Index of Past Issues

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

No First Forums for this month

Committee Meetings this Month

Committee on Ministry - Tues. July 27 at 6:00 pm
Membership - Thurs. July 22 at 7:00 pm
Program Council - Tues. July 13 at 7:00 pm
RE Council - Tues. July 13 at 7:30 pm
Trustees - Thurs. July 22 at 7:00 pm

Ministers' Vacations

Rev. Grey is on vacation from July 18 to Aug. 17. Rev. David Arksey will provide emergency pastoral care.

Rev. Rochester is on vacation from July1 -30.

Volunteers Needed for an Old Fashioned 4th!

Cindy Pardo is working with the "4th on 53rd" committee this year and they are looking for volunteers. If you
have even a couple of hours to spare on the 4th of July, you are needed. Help is needed for the information
booth, to help with putting up and taking down decorations, running games, and blowing up balloons. This is
an old fashioned, cost free, low key celebration which only happens because people volunteer. Call Cindy at
773-667-4324 if you can help out.

Norma Poinsett Receives UUA President's Volunteer Service Award

The following citation was read by UUA President William Sinkford at the UUA General Assembly on June 25,
presenting Norma Poinsett with the President's Volunteer Service Award:

Dr. Norma Miller Poinsett has served the Unitarian Universalist Association for over 35 years. A long-time
member of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago, Illinois, Norma was identified early for her leadership skills. She
served on the Commission of Appraisal, was active in curriculum development, and from 1995-2003 served as
an At-Large Trustee on the UUA Board. She was a founding member of the Black Concerns Working Group,
and later the Jubilee Working Group. In that role, Norma engaged with dozens of our congregations, bringing to
her work both a prophetic voice for justice and a personal, pastoral presence that opened many hearts and minds.

These formal gifts of service alone would qualify her as a distinguished recipient of this award. But Norma has
always brought more to the table. Faithfulness: Following what we call the "Black Empowerment Controversy,"
when so many African Americans, including myself, left our faith, Norma stayed and worked tirelessly for a
change of understanding and of heart. Integrity: She has spoken truth to power and used the power of her
positions to serve the truth. Accountability: Norma has held this faith's feet to the fire not just on issues of race,
but across the board as we have struggled to live up to the principles we affirm.

Norma Poinsett has been and remains a friend and mentor to hundreds of Unitarian Universalists. Educator,
activist and visionary, her presence and her voice have served as an inspiration and catalyst for racial justice and
for change.

Norma Poinsett's life exemplifies service and commitment to Unitarian Universalism at the highest level.

Norma, on behalf of Unitarian Universalism, let me offer my thanks to you, for staying the course, for your
willingness both to stay engaged and stay honest. Your presence is a blessing.

In the Interim
by Rev. Millie Rochester, Interim Minister for Religious Education

By the time you read this, I will be on vacation. After a busy year, I look forward to time with my family, more
leisurely walks along the lake shore, and other forms of rejuvenation. But between now and then is General
Assembly, and though it is definitely not a vacation, I look forward to it, too.

This year, General Assembly (the annual convention of Unitarian Universalists) is in Long Beach, California. I
will meet with other interim ministers, attend the Minister of Religious Education (MRE) Focus Group meeting,
the Berry Street Lecture, UU Ministers Association meetings, consult with my official ministerial mentor as
well as many unofficial mentors, renew collegial friendships - and that's just in the first couple of days! During
those "Ministers Days," my husband Roger will have the opportunity to meet with other ministers' spouses,
renewing and forming new acquaintances of his own, as well as have time for himself.

And just as General Assembly really gets underway, Roger and I will journey northward to Oregon, to watch
and celebrate with pride as the youngest of our offspring graduates from high school. Just a short trip, but I
expect it will be pretty powerful, before we go back to Long Beach and both become immersed in workshops.

We return to Chicago at the end of June, when I will finish what preparations for the next church year that I can
before being "on vacation" for the month of July. Although I will not be working, you might see me around
Hyde Park, showing off some of the sights to son Isaac, who will be visiting (mid-July), and daughter Linnea
(late July). Since we have just one extra bedroom, our children visit us one at a time; I've come to appreciate
being able to devote time to each of them in turn on those occasions - a rare treat, considering we have four
children!

August is a "study" month. I will be in town most of the time, but will not have scheduled office hours. This is
a month of professional preparation, reading, and writing. I also will devote several days to reorganizing RE
space at church. If you enjoy moving furniture and organizing supplies, I hope you will call and offer to join me
- this is work that is fun when people do it together!

Elsewhere in this newsletter is information about the format of the church year ahead. If you have any questions
or concerns, I hope you will call me.

Have a wonderful month!

Youth Group Participants, Parents and Volunteers:

During the summer months the youth group will not meet regularly but have some planned activities. Youth
Group will resume regular Sunday schedule on September 12.

-Saturday, July 17 - Youth Group Car Wash.
- August ? - Youth Group all-Day Retreat

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Rev. Millie Rochester or Katari Coleman-Daniels.

2004 Election Process Concerns

UUs for Social Justice will be holding its summer quarter meeting at 2 p.m. on August 22, 2004, at the DuPage
Unitarian Church in Naperville. There will be a program on "2004 Election Process Concerns", which will
feature a presentation by Terry Pastika, Executive Director of the Citizens Advocacy Center. The presentation
will be followed by a couple of short respondent pieces and then a period for general audience generated
discussion. The program will be followed by a UUSJ Board meeting, which is open to all who may be interested
in learning more about the organization. For further information you may e-mail: uusj@att.net.

RE News
By Rev. Millie Rochester

As is customary at First Church, the Religious Education Program for the 2003-04 year came to an end after the
Flower Communion Service June 6th. What has been happening since then, you might wonder, what will
happen the rest of the summer? And what, for that matter, will happen in the fall?

Summer attendance for children and youth is historically very low and unpredictable, so the RE Council decided
not to offer the same sort of program as last year, which required advance preparation and a critical mass of
participants. However, there is a strong need to continue a caring presence for the children who do attend,
whether as members or summer visitors. For this reason, there will be a form of summer programming that
incorporates some of the ritual already established earlier in the year.

The Nursery continues to be staffed by church employee Carolyn Sander, long-term, experienced care giver.
Our Safe Congregation policy calls for having another person accompany her, so one volunteer, either teen or
adult, is needed to provide loving care alongside Carolyn each week. Please sign up to help by writing your
name beside the date(s) that fit your schedule, in the hallway of Pennington Center just around the corner from
the Church Office. (This is a continuing need.)

Children older than nursery-age will continue to start Sunday morning with the rest of the congregation and be
sung out of the sanctuary each week, going to the RE Classroom. There, the rituals of being together to light a
chalice, share joys and concerns, and "center" themselves in spirit and body will continue. Outdoor and indoor
activities will follow, depending on the weather - going to the park, or games and crafts. A small budget is
available for summer RE leaders who wish to take advantage of it (not all who have come forward so far have
wanted to) and some Sundays are already covered. There is still a need, however, so do look at the material
posted in the hallway of Pennington Center! If you are interested in being paid for this service, see me (Rev.
Millie) or Office Administrator Rick Brown right away.

The Religious Education Program for 2004-05 promises to offer more opportunities than ever for you to
participate in meaningful ways that encourage relationship-building. With a focus for lifespan RE on world
religions, the curricula that has been selected istried and true while intellectually interesting, and there will
be many opportunities to be together in multigenerational community throughout the year. Social justice-based
Sundays continue to be featured prominently, both from the perspectives of various world religions and
with a focus on ending world hungerthrough the Wintersession of the Empty Bowls Project. Community
celebrations such as Water Communion, Christmas, Easter and the Flower Communion will continue to
be observed in multi-generational worship, though full multigenerational worship services will not occur on a
monthly basis. Decide how you want to be involved - and do it!!

Items needed for RE

In the summertime, we often come across things we no longer need in our households. I'm on the lookout for a
few items, and maybe you are ready to part with some of them! With that in mind, here is my current wish-list
(not necessarily in the order needed):

- magazines, especially your old Rolling Stones
- DVD player
- video projector (call Finley Campbell if you have one to donate or loan)
- world peace

Many Thanks

First I want to thank the CLARC Committee for sponsoring The Subscription Party given by The South Side
Friends of the Chicago Sinfonietta on Saturday, June 12th. Then I want to thank Rev. Nina, Rick Brown, Polly
McCoo and Maderia Myrieckes for helping me work out the fine details. And finally many, many thanks to the
thirty or more members of our church who were able to attend.

Lorie Rosenblum was the happy winner of season tickets for two and Jasna Lappin won two tickets for the
concert of her choice. For those of you who bought season tickets, you are in for a grand experience.

Again, Many Thanks,
Veronica Jenifer

Board Talk
By Margaret Hellie Huyck
Congregation President

I share a few inspiring and provocative quotes from the recent General Assembly meeting of the Unitarian
Universalist Association in Long Beach, California. These are among the ideas that will guide me in our next
year together.

• "Ours is a religion of deeds, not creeds ... We must focus less on how we talk about religion and more on how
  we do religion. This includes our spiritual and emotional practices as well as our social justice ministry."
• "It's all about growing a soul."
• "We must stand on the side of love and help the universe bend toward justice. We must reach out to all who
  need our message, and practice 'radical hospitality' to those who come into our congregations. Most seek a
  church because they wish to be in close community. We must provide those opportunities easily and soon. The
  small circles are the foundations of larger gatherings for worship and action."
• "Our legislative ministry is our tool for moving toward justice."
• "Deepening spiritual life and developing a spirit of hospitality precedes any increase in members attracted to the
  congregation. If you are relying on your minister to help you grow, you're in big trouble. We are all ministers."
• "Those who are 'unreached' UUs now are those who are unchurched, not those who are abandoning a religion of
  childhood. They need our message and our community."
• "We youth already know about crises and injustices in the world. We need you to tell us why we are doing
  social justice work. Help us refuel our batteries for this work by clarifying what we are working toward in the
  world. This is not happening in most UU churches now."
• "There is a fine line between process and paralysis."
• "The move from a pastoral church, centered on the minister, to a program church organized around diverse
  interests, is the most difficult. It means real change, 'letting go' of control, and empowering many lay leaders."
• "The Board should consider only those issues that it alone can do."
• I look forward to discussing these observations with you. I look forward to working with you all on our journey
  together.

The Board will meet next on Thursday, July 22. By then, Ken Schug (President-elect) and I will have attended
the Midwest UU Leadership School and will be ready for action!

Among Us

Our healing wishes to Bernie Frieden, in the hospital at the time of this writing.
Warm wishes also to Frieda Stillerman, continuing to convalesce, and to Vi Stark, after a recent hospitalization.
Our warm wishes for speedy recovery also to Winfield Garnett after recent hospitalization.
We hold Gloria Gnatz in our hearts as she continues her convalescence.
And we also hold Al Hayes in our hearts, as he recovers on the third floor of Montgomery Place.
We send Joan Pederson and her family our deepest condolences on the tragic death of Joan's three-year-old
cousin.
And we send Bette Sikes our warm healing wishes.
And we continue to hold Devon Moss and his family in our hearts.
We welcome Adriana Puszkiewicz home after her first year at college.
We send condolences to Andrew Greenlee, on the loss of his close cousin.

Adult Religious Education Update
By Phiefer Browne

CURRENT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

A Community of Men, with Joseph Harrington
This group affords male members and friends of the church the opportunity to explore their common spirituality
and beliefs in an open and mutually supportive environment. Its next meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday,
July 20, when discussion of format and topics will take place.

Small Group Ministry Planning Group, with Rev. Nina Grey and Rev. Millie Rochester
This group is planning for the Small Group Ministry Program, whose purpose is to deepen the spiritual life of
and the connections among members and friends. Presently the group is planning the training sessions for
facilitators. The theme for the Small Group Ministry pilot program will be the UU principles.

Adult religious education activities scheduled for the Fall:

Advanced Directives Workshop, with The Caring Committee
This workshop will be a follow-up to the First Forum "Talking About Death and Dying," held in May. It will
provide an opportunity to create a health care directive for terminal illness.

Healing Stories, with Lori Rosenblum and Rev. Nina Grey
This class will deal with how people have coped with death and disabilities.

Facilitator Training for Small Group Ministry, with Rev. Nina Grey and Rev. Millie Rochester
Four training sessions will orient facilitators to the principles and practices of Small Group Ministry. Training
will be adapted from The Complete Guide to Small Group Ministry by Robert Hill, a UU minister.

Parents as Resident Theologians, with Rev. Millie Rochester
This course is especially relevant for parents, grandparents, and any others whose lives involve contact with
children. Through discussion and other activities, it will allow participants to clarify their own ideas of God,
death, and other concepts of religious significance.

Les Gourmets
Les Gourmets finished off our "dining out" year with a mouth-watering visit to the Calypso Restaurant in
Harper Court. This group of First Churchers chooses a different ethnic restaurant each month (September
through June) and enjoys the company of old and new friends. If you would like to be invited to next year's
planning meeting, drop a note in the church office addressed to Polly McCoo. All Are welcome.

Dedication of New Candlesticks and Chalice, June 6, 2004

The candles that grace our service each Sunday help us create a sense of our sanctuary as sacred space and they
remind us that all creation is sacred. We, and almost every Unitarian Universalist congregation, light a chalice
each Sunday. The Unitarian Universalist flaming chalice is a symbol of religious freedom and courage. These
candles and chalice help us keep in our hearts our highest ideals.

Our old candlesticks and chalice both were damaged in the last year and both needed replacement. We are
grateful to Madeiria Myrieckes for her devotion in finding us a fine craftsperson for the candlesticks, in
choosing their design, and following up to be sure they were ready for our use. We thank the Worship and
Music Committee for selecting a beautiful chalice design. We thank Rick Brown for contacting the craftsperson
that created the design. And we are especially grateful to Susan Scrimshaw, Allan Stern, and Carrie Hedges for
their generous contributions that made it possible for us to have our beautiful new chalice for our worship. We
dedicated both the chalice and candlesticks in our Flower Communion Service, on June 6, 2004.

Report of the Social Justice Council
By Dr. Finley C. Campbell, Chair

We opened the meeting by applying the Seven Principles of the UUA to the political legacy of Ronald Reagan.
He was found wanting in all areas, except one: we believed that, despite his attack on Lebanon, Granada, and
Nicaragua, he had contributed to world peace in his relationship to the Soviet Union under Gorbachev.

Although we had a quorum, representatives from Labor and Nine-Eleven were absent. Nevertheless, we were
able to have a full round of reports. The Labor Justice Task Force has decided to remain an autonomous group
and to become more active. The Racial Justice Task Force has decided not to merge with the Charlotte Lackner
Anti-Racism Committee since we have very different missions, despite our common commitment to opposing
racism: CLARC within the church, RJT without. Raffaella Pretini has decided to remain the chair of RJT as she
is now fully recovered from her pregnancy. These bureaucratic details reflect our belief that more members can
be found to help expand these two important task forces. At their last meeting they discussed the Frontline TV
special, "The Jesus Factor," which depicted the influence of the evangelical right on George Bush. There was a
lively discussion about the differences and similarities between right wing Christian evangelism (or Christian
fascism) and conservative Christian fundamentalism (or Bible believing Christians).

The Nine-Eleven Study Group has decided to read GOOD MUSLIM, BAD MUSLIM as their next major book.
And this will be its topic for the July First Forum. Members of the Environmental Task Force took part in the
Voter Registration Drive, headed up by Pat Lucas during the Hyde Park Arts Fair. The Hyde Park-Kenwood
Interfaith Council announced that it would have its annual meeting and dinner June 15th..

Anything missing? Ah, yes: I announced that the proposal to buy tickets for the Heart of a Woman Benefit
Program and Concert, sponsored by Southwest Women Working Together had been approved and tickets were
made available to the heads of all task forces and one for me as the head of the SJC. This made a total
contribution of $450 to this group, of which our own Margie Gonwa is a board member. We also set aside $100
for Ken Schug to represent us at UUAGA and 50 dollars for administrative expenses. It was announced that
there would be no official meeting in July, but we would resume operations on August 12th.

Note: Six leaders of the Social Justice Council -- I and Ellen LaRue, Allan Lindrup (and Anne
Holcomb), Jane Kiser, Giuseppe Latino (substituting for Rafael Pretini), and Elvira Pelleteri -- attended the
Benefit Concert, featuring Zylana Van Zant, India.Arie, and Aretha Franklin. A good time was had by all, in
what turned out to be two concerts for the price of one. It was a wonderful fusion of black musical and spiritual
culture and social justice.

Environmental Task Force
By Ellen LaRue

The Environmental Task Force ran a voter registration table in front of the church on June 5 and 6 (Hyde Park
Art Fair Weekend). Pat Lucas organized the effort with efficiency and grace. Several task force members and
others helped out.

Green Corner: From a talk delivered by Rev. Fred Small at the Seventh Principle Project Annual Meeting General
Assembly, Salt Lake City, June 26, 1999:

"Environmental activism is not merely consistent with our commitment to social justice, it is demanded by it.
Poor people and people of color are the first victims of environmental poisons and natural disasters...All
environmental work is justice work. Automobile fuel economy is an environmental issue. But when an Inuit
fisherman has to import frozen seal meat because he cannot take it safely from a bay fouled by an oil spill
resulting from the rush to meet soaring demand for gasoline, that is a justice issue.

Recycling is an environmental issue. But when an African-American develops lung cancer from breathing
fumes emitted from an incinerator in her neighborhood that burns recyclable trash, that is a justice issue.

The greenhouse effect is an environmental issue. But when a Pacific islander discovers that the rising sea
level resulting from profligate energy use in the developed world will obliterate her low-lying nation within
decades, that is a justice issue.

Organic food is an environmental issue. But when a Guatemalan banana worker becomes sterile from pesticide
exposure, that is a justice issue."

Claiming Our Future
Choosing our Vision Statement
By Diana Gray

The Board of Trustees and the Claiming Our Future Task Force again thanks the congregation for its
phenomenal contributions and support for this effort. Our next step is to approve a draft Vision Statement
reflecting the exciting and challenging shared visions generated through congregational participation at our
spring (March 21, 2004) Visioning Worship Service.

As you may recall, our vision statement is intended to reflect a distillation of the shared view of the
congregation's responses to two questions:

•Five to seven years from now (2009-2011), how do you want First Church to look, feel and sound?

•Five to seven years from now (2009-2011), what do you want to be experiencing here?

This "vision" will help guide the long-range planning process that will be the next major task of this effort.

To assist with creating a final version of our vision for adoption by the congregation, the Claiming Our Future
Task Force is soliciting our responses to the draft statement. Below is a response form for your use in providing
feedback. We look forward to hearing from all who wish to comment.

DRAFT RESPONSE FORM:

We will become a more loving, caring, nurturing, ever growing, spiritually rich, and robustly diverse inclusive
liberal religious community of all ages and races:

•Celebrating our religious and cultural pluralism through inspiring, challenging, vibrant, music-filled worship;

Engaging in personal spiritual and intellectual growth;

• Empowering a visible, effective ministry of social change addressing ethical, economic, and societal
challenges;

Providing a thriving, stimulating lifespan religious education program integrated into church life and reaching
out to the greater community;

• Cementing our personal ties and welcoming visitors through fun-filled social and recreational events;

• Linking purposefully with our own and other denominational bodies and community organizations;

• Generating abundant resources within an inviting, accessible, well-maintained, and beautiful historic building.

We now present the draft statement to you for congregational review. Please read it, think about it, and read it
again. If you think this
draft needs changing to be accepted by the wider congregation, please give the Task Force your suggestions and
rationale for any changes. You may leave these in writing in the care of our church office or e-mail
(office@firstuchicago.org) your response before Sunday, August 1, 2004.

Caring Committee

The Caring Planning Committee met in June to set up dates for our follow-up workshops on Death and Dying.
Those workshops will cover written directives, such as power of attorney, wills, etc. The forums and work
sessions are scheduled to begin in October. For further information contact Lori Rosenblum, Rev. Nina Grey,
Madeiria Myrieckes, or Pauline McCoo.

Coming Sunday, August 1:
Song of Savior: A Unique Multimedia Show

Justice Whitaker, UU Young Adult, world traveler to the Khasi Hills in 2000, and now film school student at
New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, is the creator of an exciting performance art piece, Song of
Savior. The 512 Collective, Justice's creative collaborative out of New York City, is touring the country with
Song of Savior this summer. Be among the first in Chicago to witness and support this amazing show! Song of
Savior is an inspirational piece of performance art combining music, live theatre and film to explore the
relationship between theology and liberation, and question the role of religion and spirituality in defining
freedom and democracy in our modern world.

After six months in the southern hemisphere, Justice Whitaker returns from South Africa, where he participated
in a documentary video program at WITS University in Johannesburg. Bringing back new interpretations of
freedom and democracy, the show examines both the historic and the present-day implications of using theology
as a tool for liberation. His research and work on a documentary film on the subject in South Africa has led him
down roads lit only by the insight of revolutionary veterans and present day patriots. The new visions of
democracy in South Africa face many of the potential pitfalls experienced in the application of democracy to the
United States. Through the streets of the townships to the lines at the South African polling booths, join The 512
Collective to learn from the world the answer to this question: How will we truly achieve freedom in the modern
world?

Song of Savior debuted at General Assembly in Long Beach, and is now touring the West Coast, Canada and the
midwest this summer. Donations to support this tour, and the creative work of the 512 Collective, will be
graciously accepted. Learn more at www.512collective.org or contact Justice at the512collective@hotmail.com.

First Unitarian Church Will Co-Host
Partner Church Council Conference with Meadville/Lombard

We received an invitation to join together with Meadville/Lombard to host a fall UUA Partner Church Council
conference. The Partner Church Council supports partnerships between UU congregations in the U.S. and
Unitarian congregations abroad, especially in Transylvania, the birthplace of Unitarianism. Transylvanian
Unitarian congregations carry on a great heritage of liberal religion. They are, in a very real sense, the roots of
our religious movement. Hungarians, they suffered a great deal under oppressive conditions for much of their
recent history, and they needed and need all the support they could get from congregations in the U.S. At a
recent meeting our Board of Trustees voted to co-host the conference, which will be October 22 and 23. This
decision strengthens our denominational connections in two ways: through direct support of the Partner Church
Council and through working collaboratively with Meadville/Lombard Theological School. Any who are
interested in helping with hosting this conference, please contact Rev. Nina Grey.

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