Congratulations to Irami and Bonnie Osei-Frimpong (2005) on the birth of their daughter Carenen in Chicago on October 26. When she was 12 days old, Carenen attended her first Monday dinner with her mom. 

Hopes and Fears: Everyday Theology for New Parents and Other Tired, Anxious People by Lee Hull Moses (2001; Trustee), senior minister of First Christian Church in Greensboro, NC, and Bromleigh McCleneghan, Associate for Congregational Life, Rockefeller Chapel, was published by the Alban Institute in October. The book, which is about being not-perfect parents in a not-perfect world, is full of life, theology, and humor. Bonnie Miller-McLemore (1978) wrote the forward to the book. See more here.

Aaron Smith (2007) became Assistant Director of Employer Resources at the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis in April 2012.

An article in the fall 2012 issue of Just Women offers a portrait of JoAnne Kagiwada (trustee) entitled The Matriarch of NAPAD. In addition to narrating her founding and continuing role with the North American Pacific Asian Disciples (NAPAD), the article discusses her work on behalf of Japanese Americans who were incarcerated by the U.S. government during World War II---including her husband David Kagiwada (1951) and his family and members of her own extended family. "Kagiwada organized the lobbying and education work that led to the passage of the Civil Liberties Act in 1988. Congress authorized the distribution of $20,000 in individual payments for survivors of the camps."

Kristel Clayville, a PhD candidate in Religious Ethics, presented “Holmes Rolston: The Integration of Textual Thinking with an Environmental Theory of Responsibility” at the Religion and Ethics Workshop at the Divinity School on October 18.

We celebrate with Ed Kolbe (1956) his 52 years of ordained ministry. After having served nine interim ministries after "retirement," Ed reports that he has concluded his interim ministry. In May, Ed, Mary Ruth, and their dog, Taco, moved to a senior independent living community in Arlington, Texas.

Cheryl Jackson was installed as the new moderator of the Christian Church in Illinois and Wisconsin at the regional assembly on October 13.

Former trustee Eddie Evans Griffin was one of three inaugural recipients of the Disciple of Merit Awards, presented by the Christian Church in Illinois and Wisconsin at the regional assembly on October 12. The award recognizes outstanding service to the congregation, region, and general church. Read more about her outstanding service at Park Manor Christian church, as regional moderator, to the Chicago Child Care Society, to DDH, and elsewhere. Dorothee Sallee and Dwight Bailey were also honored as award recipients.

Congratulations to Lizy and Santiago Piñón (1998) and their son Gabe on the arrival of three new additions to their family on August 23 in Chicago. In the order of their births, they are: 5:54 Felicita Liz, 5:55 Frida Migdelia, and 5:57 Santiago Francisco. (They are pictured here in mid-October and in that order, l-r.) They were born at 25 weeks and will stay in the NICU at Loyola Hospital until December. Lizy is staying nearby. Santiago continues teaching at TCU; he and Gabe are able to visit mom and baby sisters and brother every couple of weeks.

Congratulations to Ryan Singleton (2005) and Felipa Reyes, who married on October 12. They met during the 2009 Chicago Marathon and used a running theme in their wedding and reception. Ryan continues to write. His most recent project is a book-length reflection on urban poverty, The Children of Enoch. It grew out of his work in Chicago's low-income housing world: he served as a caseworker at an SRO in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood for two years.