Ignorance and Resurrection in Chicago

Last week, I updated you on my visit to Chicago and promised to report back in at a later date. I shared with you that my two goals for my time in Chicago were to 1) listen from a position of ignorance, and, 2) see resurrection. I'd like to tell you about how these two things happened for me as a part of my course on urban ministry.

First, I was incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to hear Harry Belafonte speak at St. Sabina's church on the south side of Chicago. Mr. Belafonte has dedicated his life to working for justice. Many people believe he is just a singer; more savvy folks know that he was a major financial supporter for Dr. King's work; those who really watch the news these days know that he is often in trouble for his current stance on the way America is moving.

I was hoping we'd be in for a good show and that he would rant and rail. (After a week of sitting in calm presentations, I was ready for some action!). It turns out that this oft-maligned "radical" is soft-spoken and wears a smile most of the time. Father Pfleger, the priest at St. Sabina, had asked Mr. Belafonte to speak on the subject of "what would Martin Luther King, Jr. do today if he were still alive?"

This is where I was able to listen from a position of ignorance. The audience at St. Sabina that night was about 98% African American and Belafonte spoke to the audience as a black man speaking to other blacks. It was a privilege to be able to listen in on the conversation. Belafonte mourned the way former civil rights leaders have been all too happy to calmly become the power structure they once fought against. He talked about the shared responsibility all people have for working toward justice. And he spoke at length about the necessity of raising up a new generation of leaders to continue the work of the civil rights movement. (For more about what Belafonte is doing in this area, I recommend checking out the website for "The Gathering for Justice" - a group that Belafonte founded).

Finally, it was a privilege just to be in this amazing sanctuary. I truly saw resurrection there. Formerly an Irish Catholic church, St. Sabina's is the place where the annual St. Patrick's Day parade of Chicago used to start. After the neighborhood became more and more African American, the demographics of the congregation changed, too. Father Michael Pfleger is a man of incredible faith who has been serving this congregation since 1981. Under his leadership, this congregation has transformed the neighborhood - creating new businesses, providing computer labs and career counselors so people can find jobs, teaching 500+ children in a private school that provides art, music, bilingual education, and Africana studies. They have also reduced violence in their neighborhood by taking to the streets - protesting the creation of liquor stores, speaking out against the culture of guns, visiting gang leaders in their homes, and spending Friday nights on the streets to tell the community they will not stand for violence in their neighborhood.

It was truly a place of resurrection. I leave you with a photograph from their sanctuary. It is based on John 3:16 and depicts God's hands offering Jesus to the world. Jesus has one hand beckoning and one had open - both calling us and offering himself.

Update from the Windy City

I've been in Chicago for a week now and am finally blogging! I meant to do it much sooner, but have just been exhausted at the end of every day. The program has been fantastic so far and - although I am looking forward to getting home at the end of this week - I am also excited to see what we will learn about in this second week.

A bit about what I'm doing here: for my seminary degree, I am required to have a "cross-cultural experience." Our seminary has a partnership with a group called SCUPE (Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education) and we are allowed to take courses here. So, I signed up for a two-week introductory class on urban ministry. There are 26 people in my class from all over the country. We are all seminary students. The group is mostly Lutheran, but there are two other UCC folks in the class (no ABCs, though).

Our instructor is Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk, who is also UCC. She lived and worked in Chicago for years, so she knows the city and its issues/resources very well. Our daily format is to visit two sites where urban ministry is happening. Dr. Delk is very big on noting the difference between charity and advocacy models, so we spend a lot of time looking at HOW the agency is trying to serve people. Are they just giving them basic assistance (charity - like a soup kitchen) or are they actually working to change the system to get rid of poverty and racism (advocacy - changing the laws and system).

One of my biggest insights so far has been they way in which I see the "revitalization" of Chicago. Growing up in the midwest, I've been to Chicago a few times over the years and it is certainly a "nicer" city than it was in my childhood. The Loop and downtown area are beautiful...clean, lots to do, nice restaurants and shops. Mayor Daley and the other folks in Chicago have done an excellent job making this into a world-class city.

But this week, amidst the sounds of construction and the breathtaking views of the new Trump tower going up along the riverfront, I've learned to see all of this newness with new eyes. In the midst of this big "clean up" many people have been "cleaned out." Chicago has seen major destruction of its public housing in the last 10-15 years. They estimate that somewhere between 35,000 and 45,000 units of public housing have been destroyed. Although a small number of new units have been built, much of the housing has been replaced by expensive condos or mixed-income housing. Those who can't afford to live in the newly revitalized city seem to have disappeared. Some have moved away, but many are now living on the streets or doubling up with friends and family. The government hasn't really kept track of where they all went - it would be the equivalent of all of IUs students disappearing and no one being sure where they went.

With this knowledge, the sounds of construction and the billboards for new condos in the heart of the city have a different impact on my heart.

In the midst of all of this, I've identified two major goals for my time here: 1) to listen from a position of ignorance, and, 2) to see resurrection.

I hope to update you on my progress later this week. Peace be with all of you.

New Photos Available

If you were at the Stewardship dinner at Bell Trace in November, you got to see the wonderful slideshow prepared by Tom Busey. The photos are now available online (but you won't get Pat's commentary this way, sorry about that!). Click here to view them:

1st United - Stewardship slideshow

Also, you may not have know it, but we had 8 great helpers spend the morning at the food pantry at MCUM on December 1st. Our second through sixth graders went with Elizabeth to work. Photos are available online here:

1st United - kids work day at MCUM

November Butterflies

First United Courtyard's November Butterflies

They look like normal butterflies, smallish, but with the most beautiful of markings.

Upon closer examination the markings look a lot like those on my skin……age spots.

Upon closer examination it is the first full week of November and although the aster has continued to blossom into a full beautiful hue of blues; I am in the garden planting my Fall contributions to Spring.

The first frost has come, the ground has been covered with white, but these butterflies and all those bees are hovering around this autumn pollen as if Spring has just sprung.

I hesitate to say that they are anxious about this being their last meal, because clearly they are not. They are busy and working with the gusto that belies their future about to come to a cold cold close.

When I pulled back the aster bush to plant my bulbs still hiding their crimson red centers-----

The butterflies fluttered and settled gently on a blue blossom’s orange center, the bees buzzed peacefully in my ears.

We celebrated, it seems, the fullness of the moment, they the last warm drink from the cup of life and I planting the promise of the first cool and colorful expression of Spring.

November butterflies have not given up on life, nor tarrying in what has been. The buzz and the hum and the flutters of the creatures help me tune my own song into celebration and gladness.

Still I am grieving their short lives, my short life, those butterflies of November.


JES

Rev. Dr. Jack E. Skiles

CROP Walkers - 2007

I just went to unload the photos from my camera of our pumpkin carving last night and realized I hadn't yet unloaded the photos from CROP Walk! I guess that's a little like finding a roll of film from a few years ago that you haven't developed yet.

Anyway, the photos are below. The CROP Walk happens every year all over the country. Church World Service is the sponsor and we raise money for programs that help fight hunger all over the globe. This year our team had 11 human and 2 doggie walkers. We haven't finished counting the money we raised yet, but Mike says it'll be at least $1100 (for our team...the Bloomington total will be much greater). We were blessed with amazing weather for our 5 mile walk. Many thanks to those who sponsored our legs with your dollars!

Click the slideshow to see more photos!

University Student Get Together

First United's college and grad students (and their kids!) were all about multitasking on Saturday night. We got together to carve pumpkins, but we did more than just that! We also baked cookies and roasted pumpkin seeds in preparation for "higher education Sunday" on the 28th. We signed up to host coffee hour, so we figured our pumpkins could be the decorations and our cookies and seeds could be the food! We had a great time.

Click the slideshow to see more photos!


Oh, and I almost forgot. Apparently some folks were requesting the pumpkin seed recipe after church. Here's how you roast pumpkin seeds:
1) Scoop the seeds and mushy parts out of the pumpkin. To separate the seeds from the mushy parts, I recommend putting all of it in a colander in the sink. Run water over the mess and massage it all until the seeds start to come apart. Pick out any remaining pulp.
2) Put the seeds on a towel to dry for a few minutes.
3) Preheat the oven to 425.
4) Spray non-stick cooking spray on a baking sheet. Spread the seeds out over the sheet. Try to get them in one layer.
5) Spray a little more cooking spray on the seeds and top with your choice of seasonings. We used salt, pepper, and garlic powder for ours. Chili powder is also good. So is worchestershire sauce. To make the sweet ones, leave them plain at first and then add cinnamon and sugar a few minutes before they're done.
6) Put them in the oven. Stir every 5-10 minutes. Bake until they start to turn dry and golden brown. Enjoy!

Fun Photos from Pet Blessing and Hayride

Hi, everyone. My apologies that it's been so long since we've posted anything on here. We need some more bloggers...if you're interested in writing on the blog from time to time, let me know and we can get you set up!

There are photos on my Picasa website from our Pet Blessing on Thursday (thanks, Jeffery!) and from the Hayride on Friday. Just click on the photos below and you can go view all the photos we took.

A great time was had by all. I know some other folks took photos, so if you have more of them, please let me know. Thanks!

1st United - Pet Blessing 2007

1st United - Hayride