February, 2003
Rev. Grey's column, "Both Sides," is available
here.
Open Forum
The Board of Trustees will hold an open forum for members and friends
on Sunday, Feb. 23 after the service to discuss any concerns and hear
ideas about the future.
Receive a Birthday Card
The Caring Committee likes sending you a card on your birthday ...
that is, if we know the date to send it. Please see Pauline McCoo at coffee
hour or drop a note in the office with your name, address, phone number, and
date of your birthday. Don't forget to give us the names and birth dates of
your family members.
MISSING: BOOM BOX
Has anyone borrowed the boom box from the Choir Room? It has been
missing since December, and the choir needs it to listen to our tapes and CDs.
Please return it to the church office soon! Thanks!
WAY COOL SUNDAY SCHOOL IS BACK !!
By Rev. Marlene Walker
We had a wonderful Winter Intersession! We celebrated the holidays in December, glazed many ceramic bowls for the Empty Bowls Project, fed lots of garbage to our worms who have made lots of rich compost for us to give to urban farmers, tie-dyed many gorgeous t-shirts to sell for the Haiti children's soccer project and sorted, cleaned and prepared tons of soccer shoes, socks, shorts, shirts and shin guards to send to children in Haiti. Now we're ready to return to our Way Cool Sunday School Schedule starting on the first Sunday in February with a special multigenerational service focusing on our Seventh UU principle of "valuing the interdependent web of creation of which we are a part". Our Way Cool facilitators have had a bit of a break and we will welcome them all back - and some new one's too - on the second Sunday in February.
EMPTY BOWLS SOUP LUNCH
During Social Hour on Sunday, Feb. 2, RE Council and Way Cool Sunday School
will be selling the wonderful ceramic bowls our young people have made filled
with delicious soup. Last year's Empty Bowls Soup Lunch was such a resounding
success that this year we have made twice as many bowls! Once again we will
be donating the profits to the Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council's Food Pantry.
In addition we will also be selling the tie dyed t-shirts we have made as a
fundraiser to help send the soccer equipment we have collected to children in
Haiti. Don't miss it!!!
Valentine Raffle and Bake Sale
The Valentine Raffle and bake sale will be held on Sunday February 9 during
coffee hour. This is the largest of the Lifespan Religious Education fundraisers.
You can purchase a ticket from any of the RE Council members beginning January
26. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Look for announcement of prizes during
coffee hour!
Friday Family Feast
A Family Potluck will be held Friday February 21st, at 6:30 PM in the RE
classrooms. Families of any kind and size welcome, bring a drink for yourself
and a dish to pass. Children and adults alike will enjoy food, conversation
and play!
Friday Family Feast is a new monthly event! Each month, on the third Friday night, RE Council will host a family potluck gathering in the Pennington center classrooms. Modeled on the Family Holiday Night hosted by Rev. Marlene in December we will gather for fellowship and getting to know each other. These gatherings will be low key and informal though they may include games or other activities that participants may choose to bring or develop.
Watch for more information in next month's newsletter about a new Family Mentoring program being developed by RE Council in which new families to our church will be paired up with member families.
Youth Advisory Committee
Attention all parents of youth group members: The Youth Advisory Committee
is looking for two parents of active youth group members to join us in strengthening
and supporting the activities of our youth group and its leaders. The responsibilities
of the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) are as follows:
1) to recruit and retain youth advisors
2) to develop youth program and curricula
3) to be a liaison about youth programs to the congregation at large
If you are interested in becoming a member of this team, please see Rev. Marlene
Walker or Beccie Bruckner
RE Sunday Schedule
Here's the Sunday schedule for the Spring Term of Way Cool Sunday School.
Except for the First Sunday of each month which is a multigenerational Service,
all children, youth and facilitators attend the opening of worship in the Sanctuary
from 10:00AM to 10:20.
Way Cool Sunday School (grades 1-6) then gathers in the Pennington classroom
and meets from 10:20 -11:30.
Pre-School/Kindergarten meets in Preschool room from 10:20 - 11:15 with Snack
time in Aki's place from 11:15-11:30.
Junior Youth Group (grades 7-9) meets in the Youth Room from 10:20 -11:30.
Senior Youth Group (grades 10-12) meets in Youth Room from 12 noon -1:30.
Feb 2 Multigenerational Service with guest the Rev. Clare Butterfield
Feb 9 Second Sunday - UU Identity/ The Rainbow Principles
Feb 16 Third Sunday - Social Justice
Feb 23 Fourth Sunday - UU Identity/Rainbow Principles
Mar 2 Multigenerational Worship
Mar 9 Second Sunday - UU Identity/ The Rainbow Principles
Mar 16 Third Sunday - Social Justice
Mar 23 Fourth Sunday - UU Identity/Rainbow Principles
Mar 30 Fifth Sunday - Focus on the Arts
Apr 6 Multigenerational Worship
Apr 13 Second Sunday - UU Identity/ The Rainbow Principles
Apr 20 Easter Sunday - Multigenerational Worship Service
Apr 27 Fourth Sunday - UU Identity/Rainbow Principles
May 4 Multigenerational Worship
May 11 Second Sunday - UU Identity/ The Rainbow Principles
May 18 End of spring term Celebration
Guest At Your Table
We distributed Guest At Your Table boxes at our Thanksgiving Service and it
is time to turn them into the church or, alternatively, mail the proceeds to
the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Please bring your boxes and proceeds
to the church office during the week or bring them on Sunday, February 2 or
9. All the proceeds of Guest At Your Table help support the Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee social justice projects both domestically and internationally.
Small Group Ministry Learning Group
Small Group Ministry Learning Group will finally get started on the 4th Sunday
evening of February, February 23. It is still possible to sign up and learn
about this important program which deepens relationships, strengthens community
and supports spiritual growth for its members. Speak with Rev. Nina Grey if
you are interested.
SAVE THE DATE AND JOIN US FOR DESSERT!
WHAT: In-home canvass gatherings over dessert for all members and friends.
WHEN: Your choice during evenings and weekends, Friday-Sunday April
4-6 and 11-13.
HOW: Sign-up details are coming soon; to volunteer to host or for more
information, call or e-mail Joan Pederson at GeogJoan@aol.com.
From the Board
By Cynthia Oakes
Congregation President
In last month's newsletter, I reported to you the financial concerns the congregation faces with regard to this year's budget shortfall. This month I would like to let you know what the Board of Trustees is doing to ensure that the Church is fiscally sound. We are taking a careful look at the budget's projected income for this year to determine if it can, indeed, be met. One of the primary sources for income is pledges. We will be examining what our realistic pledge intake will be. Please note that the current status of pledges is reported weekly in the Order of Service and on January 26, 2003 we were $15,000 dollars below our expected intake. If you are currently unable to meet your pledge amount, please contact either of our Ministers, our Treasurer or myself. We want to make sure that your pledge accurately reflects your current financial situation. This is essential information as we determine what parts of our budget may need to be trimmed. Each Board member is looking at specific areas of the budget and will be working with committees and Councils to reexamine budget expenditures. The rule of thumb for this year needs to be, "If you don't need the money, it's okay not to spend it." Everywhere we can cut costs, we should. On February 9th, the Board will hold a special Board meeting where we will bring back the information we have collected. We will then make a determination about how to proceed. Please make our job easy! Please pay your Religious Education Fee (a projected $2,000 shortfall) and your pledge.
For those of you who may have missed the January 26th Church service, here is the edited version of my "State of the Spire" announcement: Not long ago I stood here making a plea for money to support the removal of the spire. You will be happy to know that we have earned over $6,000. Today I would like to let you know exactly where we are in that process. The Board of Trustees was able to obtain pro bono legal service from Steve Hoeft, of McDermott, Will and Emery, who specializes in construction law . His advice has proved invaluable during contract negotiations. On Monday, January 13th, Richard Pardo and I met in the Church Office to review the contract with Marion, Inc.. and at that time the contract was signed. Marion Inc., is now contracted to begin "...selective demolition of masonry spire as described in the Scope of Work approved for distribution by First Unitarian Society Board of Trustees June 27, 2002." On Thursday, January 16th, the contract with Kelly Construction was signed so that Dick Baumann could begin work as our construction manager. We are now waiting for the permits from the city so that demolition may begin. Please be assured that the congregation will continue to be informed as work progresses -- we will soon hold an informational meeting for all who are interested in the latest developments. It won't be long before we see the scaffolding going up around the Church. I would like to thank publicly the Investment Committee and Richard Pardo for the hard work and many hours given to ensure that this project move forward in a timely fashion. And so, it begins.
During January the Board approved the creation of and display of a multiracial flag as proposed by the Charlotte Lackner Anti-racist Committee; the Space Use agreement for Rhythm N' Moves was renewed; a 3-year Space Use agreement for Little People Learning Center was approved.
Thanks to all of you who made generous contributions to the Bell Tower Restoration fund and to the general operating budget during December. I am confident that we will weather our current financial situation and will emerge from this time with a strong vision for our future Please note that the Board will be holding an open forum on Sunday, February 23rd following the church service to discuss any of your concerns and to hear your ideas about the future. We hope to see you there. And finally, don't forget to save the date for the Annual Meeting to be held on June 1, 2003.
What's Wrong With the Steeple?
By Richard Pardo
Property Committee Chair
In a number of conversations I have had over the past few months as we have wrestled with the problem of the building's steeple, I have been encouraged to write a summary of what is really wrong with the steeple and how we got to this point. I will attempt to give this summary drawing on what I know, what I've been told, and what I believe. As much as I hope it is accurate, church records are not extremely good, nor have I had time to really dig through every box in the church basement. Therefore there may well be errors in the history of the steeple I give below and I encourage those who have additional information to share that with me.
Although the steeple was constructed as part of the overall church construction project which was completed in 1931, it actually does not appear to be part of the original design for the building. In a number of the building blueprints for the church the steeple is not shown nor is it referenced. In fact the steeple is shown in only one drawing. This one drawing gives the detailed construction specifications for the steeple.
From the ground, the steeple appears to be a massive limestone masonry needle soaring into the sky. In fact the steeple is a steel framework over which has been added a relatively thin skin of limestone on the outside. On the inside one finds a brick inner surface so that the actual supporting steel skeleton is not visible. This construction technique not only reduced the cost of the steeple, but also reduced the weight of the entire assembly allowing it to be supported by the bell tower roof on which it sits. Remember that the bell tower was probably not originally designed to hold the steeple, so a pure masonry steeple would be too heavy for the roof of the bell tower to support.
The use of a steel superstructure was rapidly becoming the standard technique for construction of high-rise buildings at that time and so this approach to solving a difficult weight problem was probably viewed as very imaginative and state-of-the-art in the architecture community in the Chicago of the 1920's. To make the steeple look like it belongs on a gothic Unitarian 'cathedral', the outer limestone skin was then attached to the steel skeleton using metal clips and finally the brick interior wall was cemented to the limestone and steel.
Unfortunately the susceptibility of iron to rust is a well-known problem. Really good rust prevention techniques have only been developed in the last 30 years. Therefore our light-weight steel skeleton, only lightly protected from the elements, and relying on a building maintenance staff which had no expertise in such matters, soon began to succumb to the problems of rust and corrosion. For the first few years all was well as the new masonry was relatively solid and water could find few cracks to penetrate to the steel. But eventually hot summers and cold winters caused expansion and contraction of the steeple and small cracks began to develop in the mortar allowing more water penetration to the underlying steel. The rusting began to accelerate and corrosion set in.
Iron oxide (rust) occupies about three to four times the volume of the iron from which it is made. So the first thing that happens is that the rust begins to exert pressure on the limestone and brick, pushing the stone away from the steel. But the stone is still being held in place by the steel clips. As the rust worsens, the repulsive push of the rust and the pull of the retaining pins become great enough and the limestone begins to crack. You can see those cracks today by just looking up at the steeple or in the photographs which were taken to document the problem. As the rust continues, it weakens the steel structure itself and the stability of the entire assembly becomes questionable.
This is the stage we believe we are in today. The tests made and the level of corrosion now visible in a few exposed areas around the windows of the steeple indicate that very severe rusting has taken place. In addition stability tests make us concerned that the steel superstructure is well anchored to the bell tower roof. Our consultants have expressed serious concern about the structural integrity of the steeple and have recommended that the only reasonable approach is removal or complete rebuild. This is the situation presented to you at the congregational meeting on March 24, 2002 at which the congregation agreed that the steeple must come down.
The problems with the steeple were known over twelve years ago and we undertook a project to make repairs to the steeple in order to arrest the entire decay process. At that time scaffolding was erected and the limestone and interior brickwork were repaired by injecting flexible caulking into the cracks, tuckpointing the masonry joints, and painting the outer limestone with a waterproof paint. Well over $300,000 was spent in that effort to preserve the steeple, but we now know that the attempt was not as successful as we had hoped, giving only about 12 years of additional life to the spire.
A contract to remove the steeple has now been signed with Marion Restoration and scaffolding should begin to go up as soon as the necessary permits are obtained. The total cost of this project will be approximately $350,000. Although the immediate plan is to use funds from the Endowment, this approach to funding is fraught with serious implications for the ongoing programs of the church. If we are to avoid crippling the programs of this congregation it is imperative that we raise as much of these funds as possible from our congregation rather than consume the major financial underpinning of the Society.
It has been suggested that a better and more positive way to view this project is to talk in terms of 'Bell Tower Restoration'. I whole-heartedly subscribe to this point of view. If you will look at the building picture on the front of this newsletter you will see the church without the steeple. I think no one would look at that picture of the church building and think it needs a steeple to be complete. Nor do I think that this congregation needs a steeple to realize its full potential. What we do need is to put this very difficult issue behind us and begin to plan and act on the issues for which we want to be remembered by succeeding generations coming to First Unitarian Church of Chicago.
Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council
The Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council will hold its Winter Quarterly
Meeting on February 19, 2003 at 7 p.m. at Congregation Rodfei Zedek. Our delegates
to the Council are Rev. Nina Grey, Allan Lindrup and Joanne Kent. However, all
are welcome to attend the Quarterly meeting. The major topic will be Interfaith
Dialogue. The projects of the Council will also be reviewed. Attendees will
also be asked if there are other projects they would like the Council to undertake.
Environmental Task Force
By Ellen LaRue
The Environmental Task Force continues to look at the Green Sanctuary Project.
In the meantime we sponsored a First Forum on transportation. Jacky Grimshaw
of the Center for Neighborhood Technology described how long-term transportation
plans for the region are formed. She told how CNT and partner organizations
were able to get public input and draw up the Citizen Transportation Plan to
make the public's preferences known by regional planners as they make plans
for 2030. It sounds dry but it was informative and amazingly interesting. The
forum was organized by John Porterfield. Our next meeting will be Feb. 9 at
11:30. All are welcome.
Green Corner. If you would like to reduce your personal CO2 footprint, a good place to start is to start using compact fluorescent bulbs. I didn't really think of running a light bulb as producing CO2 until I was made aware of the electric plant (coal-fired? gas-fired?) at the other end of the wires. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, lighting accounts for about 8% of the average home energy bill and CO2 footprint, and using all compact fluorescents could reduce that to 3%. These bulbs are expensive though so the suggested approach is to replace your most used bulbs first. The bulbs last a lot longer so if you don't drop the bulb the initial extra expense is more than made up by longevity. The electricity used is a lot less so the ComEd bill will go down. And satisfaction is increased due to reduction of CO2 emissions. I must admit to not using these bulbs, even though I have two enormous ones in a drawer, acquired about 20 years ago. I am going to find a socket that won't pull out of the wall from the weight of these, and use them. Then I am going to search for some smaller compact fluorescents and start using them. Does anybody know a place to get these? And when you see me, please do ask if I actually did this. Thanks.
Equal Exchange Coffee at First Church
By Cindy Pardo
Last month, the Environmental Task Force wrote a column encouraging the use
of fair traded coffee. As it happens, the Fund-Raising Task Force has been considering
selling Equal Exchange Coffee as an ongoing fund-raising activity, one with
a clear social justice message. In addition, Madieria Myrieckes, Betty Holcomb
and Bette Sikes have been working on beginning to use Equal Exchange Coffee
in our coffee hour pot. Great minds definitely think along the same lines!
Beginning in February we will be serving this excellent fair-traded coffee at coffee hour. This will cost more, and we hope that everyone will remember this as they go past the donation basket which helps defray our social hour expenses.
In March, we hope to have a tasting of some of the varieties of coffee which will be availabe to us for purchase. There will be more information on exactly how this will work, and on the exact prices, but in general we can say that members and friends of the church will be able to purchase a variety of ground or whole bean coffees, regular, decaf and flavored, many organic, as well as organic teas and organic hot chocolate mix. We plan to have a Coffee Club which will allow folks to commit to the purchase of a specific amount of coffee each month, in exchange for a reduced price for the coffee, tea or chocolate.
Prices and further details of this exciting opportunity will be forthcoming in the next few weeks. You will be able to taste at least one type of Equal Exchange coffee at coffee hour beginning in February. I hope all of us will consider the purchase of these coffees which are grown in an environmentally friendly fashion, in ways which are distinctly beneficial to the small growers. Everyone will benefit from this delicious way to raise money for our church activities.
Alex Coutts Memorial Concert
Friends and colleagues of Alex Coutts will perform on Sunday, February 2 at
3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary! Participants will include our choir, Clinton Velandia,
Martha Faulhaber, Carrie Hedges, Joan Staples, Cindy Pardo, Patti Stark, Steve
Andrews and Michael Swisher. Solos, duets, instrumental pieces -- and Gilbert
and Sullivan, will be featured. A reception "catered" by Kathy Szoke
and Geza Gyuk will follow. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit church
programs. We hope to make this an annual event, honoring Alex's devotion to
our church, especially its music program. He was also an important part of our
beloved community.
!!Annual Talent Auction!!
Our Annual Talent Auction Fund-raiser will be held on Sunday, March 23.
Last year's auction was most successful. With your help this year we hope to
double our success. We value your donation of time, events, talents as well
as your quality items used for our Silent Auction.
On March 16th we will have a light lunch and a preview of Silent Auction items. The big event will be Sunday March 23, following our usual tasty lunch. These are some of the ideas for contribution: Dinners, luncheons, group outings, repairs, and carpentry, shared talents. We need someone to write wills and/or trusts, take photos, share one of -a - kind recipes, and make a favorite dessert. The limits are only as large as our congregation. Margaret Kennedy may also call you regarding last year's donation.
Please see Polly McCoo or Madeiria after church on Sundays if you can join the committee and help. Your participation is needed at all levels for this to be a successful event.
Great Books
Great Books will be discussing "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,"
Sunday, Feb. 16th at 11:30 a.m. in the choir room. Newcomers are welcome. For
further information, contact Gloria Gnatz or Kennie James.
Chocolate Is Love
Chicago Children's Choir Benefit
Chocolate Is Love, a benefit for the Chicago Children's Choir, will be held
on Saturday, February 8, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Preston Bradley
Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center.
The benefit features dinner by Food for Thought, a dessert buffet, and a silent auction. The Concert Choir will perform throughout the evening. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students and seniors ($35 and $25 at the door). To reserve seats, call the Choir at 312/849-8300, ext. 228. Further information may be obtained from Carrie Hedges or Richard Pardo.
Movie: "A Soldier's Story"
The Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee will present a showing of A Soldier's
Story on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 in Chris Moore Parlor. This is an emotionally
potent drama about an army attorney trying to solve the mystery of a black soldier's
murder. It also dramatizes race relations in the Jim Crow army of World War
II.This movie is rated PG and is 101 minutes long. The showing will be followed
by a brief discussion.
Among Us
Folk Music Concert with Joe Hickerson
Noted folksinger Joe Hickerson will be performing and leading group singing
in a concert in Hull Chapel on Saturday, February 22, at 7:30 pm. Joe is the
former Director of the National Folk Archive at the Library of Congress and
has given over a thousand concerts. He appeared on the Midnight Special for
WFMT's 50th Anniversary.
Joe describes himself as a vintage paleo-acoustic pre-plugged folksinger. You'll
hear some old favorites and some good new songs. You'll sing along with Joe,
whom Pete Seeger described as "a great songleader." This very special
event is sponsored by the Music Committee. Children will enjoy it, as well as
adults. It would be a good event to invite non-church friends to. Admission,
$8 ($7 for students and seniors). Proceeds will benefit church programs.
Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee
The Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee didn't meet in December due to the
holidays. But CLARC's current projects are proceeding: movies on the 4th Friday
of the month, the challenge of the euro-centrism in our church life and worship
service, and the setting up of a special small group for authentic dialog about
race. Interested persons would be most welcome at our meetings, which are on
the 4th Sunday of every month after the worship service. (Contact Joanne Kent,
Frieda Stillerman, or Ellen LaRue.)
HYDE PARK TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT UPDATE
By Allan Lindrup
While identifiable contributors receive a direct thank you letter, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Hyde Park Transitional Housing Project (HPTHP) I want to thank the members of First Unitarian Church for their good financial support for this project. As of this point, First U members have pledged $82.50 per month ($990 per year), plus contributed $786 in funds that do not involve a pledge. St. Paul & the Redeemer, Hyde Park Union Church and Augustana Lutheran have all contributed between $970 and $2,000. Appeals to KAM Isaiah Israel and University Church members will be going out during late January. After a presentation to the appropriate Social Justice body at St. Thomas the Apostle on January 26, we should have a better sense of the timing and nature of our appeal to that large congregation. Those are the seven core congregations who have had volunteers active with the project. This project is also supported by the Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council. We are also making appeals to other congregations, both for financial support and to encourage volunteers from among their members. Speaking of volunteers, we are glad that Joanne Kent has volunteered to join the project's Publicity and Resources Committee effective March 1.
At this time the projects's Board of Trustees is developing its forms and procedures, a process it expects to complete by the time February is over. By some time in March, as it looks like we will have lined up a good base of community support, we hope to be ready to begin screening for the first family we will be housing and mentoring.
The Nature of Racism Course
By Dr. Finley C. Campbell
Our course continues to move along with a small, dedicated group of people. At our last meeting we discussed political race, based on Chapter 3 of the Torres-Guinier book, THE MINER'S CANARY. I recommend that those of you who want to attend our class but cannot, buy the book and follow along at a distance. We meet every second Sunday, except in special cases, at 9:00 am in VOV.
PS. In my last report, I stated that people coming into the program would pay a pro-rated fee. That was an error. We are still asking people to make a $75 voluntary contribution to our RE budget for participating in the class. Naturally, we will take IOU's. For more information, call 773-752-4019.
Meditations on the Social Justice Council
By Dr. Finley C. Campbell, Chair
At the present time, the main international form of social justice work is anti-war, specifically against the coming war against Iraq, with side issues related to the "criminal" justice system (commutation/ exoneration/incarceration), racism (the continued institutionalized discrimination of people of color or people designated as being of an inferior race), and poverty (ranging from the gendered nature of poverty to the emergence of the new poor -- laid off people who have lost their unemployment rights). Finally, there is the overarching issue of the environment, specifically the interaction of pollution, sustainability, and global warming. Our small council, no more than nine members top, seeks to engage in our own modest way with these issues. For that reason, we have a racial justice task force, an environmental task force, and an anti-war discussion/action group, 9/11. Our 9/11 Discussion Group wrestles with the issue of the war, its ultimate purpose, its immediate aim. One idea which has emerged over the last three meetings and which is not found in any other anti-war discussion is the question of the relationship of the Iraqi war to the anti-Eurasian strategy, a concept developed by Z. Bryzinski in his brilliant book, "The Great Chess Board."
At our last 9/11 meeting, we agreed to sponsor with our Hyde Park community partners, Hyde Parkers Against the War in Iraq a forum on the coming war, with a variety of viewpoints. This is scheduled for Thursday, February 6, at 7:30 pm, here at the First Unitarian Church. More in the next issue.
Movie recommendation:
Gangs of New York: a powerful description of white macho culture in 19th
century, the prevalence of anti-Irish racism in New York, with a curious attack
on the Union cause, especially abolitionism.
UU News
Central Midwest District Assembly
The annual district assembly will be held at the Evanston UU church, April 4-6.
Keynote speaker is Dr. Sharon Welch, who will speak on "Pushing the Comfort
Zone: Engaging in diverse community." A number of workshops will be held.
The food "will represent the diverse cuisines of Chicago." There will
be jazz entertainment Saturday evening. Combined choirs of the Chicago area
(including our choir) will sing on Friday evening. Registration brochures will
be available in the church office.
Journey Toward Wholeness
Congregations who are working on anti-racism are invited to send delegates to
a meeting at the Evanston UU church Saturday, Feb. 8 to talk about what works,
what needs fixing and how to carry anti-oppression work forward. Diane Olson,
Moderator of the General Assembly of the UUA will lead an evaluation process.
Register with the District office.
Peace and Justice
Under the auspices of the UU's for Social Justice, a new group is forming to
"work for peace through truth and justice." Their present objective
is to "promote peaceful solutions and oppose a pre-emptive war against
Iraq." Contact Rev. Dan Larsen of the Woodstock church, dplarsen@stans.net.
Emancipation Proclamation Pageant
By Dr. Finley C. Campbell
On Saturday, January 18, 2003, the Racial Justice Task Force with the endorsement
of the Social Justice Council of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago sponsored
the Tenth Annual production of the pageant, O Freedom: The Day of Jubilee.
Some forty-five members and friends of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago
attended and participated in one of the best productions by far of this event.
Despite the cold January weather, our efforts to dramatize the many-leveled
meanings related to the importance of this great historical event were warmly
greeted. The essential meaning remains the same: the historical power of multiracial
unity, emerging from multiracial diversity and international solidarity, to
effect major social change.
There were many outstanding moments in terms of the narrators, audience participants, characters, and music. Despite the fact that our musical offerings were limited to cassettes, a trio of choir members, three soloists, and a pianist (Jane Kiser who also played Angelina Grimke), we managed to make the sanctuary sing with both pathos ("Oh Freedom," "Steal Away", "Go Down Moses"}) and triumph (a recording of the First U choir singing Vivaldi's "Gloria", "John Brown's Body", "We Shall Overcome"). Hats off to Cindy Pardo, Joan Staples (who doubled as Charlotte Fortens, free black women and freedman teacher from Philadelphia), Finley C. Campbell (also director and the character Rev. Daniel C. Taylor), Richard Pardo (our sound engineer), Jim Proctor who did an excellent job as Martin Luther King, Jr., our youthful characters - Zarinah Ali, Moira Harden, and Kate Shakman; our key narrators - Rev. Nina Grey, Dr. Pheifer Browne, Dr. Roberta Lammers Campbell; Ansonia Campbell Walls (Finley's sister visiting from Detroit, Michigan who played Harriet Tubman), Allan Lindrup (Benito Juarez), Ellie Hall (Louisa Mae Alcott), Joanne Kent (Fanny Kimble, fiery abolitionist), Mel Rothenberg (a leader in the Hyde Parkers Against the War in Iraq group who played the fictional Owen Crandall and served as a narrator in Act II), Ross Abbey (a young adult friend of the church who played Abraham Lincoln and also an Act II narrator), Robert Chenoweth (Charles Sumner/Act II narrator), Charles Staples (also an Act II narrator), Pat Lucas and Beccie Bruckner who helped to coordinate the congregational participation, Allen Harden who played Corporal Harding, in charge of transforming our three youths into Union soldiers, new church members Rafaella Patini and her husband Guiseppe Latino who played representatives of Turkey and Italy, Aneesah Ali who played Janette Wheaton, an angry free black woman from Cass County Michigan. Thanks to the office staff, led by Rick Brown for designing such a lovely program for the event and Kimetta Smith for doing the working draft of the program and for videotaping the event. This tape is available at cost.
We raised $156 dollars, plus or minus, for the bell tower restoration. To order
a video tape, call 773-752-4019. Proceeds over costs will go to the restoration
project.