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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
January 1, 2014
In This Issue
Worship at 2U
 
Sunday, January 5
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Rudra Dundzila
Music by Amber Mack

Sunday, January 12
Service at 10:30
Guest Preacher: Karen Mooney
Music by Gail Gallagher

Wednesday, January 15
Vespers Service at 6:30pm

Sunday, January 19
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Michael McElvain

Wednesday, January 22
Vespers Service at 6:30pm

Sunday, January 26
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by the 2U Choir
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Children & Youth Faith Development Schedule
 
Child care for infants and toddlers is available every Sunday in the Green Caterpillar room.

Sunday, January 5
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, January 12
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
Youth Group
Coming of Age at 1pm

Sunday, January 19
Spirit Play
Roots & Shoots

Sunday, January 26
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
Youth Group
______________________
_________________
Church Office Information & Staff

Minister
773-549-0260, ext. 13
Office Hours:
Wed-Thurs 1:00-9:00 pm
 
 
Dir. of Faith Development
773-549-0260, ext. 12
Office Hours:
Wed 5:00-9:00 pm
Sun 9:00-3:00

Office Administrator
773-549-0260, ext. 10
Office Hours: 
Mon-Thurs 10:00-4:00 
 
Community Minister
773-593-7500
 
Music Director
                                  
2U Ministry Leaders

Board of Trustees

Bookstore

Building & Grounds

Committee on Ministry

Finance Committee

Green Sanctuary

Hospitality 

Lifespan Faith Dev.

Membership

Music

Newsletter

Night Ministry Outreach

Pastoral Care

Safe Congregations 

Small Group Ministry

Social Justice

Sunday Services

Sun/Moon Group

Transylvania Church

Webmaster

Young Adult Group
Erin Rusmi
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Board of Trustees 
 









                                  
A Special Season, A Special Church...
A Special Gifts Campaign!

Thanks to the many of you--31 in all-- who have contributed to this year's Special Gifts Campaign. You have been, as our covenant reminds us to be, "generous with your gifts." For those of you who have yet to make a special donation to support our congregation, please consider doing so today.

 

Second Unitarian Church relies on the generosity of members and friends. We are a self-sustaining congregation that cannot operate without support from you, and we count on a financial boost through our annual special gifts campaign. We hope that you give--today--as generously as possible to the Special Gifts Campaign. Our goal is to have every member of our congregation make some identifiable financial contribution to the church during the campaign, which runs through January 5. We would receive gladly donations of any amount; every bit makes a difference. The money we raise through the campaign supports the basic work of the church and we can't manage without it: it's what allows us to pay the salaries of our dedicated staff members, turn on the heat, serve those in need, and advocate for justice.

 

Please contribute to this year's Special Gifts Campaign as soon as possible and as generously as you can by check or cash, either by mail or in the offering plate this coming Sunday. Or donate right now through PayPal. Please indicate that your gift is for this special collection. Thank you.

  

With gratitude and best wishes for the new year,

Monica Drane

Chair, 2U Board of Trustees

Welcome to Our Newest 2U Members

Toopan Bagchi was born outside of Washington, D.C. and grew up in central New Jersey. He attended Brown University, where he studied economics and international relations. After working in management consulting, Toopan returned to school, earning a master's degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins and an MBA from the University of Virginia. He met Jeris when they were both working fro McKinsey Management Consulting. Currently, Toopan works in news business development for Pepsico. He enjoys cooking and traveling, and hopes to rekindle his interest in playing the guitar.

 

Jeris Struland was raised UU in Fridley, Minnesota. She studied physics at Michigan State, and then earned her PhD in the history of science at Princeton University. Jeris works for McKinsey Management Consulting, where she focuses on health care reform. In her free time, Jeris enjoys reading, both fiction and non-fiction, baking, and hopes to return to her yoga practice. Jeris and Toopan are parents to daughter Vashti, who will soon be celebrating her first birthday. Their household also includes two cats, Leia and Jedi. Jeris and Toopan enjoyed attending the UU church in Brooklyn, N.Y. and are pleased to have found 2U.

 

A warm welcome to Toopan, Jeris, and Vashti!

Understanding the Bible:
An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers & Religious Liberals

Understanding the Bible

Wednesdays, January 8-March 5, 2014

7:00-8:30pm

Facilitated by Rev. Rudra Dundzila

 

A thoughtful, warm, and witty introduction, Understanding the Bible is designed to help empower skeptics, seekers, nonbelievers, and those of a liberal and progressive outlook to reclaim the Bible from literalists. In making accessible some of the best contemporary historical, literary, political, and feminist readings of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, it encourages all who would find in the biblical heritage an ally and not an enemy in the quest for a more just and humane world.

 

There will be nine sessions: five discussing the Hebrew Bible (January 8th through February 5th) and four discussing the Christian Bible (February 12th through March 5th). Each session will cover two chapters of the book, plus highly select readings from the Bible. You are welcome to take either the first five or last four classes, or all nine as a series.

 

Buy the book here, and use the pre-holiday sale code GIFT20 for 20% off.

 

Sign up on the Welcome Table in the Palmer room, or contact Rev. Rudra Dundzila with any questions.

New Articulating Faith Writing Workshop

Beginning Thursday, January 9, 2014

7:00-9:00pm

 

Have you ever wanted to share an insight? Express an inspiration? Declare a conviction? Advocate for a Principle? Write a blog? Explore your faith through writing? Perhaps even deliver a sermon?
 
Whether you're an experienced writer or never written a word, the 2U Articulating Faith Writing Workshop will support you in reflecting on and expressing your faith through writing. In this monthly workshop you'll learn how to deepen and extend your faith by reflecting on your own spiritual experience, current events, and religious texts and traditions. Then you'll learn to express yourself through writing in genres such as blogs, personal stories, essays, prayers, manifestos, homilies, and perhaps even poetry. If you've ever had an idea or insight you wanted to express but didn't know how, this workshop is for you.
 
The workshop sessions will include lots of short in-class exercises in finding inspiration, developing ideas, brainstorming strategies, and writing in different forms. We'll read classic examples of good religious and spiritual writing, looking "under the hood" to understand the nuts and bolts of what makes it work. Between sessions we'll work on our own individual projects. An online forum will enable us to share our work and encourage one another between sessions.
 
This workshop is offered by the Sunday Services Committee as an opportunity for anyone to develop and express their spiritual life. It also supports those interested in becoming lay preachers but does not replace the Lay Preacher Training. You need not have an interest in lay preaching to join this workshop.
 
The Articulating Faith Writing Workshop will meet the first Thursday of each month, beginning Thursday, January 9. To sign up, email Dan Lewisor call him at (708) 209-5670.
Second Sunday Social
2U is beginning a Second Sunday Social potluck luncheon, beginning on January 12th, 2014. Come share your culinary skills and get to know more 2Uers in a relaxed setting. If you'd like to join us, please sign up at the Welcome Table, or on VolunteerSpot:
 
 
It will be a pot luck, and we request that members with last names beginning with A through E bring a drink, F through L a main dish, M through R a salad or condiment, and S through Z a dessert.

Can't bring something, and want to stay for the fun? Sign up to help with set-up and clean-up!

Contact Nancy Kloetzli for more information. We hope to see you there!
News from the Covenant of Earth and Sky
We celebrate the New year with great rejoicing, as we have a new name and national affiliation! Formerly known as the Sun Moon Group, we have obtained membership in the national group of CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans). We are the only CUUPS Chapter in metro Chicago, and are now recognized nationally as a CUUPS Chapter based out of Second Unitarian. Our new name is the Covenant of Earth and Sky (COVES). Look for our events posted here in the Anvil, on the church website, as well as on Facebook. We also have an official symbol, recognizing the Earth and Sky and our connection to the Wheel of the Year.
 
COVES invites all to join us in a book group in the new year, starting in February, 2014. We will be reading Paganism, by Joyce and River Higginbotham. This book presents the basic fundamentals of Paganism. It explores what Pagans are like; how the Pagan sacred year is arranged; what Pagans do in ritual; what magick is; and what Pagans believe about God, worship, human nature, and ethics. Shauna Womeldorff and Janice Stashwick will lead the group discussion.
 
A sign up sheet is available on the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room. The book group will meet in Fleishman Hall at 7pm on the first Thursday of each month, from February 6 through May 1, 2014. You will need to bring a copy of the book with you, as well as a journal to write in. Please contact Shauna with any questions.
Lay Services Training Opportunity

Thursday, January 16, 2014

7:00-9:00pm

 

The Sunday Services Committee, (SSC) invites you to a training on worship to help you participate in providing lay-led services.

 

Have you wondered how you could participate in lay-led services? Maybe you have been inspired by the patchwork services, led by a group, and would like to be a part of one. Perhaps you had fun at the lay-led hymn sing, and would like to coordinate this type of alternative service (a service with no homily).

 

If you would like to share service ideas, learn more about worship at 2U, or even start developing your homily, this training is for you. In order to help you be successful, SSC guidelines require that solo preachers, patchwork leaders, and alternative service coordinators attend such a training.

 

For those of you who are joining Dan Lewis in his writing workshop beginning on January 6th, this will complement your writing start-up, and Dan's group will continue to provide you support after you attend this training.

 

For more information, please email Rev. Robersmith or Linda Marquis, or give Linda a call at (773) 857-3035. Please sign up at the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room.

Sandwich Me In Gives Back to 2U on January 19

 

 

Located right around the corner from 2U at 3037 N. Clark Street, Sandwich Me In provides delicious, simple, locally-sourced and expertly prepared meals. Owner Justin Vrany makes sustainability a priority; from using renewable electrical energy to recycling or composting all the restaurant's waste, Sandwich Me In is a business model that is right in line with our Seventh Principle.

 

Once a month, Sandwich Me In reaches out to the community and dedicates 10% of one day's sales to a local school, charity, or non-for profit program; on Sunday, January 19th, Second Unitarian will be the lucky recipient of this generosity. Support this great local business, enjoy some truly delicious food, and give back to 2U, all at once!

Winter Orientation

Calling all visitors-- who want to become members!

 

The 2U winter orientation will be held Sunday, January 19; Sunday, January 26; and Sunday, February 2, following services. Sessions are scheduled to begin at noon in Fleishman Hall and will end at 2pm or before.

 

If you are interested in attending, please sign up on the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room, or contact church office administrator Jen Duston.

 

Child care will be available for those who request it in advance.

 

While attending any one of these three orientations will meet the by-law requirements for membership, attending all three will provide a greater breadth and depth of understanding for the theological roots of our community, ways to engage with the 2U community, how 2U is organized, and what membership really means.

 

Please contact Judy Corbeille, chair of the Membership Committee, with any questions.

Nominating Committee Takes On a New Role

The Board of Trustees, after consultation with Rev. Robersmith and a congregation which has made similar changes, has charged the Nominating Committee to modify its understood role at 2U. The traditional role of identifying and developing slates of candidates for leadership elections and some Board committee appointments will still be a primary focus of the committee. However, this year the Nominating Committee has been asked to not only identify the church's new potential leaders but assist in the development of leadership within our membership.

 

In order to foster a more active role in leadership development, the Nominating Committee will begin sponsoring leadership development workshops offered to individuals within the congregation that have interest in developing their leadership skills and exploring different ways to apply those skills to best make a positive difference in our community.

 

The Board and the Nominating Committee see this new role as an important element of continuing to foster a healthy congregation. Many 2U congregants have experienced a deepening commitment to their faith and our congregation as a call to accept a position of leadership-- as a lay worship leader, a leader of youth program, committee or board member. In this spirit, the Nominating Committee is extending leadership skill development that goes hand-in-hand with faith development.

 

For more information, please contact the Chair of the Nominating Committee, Margaret Redlich.

Money Matters
The weekly cost of running 2U is $5,275!

2U's annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 is $274,324. This includes a budgeted deficit of $7,174.

For the Year to Date period July 1 to November 30, 2013:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate =
$79,290
Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate =
$88,026
     Surplus or (Deficit)
$(8,736)

ActualBudgeted
Total Revenues Year-to-Date =$117,427$111,561
Total Expenses Year-to-Date =$115,331$115,862
     Total Surplus or (Deficit)$   2,096$(4,301)

In November, we raised $639.66 for the collection plate sharing recipient, Pets Are Like Family.

Thank you so much for helping to make 2U possible!

Did you know?
Prefer to give by donations of stock? 2U can accept your donation of stock via the UUA. Please contact Jen Duston for details. This could be a way to preserve your cash and give in a tax efficient manner if you have unrealized capital gains. Please allow up to two weeks for processing.
Anvil Deadlines
Have a message to put in the Anvil? Plan ahead!  Please have all submissions for the next newsletter in to Jen Duston at [email protected] by noon on Thursday, January 9.