| Communication Deadlines
Sunday Order of Service & 2U E-mail News
Mondays at noon Please make sure that the events are inclusive of all members. No additional inserts will be included in the order of service without the prior approval of the church office. Send announcement requests to secondunitarian@att.net .
The Anvil
2nd Tuesday of the month Send newsletter submissions directly to the office, secondunitarian@att.net. Please note that this is a change from the last several months.
Scheduling Events
All space for church activities must be scheduled in advance through the Membership Coordinator, Lisa Todd secondunitarian@att.net. The church is open for group activities on Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 6:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Church Office Information & Staff
Office Hours
Tues-Thurs, 9am-1pm
Parish Minister: Rev. Jennifer Owen-O'Quill
Intern Minister:
Katie Norris 773-549-0260 ext. 29,
Membership Coordinator: Lisa Todd
Business Manager: Suzanne Larimer
Music Director:
Blake Adams
Building Manager: Michael Hurley
773-549-0260 ext. 32
Pianist: Brett Rowe
773-549-0260 ext. 31
Early Childhood Manager: Lani Schuster 773-549-0260 ext.28,
Nursery Attendant: Noemi A. |
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Calendar
Wednesday, Oct. 1
7 pm Pastoral Care Mtg.
Thursday, Oct. 2
5 pm Cooking for Night Ministry bus
6pm Band Practice
Saturday, Oct. 4
9:30 am Hospitality Team Leader Mtg.
Sunday, Oct. 5
Worship at 10am & 11:30 am
Wednesday, Oct. 8 7pm Board Mtg. - Palmer Room
7 pm Meditation Circle
Thursday, Oct. 9
Yom Kippur
Noon Retiree Potluck Lunch - Palmer Room
6 pm Lifespan Faith Development Council Mtg.
Saturday, Oct. 11
9am-noon Art and Soul: Art as Spiritual Practice -Loft
9:45 am Council mtg. - Palmer Room
Sunday, Oct. 12
10 & 11:30 am worship
12:30pm Young Adult Potluck Brunch
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Wednesday, Oct. 15
7pm Meditation Circle
Saturday, Oct. 18
9am-noon Art and Soul: Art As Spiritual Practice - Loft
Sunday, Oct. 19
10am Worship
11:30am Worship
11:30 am Orientation to Unitarian Universalism -Membership 101 - Loft
11:30 am Parenting In Multiracial Families - Fleishman Hall
Noon North Park Village Nature Center Work Day
12:30 pm Green Sanctuary mtg.
Wednesday, Oct. 22
7pm Meditation Circle
Sunday, Oct. 26
10am Worship
11:30 am Worship
12:30 pm Young Adults Trick or Treat for Lakeview Pantry
Tuesday, Oct. 28
6:30 pm Social Justice Council Mtg.
Wednesday, Oct. 29
7pm Meditation Circle
Thursday, Oct. 30
5pm Cooking for the Night Ministry bus - kitchen
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A Prayer for Rosh Hashanah(Sept 30)
Help me perfect my ways of loving and caring. Inspire me to make myself whole so that I may honor Your name and create a world of justice and peace. O source of light and truth, Creator of the eternal law of goodness, help us to find knowledge by which to live. Lead us to take the words we shall speak in our hearts and out lives. Bless all who enter this sanctuary (home) in need, all who bring the offerings of their hearts. May our worship lead us to acts of kindness, peace, and love. Amen (from the Reform Siddur, 2007) |
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Wish List for Early Childhood Classes:
The following items would benefit our 0-3year olds and the programming in the Green Caterpillar and Bluebird Nurseries.
1 rocking chair
large floor pillows
story books (infants-3yrs)
musical cd's (can be a copy)
musical instruments (non battery)
play cookware and playfood
childsized parachute (group play)
playdough and plastic cookie cutters
toddler size smocks (painting)
med/large plastic/wood animals
felt storyboard and felt
animal puppets
nontoxic and washable art supplies
bubbles
stickers
toy storage containers with lids
Direct any questions to Lani - Early Childhood Manager |
JULY Board Minutes
SOME HIGHLIGHTS from official Board Minutes
109 Pledging Units maintained or increased their pledge
28 Pledging Units did not renew a pledge
Pledges ranged from $14 to $20,000
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Reflections On Our Church Covenant
Rev. Jennifer Owen-O'Quill A few months ago, I preached a series of messages about our church covenant: why it's important, where I think it falls short, and how we can live it out in our daily lives. I confessed, in that sermon series, my discomfort with our covenant. You see, there was one line that has always troubled me because there is one line in it I believe falls short. That line has to do with love. The covenant has read: "holding faithful to a love that embraces both diversity and conflict."
My quarrel with our covenant is simply this: love does more than this in our lives. Love enables us to build, in Dr. King's words, the Beloved Community. Love helps us reach for our common humanity and helps us to deepen relationships across our differences. More importantly, love does not embrace conflict. When love encounters conflict love changes conflict, love reshapes conflict. When love embraces conflict those who are separated can be reconciled. When love embraces conflict the capacity for forgiveness can arise. Something more happens when love embraces conflict.
And so I suggested a very complicated way to say all this. I suggested we might say: "Holding faithful to a love that calls us to forgive and reconcile, serve and sacrifice." This was my attempt to capture the larger activity of love on our world. I invited your ideas, your word-smithing, your input.
Luckily, we have people in our church who like to wordsmith. They saw a simpler way to capture what love makes possible in our lives and in our world: "Holding faithful to a love that embraces diversity and transforms conflict." Much simpler, yes? These past few weeks we have been trying out this simpler phrase. It's a small word change, but I think it says a lot.
The question is, what do you think? Take a minute to let me know. I look forward to hearing from you as we shape a covenant that gives testimony to all we want love and faith to do and be in our lives.
I look forward to seeing you in church.
Warmly,
Jennifer
minister_2u@att.net
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| A Letter from Matt, Board Chair
Hello and happy October.
I hope everyone is making a smooth transition into fall.
By now, most of you should have heard about the congregational meeting we are having on Oct. 5 to discuss refinancing the church's mortgage. A balloon payment on the loan is due Nov. 1 and the wisest course of action is to refinance. The mortgage was originally taken out in the late 1980s to pay for building renovations. It was refinanced in 2003 and the cost of a new furnace system was added to the loan. Our current principal is $231,518 with a monthly payment of $1,948.93. The interest rate is 6 percent.
The Finance Committee chair and our treasurer are working with several banks to explore refinancing options. Rest assured, they are shopping for the best deal possible. Refinancing creates an opportunity for us to take out a slightly higher amount of money to pay for some much-needed building improvements.
The list of things that need work include: renovating the kitchen to bring it up to building code and enhance our ability to attract renters; replace the back stairway/deck, which is unsafe; repair the ceiling in Fleishman Hall, where our Sunday School program takes place ; conduct a professional building assessment for future space usage needs and code compliance; repair the sanctuary windows, which are bowing out, broken and causing drafts. There are other projects to consider. Already, the church had to dip into its operating fund to tuckpoint the foundation this summer. If we refinance, that money will be put back into operations.
Let's face it, our building is old. As any homeowner knows, keeping up with repairs is an expensive proposition-but a necessary one. These aren't frivolous projects. They are a matter of safety for the congregation and making sure that we get the best, most efficient use out of the space.
To that end, the board is recommending that we take out a loan not to exceed $300,000. Doing so requires approval from a majority of the congregation though. It's your church and your money. Increasing our loan to $300,000 at 6 percent interest would raise our monthly payment to $2,335. Much of the increase for this fiscal year could be covered by pledges received since our budget was approved in May.
I hope you will join us on Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. for the congregational meeting. Also, if this request is approved, we'll be looking for volunteers to serve on a project management team. You would work with staff and the board to prioritize the projects and ensure their proper and timely completion.
Yours truly,
Matthew W. |
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"Get Connected";
"Testimony as a Spiritual Practice"
by Rev. Jennifer Owen-O'Quill
August is always a month when things heat up here at church. Volunteers and staff are working hard, focused on launching a full complement of church programs (with trained volunteers to serve in those ministries), and preparing for September, one of the two biggest attendance and visitor months here at church. This year has been no exception. You're committed ministry staff has been working overtime to ensure a successful fall.
Changes, Changes: 2008-2009
Each fall brings changes, large and small, to our church life. This year we are managing some larger changes. In case you haven't already heard, let me share them with you:
Children's Faith Development
1. All children will check in directly to their classes. This continues the process begun this summer.
2. We had only 3 children register for our 11:30 AM Sunday School. This means that we have over 50 kids planning to come at 10 and no classes are yet scheduled at 11:30 as there is not enough enrollment. Clearly this situation does not reflect the value of intergenerational community. It also creates significant attendance problems in worship: overcrowding at 10 and too few at 11:30. Gabrielle is working hard to address this issue and we are hoping to add 11:30 Sunday School before January.
Faith Development
Gabrielle has successfully transitioned back into her role as full time Director of Faith Development, and Rudra ends his time as Summer Director of Faith Development as of Sunday September 14th. In every transition there is a hiccup, and the hiccup for Gabrielle's maternity leave was weakened communication with families and lay leaders. Gabrielle and the Faith Development Council are working hard to address this, with direct mail, email and phone calls to all families.
Music
Blake returned from his Summer break to all-time low choir attendance. He and Brett planned a church-wide meeting on September 14 to discuss music at 2U and to recruit future musicians and vocalists. They are working together to assess the musical energies and activities in our congregation. I look forward to their report, which we are targeting to provide this month.
Small Group Ministry
I am happy to see the launch of our small group ministry program this fall. I am so impressed with the work that Gabrielle and Lisa did to envision this program. After vision comes action and Lisa and 11 of our members gathered all summer to make it happen. If you were not able to join one of the fall groups then I encourage you to plan to participate in the winter or spring. I think it will be a great community builder for our church, and is intended to be the cornerstone of our adult faith development program.
I have tremendous confidence in our leaders and in our staff and in the wealth of talents of each of you. Our church has always been a dynamic place. I know that our challenges are also opportunities. I look forward to supporting each of you as we grow our spirits and serve others. I wish you all a blessed fall season, and I look forward to seeing you in church.
In faith,
Rev. Jennifer Owen-O'Quill
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Young Adult Ministry
The Young Adult Ministry is geared towards people aged 18-35. As a welcoming outreach ministry, we aim to bring young people together in fellowship and help everyone feel at home in our congregation. We encourage spiritual formation, social justice work and involvement in the larger church community. For more information on the Young Adult Ministry, please contact secondunitarian@att.net or join our Yahoo list serve at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/2uyoungadults/join .
Upcoming Events:
· Oct. 12 - Potluck Lunch & Worship: This year, we will be holding a mini-worship service followed by a potluck lunch on the SECOND Sunday of every month. This is a great way get to know each other on a deeper level by engaging in meaningful conversations and sharing a community meal. The first Potluck Lunch & Worship will be on October 12 at 12:30 pm in the Loft. This is our fall kick-off event, so don't miss the opportunity to reconnect after the summer!
· Oct. 26 & Nov. 2 - Trick-or-Treating for Canned Goods: Help make this year's trick-or-treating even better than last year! All donations will benefit the Lakeview Pantry and the Night Ministry. We will distribute flyers and collection bags throughout the neighborhood on October 2 and we will return to pick up the donations on November 2. Please meet in Fleishman Hall at 12:30 on both Sundays. Halloween costumes are strongly encouraged!
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| Anvil Poem submitted by Paul A.
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt---marvelous error! ---
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt---marvelous error! ---
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt---marvelous error! ---
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth
and sun because it gave me light
and brought tears to my eyes.
Last night, as I slept,
I dreamt---marvelous error!---
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.
--- Antonio Machado
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Pastoral Care Concerns
by Rudra
Pastoral Associates are available for congregants every Sunday after worship. We are the ones wearing the purple "Ask me about Pastoral Care" badges.
A Sufi Prayer of Salvation (Ramadan ends Sept 30/Oct 1)
God! There is no God but God - the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize God nor sleep. God's are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who can intercede in God's presence except as God permits? God knows all that appears before or after or behind God's creatures. Nor can we understand God except as God wills. God's reign extends over the heavens and the earth. God feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them, for God is the Most high, the Supreme in glory. O my God! Just as fire consumes firewood, in the same way the envy which is rooted in me consumes all my actions. Purify me, God, from it and purify me, too, from the anger of my ego. Rid me as well, God, of the blameworthy ego of the child and reprehensible manners. And, God, change all my manners to laudable manners and into good actions. Glory be to God! Praise be to God! There is no god but God, and God is Greatest. Amen. (from the Naqshbandi Sufi Way)
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