Board Talk

Religious Education

Adult Education Programs

Ministerial Search Committee

Social Justice Council

Criminal Justice Committee

Emancipation Proclamation Service

First Friday Films

Communications Committee

Thanksgiving Dinner and Service

Matthew Shepard Memorial

Someone You Should Know

Our People

Bulletin Board

A Month of Sundays

Monthly Calendar

Quarterly Calendar

As I sit at my desk, my mind wandering "wilde-ly," the afternoon sun is streaming in the window, and the emptied or superfluous boxes are being carried to the basement; our house is beginning to look and feel like a home. We are settled-in and our attention turns to our Interim year at First Church and the vision we will all be creating together.

As Co-Ministers, Dennis and I share one ministerial position, equally, which means that we are each part-time. Since we each have special talents and skills we try to structure our time in such a way that you get the best of both of us. As Interims we are also careful to stay within our allotted hours so that our successor is not faced with trying to compete with the "two for the price of one syndrome." We think it is a good deal and we hope you will too.

We will be keeping the following office hours (and we hope you will drop in):

Sydney: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday and Wednesday

Dennis: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Wednesday and Thursday

(Wednesday will be a day of staff meetings and conferences, so we will both be in and out of the office, so please call ahead, either one or both of us would be happy to meet with you.)

We are both available at anytime by appointment. Please feel free to call us at home (773) 643-3019. We can also be reached by FAX (773) 643-3023 and by E-mail: WildeDan@aol.com (Dennis Daniel), or Rainbow43@aol.com (Sydney Wilde)

Our day off will be Tuesday. Friday and Saturday are generally reserved for sermon writing. We want to make it very clear, however, that if you have a pastoral need we are always available!

During the next couple of months Dennis and I will be dropping in on all the functioning committees we know about. We would appreciate an invitation from each committee with information about the date, time, and place of your next meeting. Our intent is to learn all we can about you, and help out where help is needed. We will be asking these questions in the context of each group: "Who are you as a community? What is your vision of the future for First Church? And, how can you help achieve that vision?"

Dennis and I will both be attending the Board meetings, Pastoral Care, and the Worship & Music Committee meetings (we will also be meeting with the Worship Associates). Together we intend to meet regularly to coordinate with the other staff.

Dennis will be liaison with Beth, the RE Council and Adult Programs. Dennis will work with Social Justice, Grove Parc, and the Lackner Anti-racism Committee. He is also available to the Finance, Canvass, Investment, and Property Committees.

Sydney will work with Communications, Membership, Denominational Affairs, Campus Ministry, Access First, the Choir, and the Program Council.

Whom have we left out? If you don't hear from us soon please get in touch. It is time to get to work. It is time to get to know one another. It is time to ask questions and seek a new vision together.

With growing affection, Sydney