SUNDAY MORNING

from the pastor

January 19, 2003

Outdoors it is stunningly beautiful and painful. Smoke rises from my neighbor's chimney. The trees are wooden skeletons with a few abandoned nests caught in their branches. The past week's snowfall lies undisturbed. And when I step outdoors, it hurts even to breathe in this 6 degree air. And it is a parable of life--stunningly beautiful--and painful.

I visited a little bit in the emergency room last night with Jaden Dalton, Martha Rosenbery's grandson. He= d been sick all day and when they took a blood sample they discovered he has diabetes. He was in an engaging mood when I saw him in that stark setting--and I was reminded again of the contrast going on in our lives--stunningly beautiful--and painful. We will keep him in our prayers.

Jim Ferguson is pulling together a small group to help us understand ways our church can connect better with the community around us. We have already gotten some helpful information from the 2000 census data and an organization called Percept. Some interesting statistics from the Percept data, broken down by zip code:

Information about zip code 61801 (sort of west of Philo Road)

Population 31,451 Anglo: 64% African American: 12.9% Hispanic/Latino: 3.9%

Asian: 16.9% other ethnic: .4%

Projected population change in next 5 years: +1.1%

Fastest growing ethnic group: Hispanics and Latinos

Households with NO faith involvement: 39%

Households with moderate faith involvement: 31%

Households with strong faith involvement: 30%

Those who prefer an historic Christian tradition: 77%

Those born 1982--2001: 37% Those born before 1925: 4%

Single Parent households 28% College graduates: 59%

Information about zip code 61802 (sort of east of Philo Road)

Population: 16,722 Anglo: 78.9% African American: 13.5% Hispanic/Latino: 1.9

Asian: 4.9% other ethnic: .7%

Projected population change in next 5 years: +1.4%

Fastest growing ethnic group: Asians

Households with NO faith involvement: 35%

Households with moderate faith involvement: 32%

Households with strong faith involvement: 33%

Those who prefer an historic Christian tradition: 82%

Those born 1982---2001: 30% Those born before 1925: 6%

Single parent households: 28% College graduates: 26%

If you are interested in working with Jim on this survey, please see him or me and we'll get you set up. --Mike

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