August, 2003
Rev. Grey's column,
"Both Sides," is available here.
Committee Meetings this Month
Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism - Wed. Aug. 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Environmental Task Force - Sun. Aug.3 at 11:45
Membership Comm. - Thurs. Aug. 28 at 7:00 p.m.
9/11 Task Force - Sun. Aug. 3 at 11:30 a.m.
Racial Justice - Sat. Aug. 2 at 11:00 a.m.
RE Council - Sun. Aug. 3 at 12:00 noon
Social Justice - Thurs. Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Trustees - Thurs. Aug. 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Let us lend a hand!
The Church Office would like to assist all church groups - committees, task forces, councils and others - keep track of their membership. To help us update our files, we would like to invite all chairs or co-chairs to contact us with their membership lists and any changes in leadership that may be occurring as we advance on the new church year.
Group leaders also are encouraged to call on the Church Office for a variety of services, including sending meeting reminders, agendas or minutes by mail or e-mail. In addition we can also copy and distribute documents in advance of your meeting. Please call Administrator Rick Brown or Program/Office Assistant Vivian Jordan to schedule your task.
The RE Council ended the year with what we hope will be an annual camping trip. All church families are invited to rough it together every year. Despite the rain, even novice campers like Paulette Dodson had a good time. Meanwhile, our summer Peace Camp on Sundays will continue and wind up at the end of August.
Upcoming Events: The RE Council will be sponsoring its annual Ice Cream Social on September 7. Sundaes of all sizes and with all the fixings for $3.00 each will be offered during coffee hour. Hope to see you there!
Way Cool Sunday School will be starting again in September. There are opportunities for you to participate as a facilitator for one, two or three Sundays each month. Don't miss the chance to check out Way Cool first hand. To sign up, see an RE Council member. Look for us in coffee hour!
The RE Council retreat is planned for Sunday, August 3 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. All RE Council members are planning to attend.
As many of you may know, we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the church's interim MRE, Millie Rochester, due to begin her ministry with us on August 15th. Please introduce yourselves and help us welcome her. More formal opportunities to meet with her will be set for the fall.
SPECIALIST NEEDED!
Do you like to putter about the kitchen? Tidy things up? Have the joy of organizing
things, with everything in it's place? We need a volunteer who can come in once
a week, preferably early in the week, and keep the kitchen in Aki's place neat.
While most of the groups who use the space do their own clean up, we really
need that extra touch. Aki herself did it (before it was "Aki's Place",
named after her death); and our last great volunteer was the late Arnita Boswell.
Flexible hours; intrinsic rewards. Contact Margaret Huyck (mhhuyck@sbcglobal.net)
for details.
CORRECTIONS: To the Report on the Assessment
Workshop
Margaret Huyck's report
on the June 21 workshop with Larry Wheeler was very thorough and informative
(thank you, Margaret!), but I want to offer two points of clarification:
1) In paragraph 1, the purpose of the workshop was stated as assessment of our
potential to carry out a capital campaign 'to reimburse the endowment' for monies
used for the bell tower restoration.... In fact, we used both investment ('endowment')
funds and funds borrowed from a line of credit at University Bank. The investment
funds are currently being repaid, over a six-month period, by further withdrawals
from the line of credit. By the time the capital campaign takes place, we will
be repaying the University Bank line of credit for the entire amount.
2) In paragraph 3, Margaret stated, "The data suggest that while involvement in the RE programs has increased, overall membership and number of pledging units has been stable for several years." While this statement is correct with regard to the overall membership figures presented at the workshop, it is unfortunately not true of pledging units. In fact, between the fiscal years 2001 and 2003, we had a net loss of 30 pledge units (a decrease of 20%).
Submitted by Julie Neuman at the request of Patricia Stark
Environmental Task Force Report
By Ellen LaRue
The Environmental Task Force met on June 28. We had a report on the Point controversy. We agreed to start an information/advocacy table during coffee hour. We were informed about the Nicaragua Solidarity Committee, which is looking for help in conducting a bike sale. Representatives from this group will make a presentation at the next meeting of the Social Justice Council, on Thursday Aug. 21. At the next task force meeting, Sunday, Aug. 3, at 11:45 a.m., we will finalize plans for the big picnic of Aug. 30. All are welcome - on the task force (as member or friend), or for the picnic. For information, call Ellen LaRue.
Social Justice Committee Report
By Finley C. Campbell, Chair
The Environmental Task Force (ETF): A new possible project is developing: a bike sale to raise funds for bikes for exploited workers and peasants in Nicaragua, a project sponsored by the Nicaragua Solidarity Committee
The Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF) met tonight, July 23rd. Here are some highlights: Sister Diana Gray reported on the preparations for a First Forum by a group from CLAIM, which acts to give social, legal, and political help to incarcerated mothers. They will have shown a video and had discussion on this issue. This is a part of the criminal justice aspect of this task force. This forum will have been quite appropriate since the issue of criminal justice and racist imprisonment has now become a study action issue, approved at this recent UUA General Assembly.
We then heard reports of our trip to Benton Harbor to join in a protest against police harassment and allegations of police misconduct, leading to the death of a black motorcyclist. We agreed that it is important to show a kind of public witness to these incidents to let racist policemen know that they cannot act with impunity. Some 420 showed up from around Michigan and other places. Unfortunately, there were very few people from Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. This grew out of the fact that the organizers of the march, an outside group, was more interested in pushing its own agenda than in mobilizing the people of the area. However, there was hope in this area: for example, there was a children's fair in Benton Harbor, where children from both communities and their families interacted in a show of multiracial unity. In addition, contact was made with two members of the Unitarian Universalist Church there, and we have been requested by Rev. Viola Moore to give some advice on how to build bridges between the two communities. We voted to work with her on this and to draft a letter to both communities about our view of how they can build on what they have already been doing to advance the cause of racial justice.
A legal defense/expense fund for Anna Mustafa has been set up by the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights. Allan Lindrup offered to match, dollar for dollar, contributions up to $250 from First U, members and friends. Checks are to be made payable to "Bill of Rights Foundation" with "Anna Mustafa Defense Fund" in the memo/note section of the check. These checks should be sent to Allan Lindrup. The next meeting will be on August 12, 2003, Tuesday, 7:30 pm.
The 9/11 Study Group: 9/11 group is continuing to discuss the book by William Domhoff, entitled, WHO RULES AMERICA? This past discussion dealt with the contradictions within and between the two party system, between the conservative- corporate groups on the one side, which tend to be in the Republican Party, and the liberal-labor coalition on the other side, which tend to be in the Democratic Party. The discussion touched on such ideas as liberal fascism, the history of the two party system, the impossibility of developing a brand new third party, and the role of socialist parties in US American history. At the same time, it was raised in the meeting how the power structure operates to control both parties, where possible. It was proposed that at some time the 9/11 study group bring its findings to a First Forum.
Denominational Affairs: Bette Sikes, who keeps in touch with Denomination Affairs brought to our attention that we are allowed six Social Justice offerings per church year and called for the revival of the following collections: the Whitney Young Sunday, the Food Pantry, the Guest at your Table. Other suggestions are welcomed.
We voted to have a special offering on Labor Day for the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues. This grew out of a report by Jane Kiser who attended a strike being held against the Congress Hotel by hotel workers who were struggling for a wage increase and no cutback in benefits. Jane teaches about labor issues at the Indiana University and suggested that the Social Justice Council get involved in labor issues. From this discussion, we decided that our service on August 31st, which is the Labor Day weekend, should focus on this group. We are seeking to get a speaker from their ranks.
And speaking of denominational affairs, I had an excellent, though brief time, June 27th - June 29th, at the UUAGA. I attended sessions on the US Iraqi War and its aftermath; I heard Tom Hayden speak about the possibility of a new left movement arising; I heard Howard Zinn share his autobiographical analysis of why we should not trust the government; I attended the session called by Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, focusing on the Israel/Palestine Conflict, where a powerful story was told about a Jewish/Palestinian group which rebuilds homes destroyed by the Israeli Defense Force Occupation. In one instance, a home was destroyed four times and rebuilt each time in a marvelous display of symbolic action. In addition, I passed out a call for a proposal for immediate witness (turned out that was the wrong name) for next UUAGA, calling on our churches to become anti-imperialist churches. I did not get a chance to hear the Ware Lecture, which featured Julian Bond, but I did e-mail him my support and some suggestions for his presentation.
Recommended movie for the month of July: Hitler: The Rise of Evil, now available on video but not at Blockbuster. A powerful view of the social forces which led to the rise of Adolf Hitler.
The UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS for SOCIAL JUSTICE Summer Quarter Meeting will be held Sunday, August 17, 2003,from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Congregational Unitarian Church 221 Dean St., Woodstock, IL. From 2 to 3 p.m. there will be a lay-led Worship Service of music and readings, intended to Sustain, Affirm and Heal Sponsored by our Peace and Justice Task Force. From 3 to 5 p.m there will be a Board of Trustees Business Meeting (open to all).
All Church Clean-Up Day
The Property Committee would like to invite everyone to an important summer event that will help make our shared space a more inviting and enjoyable place to worship and socialize. At 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 23rd, please join us for an all-church clean-up day.
Right now, we're making a list of jobs large and small to do -- so every one will be able to find something just right to help out with.
And if you're into spectacle, we hope to have the church scaffolding up to assist in replacing burnt-out light bulbs way up high in our sanctuary's candelabra. This is really something to see!
So mark your calendars right now for August 23rd, and make a point to join the Property Committee as we shine up our shared space for the church year to come!
Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee
Report
By Joanne Kent
On Saturday, July 19, 2003 a group of First UUers, organized and sponsored by our committee, left First Church at 10 o'clock a.m. for Garfield Park Conservatory to see the Chapungu Sculpture Exhibit of Zimbabwe. These remarkable sculptures told powerful stories with great feeling and expression. We heard some traditional Zimbabwean music and saw artists demonstrate their incredible stone-carving techniques. The group included Bobbi and Finley Campbell, Phiefer Browne and Cynthia Redd, Pat Lucas and Joanne Kent, Lorie Rosenblum and Marge Saphir, Madeiria Myrieckes, Barbara Brown and Sadie Picardo. We were very inspired by the exhibit and urge any of you who haven't seen it yet to make it a "Must See!" Our committee is planning another outing to see the play "Roots" at the Lookingglass Theatre, so "stay-tuned" for further information. We'd love for you to join us.
Board Talk
By Grace Williams
Congregation President
Summer can be such a wonderful season for growth and renewal - and simply a time to have fun! So far, mine has not disappointed. Among my pleasures this summer has been the UUA's week-long Midwest Leadership School with Past President and current Trustee, Cynthia Oakes, at Beloit College, Wisconsin. For me Leadership School was a most profound and extraordinarily valuable experience - both personally, and potentially for the institution. We had an opportunity to explore and deepen our personal faith journeys, to learn about systems theory, leadership and change, congregational structure and dynamics and other aspects of organizational development, how to plan and carry out a worship service, and how to build an effective community.
I was particularly impressed at how the nine-member faculty, including our District Executive, Angela Merkert, created community amongst the entire group of learners and teachers. This was done through daily "getting to know" you exercises, small group activities - organizational development groups that got together to apply theory to solve problems, separate groups that got together to plan a worship service, Credo groups that met each evening to discuss a theological question and share our faith journeys. We shared the same dormitory, sang together, ate together, socialized and played together each evening.
On reflection, Leadership School was like church in microcosm. We had a shared Vision - to become/develop better leaders; a shared Mission - to develop the skills and learn the tools of effective leaders; and a shared Covenant - the rules and guidelines for behavior and shared values, including respect for, and acceptance of, one another and our individual gifts.
Another source of growth and learning for me this summer was the Congregational Assessment Workshop held on the first day of summer. One key understanding for me came from Larry Wheeler's statement of the reasons why people come to church - for Hope, Help and Home. (When I repeated this recently, a wise member of our congregation added "protection.") I plan to focus on those words to try to see how we can better embody them.
The first board meeting of the new church year, and the new board, took place
on July 24. We had a very productive meeting, in which I felt fully supported
in my new role. We received excellent orientation by Treasurer Julie Neuman
on how to read and understand the monthly financial statements, and on the work
of the Treasurer. Our Property Committee Chair, Joan Pederson, gave us
a comprehensive presentation on the work of the committee, and its priorities
for maintenance of the building during the next one to three year period. She
also gave us a tour of the church and pointed out the areas that needed work.
Our Church Administrator, Rick Brown, had created a comprehensive Board
Handbook that I believe will be a great asset in carrying out our work.
We also, regretfully, accepted Stephen Stern's resignation from the Board
due to his new commitments as President of the Cook County Bar Association.
Sincerest Congratulations on your new position, Steve! Thank you for your strong
commitment, strong voice and willing contribution of your legal expertise to
the Board's work for the past two years.
The Board conducted the following business during its July meeting:
First Church Outstanding Volunteers
Recognized at the June 8 Flower Communion Service