Excerpts from the November, 1999
First Unitarian News
A View from the Board of Trustees
by Joan Pederson, Board of Trustees
An important responsibility of the Trustees is to make sure that our new minister--the Rev. Nina Grey--and the congregation get off to good start as we build our relationship with one another. We prepared for this process before Nina arrived with the help of our interim ministers, the Revs. Sydney Wilde and Dennis Daniel, and began in earnest at the September Board meeting, Nina's first.
Our work continued at the Board Retreat on Oct. 9, under the guidance of Lena Neal of the Central Midwest District. (Nancy Harlan has our deep thanks for making her home available for the event.) The retreat gave all of us, including our MRE, the Rev. Beth Williams, and our church administrator, Jesse Williams, a chance to get to know one another better and to share our hopes for our future together. It also helped the many new Board members to develop perspective as Trustees. And all of us learned about working together and daring to risk as we practiced meeting and overcoming obstacles.
The next step will be the Ministerial Start-up Retreat on Fri. and Sat., Nov. 5-6, under the guidance of Lena Neal (Fri.) and Helen Bishop, also of the Central Midwest District (Sat.). Other leaders in the congregation will join us: the chairs of our three councils, the chairs of committees and task forces, and other group leaders.
This retreat will help the broader church leadership establish goals and priorities for the coming years, forge improved communications and working relationships, clarify our hopes and expectations of one another, and help Nina and the rest of us get to know one another better.
The retreat will be held at Unitarian Universalist Community Church, 70 Sycamore Dr., Park Forest, IL 60466. Phone 708/481-5339. Housing arrangements have been made at the Baymont Inn Matteson located at 5210 Southwick Dr., Matteson. Phone 708/503-0999. For further information, call Evelyn Johnson, 773/933-0541, or Joan Pederson, 773/624-5808
If you have become a chair since July 1, please notify the church office immediately to ensure that you receive further information about the retreat.
At the October meeting:
* Approval of a new year-round structure for the Finance Committee
* Appointments:
Committee on the Ministry: Rachel Cole, Henk Henriques, David
Puszkiewiec, Grace Williams
Ministerial Advisory Committee (Nina Grey): Rachel Cole*, Evelyn
Johnson, Win Kennedy
Ministerial Advisory Committee (Beth Williams): Diane Broz, Vivian
Burns, Henk Henriques*
(*from Committee on the Ministry)
* Announcement of the activation of the long-dormant Committee on Congregational Participation
* Decisions to
-- form a Welcoming Congregation Committee
-- Relocate the rainbow flag to a more prominent location and support
Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church by sponsoring with other
Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council a newspaper ad opposing
the anti-gay vandalism the Resurrection Church has experienced.
Join with other UUs in an exciting and growing program in Central Midwest District (CMWD) called Chalice Lighters. As a Chalice Lighter you become part of a larger UU community that demonstrates its commitment to our faith, values, and beliefs. Three times a year each Chalice Lighter donates $10 to support a specific growth program in a specific CMWD church. With the $7,700 donated last spring, the First Unitarian Fellowship of Carbondale hired its first minister this fall.
The fall campaign focuses on raising funds to help First UU Church of Wausau to hire a part-time Volunteer Coordinator. This staff person will manage information about church members and friends and contact new and prospective members to determine how best to serve them. In addition the coordinator will provide administrative support for outreach and coordinating activities between committees.
Our church might want to apply for a Chalice Lighter grant in the future, and it will help if our members support these efforts. Contributions are tax deductible.
If you are willing to be a Chalice Lighter, send a $10 check payable to CMWD (memo "Chalice Lighter") and mail it to Central Midwest district, 1701 S. First Ave., Suite 310, Maywood, IL 60153. Bette Sikes has additional information. See her at church.
Lifespan Religious Education - Rev. Beth Williams
Guest at Your Table
It is easy for even the most committed of us to find our eyes and minds glazing over when facing systemic challenges like poverty, especially the poverty of children, interethnic strife, violence in our schools, abuse of children and oppressed minorities. We wonder if we can make any difference as individuals. We wonder what percentage of our efforts and our financial contributions goes to the people who need assistance.
As Unitarian Universalists, we have a powerful vehicle that we can trust to make a difference in the world. It is our own Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. As an independent, affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association, UUSC does not receive funds from the UUA and is totally self-supporting. It is a nonprofit, membership organization, currently with 25,000 members and supporters. We are all encouraged to join, as individuals and as a congregation.
In the United States, UUSC works to protect the rights of men, women and children living in poverty and struggling against discrimination and injustice. Through its various projects, UUSC has uncovered abuse by state agencies toward welfare recipients and their children, run summer workcamps for youth and adults who want to help rebuild churches or communities, and coordinated volunteer relief efforts in response to natural or human disasters within the United States. UUSC brings together project partners from around the world to share stories and firsthand accounts of human rights abuses with members of Congress serving on policy-making committees.
UUSC's most visible program for congregational involvement is Guest at Your Table, which supports its U.S. and international projects. Members, friends and children of our congregation will have the opportunity to participate this month. Please accept a Guest at Your Table box during our Thanksgiving intergenerational worship service on Sunday, November 21, 1999. Watch for more details in the coming weeks about this wonderful way to help others.
Meet Our Children's R.E. Teachers and Advisors
Karen Broenneke: One of our newest Church School teachers is Karen Broenneke, a fourth-year Meadville/Lombard Theological School student who is preparing for a career as a Unitarian Universalist minister working as a prison chaplain. She has come to this new career after working as a museum educator and director for many years. Karen is a native of the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago, but has also lived in North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. She has two adult sons, as well as four adult step children and nine grandchildren. Her youngest grandchild was born early in September this year and the oldest turned 16 this month. Karen's interests include reading (especially mysteries), museums, movies, and spending time with friends. She decided to teach in our children's R.E. program to round out her exposure to all aspects of a congregation's life and its ministries. On Sunday mornings this fall you will find Karen helping to teach our Searchers class of 5th and 6th graders.
Cynthia Echols: Cynthia grew up in Buffalo, NY, went to college at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, and after living in New Orleans for a couple of years, moved to Chicago to attend graduate school at the University of Chicago. She is currently Associate Director of the Foundation Relations Department of the University of Chicago. Cynthia has now lived in Hyde Park for about 20 years, but only became involved in our church community last year. Her children, Nico and Ernest, became involved in our children's R.E. program last year, and because of their positive experiences she decided she would "give something back" to the program by helping to teach our Pathfinders class of 3rd and 4th graders. Cynthia writes that she is pretty sure she is learning as much from these wonderful kids as they are learning from her.
Please take some time to get to know Karen and Cynthia, and thank them for being leaders in our religious education program.
More Information on our first Intergenerational Slumber Party!
In the spirit of continuing to get to know each other and deepen friendships outside of Sunday services and church school classes, on Friday, November 12, starting at 8:00 pm, the R.E. Council will sponsor a slumber party in the Garden Room complete with pizza, popcorn, soda, late night movies, storytelling, games, and plain good conversation. The event will end at 9:00 am Saturday morning. All ages are invited. Simple, cold breakfast food (cereal, milk, juice, rolls) will be available for early risers and young children!
We ask that each child attend with an adult, though it doesn't have to be your parent or guardian. This means the adult must also stay over! If any child wishes to attend, but their parent or care giver cannot, ask your friends or a member of the R.E. Council, and we will match you up with a parent or other adult who is coming. Adults who do not have a child to chaperone are most welcome, and we hope you too will bring your favorite stories, jokes, magic tricks, guitars, and other amusements.
Each person must bring their own sleeping bag or blankets and pillows, and floor mats or air mattresses if you have them, sleep masks and ear plugs. Be warned--you will be camping out on the floor! Space is limited because we are using the Garden Room and not the sanctuary, after all, so call Joe Cherry now at 773/342-2765 and add your name to the list!
End your week on a high note--join your fellow UUs at this new, fun community-building event for all ages.
Mondays, Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: "Four Faiths" adult RE class, Rev. Fred Campbell, facilitator. 7--9 pm, Chris Moore Parlor (except Nov. 15 in VOV)
Tuesdays, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: "Philosophy and Religion in the West," adult RE videotape series, Allan Lindrup, facilitator. 7-9 pm, Chris Moore Parlor.
Wednesdays, Nov. 10 & 17: "Writing Your Spiritual Autobiography, Part I," Rev. Nina Grey, facilitator in VOV, 7-9 pm
Thursday, Nov. 11: R.E. Council meeting, RE classroom, 7:00 pm
Fridays, Nov. 5, 19: "The Fullness of Silence: Silent Meditative Worship," Rev. Nina Grey and Bernie Frieden, facilitators. 12:15--1:00 pm, Chris Moore Parlor
Friday, Nov. 12: "Friday Parlor Lunch and Discussion," Rev. Nina Grey and Bernie Frieden, facilitators. 12:15 -1:00 pm, Chris Moore Parlor
Slumber Party, Friday, Nov. 12 thru Saturday, Nov. 13: Intergenerational slumber party, Garden Room, 8:00 pm -9:00 am
Sunday Nov. 7: Intergenerational Christmas play planning, Laura Keys-David, facilitator. 11:30 am, Garden Room
Psychopharmacology and Society: "Wormwood & Art," adult RE discussion, Dr. Paul Ulbrich, facilitator. 3:00 pm, Hull Chapel
Sunday, Nov. 21: Intergenerational Thanksgiving worship service, including Guest at Your Table box distribution, Main sanctuary, 10:00 am.
Attention All Thespians, Young and Old
Whether you are 2 years old or 200, are a budding actor or actress or an old hambone, or just want to hang out with your First Unitarian Church friends and neighbors, you will definitely want to participate in our Intergenerational Christmas Play, "George and Martha Saint and the Christmas Dragon: Journey of the Heart," during our intergenerational worship service on Sunday, December 19. This "miracle" play, written by Rev. Lucy V. Hitchcock of the Rainier Valley Unitarian Universalist Church of Seattle, is based on the folk myths and miracle plays of England and France in the 13th century and since. It brings together the legends about St. George, who slew the neighborhood dragon and saved a threatened maiden, and about St. Martha who is reputed to have tamed the dragon by sprinkling it with holy water and wrapping it with her "girdle." In modern terminology, the play dramatizes the cultural mode of solving conflict by the sword or weapon versus the arising impulse to solve conflict by consensus, nonviolence, and focusing our hopes and positive impulses.
Our play producer, Laura Keys-David, is holding an organizational meeting on Sunday, November 7, at 11:30 in Woolman Hall to begin planning the production of this play and to assign acting parts. All ages are encouraged to participate. We will also have intergenerational opportunities for scene and prop production -- we have to actually create that dragon! -- so everyone can be involved in this fun community event. Call Laura at 493-1899 for more information.
New Member Recognition Nov. 7
Be on hand to welcome our new members at church on Sunday, November 7.
All members who have signed the Membership Book since June will be honored in a special ceremony during the service. Among those to be honored are Tinessa and Devon Moss, Eve Emshwiller, Naomi King, Dolores (Lori) Rosenblum, and Nina Grey.
Anyone still wishing to join the church in time for this ceremony should speak to Rev. Grey.
Nina Grey: Tuesdays 2-6, Wednesdays and Fridays 10-2 and by appointment. Monday off. Home phone 773/288-0348. E-mail NinaGrey@aol.com.
Beth Williams: Wednesday, Friday 11 am-3 pm, other times by arrangement. Monday off. At church most Sundays from 8 am to noon. Home phone 773/752-9821. E-mail UUBETHNW@aol.com. Note. e-mail address was wrong last month.
by Bobbi Lammers Campbell
The Social Justice Council invites you to participate in our activities. At our next meeting--always the second Thursday of the month, November 11--we will be voting on a list of social justice questions we will pose to presidential candidates. We plan to share whatever answers we get with the congregation.
We have been collecting the questionnaires on social justice activity that were mailed out in an earlier newsletter and distributed in church bulletins. If you haven't filled yours out yet--either indicating things you are already doing or things you would like to do--please do so soon. We will be sharing and celebrating many of your responses in future newsletters.
We are planning our November 21 first forum, to be presented by members of the church. We will discuss two issues: the crack-sterilization program that began in Chicago last summer and the paper co-authored by a University of Chicago economist which concludes that increased abortions under Roe v. Wade is linked to a decreased crime rate (i.e., that fewer criminals were born). We will present the background to these issues and debate their racist implications in anticipation of inviting proponents and opponents from outside the church at a future first forum.
Earthquake Relief for Turkey
The last of three collections for earthquake relief in Turkey will be taken on Thanksgiving Sunday. The collections are sponsored by the Program Council as an attempt to affirm our interconnections with people around the world of many different faiths and ethnicities. Special envelopes will be available for your special gift. Please be generous!
The Nature of Racism: A Course in the History of an Ideology
This course began in October with two sessions: (1) Did racism exist as an ideology before the rise of merchant capitalism? (2) "Africans in America" video.
Additional sessions are scheduled for each month through March. All sessions will be held in VOV. The outline is as follows:
II. The Pre-Racist Period: Color-Coded Religionism in the Hispanic-Portuguese Empire, 1342-1620
Sunday, Nov. 14, 12:30 pm: We ponder the question, Is color-coded religionism the same as racism? The phenomenon of racism.
Tuesday, Nov 16, 7:00-8:30: "Africans in America" video 2, plus discussion
III. Transitional Semi-Racism: Color Coding Servitude during the Anglo-America Colonial period, 1620-1776
Sunday, Dec. 12, 12:30 pm: We ponder the question, Is a color-coded system of labor the same as racism? The phenomenon of political economic racism--practice without a theory.
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 7:00-8:30: "Africans in America" video 3, plus discussion
IV. Ideological Racism: The Rise, Temporary Triumphs and Temporary Defeats of Scientific Racism, 1740-1995
Sunday, Jan. 9, 12:30 pm: We ponder the question, What is the nature of scientific racism? The development of a theory to explain political economic racism.
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 7:00-8:30: "Africans in America" video 4, plus discussion
V. Political and Religious Anti-Racism: The Fight against Racism as a Supra-Abolitionist Reform Struggle, 1776-1975
Sunday, Feb. 13, 12:30 pm: We ponder the question, What is the nature of scientific anti-racism? The evolution of anti-racist ideologies.
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7:00-8:30: "Blunting the Thunderbolt: The Fight against the KKK," new video 5, plus discussion
VI. Neo-Racism: The Last Phase of Racism--Old Baloney in New Casings, 1966--the Present
Sunday, March 12, 12:30 pm: We ponder the question, What is the new racism? What is the role of people of color in perpetuating racism by adopting neo-racist theories of the nature and origins of racism? White Skinned Privilege Theories vs. a Class-Based Analysis
Tuesday, March 14, 7:00-8:30: "Building a Multiracial, International Anti-Racism Movement--Is It Possible To Do So in the First Unitarian Church of Chicago? Discussion
The church office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, through Saturday, Nov. 27, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanksgiving Service at Rockefeller Chapel
The 72d Annual Community Thanksgiving Service will be held at Rockefeller Chapel at 11 am on Nov. 25. This year's preacher is Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, who is executive director of the Blue Gargoyle. The Chicago Children's Choir will sing. Many members of our congregation regularly attend this service.
Installation Service & Reception
The Service of Installation of the Rev. Nina D. Grey as Senior Minister of our Church will take place on Sunday, November 14, at 3 p.m. The service will be in the Sanctuary and the Reception following will take place in Hull Chapel.
The service theme is the shared urban ministry of the whole church. The Rev. Tracy Robinson Harris, from the UUA Department of Congregational Services, will give the sermon. Rev. Robinson Harris knows our congregation from the retreats at the Mountain and urban ministry conferences. Helen Bishop, Central Midwest District Congregational Services Director, will give the Charge to the Congregation. Awill be given by the Rev. David Hubner, of the UUA Department of Ministry, is giving the Charge to the Minister. The Rev. Michelle Bentley, formerly a minister of our church, will offer the hand of fellowship. The Rev. Anita Farber-Robertson will offer the installation prayer.
Those bringing greetings include the Rev. William Murry, President of Meadville/Lombard Theological School, Norma Poinsett for the Unitarian Universalist Association, and a clergy representative of the Hyde Park community.
Norman Hines, President of the congregation, will lead the congregation in the Act of Installation, a statement of covenant and commitment between congregation and minister. Richard Pardo will introduce the Act of Installation. The Rev. David Arksey will welcome the gathered members and guests, the Rev. Beth Williams will introduce the offering. The offering will benefit the Living Tradition Fund of the UUA, a fund that supports ministry students and ministers in need throughout the continent. Children from the congregation will also participate in the service.
Rev. Grey's daughter, Kimberly Burnette, will light the chalice. The choir will offer special service music, under the direction of Ron Wentzel. Tom Weisflog will also provide special instrumental music, and there will be two guest trumpeters. The reception is organized by Madeiria Myrieckes, invitations and order of service covers were designed by Steve Ploum, and addressing of invitations was organized by Polly McCoo. The Installation Committee, chaired by Cindy Pardo and Allen Harden, is arranging hospitality, transportation, child care, and other details.
Thanks to all committee members and others who are offering to help create this joyous celebration of our shared ministry. We hope all will be able to be with us on this special day.
Bette Sikes was honored last May by the Law and Society Association for her work on the Association's journal Law & Society Review. In late September she finally received the plaque with the glowing citation, which reads in part:
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Law & Society Association, the Editorial Board of the Law & Society Review, all editors past and present, and the hundreds of grateful authors whom she has protected from folly and whom she has helped to realize their authorial voice, we wish to thank Bette for her faithful, intelligent, and meticulous editing. . . . Bette's humor and good nature have stood us well. Her patience with disorganized and difficult authors has protected the editorial office and the journal. Her appreciation of nuance and subtlety, and her respect for different styles of writing, has enriched the field. Bette's encyclopedic knowledge of the literature in socio-legal studies is unmatched and her technical skill commanding. . . . Bette is a true craftman and has provided extraordinary stewardship for LSR."
Bette has been trying to retire from gainful employment, but as yet no replacement has been found.
U.S. Repression 2000: A Conference on Civil Rights and Wrongs
David Cole, Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, is the keynote speaker at a major conference being held November 13 in Chicago. Professor Cole's topic is "Profiles in Race, Class and Politics: Political Repression and Constitutional Rights." The conference, to be held at De Paul University School of Law, will focus on the First Amendment right to organize for justice; responses to the targeting of African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, Arabs, and youth for repressive action; the politics of police brutality and prosecutorial abuse in Chicago; and suggestions for action on legislation, litigation, education, and organizing.
Among the sponsors of this conference is our own Criminal Justice Committee and the Clarence Darrow Committee on First Amendment Freedoms (which is a UU group).
Location: De Paul University School of Law, 25 E. Jackson, Nov. 13, 9 am to 5:30 pm. Registration $15. For more information call E. Schepers, Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights, 312/939-0675.