January, 2005
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Rev. Grey's column, "Both Sides," is available here. First Forums may be found here In the InterimBy Rev. Millie Rochester Interim Minister for Religious Education I am started on the journey of recovery. Resting at home, and thinking about my journey and about Nina’s and our sabbatical journey, and the journey of our church forward into the future, I remembered a poem about journeys. It is a poem of faith and encouragement. I want to share it with you. Ithaca As you set out for Ithaka Keep Ithaka always in your mind. I look forward to rejoining you in the near future. Millie RE News Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Holiday pageant, Two Births! It was a wonderful celebration and involved so many of all ages. Thanks to everyone who helped! This month begins January 2 with the young people in the sanctuary for the first twenty minutes. Rev. Nina will talk with them about what sabbatical means. Then they will go to their RE space to make some special creations for Rev. Nina to take with her on her sabbatical. January 9 through January 23 -- are the months of both Empty Bowls and Mystery Friends. See a complete description of them elsewhere in the newsletter. Every Sunday, young people begin with their families in the sanctuary. January 30 will be a multigenerational service celebrating friendship. Mystery friends will learn who their mystery friend is. An all-church potluck lunch will follow the service. Youth Group News The Youth Group will not meet on January 2 or January 30. January 9 there will be a movie. January 16 -- a movie discussion. January 23 -- hot topics and lunch Young Adults and Campus Ministry Young Adults and Campus Ministry is on hiatus for the winter break. They will resume meeting on January 16 at 6 p.m. in Chris Moore Parlor. Joining Rev. Millie as advisors for the spring will be Melissa Harris-Lacewell and Allen Harden. Young Adults and Campus Ministry gatherings will include sharing, learning more about Unitarian Universalism, enjoying good snacks, and other activities as decided by the group. All between the ages of 18 and 35 are welcome. The group will continue meeting on the first and third Sundays of each month through the spring semester. Introducing Mystery Friends Beginning January 9th, First Church will embark on a new activity to support the development of intergenerational friendships! Mystery Friends is a three-week pen pal program that links adults/youth with younger "friends." Each pair of participants will be sent their code name by postcard ("Confucius," for example), and correspondence will be exchanged by being brought to church on Sunday during the three weeks. Younger friends address mail to their older counterpart (Confucius the Older, for example), and vice-versa (Confucius the Younger). At the end of the month, on January 30th, the Sunday worship service will incorporate a gift-making activity for everyone - appropriate even for those who have not participated in the program - and mystery identities will be revealed at a potluck celebration after the service. The Empty Bowls Project Continuing a tradition of Wintersession in January, the Religious Education Program will engage in the Empty Bowls Project again this church year. The primary activity of the Empty Bowls Project is the decorating of ceramic bowls January 9th, 16th, and 23rd. They will then be fired in a local kiln and brought back to the church. All month long, everyone in the congregation will have a chance to buy bowls for a minimum donation of $13 each, to pick up on February 13th. (You pay for the bowl in advance, and a record is kept of your purchase). In addition to a lovely piece of art, you can have your bowl filled with soup at a banquet after church on the 13th. Every penny of the proceeds will be donated to the Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council Food Programs. Board Talk We are moving into this new calendar year with some unusual opportunities. The leaders have affirmed our plans that Rev. Nina Grey will be on sabbatical leave from January 3 through May in 2005. Each of the major committees has made arrangements to ensure quality programming during her absence thus providing our lay leaders opportunities to grow in our strengths. The Sabbatical Task Force has prepared special brochures detailing arrangements for this period. We have decided to seek a part-time Director of Religious Education. At our last meeting, the Board appointed the following members of the DRE Search Task Force: Colleen Grogan, Chair; Paulette Dodson, Margie Gonwa, Ivan Lappin, and They will be working with Dori Davenport from the Central Midwest District to identify the best candidates nationally. We anticipate hiring a DRE for 30 hours/week, with an assistant for 10 hrs/week. Much of our Board time in December was dedicated to our Stewardship responsibilities the ways in which we ensure the fiscal stability of our faith community. The Board appoints several committees to carry out these crucial tasks: the Finance Committee helps prepare the annual budget and monitor expenses; the Investment Committee recommends policies about endowment investments; and the Stewardship Team plans and carries out the annual canvass and other fund-raising activities. We need new members who are willing to receive some training on how best to carry out these challenges, since all those now involved have been responsible for many years. Our special short-term task is to complete the funding for the Bell Tower Restoration project. Please contact me to tell me how you can contribute to our Stewardship. We have begun the process of Strategic Planning to build on our mission, vision, and covenant work. We will be consulting with Angela Merkert, our Central Midwest District expert, on the best ways to move into this next phase. The Board appointed Rosemary Snow as our Interim Representative on the Interfaith Council; she will replace Rev. Grey on the Council during the sabbatical period. The Board also endorsed a request from the Social Justice Council to support members wishing to attend an anti-war rally in Washington, D.C. on January 20 to pass out leaflets requesting reconsideration of the war actions; and to request that the Worship and Music Committee take note of this concern and action in the January 16 Sunday service. With faith for our new year together. Margaret Committee Meetings this Month Adult RE - Tues. Jan. 11 at 7:30 pm FLAMING CHALICE JEWELRY Many of us would like to publicly show our affiliation with our UU church, but don't have easy access to the jewelry which would make that statement. Ellie Hall has ordered several pewter and silver pendants and enameled lapel pins with our flaming chalice symbol and made them available for sale. They will be at the coffee table for the first two weeks in January and are quite reasonably priced. If you're interested but can't get to church on those two Sundays, phone Ellie and she will arrange for you to see what is available. Come see how tastefully you can make your statement! Unity Party Get out your dancing shoes and polish up your favorite ethnic recipe. The Fourth Annual Unity Party is coming Saturday January 29 (with Saturday February 5 as a snow date)! There will be mask-making for youth of all ages (let Jim Proctor know if you are willing to take a form and make some mask shells at home prior to the party), dancing of many types (starting with square dancing from 6:30 to 7:30, and followed by music from our favorite multi-cultural DJ "W"), wonderful food (bring your favorite ethnic food to share), and great company! Tickets will be on sale throughout January, and we will be asking you to sign up to let us know what kind of food you will be bringing. Please make plans to bring the entire family. If you're willing to help with any aspect, please see Bobbi Campbell during Social Hour. Thanks -- Bobbi Emancipation Proclamation Pageant The Emancipation Proclamation Pageant, entitled "O Freedom: The Day of Jubilee" will be presented at First Church, on Saturday, January 8, 2005, beginning at 7 p.m. This pageant is sponsored by the Racial Justice Task Force. Admission is free, but there will be a free will offering to benefit the hunger programs of the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, which have been experiencing greatly increased demand and expenses this year. All those interested in history, anti-racism, and multiracial unity are invited to attend this annual celebration of this historic event, the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, in January, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln. This year we will also be celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Union victory over the slavocracy (April, 1865), the 40th anniversary of the Selma Project and the resulting Voting Rights Act (1965), and the 13th anniversary of the Pageant itself. The Emancipation Proclamation Pageant is a combination of narration, dramatizations, music, dance, and interaction between the cast and the audience. The theme is the role which multiracial unity played in abolishing the slave-labor system in this country. For further information, contact Allan J. Lindrup, Chair, Racial Justice Task Force, First Unitarian Church, at uusj@att.net Prison Crisis Discussion Did you ever wonder how the U.S. came to have the highest rate of incarceration in the world? Did you every wonder why so few people seem to be rehabilitated by the U. S. prison system? Did you ever wonder what goes on in prisons? Did you ever want to talk about what might be done to reform our prison system? Then you should participate in the discussion of Alan Elsner’s book, Gates of Injustice: The Crisis in America's Prisons, co-sponsored by Adult RE and the Racial Justice Task Force. We will meet twice -- on Sunday January 23 to discuss the book (a relatively quick-reading 225 pages) and again on Sunday February 13 at 5:00 at the church to discuss what we, as Unitarian-Universalists, might do. The discussion will be led by Bobbi Campbell and Diana Gray. Everyone is welcome to attend. The book is on order at 57th Street Books for $25; special orders may take three weeks. You may order on line from Amazon.com for $15.72 for new or from $12.00 for used. Delivery is usually within a few days. If you'd like to share a book with someone, contact Bobbi or Diana. Sabbatical Report for January The Sabbatical Team will be helping the congregation say farewell to Nina on Sunday January 2, 2005 following months of intensive preparation. YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE: Many Unitarian Universalist Ministers and Laity will be giving us interesting and stimulating Sunday morning sermons. Please read the brochure about our Sunday guest speakers, which will be available January 2, 2005. The Lay Pastoral Care Associates, under the supervision and support of Rev. W. David Arksey and Rev. Millie Rochester will be available to the congregation beginning January 3, 2005. Speak with Madeiria Myrieckes if you would wish a visit. Other Hyde Park Ministers have agreed to be available as “Minister of the Month” should we need to call on them for back-up emergency pastoral care. Rev. Viola Moore is providing emergency pastoral care for January. The Worship and Music Committee with the Worship Associates will coordinate and support worship each week. A new role of Sunday Steward will help with smooth going on Sunday mornings. Rev. Millie Rochester continues as Interim Minister of Religious education. During her recovery from surgery, Rev. Arksey and Madeiria Myrieckes will keep us informed of her availability for pastoral care and her other important ministry roles. Many of us have taken on additional or new leadership roles in the church. The Management Task Force Committee with the leadership of Margaret Huyck will work very closely with Rick Brown our church Administrator. Rev. Grey has arranged for our continued involvement with Montgomery Place with the help of Meadville Students, Joan Staples, Vi Stark and others. Membership will help inform our visitors of what we have available. We will continue our work with building our Covenant and Strategic Planning. Rev. Grey will send us news of her adventures each month. We are restoring our front doors, with the addition of handicap access. We will continue with all of our regular yearly programs: including Emancipation Proclamation, Unity Party, Easter Services, Talent Auction, Pledge Sunday, and Flower Communion. Rev. Nina Grey will return on June 1, 2005. I expect us to have an exciting Sabbatical time and I am looking forward to Nina’s return. The Sabbatical Committee will continue to be available to the congregation. Great Books Great Books will meet after the Sunday service on January 9. We will be discussing A Melian Dialogue by Thucydides (part of the history of the Peloponnesian War). Bon Voyage Party for Rev. Grey On Sunday, January 2, immediately following the Sunday Service, you are invited to celebrate this time of new adventures as Nina begins her sabbatical and the congregation embarks on our sabbatical time together. The gifts you are asked to bring are stories or drawings of your or your family’s adventures, for example a spiritual journey, learning adventure, an environmental study, a family summer trip, or a church adventure you enjoyed. These will be given to Nina to enjoy at her leisure. Membership Committee Report Mentoring Program Set to Begin in January - Needs Coordinator At the December meeting of the Membership Committee, a detailed plan was developed for our upcoming Mentoring Program. It is our intention to begin recruiting mentors in January, with a target of identifying a diverse group of six to eight people who we can train and begin assigning in early February. Would this be something you would enjoy? Here are the things that a mentor will be asked to do, after a training session: • Invite the newcomer to meet you at an upcoming church service
to sit together Basically, this is an opportunity to help build our church, not only in membership numbers, but as the loving community we want it to be. If you enjoy getting to know people, this should be a pleasant commitment. The Membership Committee does need one more member who will take responsibility for coordinating this aspect of our work. All our current Membership Committee members have ongoing responsibilities and can't add more. Please talk to me (Jane Kiser) if you're interested and would like to learn more about either coordinating or serving as a mentor. 2004 New Member Profiles Cheryl Wegner joined Fist Unitarian so she could introduce her children to spirituality. She is the mother of two children: a daughter, Rowan, age 11 and a son, Thomas, age 3. Cheryl, who grew up in a religious family, says she wanted her children to learn that "there is something bigger than themselves" - "a greater good" - but she didn't want to dictate that to them. Currently Cheryl volunteers every third Sunday in the Nursery and is interested in the work of the Environmental Task Force. She and her family moved to Hyde Park in 1996. Cheryl had lived here years before as a graduate student, so when her husband was offered a job in Chicago, they gravitated to Hyde Park, where they already had friends. Kris and Rev. Lee Barker. Unlike most new members who first
come to the church as strangers, Kris and Lee Barker joined the church
in April 2004 with many prior connections to our church. They moved
to Hyde Park in August of 2003 after Rev. Barker was chosen to head
the Meadville Lombard Seminary. Among Us Our warmest wishes to the Rev. Millie Rochester, as she recovers after surgery. Our warmest wishes also to Michael Thorn, recovering at home. We are holding Denyse Harris' sister in our prayers. Environmental Task Force On December 12 during social hour, the Environmental Task Force collected signatures on letters to Mayor Daley and our aldermen urging support for the extension of Chicago's 20-year old landfill moratorium. The letters were in conjunction with the Action Alert network of the UU's for Social Justice (UUSJ). The letters with our 29 signatures were faxed to Mayor Daley and mailed to the aldermen. The landfill moratorium prohibits the opening of new, or the horizontal expansion of old, landfills in Chicago. The moratorium is unfortunately not permanent yet, but is extended for one or two years at a time. The extension this year was particularly important because Waste Management has been making a push to keep its landfill open past the date it was expected to close due to having reached its capacity. That would have broken the moratorium. However the moratorium was upheld in committee on December 14 and in the full City Council on December 15. On December 19, Eve Emshwiller and Ellen LaRue participated with other representatives of the Social Justice Council in presenting a First Forum on the state of social justice in the world at the end of 2004. Coming up, on February 6, the task force will present a First Forum entitled "Global Warming: What to Expect (and what do we want to say to the UUA about it)". This will be an opportunity for our congregation to contribute input on "The Threat of Global Warming", which is this year's Study Action Issue of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Allan Lindrup will give an overview. Then participants will have a chance to respond and to suggest the "whereases" and the "therefores" that will be used to draw up a Statement of Conscience of our denomination on this critical issue. Green Corner. On August 30, 2003, I received the gift of a convenient bus route. The #6 Jackson Park Express can take me to work and to downtown Chicago where there is commerce, the government, and music. The new #6 was a trial route, part of a grand experimental realignment. So I determined to vote with my feet and other parts and take the bus as much as possible to make the new #6 a success. Whenever possible I take the bus. I started doing it to be a good citizen - to support public transportation, to reduce traffic congestion, to reduce energy use, and to reduce CO2 pollution. So what do I get for all this? A gold star for good behavior? Well, there is the reading of numerous books. There is the sidewalk-and-bus show - funny, sad, mysterious, sometimes dramatic - which all of us observe and act in. There is the chance to just sit and think and let someone else deal with traffic. What traffic? And besides that, something about using the bus (or the train) seems almost an archetypal aspect of urban life. For me it turns out taking the #6 is one of my favorite parts of the day - even better than a gold star. Social Justice On Friday evening, December 10, nine First U members and friends disregarded the steady rain to participate in a symbolic action. At the four corners of 53rd and Harper we passed out fliers noting the current casualty numbers of Americans and Iraqis and stating that the election is over and that now we need to refocus on what we are doing in Iraq. Although it was not stated, the source of our intention to do this action was awareness of parallel realities. While we are buying gifts and preparing for festivals and feasts, our soldiers and ordinary Iraqis are living in another reality. We understand that for all the appearance of materialism in our holiday preparations, what actually lies behind it all is love for others and our desire to express this love. We think that healthy adults can experience happiness and love and simultaneously be aware of the existence of suffering.
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