AIDS exhibit at Glen Ellyn church
An interactive exhibit, World Vision Experience: AIDS, has inspired a full schedule of events at the sponsoring church, First Presbyterian Church, 550 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. The exhibit will be on display Saturday, Sept. 6, through Sunday, Sept. 8, and Wednesday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 14.
The community is welcome to tour the 1,200-square-foot interactive experience and learn more about three African children whose lives have been affected by the disease.
Paired with the exhibit are several opportunities for community members to get more involved with this issue, said Jocelyn Smolik, associate director of youth ministries and project manager for the AIDS Experience.
"We want people to not only experience the exhibit but also to get them thinking about AIDS," she said. "This is the largest health crisis of our day - we can't ignore it."
On the opening day of the exhibit, Saturday, Sept. 6, the church will team up with Wheaton College for a 5 p.m. concert performed by Christian contemporary artists Shane and Shane. The public event costs $2 and will be held in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian.
"We're also building a wall that people can use to respond to the exhibit - they can help create a work of art," added Smolik.
A women's gathering scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, is titled "Breakfast with a Princess." The free event features special guest Princess Kasune Zulu, a native of Zambia, who will share her firsthand experiences with the AIDS epidemic. She has dedicated her life to preventing the disease that claimed her own parents. While she, too, is HIV-positive, Zulu has been taking antiretroviral drugs and her own daughters have tested negative. HIV/AIDS is predicted to wipe out half the people of Zambia in southern Africa.
"God has called me to be a voice to my brothers and sisters, and not only my biological brothers and sisters, but to the entire continent of Africa," she has said.
The program begins with breakfast at 9 a.m. Thursday, followed by worship, prayer and conversation with the princess.
"We're excited to bring together people in the community to learn more from Princess Zulu," Smolik said.
The event is open to the community but reservations for child care are requested by calling (630) 469-2007.
The largest event is planned for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, when First Presbyterian will hold Prayer at the Lake. Participants from the community are invited to gather at Glen Ellyn's Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, for a prayer vigil.
"We want to involve the entire community in prayer and worship, addressing this humanitarian crisis," Smolik said.
The evening's agenda includes a performance of authentic African dance by the Muntu Dance Company Theater of Chicago; a talk by Princess Zulu; worship and prayer led by community musicians and clergy; and a prayer walk lit by candles.
For details about any of the programs related to the World Vision Experience: AIDS, visit the Web site at www.firstpresge.org or call the church at (630) 469-2007.
If you go
What: World Vision Experience's "AIDS - Step Into Africa" exhibit
When: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7; noon to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8; 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13; and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14.
Where: First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, 550 N. Main St.
Cost: Free
Details: (630) 469-2007
These are related events also happening this week in DuPage County:
• Local high school students at Glenbard West and Glenbard South in Glen Ellyn, and Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South will begin a campaign to illustrate the spread of AIDS. On Monday, Sept. 8, 15 students from the schools will don bright orange T-shirts that read "orphan." Then at the end of Monday, they will give four T-shirts to their friends so Tuesday there will be students wearing 75 orange T-shirts, and 135 on Wednesday and 195 on Thursday. On Thursday, the students wearing their T-shirts will walk through and view the exhibit.
• Breakfast with a Princess is a free event with Princess Kasune Zulu of Zambia, who is HIV positive, at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn. The event includes worship and prayer and Zulu's talk. Reservations for child care are requested by calling (630) 469-2007.
• First Presbyterian Church will hold a Prayer at the Lake at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at Lake Ellyn, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. The event is a prayer vigil and worship.
• A men's breakfast is planned at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the church. For details, visit www.firstpresge.org.