The Anvil - December 2010 vol 2

December 19 - Music Sunday! Come enjoy the musical talents of your fellow congregants and lift your voice in song during this festive, intergenerational service.

Wednesday December 22, 6:30pm - Bright Yule!

Come celebrate the Winter Solstice in a lay-led ritual. This ritual celebrates the gradual return of the sun's light after the darkest days of the year. All ages are welcome. Please brink a snack or drink to share afterward.

candlelight xeve Friday Dec. 24, 7:00pm - Candlelight Service

Join us on Christmas Eve for a service based on the British Lessons & Carols tradition.

Sunday December 26 - Intergenerational Worship

Get up and out of your pjs on the morning after Christmas to join us for an intergenerational worship service.

This is also the last day to bring donations for our mitten trees.

2U Cookie Sale, Dec. 19

Indulge in a 2U holiday tradition--our Annual Holiday Cookie Sale on Sunday, Dec. 19 after service in the Palmer Room. Cookies will be sold by the pound, and other specialty goodies will be available at individual prices. Nut-free and vegan choices will be offered! Enjoy a wonderful service with great music and then stay to purchase cookies and socialize. Spread the word! Bakers and volunteers needed. Please contact Barb Hailey at (773) 942-6310, heybk1130@yahoo.com or Kate Friedloeb, kateringdesserts@aol.ocm for more information.

Small Group Ministry Sign Up

New small groups will be launching in January. The groups, which meet either once or twice per month, will continue through June. Small groups are an opportunity to deepen relationships with others in the 2U community, to explore spirituality, and to reflect on the "big questions" of life together. If you are interested, see Gregory Potts or Susan Frances at the Welcome Table after the service or e-mail Susan (betty714@hotmail.com) or Greg (gpottschicago@yahoo.com).

Holiday Dinner for the Homeless

Please join 2U member Nikki Smith and Family in serving a holiday dinner for the homeless:

December 25 at 1 p.m.

San Lucas Church

2914 W North Avenue

William E. "Bill" Wiltfong, Jr.

Born November 27, 1926 in Tampa, Florida. Deceased December 5, 2010. Age 84.

Bill's father William E. Wiltfong, Sr. (b. 1889, d. 1944), mother Opal Wiltfong (b. 1886, d. 1980), and brother Charles F. Wiltfong (b. 1923, d. 1974) predeceased him.

Bill graduated high school from Bourbon High School, Bourbon IN, class of 1945, and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army June 6, 1945. He served as a Private first class, 1773D Area Service Unit, and was honorably discharged on December 8, 1946. Bill went on to complete his Associates Degree in Art from Loop College, Chicago in 1982.

A member of Second Unitarian Church and choir since 1974, Bill loved music and also sang in the choir of Fourth Presbyterian Church before attending Second Unitarian. Bill loved music and dancing and was an avid amateur pianist.

Having lived his entire adult life in Chicago, Bill was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. After retiring, Bill became a world traveler, taking a Rick Steves' seven-country tour of Europe and returning again to Spain.

A memorial service is planned for January 23, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. at Second Unitarian Church, located at 656 W. Barry Avenue, Chicago.

Special Gifts

Please consider 2u for a year-end, tax deductible "Special Gift" and receive a historic sermon written by our famous first minister, Robert Collyer. Choose from Every Man a Penny, The Two Harvests, Why Herod Feared John, Children & Childhood, Tender Trusty & True, Patience, Faith, Hope, Love, or Root & Flower. You will also be entered into a drawing to receive the entire book of 32 sermons: The Life That Now Is, and Nature and Life: Sermons by Robert Collyer. Put "Special Gift" in the memo line of your check to receive your gift and to be eligible for the Collyer book.

Orientation to 2nd Unitarian Church

Second Unitarian Church would like to invite any and all visitors to the orientation we will be holding on Sunday, December 5, 11:45 - 1:45. This orientation will be facilitated by members of the 2U Membership Committee and will be an opportunity to share information about the rich history of UUism, the shared values of UUists, 2U's own role in the larger UU movement, and what membership at 2U can look like. Attending an orientation is one prerequisite for formalizing membership at 2U. So, whether you are a regular visitor who is ready to commit to membership, or you are a casual visitor who just wants to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, please join us!

Snacks will be provided and childcare will be available upon request. To register, please sign-up at the What's Happening table at church (the big table in the middle of the Palmer Room) or contact Membership Committee Chair John Broome (uuajohn@live.com). We look forward to seeing you there!

Volunteer for Night Ministry

Volunteers needed for the Night Ministry Outreach Bus

2U has committed to donate, to prepare, and to serve food on:

January 4, 2010 (Tuesday Night)

5:30pm to 9:30pm

Can you help serve?

It will be an evening well spent with fellow church members and friends, while helping others in need.

Please sign-up at the "What's Happening" table or contact Seth Fisher fishercommaseth@gmail.com.

The Night Ministry bus

New Members

Luis Vera grew up in North Bergen, NJ. He attended Columbia University in NYC, majoring in history. Luis came to Chicago to attend law school. He works for the Cook County Public Guardian's Office where he supervises the assets department. In his free time, Luis studies aikido and is the President of the Inter-American Magnet School Local School Council, where his two children, Lucas, 7, and Aaron, 5, attend. Luis and his wife Margot are pleased to have found 2U, especially appreciating the children's religious education program.

Molly Rossow grew up in St. Louis where she attended the Unitarian Church there. She has lived in Texas, Illinois, and California and returned to Illinois to be closer to her family. Molly works as a research engineer at Northwestern University and has a background in biomedical engineering. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and has recently learned how to knit. She found 2U on the internet and is interested in joining a small group and becoming involved in social justice activities.

Welcome to Luis and Molly!!

Social Justice Service Opportunity

Within the last three months we've been reminded several times from the pulpit that service is a form  of prayer for many, if not all, Unitarian Universalists. If you are looking for this type of devotional experience please consider volunteering to be the other 2U Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) Local Co-Representative. Paul Konkoly just assumed the role of one of the Co-Rep positions.

As in prior years, in November we shared our collection plate with UUSC. The sharing of the collection plate shows the importance of UUSC to 2U. The 2U Social Justice Council is looking for a person to assume the role of a UUSC Local Co-Rep. The time commitment would be about six hours per month that would include meeting with the Social Justice Council once a month for updates and support of 2U SJC passion social injustice issues.

The  position of Local Co-Rep is clearly defined and thoroughly supported through the Volunteer Network of the UUSC. Guidance is provided through  monthly Local Rep Bulletins, conference calls and the UUSC website which is an essential source of information and resources. The position is an exciting one that  is highly structured for you but also allows for a lot of individual  creativity in how you choose to help us support  UUSC and make a real difference in the world.

To learn more about UUSC visit the website at http://www.uusc.org. For information about the Local Rep position, see the UUSC Volunteer Network website at http://www.uusc.org/content/local_rep_tools_and_resources.

You can also get answers to your questions by calling Michael Schwartz, the UUSC Regional Coordinator for our District at 1.847.219.6070. or by talking to Curtis Smith or David Groves, the Co-Chairs for 2U's Social Justice Council. In addition, you can talk to Lee-Ann  Meredith, the prior UUSC Local Rep or Paul Konkoly, the new UUSC Local Co-Rep, about their experience at this important
role.

Repeal Death Penalty in Illinois

Lobby Day - The vote for repeal of the death penalty in Illinois may only be a few votes away! There's one more chance for those of us who are apposed to the death penalty to head down to Springfield and
make our voices heard on this important issue. Join Illinois Coalition to
Abolish the Death Penalty (ICADP) on January 4th for a Lobby Day where we will be encouraging legislators to cast a YES vote on SB 3539. We are calling churches of various denominations within districts that have state Representatives who can assure passage with their vote for repeal. Backing up those calls with our presence really matters at this critical time.

A bus will depart from the Chicago Loop, on January 4th, at 6:30am and return that same evening. Sign up for Lobby Day right now at the ICADP web site [http://www.icadp.org/ ] or call ICADP at 312/673-3816 .

For additional information about how you can help abolish the death penalty please see Paul Konkoly after the Sunday services or call him at 312/350-0163.

Money Matter$