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An Act of Love: Service

The Youth Cabinet of Western Yearly Meeting will be performing their 2012 Road Show at Downers Grove Meeting (5710 Lomond Ave., Downers Grove) on Saturday, February 25, 6:30 p.m. A potluck dinner will precede the program at 5:30 p.m.  The Road Show consists of skits, singing, and readings around the theme of “An Act of Love: Service.” The Youth Cabinet is made up of high school students from various meetings in Western YM. Youth and adults are invited to join in this time of ministry and fellowship with the youth of our neighboring Quaker meetings. This performance is being co-hosted by Downers Grove Meeting and 57th Street Meeting.

MCGM Restructuring

The Metropolitan Chicago General Meeting (MCGM) will be engaging in an experimental restructuring for two years that will focus on creating three or more occasions per year for fellowship and the deeper opportunities that fellowship brings and reducing the number of Meetings for Worship with a Concern for Business to one per year. During this period MCGM will be referred to as Chicagoland Friends Gathering (CFG). Minutes from the February 8 meeting which detail changes are available for review (60K PDF). The next gathering for MCGM/CFG will be May 5 at Chicago Monthly Meeting.

FCNL Workshop

A training workshop designed to help persons of faith develop good relations with their elected officials will be hosted by the Oak Park Friends Meeting. The workshop will be led by Jim Cason, the Associate Executive Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) in Washington DC. FCNL is the largest peace lobby group in the United States, and Jim has had many years of leadership experience in this area. The training workshop will be held on Saturday, March 10, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Oak Park Main Library (834 Lake Street, Oak Park). Garage parking is available. The training workshop is free and open to the public. There will be light refreshments during the session and an optional Dutch Treat luncheon following at a local Thai Restaurant.

What's Happening in Western?

The February issue of Western Yearly Meeting's Western Work is available (306K PDF).  This issue includes updates on annuals sessions and work of yearly meeting boards (including pictures).

ILYM Continuing Committee

Illinois Yearly Meeting Continuing Committee will be meeting Saturday, March 3, at Lake Forest Meeting (101 West Old Elm Road, Lake Forest, Ill.)  The Continuing Committee, which is open to all who are interested in attending, is the body that meets between annual session to oversee the work of the yearly meeting. Fellowship with coffee and snacks will begin at 9:30 am.    At 10:00, those gathered will settling into worship to seek Divine Guidance as the business on hand is processed.  Lunch will be provided by Lake Forest Friends, with donations accepted to cover costs.  The meeting usually concludes between 4:00 and 5:00 pm.  Advance documents will be available for review and downloading at ILYM.org.

Events at Chicago Friends School

Friday, February 17, 6:30 pm: “Assessment of child development and kindergarten readiness” by Jim Grabowski of the Erikson Institute.

Saturday, February 18, 2:00-4:00 pm: Open house with guest teacher Katherine Donnard demonstrating what a Chicago Friends School lesson is like.

2012 FGC Friends Gathering

The annual Friends Gathering of Friends General Conference will be at the University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI), July 1-7. The 2012 theme is "All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir."

Historical Understanding of Jesus Christ

The Religious Education program on first and third Sundays, 9:15-10:15 a.m., will be exploring the historical and theological understandings of Jesus Christ. Sessions are independent of each other. Readings will be available for people who want to more deeply explore the topics.

Exploring Quakerism

The Religious Education program on second and fourth Sundays, 9:15-10:15 a.m., will focus on a series of discussions about our experiences and understandings of Quaker faith and practice. Sessions are independent of each other.

Children's Religious Education

First Day School for children has starting back up after its summer break. The next program will be September 25. Then in October and continuing through next spring, the programs will be on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month, concurrent with Meeting for Worship at 10:30 a.m. Programs on the first and third Sundays will be part of the Godly Play and Faith & Play series. Programs on fifth Sundays will be reflections, explorations and activities around the seasons of Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.