VOLUME XXVII, ISSUE II SUMMER

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1 THE NEWSLETTER VOLUME XXVII, ISSUE II SUMMER 2011 FROM THE PASTOR S PEN: WOMEN S DAY 2011 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. Louis Toney Presiding Elder Rt. Rev. John R. Bryant Presiding Prelate Inside this issue: New Members 2 Class of Member Spotlights 6-8 Heritage Sunday 10...and more Christian Women Denying Themselves for His Name Sake And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for My name s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. ~Matthew 19:29 On Sunday, June 26 th our women, dressed in their Coral and White, will explode in spiritual praise for Christ Jesus. Our feminine fellowship of faith will demonstrate our love for God, our church, and each other. Rev. Dr. Regina C. Groff, of Washington DC, will preach with power at our 8:15 am & 11:15 am Worship Services. Our Annual Women s Day Chorus is sure to be both beautiful in appearance and plentiful in praise. A banquet feast will follow the 11:15 am Service. Rev. Myra T. Billips God bless you now, and see you in church! Pastor Miller Rev. Dr. Regina C. Groff This year we are doing a new thing. We are having a Prayer Luncheon on Saturday, June 18 th, 11:30 am at The Abbington Banquet Hall in Glen Ellyn. We are excited that so many tables have been sold already. Rev. Myra T. Billips, Co-Pastor of Shiloh AME Church in Galveston Texas, will surely preach the roof off the building. Our chairperson Pat Brooks and her committee are working tirelessly and deserve all of our support. Women, your $150 pledge will seal the victory as DuPage AME Church continues its kingdom building work.

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 De Shawn Ross Lombard André Taylor Brandon Davis Wheaton Ryan Greene Lamar Danley Glen Ellyn LeVern Danley,Jr. Glen Ellyn Jamel Jones Lyons Karen Pirtle Warrenville Stephanie Dillard Bartlett Tamara & Joy Diamond Brass Chicago Brian Griffin Naperville John & Tracy Jones Taylor-Olivia & Ailey Nakiesha Pearson Downers Grove Rev. Conitras Houston ANNUAL YOUTH DAY & PROMOTION SUNDAY WITH THE FATHER WE RE NOT AFRAID fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. II Timothy 1:6-7 NLT Sunday, June 12 th is Annual Youth and Church School Promotion Day! Each year we celebrate God s blessings of our children. We are thankful God has entrusted their training into our hands. Rev. Conitras Houston, Pastor of St. Luke AME Church in Athens, Georgia, will be our preacher at the 8:15 am & 11:15 am Worship Services. She is one of the young preachers that her Bishop recommends as a great spiritual example. All Youth Choirs will sing in their regular places. At the Sunday School Hour students will be examined and promoted according to their age and teacher s approval. This is an annual ritual which gives us comfort to know that the church of the future is well prepared. Pamela Jones is our Sunday School Superintendent. THE NEWSLETTER is a publication of DuPage AME Church, 4300 Yackley Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532, Staff Rev. Lana Parks Miller, Rev. Morgan Dixon, Nicollé Booth , INFO@DUPAGEAMEC.ORG. 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 XXVI, ISSUE II PAGE 3 Ashley Green Oshla Gray Eddie Lega Brittani Cornelius CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2011 KINDERGARTEN GRADUATES Shelby Lee 8 th GRADE GRADUATES Imani Baker Lucas Harrington Francis Bettis Jada Haynes Deborah Blount Jade Haynes Anisa Brazier Asa Ivory-Ellis Kayla Denwood Maya Levy Bennita Drain Sydney Mann Jared Fitz Angela Mason Kenya Fullilove Carter Rayburn Lyndsey Franklin AJ Render Oshla Gray Sierra Wilburn HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES David Blount André Mayo Maya Brooks Justin Parker Christine Brown Garrett Payne Termayne Harper Trevion Stanback Grant Hudson Keith Taylor Eryn Jackson Antoinette Williams COLLEGE GRADUATES Patricia Wilson Baker Patrick Franklin Thurston Booth Ashley Green Brittani Cornelius Marketo Christine Griffin Eddie Lega ADVANCED & OTHER DEGREE GRADUATES Crystal Harris Blount, PhD. Monica Ferguson, DPT LaToya Giles, AA Marketo Griffin Keith Taylor Anisa Brazier Thurston Booth We, your church family, honor you for your academic accomplishments and for your contribution to the life of the church. We pray God s continued blessings for your future. Dr. Crystal Blount Going forward Ready to Accept God s Will Determined to Understand God s Word Alert to Temptations, Interest in Others, Never forgetting that Christ is my helper! Dr. Monica Ferguson

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5 VOLUME XXVII, ISSUE II PAGE 5 HOSPITALITY DAY Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. ~Hebrews 13:2 On Sunday, July 10th our Hospitality Ministry, whose members greet us at the door each week, will be celebrated. What a blessing it is to be welcomed into the A few members of the Hospitality Ministry Sanctuary with warm and sincere caring. This is a wonderful ministry for any person who wishes to give service. Susan W. Hodge is the ministry President. We will remember our faithful member Ira L. Davis who recently went home to be with the Lord. We thank God for Ira s faithful service! Ira L. Davis August 23, 1932 May 7, 2011 ANNUAL LAY DAY On Sunday, July 31st the Louis A. Garland, Jr. Lay Organization of DuPage AME Church will be celebrated! The Lay Organization of each local church in the AME denomination ensures lay participation on all levels of church government. If you enjoy attending conferences and traveling, this group goes throughout the Midwest and sometimes nationally, fellowshipping and participating in church legislation. Angela T. Pettis is our able President who represents us well. Our speaker will be Dr. Peter Groff, the President and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in Washington DC. Dr. Groff is a highly sought after speaker both nationally and internationally and we are blessed to have his friendship. This Summer celebration promises a special blessing for our congregation. Dr. Peter Groff

6 PAGE 6 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT : MAVIS HAWKES, Stewardess Board Coordinator SUBMITTED BY THE CLASS LEADER S COUNCIL Mavis first came to DuPage AMEC because she was running late one Sunday morning and this church was close to her home. She was greeted by such charming people---one of whom was the late Thelma Audley---that she quickly volunteered to help with the Sarah Allen Women's Missionary Society Tutoring Program for Grades She gradually became more involved with the church and was impressed with the leadership, the members, and the general spirit of the church. In 1999, she officially joined. Her experience at DuPage AMEC has been great! She is very happy that she calls this her church home. She feels fortunate to witness the spiritual and physical growth of the church and do understand that we must all continue to grow in the name of our Lord and Savior. Mavis sees her role as the Coordinator of the Stewardess Board as an opportunity to give back to the Lord a small portion of the many blessings He has given her. It is a very humble and rewarding experience of service and she is delighted to do it. Amongst other duties, the Stewardesses prepare for and assist with the Holy sacraments of Communion and Baptism, and as such they help to create an The Stewardess Board of DuPage AME Church Mavis & her daughter Laura uplifting atmosphere for genuine spiritual worship and growth under the direction of Pastor Miller and our ministerial liaison, Rev Lana. They are on duty every Sunday and special occasions. Their work requires discipline, faith and Christian love and she feels fortunate to be a part of it along with 37 other wonderful ladies. Her spiritual journey has taught her both patience and optimism. She is learning to draw out the best in people and situations. It can be difficult at times but she is prayerful and always hopeful because she believes that God is the Master of all things great and small. There is a divine plan and outcome for each of us if we only let God take control of all that matters. One of Mavis's favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. She also lives by Galatians 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Her faith has gotten her through the low point of her personal life when her husband suddenly passed away when they were together on an overseas trip. Her faith has also helped in her professional career because she knows that she never walks alone, so she receives added assurance and strength to take on complex and difficult issues.

7 PAGE 7 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT : EDDIE LEGA, DuPage AMEC Facility Manager SUBMITTED BY THE CLASS LEADER S COUNCIL Eddie remembers the day he joined DuPage AME Church like it was yesterday. After moving from Milwaukee, WI for his wife s promotion, Eddie s mother-in-law came to visit and asked that they find a church home. After a recommendation from his previous AME Pastor, Eddie and his wife, Kaye visited DuPage AME Church for the first time on August 11, They became members on that very same day. His experience at DuPage AMEC has been a blessing for them. At the time, his sons were 16, 12, and 9. The church has a heavy focus on the youth, so they got involved with the choirs, boy scouts, etc. Eddie's true spirit was enhanced when he became more involved at DuPage AME Church. Previously, he was a Pew Member, but his involvement helped him along on his journey. He became involved with the Media Ministry, YPD Ministry, and the Parking Lot Ministry. If he missed a service, he felt like he was missing something; his week just didn t go right. While his spiritual growth is still continuing to grow, DuPage is home for him and it wouldn t feel right any other way. Spiritual Quotes and Thoughts that he lives by: 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. Robert, Kaye, Eddie, & Cedric Lega His faith has brought him through...on March 20 th, Eddie had a mild stroke. He believes that he only made it through because of God. That Sunday he was sitting at home with his entire family. Many Sundays, he is sitting at home by himself, so it was unusual to have his family there. His wife noticed that something was wrong. His wife has been with him for 27 years. Eddie says he is blessed to have his wife and three sons. He thanks God for the smallest things to the largest things. Eddie Lega He remembers God is always going to be there for him and He has been there all this time. God has helped his wife, his sons, his family, and people in general. Eddie says, It is just good to have Him in your life. When He reaches down and touches your soul, you believe everything you see and hear. It s unbelievable. In Feb. 2009, he was told his company was closing the facility he was managing. God had another plan for me and I was blessed with a role at the church, Lega states. Roy L. Miller MAN OF THE YEAR 2011

8 PAGE 8 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT : GRANT HUDSON, Graduating Senior & Gold Medal Winner! SUBMITTED BY THE CLASS LEADER S COUNCIL Grant's earliest memory of being involved with the church is 1st grade. He remembers helping his mom with Thanksgiving baskets and the Angel tree. After a short time he joined the Boy Scouts. As a senior in high school, he is still engaged in all three activities. Recently the Boy Scouts helped clean up around the church grounds. Grant has been involved with the NAACP ACT-SO program in the category of Architecture since his sophomore year in high school. He has won silver and gold medals at the National level. He will be participating again this year at Nationals in Los Angeles. Grant really likes to draw and is also very interested in construction - he likes being outside. This past year, he started his first job working at an after school kid's zone program. Grant really enjoys his responsibilities and working with the kids. He was able to purchase his first car and also his insurance. A major accomplishment for a young person! Gold Medal Winner! Grant has had a wonderful experience at DuPage. As he puts it, "the church is really cool, everyone knows what you're doing and is helpful." He is affectionately knows as "the architecture boy, and gets encouragement from many people around the church. They give him advice for what to do after high school. He is always learning when he goes to church - he likes that. Alvin, Grant, & Willettta Hudson Grant is planning to attend Jackson State in the fall. In addition to his studies, he plans to play football and join ROTC. NAACP ACT-SO National Competition 2010 DuPage County ACT-SO National Competition 2011

9 PAGE 9 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Monday, August 8 th Friday, August 12 th 6-9 pm nightly Dinner served each evening Classes for ALL AGES! For more information concerning this mission, see your Sunday School Teacher! but with God, ALL things are possible! ~Matthew 19:26

10 PAGE 10 From DuPage Theatre Group, an original stage play extravaganza, It s Not Too Late (until it s too late) Friday, August 19 th Saturday, August 20 th Sunday, August 21 st This heartwarming story tells the dilemma of a family in trouble. Will infidelity destroy all that is sacred in marriage? What would you do if the child you d raised wasn't yours? Will faith and forgiveness be enough to see them through? It's not too late to plan to see this fantastic stage production because if you miss it, it WILL be too late! BGSJDBO!IFSJUBHF!EBZ! Sunday, August 21 st is African Heritage Day! Would you like to hear our morning prayer in both English and an African language? Would you like to experience a taste of Africa enjoying many ethnic delicacies? Would you like to celebrate with our members whose immediate home is on the Mother continent? This day will afford us this joyous opportunity! Kade Holiday and her committee are asking everyone to dress in African Garb if you have it and join in the festive spirit of Mother Africa. Eleanor & Ruby Erin, Robert, Kennedy, & Lauren Ayanna & Edna Archie, Felecia, Jonathan Pastor Miller & Rev. Lana

11 PAGE 11 R.E.A.C.H. FOOD BANK We thank all the many volunteers who have assisted with the Food Bank. We are now concluding our fourth year of service to over 4000 families by distributing over 400,000 lbs. of food. Upcoming dates include: 10 am 12 Noon Saturday, June 11 th Saturday, July 9 th Saturday, August 13 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 DATES TO REMEMBER JUNE 11 REACH Food Pantry 12 Promotion Sunday / Annual Youth Day 18 Women's Prayer Luncheon 19 Father s Day 26 Women s Day JULY th District Christian Education Congress 9 REACH Food Pantry 10 Hospitality Day 30 Golf For Christ Scramble Tournament 31 Annual Lay Day ANNUAL SCOUT SUNDAY On Sunday, August 28 th we will acknowledge the work of our DuPage AME Church Scouting Ministries. Scouting is a great opportunity for young people to develop their character, leadership and service to humankind. Scouting exposes our young people to nature, and challenges them to apply their knowledge to real life experiences. We have award-winning Girls and Boy Scout Troops and they do a great job year round. Make sure you are a witness to support and prayerfully encourage both our Scouts and their dedicated Troop Leaders. AUGUST 8-12 Vacation Bible School DuPage Theatre Group Production 21 African Heritage Day 28 Scout Sunday FALL EDITION: 32 nd Church Anniversary The deadline for submissions to the Fall Edition NEWSLETTER is August 30 th. We want to hear from you and your ministry in the church.

12 DUPAGE AME CHURCH 4300 YACKLEY AVENUE LISLE, IL AGEAMEC.ORG Small Enough To Care, Large Enough To Share! The Women s Day Choir is looking for you to join them in praise! Come on out and join us! It s not too late! Monday, June 6 th 7 pm Tuesday, June 21 st 7 pm Friday, June 17 th 7 pm Saturday, June 25 th 4 pm