THE NEWSLETTER VOLUME XXVIII, ISSUE IV WINTER

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1 THE NEWSLETTER VOLUME XXVIII, ISSUE IV WINTER 2012 FROM THE PASTOR S PEN: DUPAGE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 4300 Yackley Avenue Lisle, IL fax INFO@DUPAGEAMEC.ORG Rev. Dr. James F. Miller SENIOR PASTOR Rev. Lana Parks Miller EXECUTIVE PASTOR Rev. Albert D. Tyson, III PRESIDING ELDER Rt. Rev. John R. Bryant PRESIDING PRELATE Inside this issue: New Members 2 Stewardship Month 4 Winter Wonderfest Pictures 6-7 Quarterly Calendar 12...and more DO GREATER THINGS Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will DO GREATER THINGS than these, because I am going to the Father. ~John 14:12 On Sunday, December 16 th at the 11:15 am Worship Service all Officers, including Stewards, Trustees, Stewardesses, Class Leaders and Presidents will be formally installed for the Conference Year. This is a culmination of a comprehensive preparation schedule over the last two months for all officers. It included special training sessions, travelling with the Pastor, Bible Study and Worship Services. Our church leadership is now prepared to DO GREATER THINGS for Christ and His kingdom. Presiding Elder Roderick D. Belin Our guest preacher, Rev. Roderick D. Belin, is the Presiding Elder of the South Nashville District in Tennessee. He is the son of the Rt. Rev. Henry Belin, AME Bishop Retired and Mother Lucinda Belin. Elder Belin, is one of the dynamic gospel singers and preachers of the church. He was a renowned Pastor, church planter and founder during his ministry. We are excited to receive this innovative and gifted pulpiteer as a blessing for our special day. He will preach the 8:15 am & 11:15 am Worship Services. For all members, the coming year offers each of us an unprecedented opportunity to reach a very high spiritual potential. Let s join together in praise, worship, and service as we bless God and lift His holy name! Special recognition will be given to long time leaders who are transitioning to other areas of service in the kingdom. God bless you now, and see you in church! Pastor Miller

2 WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS We welcome the following New Members to our DuPage AME Church family! May each of you always be open to the ministry of the Lord s church. Remember that active Christians make churches that are alive! PAGE 2 Samuel B. Fields Bolingbrook Alicia & Aidan Norman Huntley Archie Hollins Jr. Chicago Toni Hoefferle Torria Arceneaux, Zoie Moore Lisle Malcolm D. Cammeron Naperville Yasmia Williams & Chanelle Taylor Naperville Sherrilynn Jill Bevel Chicago Michael, Shawna & Imiyah Weatherspoon Aurora Shwana Thomas Naperville Shanté Needham Mickiya Needham, Tremaine Roberts, Princess Joseph & Denzel Davis Naperville Eunixes Acosta Aurora Jennifer & Amie Kahovec Bolingbrook THE NEWSLETTER is a publication of DuPage AME Church, 4300 Yackley Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532, Staff Rev. Lana Parks Miller, Rev. Morgan Dixon, , INFO@DUPAGEAMEC.ORG. Ted McKee, photographer. Editor reserves the right to edit for content and space. Our aim is to communicate with you, provide an outreach to you, and truly reflect the spirit of the congregation and it s leadership. THE NEWSLETTER is published quarterly.

3 VOLUME XXVII, ISSUE III PAGE 3 STEWARDS TRUSTEES STEWARDESSES CLASS LEADERS OFFICIAL BOARD CHRISTMAS DINNER O Come All Ye Faithful! PRESIDENTS COMMISSIONERS CHAIRPERSONS DELEGATES Thursday, December 20 th 6:30 pm AGENDA Devotion CHRISTmas Carols Blessing of the Food Skit by Class Leader Council Trustee Board Steering Committee Presentation Stewardship & Finance Commission Presentation Pastoral Remarks Closing Prayer & Fellowshipping

4 PAGE 4 ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN GOD SAYS, TRUST ME! Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. ~Ephesians 3:20 God wants all of his beloved children to prosper. Rewards from God are only received through faith. (Hebrews 11:2) No one is a tither by nature. We all need encouragement, education, and inspiration to become faithful givers. This year s campaign will affirm those who are already tithers and prayerfully motivate those who are not tithing. In an enjoyable, beneficial and no-pressure process, we will become aware and have revelation on increasing our faithfulness. January is the time for new beginnings and fresh starts. It is a divinely ordered time to facilitate our doing better for the Lord! The highlight of this year s campaign is an ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT on Monday, January 14 th at 7 pm featuring three members who are professional financiers. These persons will provide us with valuable information concerning today s marketplace, investing strategies, and trends for fiscal security and advancement. Please mark your calendars and bring someone who wants to be blessed. Each Sunday during the month of January will include a spiritual event especially designed to bless God s people. The campaign will culminate with ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP DAY Sunday, January 27 th. Our guest preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Jerome Harris, Executive Director of the Department of Annuity Investments and Insurance for the AME Church who has over 30 years experiencing working in banking and pastoring. You must hear him. Correspondences and other material will be mailed and made available throughout the month. Make the commitment to read the material, attend the events, and pray. Your blessing is on the way!

5 PAGE 5 MUSIC WORKSHOP SEMINAR & CONCERT Darius Brooks On the evening of February 7 th & 8 th and all day Saturday, February 9 th, renowned gospel artist Darius Brooks will be our facilitator for this wonderful, educational, and life giving experience. All choir members and church members who have an interest in music are encouraged to register for this unique opportunity to grow in the spirit and gifts of praise and worship. The Seminar will culminate with a concert for the public on Saturday, February 9 th at 6 pm. A free-will offering will be taken. Everyone is invited. Share the flyers and information with your friends. We are excited about this unifying event for our diverse Music Department. Registration is $25 per person and includes lunch on Saturday. Come on out and sing! O sing unto the Lord a new song! MEMBERS! Our Class Leaders will be contacting you starting next week and throughout 2013 to keep the body of Christ at DuPage connected. Please respond to your Class Leader call and connection. Enjoy the fellowship. We need each other! Let mutual love continue. Hebrews 13:1 See Brandon Akins if you have any questions.

6 PAGE 8 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: TINISHA DORSEY Tinisha Dorsey was born and raised on Chicago s westside in the North Lawndale area. Her parents are our own Ernest and Sally Miles. She was raised with her two older sisters, (Louretha and Estella) and a younger brother (Terrance). As a child she was active in Girl Scouts and in her church, which was then, Asia MB Church. She accepted Christ at age ten and taught Sunday School, VBS and started a class for newly converted teenagers while there. She was also a Christian Education Director and delivered a sermon by 16 years of age! Tinisha met and married her husband, James in This was 3 years after she earned a BA in English and Law from Eastern Illinois University. Together they became active in the church he grew up in, JW James AMEC in Maywood. Later, they were members at Family & Faith in Aurora. Since 2004, Tinisha and James, along with their 3 children, Demi (14), Dallys (11), and Dash (7), have been active members here at DuPage AMEC. She serves as a Class Leader and volunteers with the REACH Food Program. She is involved in keeping her children active as well. Tinisha s favorite quote is from Vince Lombardi: The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. She also believes as the Bible teaches that the season is NOW. We should "work while it is day, for the night cometh when no one can work." Following this, she is clear that we should stop putting off our dreams, stop accepting what others say can t be done and start believing that God has already empowered us to attain our purpose. Her favorite translation of the Bible is KJV and her favorite scripture is Psalm 91. ( He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust ) Tinisha is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. since 1992 and has spearheaded many committees. Professionally she worked in corporate America for over 13+ years and still does corporate financial consulting. Her latest endeavor however, is Cookie Crumb Cupcakes, Inc. which is an outgrowth of her own love for baking and catering which she learned from her grandmother. Tinisha has been baking and catering for about 10 years and after her grandmother passed away she continued on with her recipes. Cookie Crumb Cupcakes, Inc. is an original cookie bottom cupcake business. She started this business in full swing this past May at the encouragement of her husband who is a business man himself. Her cupcakes made their debut at Naperville s Last Fling where she sold over 2000 cupcakes. They were a hit! You will have to check out her website: to see all the different kinds she sells. They are delish! Her specialty cupcakes include gluten free, vegan and sugar-free. She says her goal is to open up stores across the country. We pray God s continued blessing upon Tinisha!

7 PAGE 9 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: EVANGELIST MAGGIE MARDIS Evangelist Maggie Mardis grew up in the states of New Mexico and Illinois with her older brother John and her parents Naomi and Rev. Herbert Mardis. She grew up in the church and was active in youth fellowship programs and choirs. She remembers the day when she was 4 years old when she realized she could feel God around her. She told her Mom about the feeling and her Mother told her that God would never leave her. That relationship has remained her life line and her source of joy every day since then. Maggie received her BS in Art Education from the State University of New York at New Paltz. After working in a school for troubled teens, she saw her calling as a counselor and went on to obtain her Masters in Counseling Psychology from George Williams College in Downers Grove. She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Maggie has worked as a Supervisory Therapist in the Child and Adolescent Department of Proviso Family Services in Westchester, has headed the Child Services Department for Hanover Township Youth Commission and worked in business for Marriott Corporation. For 25 years, Maggie has operated her own full time private practice as a counselor in Downers Grove. Maggie is also an artist with a passion for nature that has led her to beautiful places to draw, paint and take photographs. In 2002 she received the Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate from the Morton Arboretum. She exhibits regularly with the Nature Artists Guild of the Morton Arboretum and has been in group art exhibits in Elmhurst and Downers Grove. Maggie is moved by the beauty of God s world and hopes to focus viewers of her art on the greatness and fragileness of His Creation. She hopes her work will encourage people to enjoy and become better stewards of Original artwork by Maggie inspired by nature our Father s world. Maggie joined DuPage in April of Becoming involved in this church family has changed her life. She grew through service in the Sunday School, the Usher Board and the A Cappella Ensemble. She joined the Ministerial Staff as an Evangelist when God called her to preach and to reach out to newcomers, as she calls them. Hubie the puppet! If you have seen a clown named Hilde or a puppet named Hubie, you know about Maggie s playful spirit and humor. Her mother says that she sang before she could talk. If you have heard her sing, you know where she connects most strongly with God. Creativity is a gift God gave her and she tries to share it whenever possible. Maggie has had her share of health issues, but God has been with her. She has had cancer three times in her life beginning at 16 with thyroid cancer and ending most recently with a non aggressive lung cancer that took a lobe of her lung. She knows God as a healer and a hope giver and as a friend during a pain filled night. She has given as much hope as she can to those who have gone through illness because she knows how fears can take hold and make God seem far away. Currently Maggie is looking forward to retirement from her active practice. She and her husband hope to travel the United States, visiting the National Parks (as her health allows.) Unfortunately Maggie's involvement at the church has been affected by her latest health issues. She has not been able to return to active ministry work at the church. Our prayers continue to be with Evangelist Maggie Mardis and we want her to know that we love her! God is not through with you yet! Hilde the Clown! Original artwork by Maggie inspired by the church s stained glass window

8 PAGE 10 FRANKINCENSE ESSENTIAL OIL Frankincense has been one of the world s most treasured oils since the beginning of written history. At it s peak, frankincense was probably more valuable than gold, the rarest silks and the most precious gems. The Bible talks about the provision that God made for humankind in Genesis 1:11-13 Then God said, Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on the earth that bear fruit with the seed in it. And it was so...and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food...their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. And when Adam and Eve were put in the garden, Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15 says So God created humankind in God s own image, in the image of God God created male and female. And God blessed them...and God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And later in Ezekiel 47:12 it says: On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food... their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. Frankincense trees require a dry climate where moisture is provided by morning mist. The trees are found in Southern Arabia (Omen and Yemen), India and Northern Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya). The trees require a limestone-rich soil and grow on rocky hillsides and cliffs or in dry riverbeds. It takes about 40 years for a frankincense tree to be fully mature for harvest. The frankincense trees can grow to be about 20 feet in height with branches that begin near the base of the tree. There are several varieties of frankincense, depending on where it is found. It is the trees resin that has been treasured for thousands of years for its aromatic and medicinal uses. Frankincense has a fresh and almost fruity smell with sweet resinous and woody undertones. It has been used since ancient times to awaken higher consciousness, to enhance spirituality, meditation and prayer. The name Frankincense is widely known as an historic biblical ingredient because frankincense is one of the three gifts that the visiting Magi brought to the newborn Jesus. It was also one of the ingredients in the Old Testament s Exodus (chapter 30) incense mixture. In Exodus, anointing with oil is a practice given by God. In James 5:14, 16 we read that If there are any sick among you, they should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord...We are told to confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Historically, frankincense was used to treat every ailment people had. It was a cure-all oil. It was considered the Holy Anointing Oil It was used for spiritual awareness, respiratory infections and inflammation. Frankincense was also used on insect bites and was used to help with insomnia. They used to soften the skin and to reduce and remove tumors, warts, and moles. And it was burned in the temple for spiritual connection and uplifting emotions. Can you imagine going into the temple everyday for prayer and taking in the aroma of frankincense? It promoted a higher level of health for everyone just to do that. Frankincense was also used for embalming and as perfume. In modern times it has been used to promote healing and normal cell regeneration for depression, allergies, herpes, bronchitis, cancer and to build up the immune system. We still use it to enhance our spiritual awareness and to meditate. It has been diffused in Catholic churches for centuries and still is. RESOURCES: Healing Oils of the Bible by David Stewart Healing by David Stewart, Don Clair and Sandy Sutter The Bible, NRSV

9 PAGE 11 R.E.A.C.H. FOOD PANTRY We thank all the many volunteers who have assisted with the Food Bank. We are now concluding our FIFTH year of service to over 4500 families by distributing over 450,000 lbs. of food. Upcoming dates include: 10 am 12 Noon Saturday, January 12 th Saturday, February 9 th Saturday, March 9 th Make a contribution of your service! To volunteer please contact Dr. Sweet through the church office. Your assistance is greatly appreciated! When I was hungry you fed Me Matthew 25:35 Thank you to everyone who participated in the Angel Tree Project this year. With your assistance, we will be able to spread Christ s love to over 300 children this CHRISTmas season! Praise God! God bless you! DATES TO REMEMBER DECEMBER 1 Youth Ministries CHRISTmas Outing Officer Trainings 8 REACH Food Pantry 16 Sunday School CHRISTmas Program Officer Installation Pastor Miller s Birthday! 24 CHRISTmas Eve Celebration of Lights 31 New Year s Eve Watchnight Service JANUARY STEWARDSHIP MONTH 12 REACH Food Pantry 14 Economic Summit 21 DuPage County MLK Celebration Elmhurst College 27 Stewardship Sunday FEBRUARY 7-9 Music Workshop & Concert 9 REACH Food Pantry 13 Ash Wednesday SPRING EDITION: The deadline for submissions to the Spring Edition NEWSLETTER is January 31 st. We want to hear from you and your ministry in the church. CALL FOR WILLING VOLUNTEERS: If you are interested in working with #TEAM NEWSLETTER please contact the church office! Story writers, photojournalists, reporters and street team are all needed!

10 DUPAGE AME CHURCH 4300 YACKLEY AVENUE LISLE, IL P AGEAMEC.ORG Blessed To Be A Blessing! Come Home For CHRISTmas! Youth Sunday, December 23 rd Celebration of Lights, December 24 th And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. ~Matthew 2:12