Smart Living Rockford - December 2, 2021

w!

Ne

ts en Ev 28 ay age lid ee P Ho S

Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • December 2021 • No. I

Right in Our Region

Finding Hope at Rockford Rescue Mission See Page 16

Remember to “Buy Local” this Holiday Season!

Shopping and dining at locally owned businesses keeps more money circulating in our hometown region!

Best of Life Information for Our Region’s Residents & Visitors Proudly Serving the Needs of 326,000 Neighbors - For Your Home, Health & Fun!

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

53

54

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

3

20%

OFF* Christmas Sale Rockton, IL

www.gemshop.jewelry

Mon-Sat 10a-5:30p Sunday 12-4p

20% OFF Any One Item*

*Valid in-store at the participating store(s) listed. Not valid on Optics, Gift Cards, Coffee, and DSC Memberships. Expires 12/24/21

4902 Hononegah Rd., Roscoe, IL 61073 (815) 623-1407 631 S. Perryville Rd., Rockford, IL 61108 (815) 484-9281 HOURS: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun: 12pm-5pm

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

5

In This Issue Right in Our Region .................Cover & p. 16 Finding Recovery at Rockford Rescue Mission Inspiration & Worship ................................ 12 The Messiah Still Speaks Your Fun ..................................................... 28

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia Editor Jim Taylor Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Lisa Brandt, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Distribution Kelly Fairbairn Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com Published by Hughes Media Corp.

222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living.

Copyright 2021 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

6

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

What is Christmas?

L

ast year I researched this question for a feature article in Northwest Quarterly Magazine. (Google “The History of Christmas, Northwest Quarterly” to find it.)

Unlike the date of Christ’s death and resurrection, which align so neatly with Passover in springtime, there’s no clarity in scripture about the date of his birth. So where did the Dec. 25 date come from?

In 336 A.D., leaders of the newlyChristian Roman Empire chose Dec. 25 as a holy day (“holiday”) to recognize the birth of Jesus. This coincided with pagan Winter Solstice celebrations in which greenery and wreaths were hung, candles were lit, gifts were exchanged and feasts were prepared.

Christians and pagans celebrated side by side, in peace, which eased the transition from a multi-god society to a Christian one.

Christmas then rose and fell for centuries before getting a big boost from Charlemagne, in 800 A.D., who tried to unite Europe under Christianity using military force. He loved the pageantry of holy days.

Unlike God (and U.S. founders), he and later rulers didn’t recognize the right of individuals to freely embrace or reject Christ. Statemandated Christianity became an oppressive norm.

By the 1600s, Christmas in England was a rowdy drinking day. Gov. William Bradford (of the Mayflower) banned it in Plymouth Colony, saying it had no basis in scripture.

In the 1800s, England’s Queen Victoria, a mother to nine children, cleaned up the tawdry reputation of Christmas and remade it into a family-friendly affair, which influenced the U.S. It was a modest holiday here until its commercial potential exploded in the mid 1800s, mostly among the well-heeled.

President U.S. Grant finally made Christmas a federal holiday in 1870 as part of his effort to unify the post-war North and South.

Christmas is many things to many people and nobody “owns” the definition or lingo.

To me, it’s a celebration of the return of light to a dark world. The Messiah came to reunite man with God. The Winter Solstice – the darkest day of the year – is the perfect moment to celebrate the return of light.

Have a good week! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

7

8

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

9

10

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Support your community.

Shop the ReStore.

When you shop for vintage items, home goods, furniture, tools, hardware & more at the ReStore, you are supporting the work of Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity.

Store Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm Donation Drop-Off Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-4pm & Sat 10am-3pm *Donation drop-off is temporarily closed on Mondays* Have items to donate? We'll pick them up for FREE! Call 815-580-1205 to schedule a pickup.

7141 Harrison Ave, Rockford IL | 815-713-3184 | rockfordhabitat.org @restorerockford

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

11

Inspiration & Worship

The Messiah Still Speaks W

hat does it really mean to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”?

It’s one of the most important questions Christians ask themselves, since the Messiah himself, Jesus Christ, cited it as the “greatest commandment in the law.” This is recorded in three of the four gospels, and Jesus doesn’t stop there.

He immediately adds that the next most important commandment is “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:25).

Those words are easier to comprehend than to internalize, but if this is what most matters to God, then loving God and people should be the focus of our daily lives.

“Don’t merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves,” admonishes James. “Do what it says.” (James 1:22).

To do the word means we have to first know the word, not just what people say about it. We need to read it, eyes-toprint, for ourselves.

In every culture since Christ came to Earth, and ours is no exception, people have mentally re-shaped God to fit comfortably with what they already believe.

We want to think God is concerned about things WE feel are important, or that OUR political action committee or news station tell us are important. But God didn’t call us out to parrot our culture. He calls us out to do His will.

To be doers of the word and not hearers only requires us to study scripture and listen to the spirit of God inside us. The good news is that we CAN do this and God promises to help us. The living God “opens the eyes of our understanding” (Ephesians 1:18) as we seek Him. As we put aside our idols and give God time and space to work within us, we experience the joy that goes hand in hand with obeying the Messiah. ❚

12

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

14

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

15

Right in Our Region

Finding Hope Through Life Recovery

T

By Jermaine Pigee, managing editor ake a walk around Rockford Resmore than a 30-day treatment program cue Mission and there’s a good and they want to focus on the spiritual.” chance you’ll see or hear the word Residents in the program get to the “hope.” Hope for recovery. Hope for root of their compulsive behaviors while change. Hope for a better life. transforming their lives with the help of “We love the word hope,” says SherJesus Christ. They also use the Genesis ry Pitney, CEO. “It’s all over the buildProcess, a Bible-based recovery program ing, and as long as I’m here, it’ll be here.” created to help residents face their deThat message of hope is a driving structive behaviors. There are more than force behind the Mission’s Men’s and 30 men and 15 women in the program Women’s Life Recovery Program, decurrently. signed to put residents on a strict plan The program is separated into a series that provides addiction recovery, spiritual of stages. The first is a social detox where guidance, and educational and vocational participants spend 30 days away from the training. outside world. During this phase, resi“It’s primarily for those who are dents are introduced to the Word of God. struggling with some sort of self-destruc“It’s an opportunity to come in and tive lifestyle, like substance abuse,” Pitget totally restored,” Pitney says. “The ney says. “Some have bottomed out in first 30 days are a chance for people to life, some are here through court order get their heads clear because a lot them and some are brought by their parents or are tired and depleted of things. They referred to us by other people. They need might have bad nutrition, or they haven’t

16

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

rested. Some people even start to wonder what they got themselves into.”

As part of this phase, people get proper rest and start eating well.

“They’re just coming off their drug or substance and many of them may need a health assessment,” Pitney says. “This gives them a chance to get stabilized.”

In the second phase, residents get involved in the Works! Center, the Mission’s work therapy and education center, which provides training for anyone looking to get back in the workforce.

Residents can also get involved with music and art, which helps the healing process. They’re able to take their minds off whatever is holding them down while they express themselves.

Life Recovery residents also can get involved with art therapy and Remade programs. Remade participants create or refurbish vintage goods, unique pieces of

Right in Our Region ally hurt, and we want to make sure they’re in a good place, because this can take up to five to six months and we don’t rush the program.

This helps them find out what their pain is and where it’s coming from.”

When that portion of the program is completed, the residents graduate. Once that happens, they can move into transition, or after care.

“After nine to 12 There’s no charge to participate in the Men’s and Women’s Life months, a person is ready to Recovery program at the Mission. step out and get a job, but they can stay shelter it provides. The Life Recovery here for up to two years,” Pitney says.

Program offers more hope for the long “Most of them aren’t ready to just haul. go out and do life on life’s terms, so they “People need a safe place to come have that covering from the Mission for and rebuild their lives around people who awhile. If they have a job, they pay an love them, and the Lord plays into that, amount back into the Mission, just like too,” Finley says. “God is our ultimate paying rent, like we do in the real world.” hope. He’ll walk with you through anyWhen we think about the Mission, thing and there’s never a day where you we might only think about the food and can’t have hope.” ❚

(Rockford Rescue Mission photos)

art and home decor. The items are sold at Nettie’s Mercantile, next door to the Mission at 625 W. State St. “The women have an art class and the men have a workshop,” Pitney says.

“They’re doing some amazing things.”

Residents can also participate in various vocational training programs, where they receive real-world skills like painting or working as a chef in the kitchen.

“They can be a guest chef and they learn the skills of how to plan, prepare and serve a meal for hundreds of people in a single setting,” says Abby Finley, marketing and communications director. “It’s been cool to see some of our residents jump into that and really enjoy planning a meal from the food we have in our pantry. This is also a way for them to give back to the community.”

As part of the Genesis Process, residents meet with an advocate who helps residents get a better idea about where their addictions stem from.

“They get into some things that re-

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

17

18

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

20

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

21

22

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Listening to you is where we start every visit.

Accepting new patients

(815) 242-0678

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

23

24

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

25

26

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

27

Your Fun

Entertainment & Events

Festival of Lights Through Dec. 31, 5-11 p.m. with Santa in the park from 6-8 p.m. Drive through Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. 2nd St., and enjoy dozens of holiday light displays including some new ones this year. Free. 4thandlights.com.

Holiday Light Show Dec. 2-30, Thurs.-Sun. 4:30-8:30 p.m. On the 25th anniversary of this light show, more than a million lights (75 percent LEDs) and new displays will delight visitors. Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, (608) 752-3885, rbgholidaylightshow.com.

RSO: ‘The Nutcracker’ Dec. 4, 3 p.m. Rockford Symphony Orchestra joins forces with Rockford Dance Company to stage Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet in the elegant Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

1800s Holiday Walk Dec. 7, 5-8 p.m. Stroll a luminaria-lit path and visit two historic log cabins, a covered wagon and a wigwam, a Civil War Santa, a blacksmith creating holiday gifts at his forge, carolers, and examples of holiday traditions in the

PAC, Starr Center, 415 N. Church St., (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

Purchasing gifts & food from locally owned retailers & restaurants keeps more money in our local economy and benefits all who live here.

Jim Brickman: The Gift of Christmas Dec. 11, 8 p.m. The Grammy-nominated songwriter and piano player brings holiday classics and heartwarming originals. Coronado PAC, 314 N. Main St., (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

1800s. Boone County Conservation District, Gustafson Nature Center, 603 N. Appleton Road, Belvidere, (815) 547-7935, bccdil.org.

‘Elf, the Musical’ Dec. 16-19, Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 2 p.m. Buddy, a human at Santa’s workshop, thinks he’s an elf. Stage Coach Players at Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. 2nd St., DeKalb, Ill., (815) 758-1940, stagecoachplayers.com.

2nd Thursday Concert Series at Katie’s Cup Dec. 9, 7 p.m. The Trinadora Duo perform a holiday special in an intimate café environment. Doors open at 6 p.m. Full drink and food menu. Katie’s Cup, 502 7th St., Rockford, (815) 986-0628, katiescup.com.

RSO: Holiday Pops Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Maestro Steve Larsen closes his tenure at Rockford Symphony Orchestra with an annual tradition of inspiring holiday classics. Coronado, 314 N. Main St., (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

Pangelic Duo Dec. 10. 7:30 p.m. Steelpan virtuoso Liam Teague and harpist Faye Seeman team up to share a fresh blend of classical compositions, jazz and other familiar tunes. Mendelssohn

RAM: My Way: Art from the Black South Through Jan. 23, Thurs.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Nearly 156 artworks by 50 black artists with ties to the American South. 711 N. Main St., (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org. ❚

SWEET STREAMS.

WATCH 23 NEWS ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

28

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

29

30

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I

55

52

Smart Living Live

Dec 2021 • No. I To advertise call 815-316-2300