May, 2003
Rev. Grey's column,
"Both Sides," is available here.
Committee Meetings this Month
Caring Comm. - Tues. May 6 at 5:30 p.m.
Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism - Sun. May 25 at 1:00
Comm. on Ministry - Tues. May 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Environmental Task Force - Sun. May 4 at 11:30 a.m.
Executive Comm. - Wed. May 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Membership - Thurs. May 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Program Council - Tues. May 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Racial Justice - Thurs. May 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Social Justice - Thurs. May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Trustees - Thurs. May 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Worship & Music - Thurs. May 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Congregation will be held on Sunday, June1, immediately after the service. Officers for the fiscal year beginning July 1 will be elected. See the report of the Nominating Committee and the biographical sketches of the candidates elsewhere in this newsletter.
Special Congregational Meeting
A special congregational meeting concerning the Religious Education Ministry will be held on Sunday, May 18, at 11:30 a.m.
Talent Auction Items Available
Several items from the recent Talent Auction are still available. For a list,
see Madeiria Myrieckes or ask in the church office. Madeiria reports
that the Talent Auction has raised $9,000 thus far.
Lifespan Religious Education
By Rev. Marlene Walker
Leaving and saying good-bye are hard things. Harder than just about anything else. At least for me, anyway. Over the next two months I will be saying good bye to you and you to me. It is important to me, and to you, that we do this well. We have come to know each other over these past three years. We have grown and learned and ministered together. I know I have grown fond of this congregation and I will miss it. It is tempting, in leaving a ministry or any other significant relationship, to use the "Running Through the Thistles" approach, to get through the hard parts as fast as possible without feeling the sadness along with the hope. I don’t want to do that. Instead I want to savor the time left and to share the remaining work with you; to walk intently through the garden smelling the flowers and mulching where needed.
We have done a lot together and there is still yet a bit more to do. Over the next weeks I will be focusing on two important areas. First, the administrative details of making sure that the RE program continues to run smoothly so that in the interim the RE Council and then your new religious educator can build on what has been created so far. Secondly, and most importantly, to personally say goodbye to as many of you as possible. There will be special events planned in the next weeks to do much of that and I encourage any of you who wish to meet with me to call and we will set up a time. Sometimes the hard things are the best things. Blessings!RE NEWS
May 4th - Our last Way Cool Sunday School Multigenerational Worship Service, “In Just Spring.” We will celebrate the arrival of spring, of green, of colors and warmth. We will honor and thank all our Way Cool Facilitators and advisors and of course our very Way Cool Children!Friday Family Feast
The RE Council’s monthly Friday Family Feast will be held Friday, May
16th, at 6:00 PM. Families of all ages and sizes are welcome to join in a potluck
held in the RE classroom. Bring a dish to share and your own drink. Come for
good conversation, fun and games.
RE Summer Coordinator Needed
The RE Council is looking for a Volunteer Summer Coordinator for the church
school program. A small stipend is available. The coordinator would be responsible
for securing volunteers and set up. The curriculum would be set by Rev. Marlene
Walker and the RE Council. Interested persons need to contact Anne Morrill-Ploum,
RE Council Chair, or Paulette Dodson, RE Council Vice Chair.
CAUUC ANNUAL MEETING
On Saturday, May 17, from 9:30 AM until 1:00 PM, be part of the interconnected web that is UUism, as delegates from some of the areas 27 UU congregations gather at First Unitarian Church of Hobart, IN, for the Annual Meeting of the Chicago Area UU Council. All members and friends of our member churches and fellowships are encouraged to attend this UU gathering.Hear speakers on the Kosovo peacekeeping operation, and defending our Civil Liberties against the USA Patriot Act; learn about a new UU urban church start, and discuss the difficult business of churches taking stands on public issues. Have lunch with the Unsung UUs from around the region, and hear a special number by the Hobart choir. Following lunch, brief optional tours of the Indiana dunes national lakeshore area will be available. Cost for the meeting is just $10 (includes lunch) and is open to all UUs. To register in advance, (so that we can plan on how much food) call or email Roger Brewin, Rabrewin@aol.com, or send a check made out to CAUUC for $10 to Margaret Shaklee, 1212 Croft Lane, Evanston, IL 60202.Among Us
Warm get well wishes for Florence Teegarden, recovering on the third
floor of Montgomery Place.
We are holding in our hearts: Devon Moss and his family, as Devon serves
in Iraq; Roderick "Rick" Huston, son of Mike Green, also serving in Iraq;
M. Bogle, sister of Pat Lucas, serving as a nurse in a hospital there;
Matthew Treptow, brother of Rebecca Treptow, also in the armed services;
and the nephews of Margie Gonwa, also in the armed forces.
Our continuing warm get well wishes to Rev. David Arksey's father.
We are pleased to announce that the following have joined First Unitarian Society
of Chicago: Matthew Gatheringwater, who signed the Membership Book on
Dec. 23; Margaret "Margie" Gonwa, who signed on April 16, 2003;
Patricia "Pat" Lucas, April 3, 2003; and Kenneth Schug,
also April 3, 2003.
Our deep condolences to Norman Hines and his family on the recent death of Norman's brother, Isaac.
Congratulations to the Revs. Nan and Jim Hobart on the marriage of their son recently.Our continuing warm get well wishes to Vi Stark who is recovering after
surgery.
A Thank You
So many of you have been very generous during my confinement after surgery - and remain supportive as I continue to recuperate. Your presence has been healing in an emotional and spiritual dimension, and I thank you all again.
Gratefully,
The Nature of Racism Course: The Final Session, 2003
By Finley C. Campbell
Environmental Task Force
By Ellen LaRue
Green Corner: From my kitchen window of 26 years I can see Lake Michigan, and for all that time I have felt blessed by water abundance. But in an Earth Day talk at the U. of Chicago, Cameron Davis (Executive Director of the Lake Michigan Federation) said only 1% of Great Lakes water is replenished every year by rain and snow. The lakes, containing 20% of the earth's fresh surface water and 95% of the United States' fresh surface water, are actually a gift of the glaciers that melted 12,000 years ago. Moreover, of all the cities around Lake Michigan, Chicago is the only one that takes out but does not put back in. Because of the engineering of our river and canal systems, the water that comes out of the tap comes from the Lake, and when it goes down the drain it goes to the Mississippi River. So it turns out the water flowing so freely from my faucet is less abundant than I had thought, and even more of a blessing.
Great BooksThis month's Great Books Discussion will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Choir Room on Sunday, May 4, when we will finish our discussion of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. For more information, contact Gloria Gnatz or Kennie James.
From the Board
By Cynthia Oakes
Congregation President
“News that the minister's days among the congregation are drawing to a close -- whatever the reason -- always triggers a variety of emotions among members and friends. This one will be grieving over the loss of a person who was central to the religious community, that one will be relieved. If the minister is leaving under pressure, chances are some people are feeling guilty, some vindicated, others angry. Regardless of the circumstances, after the dust settles most people's more considered response will be uneasiness, uncertainty: what does the congregation do now?
•To enable the congregation to heal and to enrich their sense of religious community during this transitional period, the specially trained interim minister seeks to:CANVASS MOMENTUM STRONG
MATCHING CHALLENGE MET!
By Joan Pederson, Canvass Committee Chair
Because of the pledgers who have attended canvass desserts, turned in cards on Sunday mornings, called in their pledges, or sent cards to the church office, this year's canvass results are coming in at a heartening pace. We are continuing to reach the rest of last year's pledgers and others who participate in the life of the congregation, whether members yet or not.As of Sunday evening, April 20, we had received 71 pledges, including 8 from people who did not pledge last year, totaling $123,116.50. Despite challenging economic times, only 7 pledges so far are lower than last year's, and 36 pledges have gone up. Total new pledges and increased pledges alone total $21,338.50 so far and special gifts total another $10,350: You have already surpassed the goal of the $20,000 matching challenge in support of lifespan religious education by more than 50%!Your extraordinary support is all the more important in the face of the tighter economic circumstances of some of those still wrestling with their pledges, uncertain what they can afford in the face of their changing incomes and new realities in their own lives and those of their children and parents. But isn't that part of what church is for, helping others with their burdens when those burdens become heavy?SUMMER SPECTACULAR BOOKS AND MUSIC SALE
This year's sale will be held Saturday, June 7, from 10 to 4 and Sunday, June 8, after church until 2 pm. Why buy new books for the beach, that long flight, those easy evenings without committee meetings? Why travel far or spend good money on shipping to get the music you want? It's time again for another great books and music sale! After the successful sales this past June and October, we'll be back with more books and more chances to find gems at good prices: recent novels, art books, gardening guides, symphonies, mysteries, children's books, computer games - whatever we get from your generous contributions, as well as selected leftovers from the last sale.How can you help?
• Bring donations of music and books to the church. If possible, pack them in boxes with tops or flaps, or double bagged with bags no more than half full.
• Help lay out the books on Friday evening, June 6, in the Bell Room and in VOV. (Exact time will be announced in orders of service.)
• Post flyers: in your building, on campus, in neighborhood stores (no matter what neighborhood you live in), at work.
• Help pick up books from those who can't otherwise get their donated books, cassettes, CDs, and vinyl to church.
• Help clean up and pack up between 2 and 3 pm on Sunday, June 8.
• Tell your friends to come both days and to bring their wallets and checkbooks!
We raised about $1,300 in June and more than $1,400 in October, more than half of it from people outside the congregation. With your help in spreading the word and otherwise helping out, and with Art Fair crowds streaming past the church this time, we hope to soar far past $2,000, all for the good of the church and its programs this year. There will never be such an enjoyable way to balance the current budget!Unsold books that aren't especially likely to sell at future events are donated for prisoners' use at the Tamms Correctional Center downstate, thanks to efforts by the Social Justice Council. For information or to volunteer, call or e-mail Joan Pederson, GeogJoan@aol.com.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT
The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce its nominees for the elective
offices of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago. Elections will take place
during the Annual Meeting of the Society, 11:30
p.m., Sunday, June 1, 2003. All terms begin July 1, 2003, and will continue
through June 30 of the year specified for each position.
Brief biographical information about each nominee follows. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting.
The President for the next year is Grace Williams, who was elected President-elect last year.
PRESIDENT-ELECT: Margaret Hellie Huyck (serves as President in 2004-2005)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Trustees (three-year terms):
Margaret Hellie Huyck 2006
Jim Proctor 2006
Bette Sikes 2006
Trustee (two years of unexpired term):
Betty V. Holcomb 2005
1st Alternate:
Hank Henriques 2004
Continuing Trustees: Ann Collins, Cynthia Oakes, Stephen Stern (2004); Michael Rhum, Grace Williams (2005).
COUNCILS
Program Council Chair and Second Alternate Trustee:
Roberta Lammers-Campbell 2004
Social Justice Council Chair:
Finley C. Campbell 2004
Religious Education Council:
Joan Pederson 2006
Tina Saphir 2006
Geza Gyuk 2006
Continuing Members, RE Council: Paulette Dodson, Adrienne King, Anne Morrill-Ploum;(2004);
Katari Coleman-Daniels, Colleen Grogan, Anita Orlikoff (2005).
NOMINATING COMMITTEE: (T=past or present Trustee, I=incumbent)
Allen Harden (I, T) 2004
Joanne Kent (T) 2004
David Puszkiewicz (T) 2004
Allan Stern (I, T) 2004
Catherine Harth-Stern 2004
Respectfully submitted,
2003 Nominating Committee: Allen Harden, Phiefer Browne, Joan Pederson, Allan
Stern
PRESIDENT-ELECT and BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Margaret Hellie Huyck (President-Elect, Trustee): I have agreed to serve as President of the Congregation, for a second time, because I believe in this caring community. I joined the church in the mid-60s, and became active in the '80s. I have served several terms on the Board, have sung in the choir for about a decade, and currently chair the Membership Committee. I have been very involved with OWL (the Older Women's League), serving as President of OWL Illinois for several years. Otherwise, I am a professor in the Institute of Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology, specializing in life span developmental psychology. I am also involved in program evaluation research. I believe all these experiences will help me work with the wonderful people in our intentional community.Jim Proctor (Trustee) joined the church last year after visiting for a few years before that. He and his wife Aneesah Ali have five children between them. His occupation is in graphic arts and commercial printing and his interests include art, martial arts, reading, and singing. A Vietnam veteran, Jim volunteers with Viet Now on Sundays to feed homeless men and women. Born a Christian and active in another congregation before he joined First Church, Jim has studied and continues to study Eastern religious philosophy, the Tao ("my true interest"), and Zen Buddhism.
Bette Sikes (Trustee): member since 1955. Served on the Board more than once and was treasurer (recidivist) in the 1970s and 1990s. Currently Parish Clerk and on the Finance and Investment Committees; is Denominational Affairs liaison to the congregation, has represented the church at several UUA General Assemblies and District Annual Assemblies, and has served on the boards of the Central Midwest District and the Chicago Area UU Council. Recently chaired the Administrative Committee. In earlier years worked on long-range planning, edited and produced First Church News, served on two Ministerial Search Committees, and kept her fingers in many pies. Periodically gets out of control.Betty V. Holcomb (Trustee): 30-year member of UU congregations: Columbia, Missouri Fellowship; North Shore Unitarian Society of Deerfield, IL; First Unitarian Society since October 1990. Membership and service in Central Midwest District as Nominating Committee member; UUA Jubilee Working Group for Anti-racism as co-chair; UUA Whitney Young Grants Panel as member; First Unitarian as member of Religious Education Council and Membership Committee, Sunday School teacher. Unofficial Coffee Monitor. Retiring from 21+ years with Abbott Laboratories, 12 years as junior and senior high school science, biology and health teacher. Currently "quilting a new career" in health education, environmental responsibility, and/or antiracism. Two biological children, two additional daughters from hosting experiences: Icelandic and Swiss; host of several additional international students of English. Interests include competitive walking, fine arts and movies.
Hank Henriques (First Alternate) joined the church in 1994. He has been involved in Decisions for Growth (our previous experience with developing mission and long-range plans), served a term on the Board of Trustees, and was an active member and chair of the Committee on Ministry. He has also taught in the RE program. His wife Margie Gonwa and his children, Gabe and Claire, are very active in the church.COUNCIL CHAIRS
Roberta Lammers-Campbell (Program Council; Second Alternate Trustee): I am a college teacher whose main academic interests are plants and wetland ecology. I have been committed to social justice issues since I was a youth in Rockford, IL, where I was raised Lutheran. It was while participating in anti-racism activities that I met my husband Finley. I have two children and two grandchildren (aged 12 and 13). After chairing the Social Justice Council for three years, I became chair of the Program Council about a year ago.Finley C. Campbell (Social Justice Council): I have been involved in church work all my life, first as a Baptist Christian and now as a Unitarian Universalist Christian. I have been a member of the Social Justice Council since 1992, working with the Racial Justice Task Force, and have been a member of the church since that same time. I served for over three years as a Trustee. In 1993, under the leadership of Sister Stubblefield-Tave, I reactivated the Racial Justice Task force; consequently, I bring nearly ten years of experience to the office of chair of this vital Council. Self-critically, I am not as organized as I should be and often substitute improvisation for planning. On the other hand, I have some organizational skills in running a meeting, and I have good coordination skills which allow me to work well with people with differing points of view. In my first year in this position, I have been both passionate about social justice activism but at the same time sensitive to the institutional needs and procedures of our church.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COUNCILGeza Gyuk is an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and has a joint appointment at the University of Chicago where he does research. He has been interested in astronomy education and public outreach for many years now, which makes the Alder/U. of C. position ideal. Geza, along with his wife Kathy Szoke (a life-long UU), has been a member of First Church for two years. They began attending some 10 years ago when he was in graduate school at the U. of C. One of Geza's particular interests is the interface between philosophy, ethics, religion, and science. He is looking forward to seeing how this interest, tempered by practical experience at the Adler (and advice from Kathy, a teacher), will play out in the Religious Education Council.
Joan Pederson: I joined First Church in 1971. My past RE experience includes a few years as an LRYer in this church, teaching a few RE classes two decades apart, and recently taking adult RE classes. My other past church experience includes chairing or co-chairing committees and task forces including Sundays Etc., Worship and Music, Welcoming Congregation, Nominating, Canvass, and Denominational Affairs, serving on several others, representing the church as a delegate to denominational meetings, singing in the choir when atlases don't get in the way, and completing terms on the Board of Trustees and as President in 2002. This year I'm chair of the canvass, a member of the Nominating and Property committees, and coordinator of the twice-a-year book sale, besides being a geographer and senior editor in my work life. I treasure adult RE for giving me chances to be in Mary mode instead of Martha mode.Tina Saphir began attending First Unitarian off and on with W. Saphir about 11 years ago, and more regularly for the past six or seven years after she and W. were married and their daughter Zoe was born. Ian was born four years later. Tina is an artist working toward her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Chicago State University. She teaches in the church school's preschool class and has worked on RE fundraising activities. She also serves on the Worship and Music Committee.
Allan Harden has been a member of First Church for about 9 years. He is a lifelong UU, and was extremely active in UU youth activities on the East Coast through high school and college. Since coming to First Church, Allen has worked in the RE program, served on the RE Council, was a member of the Ministerial Search Committee, served on the Board of Trustees, and was President in 2000-2001. He is the present chair of the Nominating Committee. Allen and his wife, Pat MacClarence, were motivated to become involved with this church primarily to find a religious home for their two daughters, Kelsey (now 19) and Moira (15).
Joanne Kent came to Chicago in the Fall of 1951 from the "Heart of the Ozarks" to attend the University of Chicago. She and her husband, John, joined First Church in the early 70's during Jack Mendelsohn's tenure. She has 2 biracial sons and 7 grandchildren of varying hues. Her husband, John, died earlier this church year. She is personally and passionately involved with issues of anti-racism, and is a member of the Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee and the Social Justice Council. She also recruits and schedules ushers. She is grateful to be a member of this church and particularly grateful that Rev. Nina Grey is our Senior Minister.David Puszkiewicz has been actively involved at First Church for 13 years and a member for 11 years. He has served on the Board of Trustees, the Committee on Ministry, and the Communications Committee, taught in the RE program, picked apples, put up tables and chairs, and danced in the sanctuary. He is looking forward to more of the same.
Allan Stern has been a member of First Church for over 20 years. In that time he has served in many capacities, including Board Chair, Membership Committee Chair, Canvass Committee Co-Chair, Ministerial Relations Committee member. His most recent service was as Chair of the Search Committee for the Instrumental Music Director, as a Board member, and as Nominating Committee member this past year.Catherine Harth-Stern is a native Chicagoan who grew up in a large Roman Catholic family. After college at Purdue University and medical school and residency at the University of Chicago Medical School, she practiced for a year at Jackson Park Hospital before returning to the U of C in 1988, about the time she met Stephen Stern. She has remained at U of C, where she is Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and she married Steve; they have three children: Stephanie, Mitchell, and Rita. Cathy joined First Church in 1989, served on the Religious Education Council 1998-2001, was chair of the council in 2000-2001, and more recently has helped with some of the church's special fundraising activities. She aspires to having time for travel and reading--leisure reading, that is!
Sunday Afternoon Concert
On Sunday May 18 at 3:00 p.m. we will welcome Mark Valenti in a concert of classical selections. Mark first came to our church during our interim, when we were seeking a new Instrumental Music Director. He teaches piano and is an experienced recitalist. His background includes teaching at the college level and performance as a jazz pianist. A donation of $12 per person is requested.Report of the Social
Justice Council
By Finley C. Campbell, Chair
The Racial Justice Task Force has also been on
hold since our chair, Rafaella Pretini, was in Italy defending her dissertation.
They will meet on April 23rd, and we will report on their activities in the
June newsletter. We have three outstanding issues: 1. a letter to Governor Ryan
commending him for his clemency activity; 2. a plan to write a letter to the
University of Michigan supporting their efforts to continue their affirmative
action program; 3. discussion about whether or not we should support the efforts
of an Arab-American business man to get a fair trial after he was arrested for
allegedly supporting a terrorist group in Palestine-Israel.
The 9/11 Study Group continues to give leadership
to most of our work. First, on March 30th, the resolution opposing the war against
Iraq was passed by the congregation almost unanimously with two abstentions
and one no. This was a very important vote since it actually took place during
the war itself. This was important because some groups and individuals in the
anti-war movement withdrew their opposition to the war, retreating to the morally
ambivalent position that, since the war had started, it was now time to support
the president, his policy, and the troops. Our position was more nuanced: even
though we supported our troops, we also supported the victims of our troops,
the soldiers and civilians of Iraq. For us, in the 9/11 study group, the evils
of the war did not change just because the war started. It was wrong in its
inception, in its preparation, in its implementation, and now in its victory.
We also attended a modest-size demonstration -- a rally and march -- on Palm
Sunday. Unfortunately, we did not build for it and, therefore, only six First
U people showed up, including Rev. Nina Grey. But this reflected the
politico-psychological effects of the war at the present time. Nevertheless,
the demonstration itself reflected the determined heart of the anti-war movement
to continue the resistance.
At its first Sunday meeting, the 9/11 group discussed the book by William Domhoff, entitled, "WHO RULES AMERICA?" This is something that all of us interested in the theory of the power structure should read. It was a very lively discussion, with testimonies from different people that the book either confirmed their suspicions or opened their eyes to a theory of the structure of power which exists within the US American democratic republic. Reports about our involvement with local Hyde Park anti-war and anti-racist groups were also heard and discussed.
Our Social Justice Council meeting during the month of April covered a variety of items. Our opening dealt with our responses to the on-going nature of the war and we had a brief discussion about how we should respond to the triumphalism emanating from the media. We heard reports from our various component task forces. Also present was Cindy Pardo who presented information about the Fair Trade Coffee program and asked our help in bagging and selling these wonderful products.
Since our last report, I attended the Central
Midwest District conference in Evanston, Illinois. I was allowed to present
a proposal as a motion that we develop for our next meeting in 2004 a resolution
calling for our District churches to become anti-imperialist in the same way
that we were anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-homophobic. The proposal was
passed with three nays out of a gathering of about 120 delegates. Several delegates
signed up to be a part of a resolution committee. Editorializing: Since issues
of local, national, and international social justice will be affected by the
rise of the US American empire, built on the doctrine of pre-emption, it would
do us well to all study the nature of imperialism to see if this is something
we really want...or need. For further information about the Social Justice Council
or if you are interested in setting up a social justice task force or have some
issue which you want us to take up in that area, please call me. We are also
taking suggestions for social service projects.