Committee Meetings this Month
New Consulting Hours for Church Administrator
Everyone needs to talk with the Church Administrator now and then, but if he spends all his time talking, when does he get anything done? To facilitate a better focus on church business, our Church Administrator, Rick Brown, is instituting Consulting Hours -- times when he will focus his attention on those who require assistance.
Hours available for consulting with the Administrator are 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. If you are unable to reach Rick directly during those times, leave a message, and he will call you back at his first opportunity.
Outside those hours, Rick will focus on long-term projects for the benefit of the congregation as a whole, so messages received during those times will be returned during Consulting Hours. Messages of an emergency nature, of course, will be returned as soon as possible.
Rev. Nina Grey's Hours
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, 10 to 2 p.m. Thursday is my time for study and sermon preparation. Monday is 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 ngrey@uuma.org. The office will also know how to reach me.
Rev. Marlene's office hours
My office hours are 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 am often in the office at other times as well and 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 mwalker@uuma.org.
Lifespan Religious Education
Rev. Marlene Walker, Minister for Religious Education
The Religious Education Council is continuing to read and reflect each month on chapters from the Essex Conversations, a collection of essays on Lifespan Religious Education. We are currently looking at two chapters, one by Dr. Jacqui James, "Building Strong and Radical Religious Communities," which is focused on building community, and another by the Rev. Greg Stewart which focuses on a new way of thinking about church school curricula. Jacqui is the anti-oppression programs and resources director in the RE department at the UUA and Greg is the MRE at Neighborhood Church in Pasadena CA. In this column I will explore Jacqui James' article with you and next month Greg Stewart's. One of the key things that Jacqui James says in her article is that if Unitarian Universalism is to be a vital faith in the years to come we must do more than we have always done. We must continue doing the things we have always done well and we must develop new areas of programming to meet the needs of people in these increasingly complex and demanding times. She is particularly concerned that we develop programs that meet the needs, and care for and support, diverse families. That we find ways to assure that the time that families spend in church activities are dynamic and fulfilling.
Most, if not nearly all, of our families with children, be they heterosexual nuclear families, gay and lesbian, or single parent families, no longer have a parent who is at home full time. This is not only true throughout the Association it is most definitely true of the families in this congregation. Families have increasingly less and less time that they spend together. It is increasingly more and more important that we develop church activities, worship services and religious education programs that are increasingly multigenerational and that we begin to address the traditional separation of the generations that has marked Sunday morning practices for so long.
In Jacqui James words," Since parents are acknowledged as the primary religious educators of their children, support for families is vital. If parents are to be effective primary religious educators, the intention of the church to be a place for lifespan religious education must become a reality. In addition to adult education courses on UU history, world religions, Judeo-Christian heritage, and so on, programs that help build strong families are essential."
There are two other key points that she makes in the article. One is about Justice Making. If we are to be true to our UU Principle of inherent worth and dignity for every person we must be communities that are radical enough to engage in the world's basic issues of oppression, prejudice and stereotyping. Jacqui challenges us as UU's to accept that we all have to struggle against our "isms" on an ongoing basis. She sees as a central part of religious education the commitment to prepare and support people in the lifelong nature of this work.
The third key point she makes in the article is about the need to support our religious education programs. Again in her words, "Too many of our congregations continue to look upon religious education as little more than babysitting while adults participate in the important business of worship. Our facilities, budget allocations, and view of religious educators reinforce this view. Until congregations recognize that the entire church is responsible for the education of its members, we will continue to offer religious education programs that fall short of our vision. Religious education must be seen as one of the central tasks of the congregation, and that education must be offered in intergenerational as well as multigenerational ways."
Overall Jacqui asks us the following questions: "What kind of religious community are we building? Are we using the best materials possible? Will our religious home be sturdy enough to withstand the elements? Is it one we will want to live in tomorrow? Is it the one our children will want to live in as Unitarian Universalists? If the answer is to be yes, we must build wisely and not take shortcuts with what is most precious to us. In her words, "this is the time to choose the best architect, the most enduring materials, provide the most creative and enduring attention to all the details of religious education". Next month I will be co-facilitating a Renaissance Module with Jacqui James on Multi Cultural Religious Education for Religious Educators in the Ohio Meadville District. I am excited and honored to have the opportunity to do so with Jacqui and to learn from her as I do so.
Church School News
This month we jumped into Spring with the beginning of our Spring Term. It has been a very exciting time in all of our church school classes with many great projects underway. We also returned to the Sunday worship for the beginning of the service and Time For All Ages. We enjoyed our January intersession with its special focus on Social Justice (see Empty Bowls report elsewhere in the newsletter - it was a great success!) and our special Children's Chapels on that theme but are very happy to be back worshipping with the whole congregation. Here's what has been happening in our classes.
Polly Schaad Nursery - Our wee ones (a growing number!) continue to be lovingly cared for by our nursery caregivers Inga Mittendorf and Carolyn Sanders with help from Uniteen assistant Moira Harden and occasional others.
PreK-K: Celebrating Me and My World - We have been focusing on the topics of sharing and helping, Love and patience. We made Helping head-bands for sharing and helping, Valentine hearts for Love and remembered how difficult being patient can be while we mixed paints and colors in a special painting project. Spring Term teachers are Katari Coleman-Daniels, Ivan Lappin, Anne Morril-Ploum, and Zarinah Ali and Stephanie Stern as Uniteen assistants.
1st and 2nd Grade: Haunting House - We began the term with getting back together, we then made Turtle Shell homes out of large pieces of cardboard which was great fun and have been learning more about our own bodies and how they function. Spring Term teachers are Colleen Grogan, Stephen Stern, Ellen LaRue and Barrett Doss and Holly Reid as Uniteen assistants.
3rd and 4th Grade: Holidays and Holy Days - We have begun the term learning about China and Chinese New Year. We have been learning to write Chinese characters and drew and made our own Kitchen Gods. We had a special ceremony and burned our old Kitchen Gods to mark the beginning of the New Year, the year of the Horse. Spring Term teachers are Alek Lappin, Polly McCoo and Tinessa Moss.
5th and 6th Grade: Neighboring Faiths - We began the term by learning about the black church, its history, social function, baptism and the many varieties of the black church today. We then visited Ellis Avenue Baptist Church for their worship service and attended Sunday School Class and met with the minister and intern following the service to ask questions and share information. We also have begun learning about Native American Spiritualities. Marissa Zagone, our church financial secretary has been visiting our class. Marissa is Native American and has been sharing her spirituality with us. We have learned about the seven directions, the Medicine Wheel and the different animals that represent places on the Medicine Wheel, White Buffalo Calf woman and will be making prayer ties. Spring Term teachers are Andrew Greenlee, Allan Lindrup and Anita Orlikoff
7-12 Grade: Uniteens and OWL - The Sunday morning Coming of Age group is focusing this term learning about the church through service projects with the congregation, either through assisting in church school classes, the nursery or participating in worship. At the end of the term we will meet to reflect on what we have learned through our participation. This is one part of a two year Coming of Age Program that will culminate next Spring with a pilgrimage to Boston, the writing of personal Credo statements, a special Coming of Age service and the possibility of becoming official members of the congregation. Coming of Age advisors are Rev. Walker, Bette Holcomb and Beccie Bruckner The OWL program continues to meet on Sunday afternoons, currently meeting at Second Unitarian Church. Owl Facilitators from First Church are Jen Crow, Amanda Helin, Kathleen and Paul Ricker and Laura Steinman.
YAC and YRUU: YAC stands for Youth Advisory Committee and is our newly formed youth and adult sub-committee of RE Council which plans and coordinates all youth programming. Youth members of YAC are Anne Jonas, Barrett Doss, Ryan Greenlee and Zarinah Ali and adult members are Tinessa Moss, RE Council Liaison, Beccie Bruckner, Betty Holcomb, Jen Crow, Amanda Helin and Rev Walker as ex-officio. YRUU stands for Young Unitarian Universalists and is our youth group for 9-12 graders connected to the Continental YRUU - which is the youth program of the UUA. This month YAC and YRUU were invited by the Music Committee to sell refreshments at the Joe Hickerson concert as fundraiser for YAC. They agreed and expanded the invitation to become a sleepover (a "lock in" in youth group parlance). YAC decided to extend an invitation to all the OWL participants (from 3 other UU churches) , plus friends of our YRUU members and two neighboring church youth groups - from University and Hyde Park Union churches. We had sixteen youth attend and had a wonderful time - though all agreed the sleepover part was much more fun than selling refreshments! Thank you to the adults who chaperoned the sleepover and helped with the refreshments - Kathleen and Paul Ricker, Beccie Bruckner, Jen Crow, and Tinessa Moss (and Duncan who at 1 year old was the youngest chaperone!).
Empty Bowls Project - A Great Success
Our Empty Bowls project, the culmination of our January Church School Intersession on Hunger was a grand success. Thank you to everyone who made and brought soup, to our young people who made the beautiful bowls and to so many of you who bought them and made donations. We will be donating close to $800 to the Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council food pantry! And next year we will make more bowls!
New Lifespan Religious Education Brochure
The R.E. Council plans to publish, for the church year 2002-2003, a brochure combining the Lifespan Religious Education course descriptions with the Church School Program information. To accomplish this it is requested that those who would like to offer an Adult Religious Education course submit a course description, along with suggested dates and times it would be held, to the Religious Education Council box in the church office by June 1. Early submissions are appreciated.
Ice Skating Cancelled
As the Talent Auction has been scheduled for Sunday, March 3, the Ice Skating on the Midway, originally scheduled for that same date, has been cancelled for this year.
Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Sunday is March 31. As in prior years, an Easter Egg Hunt will be held on our church's grounds after the Worship Service held on that day.
Forums, lectures, adult education
Parent's Group: Children, media and violence.
The first meeting of the Parents Group is rescheduled for Friday March 1st, 2002 at 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Childcare with structured activities will be provided. This first monthly meeting will include a short presentation followed by a discussion about children, media and violence based on the Lion and Lamb Project, facilitated by Anne Morrill-Ploum. Light refreshments will be served.
Film: "To Kill a Mockingbird"
The Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee is initiating a monthly series of International Films dealing with racial issues. Our film series debut will begin with "To Kill a Mockingbird." The series will begin on Saturday, March 23, 2002 at 3:30 p.m. in the Chris Moore Parlor. A short discussion led by Phiefer Browne and Joanne Kent to follow the film. We hope that you will join us for what will be an insightful and exciting series of films and discussions. Popcorn and soft drinks will be served.
Proverbs of Ashes
First Forum: Sunday, March 24, at 11:45 a.m. A discussion with Rev. Marlene Walker about her sermon, and a new book by the president of Starr King, Rebecca Ann Parker, and co-author Rita Nakashima Brock.
Living with Uncertainty
Sunday, March 10 at 11:45 a.m. This month Lori Rosenblum will lead this continuing opportunity for sharing responses to living in our times. We meet in the Chris Moore Parlor. This is a time for caring speaking and listening in an atmosphere of acceptance of our diversity and full humanity.
Rise Up and Call Her Name
Friday, March 1, at 6:30 p.m., and continuing on subsequent Friday evenings through March. Rev. Marlene Walker, facilitator. A Woman Honoring Journey into Global Earth-based Spiritualities, the course provides a unique format for learning about goddesses from a variety of traditions, hearing and telling personal stories, creating your own sacred art, participating in creative rituals, dialoguing about questions key to feminist spirituality, and engaging in personal discovery. Both women and men are encouraged to participate in this journey. Materials fee of $10. Please call the office to register.
The Bible Workbench
Sunday, March 17, at 6:30 p.m. Facilitator: Rev. Marlene Walker. A UU friendly bible study program that explores the scriptures of our Jewish and Christian heritage in an exciting format that includes contemporary literature, experiential exercises and reflections. If you have never studied the Bible, or have but want to see it in a new way, come join us. Enrollment limited: see Marlene.
Neighboring Faiths for Adults
Wednesdays, March 20 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and continuing on subsequent Wednesday evenings (excluding first Wednesdays). Facilitator: Rev. Nina Grey. In a ten session course, we will learn about and visit religious groups in a variety of traditions. The class will decide upon which religions to focus. We will think about what is religious, learn about western and eastern religious traditions and possibly about nature based religions. This class is accepting no more registrations.
New UU Orientation
Sunday, March 17 at 11:45 a.m. Mark your calendar for a New UU Orientation Gathering. All are welcome to this after-church opportunity to learn more about our church and Unitarian Universalism. Newcomers, visitors, friends and members are invited to explore some UU history, philosophy, and theology and learn more about how our church works. Refreshments. Rev. Nina Grey will lead this program, sponsored by the Membership Committee.
Great Books
The Great Books group will meet Sunday, March 10 at 11:30 a.m. in the Choir Room. We will discuss the second part of "One Hundred Years of Solitude," and decide what book should be discussed next.
Forums, lectures, adult education
Anti-Arab Profiling
The Racial Justice Task Force will be sponsoring the Social Justice Council First Forum on Sunday, March 17th at 11:45 PM in the Chris Moore Parlor. The topic will be "The Issue of Anti-Arab Racism: Major or Minor Issue?", facilitated by Allen Lindrup and with Ms. Anna Mustafa as our presenter. Ms. Mustafa was allegedly a recent victim of anti-Arab racism at O'Hare Airport. All are invited.
Will Unitarians and Universalists go to Hell?
As some of you know, there is now a south side branch of the College of Complexes, which holds its meetings in the Future World Cyber Cafe, 1744 E. 55th St., on Friday evenings, starting at 8 p.m. Our Allan Lindrup will be the featured speaker there on March 22, speaking on the topic "Will Unitarians and Universalists go to Hell?"
The Prophetic Imperative
Those interested in the two session course "The Prophetic Imperative: Social Gospel in Theory and Practice", based on the 2nd edition of the book with that title, written by the Rev. Richard Gilbert, need to purchase a copy of the book (available through Beacon Press) and let Allan Lindrup know of your interest in taking the course by March 10. The two sessions are on Wednesday evenings, March 20 and April 17 - providing at least five individuals, in addition to the facilitator, wish to participate and advise Allan of their interest by March 10. You can reach him or leave a message by calling him at 773-643-8061(h) or 312-353-5856x3014(w).
Cancellations
Because of the Talent Auction on March 3, the Adult RE class "It's Not What You Say," originally scheduled for that date, has been cancelled.
There will be no Nature of Racism course on March 3rd, due to Finley Campbell's upcoming medical problems.
Caring Workshop Well Attended
The legacy of the Caring Committee includes the strong life contributions of people such as Lillian Carson, Rev. Polly Schaad and Aki Yasutake. In recent years, Madeiria Myrieckes and Polly McCoo have led and organized caring outreach to church members and friends. Now they are helping the Caring Committee enter a time of transition. The Committee is moving toward involving the whole congregation.
On Sunday, February 3, the Committee sponsored a workshop, "How to Reach Out." The history, purposes and vision of the Caring Committee were presented. Attendees introduced themselves and talked about their particular interest in attending the workshop. We shared experiences of reaching out and the kinds of challenges we have encountered. We expressed concerns about how to listen, when to offer help and what kinds of guidelines are helpful in reaching out. We focused on recognizing our own feelings to better help us listen as others express their feelings; the importance of utilizing our Ministers as resource, guide and help; the need to be patient and not assume we already have the answer; the need to pay attention to confidentiality with information gained in caring work.
We agreed that another such workshop would be helpful. Attendees were invited to use the workshop to help in reaching out in their own caring relationships and to consider signing up to do visits, provide transportation, or help in other ways. An invitation was also extended to join the Caring Committee. Pat MacClarence offered to help collate the many levels of outside resources. Presenters included: Madeiria Myrieckes, Polly McCoo, Joanne Kent, Pat MacClarence, and Revs. Nina Grey and Marlene Walker.The next meeting of the Caring Committee is Tuesday, March 5, at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
Talent Auction This Sunday!
The Talent Auction is our annual opportunity to swap talents, hobbies, and treasures with congregational friends. It's our grand fund raiser that includes all our members and friends. It's a wonderful opportunity to get to know others.
On March 3, after the Morning Service, we gather for lunch in Hull Chapel ($4.00, enjoy a musical interlude with Lia McCoo, while sipping wine or punch ($1.00 per glass) and make bids on the Silent Auction items. We return to Hull Chapel to hear our auctioneer, President Joan Pederson, engage us in light-hearted competitive bidding against our fellow parishioners for service, talent or party events during the Active Auction. Remember to bring your check book!
Remember if you can't be present for the auction, be sure to designate someone to bid for you so you don't miss out on your preferred events! And, if you can't be there, in person or via delegate, do check with the church office about items or activities still available. You can still participate!
PREVIEW COMING: PLANS AND HOPES FOR THE COMING CHURCH YEAR
By Joan Pederson, Congregation President
Save Sunday, April 7, for the 2002 Canvass Luncheon! We will break bread together, enjoy one another's good company, and learn -- and, being good UUs, ask questions -- about the exciting plans and hopes that groups throughout the congregation have developed for the coming church year. You will receive more details later in March.
For those of you who aren't yet old hands at this, here's how it works. We learn about the plans and hopes for the coming church year, including their costs, early each spring. During the canvass, each member or financially supportive friend is asked to pledge -- to promise -- that they will contribute money to the church over the course of the coming church year: July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003. Pledges come from individuals, from couples, from households, whatever works best for you, and you decide what amount you pledge. (Suggested guidelines will appear in the canvass brochure.)
If our combined pledges cover the costs of all of the plans and hopes, all of them will appear in next year's budget, which will be up for adoption at our annual congregational meeting on May 19. If not. . .
We will not be asked for an amount that we can fully contribute now, like most pledges to public radio, for example. (Although, of course, contributions this spring would be quite helpful and deeply appreciated.) Instead, we will be asked for our recurring contributions in the amounts each of us decide, made steadily throughout the full church year just as the church office steadily pays the expenses of our programs and ministry from July through June. Most of us decide to write one check each month or week.
The plans and hopes of this congregation matter to each of us and to our families, and they will come to life to the extent that we nourish them with the support of our time, our talents, and our money. See you April 7!
From the Board
By Joan Pederson
Congregation President
It's getting to be Canvass time. A few of the details appear elsewhere in this newsletter, and you'll learn more during church over the next several weeks, when the Canvass brochure reaches you later this month, and at the Canvass luncheon on April 7. This is our annual opportunity to learn more about the plans and hopes for the program and ministry of this congregation--our shared ministry--in the coming church year, and for each of us to decide how much we will do during the coming year to support those plans and hopes. It's always an exciting time, appropriately in spring with its budding sense of new promise.
At the same time, we're looking at the steeple: getting information and doing our best to act in the most responsible manner possible, both for ourselves and our neighbors now, and for the future generations of this congregation. A great many of you participated in the February 24 special congregational meeting where we gained a thorough overview of the problem, heard about our options, discovered which costs are known now and which would require a hands-on inspection, heard something about our options for paying for the work, and prepared to think deeply about what we have learned and to gather again on a later date to make decisions. (Our deep thanks go to John Bridges, of Inspired Partnerships, for his presentation and answers on Sunday, to Richard Pardo and the Property Committee for their attention to this matter in recent months, and to all who posed questions: "exactly the right questions," too, as John Bridges put it.)
Shared ministry. Bricks and mortar (and limestone and steel). Work OF the church; work ON the church. How balance the two? How decide what to pledge to the operating budget where there is a major property problem literally looming overhead?
Some of you have assets that are not called on to supply your current household budget. I encourage you to consider the possibilities of a special gift to help resolve our steeple issue. More details will come as we clarify our options in the coming weeks and months.
This is foremost a religious community, not a building preservation society. We have an obligation to our predecessors in this congregation to hold their gifts to us in trust, using them as we must, enhancing them as we can for the generations to come, but we are not called to become idolatrous of those gifts, to treat them as of greater value than the program, life, and future of the congregation they were given to serve.
A few more words about the future. I am happy to report that in its first item of business on February 24, the congregation voted unanimously to ordain Janet Johnson to the Unitarian Universalist ministry. The service of ordination will take place this June; details to come. I am also happy to report that Steve Ploum and Allan Stern have been appointed by the board to fill the positions vacated by Paul Ulbrich and Barbara Thomas through the end of the present church year. The remaining year of each term will be filled by congregation election in May.
The Board met twice in February. At its annual special budget meeting on Sunday, February 17, the board
At its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21, the board
Among Us
We hold Michael Donner in mind and heart as he will be having back surgery on March 14, 2002.
We continue to send our warmest get well wishes to Arnita Boswell.
Our warmest get well wishes go to Harold Moody's daughter. We are keeping the whole Moody family in our hearts.
We are holding Finley Campbell in our minds and hearts as he will have had surgery on Feb. 26.
We continue to keep Devon Moss and his family in our hearts as Devon serves in our Armed Forces.
Congratulations to Diana Gray's family on the birth of Diana's new granddaughter, Parker Aaliyah, daughter of Melissa and Dennis.
Welcome back to Robert Chenoweth who has returned to church and the choir after a long illness.
Congratulations to Betty Holcomb who, together with a UU from Nebraska, was a big winner on Michael Feldman's radio program, "What d'ya Know?" The pair answered all questions correctly, and got in some plugs for Unitarian Universalism.
Congratulations to Choir member Susan Scrimshaw, who will be honored by President Vicente Fox of Mexico on March 13, with an award for her work in international health and as past President of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation for Science. Susan is Dean of the UIC School of Public Health and has conducted extensive research on Latino and Latin American women's health.
New Members Ingathering
Are you considering membership in First Unitarian Church? Do you wonder what it means to be a member? Do you have questions about Unitarian Universalism or our church? Speak with one of our Ministers and consider also coming to the New UU Orientation on March 17. We will welcome new members in a Ceremony of Ingathering during the service, March 24, 2002.
Maundy Thursday Service
As part of the Adult RE course "Bible Workbench" all who are interested are invited to join us for a Maundy Thursday worship service on March 28th at 6:30 pm. This will be a UU Christian service drawn primarily from our Universalist tradition. It will include the traditional Maundy Thursday elements, including communion, and be followed by a simple meal. If you have any questions please speak with Rev Walker.
"Hug-a-Book" Benefit
Benefit concert tickets are available from Julie Neuman and Mary Lee Greenlee, board members of the literacy program, "Hug-a-Book." The concert will be held Sunday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4244 N. Lincoln. It features the Michael J. Miles Ensemble performing "America 1941: Songs, Literature, Politics." This is a musical cultural profile of America in 1941 before World War II, featuring the words and music of Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Robert Frost, John Steinbeck, Paul Robeson, FDR, Langston Hughes, Woody Guthrie, e.e. cummings, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others. Tickets are $32, and benefit this innovative program.
Joe Hickerson Concert
By Joan Staples
On Saturday night, February 9, an attentive audience of almost 100 from our church, the community, and the Chicago area, sang along with Joe Hickerson, a "traditional folklorist," and Lia McCoo, one of our own! Many of Joe's offerings were of American origin, or adapted by Americans, and Joe was able to describe their journeys to the present because of his 35 years as an archivist at the Library of Congress. He ended with "Bright Star," one of our current UU hymns, which he brought to the attention of the author noted in our hymnal.
Lia treated us, with her partner, to her voice and flute renditions and her driving beat. Many, many helpers, organized by Ellie Hall, did publicity, arrangements, microphone, selling of CD's, etc. while the youth sold refreshments. John Berquist was the MC. We look forward to other concerts and the chance to "make music" together!
Economic Globalization Issues
A First Forum on February 17 focused on proposals to be forwarded to the UUA with regard to its study/action issue for this church year on Economic Globalization. Following are the proposals that were advanced, as transcribed by facilitator Allan Lindrup.
CMD Women's Federation Conference
The Central Midwest District Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation Spring Conference will be held April 5-7, 2002, in Henry, Illinois. Keynote Speaker is Dr. Kathryn Norcross Black from Purdue University and Activist UU. Her topic is "Is Happiness a Moral Obligation?" Join us for a smaller, more intimate weekend retreat. Connect with other women in a safe, comfortable setting, about the life issues relevant to you at present ... and in light of changes occurring in the world. Our new Spring Conference location is King's House in Henry, Illinois, which is 40 miles from Peoria, 100 miles from Chicago, and 20 miles from Starved Rock, on the Illinois River. We will be the only group at this wonderful retreat center, surrounded by woods and featuring an enclosed porch with a panoramic view of the river. Large meeting rooms are available, and a lovely dining area with family-style meals. A nearby barn will be used for drumming. Our program includes workshops on "Rethinking your Life", a dream workshop, sacred dance, "The pursuit of Happiness", book review, labyrinth walking, guided meditation, Tai Ji, hiking, drumming, and much more.
Please contact Karen Tajbl at 847-520-0075 or tajbl@mindspring.com for more information and a brochure.
Youth & Young Adults of Color Conference
Third Unitarian Church of Chicago is hosting a national conference on Youth and Young Adults of Color on May 2-5. Purpose of the conference is to strengthen the ties of youth and young adults of color to Unitarian Universalism, to build a network of support, and to give the youth an opportunity to explore their identity, religion and faith community. Sponsored by DRUUMM (Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries), C*UUYAN (Continental UU Young Adult Network), and YRUU (Young Religious UU). For information, contact Paula Nett at the UUA (617) 742-2100 ext. 351, or pnett@uua.org.
Volunteers needed to preserve past and future church heritage
Something exciting is happening under our very noses! After February 19th's meeting of the First Unitarian Storage Work Group, a spirit of shared stewardship is building and a semblance of order is taking shape around the questions of what shall we keep at church and where shall we keep it.
Not least among concerns at the meeting was the limited amount of easily accessible space we have for materials we use on a continuing basis. In addition, issues of logistics, archiving, inventory, and institutional memory all came into play as work group members Madeiria Myrieckes, Joan Pederson, Bette Sikes, Rosemary Snow and Church Administrator Rick Brown made plans for the tasks ahead.
Won't you join them? First Unitarians with a passion for their congregation's past and future heritage, as well as those who just want to help make a difference, are welcome and encouraged to attend the next meeting. Watch for an announcement in the Sunday Order of Service for further information about dates and times.
People to People student ambassador
Fund raising appeal
Ryan Greenlee, an 8th grade member of our Youth Group, has been selected as a People to People Student Ambassador. Ryan and 30 fellow youth in his delegation will be traveling to France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy this summer for informational, cultural and goodwill exchange.
President Dwight Eisenhower, who felt that peace between countries of the world could be better fostered through interaction of individuals, started the People To People Student Ambassador Program in 1956. In 1961 the Program was incorporated as a private foundation, which has been sending elementary, high school and college students overseas each year.
The cost of the travel falls solely on the student and his family. Ryan is undertaking a fundraising to assist in this effort. Ryan will be selling "Krispy Kreme Partnership Cards". Here's how it works: with the purchase of a $10 card, the customer can purchase a dozen doughnuts of their choice and receive one dozen original glazed doughnuts absolutely FREE, A $60 value. (Limit three free dozen doughnuts per visit. Card valid for a total of 12 free dozen doughnuts). Card expiration date is a year from purchase date. If you would like to assist Ryan in this fundraising effort, speak to him or one of his parents.
BOARD MEETINGS
The Board of Trustees meets regularly on one Thursday evening each month. Meetings begin at 7:30 following a reading period and are open to anyone who wishes to attend. Observers may not vote or participate in the discussion but are warmly invited to quietly see and hear what's going on.
Dates of the remaining Board meetings this church year:
Meeting dates for next church year, which begins July 1, will be announced later.
Whale Coast
Five Alaska UU congregations invite you for our sixth year of 10 and 17 day eco-spirituality tours in June, July and August. Visit the real Alaska! Stay in UU homes, enjoy parties with us, and see whales, bears, puffins and eagles in the wild, Denali's soaring mountains and Kenai's fjords and glaciers. Cruise the Inside Passage to see totems and ride four of the world's most spectacular trains. Admire native arts and dancing and meet the artists. Visit our website (www.uuwhale.org); e-mail us at whalecoast@uuwhale.org or call toll-free 1-866- 889-4253 for a brochure. Rev. Dick & Mary Weston-Jones, guides.