Come to our Ice Cream Social!
The RE school year will begin with a kick off on Sunday, September 16, with the ever popular Ice Cream Social! This event is both a fun way to greet each other during coffee hour as our RE church year begins, as well as a fundraiser. Come get the scoop! Ice cream will be served by Re council members and will be one size and price, $3.00.
Among Us
Our deepest sympathy to Stephan Garnett, his family and friends, upon the death of Stephan's father, Winfield Garnett, Jr., who died in July. A Memorial Service was held at the church. Winfield Garnett and his wife, Lucille, who died last year, were long-time members of the All Souls Universalist Church in Chicago.
We send healing thoughts and wishes to Georgia Pierre, who is in our minds and hearts. Georgia has been hospitalized at Mercy Hospital.
Our deepest sympathy to David, Garrick and Jonathan Utley and their families and friends upon the death of their mother, Frayn Utley, on August 2, 2001. She was remembered in a service at the church on August 18, and was interred in the crypt in a service of committal. Mrs. Utley and her late husband, Clifton, who died in 1978, were long-time members of the church. They are fondly remembered by our former minister, the Rev. Jack Mendelssohn. Mrs. Utley had a long career which included important accomplishments in journalism and education. She held a passionate belief in the necessity of developing personal gifts and offering them to society. She served for eight years as a trustee of the Unitarian Universalist Association in addition to her service on many community and international boards and committees.
We hold in our minds and hearts our Administrative Assistant, Kimetta Smith and her mother. Kim's mother has been very ill during the summer and continues her recovery.
Our deepest sympathy to Barbara Thomas on the recent death of her father after a long illness. We hold Barbara in our minds and hearts.
We also send continuing healing wishes to our Vocal Music Director, Ron Wentzel, who has had another recent hospitalization. We hold Ron and Betty Wentzel in our minds and hearts.
Our thanks to Joe Cherry, who has added his volunteer efforts to our office volunteers this summer, helping our new Administrator, Rick Brown, who began his service with us on July 23.
Our continuing warm healing wishes also go out to Dr. Robert Wissler.
We also keep Jim and Jane Stevens in our minds and hearts.
We wish Ann Holcomb the very best as she begins her studies at Meadville/Lombard Theological School.
We wish Harvey Thomas the very best as he begins his new position.
Our warm get well wishes to Doug Anderson.
Best wishes to our new high school graduates Kelsey Harden and Elsbeth Dunn as they begin college.
Congratulations to Tom and Margaret Huyck on the birth of their granddaughter Madeline.
Warmest wishes also to Joe Cherry as he begins study at the University of Chicago.
And Congratulations to Sheri Ulbrich who has been accepted into nursing school.
We wish Alex and Norma Poinsett a very happy 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Rev. Nina Grey's Revised Hours
For a short while, I will experiment with a new schedule of office hours, and then assess the effectiveness of the new schedule. I will be in the office as follows and by appointment: Tuesday, 1 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, 2 to 6 p.m., and Friday, as before, 10 to 2 p.m. Thursday continues to be my time for study and sermon preparation. Monday will still be my day off. I can be reached at church, at 324-4100, or at home, at 288-0348. I welcome your calls,including calls on Monday in emergencies. If I am away from these phones, I regularly check my voice mails. You may also reach me by email at NinaGrey@aol.com. The office will also know how to reach me.
Frayn Garrick Utley
Long-time member Frayn Garrick Utley died in Pomona, CA, in early August. She and her husband Clifton Utley, who had been leaders in Chicago journalism, retired to Hawaii in 1978. After her husband's death, she moved to a retirement community in California.
Within Unitarian Universalism, Frayn served on the UUA Board during the 1960s. Shortly before her death, she gave a $5,000 donation to the church for our Crypt Fund. Frayn Utley was memorialized at a service held at our church on August 18.
For a more detailed list of Frayn Utley's accomplishments, see the Pennington Center Bulletin Board.
Speaking at the memorial service were Utley's three sons, David, Garrick (now on CNN), and Jonathan, all of whom told stories about growing up at in Hyde Park and in the RE program at First Unitarian. Jonathan Utley, the youngest son, is married to TV newswoman Carol Marin, who also attended the service.
Great Books
The First Unitarian Church's Great Books group will resume on Sunday, September 9th at 11:30 a.m. in the Choir Room. We will be discussing "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard. For further information call Gloria Gnatz, (773) 643-9436 or Kennie James, (773) 238-1833.
Adult Religious Education Survey - 2001
The Adult Religious Education Committee received 59 completed questionnaires. Fourteen of those were from folks who indicated they were not interested in attending any adult R.E. course, so the following break-out is for the 45 who expressed some interest in attending adult R.E. courses at our church.
The preferred times for holding courses, in order of preference, are (1) Sundays between noon and 1 p.m., (2) Sunday evening, (3) Tuesday or Wednesday evening, (4) Monday evening.
The preferred subject matter areas, in order of preference, are (1) Moral/Ethical Issues, (2) Science and/or Philosophy and Religion, (3) Faith Traditions, (4) Social Justice, (5) History, (6) Personal Development, and (7) Literature and the Arts.
For a complete summary of the survey results, see Allan Lindrup.
Time(s) people prefer for courses
Sundays between noon and 1 p.m. -22
Sunday evening - 14
Sunday afternoon 1 to 5 -- 8
Tuesday and Wednesday eve - 13 each
Monday evening - 10
Thursday evening - 9
Saturday morning - 8
Other days/times had three to six indications of "good time"
Format preference
Several sessions, with some regularity (weekly or bi-weekly) = 23
Several sessions, once a month = 13
Single sessions = 9
(some checked both the second and third option. Thus about 35 to 40% of those who are interested have difficulties with weekly or bi-weekly classes)
Seasonal preferences
Fall =33
Winter = 28
Spring =28
Summer = 16
Subject Matter Interest Areas
Moral/Ethical Issues = 33
Science and/or Philosophy and Religion = 27
Faith Traditions = 21
Social Justice = 20
History = 18
Personal Development = 16
Literature and the Arts = 14
Over
Are costs a factor?
No =29
Yes = 16 (3 have a problem with courses over $50, one had a problem over $30 and one a problem over $25, four had problems with course over $20, two had problems with courses over $15, two had problems with over $5 per session, and three had multiple variables)
Is child care an issue (for classes other than Sunday noon to 1 p.m.)
35 had no young child
5 had a young child, but said child care was not an issue
3 said child care was and issue and 1 said it might be - of the parents for whom child care was an issue or possible issue, Tuesday evening was the only good time for them to attend (3 out of the 4 liked Tuesday evening classes). However, of the three parents with child care issues who liked Tuesday evening classes, there was no overlapping interests. Thus, as a practical matter, child care is not an issue.
Need a ride sometime?
No = 33
Yes = 10 (overwhelming this was for evening classes, with individuals who would need a ride home if not to church)
Courses taken in recent years that were worthwhile
Here are the courses mentioned by at least two people
How Can I Help - 6
Evensong - 5
Enneogram - 4
Spiritual Autobiography - 4
Nature of Racism - 4
Build Your Own Theology - 3
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven -3
Cosmology - 3
Living with Dying -2
Philosophy and Religion in the West - 2
Would like course on:
Simplicity in consumption
The war on drugs
Christian and U.U. history
Course that would end in worship service
Course with some relationship to Judaism
Course with a feminist angle
BYOT on Sunday evening, lead or co-lead by a minister
View and discuss videos on "the human condition"
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
Task Force Against Homelessness
At its June 17, 2001 meeting, the Task Force Against Homelessness approved a new "hands on" service project, to complement the other work of the task force. Our new service project involves providing assistance to Viet Now, a group of Vietnam Vets who feed 500 to 1,000 homeless individuals, predominantly men and many of them veterans, at various locations around downtown Chicago each Sunday. They also provide toiletries and some clothing hand outs. Jim Profitt, the leader of Viet Now, and one or two other Vietnam Vets need one and sometimes two helpers on the truck, as it makes a route with multiple stops, from 3:30 p.m. to about 9 p.m. each Sunday. During most of the school year, except around Holidays, they hve prearranged volunteers from some high schools and colleges. However, during the summer and around holidays they are short of help; so we want to help them during those times. Call Allan Lindrup or Anne Holcomb for more information or if you would be willing to be a U.U. volunteer for this aspect of the project. We will try to keep abreast of what volunteer needs there are for this aspect of the project.
We would like to thank the following U.U. volunteers who helped Viet Now Sundays from roughly 3:30 to 9 p.m. this summer. (Or, in one case tried to help, but missed connection). June 24-Anne Holcomb (1st U), July 1-Gene Horcher (2nd U) and Bob Jene (3rd U), July 8-Allan Lindrup (lst U), July 15-Jim Proctor (1st U), July 22-Allan Lindrup (1st U), July 29-Jordan Greenlee (1st U), August 1-Jean Darling (Unity Temple UU), August 12-Michael Rhum (1st U), August 26-Steve Nelson (Beverly U), Sept. 2 (either Jim Proctor or Anne Holcomb)
2001 TUTOR/MENTOR VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN
From Norlyn Dimmitt
UU member at large, Roselle, Ill.
(630) 295-9726
The 2001 Tutor/Mentor Volunteer Recruitment Campaign runs August through September, culminating in city-wide volunteer recruitment Fairs that will be held in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs on Thursday, September 6, Friday, September 7, and Saturday, September 8, 2001. The Honorary Chair for the 2001 Campaign is First Lady of Illinois Lura Lynn Ryan.
More detailed information, including the multiple sites hosting the volunteer fair (there is one near you!) can be found at:
http://www.tutormentorexchange.net
Those that are not online, who are interested in participating, can call me and I'll be happy to direct you to the fair(s) nearest you. [Many Borders and Barnes and Nobles are hosting this year]
A Request for Help in Scheduling Meetings and Events
With the new church year comes a new calendar of committee meetings and events. To help facilitate room reservations and such, committee chairs and designates are asked to fill out a Committee Information Sheet and submit it to the Church Office. Blank sheets are available from, and should be returned to, Kimetta Smith, Administrative Assistant, or Rick Brown, Church Administrator, in the office. Thanks for you help!
Many Thanks, Tom!
Rick
Come Join the Choir!
A new year of Choir rehearsals begins Wednesday evening, September 5 at 7:30 in the Choir Room. What better time to give it a try? Our Choir welcomes singers at all levels of experience. There is no audition. It is a wonderful group and loads of fun! Our director Ron Wentzel has a special talent for finding pieces that are accessible and interesting. The special project for this Fall is a piece by Handel, The Twelfth Chandros Anthem. The Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings, and Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
From the Associate Minister for Religious Education
Welcome to September and the beginning of another church year. On September 9th we will join for a multigenerational worship service as we gather the waters of summer and of our common life together. I like this service. It is a symbolic reminder that many of us have been away, that we do come from many different backgrounds and traditions, and that this religious community is place for bringing all of that together to create a community that gives us life. It is an important message for all of us and especially for our children and youth. Church School classes will begin the following Sunday, September 16th. It is a great way to start the year.
I have been thinking lately about how many different places during the year feel like a beginning, like a New Year time, to me. How so often something new is coming forward as well as how often what has been ongoing is revisited and made new. It is important to mark these times of beginning. People have always marked a particular time of the year as The Beginning, The New Year. It hasn't always been at the same time in all cultures and religions. This year in our Sunday Church School the theme is World Religions and we will be learning about and experiencing the many different ways the beginning of the year is celebrated through the World and even right here in Chicago.
This year we will be looking anew at our mission and vision as a congregation and religious community. It will be important and exciting work to do. Interestingly, it is parallel to some of the work that is currently being done in Life Span Religious Education throughout the UUA. Twenty five years ago religious educators and other leaders gathered at a place called the Stonehouse in Rhode Island to answer the question : "What is our vision for lifespan religious education?" Their reflections were published and inspired the direction that religious education has taken in this congregation and throughout the association since then.
In April of 1999 and of 2000 another gathering of religious educators and leaders was held in Essex Massachusetts to re-visit that question for this time. The participants at these two gatherings were asked to submit papers in responses to three questions. As we enter the twenty-first century, what is the core of our evolving Unitarian Universalist faith? What is your vision of the goals for our lifespan religious education? What are the vital components for Unitarian Universalist curricula? These papers have been recently published in a volume titled Essex Conversations: Visions for Lifespan Religious Education.
These papers and discussions, as the Stonehouse Conversations before them, will inspire and form our lifespan religious education programs in the years to come. This year, as we begin anew to explore our mission and vision as a congregation, I think it will be important to share with you these conversations and visions for lifespan religious education. I will use this column to share with you a chapter from the published volume of the Essex Conversations each month. RE Council will also be reflecting each month on the Essex conversations. I welcome your feedback and responses to them, as does the RE Council. I think they will become an important part of our work together.
Welcome to a new year!
Blessings,
Marlene
Sept 9 RE Council Retreat at Margie Gonwa's home
Sept 16th RE Council Ice Cream Social during socialhour after church. ( Anne has more info including costs etc.)
Rev. Marlene's new office hours
This year my office hours will be on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. Monday continues as my day off and Friday is my day for reading and preparation which I mostly do at home. I am also available at other times by appointment. I often am found in the office at other times as well and am often at church in the evenings for various meetings. I can be reached by phone either at church or at home (773-955-1607) Please feel free to call me at home even on Mondays if it is urgent. Another good way to reach me is by e-mail and my new e-mail address is mwalke@uuma.org.
Organ Console Return Delayed
The work of rebuilding the sanctuary Skinner organ console is underway, but a variety of delays in the project have pushed back the expected return date to November, 2001. When the console left the church in April, we had expected the new console to be returned in September, but delays in other projects at the David Skinner Organ Company (unrelated to the original organ builder) have pushed that date back. Work has begun and when we visited the console on August 11, we found it in multiple sections. The project is awaiting the new parts, which are expected to arrive in the next week and then the main work of rebuilding will begin.
Although the congregation has been generous in contributing to the console rebuild project, we are still short approximately $2500 of the total cost of project. I hope this encourages you to consider a generous contribution to the project which will return to us a truly state-of-the-art organ console. Make your checks payable to First Unitarian Society and mark them for "organ console rebuild."
Richard and Cindy Pardo
RETURN TO THE MOUNTAIN
Mark your calendars! In August of 2002, from Sunday the 11th to Saturday the 17th, 1st Unitarian will gather as many of its members as possible for an all-church retreat at The Mountain Retreat Center in North Carolina. While there is still much planning to do and many questions to be answered, the event promises to be a significant one in the life of the church. We are particularly anxious to have the presence of as many families with children as possible. There will be special programming for children, as well as for adults, and intergenerational activities will abound.
The facilities at the Mountain (which is a Unitarian-Universalist camp)are not free. Although we are still working on getting exact price schedules for you, it is certain that we will be doing some fund-raising to make it possible for as many people as possible to attend. The R.E. Council is already planning an event which will make a contribution to the Mountain Retreat Fund.
Our return to the Mountain will combine church work with fun and relaxation. Some of the possible activities are river rafting, a night-time trust walk, hiking, swimming, a Crafts Barn, visits to the Cherokee reservation, and just hanging out. The facilities are completely accessible, and there are several new buildings which have been erected since our last visit.
If you are interested in helping plan this event, please see either the Revs. Grey or Walker, or Cindy Pardo. And put this very special event on your vacation schedule. You will not want to miss it!
Cindy Pardo
Chair, Mountain Retreat Committee
From the Social Justice Council
Finley C. Campbell and Joe Cherry have volunteered to restart the Racial Justice Task Force. A possible project is getting an anti-racist perspective of Richard Wagner included in the coming Wagner extravaganza kicking off on October 7th by Daniel Barenboim.
From the Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee
The nominating committee of CLARC, consisting of Joanne Kent, Richard Jenifer, and Finley C. Campbell, has approved the nomination of Paul Ricker as the new chair. His decision to accept represents a qualitative leap forward in winning young members of our church into leadership roles in doing anti-racist work.
From the Worship and Music Committee
Finley C. Campbell has been elected as the new head of the Worship and Music Committee. He has been a member of the WAM for three years, an active worship associate, and sometimes pulpiteer. He is following the great leadership of Sister Rosemary Snow who did a yeoman job as WAM chair during the transition period, especially in working with our ministers.
The Talent Auction Revisited -- A series of essays by Dr. Finley C. Campbell
Prologue: How often I have "bidded" on auction items, contributing a goodly sum of money to our church's coffers, but then not followed up on the activities themselves. This year, however, my wife, Bobbi Lammers Campbell gave me an ultimatum: no follow up, no bidding. Okay, okay, I said. I am glad I did the follow up: the following are brief recountals of my adventures in the Land of the Talent Auction Follow up
From a Bog to a Mountain
Several of us (Chuck Staples, Ellen La Rue, Carrie Hedges, Bobbi Lammers Campbell) went out to Pinhook Bog, a small corner of wetland reality over in Indiana: the sunlight falling like a benediction, very odd trees like the Larch, which is a transition between evergreen type trees, and autumn leave type trees, with running commentary by Bobbi, Charles, and a knowledgeable young guide, away from the hustle and bustle of our city life: the humming of dragonflies, the singing of birds, the contradictory nature of pitcher plant and sundew. But that was not the end of it: we then went over to Mt Baldy State Park, for a delicious lunch and a climb up the mountain, the largest sand dune in the Indiana Dune Area. At the top, a breathtaking view of the power station, Lake Michigan like a blue blessing, where the curvature of the earth could actually be discerned. At the top, Dr. Lammers-Campbell gave us a lecture of how sand dunes were formed. And all around us fellow workers (black, Latin, white) interacting in an environment of nature, humanity, and law.
Gemeinschaft
"Gemeinschaft" is defined as "interpersonal relationships based on organic relationship, as distinct from Gesellschaft, which is based on mechanical relationships," (Prof. Carrie Chivers, Dept of Sociology, Morehouse College). This was the expression which myself, the Huycks, and the Jamisons experienced on this particular Talent Auction Bid: a day with the Jamisons. We went to the Notebart Nature Center, where we witnessed the Butterfly museum: like flying flowers, like winged colors of red and green and orange, black and white stripes -- it was beautiful. This was followed by a tasty lunch on the lakefront at a new/old restaurant there, with the sun dimmed by clouds but glowing. And then the piece de resistance: going to the Stephen Sondheim play, INTO THE WOODS, a marvelous reworking of the original olde Grim(m) fairy tales. Out of all this emerged a more organic relationship with each other, based on shared, enriching experiences
Ship Ahoy
The last in these specific series was the boat trip out on Lake Michigan with Admiral Richard Snow. After two delays, we decided to go out and enjoy a water journey. And what I thought was going to be a simple cruise, with Captain Snow "driving" the "boat" and I and my fellow passengers (Pheifer Browne and Carrie Hedges) drinking our mint juleps under a cloud-scudding, bright, sunshiny day, turned into a working cruise, where I got some sea legs. Commodore Dick and I had to get the dinghy (a small row boat) out to the Chris Craft, get on the boat from the dinghy, unmoor the ship, and then head in to pick up our passengers. The "channel crossing"; i.e., going out the channel, was smooth: sky like gauzy turquoise filled with white clouds, God's sole concession to the mountainous heavens, the lake itself choppy, but not seeming dangerous. And then we hit the lake: Whomp: down we went; whomp again, up we went; thump thump, the waves were playing with us like a volley ball. Down I went, crawling into the cabin. Carrie was excited like being on a roller coaster. You know what? It was fun. We decided to call it a day since even fun can get complicated. We returned back to the channel, our marina, where I was called upon to moor the ship. O boy: but I did it, with Commodore Snow's expert maneuvering and help. Lunch, nappy poo for me and Carrie, and then back to shore. Naturally, I am ready for more.
My overall evaluation? Taking part in the financial AND SOCIAL aspects of the Talent Auction enriches both the church's coffers and our own souls. Certainly, all these activities confirmed in my communal soul the bright joy of multiracial unity as the key aspect of our interdependence.
A Report from the First Forum on Wagner
Three key opinions emerged from the forum: first, all of us had had powerful, dramatic experience with Wagner's music, embedded in both memory and inspiration. Second, however, the political purpose of his music, especially his opera, was to win the German listener at that time to racism in general (the master race idea) and anti-Jewish racism in particular. Finally, those who argue that there is no connection between Wagner's ideology and Auschwitz are absolutely wrong, as was shown in the discussion. The key question was: what should people of conscience do in light of these opinions in regards to Wagner's music today? I answered: personally boycott all his music and encourage your friends to do so, once they were informed of his intentions. An audio tape of the discussion is available for a modest fee. All profits will go to the Social Justice Council.
This past month in RE
The summer program continued through August with the Preschool - Kindergarten class adding to their bulletin board banner about God and the older class exploring images of GOd from many traditions. Thank you to September teachers, Ivan Lappin and Tinessa Moss with the younger class and Kathleen Ricker and Finley Campbell with the older group.
PARENTS!! REMINDER!!!
Church School classes resume on September 16th. Watch for the new Church School Brochure early in September. It will include registration forms for Church School, as well as for the the Life Span RE Program. This year we are asking all church members to register for Life Span Religious Education (see notice elsewhere). If your family is registered for Church School you do not need to register again for Life Span RE. But please be sure to register each one of your children for Church School. Church School Brochures and registration forms will also be available at the RE table in social Hour following the service on Septemebr 9th.
Lifespan Religious Education Registration
This year we are asking all church members, of all ages, to register for our Lifespan Religious Education Program. Children and youth will be registered through the Sunday Church School and adults will register throug the Lifespan RE Program. Look for both the Church School brochure and the Lifespan Religious Education Prospectus and registration forms in the mail this month. There is a fee of $75 to register for the Lifespan Religious Edcucation Program. These fees are used to help fund our Lifespan RE Program as well as our Chruch School program and the many multigenerational aspects of our community life. In the past we have only asked families with children to register for RE. Since our Lifespan RE Program touches all our lives we are asking everyone to register and support this valuable part of our church life together. If you have any questions please speak with our associate Minister for Religious Education, Rev. Marlene Walker.
A Special RE Thank You!!!
A huge thank you to Nico Echols for helping reorganize the church school supply cabinets this month!
From the Board
By Joan Pederson
Congregation President
Our new church administrator, Rick Brown, attended his first board meeting here on August 16. To help him get to know the trustees, we introduced ourselves by taking turns around the table, giving our names and listing our present involvements in the congregation. For a few, being a trustee is their one commitment here this year (and a much appreciated one). Others are sitting on committees or chairing them, teaching, singing, mentoring, or some combination of these.
I had expected to elicit this sort of list during the check-in at the beginning of the meeting, when I asked each person to identify one of the most fulfilling things they had participated in during their time at First Church. But, except for teaching and singing, the list of fulfilling things was very different: getting married, taking the time to listen to an older member, participating in a singles group, taking adult RE classes, helping with worship, volunteering in the office.
Two days later, the church day was filled with rites of passage: a morning memorial service, an afternoon christening, later a service of union. The next morning we gathered again for Sunday worship.
All these things are important to church life here: worship, rites of passage, gaining fulfillment, taking responsibility. Omit any of them and we become incomplete as a congregation. Most of us are better at some that at others, or need some more than others, and those strengths and needs change as we go through our lives here.
Symbols in the walls and windows of the sanctuary remind us that our church needs all of us and the wide array of strengths and needs we bring. For example, the four images that appear on the angled walls of the chancel at the height of the empty niche are a clenched fist, a bleeding heart, an owl perched on a book, and a distant, gleaming city. They represent the qualities of action, compassion, wisdom, and vision that this or any human community always needs in substantial measure.
Look closely at the others items in this newsletter, where you will find examples of and opportunities for worship, rites of passage, fulfillment, responsibility, action, compassion, wisdom, and vision. To get more involved, speak up, show up, or leave word for Rev. Nina, Rev. Marlene, the leader of the group that interests you (the office can help), Cynthia Oakes (our new President-elect and the chair of the Committee on Congregational Participation), or me.
Action in August: