Index of Past Issues

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

First Forums may be found here

When I was growing up, seeing the holiday lights being put up the day after Thanksgiving was always exciting. In contrast, I was dismayed to see Christmas displays in the stores this year, perhaps because it was still some time before Halloween! Alas, preparation for Christmas begins earlier every year.

Yet the early start to the holiday season hasn't shortened it. Quite the contrary, the pressure just revs up sooner. We seem to be bombarded by messages to increase our consumerism, and the messages come from every direction. Many of these messages are focused directly toward children, who place (often unrealistic) expectations on their parents. Whole families can be affected by the stress of the holiday season.

I am reminded of a festive celebration at a child development center. Amid the gaiety, one little girl was crying. Perhaps she missed her family, maybe her feelings had been hurt; I don't know what had happened. In the midst of all that happiness, though, she alone was sad. Luckily, she was not alone in her sadness. Instead, she was held lovingly in the arms of her teacher, comforted, as she waited for her parents to pick her up.

The phrase, "'Tis the season to be jolly" comes to mind, for that is one of the usual expectations at this time of year. But everyone is not necessarily happy as the holidays approach, and the expectation that most people are can add to the stress and deepen the sadness of those who are not. Like the little girl, though, comfort is accessible. That is one of the values of a church community. In community, we come together to support one another, taking the time to care and share.

"Taking time," in fact, is more important than ever at this time of the year. Give yourself a break. Take time to consider what is truly important to you. As I contemplate the holidays this year, I recognize the importance of simplifying the season, taking a cue from a popular book by Elaine St. James. As you may already know, health-related issues are giving me pause (see my letter elsewhere in this edition). While everyone does not face these particular concerns, life doesn't stop just so we can prepare for the holidays!

Our faith community offers support. I am certainly a grateful recipient. As you consider your own or your family's priorities, I hope you, too, will be willing to accept support as it is needed. Consider it a gift.

Faithfully yours,

Millie

Come One, Come All to:

The Religious Education Council’s Holiday Ornament Making and Hot Cocoa Event!

Sunday, December 12, 11:30-12:30, Bell Tower Room

Bring your kids, their friends and holiday cheer!

Volunteers needed - no experience necessary.

Contact Melissa Harris-Lacewell with questions or to volunteer. mvharris@uchicago.edu.

RE Announcements

•The Upper Elementary religious education class could use your help! Contact Anita Orlikoff if you have had first-hand experience with any of the following Neighboring Faiths that are coming up in their exploration: Buddhism, in February; Roman Catholicism and Quakers in March; Islam in April; and cults in May. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

•Your help is needed in planning, costuming and set preparation for this year's annual holiday pageant, "Two Birth Stories." If you participated last year, you already know how rewarding it is, and you are welcome this year, too. Newcomers to the project are also invited! Talk with Rev. Millie and/or Rev. Nina to volunteer or for detailed information.

•REMINDER: The Parents as Resident Theologians workshop is scheduled for next Saturday, December 4th. If you are interested in participating, please be sure to tell Rev. Millie. She needs to know by Wednesday, Dec. 1st. There need to be at least 5 people in attendance, otherwise this will be postponed, probably until late spring.

•First Church Young Adults and Campus Ministry Group is on winter hiatus, until January 16th. In the meanwhile, all are warmly invited to participate in other church activities, such as the Annual Holiday Pageant, Dec. 19th; Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Dec. 24th, and Emancipation Proclamation Pageant Jan. 6th,

RE News

So much is happening! Two dozen people participated in the recent Advance Directives Workshop. Thanks to Lorie Rosenblum, Dr. Don Scott, Pat MacClarence, Rev. Nina Grey and members of the Caring Committee, who provided this chance for learning about committing end of life wishes to paper.

Children very much enjoyed learning what social justice looks like from the perspective of Native American traditions recently. Many thanks to Native Americans Marissa Zagone and Drea Carroll, who are associated with First Church and provided guidance; to Colleen Grogan, who led the planning process with Allan Lindrup; and to Finley Campbell, who led activities with Colleen and Allan.

Our annual winter holiday pageant is set for December 19th. In keeping with our focus on the diversity of the world's religions, the program this year is "Two Birth Stories," relating parallels between the birth stories of Jesus and the Buddha. Be sure to let RE Assistant Ashley Meade know at church on Sunday if you or children in your family would like to participate. Help in many areas of the production is needed - this year more than usually - so consider set preparation, costumes, and your own ideas of ways to contribute.

December 19th also is the last day to return registration forms for Mystery Friends. Remember to fill out the form that is on the RE Registration Table - both youngsters and "oldsters!" Here's a reminder of how the program works: Participants will be matched in pairs - older and younger - and each pair given a code name. You will receive a postcard telling you your code name. Participants will correspond with one another - older and younger - by bringing their mail to church on January 9th, January 16th, and January 23rd. mail delivery will occur after each service. Mystery identities will be revealed and final correspondence exchanged in person at a celebratory potluck after the service on January 30th. That day, the worship service will feature an opportunity to create something special for your Mystery Friend, or if you have not participated, something special for another person at church or in another area of your life.

Everyone is invited to the potluck celebration. If you would rather not be a Mystery Friend, you might sort or deliver mail, or help in other ways, so let Ashley and Rev. Millie know your preference by filling out that registration form and returning it as soon as possible!

An important justice-related program is also coming up. The Empty Bowls project begins in early January, and continues through January 23rd. Children, youth and adults have an opportunity to decorate ceramic bowls, which will be offered for sale. Your purchase, for $13, buys not only the bowl, but also a soup luncheon that will be on February 13th after the service. When you fill your bowl, and whenever you see it after that, you will recall the need for ending hunger in the world, and know that your contribution added to the solution. Proceeds from the sales will be donated in full to the Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council's food programs.

Further information about adult RE programming is in the new brochure, which is in the pamphlet rack. Take a look, and take part in the action!

Growing Creative Children

A number of people have asked for a copy of the homily "Growing Creative Children" given by Susan Scrimshaw for the October 24th church service. The church office is maintaining several copies of "Growing Creative Children" in the literature center across from the office, where it can be picked up and enjoyed by all. Several other recent sermons and homilies are also available in the same location.

Chalice Circles Begin
By Phiefer Browne

The two Chalice Circles, each composed of six to eight participants and two facilitators, had their first meetings last month. These meetings offered an orientation to the principles of small group ministry. Participants also expressed their own expectations of the program. According to Diana Gray, one of the facilitators, "Participants said they had long waited for a program like the Chalice Circle because of its potential for getting to know better other church members and friends and for deepening already existing friendships." Presently the chief task of the Chalice Circles is to develop their own behavioral covenants, which will include, for example, a consensus on attendance and confidentiality.

Board Talk
By Margaret Hellie Huyck
Congregation President

The Board and other lay leaders are considering how best to modify our programs for the new year in light of the fact that Rev. Millie Rochester will be undergoing treatments for breast cancer. We, of course, want to provide the same loving care that she has been providing as our Interim MRE. We have been planning for some months now that Rev. Nina Grey will be on sabbatical leave from January through May next year. In order to help us all make plans, we will be having a special gathering for Board members and other leaders, with the ministers, to decide how to proceed. If you have special questions or concerns about these plans, please talk with one of the ministers or a Board member.

We will soon decide on what kind of leadership we shall seek for our life span Religious Education program. The special Task Force appointed by the Board has recommended that we seek a part-time Director of Religious Education (rather than call another Minister for Religious Education). We will have one final open forum to discuss the reasons for this recommendation, and to consider any concerns that have not yet been expressed. Please come on Saturday, December 11, at 10 a.m. for this special meeting.

We have voted to embrace the Report and recommendations of the Evaluation Task Force and have requested them to map out first action steps with Rev. Grey, so that we can prioritize the action steps. Ivan Lappin (Chair of the Committee on Ministry) is chairing this important Task Force; other members are Grace Williams (Past-president) and Margaret Huyck (President).

The Board approved additional members of the Committee on Ministry: Andrew Greenlee, for a 3 year term as Member at Large; Pheifer Browne from the Senior Minister’s Personal Advisory Committee, Margie Gonwa from the MRE personal advisory committee, and Cindy Pardo as a Past President. Pat MacClarence is serving her third year, and Vivian Burns her second year.

The Board was delighted to learn about the $25,000 matching grant from the Retirement Research Foundation “Accessible Faith” program; this will allow the Access First initiative to continue with upgrading the sound system. David McNutt provided the technical specifications for the project, and his firm will do the work. A special task force for this project will be soliciting suggestions about sound system modifications.

With special warm greetings for the coming holiday season!

Church to Receive Accessibility Grant

First Unitarian has been notified that it has been awarded a $25,000 matching grant by the Retirement Research Foundation as part of its Accessible Faith Grants Program. The money is to be used to install automatic openers on one set of the large front doors of the church, and to design and install up-to-date audio systems for the Sanctuary, Hull Chapel and Chris Moore Parlor.

This grant program was suggested to the church by Cynthia Echols. The grant application was prepared by Margaret Huyck, David McNutt, Joan Pederson, Madeiria Myrieckes, and Richard Pardo.

If you wish to review the Proposal (assembled by Margaret Huyck), ask to see the copy in the office. If you wish to make requests or suggestions, please contact Richard or Cindy Pardo, or Margaret Huyck.

Based in Chicago, The Retirement Research Foundation is the nation’s largest private foundation devoted solely to aging and retirement issues. Established in 1978 by the late John D. MacArthur, the Foundation supports programs, research, and public policy studies to improve the quality of life of older Americans. Retirement Research Foundation established this grant program to help provide “opportunities for older adults to engage in meaningful roles in society” by “making funds available to Chicago-area houses of worship for accessibility improvements to their facilities.”

Important to our success in receiving this grant was the accessibility work we have already done. A portion of our matching funds has already been received in the form of an anonymous gift for work on the doors and a promised gift for a speaker in the nursery. A task force will be formed to gather input and implement the project. Richard and Cindy Pardo have agreed to co-chair this task force.

Among Us

We are pleased to announce that Jordan Sickman recently signed the membership book. Jordan attends church with his wife Joanne, and daughter, Leah.

Our warmest get well wishes to Rev. Millie Rochester. We are holding her and Roger and their family in our hearts.

Our deepest thanks to both Jane Kiser and Irene Vitullo, who are playing piano for Vespers services at Montgomery Place.

Congratulations to the King Family on the birth of Benjamin Collin King, born November 23rd at 6 p.m., arriving at 7 lbs. 14 oz, and 19 and 1/2 inches. Adrienne and Eric and baby are doing fine, and brothers Jonathan and Wilson love to play with their new brother and dad says they are helping out, too! Benjamin is the newest grandson of Ann and Rosecrain Collins.

Board Recommends DRE Search -Dec 11 Forum Set
By Margaret Huyck, President

As most know by now, we have been considering what kind of professional leadership in religious education will be best suited for us after Rev. Millie Rochester ends her service with us next summer. A special task force was appointed by the Board to research our options and make a recommendation to the Board. At our last Board meeting, the Board decided to register the recommendation of the task force to search for a Director of Religious Education rather than a Minister for Religious Education, and to have a formal Board vote following an additional opportunity for congregational members to discuss this change. All church members and friends are invited to attend a meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday December 11 to discuss this recommendation. (This will be the second open forum to discuss this issue; the first was held on Friday evening, November 5.) Child care will be available; please RSVP to the church office if you will need child care.

This recommendation has the strong support of the RE Council, Revs. Nina Grey and Millie Rochester, and members of the Task Force. The primary considerations in the Task Force recommendation were 1) the advantages of an RE professional who could focus almost completely on day to day RE operations; 2) the availability of a larger pool of DRE applicants to select from: 3) the relatively small size of our current RE program; and (4) lower projected expense based on UUA salary guidelines for MREs and DREs. Task Force members have included Ken Schug, Convenor; Colleen Grogan, Chair of the RE Council; Finley Campbell, Cynthia Oakes, and Anita Orlikoff; Revs. Rochester and Grey were ex officio, and Kris Barker, Anne Collins, and Allen Harden assisted the Task Force in gathering information. If you are unable to attend the forum on December 11 but wish to share your opinions or learn more about the options, please contact me or Ken Schug.

Sabbatical Committee Update

As this update is submitted, the Board of Trustees is considering the question of how the sabbatical time might be affected by Rev. Millie Rochester's news of her surgery and probable chemotherapy treatment. The Sabbatical Committee joins the congregation as a whole in warmest get well wishes and prayers for a complete recovery. We will do whatever we can to be a support to our ministers and congregation in this difficult time. As Millie and Roger learn more about the upcoming surgery and treatment, we hold them and their family in our hearts.

The Board of Trustees, we have learned, hopes to make any decisions regarding the sabbatical time, early in the month of December. In the meantime, the Committee will continue its work in sabbatical planning and will look forward to updating the congregation about any plans that are changing or are still in development through announcements from the Board of Trustees and the Sabbatical Committee. These announcements will likely be printed in the Orders of Service, and also communicated through emails, phone calls, and possibly a letter to the congregation.

For more information, please contact Margaret Huyck, church president, or Madeiria Myrieckes, chair of the Sabbatical Committee.

The Sabbatical Committee members are: Madeiria Myrieckes, chair; Neil Gerdes, Evelyn Johnson, Pat Lucas, and Allan Stern. Rev. Nina Grey and Rev. Millie Rochester meet with the Sabbatical Committee.

Congratulations to us:

We had a very successful and wonderful Thanksgiving Seder Celebration. The church was filled with good food, families, friends and beautiful table settings, which we truly enjoy sharing with each other. This is such a marvelous event to look forward to again next year. Many of you also helped with all the chores it takes to get it off the ground and the food was first class. Please put us on your calender for Satuday, November 19, 2005 at 6:30 P.M.

Co-chairs
Polly McCoo
Madeiria L. Myrieckes
Cindy Pardo

Lay Pastoral Care Associates

Lay Pastoral Care Associates is a new pilot program of our church, co-sponsored by the Caring and Sabbatical Committees, and supervised by our ministers. The three-session training program will be completed on December 5th and the Pastoral Care Associates will be installed in a ritual during our December 12th worship service. Their service will begin in January, 2005. The Pastoral Care Associates program has been created to provide support to the pastoral care ministry of the church. Lay pastoral care associates have been trained by our ministers in the skills and limits of the support they will give. They will work closely with our ministers through continuing regular consultation and monthly group meetings. Lay Pastoral Care Associates will respond to members and active friends in need of a listening and companioning supportive relationship. While some of the Associates have training through their vocations in counseling, their support within the congregation is not intended to be in the context of counseling relationships. Through their consultations with the ministers and their group meetings, they will seek guidance, and keep the ministers and each other informed about their Pastoral Care Associate relationships.

The Lay Pastoral Care Associates program supplements the pastoral ministry of our ministers and the work of the Caring Committee. The Caring Committee will continue to provide outreach to members and active friends, in the form of phone calls, cards, some visiting, transportation and other practical help. The Pastoral Care Associates and the Caring Committee will keep the ministers well informed about their outreach. Rev. Nina Grey and Rev. Millie Rochester will continue to be the primary pastoral caregivers of the congregation and Rev. David Arksey will continue to offer his support and consultation to our ministers. During Rev. Millie's recovery time, and within the context of our sabbatical planning, Rev. Arksey intends to be more available for emergency pastoral care and consultation. He will also provide some supervision to Lay Pastoral Care Associates.

Lay Pastoral Care Associates who will be installed in December and begin their service in January are: Madeiria Myrieckes, coordinator; Aneesah Ali, Susan Grubb, Pat MacClarence, Lori Rosenblum, and Grace Williams. For information, please contact Madeiria Myrieckes, Rev. Nina Grey, or Rev. Millie Rochester.

Membership Committee News
By Jane Kiser

Welcome Dinner Sunday December 12

Are you just beginning to get to know the members of First Unitarian? Please attend a Welcome Dinner and get to know some of us better, as well as others like yourself who are new to the church. We look forward to the opportunity to answer your questions and to the pleasure of meeting you and welcoming you to our church. Please RSVP to Jane Kiser by Wednesday, December 8 if you plan to attend. Dinner is at 5:00 PM Sunday December 12 at Jane's home. Children are welcome - bring your whole family!

Membership Committee Holds Early Meeting This Month. Because both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays conflict with the regular 4th Thursday meeting time of the Membership Committee, we will meet this month on Wednesday, December 8 at 6:30 pm. In January, we will return to our regular schedule.

What is a VOID Coordinator???

An important function of the Membership Committee, as well as the Committee for Congregational Participation, is to let people know about the volunteer opportunities that exist in the church, matching up jobs that need people with people who are looking for fun and fulfilling activities to engage in. Thus we have the Volunteer Opportunities Information Distribution (VOID) Coordinator - a position on the Membership Committee that needs an occupant! Wouldn't it be great to have a quarterly booklet listing all the things coming up that need volunteer help, both small and large? If this job appeals to you, please call Jane Kiser to talk about joining the Membership Committee. If you volunteer, you can also change this acronym.

New Members. This past year we welcomed a number of new members to our congregation. We can't write about everyone in one newsletter, so keep posted in future issues to learn about other new members.

Michael Grosse decided to join First Unitarian because he liked the people here and knew how much his children loved the Religious Education Program. Michael is the husband of Colleen Grogan, our R.E. Council Chair, and father of Addie, age 9, Ellie, age 6 and Clara, age 1. He plans to become a teacher in the R.E. Program. Both Michael and Colleen work for the University of Chicago; Michael's job is in the Physical Sciences. They have lived in Hyde Park for five years.

Claiming Our Future Task Force

Creating a Covenant

The Claiming Our Future Task Force presented the following recommendations to the Board of Trustees November 18, 2004. The Board accepted the report.

The Claiming Our Future Task Force met Wednesday, November 10, to review the materials generated from the small group discussions and recorded on newsprint. These materials are available upon request to Diana Gray (dgray@uchicago.edu) or the church office.

The Claiming our Future Task Force puts forth the following recommendations:

1. The Board of Trustees take no action on a covenant at this time. While the notes from the discussion about the Unison Affirmation indicated that generally, the congregation recognized the strength, simplicity, and poetry of this oft repeated statement, it did not seem prepared to adopt or modify it as a covenant for the congregation.

2. Many of the comments recorded indicated recognition that translating the general statements of the affirmation to the embodiment of a guide for our interaction as a congregation was complex and required more deliberation.

3. The Task Force agrees that the congregation needs additional time to consider creating a covenant. We recommend one to two workshops, conducted by an outside consultant, allowing congregants to work in small groups, to begin to translate the ideals embodied in the affirmation into ways of being together.

4. The Task Force agrees to continue its work on the covenant until April or May when we conclude this process.

5. Finally, because we now have Mission and Vision Statements, we urge the Board of Trustees to appoint a strategic planning committee to move forward with the planning process. We feel continued work on a covenant and initiating the long-range plan are compatible efforts and can proceed simultaneously.

6. We request the appointment of two more members to the Task Force, one to replace Bernard Friedman and one to replace Paulette Dodson.

Exciting Musical Events are Coming!
By Joan Staples

In addition to regular worship services and the appearance of the Chicago Children’s Choir at the Christmas Eve Vespers, several important musical events are being planned for this month and 2005.

On Sunday morning, December 12, the Choir will present a variety of holiday songs for your enjoyment. An offering will be taken for the maintenance of our instruments: our two organs, Yamaha piano, and the piano in the Choir Room.

Saturday evening, February 12, will feature Michael Thorn’s Jazz Trio in concert.

On Saturday evening, March 12, the DePaul Community Chorus directed by Martha Swisher will again be our guests. The First Church Choir will also perform.

Tickets for the February and March concerts will be $10, or $7 for students and seniors. Sponsors will be solicited and an ad book will be developed.

On Sunday morning, May 1, the First Unitarian Choir will perform Michael Thorn’s Jazz Mass. An offering for the music program will be taken.

Finally, Michael plans a series of Friday noon concerts in May.

First Church has a distinguished history of music and a deep love for the art. Join us for a wonderful variety of musical experiences!

Great Books

The Great Books Discussion Group will meet Sunday Dec. 12 at 11:30 a.m. in the RE Resource Room to discuss Kangi's Harvest by Wole Soyinka. In 1986, Soyinka was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for literature. The discussion group welcomes newcomers.

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

At the November meeting of the Social Justice Council our agenda covered a variety of issues. The ones which stand out in my memory were the decision to have an anti-war activity on the corner of 57th and Woodlawn, in light of the ongoing war in Iraq; to reinstate the Social Justice Council tabling activity; sharing of our frustration about the outcome of the election while keeping our eye on the prize -- the emergence of the beloved community AKA the just society; a discussion about possible fraud in the election and the feeling that if there was any widespread tampering with the election process, no matter how accidental, then faith in the electoral process would be eroded. For specific task force reports, see the rest of the newsletter. The full minutes are available on request. One of the ongoing discussions among Social Justice Council members is the question of how much did moral values (MV) really count in Bush’s victory? This emerged at our Nine/Eleven meeting and was a major theme in Rev. Sinkford’s sermon.

Emancipation Proclamation Pageant: preparations for the Pageant, scheduled for Saturday, January 8, are now in full swing. A group of participants met to lay out suggestions for making this a major event this year. We will be celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Union victory over the slavocracy, the 40th anniversary of the Selma Project and the resulting Voting Rights Act, and the 13th anniversary of the Pageant itself. One suggestion, put forward by Grace Williams, was to contact the Du Sable Museum to see if we could coordinate this event together, including the use of their theater. Discussions were also held with Zarinah Ali who is in charge of recruiting young people to the pageant and will be designing some choreography for it. We still need actors, singers, dancers, audience participants, poetry readers, soloists. Dave Puszkiewicz, a professional stage manager, has agreed to help us really stage the production this round. We will also be sending out announcements to all churches in the Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council and to local elementary and high schools. So, save this date on your calendar.

Our next Nature of Racism class, on December the 12th at 1:00 pm, in Chris Moore parlor, will focus on The Evolution of Institutionalized Racism: the Slavery Syndrome. In this discussion we will trace the legal history of making the enslavement of blacks permanent, the movement from indentured servitude type slavery to chattel type; how multiracial uprisings inspired a need to separate the so-called racial/religious groups; and most of all, how a need to justify slave labor capitalism (racism as an ideology) became a political economic imperative in light of growing opposition to slavery capitalism in general, especially among some capitalists who were benefitting from the slave trade.

Cultural Analysis: we had an interesting discussion in the RJTF and in our October Nature of Racism meeting about how expressive media (or artistic culture) has been and is being used to promote racism and neo-racism, e.g.., the operas of Richard Wagner. For example, three movies about black folks have received critical acclaim: one dealing with a rapper, Jay-Zee, one with the blues, and one with rhythm and blues, Ray Charles. We noted the rarity of movies about the complexity of black life, movies which used to be quite frequent in the old days, such as Guess Whose Coming to Dinner, Ivy, Nothing but a Man, Sounder.

Our next Social Justice Forum will be a review of the past year, lead by the Environmental Task Force, Sunday, December 19th at 11:45 am in Chris Moore parlor.

Upcoming Events: There will be no SJC meeting in December. We decided to participate in a Solstice Eve Party. If interested, contact Finley C. Campbell.

Social Justice Sundays: Special thanks to Ellen LaRue for reviving the idea of having a social justice literature table every Sunday. She kicked this off on Rev. Sinkford Day, attracting a lot of interest, including a video of our anti-Wagner demonstration and pictures of former anti-war protests

Racial Justice Task Force Report
By Allan Lindrup, Chair

Nine individuals, including four members and friends of First Unitarian, protested at the Lyric Opera on Saturday evening, November 6, when the Lyric was performing the start of Wagner's Ring Cycle, and had failed to acknowledge in the program or through other avenues that Wagner was a racist idealogue who contributed to the anti-semitism and Holocaust of Nazi Germany. We wore yellow stars of David, carried a mix of protest signs, distributed educational literature about Wagner, and voiced our views orally when the literature ran out.

On November 21 we facilitated the First Forum, which included speakers supporting and opposing the views of Dr. William Cosby on the black "under class", plus an opportunity for views from the audience. In either January or February we expect to lead a First Forum to gather congregational input on the UUA's draft Statement of Conscience on Criminal Justice and Prison Reform (as input needs to be received by the UUA by March 1). For March we are tentatively planning a First Forum on The Black Right Wing.

We are looking into possible service projects. That might mean working with Companions Journeying Together again, though we identified problems with communications last year, or it might involve assisting another organization.

Allan reported to the task force on the significant progress made in Illinois, by the Safer Foundation and the Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago, to get legislation enacted to allow for the expungement of misdemeanors and non-violent Class 4 felonies (the latter on a one-time basis) to give the individuals with these minor crimes the opportunity to gain employment without the burden of a criminal record.

A two-session study group to read and discuss the book Gates of Injustice, about the injustices in America's criminal justice system, is scheduled to meet on Sunday, January 23 and Sunday February 13, starting at 5 p.m., at a room in the church.

The task force will not meet in December. It will resume meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month, starting at 7:15 p.m., starting in January. All are welcome. Allan J. Lindrup, Chair at uusj@att.net

Guest at your table boxes!

The Guest at Your Table boxes were distributed at the Thanksgiving Service, November 21, and available at the service November 28. Additional boxes are available in the church office. Guest At Your Table is a fundraising program of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). The UUSC has been making a difference in peoples’ lives for more than 60 years. You are invited to place a Guest At Your Table box in your dining area, and put a contribution inside whenever you eat. Return your box January 9th, and know that you are living your faith by consciously reaching out to make a difference in the lives of real individuals and families in the United States and around the world.