Fire destroys food pantry #Ward09

[VIDEO] Been quite a while since I've shared a local story on this blog. On Monday there was a fire in Roseland near 111th/Michigan where a church operated a food pantry. You see the story above from WGN.

There is a GoFundMe drive page [CLICK HERE] for this church and also it was reported that Rev. Jesse Jackson is pledging help for this church as well. From ABC 7

Carter Temple and copper thieves

It seems 5 Loaves which had issues with copper thieves interfering with their operations over the past summer aren't the only local "institution" that are experiencing those problems. Pastor Joseph Gordon from Carter Temple CME Church (7841 S. Wabash Ave.) reported recently. As with 5 Loaves this was only a temporary set back as the church is at status quo.

Back-to-school celebration Parkway Garden Christian Church tomorrow!

From a recent e-mail blast from 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer

Parkway Garden Christian Church - In partnership with Chicago Police Dept. 3rd Distrcit CAPS & Dream Yough Complex

A back-to-school celebration and all are welcome

Saturday, August 18, 2018
From 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Parkway Garden Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Edward J. Morris Sr., Pastor
6600 S. King Drive

For more info call 773.956.8723

This among other back-to-school events for tomorrow.

Refer to flyer below

Tribune: Police call on Pfleger to not shut down Dan Ryan with July peace march

Via Chicago Mag

Unless something changes during the course of the next week this march on the Dan Ryan Expressway is going to happen.

A top Chicago Police Department official on Thursday implored Rev. Michael Pfleger not lead a peace march onto the Dan Ryan Expressway next month, saying hundreds of officers would need to be pulled out of neighborhoods on a busy summer weekend.

But Pfleger, the pastor at St. Sabina Catholic Church with a long track record of activism, said he plans to go ahead.

“We are not gonna roll over and be quiet,” he said.

Pfleger this week announced a protest march for 10 a.m. on July 7 in the northbound lanes of the Dan Ryan, from 79th Street to 67th Street. He said the goal is to demand city officials do more to address violence.

Chicago police First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio contended Thursday the expressway route could be detrimental to that aim.

“The very thing that they’re trying to accomplish — stop violence and stop shootings — has the potential to actually escalate because we’re pulling police officers out of the neighborhoods where we need them in order to escort the protesters down the expressway,” Riccio told reporters after a City Hall hearing on Police Department crime statistics.

Riccio said it could require 200 or more police officers to shut down the Ryan to protect marchers. He said Pfleger has not been receptive to suggestions from the department that he instead hold the march on a neighborhood street.

Pfleger said he has a good relationship with Chicago Police but was surprised to hear the comment about them pulling officers for the protest. He said he hasn’t heard that concern before when there are marches downtown, or for Blackhawks and Cubs championship parades.

PREVIOUS: Sun-Times: Pfleger plans to shut down Dan Ryan on July 7 by marching on roadway

Sun-Times: Pfleger plans to shut down Dan Ryan on July 7 by marching on roadway

Via Chicago Mag

Saw this in the news feeds over at the Capitol Fax blog on Monday. Tweet with link to article below and a quick excerpt

The Rev. @MichaelPfleger plans to shut down the Dan Ryan Expressway on the morning of July 7 to bring attention to gun violence, @mitchdudek reports. https://t.co/QpWAwAij6h

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) June 25, 2018

On July 7 at 10 a.m., Pfleger plans to lead a group down the Dan Ryan’s northbound entrance ramp at 79th Street and walk about a mile and a half before exiting at the Marquette Road/67th Street exit ramp.

Pfleger said several people in positions of power, he wouldn’t say who, have tried to dissuade him from marching down the highway — to no avail.

Ample notice of the demonstration will hopefully allow motorists to avoid the area, he said.

It’s unclear how many people will be joining him. Pfleger said he’s received interest from people as far away as Naperville.

He's doing this on a Saturday. Shouldn't be a heavy traffic day though guaranteed if he did this during the week, this would be very risky PR-wise. 

The former St. Nicholas Church in Roseland

You might see this reposted onto our ig page. In the meantime here's Eric Allix Rogers photo of this vacant church in Roseland at 113th Place and State Street.

There are some great buildings and architecture in our communities. Someone out there appreciates them, if only there was a way to keep these buildings in use so they won't meet the wrecking ball.

The former St. Nicholas church (William J. Brinkmann, circa 1900) is rotting away in Roseland

A post shared by Eric Allix Rogers (@ericallixrogers) on Apr 19, 2017 at 8:35am PDT

Capitol Fax: Rauner briefly meets with protesters

[VIDEO] Over the recent weekend Gov. Bruce Rauner paid a visit to the Liberation Christian Center at 7400 S. Michigan. As you see in the above Sun-Times video his speech to the congregation there was met by protest outside of the church. He later met with select members of the protesters.

I only thought to post this story because Worlee did a post about this church in 2013. Of course it should be noted that it's unrelated to this recent news. But it came up for results you can see on this blog regarding popular posts here over the last 7 days. I wonder if Rauner's visit has people looking up any information about this church.

PrayChicago prays for a Neighborhood a day

OK, some of the major controversy (at least with a member of Greater Chatham Alliance) is that the term "neighborhood" gets confused with the term "Community Area".

There are 77 official community areas. There are dozens more neighborhoods. The problem I mentioned is that some neighborhoods also have the name of the community , such as Chatham. The community area covers more than those who consider the Chatham neighborhood only between State and Cottage Grove, 79th to 87th.

The media labels a community area a "neighborhood", even if the neighborhood has a different name, and perpetuates the confusion.

All this to say, PrayChicago is a movement to have Christians pray for the city of Chicago. They have had rallies in different areas of the city, such as at Salem Baptist's House of Hope on the South Side in January (they return to House of Hope, January 20, 2016). There are a variety of leaders, including Dr. John Fuder, formerly of Moody Bible Institute and now with Park Community Church.

They are spearheading an effort to pray for all 77 community areas (though they are calling them neighborhoods) of Chicago, 1 day until their big even on January 20.

Here are some of the community areas we cover at The Sixth Ward blog:

Auburn Gresham = Sunday, November 8

Avalon Park = Tuesday, November 10

Burnside = Monday, November 16 

Chatham = Wednesday, November 18

Englewood = Friday, November 27

Let us know what you are praying for in your community area, and let us know if we are missing any community areas.

#BlackLivesMatter demonstration THIS Sunday, Dec. 14

Following up on last Sunday's demonstrations, more churches are coming together, as coordinating, as they "get off their streets, and go into the streets." This is an effort to show that #BlackLivesMatter, several churches are continuing the movement that Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina initiated less than 2 weeks ago.

Chatham Fields Lutheran Church, 8050 S. St. Lawrence, will start a march  THIS Sunday, Decmeber 14, meeting at Cole Park at 1pm. They will then walk up King Drive to 79th, possibly meeting other churches there as well.

Greater Institutional AME Church, at 7800 S. Indiana, will have a Black Lives Matter Sunday Service at 10 a.m.
Here's their press announcement:

PROTEST MARCH & PRAYER CIRCLE AT 79th & DAN RYAN SUNDAY
Rev. Dr. Walter B. Johnson, Jr., Pastor & Greater Institutional to March in Protest of Deaths of
Eric Garner & Michael Brown

WHAT: Protest March & Prayer Circle in Protest of Deaths of Eric Garner & Michael Brown
Rev. Dr. Walter B. Johnson, Jr., Pastor will lead the Greater Institutional AME Church congregation and community members in a march in protest of the deaths of Eric Garner & Michael Brown. A call to action and prayer for the community will be read at 79th & the Dan Ryan to stop the violence and unjust police brutality against young black men.

WHERE: Event Begins at Greater Institutional Church, 7800 S. Indiana Avenue, Chicago, IL and Ends at 79th & Dan Ryan

WHEN: 12:45 p.m. - Sunday, December 14, 2014

WHO: Sponsored by Greater Institutional AME Church in conjunction with various community leaders, organizations and area residentsA March will begin at 12:45 p.m. from GI to 79th & Dan Ryan. There is a strong possibility that this alliance of churches will then move east on 79th to join the Chatham Fields Group at 79th & King Drive.
Participating churches: Greater Institutional AMEC and Carter Temple CMEC (possibly St. James Evangelical Lutheran as well)

Please let us know of other efforts in the community as well!

--jp--

Chatham Churches Demonstrate that #BlackLivesMatter = part 1

Here are some photos from this past Sunday's #BlackLivesMatter protests by area churches.

From Rev. William Hall and St. James Lutheran https://www.facebook.com/hall.william?fref=ts

Today GOD blessed our church...

TODAY was the FIRST time our church marched in its history!!! 

22 of us marched from our church down 79th and PRAYED and chanted "HANDS OUT WE HELP"... 

Along the route we hugged people, even helped during an accident between an elderly man and a guy....
 

When we were done we ate SOUP...
‪#‎BlackLivesMatterChatham‬‪#‎HandsOutWeCare‬

And from Greater Institutional AME Church

 

 

Temple of Glory International marched with Bethlehem Star on 95th, between Cottage Grove & King Drive. (The churches were for each end, but came together).

If there are others, please share with us...Or if anyone would like to do a guest blog post on your experience, we would welcome it. e-mail photos and text to blog (at) thesixthward.us
Later today, we will share some events coming up THIS Sunday, December 14 (which is also Levois & JP's birthday!)

Strausberg: Spencer Leak, Sr. leads fight to restore bible to CPS

Spencer Leak, Sr, CEO, Leak Funeral Homes, told dozens of ministers he is in this fight to restore the bible to CPS to the end and will hold the mayor and all 50 aldermen accountable before February 24, 2015, which is the municipal elections. Leak and his church, Liiberty Baptist Church, will be leading this battle they say is need to teach students about morals and values.

By Chinta Strausberg

Even though 52-years ago the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-1 to ban prayer in schools, Spencer Leak, Sr., CEO, Leak & Sons Funeral Home and chairman emeritus of Liberty Baptist Church, met with scores of ministers and church members at Josephine’s Cooking Restaurant where he vowed to lead the fight needed to restore prayer in Chicago Public Schools (CPS)

Leak, a member for 45-years of Liberty Baptist Church, said his pastor, Rev. Dr. Darrell Lamar Jackson, will hold a planning meeting in three weeks at Liberty located at 4849 S. King Drive. Leak said Rev. Jackson “is going to take the lead in our quest to get the bible in the CPS.” Black On Black Love is also involved.

Leak explained that meeting “will be timed after the Nov. 4th election because the election we are concerned about is the one for mayor and 50 aldermen who we are going to put this proposition to. We are going to make this a part of their campaign. They are going to have to answer to us whether we can get this done and if not we need an elected school board to get this done.”

He will be inviting the aldermanic candidates asking for their support. “We know the timing is right for us to get this done. We won’t have another municipal election for four more years,” said Leak vowing to press this issue to the aldermen and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). “We want them to put the bible in the curriculum of the CPS.”

“If we can have Huckleberry Finn in the curriculum of the CPS where Finn uses the word ‘n….’ 15-30 times in the course of that story…if that book can be a part of the CPS curriculum and it should be, then certainly the bible can,” Leak stated.

“The bible is a book of values and when Mayor Emanuel was asked when we had a spike of violence over one of the weekend why, he held his hands up and said ‘values.’

“What other book teaches values like the bible. No other book can do it. We’re holding the mayor to his word. Mr. Mayor, you said the problem was values. We got a book that teaches values and we can keep our young people from destroying themselves if that book is put into the CPS,” Leak told this reporter.

When told that some ministers said the fight to restore the bible to the classroom is a losing battle, Leak quipped, “God specializes in losing battles. He specializes in the impossible. When you give God the proposition that something is losing…God gets active and God can only get active if we his created ones. This will win and we’re going to make it win,” he said.

Dr. JoAnn Long, pastor of the New Life Believers Church, said, “I believe in Dr. Leak’s vision in getting the bible restored in our classrooms to have that option.” As a child, Dr. Long said she read the bible in school and that children today should be able to do the same thing. She said the bible teaches morals and values and that is what students today need. “We want our children to have high morals. The bible is also a guide….”

Also attending that meeting was mayoral hopeful Bill Walls who said, “The Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court has decided that it is legal to teach the bible in schools. You can teach it, but you can’t preach it. The bible is taught in schools all across America and there is no reason why it can’t be taught here in Chicago.”

Bishop Edgar Jackson, pastor of Beth El All Nations Church, said the bible “is an instrument we must use to bring some civility back into our society especially the young people who don’t know right from wrong. They do not have a moral foundation that they may be able to judge between what is right and wrong.

Agreeing was Gwendolyn Smith who said, “We perish for lack of knowledge and without knowledge we can’t move in this world. A lot of children have lost their way because they have not been taught…. We can’t let them learn on their own.”

###

In the meanwhile, after reading the article above what do you think about this issue? Do you think the bible should be restored to CPS' curriculum?

Map to find an event for #putthegunsdown

In addition to the event posted by Levois this morning, the Mayor's Office posted a link with a map for all activities related to this event.

It's a kickoff, and there are MANY activities churches and many other organizations can do, not just tonight, but throughout the summer.

St James Lutheran Church - Black History Month

Pastor William E. Hall, the newly installed senior pastor of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church at 8000 S. Michigan, post this piece of local Black History on his Facebook page:

Black History Moment:

Rev. Robbin W. Skyles III

This is Rev. Robbin W. Skyles III, who founded St. James Lutheran Church, the first African-American Lutheran Congregation in the State of Illinois.

He was 29yrs old when he founded St. James, and can you guess where... I serve as pastor at the age of 29.

ST JAMES LUTHERAN!

Happy to be apart of Black History.
ST JAMES LUTHERAN!

Happy to be apart of Black History.

 
We hope to get more info to post information this history on our blog.

Will MegaChurches Squeeze Chatham Residents

Two weeks ago, the Chicago Public Schools approved a charter for Horizon Science Academy at 8522 S Lafayette. The school is reported to  have signed a lease that would pay an affiliate of  Fellowship  Missionary Baptist Church who's pastor is Charles Jenkins, $1.0 million in yearly rent.  Mr. Jenkins  is a trusted advisor to Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. Many believe that this figure is out of line compared to what other schools are paying for similar space. Many believe this is a diabolical covert way of publicly funding a church pastored by an ally of the mayor. The church with an estimated congregation of 6,000 is planning to relocate on adjacent land and build several buildings http://legacyprojectchicago.com/.

  The Chatham community has a number of churches. There are churches of all denominations and faiths.  A number of these churches have dwindling congregations for a variety of reasons. Prior to the announcement, it was announced that to the east of Chatham in the 8th ward  at 1021 E 78th Street that Alderman Michelle Harris gave another megagchurch, New Life Covenant, several city owned lots so they could build their church complex. New Life Covenant has an estimated congregation of 6,000 members and is pastored by radio personality Mr. John Hannah.  While most would see a combined estimated $60-80 million in developments  as a positive to the respective communities, there comes some issues with these churches. Several years ago, Pastor and former State Senator James Meeks of Salem Baptist church started a crusade to close stores in Roseland  that sold liquor and tobacco that his church deemed "undesirable". He was successful in closing stores but the strip of Michigan Ave. between 100th-119th has not seen any businesses come in to take the place of those that are closed and until the recent opening of Walmart was left without a grocery store. In Chatham, along 79th street there are several liquor store and lounges. Most are law abiding, while one has become the target of community leaders to get closed and was closed for several months.  So the question in my mind is as a resident of Chatham who is of legal age, sound mind, taxpaying and law abiding citizen do I lose my right to purchase wine and spirits as a result of the church moving nearby and a bunch of people who come into the neighborhood one day for several hours feel that its not what they want? In west Chatham, the proposed Fellowship MBC development will end adjacent to the parking area of the new Studio Movie Grill-Chatham. SMG-Chatham is on track for renovations of its lobby and the renovations will place a small scale casual dining restaurant  that will include a bar. The theater itself has been at 210 W 87th for over 16 years but when the church moves in and disagrees with a particular movie or the serving of wine and spirits do I lose my chose as a legal age. law abiding, sound mind and tax paying citizen? While the churches may believe that they can provide alternatives I believe not. They are not going to be able to replace the 150 jobs at SMG-Chatham and the other jobs lost along 79th street. Also, will younger families want to move to a community that offers no entertainment venues? These are questions the Chatham community will have to answer. What do you think?    

ABC 7: GOP Governor primary race heating up

[VIDEO] Speaking of Bruce Rauner - a Republican candidate for Governor who will be at a meet & greet at Luversia's on Jan. 20th - it appears his comments regarding a minimum wage has made the GOP primary more of a contest. He had been forced to backtrack from his statement where he apparently supported decreasing the minimum wage to the federal level.

The ABC7Chicago video you see above shows other Republican candidates such as Kirk Dillard & 2010 GOP nominee for Governor state Sen. Bill Brady take some swipes at Rauner. Mainly over the minimum wage flap and Dillard became the next Republican governor candidate to make a stop on the south side. As you see in the video he was at a services of Sweet Holy Spirit Church @ 8621 S. South Chicago Avenue.

BTW, Rich Miller of the CapFax noted that while Rauner has made some contradictory statements with regards to his position on the minimum wage so had Dillard. Dillard had stated himself that minimum wage should be set by the market, however, he too attempted to moderate his position on this issue.

So now, when will Sen. Brady and state Treasurer Rutherford will make their appearances on the south side. Not long before the 2010 elections Brady held a press conference on the site of the Chatham Market Walmart on 83rd Street to launch his jobs tour.

BTW, here's a tweet of Dillard speaking at Sweet Holy Spirit which does contain a photo

Enjoyed Sunday service at Church of the Sweet Holy Spirit. Thank you Bishop Trotter for having me & your support! pic.twitter.com/GTD87gs6uB
— Kirk Dillard (@KirkDillard) January 13, 2014

It's Time To OCCUPY THE 6th WARD

On August 9^th, 2013  a majority of the summer youth programs(educational, employment, recreational)  will have ended. Most of our schools both public or private will not begin until August 26, 2013. This leaves approximately 17 days that our youth will not be engaged in positive activities. Based on what has already occurred this summer this idle time is something our youth do not need as it breeds negative behavior.

The bloggers of the 6th ward are encouraging concerned residents, block clubs, community based organizations, the faith community and law enforcement to reach out and OCCUPY the 6^th Ward during this period. We need you to use your creativity to put on positive loitering events that will OCCUPY hot spots throughout the ward during this period.

Some ideas are as follows:

·         Ice Cream Socials

·         Prayer Corners

·         Street Sing-a longs

Over the next couple of days additional information will be coming out about events that will occur and how you can get involved.

We want you to bring your ideas forth as you are the experts in the community and know what is going on and what youth in your area will want.

 Let’s OCCUPY Park Manor, Greater Grand Crossing,Chatham, Chesterfield, West Chesterfield.

WBEZ: As South Side church turned black, one white congregant stayed in pews

[AUDIO] You've probably heard about Crerar Presbyterian Church from time to time here on this blog. Today we hear about an interesting story and it tells the story of Chatham and this church of the last 50 years. And in this story we hear about one final remant of the time when the Chatham neighborhood was mostly white. You can click this link to read or listen to the audio embedded above.

Ald. Sawyer hosts meeting to explain grid system

To be held at Greater Salem Baptist Church, 215 W. 71st St. on Saturday, April 6 starting at 10:30 AM with representatives of the Dept. of Streets & Sanitation to discuss the grid system for garbage collection. Have any questions you may contact Ald. Sawyer's office at (773) 635-0006 or via e-mail at service @ 6thwardchicago.com. You may also refer to the flyer below.

Concerned Citizens of Chatham: Help those less fortunate

Consider this an update to an earlier post here regarding food pantries. Worlee at his blog has much larger list of neighborhood food pantries. They're not looking for monetary or food donations, but volunteers as well! You should know of three from this blog - two in the posts St. Columbanus and Chatham/Avalon Ministries and then there's Israel Methodist Community Church.

Let's not forget Thanksgiving is coming up this week and this is certainly a good time to make a donation to these institutions. Unfortunately we must remember that there are a lot of people who are struggling and aren't able to make a meal for themselves for the holidays. Certainly holidays are about blessings!

AGAIN, you can check out the Greater Chicago Food Depository and find a food pantry near you to make a donation!

ALSO, if you know of any other food panties in the area please let us know on our FB page, post a comment here, sent a tweet or write an e-mail!

Have you made a donation to a food pantry?

Monday, YoChicago had a post about a North Shore food pantry seeking donations. Yes, believe it or not there are even families in the North Shore who are struggling. Just like there are families struggling on this part of town.

Now we're moving into the holiday season and there are certainly families who aren't able to cook a full holiday meal for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. Now it's time to find a food panty in our part of town and perhaps consider making a monetary donation or a food donation.

St. Columbanus - located at 331 E. 71st St - has a food panty and also Chatham Avalon Park Ministries - located at the corner of 86th & State Street  - also have a food pantry. If there any others worth noting feel free to share them with us!

Also you can check out the Greater Chicago Food Depository and find a food pantry near you to make a donation!