Illinois Catholic bishop decrees no Holy Communion, funerals for same-sex couples

From The Washington Post-

The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Ill., is calling on priests there to deny Holy Communion and even funeral rites to people in same-sex unions unless they show “some signs of repentance” for their relationships before death.

The decree by Bishop Thomas Paprocki also said that people “living publicly” in same-sex marriages may not receive the sacrament of confirmation or be admitted to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process by which many converts become Catholic, preparing them for baptism and confirmation.

At the same time, Paprocki said that children living with a Catholic parent or parents in a same-sex marriage may be baptized. But when it comes to same-sex unions, priests cannot bless couples, church property cannot be used for ceremonies and diocesan employees are forbidden from participating, the decree said.

More here-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/23/bishop-bans-catholic-funerals-for-same-sex-couples-unless-they-repent-before-death/?tid=ss_fb&utm_term=.169e382766c0

Same-sex couples prepare for religious wedding ceremonies

From Illinois- (with video)

Riding a crowded bus to Springfield last October, where they would join thousands of other advocates demonstrating for same-sex marriage, John Stilp and Jovi Tomaneng turned to the Rev. Mark Winters, who organized the busload of parishioners making the trip from Naperville.

"By the way, when this passes, we are getting married in the church," Stilp said.



The Episcopal Church's national governing body allows individual bishops to determine whether to sanction same-sex marriages. Bishop Jeffrey Lee, the leader of the Diocese of Chicago, has agreed to let individual churches choose for themselves.

Tom Neal and Mario Cruz-Lopez, of Des Plaines, went to Catholic Mass every Sunday, but once the same-sex marriage law was signed in November, they began searching for another Christian church that would perform their wedding.

At St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Des Plaines, the new priest-in-charge, the Rev. M.E. Eccles, told Neal, 29, and Cruz-Lopez, 30, she'd be willing to perform their ceremony in June if the church council approved. It did.

More here-

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140119/news/701199921/

Clergy who support same-sex marriage in Illinois might not perform ceremonies

From Chicago-

Clergy of different faiths support same-sex marriage in Illinois.

In fact, over 300 signed a letter asking members of the Illinois House to support The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.

And the House did, this week, by a vote of 61-54.

Of course, supporting the Act doesn’t mean clergy have to conduct same-sex wedding ceremonies.

The bill passed this week does not require any religious organization or leader to “accommodate” same sex marriages.

But state law doesn’t mean much when it comes to church law.

Reverend Doctor Richard L. Tolliver is Rector at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church in Washington Park.

“We’re given authority from a secular point of view,” said Reverend Tolliver. “But from a religious dimension we are not.”

More here-

http://www.wbez.org/blogs/alison-cuddy/2013-11/clergy-who-support-same-sex-marriage-illinois-might-not-perform

'This is major': Gay marriage supporters rejoice in Chicago

From Illinois-

Robyne O'Mara and Lynne Burnett have been together 33 years, and on Tuesday they watched, almost in awe, as Illinois lawmakers cast votes that would make the couple's decadeslong relationship equal to any other.

"We were just blown away," O'Mara said after the General Assembly passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. "I think the momentum in our nation has convinced people. It's been an amazing ride the past several years. We're so grateful the legislators took it upon themselves and recognized that every citizen has the right to marry."

Across the state, gay and lesbian couples and their advocates celebrated as Illinois was poised to become the 15th in the country to allow same-sex marriages. The bill will now go to Gov. Pat Quinn, who has said he will sign it into law.

More here-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-gay-marriage-chicago-20131105,0,1691373.story

In Down Economy, Man Expands Business With Help of Out-of-Work Tradesmen

From Illinois-

When Manhattan businessman Mark Ritter was 7, he skipped past a kids' typical lemonade stand and instead carted soda around a construction site, selling it to the workers there.

Now, Ritter is making lemonade out of the sour economy by hiring out-of-work tradesmen while expanding the services his own business offers.

The business, Ritter Services, provides property maintenance and construction services for homeowners and businesses, including site selection and development, new construction, remodeling and additions.
Growing a business is something Ritter is accustomed to. When he was 9, he started mowing neighbors' lawns, building 15 clients. That continued throughout high school.

"It just kept growing and growing," Ritter said. "That kept me busy."

He went on to study horticulture at Joliet Junior College, and at 19 he got a loan from First Bank of Manhattan to start his business. Throughout the years, the business has grown in the number of services it offered. But facing new challenges, Ritter hopes to offer even more. 


More here-

http://newlenox.patch.com/articles/in-down-economy-man-expands-business-with-help-of-out-of-work-tradesmen

Diaper bank receives 48,000; short on size 6

From Illinois-

The St. Paul Diaper Bank Partnership received 48,000 children’s diapers in sizes 3 to 5 from Huggies through a partnership with the National Diaper Bank Network.

The diaper bank will distribute them to 16 social service agencies and food bank partners, who will provide their clients with free diapers, according to a news release.

This February, the diaper bank distributed 25,000 diapers – 5,000 more than were distributed in February 2011.

Despite this donation, the diaper bank still needs children’s size 6 diapers. The supply is almost gone, and the request from the bank’s partners for this size is increasing, according to the release.

There is a 24/7 drop-off collection box at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 3706 W. St. Paul Ave., McHenry. Monetary donations may be sent to the diaper bank, with checks made out to the St. Paul Diaper Bank Partnership in care of the church.

More here-

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/03/09/diaper-bank-receives-48-000-short-on-size-6/a2oqzu2/

Grace Church Offers ‘Ashes to Go’

From Illinois-

Grace Episcopal Church of Freeport is excited to offer a 21st-century twist on the ancient holy day of Ash Wednesday.

On Feb.22, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., people of all faiths are invited to stop on the sidewalk, or drive up at curbside, for a traditional blessing of ashes without even entering the church. Grace is known fondly as “the church with the red doors” at 10 S. Cherry Ave., and the sidewalk corner at Stephenson and Cherry will be the place to visit.

Copying a similar practice pioneered by Episcopal churches in urban districts of Chicago, Grace is calling the new ministry “Ashes to Go.” According to Father Eldred George, rector at Grace, “Ashes to Go is a relatively new concept for us, but considering that most of Jesus’ ministry was done in open places where he met the people, maybe we’re returning to our very roots.”

For centuries of Ash Wednesdays, Christians have observed what is called the “imposition of ashes,” in which a pastor draws the sign of the cross, using ashes, on the foreheads of the faithful. Curiously, in a way of bringing the church year full-circle, the source of these ashes is the burning of palm branches saved from the previous year’s Palm Sunday.

More here-

http://www.journalstandard.com/lifestyle/faith/x1847528788/Grace-Church-Offers-Ashes-to-Go

Good Shepherd joins Lake County diaper bank effort

From Illinois-

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital will join with other local agencies to fulfill a community need by launching the new Diaper Bank Partnership of Lake County.

This program is an extension of the St. Paul Diaper Bank Partnership started in 2009 in McHenry County by the Rev. Jim Swarthout, former rector of St. Paul Episcopal Church in McHenry. Swarthout now serves as the secretary for the National Diaper Bank and the executive director of the Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs, Barrington.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 25 at the Wauconda Township Building, 505 W. Bonner Road, Wauconda.

Local social service agencies are invited to attend along with those they have helped who might have an interesting story to share.

Diapers will be supplied to the diaper bank through individuals donations, diaper drives held at local organizations such as hospitals, schools and YMCAs, and from large organizations such as Huggies, who has made a sizable donation as part of its Every Little Bottom campaign.

More here-

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/01/17/good-shepherd-joins-lake-county-diaper-bank-effort/a17cdm6/

Diaper bank looking for warehouse space

From Illinois-

The diaper bank out of St. Paul Episcopal Church is starting 2012 by scurrying to find a new home and desperately fundraising to do so.

The diaper bank’s warehouse space in Lake in the Hills was rented, leaving it temporarily without a place to store or unload its diapers.

The diaper bank rented space from Mark Riggsby, who recently found a tenant for his warehouse. In the meantime, Riggsby is housing all the diaper bank’s inventory at a different location.

The move came as no surprise to the diaper bank, whose director knew it was Riggsby’s intention to rent the space since they began occupying it in 2009. Riggsby offered the space to the diaper bank for free.

More here-

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/01/03/diaper-bank-looking-for-warehouse-space/aej2xj0/

Baby Jesus Goes Missing; 'We Just Want Him Back'

From Illinois-

Dennis Fornoff, the sexton of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Des Plaines, saw the one-foot long Baby Jesus in his manger at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The next morning, a woman in the neighborhood informed him that the figurine was gone.

"I built the manger in my garage and my family donated the figurines. Seven or eight are still there and the manger," Fornoff told the Journal & Topics Newspapers. "These are heavy ceramic figurines painted in different colors and are very realistic looking."

The nativity was well lit.

A report has been filed with the Des Plaines Police Dept. and appears in the Des Plaines Journal's Dec. 28 edition Police Blotter.

More here-

http://www.journal-topics.com/news/article_d565f3ea-3168-11e1-ad71-0019bb30f31a.html

Five churches unite to help downtown Rockford

From Rockford IL - (with video)

Five churches combined service this morning in hopes of helping downtown Rockford.

Court Street United Methodist, Emmanuel Episcopal, First Presbyterian, and Shalom Comunidad de Paz all met at Second Congregational United Church of Christ.

But this morning was about more than just hearing the word, worshippers and church leaders want to show Rockford that they're committed to helping downtown.

Retired pastor Bob Hillenbrand explains the churches mission is simple:

"It began with a vision from the Prophet Jeremiah, "seek the shalom or the well being of the city where I've sent you, because in it's health you shall find your own health."

The faith community is united in the not for profit organization Jeremiah Development through which they work to beautify and enhance downtown Rockford. They've already rehabbed one house.

For faith leaders it's a chance to help the community and a reminder of their duty to serve.

More here-

http://www.wrex.com/story/15491958/five-churches-unite-to-help-downtown-rockford

Grace Episcopal to host two bishops next week

From Illinois-

For months now, getting into Grace Episcopal Church on East First Street has been a challenge to say the least. Parishioners, parish and preschool staff as well as students, parents and visitors have gritted their teeth to get through the dust and heavy machinery that has torn up the street in the church's front yard.

Despite the mess, the church has continued to look outward in its outreach. Besides supporting local causes like HCS Family Services (best known as The Food Pantry), Family Shelter Services and at this time of year, the Cathedral Shelter program, the church has offered help to such places in perilous need as Pakistan and Sudan. In September, the church hosted Zaheer Pervaiz Khan, Pakistan's consul general to Chicago. He discussed the devastating floods in Pakistan this summer, and Grace Church members and friends came out to learn more about the nation, its disaster and to support it with contributions.

Next week, Bishop Joseph Garang Atem of Renk, Sudan will return to the church to discuss the progress of churches and schools the Anglican Church is building there. The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, bishop of the Chicago Diocese, will accompany the African bishop, who is known as Bishop Joseph. Brad Summers of Hinsdale, a Grace Church member and leader in the church's outreach efforts, said that the church has more than a dozen outreach efforts and that such diversity of scope is typical.

More here-

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/news/2889768,clarendon-hills-towncolumn-111810-s1.article

Diaper bank to get donation from Huggies

From Illinois-

The area's only diaper bank is about to become a more reliable resource.

The St. Paul Diaper Bank in McHenry will receive a donation of 200,000 diapers from Huggies through Huggies' "Every Little Bottom" program at 11 a.m. Tuesday. The local diaper bank is the only one of 10 recipient locations nationwide that is faith-based.

The Rev. Jim Swarthout of St. Paul Episcopal Church created the diaper bank last year, and said community support has been high, but not always enough.

"We have a difficult time filling the needs sometimes," Swarthout said.

He said St. Paul's still is the only organized diaper bank in the state.

"I think the most important thing for us to do is to teach other people how to do this," Swarthout said.

A 2010 study conducted by Huggies found that one in three American mothers has struggled to provide diapers for her children.

For more information about the diaper bank and the significant donation, read tomorrow's Northwest Herald.

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/06/17/85301047/index.xml

Good Stuf in TEC: Illinois

Evening at Grace Episcopal Churc

Celebrate both the past and the present this coming Sunday evening when Grace Episcopal Church hosts An Evening at Grace Church. The church as a worshipping community has been around nearly as long as the village of Hinsdale. Over the course of its 130-plus years, the physical church, much like the village, has changed and evolved quite a bit.

The Sunday evening community event celebrates that change -- including a new entry, expanded parking and a 21st century rectory -- with a Choral Evensong, blessing of the church's new entry, grounds and rectory and a picnic cookout. The cost of admission, in keeping with one of the church's outreach projects, is a food or cash donation for the Hinsdale Food Pantry, according to the Rev. Peter Floyd, assistant rector.

Evensong is a sung form of evening prayer, according to Floyd, that is tied into the Anglican choral tradition.

"Occasionally we try to have that type of service because it is very beautiful," he said.

And, indeed for anyone who has not experienced an Episcopal Church service, the musical form of one is particularly moving as Mark Reynertson, Grace Church's music director and organist, is a talented musician and choir leader.

More here-

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/news/1601933,clarendon-hills-towncolumn-060409-s1.article

Good Stuff in TEC: Illinois

Pastor turns Christmas party into gift drive for wounded soldiers

The Rev. Rod Reinhart believes in taking care of the troops.

The Sunday after the Fourth of July, the Blue Island pastor did what he does best - prayed. He gathered his congregation for a day of prayer and supplicated.

We prayed for the physical and emotional health of the men and women in uniform," said Reinhart, 59. "And we prayed for the end of the war."

On Saturday, he's putting a different twist on the annual Christmas party at St. Joseph and St. Aidan Episcopal Church, 2453 Oak St. in Blue Island. In addition to the party, there will be a gift drive for wounded soldiers.

"Christmas can be a time of loneliness and depression for wounded soldiers and hospitalized veterans," Reinhart said. "This would make their Christmas more joyful."

By bringing Christmas gifts for soldiers or their families, Reinhart believes the community can send a message of gratitude to the soldiers.

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1316169,120708inuniform.article

You can see all of the Good Stuff posts by clicking on Good Stuff in the labels below.

Good Stuff in TEC: Illinois

Different faiths celebrate together

Pilgrims, Indians and ecumenism will be interwoven when Rabbi Charles Rubovits of the Joliet Jewish Congregation delivers the keynote speech message at the area's third Community Thanksgiving Worship Service on Nov. 23.

"The Pilgrims and Indians shared not only food but information," Rubovits said. "I'm sure the Indians taught the Pilgrims all about corn and turkeys and how to survive in the wilderness. And the Pilgrims, I'm sure, taught the Indians about weaving and metal smithing, so it was win-win all the way around."

He sees ecumenism in the same light.

"I think that if we're going to be reasonable individuals living in a community, the idea of sharing ideals and philosophies is vitally important," Rubovits said. "I'm not so certain that Jewish people have the corner on the market and neither does any other religion so we'd better share."

People from various faith communities are invited to worship as one body at the Joliet area's third Community Thanksgiving Worship Service. It begins at 6 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Joliet, the third religious institution to open its doors to the event.

In 2006, the Joliet Jewish Congregation hosted the event; St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church hosted it in 2007.

This year's participating faith communities are Faith Lutheran Church in Joliet, St. Edward and Christ Episcopalian Church in Joliet, Joliet Jewish Congregation, St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Joliet, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Joliet and First Presbyterian Church in Joliet.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/lifestyles/1288119,4_5_JO20_GIVETHANKS_S1.article

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Good Stuff in TEC: Illinois

Faith, hope and financial help

Financial planning is a newer area for many churches. Some pastors are uncomfortable discussing money because they don't want to appear self-serving. Others feel money is too personal to discuss in church, leaders say, or haven't received the proper training.

"In an awful lot of churches, it's the silent subject," Towner said.

That's starting to change.

The trend is gaining popularity as churches seek new and creative ways to connect with their congregations and respond to a growing need for practical, day-to-day advice.

"Rather than asking what the church can get from you, they are asking what the church can do for you," Bentley said. "It's a very welcome shift."

Her congregation's current economic anxiety prompted Pastor Deborah Seles to recently hold a free seminar on spirituality and money at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Palatine.

It was the first time her church held such an event, and Seles said she would consider organizing resume-writing and job seminars.

"You want to offer people some practical help, following the example of Jesus," she said.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=251252

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