April, 2005
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Rev. Grey's column, "A Sabbatical Letter," is available here. First Forums may be found here In the InterimBy Rev. Millie Rochester Interim Minister for Religious Education Now that spring is officially here, many of us are looking ahead. The search committee for your new Director of Religious Education is nearing its conclusion; and we look forward to Rev. Nina returning from her sabbatical in two months. Shortly after that, I will be leaving you, as this interim draws to a close. Many exciting events are on the calendar, and they are planned ahead of time. The RE Council has approved a tentative selection of curricula for the next church year, subject to the approval of the DRE. I have been considering ideas for your summer program, and will soon make a proposal to the RE Council. So much to look forward to, to get ready for; it’s sometimes hard to pause and enjoy life in the present moment, to take the time just to be. The great African-American spiritual leader Howard Thurman, in the book Meditations of the Heart, wrote of “a lull in the rhythm of doing.” He refers to this state of mind and body as cultivating “prayer life.” I think of it as peace achieved in reflection; you may relate better to another term. There is no argument needed for the necessity of taking time out for being alone, for withdrawal, for being quiet without and still within. The sheer physical necessity is urgent because the body and the entire nervous system cry out for the healing waters of silence. One could not begin the cultivation of the prayer life at a more practical point than deliberately to seek each day, and several times a day, a lull in the rhythm of daily doing, a period when nothing happens that demands active participation. It is a wonderful way in which to begin the day and to bring one’s day to an end. I find it difficult to make this effort “several times a day,” yet that is my aspiration. For the most part, I find relief even in beginning the day with a practice of quiet, and I sleep better when I can end the day that way, too. Parents ask me how they can help their children accomplish this feat. Ritualizing a time of reflection before sleep doesn’t have to be complicated or fancy. Acknowledging the happiness, sadness, and people in our thoughts that day, might all be components. This practice may even be helpful for adults! May we all find those quiet moments that deepen our spirit. Faithfully yours, Committee Meetings this Month Adult RE Comm. - Tues. April 12 at 7:00 pm
RE News Easter Sunday will have occurred by the time this is read. As I write, it is yet to come, but plans are in place for the annual Flowering of the Chalice -- an event for all ages in the sanctuary -- and Easter Egg Hunt for the children on the front lawn. This year, a bright banner to welcome spring will be a slightly more lasting reminder of the morning, created by the children and youth. Many thanks to all who have helped to plan a joyful day in the church community, by decorating the big wooden chalice, and by participating in children’s activities. Mark your calendar for April 22nd, the date of the next RE-related special occasion, and plan on an evening of fun and games -- literally. Bring along a potluck dish and your favorite childhood (no matter how old you are now) game to share. This was great fun last year, you won’t want to miss it! Still ahead, on April 24th, is the last of this year’s Social Justice Sundays. Over the course of the year children, youth, and participating adults have considered social justice through the lens of Buddhism, Native American traditions, and Hinduism. Lastly, the focus will be Islam, a culture most of us could better understand. If you are interested in being involved, please let me (Rev. Millie) know. The final major event of the RE program year will be May 15th, and will consist of more than a single activity. First, everyone who has taught or led an RE-related class or session will be fêted by the RE Council before church, at a scrumptious breakfast in the Garden Room. Then, the morning’s worship service will include all ages, incorporating some of the year’s learning about the world’s religions. And after church, see and learn more at the Open House in the young people’s religious education area. If you haven’t by that time signed up to teach next year, there will be opportunities to do that. The curricula that are tentatively planned, pending confirmation by the incoming Director of Religious Education will also be available. And if you are looking even further ahead, stay tuned for news of the Summer RE Program. It’ll be more fun than The Cat in the Hat (that’s a clue)!
Board Talk By Margaret Hellie Huyck At the March 24 Board Meeting we took the following actions: We approved Bobbi Lammers Campbell, Finley Campbell, and Ellen LaRue as three (of our four) voting delegates to the Central Midwest District Conference April 17-19; and Madeiria Myrieckes as our representative to the Leadership School in July. We agreed that the proposed budget would be presented to the congregation as drafted, with appropriate visuals and explanations. Based upon our collective understanding and endorsement of this budget, we will increase our pledges, lower our aspirations, or some combination. Since the congregation determines the ultimate budget, we feel that this is the appropriate response. No one felt that any of the requests were out of line. We affirmed the importance of proceeding with a capital campaign to pay off the Bell Tower Restoration expenses. We have (commendably) raised approximately $100,000 of this cost; but we have nearly twice that left. We have agreed to put the interest (currently about $12,000) in our budget, as a reminder that we have a major debt to pay off. We are planning for a Welcome Back reception for Rev. Nina on June 5, and a formal Re-Start-Up process in the fall. This is an important aspect of any sabbatical: to think about how to re-calibrate the relationships after a period apart. We affirmed our commitment to a Leadership Workshop on April 30. All committee members are urged to complete short surveys on how they think their committees are functioning, and return them to Ken Schug by April 23. Ken will use this information in planning activities to address particular concerns evident in the church community. The next Covenant Workshop will be held on May 21, Saturday morning. We hope many of you will join us in trading stories about what makes you feel safe, and what you want to see in place to make this a congregation where you feel welcome. Angela Merkert, our CMD Executive, will facilitate this important process. Contact Diana Gray for further information. We deferred action on the revised Personnel Policies until April. We all look forward to: Canvass Sunday Luncheon April 3, Annual Meeting May 22, Welcome Back for Rev Nina on June 5, and Gala Banquet June 18! Plus, all the other fun and important times together… With blessings on all,
Come LEARN! Together By Ken Schug Saturday, April 30, 10 am to 2 pm - all church members are invited to participate in a Leadership Workshop (at the church) called Leadership Enhancement and Recruitment Now! [LEARN!], being planned by the Committee on Congregational Participation, assisted by three additional members who have recently attended a week-long Midwest UUA Summer Leadership Camp in Wisconsin. The workshop is intended to be helpful to current committee chairs, and members of all church groups, and to any others who anticipate future group membership. Three areas will be addressed: (1) Effective Interaction with Church Administrators, (2) Effective Interaction with Ministers and other RE Professionals; and (3) Effective Interaction with Each Other (Group Covenanting). Chairs of most groups have been given survey questionnaires to assist planning the workshop. These should be returned (anonymously) to President-Elect’s mail slot in the church office. Survey Reminder to All Group Leaders Surveys have been placed in the front office “mail boxes” of most group leaders (committees, task forces, teams…) to be filled out anonymously by all members reporting on effectiveness of your group. These should be returned without identifying the grouo to the President-Elect’s box. Thank You,
“NEEDS AND DREAMS” 2005-06 STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE CAMPAIGN Sunday, April 3, will be a special day in the life of this beloved community. The Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed, a child of our church and son of George Reed, will be preaching that morning. That, by itself, will be an opportunity to hear what is sure to be a wonderful sermon. Even more, we will have the chance to learn about the "Needs and Dreams" of this congregation, to have a discussion about the financial cost of our coming year, AND, have lunch! The event will be organized much as it was last year, with the congregation divided into four groups. Lunch will begin at noon, and will be served in Hull Chapel, VOV, Chris Moore Parlor and the Garden Room. There will be an opportunity to look over the numbers, ask questions, and think about what financial pledge you can make to continue the work of this church. Those are the details. Here is the good news! We are a vital, lively congregation with much to offer our members AND the larger community. We provide support for each other in hard times, celebrate good fortune with each other, create places for young and old to find their own spiritual paths, and speak out and take action when there is injustice or need in the world. There is so much to embrace in this beloved community - and so much to share. Our Stewardship Pledge Camp aign gives us the opportunity to make our dreams for this congregation real through our financial support. Please join our other members and friends to share a meal and conversation about the coming year. If you can't attend the luncheon, there will be a mailing with the pledge brochure sent to you the following week. Our Stewardship Team members will contact you, as well. Ask yourself what you value most about this church - and how you can support the work we do. We urge you to be as generous as possible. Cindy Pardo, Ivan Lappin
From the Claiming Our Future Task Force Tuesday, February 15, the reconstituted Claiming Our Future Task Force met to talk about the next steps in the covenant process. Present were Diana Gray, Madeiria Myreickes, Cynthia Oakes and Anita Orlikoff. This was our first meeting since November after a brief hiatus to accommodate the holidays and health issues of members. We had decided in late November that the congregation might need additional time to consider creating a covenant. We thought that one or two additional workshops about covenant with the congregation might be helpful. After discussion, the Claiming Our Future Task Force recommends that: 1. We not create a "covenant" that becomes a list of prescribed or proscribed behaviors, but, a brief, one or two sentence statement that would highlight the ideals of a community of positive interaction. 2. We not push the congregation to write covenant unless it feels ready to do so and is so inclined. 3. We hold a workshop on a Saturday morning in May to "continue the conversation" about the meaning of covenant or how we are together as a community. The workshop could be called "Building Community Together" and may include: a. Sharing stories about how we have encountered and resolved conflicts in our community b. What makes us feel safe and able to express ourselves in our community and what discourages or impedes that safety c. How we can be flawed but still learn to grow and gain understanding about how to be together and heal fractures d. How our community does or could meet our needs e. What does this all mean for our promises to each other for respectful communication and handling disagreements, etc? f. Thinking about what we want to do next as a congregation such as recommending RE classes or workshops to build good communication and/or conflict resolution skills and/or creating a formal covenant statement for the congregation 4. We will seek the consultation of Angela Merkert to facilitate the workshop
By Richard and Cindy Pardo We are making great and rapid progress toward a new sound system in the sanctuary and other major areas of the church. As you undoubtedly recall the Society has received a $25,000 grant from the Accessible Faith Program of the Retirement Research Foundation to upgrade the sound system. That grant is contingent on the congregation raising an additional $11,500 to complete the needed funds for the project. This was described in an appeal letter you received in February urging you to consider making a donation to help achieve our goal of sound for all. You have responded enthusiastically, and through mid-March a total of $8155 has been raised. But that leaves $3345 yet to be raised to reach our goal. If you have been meaning to send in your check, now is the time. Make your check out to First Unitarian Church and note that it is for the Sanctuary Sound System. We're very close to reaching our goal and with your help we will quickly be over the top. We're so certain of your response that we have instructed David McNutt's company to proceed with the procurement and installation. David tells us that the main sanctuary system will be in place by May 1 and we will all be able to hear all that is said much better. That especially includes those who rely on the system hearing aids. The new system will include all new transmitters and receivers to make the spoken word wholly intelligible. Please help us achieve our goal and make First Church an even more accessible church.
Great Books this month will be continuing a discussion of "Longing"
by Amos Oz and a poetry selection from the Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu.
The discussion will take place April 17 at 11:30 a.m. in the Religious
Education Room after church. Call G. Gnatz or Kennie James for further
information. March 12 Concert a Great Success By Joan Staples The DePaul Community Chorus, directed by Marty Swisher, accompanied by Robert Haigler, brought us a gorgeous Cherubini “Requiem” on Saturday evening, March 12. Our own choir, directed by Michael Thorn, accompanied by Tom Weisflog, performed Haydn’s “Missa Brevis” and both groups presented “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit!” It was a beautiful and financially successful event. Many thanks are due to our hard-working choir and its Music Director and to our guest chorus; to Choir members who worked on the ad book and publicity; to Chuck Staples who solicited ads and sponsors, including in-kind advertising by the Hyde Park Herald; Polly McCoo who called for sponsorships and attendees; Rick Brown, who produced the ad book and created the flyers; Mitch Green, who designed the Herald ads with Rick, and helped to get our “happening” into the Herald; to Ed Loomis and Allan Lindrup for e-mailing Meadville and the Hyde Park-Kenwood Interfaith Council; to Cindy Pardo for publicity help and for coordinating the receptions with the help of Carolyn Baker, Madeiria Myrieckes, the choir and our custodians; Chuck Staples and Carrie Hedges for taking money at the door; Richard Blough for keeping our money safe and counting it. Richard Pardo sold CD’s on February 12. The March 12 concert was professionally recorded, and a CD will soon be available. The February 12 program was recorded earlier; ask Michael about that CD. We are continuing to plan the next musical events at First Church: the world premier of Michael Thorn’s “Jazz Mass” on Sunday morning, May 1, at 10:00 a.m. and the May series of Friday noon concerts. You will soon be hearing more about these Spring events. The “Jazz Mass” will be accompanied by the Michael Thorn Jazz Trio, and Lee Barker will give an appropriate sermon. Come to our concerts, support music at First Church, buy our CD’s, and give us your ideas for service music and concerts next year.
By Richard Pardo We've lived through a winter with a pair of our front doors missing. Mostly we've been waiting for warm weather to allow the contractor to finish stripping and refinishing the door frame and all the ornate lettering over the door. Well, if you haven't noticed, it's getting warmer!!!! And not only are we looking forward to robins back in the neighborhood, but we eagerly await the return of the beautifully restored front door pair. My sleuth door-watchers tell me they have been recently sighted and their arrival can be expected during the first warm period in April. Once this pair of doors has returned and been installed, the south door set will disappear, (hopefully for a much shorter period of time) to undergo their own personal remake. In addition the new automatic door opener that will be installed on the north door set has now been received and the company handling that part of the project is just awaiting word that the refinished doors are in place and ready for that installation. All of this work has been made possible by the generous donation of an anonymous angel. I know you all join me in expressing our deepest thanks for this most generous present to the congregation.
By Madeiria Myrieckes Thank you! to all who donated, purchased and worked so hard to make this auction a success. I am always amazed at how much we can accomplish when we decide to make things happen. I want to extend a very personal thanks to all of you for your hard work and support. We do not have the final results on the auction just yet. I will distribute these results as soon as possible. For those of you who still want to buy an item, there will be new catalogs, (the items will cost as indicated-No Bidding) available in the office or at coffee hour on Sunday March 27. Please call Madeiria 312-461-9832 to inform me of your purchase and make your check payable to First Unitarian Church/Auction memo. Membership Committee Report By Jane Kiser Volunteer Opportunities Booklet Completed On March 12, our new VO booklet appeared on the Welcome Table. The booklet describes spring volunteer opportunities and contact persons for many of the church's committees, along with a list of spring activities. Our committee also did a mailing of the booklet to people who have, in the last six months, filled out visitor cards and indicated on the card that they were interested in volunteer opportunities. With only a handful left, it now looks like our publication will have to go into a Second Printing! The final page in this booklet is a form you may fill out to indicate talents you have to offer and activities you're interested in volunteering for. Is there anyone out there who suspects that his or her areas of knowledge or expertise are currently invisible or under-utilized in the church? Let us know what YOU know, and we'll do our best to make sure your gifts are recognized and utilized. A completed form should be returned to a Greeter (Veronica Jenifer or me), or mailed to the church in care of the Membership Committee, or placed in the Membership Committee mailbox in the church office.
Yes, I know we're well into 2005, but we had a substantial number of new members last year and we don't want to miss any of them! Speaking of the April 2004 Ingathering service that recognized and celebrated new members, Maria Anderson says, "I'll remember that day as long as I live. I never had a church home before!" Maria has studied mysticism since she was very young, and describes her spiritual path as having a strong pagan component, but still very eclectic and including many Christian teachings. Her pagan beliefs are rooted in a commitment to "protecting and taking responsibility for the earth - while we still have it" as well as feminist advocacy and an affinity to the Goddess. Maria is interested in linking up with others interested in exploring pagan spirituality. Her email address can be found in the church directory, for those who would like to contact her. Maria lives with her mother and brother.
Our Welcome Dinner schedule will continue in April, with a dinner on Sunday, April 10 at the home of Jane Kiser and a dinner on Sunday, April 24 at the home of Betty Holcomb. At our dinners, we try to put together a mix of newcomers and church members who have been here longer in a friendly setting that fosters getting acquainted. Please consider attending! Call Jane Kiser or put your name and phone number on the sign up list at our Welcome table. Sunday Stewards Soar! Join Up! By Ken Schug Unexpected events occurring on several recent Sundays have established the usefulness of the Sunday Stewards who arrive at church early every Sunday morning and assist in preparing facilities for the Worship Service and other scheduled gatherings for the day. As interim coordinator, I have not been as successful as I had hoped in recruiting a “permanent” coordinator and crew of 6-8 Stewards to carry out this important task, which I feel should continue after the return of our senior Minister to relieve of these distracting pre-service chores. Please contact me to sign up; I will then provide training. No heavy lifting required! A note in my President-Elect mail box, email to kschug@msn.com , or just whisper in my ear! With a large enough crew, service would only be required once every month or two. Thanks!!.
Save this date - June 18, 2005 - for the second annual Church Banquet. Not only will there be scrumptious food but also talented people performing for you. This event will be on a Saturday at 5:30. For more information contact Reesey Walton or Marge Saphir.
By Finley C. Campbell Looking back over the wintry period, December 21(officially) to March 21 (officially), points of light representing our social justice work here at First U shine bright in that somnolent cold darkness: December: The nature of racism class meets, focusing on how racist ideology joined with the political economy of slavery to give rise to our first major form of institutionalized racism. The First Forum meets, where members of the audience shared their memories of what stood out in their minds about the year: events ranging from the torture of detainees at Abu Gharib and Guantanamo, the failure of the public education system to create critical thinking citizens, the on-going controversy related to the black under class, and, of course, the elections of 2004, in which all these issues were dramatized or suppressed. Then we heard reports from the task forces summing up actions and meetings, large and small, which we had carried out since the summering times and the autumn times: from the Racial Justice Task Force the radical notion that neo-racism is now the main form of institutionalized racism shaping much of the US American socio-political economy, (Allan Lindrup) and the Environmental Task Force: describing the matrix of laws which have eroded our environmental protections, (Eve Emshwiller and Ellen LaRue) ; from the Nine Eleven Study Action Committee the need to create the kind of cognitive sophistication necessary to struggle with our friends, relatives, and fellow church members about the big picture, (Elvira Pelleterri) and from Denominational Affairs focusing on the erosion of civil liberties and the issue of global warming and the criminal justice system, (Bobbi Lammers Campbell), signaling like beacons from hills that we were still on duty. We then stood up together and held hands, sending a squeeze of affirmation around our circle. A symbolic action at the corner of Harper and 53d street, protesting the war in Iraq. We wanted to remind people that even in this Xmas season, we should still remember those dead. dying, and about to die, in the war for oil and democracy in Iraq. We ended with two of us singing an anti-war version of Silent Night. The unanimous resolution of support passed at the Board of Trustees meeting, indicating support for those of us who were going to be a part of the anti-war demonstrations in Washington on January 20, January A new year, old problems, the heart of winter: once more the Council and its friends and supporters held up the torch, giving light and warmth, in this winterized time: the Emancipation Proclamation Pageant, though small in attendance, yet large in artistic expansion with new players. Ellen LaRue pointed out that the Emancipation Pageant was to our social justice work what the Easter Passion plays were to Christianity, a ritual to be engaged in, whether large numbers showed up or not. We raise a hundred dollars plus for the hunger drive. The nature of racism class looks at the next form of institutionalized racism, de jure or legal segregation. The first forum looks at the issue of war, with testimonies from three generations of soldiers about just and unjust wars: Richard Jenifer - World War 2, Jim Proctor - The Vietnam War, and Devon Moss (the US/Iraqi War), whose pictures from Iraq gives us a glimpse into what we only know of through media. He shares with us the mix of duty and moral quandary which many soldiers have about the war. The blessing of our two representatives to the January 20th march, me and Ellen, by Elvira Pelleteri at our January 15th church service, a ceremony endorsed by our Board. And of course the January demonstration itself, already described in these pages. And always, the ongoing work of our task forces, a handful of volunteers standing watch on the picket lines of justice, warmed these wintry days by the love and concern of many members of our church. The torch, giving light and warmth. February The short month of winter, designed to prepare us for the cold days of March: symbolically speaking, we gather in groups around electric heaters, small to be sure, but on-going: the task forces meeting, a reading circle here on the horrors of the prison-industrial complex (Racial Justice Task Force), a reading there on a new way to package US imperialism called the Fourth Power (Nine Eleven Study/Action Group). I preach in an abbreviated form about the power of multiracial unity as a vital part of the social humanist tradition in black history. Later, as chair of the Social Justice Council, I engage in polemic opposition to all forms of race specific caucuses and groups in our denomination, whether white allies groupings or African American women-only committees, generating light and heat via the internet. At our First Forum we have a large turn-out of people, a variety of viewpoints, to help edit the UUA document on the criminal justice system. A very lively discussion went down, from legal to philosophical viewpoints and, thanks to the leadership of Allan Lindrup, we were able to submit our amendments on the proposal on time. March Winter's ending is upon us: At our SJC meeting we vote to join a community-based criminal justice group, to endorse the Midwest Workers Association efforts as our social service project, and hear reports from our key task forces. Four SJC members, and over 1200 other anti-war activists march to protest the second anniversary of the war against Iraq. I offer modest leadership in getting the march underway. It was a spirited demonstration, a true symbolic action, in calling for bringing all the troops home, including coalition members (March 19th). March 20th Also two members of the Midwest Workers Association - Jenefer and Clovis - come as guests to our services and set up shop with the SJC table at the social hour. Many contributions are obtained and some volunteer for future activities. They will have returned to First U by the time of this newsletter to present a first forum on Easter entitled, "Resurrecting the Labor Organizing Movement: Community Based Organizing." My title, not theirs. At our First Forum on March 20 we end our nature of racism course with a special ninety minute edition dealing with neo-racism, the structure of policies, ideology, and power which shape institutionalized racism in a legally desegregated/de facto segregated period of US and world history. We also had a guest responder, Dr. Toby Schwatz, formerly of the Dept of Biology of the Univ of Connecticut, Storrs campus and a founder of the InterNational Committee Against Racism (INCAR). He shared powerful anecdotes about the ideological, academic, and physical struggles against racism which he has seen since 1972. A small but lively group attended., Susan Grubb gave us very emotional "last words." We ended by singing "We Shall Overcome." For more details about this last course, see the selection on the Nature of Racism course. I could tell of more things: over 900 dollars raised for transitional housing and the James Reeb Memorial...the celebration of the SJC at the Campbell's Winter Solstice party...the scores of leaflets and handouts distributed at our social justice table each Sunday...a video about the persecution of Muslims in New York...a discussion about the topic: Imperialism, Racism, and Natural Disasters: The Secret Narrative of the recent Tsunami Catastrophe. But you get the vision...All aspects of the fire which kept us warm these wintering months. Now, it is April and spring should be fully upon us: looking back over these winter dark days, we can truly say: The old Christian revolutionary slogan still rings true: The light shineth in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome the light .... nor the light the darkness ... yet. Help UUs Help the Homeless By Allan Lindrup Home and Hope Booster Grants are a program of the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice Task Force on Economic Justice and Homelessness. Up to three times a year, grants are awarded to organizations helping the homeless that have significant support, in volunteers and/or funding, from UU congregations in the Chicago Area UU Council area. Grants can also go directly to a UU congregation as partial reimbursement for expenses they have incurred in helping the homeless; for example, if they serve as a PADS site. In addition to giving a financial boost to organizations helping the homeless that local UU congregations have been helping, the program seeks to recognize and applaud the efforts of local UU congregations to help the homeless. Nominations are sought three times a year (the next nomination deadline being May 15) and the two page nomination form (which you can secure a copy of by writing to uusj@att.net or look up and print from www.uusforsocialjustice.org ) may be completed and submitted by a task force, Social Justice Committee, minister, Board of Trustees, or other person or body with some standing in the congregation. These grants, like the Chalice Lighters grants awarded by the Central Midwest District of the UUA, are made possible by UUs who pledge to contribute $25 (or more) up to three times a year, when they are notified that a nominee has been awarded a grant and are provided the details regarding the organization being awarded the grant. The program is currently down to its minimum of 10 pledgers (having lost one pledger due to extended unemployment and another due to senility and the person having to enter a nursing home), so we hope you will join us as a Home and Hope Booster Grant pledger. To do so, please contact UUs for Social Justice, 1448 E. 52nd St., Box 144, Chicago, IL 60615 or email to uusj@att.net.
By Allan Lindrup [This report was submitted for the March newsletter, but could not appear because of lack of space - Ed] On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Hyde Park Transitional Housing Project (HPTHP), I wish to thank the members and friends of First Unitarian Church for their financial support, both during the special collection on February 6 and through the mail around the year. The special collection on Feb. 6 raised $762, which included $432 in contributions, plus a $332 match by this writer of "new" contributions. FYI, eight local congregations and/or their members contributed $800 or more to HPTHP in 2004, and First Unitarian was the top contributor! HPTHP took on a new client family at the end of January. It consists of a divorced mother, Deborah, and her two teenage children, one boy and one girl. Her marriage ended as the result of domestic violence. Deborah is a graduate of Kenwood Academy and previously had a good paying job in the computer industry. Downsizing left her out of work and led to her using up her reserves, getting deep in debt and ending up homeless. Seeking a new career, Deborah has passed the pre-apprentice training for becoming an electrician, but has had a long wait to get into an on-the-job apprenticeship. While waiting for that opportunity she is taking classes to complete an Associate’s Degree, as that might provide some better employment opportunities. She is also working full time, but her salary pays less than half of what she used to make. Consequently, she found it difficult to meet all her family’s expenses, and prior to admission to the Hyde Park Transitional Housing Project, she was living in substandard housing that lacked water and heat. The property and its owner are now in housing court and Deborah and her children were forced to leave at the time they were admitted into our program. Both of her children are good students. They are both attending private high schools on full scholarships. Individuals who would like to discuss volunteer opportunities with HPTHP are always welcome to contact this writer. First Unitarian's Joan Staples is on HPTHP's Nominating Committee for this year, so some of you may be identified and contacted in connection with positions on the HPTHP Board of Directors. UUSJ Civil Rights Program The Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice Task Force on Democracy, Civil Liberties and Human Rights will sponsor a program entitled “A UN for Human Rights in the 21st Century,” featuring sociologist Stephanie Downs Hughes, of the UU’s United Nations Office. The program is at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, at the DuPage Unitarian Church, 4S535 Old Naperville Rd., Naperville, IL. For information write to uusj@att.net.
By Ellen LaRue The Environmental Task Force met on Feb. 27. We started planning for the Earth Day/Passover worship service coming up on April 24. In addition, Irene Vitullo agreed to take the lead (again) on refreshing the lovely little wildflower garden (by the alley). She will be looking for assistance in the nice weather ahead. Pat Lucas agreed to apply some of her energy to organizing the church recycling program. (Patti Stark, not a task force member but a veteran recycler, has agreed to work on this too.) They will need our cooperation. We agreed to draft a letter to Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Ed Hurley supporting Governor Blagojevich's call for a Sustainable Energy Plan. The letter was signed by members of the congregation on March 6, and sent on to Chairman Hurley. We also agreed we are interested in the Interfaith Power and Light project that supports alternative energy, mainly wind power. That will be taken up later. We discussed, but did not resolve, who will be the task force chairman next year. Note: There will be a city-wide collection of unwanted expired medications on May 11. Information on this collection will be available at the Social Justice Council table. Green Corner. We know the main culprit in global warming is CO2 from the combustion of fossil fuels. Now who is producing all this CO2 anyway? We are, mostly. The U.S., with 4% of the world's population, is responsible for 22% of global warming emissions. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org), 20% of U.S. emissions is from running household vehicles and another 20% is produced directly by household operation. The household figure includes only the heating, cooling, lighting and appliances. It leaves out personal transportation, food production, transport of goods and equipment. How would one reduce one's personal contribution from the running of a household? Ok I turn off unused lights, and use compact fluorescent bulbs. But what about the heat? That's the big energy use and expense. And yet you can't exactly turn off the furnace. So I took the plunge and had my building tested for heat losses. This was an eye opener. The windows, which I have obsessed about for years, did lose heat. But the big loss was from an actual breeze of warm air rushing behind the walls into the attic and on out to the outside air. Also a huge draft of inside air blew up through the chimney when the furnace was off. Yikes. This has been going on for years. So what am I going to do about it? Check back in a few months. 9-11 Study Group The 9-11 study group has finished its discussion of "The Fourth Power" by Gary Hart. At our April meeting we will be discussing miscellaneous articles addressing the current balance of power in the Middle East. In May we will begin discussing an old book that is useful in understanding how the current situation in Africa developed. The book is "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa" by Walter Rodney. For more information contact Elvira Pelliteri or Bobbi Campbell, or stop by the Social Justice Council table during coffee hour on Sundays. The book itself is available on the web. Just go to www.google.com and type in the title. CMD Annual Assembly The Central Midwest District of the UUA will hold its annual assembly on April 15-17 at the Sheraton Conference Center, Arlington Heights IL. Keynote speaker will be Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, minister of Fourth Universalist Society, New York, speaking on “Creating Beloved Community: The Challenge and the Promise.” The weekend will include workshops, worship, and programs for all ages, including children, teens and adults. Among Our People! We continue our love, caring and support for Vi Stark. Bernie Frieden sends word that he continues to think about us, Bernie would welcome someone calling and making arrangements to bring to church occasionally. And Mike Donner is still in need or our calls and visits. Polly McCoo has taken a short visit to her son and his family in Colorado and will be back by Monday, March 28th. Polly sends her heartfelt thanks to all of us who rallied over the last few weeks to help keep her active here at First Church. Polly dear, that's how families get it done, we love you. Please forward your concerns regarding "our people" to: Madeiria Myrieckes
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