June, 2004
Rev. Grey's column, "Both Sides," is available here.
In the Interim
by Rev. Millie Rochester
Over the last few days, I can't tell you how many people have referred to golf balls in their conversations with me. This sounds very strange, if you were not present for the Sunday worship service on May 23rd!
During that service, I filled a jar with golf balls; then I added marbles, then rice, and finally water. The jar, I suggested, might represent our lives. The golf balls stand for the things in life that are really important: people you care about, your church, basically, things that if everything else was lost and only some of these remained, could still fill your life. The marbles are the other things that matter as we grow up or grow older: where you live, your job or school, maybe your car. And the rice represents everything else -- basically, the small stuff.
If we filled the jar first with all the rice, there wouldn't be room for marbles, much less for golf balls! And the same is true in life. If we spend all our time and energy on the small stuff, we will never have room for the things that truly are most important to us. Conversely, by taking care of the "golf balls" first, we are paying attention to those areas in life that are most important.
Three of the First Church youth and their adult mentors who participated in the Coming of Age program this year reminded many people that transmitting our values is one of those "things in life that are really important." Katari Coleman-Daniels, Andrew Greenlee, and John Porterfield mentored Zarinah Ali, Scotty Roberts, and Gabe Henriques, respectively, as these high school youth completed a demanding four-month program in personal relationships, service to others, the church and UU heritage, and religious understanding. What a powerful demonstration they all provide of living Unitarian Universalist principles -- clearly, these are "golf balls" for them!
This year and next, as years of interim ministry, are opportunities for you as a congregation and as individuals to examine the "jar" of your church life, especially as regards religious education. A task force appointed by the Board of Trustees has determined what the process will be for moving ahead (see that information elsewhere in this newsletter). The Religious Education Council and I are planning next year's program, and will be asking for teachers. If you are approached to participate in any of these ways, I hope you will consider the request in the context of that "jar." Maybe you won't need to be asked at all, but will approach us first -- great!
Oh -- and don't forget about the water that was added last to that jar! I look forward to enjoying a refreshing glass with you in the coming months as we continue this conversation.
Faithfully yours,
Millie
RE News
What an interesting time of the year it is -- living in the world of the 2003-04 church year, yet thinking and planning ahead to the next. Thanks to all who have made this year of First Church lifespan religious education so rewarding. I am glad that many teacher-facilitators and their families were able to attend Appreciation Breakfast on May 23rd.
Do remember to extend your own thanks to members of the RE Council, many of whom should have been on the receiving end of that event!
June 6th promises to be a full day of excitement and fun. First, remember to bring a flower for the traditional Flower Communion Service. Stay afterwards for the big book sale, which will be indoors, and the all-church picnic out on the front lawn.
The following Tuesday evening, men are invited to join "A Community of Men," convened by First Church member Joseph Harrington. This is a program designed to afford male members of the congregation an opportunity to discuss and explore their common spirituality and beliefs in an open and mutually supportive environment.
Some RE-related activities are drawing to a close, at least for this church
year. As the school year winds down, the Young Adult/Campus Ministry group is
dispersing for the summer months, to resume in the fall. Friday noon Lunch and
Conversation with the Ministers will also be on hiatus, as the ministers' schedules
shift from the "regular" year.
On one of the last Sundays in this year's program, young people discussed their
concept of the sacred and created works of art to illustrate their thoughts
and feelings. Next year, children, youth and adults of the learning community
will focus on the diversity of that concept in the religions of the world. Younger
children will explore Stories About God, looking at god as the central symbol
in a religious communication system -- god as oneness, love, and mystery --
that can take on many forms. Holidays and Holy Days will enable participants
to actively learn about the origins and meanings of many celebrations. As the
authors say, "a holiday is not something to talk about…it's something
to DO." Older children will directly experience different faith traditions
also, through Neighboring Faiths, participating in the decisions that will impact
their year.
Don't wait to be contacted by a member of the RE Council if one of these areas appeals to you! Let me, or incoming Council Chair Colleen Grogan, know you want to be involved.
Love,
Millie
Board Talk
By Grace Williams
Congregation President
It has been an intense, challenging, exhausting and rewarding experience for
me being your president for the past year!
As I indicated in my Annual Report, I feel gratified with the work that the
Board has done this past year-not to mention the work of all the Councils, Committees
and Task Forces. I am constantly amazed at what even a relatively small group
of committed and fully engaged individuals, working with the same set up of
values, can achieve
.
The Board of Trustees determined, after its Annual Retreat in September 2003,
that its major concerns for the 2003-2004 church year would be: 1) Vision-Mission-Covenant,
2) Fiscal Stability and 3) Membership Growth. In my opinion, we've done well
in pursuing the first, thanks to the work and focus of the Claiming our Future
Task Force, inspiringly and ably chaired by Diana Gray, and we now have
a Mission Statement: "We are a diverse, intentionally inclusive, sustaining
community and a beacon of liberal religion, fostering spiritual and intellectual
growth as we live out our shared values in the larger world."
We've worked hard at the second-note the balanced budget passed at the Annual
Meeting, thanks in large part to Treasurer Julie Neuman, Stewardship
Team Chair Cindy Pardo, the Finance Committee and the focus of the Board,
and the progress made with Bell Tower Restoration Capital Campaign. The latter,
thanks to Richard Pardo and the initial 13 individuals who signed on
to his letter indicating their willingness to contribute a substantial amount
of money to help defray the cost of demolishing the steeple, in an initial quiet
campaign that will soon be expanded to the rest of the congregation. This letter
was sent to the Board urging us to pursue this effort, which we have done with
the consultation of Marilyn Sheperd, a former member and fundraising
and development professional, who volunteered her service to help us with this
effort, ably assisted by our Stewardship Team Chair, Cindy Pardo.
Membership growth continues to be a challenge for us, but we have gained several
new members during the year, and heartily welcome them, while losing others
through death or leaving for one reason or another.
In addition, I am pleased with the work done by the Management Consulting Task
Force in addressing the functioning of the church office, our financial procedures
and administrative concerns, and the needs of our professional staff. I was
impressed also at the careful, thoughtful and thorough work of the Committee
on Right Relationships in handling a difficult relationship with a member.
My work as President was greatly supported and enhanced by the wisdom and advice
of the officers (President-Elect Margaret Huyck, Treasurer Julie Neuman,
and Secretary Diana Gray) and the professional Ministers (Senior Minister
Rev. Nina Grey and Interim Minister for Religious Education Rev. Millie
Rochester), who make up this year's Executive Committee. During our monthly
meetings, on the first Wednesday of each month, we took an initial look at items
to be discussed by the Board, received or requested background information,
and formulated the agenda items to be discussed and decided on by the Board
at its meeting on the third Thursday of each month. In my opinion, this process
aided the Board's functioning tremendously.
I was very pleased at the turn out (some 63 of us were present), general ambience,
and engaged debate at our Annual Meeting-despite my failure to establish clear
procedural guidelines for discussion of our mission and vision statements, which
created some confusion about the process. I think I was at the top of my learning
curve at that point! Please accept my apologies. Nevertheless, at the end of
it all, we were still speaking with one another and we had performed the essential
business of approving a balanced budget, and ushering in a new slate of elected
officers, as of July 1. Please take some time to read the Annual Report to learn
for yourself the full scope of the work of our beloved community during the
2003-2004 church year.
I have felt honored, and pleased, to work with such a sharply intelligent, active,
engaged, committed, responsive, supportive and responsible group of Trustees,
Officers and Ministers, plus a Church Administrator who has been unendingly
patient, supportive and accommodating, with the help of his office staff and
volunteers and willing custodians.
At the May 20th Board meeting, among other matters, we discussed and/or made
decisions about the following:
Claiming Our Future
By Diana Gray,
Chair, Claiming Our Future Task Force
At its 169th Annual Meeting, the First Unitarian Society of Chicago adopted a new mission statement presented by the Claiming Our Future Task Force and created from the work of the congregation over the past five months. The new mission statement is:
We are a diverse, intentionally inclusive, sustaining community and a beacon of liberal religion, fostering spiritual and intellectual growth as we live out our shared values in the larger world.
In a split vote of 24 to 20, the congregation declined acceptance of the vision statement, sending it back for further refinement to the Claiming Our Future Task Force. The Task Force will present a revised statement to the congregation for consideration at a special called meeting the Board of Trustees will announce in June. The vision statement presented and not adopted read as follows:
An alternative to the first bullet presented by Joan Pederson at the meeting is below:
At the direction of the Board of Trustees, the Task Force is seeking guidance from its consultant, Angela Merket, on the next steps to follow.
Among Us
Warm continuing get well wishes to Mary Sidney.
Michael Donner now resides at Hartwell House, an assisted living residence. He needs to sell his Hyde Park condo, a two bedroom with one bath, dining room, kitchen and sunporch, in the 5500 block of S. Dorchester. It is one of nine units in the building. If interested, please contact him.
As of this writing, we have heard from Devon Moss that he is still in Wisconsin. We continue to hold him and his family in our hearts.
We are grateful to Lori Rosenblum, Don Scott and Kim McIntyre, who gave us a very fine program on "Talking about death and dying", on May 23, during the First Forum.
Congratulations to the following young people who celebrated their Coming of Age, on May 23, 2004, during the worship service: Zarinah Ali, daughter of Aneesah Ali and Jim Proctor; Gabe Henriques, son of Margie Gonwa and Hank Henriques; and Scotty Roberts, son of Blanche and Scott Roberts.
Congratulations also to Anne Jonas, whose graduation from high school we honored on May 23, 2004. Anne is daughter of the Rev. Karen Day and Bradley Jonas. Anne is valedictorian at Kenwood Academy and a Merit Scholar. She will be attending Brown University in the fall.
We offer our warm congratulations also to Andy Berquist who is graduating from high school this June. Andy is son of the Rev. Carol Hepokoski and John Berquist.
Our deep sympathy to Vivian Burns and her family on the death of Vivian's father, on Tuesday, May 18, 2004. His funeral was in St. Louis on Monday, May 24, 2004.
Congratulations to Joe Cherry on the occasion of his graduation from the University of Illinois in Chicago, Sunday, May 9, 2004. While Joe was graduating, Aneesah Ali read a letter from him to the congregation, thanking the congregation for our support for Joe during these college years.
More congratulations go to Ioanna Chaney who is graduating from the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration with a masters in Social Work, clinical concentration. The graduation ceremony is Friday June 11th at 9 a.m., outdoors, in the quads of the U of C campus and is open to anyone who wants to attend. Following the ceremony, there will be a reception at SSA, 969 East 60th Street.
Congratulations to Raffaella Pretini and Giuseppe Latino on the birth of Federico Daniel Latino, born April 28, 2004, at 11:49 p.m.
Congratulations to Mary Corey March, daughter of Susan Scrimshaw, who just completed a masters in Integrated Arts Teaching from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.
Special Award to Jordan Greenlee
Congratulations also to Andrew Jordan Greenlee on the occasion of his graduation from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, Monday, May 17, 2004. Jordan was honored with a special award, one of two Grinnell Alumni Association Senior Awards at his Baccalaureate. He also received the Student Employee of the Year Award this past February. Jordan will be going to the University of Iowa this fall, to study urban planning in a two-year program. He received a full scholarship and a two year fellowship. Here is the text of the Senior Award that he was given:
Men's Meeting Reminder
"Life is not a destination, but a journey." This simple yet profound statement will serve as the cornerstone for our upcoming men's meeting. We invite the men of our community to join us on June 15, 2004 (the Tuesday before Father's Day) at 7:00 pm for a walk on "The Road Less Traveled." This will be an evening of open, honest and frank discussion and reflection on what it is to be a man in a dynamic and complex world. Please contact Joe Harrington, member of the Adult RE Committee if you have questions.
Life Journeys Class
There are three sessions remaining in the Life Journeys Class, a group discussion for older members and friends of the congregation, facilitated by Rev. Nina Grey. The class meets at Montgomery Place on Thursdays, from 3:30 to 5. Montgomery Place Unitarian Universalists and others from our church are participating. We are focusing on the sharing of stories of some of our experiences and learnings as we age. The class will meet on June 10, July 1 and July 15. If interested, or for more information, call Rev. Grey at 773-324-4100 or email her at ninagrey@aol.com.
The 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions
The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions invites you to join thousands
of people representing the vast diversity of the world's religious, spiritual,
and cultural traditions as they converge in Barcelona, Spain from July 7-13,
for the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions. This highly anticipated gathering
will forge new pathways to peace as its participants dialogue with open hearts
and minds, reflect on critical issues facing the world, and celebrate the richness
of the world's religious and spiritual traditions.
The 2004 Parliament follows in the tradition of the first Parliament of World's
Religions held in Chicago in 1893, the 1993 Parliament also held in Chicago
and the 1999 Cape Town Parliament.
Many Unitarian and Universalist women and men have participated in these historic
events including Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Agusta Chapman, Fannie Barrier Williams,
Olympia Brown and Homer Jack. Rosemary Snow, a member of First Unitarian
Church of Chicago volunteered at the 1993 Parliament and will be going to Barcelona
this year.
The Parliament will be a rare opportunity for individuals to participate in
more than four hundred seminars, workshops, panel discussions, performances,
and celebrations focused on intra- and interreligious dialogue and the role
that religion and spirituality have played and can continue to play in fostering
a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Special emphasis will be placed
on humanitarian concerns such as the refugee crisis, international debt relief,
religiously motivated and targeted violence, and accessibility to clean water,
with particular attention paid to the ways in which religious and spiritual
communities can continue to address and alleviate these critical issues.
The Parliament will include such notable presenters as H. H. the XIV Dalai Lama,
Archbishop Ricard Maria Carles of Barcelona, Ms. Karen Armstrong, Dr. Deepak
Chopra, Nobel Laureate Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Ms. Ela Ghandi, Dr. Hans Kung, H.E.
Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef, Dr. Raimon Panikkar, Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruther,
and Rabbi Henry Sobel. Also invited are Ms. Karen Armstrong, Nobel Laureate
Mrs. Mairead Corrigan McGuire, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Frederico Mayor, and Dr.
Tariq Ramadan. For more information on the 2004 Parliament or its organizing
body, the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR), please see
www.cpwr.org, or contact Erin Williams, Outreach Coordinator, at (312) 629-2990
ext. 241. Or speak to Rosemary Snow.
You Are Invited to a Party
Sponsored by Charlotte Lackner Anti-Racism Committee (CLARC)
The Southside Friends of the Chicago Sinfonietta is having a party at our church
on Saturday June 12, 2004 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The whole congregation is invited!
If you did not receive a formal invitation, do not feel left out! Please come
anyway and bring your family and friends. We will have delicious refreshments
and a musical treat by members of the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra. You will
also have the opportunity to meet Dr. Paul Freeman, The Founding Music Director
.
The Chicago Sinfonietta is Chicago's premier mid-size orchestra. It is recognized
as one of the city's most diverse performing art institutions. The musicians
of the Sinfonietta represent the city's rich cultural landscape. All artistic
activities strive to fulfill the orchestra's mission, "Musical Excellence
Through Diversity."
Besides enjoying the refreshments and the music of the Sinfonietta's string
quartet, special rates and family rates will be available for season tickets.
Please R.S.V.P. by June 6 to Veronia Jenifer
Many Honored at Annual Meeting
by Margaret Hellie Huyck
At the annual meeting held on Sunday May 16th, we paused to honor many of the
people who have given of their time to make our church the wonderful community
that it is. Five individuals merited very special recognition:
Plus, we had the following groups of outstanding participants stand to be recognized: religious education facilitators and council members, social justice council and participants, all those who create the Sunday worship experiences -- worship associates, musicians, guest preachers, ushers, greeters, social time hosts -- office volunteers; creators of celebratory occasions and our newsletter and webmaster experts; Board of Trustees and Board committee members; and those who have contributed to the stewardship efforts.
We also honored those of us who have been members for 50 or more years:
Jane Stevens (1942), Albert Hayes (1947), Pauline McCoo (1948), Doug Anderson
(1950), Betty Wissler (1951), Robert Wissler (1951), Eleanor Petersen (1953),
Charles Staples (1954), Harriet Swanson (1954)
First Forums for June
June 6: 50 Years After Brown v. the Board of Education
Speaker: Timuel Black
Fifty years after this famous Supreme Court ruling, the most segregated schools
in the nation are in the North, while rapid re-segregation is occurring in a
number of Southern school districts. Intensely segregated minority schools continue
to face conditions of concentrated poverty related to unequal educational opportunities,
lower test scores, higher dropout rates, and few connections to colleges. Join
First Church member and educator, civil rights activist, and community leader
Tim Black who will lead a presentation and discussion on where the nation
finds itself in the battle for an integrated society and where it is now heading.
June 13: Eradicating a Parasite in Africa
Speaker: Dr. Donald R. Hopkins, M.D., The Carter Center
Since 1986, the Carter Presidential Center has led a coalition of international
organizations in helping 20 countries, 17 of them in Africa, to eradicate a
loathsome parasitic infection called Guinea worm disease. The number of people
affect the the disease was estimated at 3.5 million in 1986. That has been reduced
to less than 33,000 cases reported in 2003, with 7 of the 20 countries having
completely eradicated the disease already.
People get Guinea worm disease by drinking contaminated water from open ponds.
One year later, the 2-3 foot long adult worms emerge through the skin over several
weeks, producing so much pain that victims cannot walk to school, farm, or undertake
other important tasks. There is no vaccine or treatment available. The infection
can only be prevented by educating people at risk to filter their water through
a cloth or to take other measures to avoid drinking contaminated water. This
presentation and discussion will focus on what has been achieved and how.
Dr. Donald R. Hopkins, M.D., M.P.H. is the author of The Greatest
Killer: Smallpox in History. He makes his home in Chicago and consults actively
with the Carter Center in Atlanta. In 2002 he traveled to Cuba with former President
Jimmy Carter, and subsequently wrote "A Black View of Cuba."
June 20: Racism and Sexism: The Roots of Women's Oppression
The guest presenter will be Judy Chapman, Director of the Counseling Program
at Southwest Women working Together. In addition, a member of the Racial Justice
Task force will examine the racist nature of sexism, and the sexist nature of
racism, as aspects of both domestic and social policy violence against women
in this society.
June 27: Perfect Planet, Clever Species: How Unique Are We?
Speaker: William Burger, Curator Emeritus, The Field Museum
This talk is a short summary of my book Perfect Planet, Clever Species: How
Unique Are We? Beginning with the qualities that make our Sun a very unusual
star and the uniqueness of planet Earth, we will consider both general evolutionary
trends and a number of unique contingencies that have marked our biological
and cultural history. Plate tectonics, dinosaur extinction, and the flowering
plants have all been key elements in our odyssey. Though many people see science
as a natural outcome of progressive cultural trends, I'll argue that the rise
of western science was contingent on factors which came together uniquely in
late Medieval Europe. All told, it seems quite possible that the human achievement
-- building radio telescopes for example -- may be unparalleled in our Galaxy.
William Burger is the former chair of the Department of Botany at the
Field Museum of Natural History.
First Forum Summer Open Microphone
The First Forum committee is going on vacation for the summer (for July
and August). But if you hate to see the First Forum 'mike' go dark for these
two months, you can keep it going either by volunteering yourself to speak on
a topic of your choice or by recruiting your favorite speaker on a selected
topic. If you want to schedule a First Forum, contact Richard Pardo to
sign up for your favorite Sunday. We will make sure your presentation gets advertised,
but the rest of the organization is up to you.
Actually the First Forum committee is already 'hard at work' planning for the Fall series which we hope to begin on September 12. If you have some ideas for topics and speakers for the 2004-2005 church year, please see one of the committee members and tell us about your ideas.
Richard Pardo, First Forum Chair
Eve Emschwiller, Tom Huyck, Evelyn Johnson, Pat Lucas, Lorie Rosenblum, Ken
Schug, Mary Sidney, Don Scott
Great Books Discussion Group
The First Unitarian Great Books Discussion Group will meet on June 6th at 11:30
a.m. in the RE Resource Room to complete discussion of Middlemarch by George
Eliot. Then, we will recess for the summer until the second week of September,
when we will begin discussing the last novel in our syllabus. If there are any
questions call Gloria Gnatz or Kennie James.
General Assembly This Month in Long Beach
The annual General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association will take
place this June 24-28 in Long Beach, California. It is expected that approximately
5,000 people will attend this year's GA.
A special invitation has been extended by UUA President William Sinkford to lay leaders of congregations across the country, with specific workshops and sessions being targeted towards them. To that end, incoming congregation president Margaret Hellie Huyck and incoming president-elect Ken Schug will both be in attendance this year serving as delegates from our church.
Rev. Nina Grey and Rev. Millie Rochester will attend the annual ministers' meetings preceding GA as well as other GA activities. Also in attendance will be Allan Stern working on the "web team" reporting and photographing sessions for the UUA's website. Several other church members will be attending as well.
Watch for a full GA report in the August newsletter or better yet, catch the live webcasting and up-to-date reports and photos from the official GA website, http://www.uua.org/ga.
Other News from the Denomination
Front page story in Boston Globe highlights UU commitment to supporting marriage equality
A front page story in the May 10, 2004 edition of The Boston Globe focused on the UUA commitment to marriage equality. The article stated, "At a time when many of the major religious denominations of the United States are riven by divisive debates over homosexuality, a small Boston-based denomination ...is preparing to supply ministers to officiate at large numbers of weddings of same-sex couples." In the article, UUA President William Sinkford is quoted as saying, "We have been hard at work on this for 30 or 35 years. This issue is one which actually helps to bring us together, and helps us to understand our religious identity, rather than tearing us apart."
The Globe article related plans for celebrating same-sex unions in Boston, Cambridge, Provincetown, Brewster, Lexington, Marblehead, Littleton, and a number of other cities and towns throughout Massachusetts.
On May 17th, most of the seven lead plaintiff couples in the landmark suit ruled on by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court were united in legal marriage. Rev. Sinkford co-officiated the service joining the lead plaintiffs, Julie and Hillary Goodridge, in a marriage ceremony performed at the UUA's Boston headquarters in Eliot Hall. Another of the UU plaintiff couples, Gloria Bailey and Linda Davies, was married the same day at the Brewster UU congregation. Later that same evening, David Wilson and Rob Compton were married at Arlington Street Church by the Rev. Kim K. Crawford Harvie. Part of that service was carried live on ABC-TV's Nightline.
Further information:
The Boston Globe article: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/05/10/unitarians_prepare_to_marry_gays/
For a summary of the struggle to achieve marriage equality in Massachusetts: http://www.uua.org/news/2004/freedomtomarry/massachusetts.html
For the Massachusetts Supreme Court's legal opinion:
http://www.uua.org/news/2003/031118b.html
UU Youth Civil Rights Journey
UU youth and young adults will join the Service Committee on a civil rights journey to Atlanta, Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham, July 6-12, 2004, traveling together by bus to visit historical sites that were significant to young people who worked to register new voters during Freedom Summer 1964. The trip will begin with inspiration and cause reflection. It will conclude with electoral-related skills training that will equip participants to return to their communities and campuses as activists.
Participants must be age 16 or older, and are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the workcamp site. For UUSC members, the fee is $275, or $250 for eight-weeks advance purchase; non-UUSC members, $300, or $275 for eight-weeks advance purchase. The fee helps offset the cost of housing, food and transportation during the program.
Application Information is available by e-mail at justworks@uusc.org or by calling Nguyen at 800-388-3920 ext. 201.
Since 1996 the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee has operated more than 25 workcamps across the United States. The program has provided hands-on learning for more than 2,000 people from around the country, as well as overseas, to work on issues of racial, social, and economic injustice
Calendaring
Calendaring for next year's activities will take place at the church Friday
evening June 4 from 6 to 8. Please make sure that someone from your committee,
task force, or council brings dates for your projected activities and enters
them on the calendar. You don't need to stay any longer than it takes you to
put up your dates, although snacks will be available for those who wish to socialize
a bit.
All-Church Banquet and Talent Show June 19th
The first annual all-church banquet and fun-filled talent show will be held Saturday night, June 19, starting at 5:30 pm. We hope that you will all be able to join us for this celebration and climax of our year's activities!
Tickets are available from the church office and during coffee hour. The banquet will be catered and consist of a selection of international food. Rev. Nina and Rev. Millie have some complimentary tickets; if you need one, contact them directly. Ticket prices are as follows: $25 per adult (aged 16 and over), $20 per youth (aged 11 to 15), children 10 years and under free, and a maximum family fee (two parents and children under 16) $70. Please purchase your tickets by June 6 so that we can make appropriate arrangements with the caterer.
Social Justice Council, Task Force Reports
Sept. 11 Study Group:
Elvira Pellitteri reported that the study group is beginning to read
and discuss the book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim. The first chapter deals with the
many forms of Muslim fundamentalism. At its last meeting the group listened
to and discussed Julian Bond's speech at the 2003 General Assembly in Boston.
Racial Justice Task Force:
Allan Lindrup reported that 140 Mother's Day packets were assembled on
April 18, under the supervision of Joanne Kent, and picked up by Companions
Journeying Together during the following week. Allan and Finley Campbell represented
the task force in participating in a demonstration, organized by CLAIM, held
at the State of Illinois building on the Friday before Mother's Day. Signed
letters to the Governor, calling for community-based alternative sentences for
mothers convicted of non-violent offences, were gathered from those coming by,
while speakers addressed the effects of imprisonment of mothers on their children.
Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council:
Rev. Nina Grey reported that First Unitarian Church will be the site
of the Interfaith Council's Annual Meeting, on Tuesday evening, June 15, with
a dinner at 6 p.m., with the program (on "All That's Holy") and business
meeting following, starting at 7 p.m. Dinner tickets are $10 in advance, $12
at the door, and will be available shortly through either Rev. Grey or Allan
Lindrup.
Addendum from Finley Campbell:
One of the key units of the Social Justice Council is the Racial Justice Taskforce.
In the coming year I will propose that the Racial Justice Task force take on
the issue of neo-racism in a series of educational activities which will sensitize
our church community to this most insidious form of 21st century racism and
link it to the rise of the third and final stage of fascism in this country.
To do this and continue our other work, we need to expand the membership of
the RJTF. If you are interested in joining the Racial Justice Task Force, contact
Allan Lindrup
You do not have to be a member of our church to participate fully in the Racial Justice Task Force or the Social Justice Council as full fledged members. We need your help.
Environmental Task Force: Seasonal work on the wildflower garden has
begun -- encouraging the pretty plants and ruthlessly weeding out the others.
Ellen LaRue is attempting to follow the directives of master gardener Irene
Vitullo who is in China. Ken Schug purchased some new plants at the Hyde Park
Garden Fair and Cindy Pardo came by to give an assist. Other help with the garden
will be gladly accepted.
Pat Lucas is taking the lead on organizing the voter registration table
for Art Fair Weekend. Thanks, Pat! Pat and Ellie Hall will be taking
the training class to become deputy registrars.
The Environmental Task Force is open to all. If you are interested in our environment
or the natural world, your ideas and energies would be most welcome. Contact:
Ellen LaRue.
Green Corner:
· To make a ton of paper takes 2 to 3 tons of trees, plus a lot of water
and energy.
· Of the total supply of paper, 55 percent is virgin paper made of newly
cut trees, 38 percent is made of recycled wood-based paper, 7 percent is made
of non-tree sources (like hemp or banana peels).
· About one fifth of the world's total wood harvest goes to make paper.
· The United States is the biggest paper consumer, accounting for about
30 percent of the world's total, at almost 730 pounds of paper per person per
year.
· About half of the paper produced is used for packaging.
· Paper constitutes about 40 percent of the municipal solid waste stream
in industrial countries.
· Recycling saves trees and energy and causes 74 percent less air pollution
and 35 percent less water pollution.
· The office of First Unitarian Church recycles office paper.
(Source: State of the World 2004, A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress
Toward a Sustainable Society, pp.142-3)