Perspective

My husband and I recently moved things around in our house and now each morning my first glimpse of a new day includes a full view of the highway that is right outside our bedroom. I find myself very aware of the slowed traffic or the lack thereof and it colors my morning conversation. “Oh, I wonder what is going on west of us, it seems to busy for this time.” “Wow, traffic seems lighter than normal.” “We need to leave earlier than usual today.”

I like this about the new arrangement. I think about people in my city basically the minute I open my eyes. If people are late will they get docked in pay? I wonder if the folks have hobbies while waiting in the car? Why do people drive when they can take the CTA?

What if a change of perspective was as easy as moving the furniture? Or maybe shifting one or two things in our life, could move the furniture of our mind and heart just enough to let more understanding in?

another link

Here is another Chicago linked article about homeless youth.

Revolutionary Kitchen Work

Revolutionary Kitchen Work
By Ana Yoder
Everyone wants a revolution but no one wants to do the dishes.

That quote from Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove’s book Becoming the answer to our prayers, ran through , my head a lot today as a group of us stood in the kitchen at Cornerstone (one of JesusPeopleUSA’s homeless shelters).

I relate a lot to this quote. Often, I have these great ideas running through my head and heart but often it’s the little things I overlook – seeing them as insignificant (and a real drag to do). After all, who wants to do the dishes? No one.

Well I didn’t do the dishes today. I stood in the kitchen at Cornerstone, awkwardly not knowing what to do. Actually, there wasn’t a whole for us to do. At all. In fact, when we arrived the staff at Cornerstone didn’t really know we were coming. (How the hippies at JPUSA ever get anything accomplished is beyond me). So we were eventually packed into the kitchen.

In the end, I helped serve lunch, followed by scrubbing down the walls in the cafeteria. It was a pretty uneventful day (especially since my group got to leave the latest and arrived back at the flat before everyone else). Yet, I know that the little things are helpful. Ed, the head guy in kitchen, told us that we helped them get stuff accomplished that they typically wouldn’t in one day. So I guess that’s something, even if it feels like nothing.

Scooping out peaches for Jesus is never exciting. But that's what I did today.

City's Stories in Murals

Murals tell stories of the city all the time.
Here is one video done by Arlington Memorial Library about a muralist in Chicago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecVKuxTsJHY&feature=related
In the comments, please share your favorite murals –pictures optional.

Living the Call on the Bus

This is also posted on Krista Dutt's blog. Krista is the National Program Director for DOOR. She really does keep em going.

Living the Call on the bus

For a couple days now I have been working with the Radical Journey participants. We have worked on a covenant, shared personal faith stories and lots of other cool stuff. On Tuesday, the leaders asked for questions that people had. Darrell (the other leader) and I looked at those questions and had a conversation – modeling how to have good conversation about things that you may not agree on. One of the questions that we talked probably the most about was How do I know what I am called to do? Darrell shared and I did too.

I talked about my internal sense that it was more than just a passion, almost to the degree of unexplainable. For example, I am passionate about food. However, I can usually describe why I like to cook, bake, or serve food. I really can’t even begin why I feel so passionate, beyond passionate about issues of class and race. I also shared a moment I remember in a SCUPE class that would be the community calling me to work with these issues alongside those may not understand. I told Darrell (and the 20 others that happened to be in the room) that I felt that moment in the SCUPE class happened 10 minutes ago instead of almost 10 years ago – it that strongly effected who I am today.

We finished the day and then Darrell and I took the bus to go back to Jim and I’s house. It was rush hour, but the bus we happened to be on had lots of seats empty. A man got on the bus and sat next to me, after a stop or two looked at me and said:

Man: “Chicago is sure full of lots of cultures.”
Krista:“Yes, isn’t it beautiful?”
Man: “Sometimes it causes a lot of conflict though.”
Krista: “Yes, that happens sometimes”
Silence
Man: “Where you from?”
Krista: “here (Chicago)”
Silence
Man: “What do you think about bi-racial dating?”
Krista: “I think it is fine.”
Silence
Man: “You mean if a german woman with blue eyes and blonde hair started dating an Islam Middle Eastern man, you wouldn’t care?”
Krista: “No.”
Man: “What about the way that culture treats women?”
Krista: “Well, if the woman feels comfortable with the man, then I am okay.”
Silence
Man: I believe you shouldn’t harm anyone.”
Krista: Me too.
Silence
Man: I am not prejudice but I think I would have a problem with if my sisters started dating a black man.
Krista: But you wouldn’t do any harm to them would you? That is what you said you believed, right?
Man: Yeah, but they are so violent…
Krista: Well, not all people live in the stereotypes that are given in society.
Silence
Man: Its hard to find people who are willing to talk about the hard issues
Krista: Yeah, its sorta my job
Man: Oh yeah, what do you do…
Krista: I help direct a program that hopes to teach people to have these hard conversations
Man: Cool
Silence
Man: I guess I don’t live in a lot of the stereotypes of a jewish male…I am not cheap, I tip well.
Krista: Cool. This is our stop (it really was), have a good ride.

Darrell and I spoke of this a bit when getting on the next bus, but the conversation got much more animated when Jim (husband) came to dinner with us. Darrell was able to give him the run down of what had happened. Jim’s response? “Oh yeah, that happens all the time. She just keeps them going.”

All in all, we could think of 4 or 5 times in the last 6 months that I i have had conversations like this one. And yes, I do “keep them going”. I engage folks who talk to me. I admit that sometimes I want to ignore people, but I just can’t. I am not saying I am perfect, I can easily stick my nose in a book and put headphones on and ignore the world on the bus.

One of the great things about living in the city is that I can interact with folks that I normally wouldn’t or folks that I disagree with. What if I really took more time to listen? What if I “keep them going” more?

Gardening the Westside of Chicago

In Chicago, most of the folks that come through DOOR get a chance to work with Openlands. Openlands is an urban gardening project that walks alongside different neighborhood blocks to tend to gardens throughout the Westside. DOOR participants often learn more history of the neighborhood and of the people on the block than they do tending to the weeds and flowers and anything else they are asked to do. I appreciate that. Gardening with local people, participants learn about what is a weed as well as a personal story that often spans decades. The following is a tour of some of the many gardens that DOOR spends time. Velma Jackson, a leader in gardening on the west side passed away this year, is featured as a living tribute of the importance of green space in Chicago.
http://vimeo.com/4337450

"Help" Homeless

I admit that I am a bit of a blog junkie – its where I get news, opinions, cooking ideas and even comics. One way, I keep learning about my city is blogs. This morning, I read this blog -http://www.uptownupdate.com/2009/07/helping-those-who-live-in-parks.html.

Reading the text and the comments outlines an interesting debate about how people look at things differently. The alderman (who in other places might be called a councilperson) has started a program to “help” homeless folks by going into the parks and when coming across someone who is assumed homeless letting them know about services that can be provided and a reminder that folks are not allowed to sleep in the park. Is this really helpful? A writer on the blog wrote as if this was a true service, and many commenters believe that it is a disservice.

I am solidly in the camp of the many commenters thinking this is a disservice and a way for the alderwoman and men to usher people they would rather have hidden into hiding. And yet, I understand how this can be understood as a way to help. Many times, “help” is help to some and harm for others. What are some things that could be seen in both ways in your home area?

Oh look at the pretty buildings :)

Chicago – it’s the city that invented the skyscraper, it’s the city that has declared that the all lake front property should be free and public land. The Chicago Architecture Foundation recently unveiled a model of the city with all the skyscrapers and other buildings from Roosevelt St to Oak St. I admit I am a sucker for such things and I will make sure I go see it soon. If you would like to get a tour yourself, yochicago has produced a YouTube video that can be found here.
Even though it is on my to do list to go see, it is not a true representation of the city that I love. Buildings are cool, skylines make me smile deeply…but really, people are the reason I love the city. Plus, the buildings that really mean something to me, due to the experiences I have had there, are not in the city core, as the tour guide on the YouTube names downtown. Instead, they are in the neighborhoods, specifically for me on the West side.
If you want to come to DOOR to find out more about the tourist sides of town, maybe you should rethink that trip. DOOR wants to show you the parts of the city that we love, the neighborhoods and the people. May we all see the face of God in the city again this summer.

A Short History of First Church of the Brethren, Chicago

A Short History of First Church of the Brethren, Chicago

by Pastor Orlando Redekopp

First Church of the Brethren put down roots in East Garfield Park in the mid-1920s. Through a generous gift from a Mrs. Fahrney, the congregation purchased the building at the corner of Central Park and Congress Parkway from the Presbyterians. Worship actually began in 1885 on South State Street, moving to Hastings Street in 1892. The current church home was dedicated in January 1925. Other Church of the Brethren institutions in the neighborhood, Bethany Seminary (1905) and Bethany Hospital, ensured a full house on Sunday mornings.

First Church played a vital role in developing additional ministry and worshiping groups. From 1908 to the 1960s, a Chinese congregation worshipped in the building. During the 1940s, the York Center mission began in Lombard. First Church purchased the building next door to house its growing youth ministry. Brethren in Chicago provided temporary housing to released people of Japanese descent interned during the World War II. During the 1950s, a Spanish-language group worshipped in First Church's chapel before moving to Douglas Park.

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks at First Church of the Brethren in Jan. 26, 1966 public hearing on unjust housing. Left: Pastor Tom Wilson. Photos from Church of the Brethren Messenger, March 17, 1966

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. focused action in Chicago in the mid-1960s, First Church provided the Southern Christian Leadership Conference office space. Dr. King also preached from the pulpit. During this decade Bethany Seminary moved to Oak Brook, taking with it a number of First Church members.

In the mid-1970s, just after the congregation celebrated fifty years in Garfield Park, the boiler burned out, the pipes froze, and the ceiling fell in, forcing the congregation next door into the youth-ministry house.

In the late 1970s, after minor renovations, the congregation, numbering fewer than 30, moved back into the church building, using a Sunday school room for its sanctuary. In 1989, following a major eight-month renovation, services returned to the sanctuary after surviving thirteen years in exile. The building was rededicated in March with a day-long celebration. A community garden that sprouted on the corner north of the church was beautified in 2008 -- signs of renewed vision for the church and community.

The Bethany Brethren Community Center, which grew out of the historic relationship between the church and Bethany hospital, provided a variety of services for and activities with neighborhood children, youth and elderly from 1991 to 2006. Chicago Community Mennonite Church (formerly Oak Park Mennonite) began sharing worship space with First Church in 1998. Roca de Esperanza Mennonite Church worships there Sunday afternoons. The DOOR and Radical Journey programs housed at the church provide youth and young adults cross-cultural experiences in urban and international settings. Other forces for change such as Crossroads Ministry (dismantling systemic racism and building anti-racist multicultural diversity), have been housed at First Church.

In 2007 First Church held a series of visioning gatherings. Out of these came an awareness of our church's unique positioning and a sense of call to minister with young people in the church and the surrounding neighborhood. After a period of discernment, prayer and planning, Rev. Denise Plair joined First Church as Youth Minister in November 2008.

Choirs practice, community groups gather, volunteers tutor, gardeners glean, prophets and peacemakers bear witness and members sing and pray as the church continues to minister in East Garfield Park after more than 120 years as a believing community and eighty in the current building.

Praise God!

We are so honored to serve with Mama Brenda Matthews in Chicago.
This poem is the title poem of Mama Brenda's book.

Known Neighborhood by Krista Dutt

Growing up, if a package came to our address they just left it on the porch. They don't do that in Chicago. Instead, the postman fills out a form and says to pick it up at the neighborhood post office. I don't like doing this - while the post office isn't far away it is in the direction that I don't often go by so I do have to make a special trip during post office hours which is often quite hard to do. However, Friday I went to pick up a package and when I went to the window with card and my ID all ready - the friendly woman handed me my package. Normally, they check the id and the card, go search for it and 10 minutes later get the package. Admiring my shock, the postwoman said - I saw you coming in the front door when I was in the back - I just pulled it then.
Neighborhoods are an important part of Chicago. Often folks don’t have reason to leave their neighborhoods, so it functions in some ways like a small town. I used to laugh at this notion, but it is true. Yesterday, I walked to work, then walked home for lunch, then went to a worship service all on the same block. I didn’t leave my neighborhood at all.
When people ask me about living in the city, these are my experiences. Yes, the city has issues that I didn’t even think about growing up, but nothing a neighborhood can’t handle together. I am thankful that I live here, work here, worship here, and serve God here.