November 5
Guest Speaker: Kathleen Green

Couldn't Help Myself

Less than a year ago, at Fisher Memorial AME Zion Church in Evanston, I heard two ten-year-old boys sing a gospel song with a refrain that said, "Just couldn't help myself". The song was about a compulsion to share their faith, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. While the theology imbued in the song is markedly different from my own, the idea of sharing our faith because we just can't help ourselves intrigues me. What would it take to get Unitarian Universalists to the point where we just can't help but get excited about our own liberal religious faith? When's the last time you just couldn't help but tell someone about your church home, or invited them to a service at First Unitarian? You might ask, "Does it really matter?". I believe that it does and I look forward to exploring the idea with you on Nov. 5.

Kathleen A. Green is a fourth-year student at Meadville-Lombard Theological School. Kathleen and her husband, Mitchell, and their twelve-year-old son, Adam, have been attending First U since their move to the Chicago area three years ago. Kathleen recently completed a year of internship at the Unitarian Church of Evanston and is currently serving Lake Country UU Church in Hartland, Wisconsin, as their Consulting Student Minister.

November 12
Sermon Rev. Nina D. Grey
Worship Leaders: Seanan Holland

Practicing Peace

On this Veteran's Day, we honor the men and women veterans of our nation's history, and we think together about varying aspects of practicing peace in daily living, drawing on the experiences of the worship leaders, and reflecting on the thought of some social scientists and spiritual masters as well as some veterans of past wars.

Rev. Nina Grey is the Senior Minister of our church. Her father was declared 4F during the Second World War, and she had two uncles who served in that war as well as one uncle who served the military during the Korean conflict. When she was 15 she resisted the building of air raid shelters. As a young adult she protested the Viet Nam War. In her first ministry Rev. Grey founded the Interfaith Peace Community in Keene, New Hampshire.

Seanan Holland is a second-year student at Meadville/Lombard. He is the coordinator of our Young Adult and Campus Ministry Soulful Sundowns. He is a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and hopes to become a chaplain in the U.S. Navy.

November 19
Sermon: Rev. Nina Grey
Worship Leader: Danielle Gerrior

By Their Fruits:
A Thanksgiving Celebration of Harvest and Hope

In this service for all ages, we create an altar of the fruits of abundant harvest. Bring a fall fruit or vegetable to contribute to the harvest table and a canned vegetable or other food to contribute to the food pantry. We distribute bread, the staff of life, express our gratitude for life's blessings and contemplate how we can transform our gratitude into acts of generosity, kindness and compassion. There will be a New Member Ingathering during the service.

Today, the third Sunday of the month, we take the offering for our Social Mission. This month and next month we continue to support the Hyde Park and Kenwood Food Programs. Bring your check made out to First Unitarian Church, with HPK Food Programs on the memo line.

November 26
Service Leaders: Dane Olvia

Nada para nosotros: nothing for us

Immigration is an important and thorny issue, subject to high passion and much misinformation. This service will survey some key concerns, particularly as they apply to Mexican immigration and ask the question - what does our faith tradition contribute to this discussion.

Deane Oliva is a fourth year seminarian at Meadville Lombard Theological School. She is a graduate of Antioch College, the New School for Social Research and the George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Before seminary, she worked as a clinical neuropsychologist in the Middle Tennessee-Kentucky area where she also raised her daughter, Jennifer. Last year she completed internship at the Unitarian Universalist congregation of Binghamton NY.

December 3
Sermon: Rev. Nina Grey

Spiritual Hospitality

Today we reflect on the challenges, arts and practices of spiritual hospitality. One emphasis will be on how our spiritual lives equip us to welcome the stranger. Another will be on the challenges and blessings of spiritual pluralism while fostering unity.

Rev. Nina Grey is a Doctor of Ministry student at McCormick Theological School. Her thesis is "The One and the Many: Embracing Spiritual Pluralism in Congregational Life".

After the Social Hour, the First Forum will continue the topic as members of the Spiritual Pluralism Project at First Unitarian Church engage in sharing with one another and with others in the congregation.

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