Etc!
The Etc. is a very different kind of coffeehouse. We offer fair trade, donation based, brewed coffee & teas. We are a place to study and be.
—All proceeds support Wesley Evening Food Pantry—
Weekdays 9am-8pm “Etc. Lite”Except when hosted by groups below.
Informal self service coffee, teas and snacks plus great study environment. It’s an incredible place to come and hangout. We keep a couple pots of coffee and hot water going to keep you well caffeinated for life. Thanks for making donations to pay for your coffee and support our food pantry.
Tuesdays 6-8:30pm “Rainbow Coffeehouse”
Inclusive Coffeehouse hosted by the University of Illinois
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Office Tues 6pm – 8:30pm
Friday 4-6pm “International Coffeehouse”
People from around the world gather for an informal time of conversation, coffee, snacks, cultural exchange and fun.
- Experience friendships with faculty and students
- Enjoy free coffee, tea, fruit juice and snacks
- Practice speaking and hearing English
- Meet people from many fields of study and research
- Learn about other cultures
Students-Visiting Scholars-Spouses-Children-Community Residents-English as a 2nd Language-All are Welcome
Click on the link above for International Persons for full details.
Friday Etc. “Hot Spot” at 7:30pm in our Coffeehouse.
Looking for a place to hangout on a Friday night? Join us for fair-trade coffee and tea, snacks, live entertainment, pool, TV and fun. We’re really excited about kicking off this new time in our old coffeehouse.
Everyone is welcome to come by for a few minutes or until we close at Midnight.
Recent Updates
Peer Minister Reblog: “The Distorting Power of a Flawed Narrative” by Stephen Rankin
Pastor Stephen Rankin recently wrote a good post about the relationship between religion and conflict. Here’s a taste:
“We have here what I think of as an attribution error in these narratives. The problem is attributed to something inherent in religion. Whatever that something is, it should be avoided. It is no wonder, then, that college students quickly catch on to the notion that their faith is an optional accessory, therefore can be easily laid aside or modified to suit their private, particular needs.
The attribution error reveals the bias that must be named and corrected. Religion is often portrayed as somehow the cause of the problem when the real problem is more fundamental: people are tempted to abuse power. We can do it through religious teachings or we can do it through entirely secular ones.”
You can read the full post here.
I think that Pastor Rankin is dead on. I would add that abuse of power may not be unique to religion, but the job of standing up to that abuse lies with other in the religious community.
-Kevin Anderson
Snacks for Studying in ETC Coffeehouse
This Friday, May 3rd, there will be free healthy snacks (and some unhealthy snack) (also free) in ETC to aid with studying for finals! Come in and enjoy the best study spot in town.
Peer Minister Reblog: “A Common Life Together” by Eboo Patel
Eboo Patel is coming to campus! Are you excited?
The founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, an adviser to President Obama, and a U of I alum, Eboo Patel will be giving a talk for this coming Friday Forum at the YMCA. The crux of his work is bringing together young persons from all religions to work on service projects together, and fostering the relationships they build during that time.
Read this excerpt from “A Common Life Together:”
“In an interconnected world, the only chance we have is a common life together. If we are to build it, we must insure the bridges between us are strong enough to withstand the bombs of the extremists. As the American poet William Stafford wrote, “The signals we give must be clear now … the darkness around us is deep.”
As with all of the Friday Forums, interested students from the Wesley Foundation can meet in ETC at 11:45 am, or meet at the YMCA at noon. Lunch is $3 for students.
Hope to see you there!
Peer Minister Reblog: “What’s a Methodist?” by Rev. Steve Manskar
Rev. Steve Manskar of the Minnesota Conference of the United Methodist Church writes about an experience he had describing Methodism to woman passing through his church.
‘Wesley acknowledges that he had not yet attained the goal of discipleship as practiced by the people called Methodists. It seems to me that he is saying that Methodists are people who are striving toward the goal of Christian maturity, also known as perfection in love and holiness of heart and life. What follows in “The Character of a Methodist” is Wesley’s description of a disciple of Jesus Christ who has “attained the goal”, who is an “altogether Christian.”
A more accurate response to the young woman at the dinner table who asked, “What’s a Methodist?” would be: A Methodist is a Christian who is in training to love God with all his or her heart, soul, and mind and to love his or her neighbor as himself or herself.’
You can read the full blog posts, and subsequent posts fleshing out the idea further, here.
I believe that Rev. Manskar is right in saying that Methodism is about working towards a perfect relationship with God- a relationship based on a love for God and shown by a love for the world. I hope to see you around the Wesley Foundation this Easter (and later on too), so we can continue sharing that love with each other and bringing that love out to the world!
–Kevin Anderson, Peer Minister
Spring Fling is Coming!
Snackage will be provided! That’s right, FOOD 
Now you really want to come!
If you are Mr. or Mrs. Popular and have hot plans on a Saturday night, the Spring Fling will conclude by 10:00/10:30 PM giving you PLENTY of time to enjoy the rest of your evening!
It is for a FANTASTIC cause!
ALSO! If you would like to be a part of our team for Relay for Life (You do not have to be a regular attendee of Wesley!) or are curious about what exactly it is, check out the event page:
Wednesday Nights Interfaith Meditation
At 8pm on Wednesday nights between February 20th and March 27th, we will be welcoming persons from all faith traditions into a half hour meditation. We will have the sanctuary set up with self guided meditation areas. Each week new themes in meditation will be introduced. Feb 20 Light, Feb 27 Breathing, Mar 6 Chanting, Mar 13 Walking, Mar 20 (Closed over Spring Break but you’re invited to consider Reading), Mar 27 Silence.
Friday Forum
The Wesley Foundation is proud to co-host the weekly Friday Forum at the YMCA.Friday Forum is a weekly lecture series held during the fall and spring semesters that strives to raise awareness about national and international trends and events. This Spring we will be looking at areas of faith and social justice.
The website for Friday Forum can be found here. We will leave from ETC Coffeehouse at 11:45 each Friday and walk to the YMCA. Come join us!
Peer Minister Reblog: “The Journey to Easter” by Dean Lollis
Dean Lollis, pastor of the St. Mark UMC in Greenwood, SC, writes about lent and some ways people observe it.
“Someone once asked me, ‘Why do you Methodists celebrate Lent?’
It was an interesting question because I’ve never viewed Lent as a Methodist ‘thing’ and I’ve certainly never thought of it as a celebration.”
The full blog is here.
At the Wesley Foundation and United Methodist Church, we are preparing for Lent with an Ash Wednesday Vesper Service, in the Sanctuary, at 6:30 pm. We will also be hosting an interfaith meditation every Wednesday at 8 pm every week until Easter (save for Spring Break).
We hope you will join us meditation, reflection, and growth over this season of Lent.
-Kevin Anderson, Peer Minister
Superbowl Chili Cook-off
Come join us this Sunday for our Superbowl Party and Chili Cook-off. Bring you best chili and enter to win the coveted Wesley Foundation Apron, or just come to eat chili and help choose the winner.
Watch the Superbowl on the big screen, share snacks with friends, and, for those who are unfamiliar with American football, have the rules explained to you.
The chili contest will begin at 5 pm.
Good chili, good friends, good fun!
Peer Minister Reblog: “Swim Meets and Other Complicated Mysteries” by Pastor Robert McDowel
Pastor Robert McDowell talks about a confusing swim meet (aren’t they all) and some of life’s greater mysteries.
“2 Corinthians 5:7 says we are to “Walk by faith, and not by sight.” It is a profound thing to have the Word of God revealed in one’s life. Knowing the truth of God is a rock upon which one can build one’s life. But the revelation is not yet complete. It will only be made fully known at His 2nd coming. Till then, He has also given us His Spirit to guide and comfort us in the confusing times.”
Full blog at: http://pastorrobert-nikos.blogspot.com/2013/01/daves-deep-thoughts-swim-meets-other.html
We see some of God’s great mysteries in our own community, be they how to respond to hunger and pain or how to best open our lives to God. The Wesley Foundation has eyes and ears for all, and our minds set on Christ.