North Central College Office of Faith & Action

I’ve been wrestling with the words to capture my feelings in this moment but keep coming up short. Succinctly, after 10 years of ministry, I am leaving North Central College. Next week, I will be joining American University in Washington, D.C. as the University Chaplain and Director of the Kay Spiritual Life Center. As a proponent of the theological idea of kairos, I recognize that this season draws to a close and a new chapter begins for both me and for NCC.

In a final chance to connect, everyone is invited to stop by for coffee and sweets at a Send Off-Social on Wednesday, August 14, between 4:00 and 6:00 PM in the Koten Community Gathering Room (Kiekhofer Hall, 129 E. School St.). After all the coffee chats I’ve had with so many of you, I wanted to have one last moment to gather and talk.

Over the last decade, it has been my distinct joy to celebrate and dream with you, to grieve and struggle with you, but mostly, to listen and learn with you. I appreciate the patience of my colleagues in Student Affairs and Athletics, the encouragement from our faculty and staff, the support of our alumni, and the boundless enthusiasm of our students. Much of what I share up in my public messages, prayers, and postings is your wisdom and care reflected back for you to see.

So the best words I can use for my feelings is bittersweet - filled with incredible memories while already missing the Cardinal family. Blessings of light and truth on you all!

Peace,
Chaplain Eric

A long overdue moment to celebrate!

Congratulations to all those who have stayed in the fight.
Grief for those who had to abandon their call to protect themselves.
Hopefulness for what God will do as we move forward together.

40-year ban on gay clergy struck down In an emotional morning, General Conference has eliminated the ban on “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy. Following the vote at break, delegates and observers sang hymns in joy.

Chag Pesach sameach!

Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Biblical story of Exodus — where God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It starts at sundown on April 22 and runs for eight days.

The central celebration is the Seder, a ritual feast where the food and conversation explores the Exodus story as well as modern calls to justice and spaces for liberation.

The NCC Seder is coming up on Thursday. Contact Chaplain Eric ([email protected]) if you want to join us.

Eid Mubarak! Celebrating end of Ramadan, Eid-al-Fitr is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in Islam. Your Muslim friends would probably love to catch up with you over lunch or a cup of coffee as we all get ready for the end of the academic year!

Holi is is the Hindu Festival of Colours, Love, and Spring.

Celebrated on March 25 in India, the Naperville community will celebrate on Saturday April 6.

Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and prayer, starts today. A resource guide to local worship service, food services, and more, is available at the Office of Faith & Action in Kiekhofer Hall.

Faculty and staff can find more information about supporting students through the bio link or by contacting Chaplain Eric Doolittle.

Join us for a special "Faith & Leadership with Dr. Anita Thomas" Tuesday, February 27, 2023. We're filming in Koten Chapel at 11:45 AM and everyone is welcome to sit in. After the taping, there's a Q&A time and then discussion time next door at the Coffee Lab.

Today is Ash Wednesday, a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Mardi Gras/ Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter.

Ash Wednesday is traditionally observed with fasting and abstinence. Many people choose to either give up certain indulgent pleasures like meat, sweets or caffeine, while others take on additional spiritual disciples, like Bible reading and prayer time. At NCC we want to offer a understanding of intentional living and spiritual disciplines - EcoLent.

EcoLent sets this time aside to remember God's creation and the impact our lives have on the earth. If your interested, look for one of the EcoLent booklets available at the Office of Faith & Action (Kiekhofer) or the WAC Front Desk. You'll also see posts on our social media.

Whatever tradition you follow this Lent, may this season of intentional reflection prepare us to celebrate Easter more fully.

Embrace the eco Lent journey with our sustainable calendar, weaving the threads of faith and sustainability together. 🌿✝️ Let’s reflect, renew, and respect our planet as we walk this path of mindful living. 🌎💚

Ash Wednesday is February 14, 2024. It is the traditional start of Lent within Western Christianity. Many Christians choose to receive the mark of ashes as a reminder of their commitment to Lenten disciplines such as fasting and prayer for the next 40 days.

Anyone can receive ashes from Chaplain Eric at the times listed or at the brief noon service in Koten Chapel. Roman Catholic masses also run throughout the day at Saints Peter & Paul.

Tonight is the start of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea. It is a major cultural festival celebrated in several Asian countries that often incorporates religious elements from Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. The two week celebration is widely celebrated by diaspora communities around the world and on our campus!

笑口常开 – May your year be filled with an abundance of smiles and laughter!

Reposted from Be a good friend. Share about the $2+ million available in scholarships from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Details at https://umhef.org.

Our "Faith & MLK" filming has been postponed due to the closure of the campus for extreme weather. We'll let everyone know when we reschedule.

Be safe!

Filming location change: We're moving the "Faith & MLK" filming and the Volunteer Fair to Stevenson Hall in the Wentz Science Center. Come join us for a great conversation and stick around to learn about our incredible local service organizations.

🗓 Save the date! 📢 Join us on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, in the Multicultural Lounge, Upper WAC, for an inspiring exploration of the transformative impact Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had on our campus and the life of Rev. Bob Burkhart, Class of ‘62.

🕰️ Schedule: 11:45 AM: Filming begins
🎙️ Q&A session to follow

Chaplain Eric Doolittle will guide us through a discussion with Rev. Bob Burkhart, who experienced a life-changing day with MLK in 1961. Discover how faith and social justice became integral to his ministry for decades.

Let’s honor MLK’s legacy and continue the dialogue on campus. Don’t miss “Faith & MLK with Rev. Bob Burkhart, ‘62”! 🌟

NCTV17 has posted the video from Sunday's beautiful service including Arianna Jones, Chaplain Eric Doolittle, and inspiring speakers, dancers, and musicians from the from the Naperville community. Thanks to all the speakers and sponsors who made the World Peace Day 2024 Interfaith Prayer Service a success!

Link in the bio or here - https://www.nctv17.org/community-events/loving-courageously-world-peace-day-2024-at-north-central-college/

TODAY! Join Arianna Jones '21, 20+ local communities of faith, and me for a day of unity to explore ways to strengthen our commitment to each other in building a more peaceful, just, and safe community.

Wentz Concert Hall
3:00 PM

The call for peace, unity remains A few short years after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and in the midst of a “War on Terror,” community and faith leaders assembled at a Naperville church to appeal for unity, oppose intolerance an...

Jumping right into the new year with events starting this Sunday!
Get more information about the World Peace Day Interfaith Service, MLK week, and Faith & MLK with Rev. Bob Burkhart.

https://conta.cc/3TKx8yo

January news from Chaplain Eric Doolittle World Peace Day, MLK, "Faith &...", and more January 2023 Rev. Eric Doolittle __________________________ Chaplain of the College Connexion Every year since coming to North Central College, I've had t

Come see admissions rockstar Arianna Jones this Sunday, January 7, 2024. Join 20+ local communities of faith for a day of unity to explore ways to strengthen our commitment to each other in building a more peaceful, just, and safe community.

This Sunday, January 7, 2024, join 20+ local communities of faith for a day of unity to explore ways to strengthen our commitment to each other in building a more peaceful, just, and safe community.

Just in time for Hanukkah, the new "Faith & Judaism with Ann Dolinko" is up on our YouTube Page. Chaplain Eric Doolittle sits down with Dr. Ann Dolinko from the Shimer Great Books School of North Central College. We walk through the traditions and celebrations of Jewish life that root her in her sense of self and purpose as a philosopher and human trying to heal the world.

Give a gift to yourself and watch this episode, and the whole F24 series during your Holy-days this year.

Link in the bio or https://youtu.be/iHtunp1k4Nw

Happy Hanukkah!

TONIGHT! 7:00 PM in Wentz Concert Hall! Join us on a journey through the story of Jesus's birth as we celebrate with special music from:

TONACITY
FLUTE DUETS
NCC BIG BAND
THE WILD CARDS
VOICES OF PRAISE
LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Free and open to everyone!

We're launching a new thing on Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 PM in Wentz Concert Hall! Join us on a journey through the story of Jesus's birth as we celebrate with special music from:

TONACITY
FLUTE DUETS
NCC BIG BAND
THE WILD CARDS
VOICES OF PRAISE
LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Free and open to everyone!

New "Faith &..." videos, community events, and a special "Xmas" greeting from Chaplain Eric.

https://conta.cc/3T6qBxE

December news from Chaplain Eric Doolittle The Holy-Days, "Faith &...", World Peace Day, and more December 2023 Rev. Eric Doolittle __________________________ Chaplain of the College Happy Holidays! And Merry Xmas! Before you jump onto social

Send your questions to [email protected]. Or join us for our final taping of the semester on December 4 in Koten Chapel. Coffee and conversation after at the Coffee Lab. Happy Holy-Days!

UPDATE! We're still filming "faith &..." today with Dr. Matt Krystal, but with a new focus given the ongoing struggle for democracy in Guatemala. We'll explore how indigenous spiritual beliefs are core to their demands for equality and compare them with Society in the USA.

More news from Guatemala here: https://apnews.com/hub/guatemala-city