Index of Past Issues

Rev. Grey's column, "Both Sides," is available here.

In the Interim

First, let me introduce myself. I am Millie Rochester, with you as Interim Minister for Religious Education, a unique, intentionally temporary ministry. This form of ministry is meant to be a bridge between settled ministries. In fact, this is such a specialized field that the Unitarian Universalist Association trains ministers just for this purpose. The training I participated in just before General Assembly this June was based on a book by Roger Nicholson, “Temporary Shepherds: A Congregational Handbook of Interim Ministry.” Nicholson outlines five specific tasks for such a time. Be warned: these are not my tasks alone - we will accomplish them together, over time.

The first task of interim ministry is to look back over history, to learn by listening to one another tell the story of this congregation, its relationship with religious education, its members, and its major events. Memories - distant and recent - tend to shape not only the present, but the future. We will have many opportunities this year to remember to remember!

The second task Nicholson cites is helping the church to "renew its sense of identity, to discover its identity anew." Sometimes institutions, like people, can become "stuck" in patterns. Having affirmed the past (in step one), the congregation is ready to take charge of its destiny. Continuity can co-exist with change, as the congregation will prove with its planned work on the vision and mission of the congregation.

The third task of interim ministry is to nurture and liberate leadership. You will notice that I ask questions about and pay attention to organizational structures and attitudes. In fact, all of us will do this, as part of the process of engaging as many people as possible, newcomers and long-time members, in the life of the church and religious education.

Fourthly, interim ministry is a time to renew denominational linkages. This is happening already: Central Midwest District Executive Angela Merker recently led a workshop on personnel and administration, and the District Religious Education Consultant has offered her expertise on Interim Minister for Religious Education start-ups. Two members of this congregation recently attended Leadership School, and others too are involved in denominational activities of different sorts. Heightening awareness of and connections with the denomination is important, for the process of finding and engaging a new settled minister for religious education does involve the denomination!

The final task, according to Roger Nicholson, is "commitment to new directions in ministry." This is the culmination, the task we will together have prepared to accomplish through all of the others. Not only will the congregation come to recognize the qualities of its future MRE, it will increase still further an awareness of its shared ministry.

This will be quite a year. I look forward to our meeting and getting to know one another!

Way Cool Sunday School

In the wake of last year's successful experience, the format of the religious education program this church year will again be "Way Cool Sunday School." Here is how it works: On the first Sunday of each month, the congregation will worship together, intergenerationally; on second and fourth Sundays, children and youth will explore the theme of our Jewish and Christian heritage through Unitarian Universalist curricula. Third Sundays of the month will be devoted to social justice issues such as hunger and other needs; and the occasional fifth Sunday will be dedicated to the arts.

Many teens feel a conflict in the way they want to participant in activities - as a student, or as an assistant to the facilitators - and so may choose which role they assume. The Youth Group has customarily met together, with their advisors, after the church hour, and will likely continue that schedule. By the time this is read, teachers will have received orientation/training, meeting one another or renewing acquaintances over lunch September 7th. If you are interested in joining those illustrious ranks of facilitator for one Sunday or more each month, do let me know!

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 R.E. Program/Office Assistant Vivian Jordan to schedule your task.

Among Us

Our deepest sympathy to Betty Holcomb on the death of her beloved sister, Joanne P. Holcomb, on August 26, 2003. Joanne lived in Tennesee and the funeral was held on Saturday, August 30, at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Ripley, Tennessee. Our thoughts and prayers are with Betty and her family and friends.

We hold Ron Wentzel in our minds and hearts as he continues his recovery.

We continue to hold Michael Donner in mind and heart.

We send our healing thoughts and prayers for Polly McCoo.

Warmest congratulations to Colleen Grogan and Michael Grosse, and Addie and Ellie Grosse on the birth of their newest addition, daughter and sister Clara Mitchell Grosse, born July 31.

Our continuing warm healing thoughts and prayers for Vi Stark.

Our deepest sympathy to Ann Spergel and other family and friends of Ann's mother, Elizabeth McGiffin, who died recently. She will be remembered in a Memorial Service during the winter holiday season.

We are delighted that Rick Green, son of Mike Green, has returned from Iraq.

We continue to hold Devon Moss and his wife, Tinessa, and their family in our minds and hearts as Devon continues his service in Iraq.

First Forum Committee in Formation
by Richard Pardo

A committee that will assume responsibility for organizing a First Forum program is in the process of formation. We hope to develop an exciting program of topics for First Forum this year spanning a broad range of topics and formats. At this time the committee consists of Richard Pardo, Evelyn Johnson, Pat Lucas, Finley Campbell, and Bob Davidow. We need your help in suggesting topics and (especially) presenters that you believe would make for an interesting First Forum presentation. Please talk to any of the committee members about your ideas for First Forum or send me an email with your suggestions at Pardo.Richard@sbcglobal.net. We hope to begin the First Forum fall program sometime in October.

Join the Worship Associates
By Susan Scrimshaw

We are looking for candidates for Worship Associate training to be held early this Fall. A Worship Associate is a member of the congregation who greets the congregation with a welcome and announcements each Sunday, and works with the Minister on other aspects of the worship such as lighting the chalice and doing a reading. Behind the scenes, the worship associate proofreads the order of service, and on Sunday, ensures that all is ready for the service. This is a way to represent the congregation in church services, support our ministers, and allow greater participation in church services for members of the congregation.

We are hoping to expand the list of people who can serve as Worship Associates so that we can give more people a chance to participate and rotate the responsibility among more people. Worship Associates include all ages from Junior High on. The only requirements are the willingness to assume responsibility for helping with a church service 2-4 times a year, and a willingness to address the congregation with words of welcome, readings, announcements and other portions of the service as needed, such as chalice lighting and accepting the offering.
Please consider joining us. If you are interested, please contact Susan Scrimshaw (scrimsha@uic.edu), and let us know.

Board Talk
By Grace Williams
Congregation President

At our August Board meeting, as part of our check-in, we answered the question: What are you grateful for in your life right now? Many of us spoke of our children and/or grandchildren; others of the church, or reasonably good health.

I am grateful for a daughter who said "yes" to coordinating this year's R.E. Summer Program; another who inspires me by her ambition and energy, and a mother who is still well-functioning and contributing to her family at age 88.

I am also grateful for wonderful friends who take me to such places as Old Town School of Music, Ravinia, and the Chicago Symphony Center to hear exceptional musicians, and to Victory Gardens and Steppenwolf Theatres to see incredibly good drama; for fellow church members and minister who model for me how to be courageous in the face of illness, how to be with a dying relative, how to celebrate the birth and life of a grandchild, and who support others in times of distress and need; for staff that can be responsive to large and small requests, individuals who can become seized with an idea and have the persistence and fortitude to see it through for the benefit of all; and for others who lead the way in helping us "walk the talk" in matters of social justice.

In addition, I feel a depth of gratitude for those who would take time out of their work day to wrestle with how to improve and upgrade our personnel, administrative and financial procedures and practices, who would spend a day cleaning up the church, who plan all-church picnics, who care about having flowers for the altar, and who contribute their talents to providing music for our worship services.

What are you grateful for?

Next week Saturday, Trustees, Officers and Ministers will gather for an all-day retreat at which we'll learn about, and acknowledge, each others individual gifts and how to harness them into effective governance of our beloved church. On Sunday, September 21, all of our lay leaders, including committee and council chairs and the entire RE Council, will come together for a Start-up Retreat with our new interim MRE. On Sunday, September 7, we will have our ingathering water communion service, at which we'll come together after all our physical and metaphorical journeys of the summer. I look forward to greeting everyone. If you will be absent, know that you'll be in our collective thoughts.

At the August 21 Board Meeting, the following actions were taken:
• we appointed the Committee on Mission, Vision and Covenant, and approved a charge for the Committee; President-Elect Margaret Huyck will convene the Committee sometime this month;
• we approved the housing allowances of the Senior Minister and Interim Minister for Religious Education;
• we approved paid medical leave for August and September for our Vocal Music Director, Ron Wentzel, who is in the process of rehabilitation from his recent illness;
• we approved a Space Use Agreement with Rhythm 'N Moves.
In addition, we heard from Art Committee Chair Veronica Jenifer, about exciting plans for a November event during which the mounting of the portraits of our Ministers will take place in VOV Gallery, and from Program Council Chair Bobbi Lammers Campbell about an all-church banquet that will take place in June 2004. Watch for further information on these events - and plan to be there!

Peace and blessings.

Reports from the Social Justice Council
By Finley C. Campbell, Chair

There was no Social Justice Council meeting this month due to a conflict with rehearsals for the O Freedom Pageant, sponsored by Pegasus Educational Services, Inc. and the DuSable Museum of African American History, featuring members and friends of our church. The performance was held at the Harold Washington Auditorium on August 16th to a small but enthusiastic audience of some 21 people.

The Social Justice Council was in charge of the worship service for the Labor Day week-end, co-chaired by Jane Kiser, our labor outreach person. This service, whose theme was "Bread and Roses: The Spiritual Dimensions of the Labor Movement Today" will have been jointly sponsored by the Social Justice Council and the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Workers Issues. In addition, we will have had by this time a forum on the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride: a bus trip from Chicago to Washington in the spirit of the old freedom rides to dramatize the need for better wages for both immigrant and native workers.

***The Environmental Task Force (ETF): members of the Environmental Task Force met with Sharon Walsh of the Nicaraguan Solidarity Support Committee to discuss the possibility of participating in a bicycle sale for an associated group which sells general purpose bikes here in the United States to raise money to purchase rough terrain bikes for poor people in Nicaragua, as a way to offer them non-polluting transportation in areas of the country where public transportation is non-existent or dependent on diesel-driven buses. There was also discussion about a proposal to have members of the Support Committee present a forum on the Nicaraguan situation today, sponsored by the Social Justice Council itself.

***The Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF) met in an informal discussion to deal with old and new business. Some key letters -- one to former governor George Ryan commending him for his stand against the death penalty, one to the University of Michigan law school supporting their affirmative action program, and one to the Justice Department about guaranteeing a fair trial for all citizens accused of supporting or being linked to terrorism -- remain on the back burner. The proposal was that we move forward on these letters, since letter writing has become a key form of bearing witness in the social justice struggle, before the issues which they represent become stale. We also endorsed a proposal presented by Sister Diana Gray, our criminal justice representative, that we develop a social service project around a group called CLAIM, a group dedicated to helping incarcerated mothers and their families, and to come up with specific activities which church members could participate in, such as collecting toiletries, toys, and money for these families working through CLAIM. Next: Data on the relationship of racism to imperialism, specifically as it relates to Africa, were discussed. Sister Gray and Sister Pretini have uncovered major information concerning the geo-economic nature of Africa which needs to be distributed. Such information is a part of our internal education on how the economic contribution of Africa to the global economy is being hidden behind images of the poverty, misery, and violence associated with Africa in the popular media. This we see as a part of the connection between racism and imperialism.

We also discussed our efforts to raise funds for Anna Mustafa and her attempts to sue the law enforcement agencies involved in her arrest. Recently, I was informed that Sister Mustafa is being harassed by the FBI who made a 5 am call to her home in August. I see this as a part of the ongoing racist targeting of Muslim Americans which the Patriot Act has engendered. This fact should give impetus to our fund-raising which came to an end on August 31st. I hope many of you who knew of Anna's case contributed.

Finally, I reported on my conversations with Rev. Viola Moore concerning ideas for improving race relations in the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph's area where she continues to be involved as a minister. We are continuing to work with her where feasible in developing ideas for our UU brothers and sisters in that area. .

*** The 9/11 Study Group: 9/11 group is winding down its discussion of the book by William Domhoff, entitled, WHO RULES AMERICA? One aspect of the August discussion dealt with how the particular history of the United States, specifically the fact that we never had a major revolution against a landed aristocracy or feudal monarch as was done in Europe, has led to the rise of a more passive working and middle class, which does not see itself as a class, but as an aggregate of individuals. We also discussed the tension between the political economic corporate-conservative coalition on the one side and the liberal-labor coalition on the other as the basic contradiction which has created the contradictory nature of our two party system. Hopefully, the 9/11 discussion group will present a First Forum on some of its findings.

Movie recommendation: Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life: an action thriller depicting the struggle between a genocidal elite, aiming to destroy millions of workers, students, and professionals, and a multiracial resistance movement, led by Lady Lara, striving to prevent this catastrophe, with the help of godlike powers. PG

Environmental Task Force Report
By Ellen LaRue

The Environmental Task Force has been working on the Summer Solstice Picnic, scheduled for Aug. 30. Also several members met with representatives of the Social Justice Council and Hannah Walsh of the Nicaragua Solidarity Committee, to learn about that group's work, which includes bike sales for fundraising. What we learned was interesting, and may be further taken up in a First Forum. In addition, the RE worms are getting fed.

Green Corner. If you have 15 spare minutes after church, or some other time, I highly recommend you check out the new garden between Woodlawn and Ellis, and between 59th Street and the Midway. It's not what you would call a "natural" garden. But it is totally delightful. You can wander through on paths, and there are benches. It's a little oasis of beauty.

Ice Cream Social

The RE council ice-cream social will be held right after church in Hull Chapel, Sunday Sept. 7th. Please join us for ice-cream (and non-dairy tofutti!), toppings and fun. Proceeds will benefit the work of the RE council. Bring yourself, a friend and an appetite!

A Group that Lays CLAIM to our Attention
By Allan Lindrup, Co-Chair, Racial Justice Task Force

The Racial Justice Task Force sponsored a First Forum on July 27 which featured a presentation by Joanne Archibald, Co-Director of CLAIM (Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers). The group provides training in family law and other relevant topics to incarcerated mothers, provides pro bono legal services to help incarcerated mothers direct who has custody of their children while they are in prison and then helps them regain custody of their children on release (something that is at risk if the woman is imprisoned for over 18 months), and helps women reintegrate into society upon release.

Archibald reported that women are rapidly increasing as a percentage of the total prison population and over 80% of Illinois' women prisoners are mothers. In part due to poorer quality legal representation, African American and Latina women do more prison time than Caucasian women arrested for the same crimes. The video that was shared at the forum, which was made by formerly incarcerated women, pointed out that women who are incarcerated over 18 months may permanently lose all connection with their children (at least those born before incarceration). The prisoners also have to work at very sub-minimum wage jobs while in prison in order to be able to buy things such as toilet paper, sanitary napkins, tooth paste, etc.

The UUA's newest Study/Action Issue is the Criminal Justice System and Prison Reform. The Racial Justice Task Force would like the congregation to take on assisting CLAIM or related organizations assisting incarcerated women as our action component of that issue. Possible actions include providing toiletries to incarcerated women who lack sufficient funds to buy them, through a third party organization, advocating for IDOC to take greater responsibility for providing necessities, and/or helping recently released women with some of the things they need to get reestablished. We are investigating these possibilities at this time.

About the September 7 Water Ceremony

Intentionality about the Water Sharing Ceremony: To prepare for this multigenerational ritual of ingathering, the Worship and Music Committee and Ministers reflected upon the Water Ceremonies of previous years. A small group of us gathered at a special time set aside to contemplate the purposes of this ritual and the diversity of our congregation. We decided that we would return to a form of personal and family sharing of the meaning of the waters we share.

How we will share the water: We will ask individuals and families to think ahead, to reflect on only one source of water, and briefly to share something about the personal, spiritual, or relational meaning of an experience related to the water you chose to share. We will focus on life transitions, moments of peace and renewal, times of taking a risk, and relationship experiences. Families and individuals will come forward to share at one of these four 'meaning times' rather than by sections of the sanctuary. There will be lots of joyful music. The service will be participatory, and, we hope, engage us at all ages.

Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee

The Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee met informally over the summer to put the final touches on our pilot project called "Dialogue Circles" which will be devoted to the theme of anti-racism. This pilot project is open to members of the CLARC Committee, and we hope to determine its usefulness for the congregation as a whole. We will have our first session on Wednesday, September 17th at 7 p.m. at church. We will meet monthly for a total of six sessions. If we discover that it can be used as a tool to enrich the spiritual life of the church, we will then open it up to the congregation. Hold a good thought for us!

Our regular Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee meetings will be held on the 2nd, rather than the 4th, Sunday of the month following the worship service, the first one being on September 14, 2003.
Ellen LaRue, Frieda Stillerman, and Joanne Kent, Co-chairs.

Note Cards For Sale

Beginning in September, note cards, featuring four attractive photos of First Unitarian Church, will be available for sale after service each Sunday as a fund raising effort for the bell tower restoration fund.. Cards are packaged 16 to a set (four of each of four photos) with envelopes. These will sell at $15 for a pack of 16 cards. Please make checks payable to "First Unitarian Society of Chicago" and indicate "note card sale" on the memo line of the check. In the spirit of Chicago, "Buy early and buy often!"

EQUAL EXCHANGE COFFEE
By Cindy Pardo

"I'm out of coffee - when will you be selling it?"
"We really love the new coffee. Will you have some this week?"

The answer: We are currently selling Equal Exchange Coffee -- and tea and hot cocoa mix -- on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. In months with five Sundays, we try to fill in one of the extra Sundays as well.

Simple? We think so. But...if you think we could profit from selling every Sunday, please let me know. It takes a little setup, and one person to take the money and help people decide what they need, so it could be done.

In September we will be selling on September 14 and 28, and we'll have a tasting in early October. Watch for information about that. And remember, this is a benefit to the people who grow the products and to the church. How can you lose?

Picnic at the Point

Perfect blue sky, perfect weather, lots of great food, fun games and good conversations were among the delights for the 55 First Church members and friends who gathered on Saturday, August 30 at the Point for a special picnic. The Environmental Task Force organized the outing as a Talent Auction event. Major planning was done by Madeiria Myrieckes and Ellen LaRue. Watch for pictures posted outside Hull Chapel.

From the Interweave Committee
By Joe Cherry

As the continuing Chair of the Interweave Committee, which focuses on issues important to Bi/Gay/Lesbian/Transgender and Allied people at First Unitarian Church, I want to let you know of our newest programming for 2003-2004. This church year Interweave presents an updated Welcoming Congregation Educational Experience.

Several years ago members of First Church took part in Welcoming Congregation. Since then the UUA Welcoming Congregation has been restructured, and now includes a transgender focus, as well as updated discussions on Gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual issues.

The Welcoming Congregation Educational Experience, using the updated UUA curriculum, will meet one evening a month (October 21, November 18, December 16, January 20, February 27, March 16, April 15, concluding May 27), from 7 to 9 p.m. In structuring our meetings this way, we hope to offer a chance for growth, without monopolizing your time.

Also Interweave is happy to present our second Film Series every second Friday of the month, presenting movies that touch on the lives of Bi/Gay/Lesbian/Transgender and Allied folks.

Please consider joining us, and contact me for more information: josephmcherry@hotmail.com

Parents as Resident Theologians

Parents, have you ever wished for help with the tough questions your children ask? Perhaps that wish is what drew you to First Unitarian! Parents As Resident Theologians is an adult education class designed to answer your needs, and will be offered this church year. If you are interested in learning how to better articulate your own religious experiences and beliefs in order to respond to the religious questions of your children, this is a terrific opportunity. You have an important role in your children's religious development, so stay tuned for further information!

Great Books

Our Great Books group will begin at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, September 14, unless there is an all-church meeting and then we will meet the third Sunday, September 21.

We have chosen to study the series entitled “Happiness and Discontent.” It begins with Aristotle’s exploration of the nature of happiness; contemporary fiction by Mary Lavin, Reynolds Price, Gita Mehta and John Berger; drama by William Shakespeare; and poetry by Emily Dickinson. We will also read two recommended novels: Middlemarch by George Eliot and An Imaginary Life by the Australian novelist David Malouf.

If you are interested in coming or have any questions call Gloria Gnatz, Kennie James or Yarka Zdenak.

Margaret Gonwa: Margie is a native Chicagoan, growing up on West Side and in Oak Park. She works as director of workforce development for the Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Council, a non-profit agency and also serves as president of the board of Southwest Women Working Together. She is also on the board of the Chicago Jobs Council. She and her husband, Hank Henriques, started attending our church nine or ten years ago when their son, Gabriel was 2 or 3 years old. They were looking for a spiritual home and wanted to expose Gabe to the religions of the world and give him an ethical foundation. They loved the people and stayed. Margie says that she loves the UU philosophy and way of life. She's been very involved with church, and decided it was time to make it official. She joined in order to participate fully in the governance and policy making of the church. In addition to her other activities, she is involved in RE. She chaired the RE Council for a term and teaches RE during school year. She is currently on the Committee on Ministry. She loves traveling, hiking, and being involved with her kids' school and sports activities.

Rev. James Hobart: James Hobart is the son of a Unitarian minister in an historically Unitarian family. He was born in Alabama and has lived in New Orleans, Charleston (SC), and Birmingham (Ala), where his father served. He is not in a settled ministry now, but open to interim positions in the Chicago area. He is an adjunct faculty member at Meadville Lombard seminary and occasionally teaches there. Jim first came to Chicago in 1960 to attend Meadville Lombard and taught church school at First U at that time. After graduating in 1964 he had his first ministry at Upton, MA. He has also served in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Park Forest. He spent 18 years at the First Unitarian-Universalist Church in Denver, 10 of those years with his wife, Nan Peterson Hobart. Nan is currently on the faculty of M/L. Jim is interested in urban congregations. He has served as a trustee of the UUA, as well as on the Committee of Appraisal, the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, and Journey Towards Wholeness Transformation Committee.

Pat Lucas: Pat came to First U after her husband died over a year ago. She felt that she needed to become more involved with the community. She tried other churches, but she says they were "too Christian" for her. Raised Catholic, she hadn't been to church in many years, and didn't feel she could go back. Friends and a UU neighbor urged her to try First U. Pat was born and raised in Evanston. She has been a Hyde Parker since 1965. Pat works at the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights, where she investigates complaints of discrimination based on race, disability, and age in health services. Within First Church, Pat is active with the Social Justice Council, as a member of CLARC; she is also a member of OWL (the Older Women's League), and IVI-IPO. Pat has two cats, Cherie and Canaka, with whom she is very pleased.

Kenneth Schug: Ken is originally from North Canton, OH, where his father worked for Hoover Vacuum. He has been a member of the Hyde Park community on and off since 1945. He was married in 1948 by a minister from the Beverly UU church. He then moved away for 8 years, but returned in 1956 to join the Chemistry Department faculty at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is still teaching at IIT, and involved with the CHAMP program there, training minorities for health professions. Ken's wife Miyo, a community activist, died in the spring of 2002. Ken says he started doing things to keep occupied. He visited our church a few times and enjoyed it. He is very excited to become a member. His late twin brother attended a UU church in Pasadena, CA. His son Carey, who lives in Des Plaines, attends the Joliet UU church. Ken also enjoys gardening and cooking.

Kathleen Valek: Kathleen grew up in Oak Park and moved to Hyde Park two years ago. She works in strategic planning at the University of Chicago Hospitals. She is a former member of the Santa Monica, CA church. She came to Unitarian-Universalism because she had gone to the Long Beach church to hear a speaker. She found it interesting, and bit by bit became more involved. She likes to listen to classical music and is involved with the Unity Temple restoration project.

Look for more biographical sketches next newsletter!

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