop” is being offered to clergy and laity on each of the districts in the Northern Illinois Conference. Purpose of the day is to discover opportunities to work together in ministry.

A clergy session beginning in the morning will include worship, Bible study and conversations about conference strategies, spiritual formation and current issues. Complimentary lunch will be provided.

A laity session in the evening will include Bible study and open conversation. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome. Persons are encouraged to bring bibles.

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Northbrook offers e-mail Lenten study

(Feb. 17) Did you know that the Gospel of John contains 40 questions? That’s just right for a Lenten study. So Northbrook UMC’s Education Committee rounded up 35 church members who will answer the questions in written reflections in a unique combination of homespun theology and technology.

Each day during Lent, except Sundays, a different reflection will be sent by e-mail to anyone signed up to receive them.

In addition to receiving the 40 reflections, e-mail participants will be able to share their comments with other participants. Replies will be received by the church’s e-mail site, compiled by staff and volunteers, then sent out the next day to subscribers.

In addition, there will be a class conducted every Sunday morning during Lent for people to share their thoughts on the 40 questions of John.

Those who don’t use e-mail will be able to pick up a week’s worth of reflections every Sunday at the church.

Northbrook UMC, 1190 Western Ave., welcomes others in the conference to participate.

Send e-mail to receive the reflections to the 40 questions of John.

For more information, call (847) 272-2442.

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Scholarships available for undergraduates

(Feb. 17) Applications are available for Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) undergraduate scholarships. Applications must be postmarked by April 1.

There are several ways to acquire the application:

To make these requests, contact the Rev. Claude King, First UMC, 424 Forest, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, (630) 469-3510, ext. 16..

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NIC pays 100% of general church apportionment

(Feb. 10) Northern Illinois Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA) voted unanimously to pay 100% of its apportionment to the United Methodist Church for 2005. The vote means that for the sixth time in eight years, Northern Illinois will have paid 100% of its general church apportionment.

CCFA Chairperson Fred Wayland said he was glad the conference was able to meet its apportionment at 100% again. “The connection is very important,” he emphasized.

The Rev. Sally Chipman, CCFA vice chairperson, said: “How could we not be faithful to pay the apportionment? We need to model that faithfulness to the local churches.”

The 2005 general church apportionment of $2,018,449 covers seven funds: World Service, Ministerial Education, Black College, Africa University, Episcopal, General Administration and Interdenominational Cooperation.

Lonnie Chafin, conference treasurer/director of Administrative Services, reported that 62.5% or 240 local churches paid 100% of their apportionments in 2005.

The Chicago Northwestern District led the conference’s six districts with 72.7% of its 56 churches paying at 100%. The Elgin District had the most local churches paying 100% with 47 (68.1%).

Grace Korean UMC, Chicago, and South Asian UMC in Aurora paid 120.41% and 116.49%, respectively on their apportionments.

Sam Mool Korean UMC, which worships at Trinity UMC in Mt. Prospect, has not been chartered and has no apportionment. The congregation paid $1,200 toward conference apportionments.

Local congregations paid $6,920,927 or 80.7% of their apportionment for 2005.

During deliberations on paying the General Church apportionment in full, Chafin reported that conference churches had paid more than $1 million in second-mile giving to the Advance for Christ and His Church, primarily to help United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) respond to disasters around the world.

“That shows people will give money when they see the need,” Wayland said. “We need to make sure that people in the conference see where the apportionment money goes and help them realize that it is the first mile to enable the conference and general church to be in mission and ministry.”

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Millard to keynote March 11 discipleship event

(Feb. 10) The Rev. Dr. Kent Millard, senior pastor of St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis, a 5,200 member congregation with 3,400 in worship on Sundays in 11 different worship services, will join Bishop Hee-Soo Jung as featured presenters at “Sharing the Faith,” a discipleship event on Saturday, March 11, at Grace UMC, 300 E. Gartner Rd. in Naperville.

Millard, author of A Passion Driven Congregation with the previous senior pastor of St. Luke’s, Dr. Carver McGriff, will lead morning and afternoon workshops and deliver the event’s keynote address: “Passion Driven Evangelism.” He also authored the Lifesearch Series book, Spiritual Gifts, in 1994 and the book Get Acquainted With Your Christian Faith. He is co-chair of Celebration of Hope and the Large Church Initiative of the United Methodist Church. Millard has led three two-year cycles of the Academy for Spiritual Formation sponsored by The Upper Room.

Bishop Jung will introduce the day and lead a workshop on “Fruit Producing Strategies” of the conference.

In addition to their workshops, there will be 12 others at the event, sponsored by the Northern Illinois Conference Nurture Ministry Team, which will run from 8:15 a.m. registration to 3 p.m.

In the morning, Millard will lead “The Passion Driven Congregation,” based on his book. His afternoon workshop will be “The Vision Driven Congregation.”

Bishop Jung’s workshop will be in the morning only and will focus particularly on “recruitment, not retention” in congregations.

Other workshops include “The Way We Learn,” led by the Rev. Raney Good, focusing on how people learn and different techniques to help others learn.

The Rev. Kay Turner will lead “Vacation Bible School with Small Numbers of Children and Volunteers.”

Developing a “Welcoming Atmosphere for Children” will be led by Jill Stege.

The Rev. Sylvia Pleas will discuss “New Visions of Growing Older.”

Bill Lizor of the General Board of Discipleship will teach “Reaching Out to Young Adults (ages 18-35).”

The Revs. Dean Shapley and Cerna Rand will lead “Developing and Redeveloping Youth Ministry.”

“Congregational Strategies for Evangelism” will be shared by the Rev. Jay Carr, and the Rev. John Wesley Lee will discuss “Faith Sharing.”

Susan Dal Porto, director of the conference Media Resource Center, will explain how to use multimedia, video and other resources to “Enhance Your Ministry.”

Margaret Harrison will explore ways children can reach out and spread the love of Jesus to others in her session “But They Are Only Children.”

The Rev. Oscar Carrasco, director of conference Connectional Ministries, will address “Small Group Ministry.” His workshop will only be in the afternoon.

And Professor Jeffrey Tribble of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary will lead a session on “Urban Evangelism.”

Attendees will have an opportunity to attend two workshops during the day. Cost is $15 and includes lunch if registration is postmarked by Feb. 22. The price goes up to $20 afterwards, but there is no lunch guarantee for day-of-event registrants.

High school and seminary students are $8, regardless of registration date, but lunch must be reserved by Feb. 22. Child care for children through fifth grade will be available by registration only. Scholarships are available.

For more information, call Linda Lowery, registrar, (847) 464-4673.

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Hinsdale consecrates project
hat doubles size of sanctuary

(Feb. 10) Hinsdale UMC, 945 S. Garfield Ave., recently held a consecration service to celebrate the completion of a more than $4 million renovation and addition project. The centerpiece of the 8,400 sq. ft. project is a new sanctuary on the east side of the building seating 350 people, more than double its predecessor.

The project also upgraded several areas in the church, including additional parking on the north lot of the property. Besides the new sanctuary, the addition also includes a large narthex for after-worship fellowship; a parlor/bride’s room with kitchenette; restrooms and two offices. A full basement will provide space for music and youth ministries.

While preserving the character of the existing building, the design incorporates modern implements of worship, including rear projection video systems and space flexibility to allow for a variety of worship experiences.

Renovation of the existing building included a new roof, air conditioning, window replacement, and conversion of existing fellowship hall, narthex and sanctuary into a larger fellowship hall and classrooms.

“The original architect’s conception of this building in 1962 had a sanctuary on the east end of the property,” said the Rev. Michael Hickok, senior pastor. “We’re really finishing what was the original plan for the church.” He added that the congregation is already outgrowing the expanded sanctuary space.

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and Aurora District Superintendent the Rev. Danita Anderson-Wilkins took part in the consecration service.

The bishop saluted the congregation for its imagination, which he described as “the God-given ability to see what has not yet come to pass.” He said imagination is essential in order to see the church as “we want it to be.”

“As we dedicate this sanctuary,” Jung said, “let us talk about that this is the place of God’s love and grace. God is calling us because we have experienced the love and power of God. We’re the ones with the bounty to offer.”

Jung challenged the congregation to make the renovated facility a refuge for the people who are isolated. “Let us offer this refuge actively,” he said, “and open wide the doors of this church and welcome them in.”

The bishop cautioned the congregation not to say this project was built for its members. “Let us instead dedicate ourselves to radical integrity and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to make disciples.”

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3 partners upgrade homeless ministry

(Feb. 10) First UMC at the Chicago Temple’s longstanding ministry to the homeless in the Loop will be significantly upgraded, thanks to a new three-way partnership involving the Franciscan Outreach Assn. and the city of Chicago.

At the end of January, an experienced social service caseworker, Anbryn Melius, was assigned to an office at First UMC, 77 W. Washington St., where, handling referrals from the clergy and others, she assists homeless persons to move from “street to home,” to find jobs and to deal with a variety of personal problems.

The new partnership, funded by the city, is the fruition of months-long efforts to create a systematic, methodical and responsible program that will help the homeless, according to the Rev. Philip Blackwell, senior pastor.

For years, First UMC has provided free meals and spiritual nurture every Tuesday through its Homeless Hospitality Ministry. Ordinarily, 75 to 100 or more of the Loop’s homeless appear for this assistance.

In addition, dozens of the homeless come to the church’s second floor office throughout the week, seeking money for food, transportation, shelter and medical care in addition to emotional and spiritual support.

The Temple’s Homeless Advocacy Committee, chaired by Judy Munson, has provided oversight for the church’s homeless ministry with the Rev. Darius Thomas serving as the staff liaison.

“The clergy and office staff have responded as well as we can to the needs of the homeless — and we will continue to do so — but clergy are not trained to deal with many of the problems presented by the homeless,” said Blackwell. “ With a professional caseworker available to us, we will have access to more expertise and will be able to refer the needy to people and places where they can get the best kinds of help.

Blackwell expressed thanks to Father Larry Janezic Franciscan Outreach Assn. executive director, for his “ecumenical spirit and professional collaboration.” The non-profit Franciscan Outreach Assn. operates an emergency overnight shelter, a soup kitchen and case management services at 1645 W. LeMoyne.

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Wood Dale volunteers work in Mississippi churches

(Feb. 10) Three members of Wood Dale Community UMC joined with a Chicago-based consortium of churches to help rebuild four Hurricane Kartrina-damaged churches in Pearlington, Miss. Al Pioch, Phil Prather and Pastor Daniel Fahs spent a week in January preparing the churches for further reconstruction by volunteer groups that will arrive later to do follow-up work. Much of their work involved removal of flood-damaged sheetrock from the walls.

The eye of Hurricane Katrina passed directly over Pearlington on Aug. 29, 2005. In addition to hurricane damage, the village of less than 2000 was submerged by a storm surge 10-12 feet deep. Pearlington has not received the media attention of neighboring larger cities, yet the needs are great, according to Fahs.

“The damage was every bit as bad as we see in the media,” Fahs said, “yet we saw UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), the Red Cross and others working to help people rebuild their lives. For us, the most important part of the trip was to bring hope to these small churches. While others helped to reconstruct buildings for their homes and businesses, we would help to rebuild the church as a place of worship.”

Fahs said members of Wood Dale Community Church are committed to continuing to help with this long-term reconstruction work. “We will work with these churches long term, to help them become reestablished,” Fahs said, “We are planning a return trip in the spring to continue in these church rebuilding efforts.”

For more details, contact Wood Dale Community UMC at (630) 766-1805.

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Grants available to attend events

(Feb. 10) The Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Board of Ordained Ministry makes individual grants to assist persons in professional ministry to attend events for professional growth, to advance learning goals and to develop skills for ministry.

These grants support continuing education. Persons appointed to attend school should apply for scholarships.

Continuing education funds are available for members of the NIC or for dia-conal ministries and persons certified for specialized ministries who serve within this conference.

The board encourages applicants to develop a comprehensive plan for continuing education in consultation with their Staff-Parish Relations Committee, District Superintendent and/or a career assessment center.

Individual grants from the board are intended to assist applicants to attend events that would otherwise be beyond their resources and the resources of the local church or agency.

For more information, contact the Rev. Paul Meyers, chairperson, Board of Ordained Ministry, at (847) 366-1222 or paulmeyers@umc-cornerstone.org.

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Nominations seeks Trustee names

(Feb. 10) The Northern Illinois Conference Committee on Nominations has filled several vacancies, but openings remain on the Board of Trustees.

Donald Rose, layman from Rockford District, and Joyce Pickett-Polk, laywoman from Chicago Southern District, were appointed to fill vacancies on the Personnel Committee.

The Committee to Implement the National Hispanic/Latino Plan is almost complete with the appointment of Michael Henry, Carl Hood, Greg Livingston, Tonia Cerny and Carolina Garcia. One more Hispanic clergy person is still needed to fill the slate.

The Rev. Oscar Carrasco, conference director of Connectional Ministries, will convene the next meeting of the committee and a chairperson will be elected to fill the vacancy created with the resignation of the Rev. Kirk Reed.

In other action, John Sansone was appointed to serve on the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, James Knightwright was appointed to serve on the Communications Commission, and Nadia Kanhai-Zamora was appointed to serve on the Commission on Religion and Race.

Betsy Houghton, Nominations chair, said persons are needed for the Board of Trustees, Class of 2010, to be elected in June. Clergy and a layperson will be needed, and at least one of these must be from the Chicago Southern District.

To make recommendations or obtain nomination forms, contact Houghton at (847) 395-5463 or via e-mail to bhoughton@sbcglobal.net.

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8.5 McCoy acres to become site
of new Shorewood congregation

(Feb. 3) The Northern Illinois Conference has closed on land near the Village of Shorewood for a new church. The property, donated by the McCoy family, will have frontage on Seil Road and Wynstone Drive. More than 500 new houses have been built around the property in recent years and Del Webb is building Shorewood Glen, a 233-acre, 765 ranch home development across Seil Road from the site.

Shorewood, a community of more than 11,000 persons, is west of Joliet and southwest of Chicago. The new church will be the first United Methodist Church in the village.

Pat Beal, chair of the conference Trustees, pointed out that Wynstone Drive, which will be the main entrance to the property, has become a principal thoroughfare for Shorewood in recent years because of the burgeoning housing developments. “Wynstone Drive will go to the new town center,” she said. “School busses already take it, and it goes through the Del Webb development on the way.”

The property is actually in a strip of land in Joliet, but annexation by Shorewood is in the works, according to the Rev. J. Martin Lee, conference director of Congregational Development and Redevelopment.

Tom and Phyllis McCoy have owned the property for more than 50 years. The 8.5-acre site is part of 211 acres they farmed before beginning to sell parcels to housing developers. The McCoys said they will continue to attend Minooka UMC, but have agreed to participate in the planning and development of the new church.

Lee said the conference has been seeking a sponsoring congregation for the new church start. “With that congregation we can create a core group of people who will determine details of the new church,” he said, explaining this Parent Church Model.

Lee and the Rev. Danita Anderson-Wilkins,Aurora District superintendent, said they expect to make an announcement on that sponsoring congregation within the next six months.

“We anticipate needing a new pastoral appointment or time needed for someone under appointment by June 2007,” Anderson-Wilkins said. “Also, we do have commitments from lay people in the area who are willing to work with us.”

The conference has retained architect Richard Kalb of Chicago to do preliminary drawings to help with the planning.

“We are keeping all options open as to what form the church will take,” Lee said. “We have no predetermined ideas as to whether it is a storefront or how much open space, but we guess it will be a congregation of 400 to 500.”

Lee said the key to the new church development is “people dreaming God’s dream.” He expects small groups will have activities on the property quickly.

Tom McCoy, who first offered the property to the conference more than a decade ago, embodies that dreaming, according to Lee. He said McCoy even went so far as to write a poem, “We’re Going to Build a Church.”

Lee said Tom McCoy’s leadership in the village makes this church development a “different ballgame because he’s very much integrated in the community.”

“I believe we should spread the word of God,” Tom McCoy said. “Minooka UMC is not big enough to handle all the people moving into the surrounding area. We’ve lived off the land for three-quarters of a century. It’s time to give something back.”

McCoy emphasized that the gift was from the McCoy family, not just Phyllis and himself. “His mother was a person of faith,” Phyllis said. “She would be very happy with this.”

Anderson-Wilkins said the Aurora District Strategy Committee started looking at Shorewood and saw the opportunity for a church there. “The committee pulled up information about the area, saw the growth, the housing developments,” she said. “We’re going to build a church.”

Lee pointed out that the developers of the surrounding subdivisions all included in their sales brochures that a church would be on the McCoy property.

The negotiations to transfer over the property heated up significantly about a year and a half ago, Beal said. “We’ve met with officials of Shorewood: Nancy Roman, director of commercial development, and the village engineer Rod Tonelli, to discuss annexation.” The Trustees will have responsibility for the property until a new church is chartered, she added.

Anderson-Wilkins said that new church starts have been occupying a significant part of her time in recent years. She mentioned Crossroads of Faith UMC, which has been chartered in Bolingbrook, the Shorewood project and a proposed new church in Oswego on 27 acres of land.

“We’re looking forward to this church building,” Phyllis McCoy said. “It was fun watching the subdivisions go up. It will be fun watching a church go up.”

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February observance to raise
awareness of liberation struggle

By Dr. Donald F. Guest, Chicago Southern District Superintendent

(Feb. 3) For African-Americans, February is the month in which we focus on what the people once called “Colored,” “Negro,” “Black” and now “African-American” have been able to achieve. These achievements were made in spite of the degradations of chattel slavery, the subsequent reality of “Jim Crow” and the more than 500-year exploitation and expropriation of African people and resources at the hands of Arab, then later European imperialism.

The idea of “Negro History Week” was first proposed and promoted by Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson (1875-1950). Woodson graduated from Berea College in Kentucky in 1903. Berea has had a long history as an interracial college established by abolitionists with the mission being to educate all regardless of race or gender and to eradicate white supremacy as an ideology in America.

From Berea, Woodson was hired by the U.S. War Department to teach English to Spanish-speaking students in the Philippines. While abroad he studied Spanish and other Romance languages through the University of Chicago correspondence courses. In 1908 he graduated from the university with a masters degree in European History, and in 1912 received the Ph.D. from Harvard University, making him only the second African-American to earn a Harvard doctorate. The first was Dr. W. E. B. DuBois.

In 1915 Woodson organized the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, its purpose being to encourage research and writing about the black experience. He also founded the Journal of Negro History (1915), the Associated Publishers (1921), and the Negro History Bulletin (1937).

Negro History Week

Woodson launched Negro History Week in 1926. He initially set forth this celebration to occur in the second week of February, which marked the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. His purpose was to commemorate black achievements, and he encouraged people to observe this week by distributing history kits containing pictures of and stories about notable African-Americans. As all living things evolve, so Negro History Week evolved into Black History Month in the 1960s.

This was certainly no mean task for Woodson. The average American, including black Americans, knew little to nothing of black achievement, African history, or the black heroes and heroines, inventors and innovators who participated in the building and fashioning of America into the successful democratic peoples’ experiment that it is still in the process of becoming.

In addition to the almost total ignorance of their African origins and American achievements, African-Americans had to struggle for inclusion into and assimilation with the values, mores and folkways of American society. As the first generation of African-Americans emerged after the Civil War, their behavior was not unlike that of Asian and Southern European immigrants seeking to absorb and even mimic the behavior, language and overall culture of the dominant white supremacist reality.

Yet Woodson persisted and prevailed. He was determined to eliminate the self-hatred and low self-esteem that was created by the racist onslaught and near obliteration of culture among the enslaved that were bought here in chains from Africa.

Morgan Freeman doesn’t celebration observance

During the first week of January, Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman responded to Mike Wallace regarding African-American history. Freeman said he did not celebrate African-American History/Liberation Month. He argued that African- Americans should not need to have such a celebration because this history is so much a part of American history and should be taught as such in schools.

I find myself agreeing with him and at the same time taking exception to this notion.

We must concede that the appalling ignorance of the dominant Northern European American ethnic groups concerning the black experience, inclusive of the Black Religious Experience in America, is evidence that the need for this emphasis in February is far from expired. The absence of real American history fully inclusive of the contributions, experiences and interactions of African, Asian, Hispanic, and Native persons demands special times of celebration and recognition.

The total ignorance of the dominant group in this country concerning black history, industry, business, writers, inventors, inventions, movements, values, culture, education, research and so much more is so acute — notwithstanding the fact that ignorance has become a virtue for conservative right-wing Christian America — that only a special emphasis each year can hope to eliminate it from our discourse. With knowledge and understanding comes acceptance and tolerance.

May you have great learning and sharing experiences concerning African-American history and experience in the month of February.

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Senior Ministry begun for persons with dementia

(Feb. 3) Thirteen residents from Sunrise Assisted Living on Chicago Ave. worshipped at Community UMC (CUMC), 20 N. Center St., Naperville, in December. The service was the first in a new CUMC program of interdenominational worship services for individuals experiencing dementia.

“The program was established to create a sacred, comfortable space for those dealing with memory loss and confusion, and who often find a Sunday morning service too overwhelming to attend,” said Sally McFaul, chair of the church’s Senior Ministry Program. “The intent is to provide a service with smaller attendance, and one that allows the freedom to walk around if needed. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the sensory elements of music, candlelight, song, scripture reading and the community of others celebrating their faith.”

“The worship service at Community so touched our residents’ spirits,” said Denise Houar, reminiscence coordinator at the Naperville Sunrise Assisted Living. “For them it was a very special moment of worship, solitude and a conveyance of peace to them.” She noted that most of the residents lingered in the sanctuary afterwards, reluctant to leave the serene worshipful space.

Church members Sally McFaul, Carol O’Neill, Renee Rubino and associate pastor, the Rev. Haeran Kim, helped escort residents to the worship service, worshipped alongside them, and helped them to their van for the trip home. CUMC music director, Stephen Edwards, led the hymn singing.

The next scheduled worship service for those dealing with dementia was Jan. 12. Residents of Sunrise Assisted Living in Glen Ellyn joined those from Naperville Sunrise.

Another aspect of the Senior Ministry is a separate monthly service created for homebound seniors of the church, and assisted living residents from Sunrise. That service includes a 30-minute worship service and hymn sing, 30 minutes of food and fellowship, and 30 minutes of group discussion. Those services started in October and are held on the second Monday of each month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the church’s parlor.

In addition to the two monthly interdenominational services, the Senior Ministry is planning educational presentations focusing on the topics of understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and medical updates, how to communicate with persons with dementia, and spirituality within the dementia process.

Those wanting more information may contact the church, (630) 355-1483.

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Cary dinner dance has unexpected consequence

(Feb. 3) Anticipation of the Valentine’s Dinner-Dance to be hosted by Cary UMC on Saturday, Feb. 11, has led to an unexpected flurry of preparation.

The dinner-dance will be from 6 to 11 p.m. at D’Andrea’s, corner of Hwys. 31 and 14 in Crystal Lake. Music will be provided by the Vito Buffalo Orchestra, which is led by one of Cary UMC’s members, Vito Buffalo.

Cost of the dinner-dance is $90 per couple. Space is limited; call (847) 639-7627 to reserve space.

The church decided to offer free dance lessons to prepare for the event, and the response was unexpected.

“God is doing a new thing in our midst,” said Cary UMC associate pastor Timothy Biel Jr., “God’s got us dancing!”

Cary UMC, 500 N. First St., offered ballroom dance lessons prior to the Feb. 11 dinner-dance. Jackie and Frank Penze are the instructors.

“We anticipated maybe a dozen couples or so would show an interest,” Biel said. “To our delight, 30 couples from Cary UMC and the surrounding community take part in these dance lessons. We had to create another class due to the high enrollment.”

There is a wide range in ability and ages of the dancers, according to Biel. “Each Saturday we have high school students on up to retired folks and everybody in between swinging and fox trotting around fellowship hall,” he said. “While the dancing tests the skill, patience and ability to forgive those involved, it also creates wonderful community as the participants share in a new common ground: dance.”

Biel said that the strong interest is leading to talk of continuing the lessons after the Valentine’s Dinner Dance. For more information, call Victoria Biel, (847) 516-2229.

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