At the 2020 World Peace Day Interfaith Prayer Service January 5 held in Naperville, representatives of many faiths came together to celebrate multiple faith traditions. Representing Chicago’s large Muslim community was the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) executive director Abdullah Mitchell. CIOGC is the umbrella organization for
Lessons and carols, an old-English worship tradition, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. May Street in Aurora. The public is invited. Admission, parking, and refreshments, are free. Acclaimed Naperville harpist Nichole Luchs will provide music. Reverend John Bell, pastor, said
With the Christmas season upon us again, we’re hearing once more about the so-called “War on Christmas.” But one pro-life leader is offering a different take on this annual controversy. “The real War on Christmas has nothing to do with slogans on coffee cups or the words retail workers use
Abdelnasser Rashid, 30, announced his bid Sunday, Oct. 27 for Cook County Board of Review as an independent democrat in 2020. Rashid is the chief policy officer for Cook County assessor Fritz Kaegi. He ran for Cook County Commissioner office in 2018 and almost won. It was so close a
The Muslim Educational Cultural Center of America (MECCA) claims its goals are “to guide young Muslims” and “build bridges of understanding with other cultures and faiths.” Yet, the Chicago area mosque’s willingness to promote hate preachers and anti-Semitic demagogues, reflects the continued influence of its Islamists founders and leaders. The
Dr. Abbas Khawaja speaks at the podium Tuesday after Aurora mayor Richard Irvin presented a proclamation in honor of Ramadan & Eid Al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr means “festival of breaking the fast” and marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Jason Crane/The Voice
Holocaust survivor Nancy Apfelroth of Aurora, left, lights a candle with Dr. David Davis, Aurora; and Judy Jacobson, Aurora, during annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day observance at Temple B’nai Israel in Aurora Wednesday, May 1. Apfelroth, 93, is the sole Holocaust survivor at the Temple. During World War II,
Prayer in the Aurora City Council Chambers includes a focus with a leader, standing, center, Thursday, May 2. Approximately 30 participants walked from Orchard Road and Galena Boulevard on the West Side through downtown to McCoy and Route 59 on the East Side. The sponsors of the annual event are
Thanks to Wayside Cross Ministries’ (WCM) partnership with First Presbyterian Church and the Dunham Fund, all based in Aurora WCM can offer a discipleship home to some of their graduates. For more than nine decades the church has been an integral part of the lives of the men, in the
With laying on of hands by family members and mentors, Jason Howard of Batavia, foreground, is confirmed as a member of Flowing Forth United Methodist Church in Aurora Sunday. Five Batavia youth comprised the church’s first confirmation class since Flowing Forth was formed in October 2018 in a merger of
In the wake of the shooting at the San Diego-area synagogue in California Saturday, April 27, which left one worshiper dead and two wounded, and the ongoing outcry against an anti-Semitic cartoon published in The New York Times, we are reminded that antisemitism exists on all sides of the political
The National Day of Prayer in Aurora, 9:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, will have planned stop for a prayer focus. The event is set to take place rain or shine. Umbrellas have been utilized in the past. Neighborhood walks are for 7 a.m. or 7 p.m., or
A helicopter drops candy-filled eggs in Faith Lutheran’s ninth annual event, April 20 in Aurora near the intersection of Eola Road and Liberty Street. The crowd was so large that even with no more than 10 to a child, the supply of 15,000 was exhausted. The idea for the egg
Downtown Easter Egg Hunt participants cross the street in Batavia Saturday. Carter Crane/The Voice
A “Way of the Cross” prayer service at the Planned Parenthood facility in Aurora Friday drew more than 450 individuals on Good Friday, April 19, to pray the Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion. Bishop Daniel Conlon of the Diocese of Joliet led the service. It was one
Actors portray the walk to Gethsemane where Jesus is nailed to the cross, along with two thieves in an annual passion play in Plano each Good Friday. Submitted photo The Good Friday Via Crusis/Living Stations of the Cross are a tradition at St. Mary Parish in Plano and feature a
“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” — George Orwell When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are being ruled by criminals. In the current governmental climate, where laws that run counter to the dictates of the U.S. Constitution are
Good Friday this year, it was more than 150 years since Abraham Lincoln’s death. Had he lived to finish his second term, the history of the United States would no doubt have been far different. Some historians believe that if Lincoln had lived, he would probably have been more successful
Signs across the street from Wayside Cross Ministries, 215 E. New York Street, Aurora, call attention to the residence of a convicted murderer recently let out of prison after completing his 35-year term. Emotions have run high the last two weeks. Protesters, between 35 to 40, held a rally Friday,
By Deena Sherman – Practicing Christianity is not easy. Jesus’ words in scripture warn us of that repeatedly. So as my heart breaks for those whose lives were directly affected by the evil acts of Tom Kokoraleis in 1981-1982, I am reminded of the most difficult calling of Christians: To
