May 6
Speaker: Rev. Nina Grey
The Choir of First Unitarian Church

Choir Sunday:
Rabindranath Tagore and The Stream of Life

The Choir's music and Rev. Grey's homily are inspired by the writings of a great man from India, the late Rabindranath Tagore, poet, essayist, and writer also of fiction, deeply spiritual man, and ally of Unitarianism and liberal religion. Some of Tagore's lyrical, mystical poetry has been set to music by our own Michael Thorn, Director of Music and accomplished composer. Today we will hear the choir sing the world premiere of Michael's The Stream of Life, based on four of Tagore's poems.

May 13
Speaker: Ian Muhlhauser

Walking

Walking is a metaphor for the journey of our lives and its cycles. It is also a metaphor for the spiritual journey and the pilgrimage is a central part of the major religious traditions. Rediscover the art of walking as a means to care for creation, a practice in which we cultivate an authentic contact with people and the world.

In this Mother's Day service we will honor the ways we can nurture one another and the earth. Rev. Nina Grey will be worshipping with us, accompanied by family members and friends who have come to help her celebrate her graduation this weekend.

Ian Muhlhauser is the Ministerial Intern at the First Unitarian Society of Chicago. In his field education he is working under the guidance of Rev. Nina Grey. Ian is a native of Los Angeles and grew up in California. He has a B. A. degree in Social Science and a Master's degree in Philosophy and has worked as an elementary and middle
school teacher. Ian is a Master's of Divinity student in a dual-degree program at the Divinity School and Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. At the university he serves as the Campus Ministry Representative to Student Government, and delegate for the Divinity School to the Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council. This year he is serving as the President of the Student Government.

May 20
Sermon: Rev. Nina D. Grey

A Voice and a Vote

This is the Sunday we gather for the religious ritual of Annual Meeting. No Unitarian Universalist congregation can call itself by that designation unless it has this one meeting every year. Our democratic polity, expressed in our fifth principle, is founded on the once radical idea of the worth and dignity of each. It grows out of our shared value that the truth can be discovered through a sharing of diverse opinions. It expresses our dedication to shared ministry. Today we reflect in worship on these underlying values, and then we gather to voice our views and vote.

All are warmly welcome to the worship service and to the Annual Meeting. Only voting members of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago may vote at the Annual Meeting.

This service will include a child dedication. After the service we return to an old custom, the Strawberry Social. And this morning we take time to honor a very long-time member, Polly McCoo.

May 27
Speaker: David Breedan

Decorations, Memorials, Meaning Making

The holiday developed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day to a three-day-weekend celebrating the beginning of summer. Perhaps we should dedicate this holiday to finding our own place in the web of existence and making meaning from the losses human community creates.

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