New Elburn pastor can supply his own music
The Elburn Community Congregational Church is welcoming their new pastor, the Rev. Jeffrey Dire, with a dinner and -- appropriately enough -- a concert on Nov. 17.
Dire was installed at the church Oct. 14 and he brings polished skills as a musician. Dire plays keyboard and percussion and supplemented his income over the years by playing in supper clubs.
The community is invited to meet Dire at the annual harvest roast pork dinner from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the church at Shannon Street and Route 47 in Elburn.
Dinner will be followed by a concert at 7 p.m. by Chicago musicians Kenned and Carl. The duo will perform an evening of Broadway show tunes called "Being Alive."
Dire was instrumental in arranging for them to perform in Elburn. He won't join them on stage, although he has played for social occasions at churches.
A pastor for 26 years, Dire comes to Elburn from the Community Congregational Church in West Dundee, where he guided the congregation through a building program. Their new church was dedicated in February.
Dire said there are currently no plans to build in Elburn, but added "We hope to have the opportunity in the future."
"I'm excited to be in Elburn," Dire said. "I see a wonderful potential in this church with all the new housing. Elburn is becoming more of a suburb of Chicago."
Dire and his wife Lisa have a son Dennis, 17, and a son David, 25, who lives in Downers Grove. They plan to move to Elburn when their house in South Elgin sells.
Dire earned a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., and a master's degree in divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology of Chicago. He also received a master's degree in education from Northwestern University and he studied music education and theology as an undergraduate at DePaul University.
Tickets for the dinner and concert Nov. 17 are $10 each. Tickets may be reserved online at www.ccc-elburn.org or by calling the church office at (630) 365-0163. Proceeds will support the missions of the Elburn Community Congregational Church.
Special census
Sugar Grove recently participated in a village-wide special census.
The information will provide an updated population count from the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to the U.S. Census Web site, Sugar Grove had a population of 3,909 in 2000 and 9,025 in 2006.
Officials are looking to document the rapid growth with a certified census so that the village receives an appropriate share of state and federal funds, which are based on population.
State and federal funding is used for street repair, education, senior programming, library and other important services.
Anyone who believes they were not counted can call (888) 722-8995 between 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays or between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays.