Worship services begin at 10:00 am
Index of Sunday Services 1998-2004
October 3, 2004
Sermon: Rev. Nina D. Grey
Worship Leader: Rev. Millie Rochester
How Shall We Walk Together? Thinking About Covenant
In the history of both the Congregational and Unitarian churches, both voluntary and democratic faiths, covenants were those affirmations, adopted by congregations, as expressions of why and how they gathered together. The third step in the Claiming Our Future process is the consideration of a covenant for our congregational life. This morning Rev. Nina Grey will invite our thought on covenant from historical, systems and other perspectives. At our October 17th service, we will enter more actively into a process for developing our own covenant, which will enrich and strengthen our community as we embody our mission and move toward our vision.
Committee Fair at 11:15
October 10, 2004
Sermon: Rev. Nina D. Grey
Worship Associate: Rev. Millie Rochester
The Church and the School: Strands in the Interdependent Web
Perhaps you have heard of the old UU Curriculum called "The Church Across the Street?" Well, we are the church across the street! Across the street, that is, from our UU seminary, Meadville/Lombard, and we have been for a very long time!. First Unitarian Church and Meadville/Lombard Theological School have been neighbors and cooperative Unitarian Universalist institutions for many years. This morning, we are honoring the Meadville/Lombard community as they and we begin our new year worshipping together. Our service will include reflections on the importance of an interdependent relationship, and a ritual to recognize the students, faculty and staff of Meadville/Lombard.
First Forum at 11:30
October 17, 2004
Rev. Nina D. Grey
Rev. Millie Rochester
The Claiming Our Future Task Force
Creating A Covenant: The Beginning
This morning's service is very participatory in nature. To make a beginning on creating a covenant, we need all of us joining in. This service, like our participatory visioning service last spring, will begin with about fifteen minutes of music, reading, and reflection, much like a chapel experience, and then we will enter into smaller groups to reflect together on some questions that will move us toward creating a covenant. Finally, we will re-gather for some closing ritual. We hope everyone can join in this important and creative time of worship.
First Forum at 11:30
October 24, 2004
Worship Leader: Rev. Nina Grey
Homily: Susan C. Scrimshaw, PhD
Growing Creative Children
The Chicago Children's Choir was founded by the Rev. Christopher Moore of this church 48 years ago on United Nations Sunday, less than 10 years after the United Nations was created. Moore's vision was to establish a way for children of all races and socio-economic groups to learn and demonstrate social harmony through music. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is concerned with fundamental improvements in children's lives worldwide. Today, we will hear the voices of the Chicago Children's Choir and reflect on some things the Choir and UNICEF have in common in their impacts on children's lives.
Susan C. Scrimshaw is an anthropologist who is Dean of the UIC School of Public Health. She has worked on a number of projects for UNICEF, and has been singing in choirs since her childhood in Guatemala, where her father worked for the United Nations. Susan is a member of our choir and chair of the Worship and Music Committee.
First Forum at 11:30
October 31, 2004
Sermon: Rev. Nina D. Grey
Worship Leader: Rev. Millie Rochester
To Be In That Number in 2004
It is that time of year when we seek to shape our communities, nation and world
according to our higher values by participating in our nation's presidential
and congressional elections. It is also that time of year, in Christian understanding,
to acknowledge the saints, those holy ones who, now dead, have been specially
recognized for their merit. It is that time of year, in pagan understanding,
when the veil is thinnest and relationship between the living and dead is more
possible. In response to the dual nature of this time of the year, we will ritually
honor ancestors by placing pictures and artifacts on our altar setting, and
Rev. Nina Grey will offer reflections on the values that might qualify you for
Unitarian Universalist sainthood before, during and after the November 2 elections.