September, 2005
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Rev. Grey's column, "Both Sides ," is available here. First Forums may be found here
President’s Report By Ken Schug I am not sure what is expected in the President's column, and too new to know what my predecessors have done over the years, so I'll just wing it and see what happens! Since I prefer to report major Board highlights in separate articles rather than burying them in the President's column, I will be looking for other topics to present, speculate about, maybe invite responses; here is an example: I recently became aware of a tough decision presented to a UU congregation, namely how should they respond to a request from a former member who had just been released from prison where he had served a four year term for criminal sexual abuse of a child under the age of 13. A half page article in their newsletter included a list of eight restrictions that would be placed on the individual and stated that there would be a vote at the annual meeting and that he would be allowed to return only with a unanimous vote in favor. This got me thinking more deeply about how we apply our "commonly held principles" in cases where many members' immediate reaction would be "we can't (or shouldn't) do that" If we look at the society around us we can find many examples of people excluded from (or discriminated against) for reasons we would oppose based on our principles. Of course, in the present case we are dealing with a person whose previous behavior is completely unacceptable, but all ex-prisoners (and many others who did not up end in jail) bear the stigma of misbehavior and we know that "closing the door" on their rejoining society greatly increases the possibility that they will recidivate. I haven't had enough time to think about the decision faced by this church outlined above or an opportunity to gain insight by discussion with others; so would not feel comfortable taking part in a vote on his request for rejoining my church. My tentative view is that my decision would not be based on the nature of his transgression but on whether the resources and human effort necessary to monitor the restrictions placed on the returning would be so great that the needs of a significant number of other parishioners would go unmet. I would be interested in how others would deal with this question. August quiz answers: Mystery member who once belonged to the Teamsters Union is Ken Schug who worked one summer during college at a cannery in California which had a closed shop agreement with that union. Response of First U to Chicago Fire: Allan Lindrup correctly responded that we opened the church to the homeless and provided emergency sustenance until they recovered from the effects of the disaster. September quiz. Mystery Member: Who among us has been a member of five different Unitarian congregations located in the city of Chicago? Church History: Which of the following literary figures are listed as Unitarians or Universalists in the UUA sponsored Biographical Dictionary? Louisa May Alcott , Robert Burns ,Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Charles Dickens, Sylvia Plath Unitarian humor(?): "How many Unitarians does it take to rob Fort Knox.? A. No one knows, because it hasn't happened (yet). Board Actions at its July 18 meeting: (1) Approved letter from Trustees to UUA (see below); (2) Approved Liaison structure (see below); (3) Passed resolution re check signing designees. Committee Meetings this Month Activities Comm. - Wed. Sept. 28 at 6:00 pm
By Ken Schug Or pronounce it? Well, the spelling is li-ai-son, pronunciation variable, and meaning "contact via communication between two units of an organization". As noted in the Board Actions article your trustees agreed at their August meeting to adopt such structure in order to increase Board awareness of what other church groups are doing, provide assistance when possible, and suggest agenda items for those other groups. We will work out operational details as we go. Here is the current list of liaisons: COMMUNICATION (A. Stern); CONGREGATIONAL PARTICIPATION (Sikes); FINANCE (S. Stern); MEMBERSHIP (Cherry); MINISTRY & CARING (MacClarence); PROGRAM (Kent); PROPERTY (Henriques)); RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (Gray); SOCIAL JUSTICE (Schug); STEWARDSHIP (M. Huyck); WORSHIP/MUSIC (Proctor). Other groups interested in a liaison arrangement with the board should contact Ken Schug at kschug@msn.com
[The following letter was recently sent to various UUA recipients from First Church Trustees, Congregational participation in follow up activites is expected, encouraged and necessary!) Dear ___________________ This letter, from the Trustees of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago, supports and supplements four earlier letters sent by some of our congregational leaders in response to the July 6 letter from Paul Rickert and affirms our intent to be actively involved in future anti-racism and multicultural unity initiatives of our beloved denomination. First we state, simply and strongly, that we will never tolerate racism within our denomination and we urge the Unitarian Universalist Association to make anti-racism and multicultural unity a firm pillar of our faith. Further, we commit to diligently identify and aggressively root out racism wherever it might emerge. Specifically, in response to events reported from the Fort Worth General Assembly of 2005, we declare that the coupling of race with youthfulness, maleness, unfamiliar clothing styles, or modes of expression never justifies a racist response. If racist behavior occurs within our church or in other UU settings we will publicize them, express our outrage, communicate our distress to those responsible, and remind them that such behavior is unacceptable and we must resist. If the behavior continues we will seek a review through existing congregational or denominational "right relationship" processes. In short, we believe that UUA and its member congregations must recognize racism, constantly address it, and strive to eradicate it in all forms, both personal and institutional. To start the above commitment, we are formulating action plans for our own congregation which will include, but not be limited to, submitting proposals for GA2006 workshops to address anti-racist issues. and augmenting intra-church educational and sensitization programs. We will also formulate and transmit proposals for UU action at the congregational, district, and national levels which will help implement denominational anti-racist, multicultural unity principles, including specific suggestions on how future GA meetings can be more genuinely inclusive. Submitted in faith, love, and hope on behalf of the Trustees of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago: Joe Cherry, Diana Gray, Hank Henriques, Margaret Huyck, Joanne Kent, Pat MacClarence, Jim Proctor, Bette Sikes, Allan Stern, Stephen Stern Kenneth Schug, President RECIPIENTS: UUA Board, Rev Wm Sinkford, GA Planning Committee, UUWorld Editor, and CMwD UU
By Ken Schug INSTRUCTIONS Read the announcement below, register. then on Saturday, October 15 join the throng g of fellow First Church members to the Third Unitarian Church of Chicago, 301 N. Mayfield Ave [5900 W] We would like 12 or more attendees!! Radical Hospitality As a Spiritual Practice And Foundation for Welcoming and Growth Workshop 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Saturday, October 15, Third Unitarian Church, Chicago, IL Hospitality is about much more than being friendly to visitors. It can be a path to spiritual depth as well as a way to turn your visitors into members. Join us to explore the concept of Radical Hospitality and learn about many aspects of growing, healthy congregations. Participants are encouraged to read the book, Radical Hospitality, By Fr. Daniel Homan and Lonni Collins Pratt in advance. Workshop created and led by Dori Davenport, CMwD Religious Educator & Growth Consultant Cost: $12.00 per person - includes lunch Questions - Email: DoriDuure@aol.com, or write to CMwD, 4415 W. Harrison #310, Hillside, IL, 60162
A reminder to Board Members and Chairs of church groups that the Annual Retreat will be Labor Day Weekend: a Friday evening (Sept 2) warm-up at 6:30 and a Saturday morning (Sept 3) " nuts and bolts" discussion beginning at 9:00, moderated by Shirley Lundin (lun-deen), who also served as facilitator last year. The meeting will be held at the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, 5733 S. University . Great Books The Great Books Discussion Group will meet Sunday September 11 at 11:30
a.m. in the Religious Education Resource Room to discuss the novel "Paradise
of the Blind" by Duong Thu Huong. We also will distribute the anthology
for the series "Parent and Child," which we will begin reading
in October. Newcomers are welcome. Contact Kennie James or Gloria Gnatz
for further information. Religious Education Report By Danielle Gerrior Ah, summertime… lemonade, paperback books, lazy afternoons and… Sunday school?!? Yes, though much quieter than usual, the children’s religious education has continued this summer, with a curriculum based on the writings of Dr. Seuss. It’s been a lot of fun, but as the summer draws to a close, the RE Council and I turn our full attention to the rapidly approaching start of the regular church year. In the next nine months or so, our children will be learning about Unitarian Universalism. We will focus not only on learning about our seven principles, but also on how to live our own principles; not only about important figures in the history of our movement, but also about how they themselves are important people in our movement. As you hopefully sense, this is important, exciting work, and it would not be possible without our wonderful volunteer teachers. Ashley Meade and I will be working hard to support them, but ultimately it is their generosity of time and spirit that keep our program going. We will also be continuing a program initiated last year social justice Sundays. Approximately once a month all of the children will come together to focus on important issues such as the environment, racial justice, hunger, and peace. We will need volunteers for these days, and I hope you each will consider adding your name to the sign up sheet in the religious education hallway. In the meantime, enjoy the turning of the season and all the gifts it brings. See you in church Important religious education dates: September 10 - Teacher training. 1:00 - 3:30 PM in the RE classroom. If you have not signed up to be a teacher this year, but are interested, please contact Danielle. September 11 - First day of the church year. Registration forms for Sunday school will be available. Please be sure to fill them out! September 18 - First day of Sunday school. Hope to see you there! September 25 - Tentative date for apple picking after church. This is of course contingent on weather and apple-ripeness. Keep your eyes "peeled" for more info.
by Dr. Finley C. Campbell, Rotated Chair 1. What is CLARC? It is a group of First U members and friends who focus on issue of race and racism "within these walls," both of our church and our denomination. Our activities range from supporting Member Veronica Jenifer's efforts with the Chicago Sinfonetta Orchestra to monitoring church services for multiracial diversity. We are a multiracial group of people, and our meetings and membership are open to all members and friends of our church. 2. During July some of us met informally to respond to the racial incidents which occurred at the GA meeting in Fort Worth. Briefly, the incident, as recounted by Zarinah Ali, a church delegate, dealt with a confrontation between some minority youth and a white UUA minister. Adding to the conflict was the intergenerational nature of the event, i.e., youth vs. elders. In addition, youth of color recounted other racist incidents which occurred out in the Fort Worth community. 3. In August, there was a special call meeting of CLARC to discuss how the church and our committee ought to respond to this incident. We worked with Margaret Huyck in improving a draft of a Board letter which was being developed as a response. The improvements were duly noted. We then discussed ways that CLARC could respond directly to the incident. Alex Poinsett called for a special inquiry by the UUA board to get all the facts. Ellen LaRue called for a service of healing and reconciliation at the St Louis UUAGA meeting in 2006. Finley C. Campbell presented a proposal, which was approved, to have a workshop at the St. Louis meeting on building multiracial unity in all white or predominantly all white congregations. And Bobbi Lammers Campbell presented a proposal, also approved, of having CLARC do a workshop at that assembly describing our work at First U as an example of multiracial unity in action. Our regular CLARC meeting was held at 1:00 PM, August 28th. Details will be forthcoming in the next issue of the newsletter. Our next meeting will be at 1:00 PM, the fourth Sunday in September. Hope to see you there.
Jazz at the First and Silent Auction By Mary Lee Greenlee Snap your fingers. Tap your feet to the groove'n sound of Michael Thorn's Trio and their fantastic Jazz beat! Yes! Michael Thorn is reviving First UU Church of Chicago's "Jazz at the First," an evening concert of great entertainment. To start the Fall 2005 social event and fundraiser off with a bang, the Jazz at the First Committee has planned a wonderful evening, beginning with a fabulous Silent Auction, hors d'oeuvres, dinner and fantastic entertainment of Michael Thorn's Trio. The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 8. Ticket Price: $25.00 before October 1, $30.00 afterward. Your Support is greatly needed to make this event a success. Please spread the word! Tell your neighbors, coworkers, relatives, friends and business associates about the event. Fliers will be made available for you to distribute. See Sunday Bulletins and e-mails. Use this occasion as "pay back" time for all of the fashion shows, silent auctions, social club and charity events you have participated in for friends, family and business associates. Treat a special person or couple to a ticket(s) as a way to let them know that they are appreciated by you. Your support is also needed for the Silent Auction (our main Fall Fundraiser) Volunteers are need to solicit gift certificates or items (valued $40.00 or more) from, boutiques, book stores, department stores, fabric stores, gift shops, gymnasiums, hair salons, massage & spa salons, pet shops and restaurants where you shop. Give it a try! The owner may be glad to donate a certificate or item. Their donation will be acknowledged at the event. Solicitation letters will be made available. Inquire at the church office. Please contact Madeiria Myrieckies at if you wish to be a solicitor. Contributions of items (valued at $40 or more) are needed for the Silent Auction. Some suggested item are, but are not limited to:
If you have something to contribute, please contact Sadie Picardo. NOTE: All donations will be tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Please help us! With your assistance, we can make this event a success.
We hold in our hearts the family and friends of Vi Stark, beloved long-time member of our congregation, who died on August 27 after a long illness. Some close friends and family gathered around her in her final days and hours. A Memorial Service is being planned and will be announced shortly. We hold in our hearts also Richard Jones, beloved long-time member of the church, who was recently hospitalized and is now home at Montgomery Place. Our deepest sympathy to Carrie Hedges and her family on the death of her mother, Henrietta Hedges, who died on August 4, 2005. Carrie tells us that the whole family gathered with her mother five days before her death for a joyful family reunion. We hold in our hearts Florence Teegarden, who has, as of this writing, experienced a revival of her spirits and alertness, and welcomes your calls and visits to her at her home at Montgomery Place. We keep in our thoughts also Pat MacClarence’s parents and send warm wishes for her mother’s recovery. We keep in our thoughts Rev. Nina Grey’s daughter and send warm wishes for her recovery. And we keep in our thoughts Rev David Arksey’s father and send warm wishes for his recovery. In a recent newsletter, we mistakenly reported that Jim Moir was ill. Jim is a seminarian at Meadville/Lombard and it is his wife Robin who is ill and we send our warmest wishes for her recovery. Our best wishes to Kathleen Green and her family as Kathleen begins her internships at the Unitarian Church of Evanston and the environmental agency Faith in Place. Our best wishes to Joseph Harrington as he begins study at Meadville/Lombard Theological School. Congratulations to Norman Hines on the marriage of his son, Eric, to Deanna Grant, on Sunday, August 21, 2005. Our best wishes to Ed Loomis as he begins his internship at the UU Community Church in Park Forest, IL. Congratulations to Jessica Purple Rodela, Meadville Lombard student who graduated from her Clinical Pastoral Education program at Montgomery Place.
Labor Day, September 5 Let’s have this church and its grounds in tip-top shape for the start of the new church year. Lunch Provided.
By Allan Lindrup The Racial Justice Task Force gained some new members at its meeting on August 25 and will continue its work, co-chaired by Allan Lindrup and Finley C. Campbell. The task force will hold is monthly meetings (except in November and December, when there will an alternate date) on the fourth Thursday of each month, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the Resource Room. New participants/members are always welcome to attend our meetings or otherwise participate in our work. In brief, the RJTF action plan for this church year is as follows:
Allan J. Lindrup, Co-Chair uusj@att.net
By Ellen LaRue, Chair The Social Justice Council (SJC) met on Thursday, Aug. 11. At that meeting, besides the usual crew, Board President Ken Schug and President-Elect Bette Sikes attended, as well as Raffaella Pretini, briefly returned from Italy, and baby Federico. So we had a big age range, as well as a lot of toys and commotion. Our next meeting will be Thursday Sept. 8, at 7:15. All are welcome. The SJC is planning the Labor Day Sunday worship service. Please see A Month of Sundays for information about our speaker and the topic. During the service we will take up a special collection for the Midwest Workers Association Back-to-School Drive. The congregation is asked to contribute funds, actual school supplies, or both. Fall is in the air. Remember the anticipation of returning to school? Remember the pleasure of that new blank notebook, new pencils, new crayons, a new eraser that actually erases? Here is a chance to support low income families of MWA as they prepare their kids to go back to school. Please be generous in sharing the pleasure of fall and school The Racial Justice Task Force and the Environmental Task Force are attempting to regroup. Both have been affected by loss of key people due to moving or people taking on other responsibilities. We discussed this at our meeting and agree that whether or not we have official task forces, the passion remains, and we will find other ways to participate in these movements. The 9-11 Study/Action Group is going stronger than ever. The reading for this month is Chapter 5 of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. In addition, half an hour will be devoted to a current event. Because of the Labor Day holiday, the meeting date has been changed to Sept. 11. Meanwhile, Cindy Pardo has come up with the idea of having a Fair Trade craft fair in December. As with the Fair Trade coffee and chocolate sales, our church would benefit by receiving a portion of the sales and the people that produce the goods are guaranteed fair compensation for their labor. Once again Cindy has found a way to make social justice enjoyable. Cindy will be attending a Fair Trade conference to learn more. It would be great to have one or more other individuals from the congregation attend as well. The dates are Sept. 30-Oct. 2. After that there will be a need for volunteers for making the fair a wonderful success. Talk to Cindy about any of this. At the August meeting, the SJC voted to endorse the September 24 rally and march against continued U.S. troop deployments in Iraq, which will be held in Washington, D.C. Also on the topic of peace, but coming from a different angle, Rosemary Snow will be organizing some activities for the International Day of Peace, declared by the United Nations, around September 21. If you need information or have information to share, please come by the SJC table during social hour after worship service. Or call or email me.
By Bobbi Campbell The Membership Committee is looking forward to an exciting new year and invites your participation! The Membership Committee has many important roles in the recruitment of new members: We are in charge of organizing greeters and the Welcome Table on Sunday morning as well as overseeing the nametag system; we oversee welcome dinners and organize orientation sessions for prospective members; we follow up on people who sign visitor cards and let people know about the volunteer opportunities available at the church. We also coordinate Sunday social hour refreshments. In addition we are hoping to implement some new initiatives this year: We hope to establish a system of experienced members mentoring new members; we hope to establish a talent bank of our church membership; we will be trying to establish a system for contacting members and friends who are missing for a while. AND we hope to reinvigorate our Young Adult Ministry - More on all of these later. In the meantime, we need YOUR help. We have many tasks - large and small, on-going and "one-shot." So let us (Bobbi Campbell, Joe Cherry, Joe Harrington, Jane Kiser, Polly McCoo, Ken Schug) know what you are available to do, and expect to hear from us soon! SUNDAY STEWARDS, BRAD PITT, & J LO By Ken Schug GOOD! ! Now that I have your attention, keep reading and don't put this newsletter down until you have decided to sign up as a SUNDAY STEWARD -truly, the opportunity of a lifetime - A team of a dozen or more church members who help behind the scenes before church on Sundays so that the minister (or guest speaker) and worship associate can concentrate on the content of the worship service, not whether the hymnals are properly distributed. I will be continuing as coordinator until someone wrests the job from me, but need to recruit about 10 additional stewards so that each steward would only be on duty once every three months (i.e., four times a year). Just think, all that glory and appreciation for working only 6 hour per annum. To sign up or get more information, please contact me by email [kschug@msn.com], or by putting a note in the President's mail slot in the church office. THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS (one for each Steward!) An Invitation from the Les Gourmets group We are a group of First Churchers who meet once a month, September through June, at local restaurants in the Chicago area. In the four years that we have been a group, we have enjoyed many fascinating cuisines. Now, we are planning for the 2005-2006 year. First, we donate $15 to the church program budget. Then, two members volunteer to choose a restaurant and make reservations for the group; invite the members; enjoy our meal and help divide the check into equal, individual shares. Call Polly McCoo at home or at the Church Office at 773/324-4100 on Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday Afternoon Concerts Music Director Michael Thorn is organizing a new series of concerts, to be held in October at First Church. They will be on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 pm, beginning October 9. Come Sing in our Choir! The Choir begins rehearsals for the new church year on Wednesday evening, September 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Choir Room. Love to sing? This is the perfect chance to visit and find out what we’re about. Our choir performs a wide variety of pieces, and has a lot of fun doing it. We sing for three Sunday services each month. Rehearsals are at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9:00 a.m. Sunday mornings. For more information, talk to our talented organist-choir director, Michael Thorn or email him at MT1Music@aol.com.
By Rosemary Snow Members of First Church, People in Hyde Park, Kenwood and Woodlawn, and many throughout the world will celebrate and proclaim peace on Wednesday September 21, the day set aside by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace. Some of the activities planned are: Sunday September 18 - children’s activity at the 57th St Children’s Book Fair, coloring flags of nations of the world and printing "May Peace Prevail in . . . the name of the country on the back. Different languages will be available. Wednesday September 21 - Ringing of the church bell at 12 noon for 2 minutes. Other churches have been invited to join in the bell-ringing. Reading of the UN Proclamation following the bell ringing in front of the 57th Street Friends Meeting House where there is a Peace Pole. Other events include: Saturday September 10 - Oak Park Peace Fair Noon to 5 PM at Scoville Park the corner of Lake St and Oak Park Ave in Oak Park sponsored by the Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice, the American Friends Service Committee and Chicagoans against War and Injustice. 708-615-1603. "What Peace Looks Like" will include activities, singing, booths, and performances as well as a Town Hall. Peace Journey, a program of SponsorKIDS Charities is sponsoring Music4Miracles at Northerly Island September 21st. 312-573-1113 The Chicago Peace Museum hosts "Imagine Peace" U2 Guitar Auction and Benefit Concert Wednesday September 21st at Buddy Guy’s Legends, 754 S Wabash in Chicago 7PM-2AM $50.advance or call 773-638-6450 Emcee Terri Hemmert of WXRT Radio, surprise guests. |