July, 2005
First Unitarian News
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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 The two years of my interim ministry with you are ending. I write this toward the end of June, but will be on vacation in July, so this is the last of my newsletter columns for First Unitarian Society. My office shelves are slowly emptying, their contents filling boxes. By the time this is read, the boxes will be on their way to the UU church in Clearwater, Florida, where I will next serve. It's been an eventful two years, in every respect. We have worshipped together, learned together, laughed and cried together. We are not the same as we were at the beginning; in many ways, we are all stronger, and that's not by chance - our growth is the result of conscious effort. Interim ministry requires the effort to accomplish specific tasks, their accomplishment requires effort, and that effort results in growth: It means examining the past and putting it to rest, examining values and vision, and then moving on to the future. In a recent homily, I referred to the transition as emerging from the mystery into the present and beyond. None of that occurs as the result of only one person's effort. It is a community endeavor. The young people's education program for the next church year is already taking form, shaped by the work that has been and continues to be done. Danielle Gerrior has been hired as Director of Religious Education, and will schedule teacher training in August. Curricula have been selected, lesson plan calendars have been created, and volunteers are being recruited to teach. At this rate, all of the classes should be at least minimally staffed by the time Danielle begins - good news for any professional program administrator! Having worked to lay the foundation for next year, I am interested in the outcome, but I will not be involved at all after I have left. Although you will remain in my heart, we will no longer have a minister-parishioner relationship. That relationship will continue with Rev. Nina, who will work with Danielle, your professional religious educator. As Roger and I leave First Church and Chicago, many memories will accompany us. Your love and care after my breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent illness touched us both deeply. The Talent Shows and Banquets were great fun. Our last worship experience among you was gratifying, and the farewell party after that service was another highlight. Thank you all very much. Blessings and warm wishes to you now and always, Millie RE NEWS As the 2004-05 church year drew to a close, plans for the next were in full swing, some changes among them. An increase in the number of youngsters in the past several months has created a need for an additional class - preschool - and some new teachers are stepping forward to share the glory. There is still time for you to join the teaching roster! Programs for the next church year include Chalice Children (preschool); Around the Church, Around the Year (kindergarten through second grade); Beginning Unitarian Universalism (third through fifth grades); and Messages in Music (junior high). These curricula reflect an emphasis in the next year on Unitarian Universalist identity, and teaching offers an opportunity to deepen your own understanding. Two volunteers share responsibility for a class each week, and each "teaching team" is comprised of at least three people, providing both continuity and free time. More teachers on a team provides more free time! Classrooms are prepared with materials ahead of time by Danielle Gerrior and Ashley Meade -- the DRE and RE Assistant -- so that both the lead teacher and assistant can focus on planning for the children. Several multigenerational worship services will occur during the church year, as well as Sundays devoted to social justice-related activities, so not every Sunday is a "teaching" Sunday. If social justice is a special interest, you may arrange to be with the young people on those days. Welcome the new chair of the RE Council, Catherine Harth Stern, and incoming Director of Religious Education Danielle Gerrior, with your offer to teach in the 2005-06 church year!
I feel a bit overwhelmed by my agreement a year ago to accept nomination as President-Elect of our congregation and have spent a lot of time since then learning more about our society: its history, the wide variety of activities it sponsors, the ministerial and lay staff, getting acquainted with existing members (both young and "mature"), and actively greeting visitors and newcomers. Although relatively new to the church, I am aware that, thanks largely to my parent's influence, I have been a UU adherent, advocate, and activist since childhood - intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. In terms of program, I will initially rely heavily on insights that were produced at the April 30 LEARN! Workshop which focused on how we can communicate more effectively with each other - within lay groups, between lay groups, and between lay members/groups and the lay staff. I LISTENED carefully, talked to others, and will propose the following actions:
I am editing this column from Fort Worth, Texas (inspiring, tiring, and perspiring) where I am attending my second UU General Assembly (GA), doing a lot more LISTENING about Unitarian Universalism and hopefully LEARNING how we can better function both within our community and make an impact on the world around us. I intend to write several articles in future newsletters on specific topics based on my GA experience. A brief summary of the status and focus of UUA, the parent organization of Unitarian Universalist congregations is that it is fiscally sound, staffed with competent administrators (including an inspiring President), and has decided to focus its attention and resources on the following three areas with emphasis on changes at the grass roots, i.e. congregational, level: 1) fulfilling our affirmed goal of becoming an anti-racist, anti-oppressive multi-cultural movement; 2) developing youth and young adult programs that will enlarge and strengthen us; and 3) providing resources to assure effective leadership. Now some history, mystery, and drollery History Question: Who was the first minister of the First Unitarian
society of Chicago, which (founded in 1836, three years after the city's
incorporation)? Report from the Board of Trustees
Congratulations to Bruce Russell-Jayne who has just learned
that he will soon be the Interim Minister at the Unitarian Church in
Ogden, Utah for the next two years.
At the session on marketing, possible approaches to marketing Unitarianism were discussed. One focus was area-wide marketing of Unitarianism as a denomination, perhaps through an area-wide web site with links to the sites of individual churches. Also, participants discussed ways to market individual churches. Of course, it is important for churches to be welcoming to the people who are attracted by marketing efforts. This session led to the formation of the CAUUC Marketing Initiative
(CMI), which is continuing to meet and is planning three workshops for
the 2005-2006 year. To learn more, phone Ellie Hall who represents First
Church's Communications Committee to CMI, or come to the First Forum
on marketing on July 24.
You may have heard that over 100 US mayors have agreed to support the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. They promised to strive to meet or exceed the target of 7% reduction in greenhouse gases in their cities. See www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0514-02.htm Then, on June 13, they were joined by the US Conference of Mayors, meeting in Chicago, which unanimously passed a resolution requiring their cities to try to meet or surpass the Kyoto target. This is wonderful progress. The actions of these mayors will help to prevent global warming. Also, these resolutions send a message to Washington that many community leaders support action to prevent global warming, both Republicans and Democrats. Mayor Daley has not been mentioned in the news coverage, but since the US Conference of Mayors vote was unanimous, we can assume that he supported the resolution. So we suggest that you write or e-mail him, thanking him for everything he has done to benefit the environment in Chicago and for supporting the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. You can write to: Richard M. Daley To e-mail Mayor Daley, a Google search for Chicago mayor and the phrase "Richard M. Daley" will take you to his home page, where there is a "Contact Us button.
On May 21 several members of First Church -- Bobbi and Finley Campbell, Ellie Hall, Allan Lindrup, and Bette Sikes -- attended the annual meeting of CAUUC (the Chicago Area UU Council). The main attraction was a lecture by Doug Cassell entitled, "The Patriot Act: Last Refuge for Scoundrels?" In response to the crisis described by Mr. Cassell and our desire to respond somehow, the Council passed the following resolution, the implementation of which will be discussed by the CAUUC board at its next meeting:
Be it resolved that CAUUC support setting up study/action groups to
The purpose of this report is to give an overview of Social Justice Council activities since May 21 and this time it really is my last words as chair. The next voice you will read is that of Ellen LaRue. First, the tabling activities continues under the leadership of Ellen LaRue, our new Social Justice Council chair. One highlight was a petition from the Peace Council of Chicago asking for the Chicago Aldermanic Board to call for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. In light of the on-going disaster in Iraq, such a request is clearly reasonable. The Nine Eleven Study Action group endorsed the forum on torture which was presented in June by the Unity Temple social justice group. In light of Senator Durbin's "misanalogical" but truthful analysis of the conditions under US control of so-called detainees and combatant prisoners. The use of torture is a fundamental part of US imperialist practices. Indeed, there is a school in Georgia where such techniques are taught. According to one expert, much of US torture practices are derived from the so-called "Black Book" developed by the SS and the Gestapo in their battle against the Resistance and Partisan Movements. At the monthly Social Justice Council meeting, we voted unanimously to continue working with the Midwest Workers Association as our special social service project. We also received a letter from them thanking us for our donation of protein-based food and money for their spring food drive. A summer drive is being developed. In addition, Elvira Pelleterri and I helped get clothing from the U of C School of Business Administration for the MWA. Our next project with them is to get basement space here at the church for a clothing distribution center. There was no Racial Justice Task Force meeting in June as chair Allan Lindrup was on a trip to Iceland and as we had decided not to have any more meetings until we had replenished our membership. Anyone interested, please call Allan. However, there will be a first forum on racial justice issues in July. Tentative subjects: White Folks: the Fifth Victim of Racism or the New Lost Tribe of Israel: Winning Young Adults to Social Justice Work. The Executive Committee will have the final say. Members of the Nine Eleven SA group feted Bob Davidow, a former member of our Criminal Justice Task Force and a major participant in the Wagner project, and Susan Grubb, his wife and an active member of the Racial Justice ask Force, at a farewell dinner at La Sardine. Bobbi Campbell, Ellen LaRue, Elvira, and I, along with SJC supporters John and Marge Saphir wined and dined them as they head out toward the wilds of Ann Arbor, Michigan. They will be missed. Recommended movies: Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith. A powerful allegory about how a liberal republic can turn into a neo-liberalist dictatorship. Also, Robots: a delightful film about the need for mass struggle in the fight for social justice.
Talent Auction Followup Reminder The First Unitarian Society of Chicago on June 18th enjoyed its "End
of Year" Banquet to celebrate a year of hard heartfelt work. To
highlight two momentous occasions from the year: * During the same time our interim R.E. Minister, Rev. Millie Rochester, experienced a life threatening challenge. We were able to lovingly come to Rev. Millie's and Roger's aid constantly and continuously during her recovery. We came together last month to enjoy good food, good company and an overall festive occasion. Our catered banquet dinner in Hull Chapel was followed by a "Star Studded" Talent Show held in the Sanctuary. Both were a tremendous success. The talent show participants were our own members of all ages. Of all the approximately 81 attendees, none was dissatisfied. For those who were not able to attend or would like to relive the event, we were fortunate enough to have had the evening captured on videotape. I'd like to thank all the Committee Members -- Reesey Walton (Chair),
Finley Campbell, Marge Saphir, Ken Schug, Mary Lee Greenlee, Jim Proctor,
Ann Collins -- and all the wonderful faithful people who helped
set up and break down.
The 2005 UUA General Assembly has drawn to a close in Fort Worth, Texas,
but you can still find out about it online. See the GA 2005 coverage
page at www.uua.org/ga/ga05
and read, watch, and hear the reports, slideshows, and streaming videos
collected by the GA web team of staff and volunteers. Highlights include:
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