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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
April 1, 2014
In This Issue
Worship at 2U
 
Wednesday, April 2
Vespers Service at 6:30

Sunday, April 6
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Jim Simonis

Wednesday, April 9
Vespers Service at 6:30

Sunday, April 13
Service at 10:30
Child Dedication
Worship Leaders: Rev. Adam Robersmith & Raquel Garcia

Wednesday, April 16
Vespers Service at 6:30

Sunday, April 20
Service at 10:30
Easter Sunday
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by the 2U Choir

Wednesday, April 23
Vespers Service at 6:30
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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, April 6
Spirit Play
UUExplorers
Coming of Age at 1pm

Sunday, April 13
Child Dedication
Intergenerational service: no classes

Sunday, April 20
Spirit Play
Roots & Shoots

Sunday, April 27
Spirit Play
UUExplorers
Youth Group
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Church Office Information & Staff

Minister
773-549-0260, ext. 13
Office Hours:
Wed-Thurs afternoons & evenings, other days & times by appointment
 
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

Covenant of Earth & Sky

Finance Committee

Green Sanctuary

Hospitality 

Library

Lifespan Faith Dev.

Membership

Music

Newsletter

Night Ministry Outreach

Pastoral Care

Safe Congregations 

Small Group Ministry

Social Justice

Sunday Services

Transylvania Church

Webmaster

Young Adult Group
Erin Rusmi
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Board of Trustees 
 









                                  
From the Minister

If I told you that this was the final quarter of the 2013-2014 church year, would you believe me?

 

I know! It seems impossible - especially since spring hasn't fully settled in yet, but it is true. We're in the midst of our stewardship campaign, preparing for our annual meeting, finishing up our assessments of our ministries, and getting ready for the next church year. I'm hoping, though, that we're also looking very much at this present moment. In the rush to be ready for next year and to escape winter, don't miss watching the crocuses come up in our front yard or the inspiration that shows up in our Sunday worship. What is happening now is full of the promise of life and is awaiting our attention right now!

 

For some of us, life in this moment will involve preparing for our May 4th Beltane celebration or continuing our religious education classes for all ages. We still have child dedication, choir performances, social justice actions, and social events coming up. There are opportunities to volunteer with our Night Ministry outreach program and to help get our gardens into shape for the growing season. For a couple of us (me included), this present moment's promise of life is the promise of healing after springtime illness.

 

One very exciting event happening this spring is filming for the creation of a few short videos for our website! Last spring, our Explorers class created a video about 2U. This spring, we were given a donation of time with a videographer, and decided to expand on the Explorers' idea. On Sunday, April 20th, we'll be working with a videographer who will be filming during our service, around the church grounds, and interviewing folks after the service about 2U. The footage will be edited into three short films about 2U that will appear on our website. We'll have more specific information as we get closer to the day about how to either be in the video or how not to be in the filming, as you choose. If you have questions, please let me know.

 

No matter what this springtime moment holds for you, take the time to enjoy it and become strong in the here and now. Although this time of year keeps us looking toward the future, we still have plenty of life to live this year!

 

Faithfully, and with the hope of spring,

Rev. Adam

A Note From Karen Mooney
Ministerial Intern, UU Congregation of Rockville

I had a friend once who ran a marathon. Several months after the finish he sheepishly admitted that the only training he had done was running as far as he could daily for 2 weeks and then taking a taxi back home. What? Seriously? Are you kidding? You could have gotten hurt! It felt to me like he had not prepared for the marathon, not taken it seriously, but my friend just smiled and reminded me that he had gotten exactly what he wanted.  

 

Preparations are on my mind recently as I get ready for ministerial oral exams. I am struggling to find some middle ground between trying to learn every possible fact and letting stories remind me of life. I am trying to find the middle way because I realize, like my running friend, that it is in knowing what I want that I will truly understand how to prepare. What I want from the exam, and this time leading up to it, is to be preparing for ministry.

 

I think of ministry as a balance point between the known and unknown, between courage and fear, between being prepared and being spontaneous. Ministry is finding the middle way to let all of us be part of community together. In this way we each prepare for ministry any time we engage in a religious community. Though far away in DC right now I think about the ministry I know you are engaging with at 2U right now as a community - finding housing, fighting for justice, remembering the planet, learning to say goodbye - all of these little things make up the ministry we bring to one another and the world. In ministry and preparation will we transform ourselves and our world by simply knowing what we want - not positive, but I do know it is the only place from which we can start.

2U Annual Stewardship Campaign/Canvass

The 2U canvass, currently underway, happens in three easy steps:

 

The canvass meeting: Please be sure to respond to your canvasser when he or she contacts you to schedule a time to talk about your pledge. It's much more than a conversation about money! In fact, it's mostly a discussion about your experience at church, an exchange about what you and your canvasser value about 2U, and an opportunity for you to make suggestions for what we might do differently or better. It's also a chance for you to hear about the board's activities and plans for the future of the congregation. Finally, the canvass meeting is a way for you to get to know another member of the congregation and widen or deepen your connections with others at 2U. If you haven't heard yet from your canvasser, please contact Monica Drane.

 

2. The pledge card: Please submit your pledge card to your canvasser or to Jen in the 2U office (or drop it in the offering plate on Sunday) as soon as possible. Your timely submission of your pledge card eases the budgeting process for the coming fiscal year, including that portion that happens at our annual meeting on May 18. If you would like to obtain a pledge card or to simply communicate your pledge without the use of the card, please contact Jen Duston.

 

3. The thermometer: Please mark our progress toward our goal by checking the thermometer in the Palmer Room at church! We would like to have every member of the congregation make some kind of pledge to 2U for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. This church is the community of ourselves...so please help us reach our goal!
2U Buddhist Fellowship Retreat

Saturday, April 5, 2014

9:00am to 5:00pm


Join the Second Unitarian Buddhist Fellowship (2UBF) for a day of stillness as we kick off a unique meditation group. Explore the intersection of Buddhist and Unitarian Universalist principles in a gentle and welcoming environment.

 

Two long-time practitioners will be giving instruction: Larry Axelrod from Insight Chicago (Vipassana/Theravada) and Larry Wolf from Shambhala Chicago (Shambhala/Vajrayana). Also, near the end of the retreat day we will be inviting everyone to participate in shaping this new Buddhist Group at 2U if they want.

 

Sign up here to join us.

 

Spring Cleaning Work Party

Do you like climbing ladders? How about scrubbing, painting, or cleaning up the yard? If this sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon, please join the Building and Grounds team on Saturday, April 12th from 1-4pm to help give our church a fresh start after a long, hard winter. Let's clear out the cobwebs and prepare the church for an upcoming wedding and other events. We have plenty of tasks, big and small, for everyone! Please contact Tyler Duston, or just show up ready to get a little grubby.

Getting Stuff Done: Systems @ 2U
Saturday, April 12, 2014

12:00-2:00pm

 

Have you ever noticed the connections that keep things going at 2U? Some of them are obvious, like how Rev. Adam connects with the congregation during worship on Sunday mornings, or how the Board of Trustees manages the resources we contribute. Other connections are harder to see, but they're just as important when we want to get things done together.

 

If you've ever held or considered a leadership position at 2U, you not only need to know our org chart -- you need to see all the connections among the people and groups who have a stake in what you're doing. On Saturday, April 12 at noon, join veteran 2U leaders Laura McKee and Sue Dunmore for "Getting Stuff Done: Systems @ 2U" to learn to use the skills of systems thinking to identify opportunities to move the congregation forward in support of 2U's mission.

 

To find out more or to sign up, please contact Margaret Redlich; sign-up sheets will also be available on the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room. Please stay tuned for future opportunities such as these later in the year!
Second Sunday Social

2U dinners Sunday, April 13, 2014

11:30am

 

Please join us on Sunday, April 13th for a Second Sunday Social before that day's Town Hall Meeting. The Social will take the place of coffee hour, beginning immediately after the service, and the Town Hall meeting will then start at about noon.

 

If you want to share in a delicious meal and good conversation, those whose last names begin with A-F are requested to bring a main dish; G-L a salad or condiment; M-R desserts; and S-Z beverages (wine is OK). It would be much appreciated if you would list the ingredients on a card that we can set up by your dish for those with allergy problems. If you are not able to bring a dish to share, we ask that you donate $5, which will go toward the furtherance of our social justice programs.

 

We need helpers with set-up and clean-up! When you sign up to attend, please specify whether you will help with set-up (if so, please be at the church at 10am) or clean-up (please plan to stay until about 1pm). Sign up on the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room.

 

Please see below for details about the Town Hall Meeting. We look forward to having you join us!

Church Council/Committee on Ministries
Town Hall Meeting

Sunday, April 13, 2014

12:00pm

 

Please join the Committees of the Church Council in the sanctuary at noon after the Second Sunday Social! Members of the church's many committees will be available to distribute information regarding their committee's successes and accomplishments this year, and get your feedback and ideas for next year. We hope you will plan on attending as we continue to facilitate communication from the congregation.

 

Questions? Please email Council Chair Laura Barnes or COM Chair Marilyn Hebda.

Child Dedication

Sunday, April 13, 2014

10:30am

 

During our Child Dedication Ceremony, we welcome children into the world, and into our religious community, by formally giving them their name. We dedicate children to the highest ideals of life, and the congregation dedicates itself to supporting parents and guardians and their children, as those children grow up. We rededicate ourselves to creating a more just world, a world in which all children are welcomed and may thrive. If you are a member of 2U and would like to have your child(ren) dedicated into the 2U community during the service on April 13th, please email Raquel Garcia. 

What Do You Want from Religious Education?

Lifespan Faith Development is planning for next year's curriculum. We value your input! Please fill out this survey and let us know what you are looking for in future Religious Education opportunities.

 

Thank you,

The LFD Council

The Great 2U Seder is Coming!

Seder Plate 1 Saturday, April 19, 2014

6:30pm

 

Mark your calendars for 2U's annual celebration of Passover, one of the highlights of the Jewish sacred year and, traditionally, our church's biggest event honoring the Jewish sources of our Unitarian Universalist faith.
 
The seder is a worship service held around the dinner table, as the traditional story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt is retold. We use prayer, ritual, food, and song to celebrate our own freedoms, and to remember all those who do not. The seder also celebrates the return of spring and new growth as this part of the world awakens from the long (LONG) sleep of winter.
 
The matzah is ready to go, but we need ALL HANDS ON DECK to make this big, beloved event happen, so we hope you can sign up for at least one thing to bring and one thing to do, as you are able. Go to VolunteerSpot now and let us know you're coming!
Hospitality Team Lead Needed

The Hospitality Team is in need of a team lead for the second Sunday hospitality team. The role includes organizing a small team of volunteers to provide pre, during and post services duties every second Sunday of every month.  Please contact Christine H. for more information.

Beltane Service and Celebration!

Sunday, May 4, 2014

10:30am

 

It is the time of year to celebrate the full bloom of spring, the fertility of the earth and the Unitarian principle of the web of life, where all things are interconnected. Covenant of Earth and Sky (COVES) is offering the service with the participation of Rev. Adam Robersmith. Congratulations to COVES for their new CUUPS status!

 

After the service, the Roots & Shoots group, Rev. Adam, and COVES have planned a Beltane Celebration for all. Dance around the Maypole, help plant the raised herb garden, make a Bird House (pre-order here), Fairy Wand or May Basket with Rev. Adam, and bring home a surprise!

 

Roots and Shoots is unveiling a bird bath they have created to help the 2U yard become a wildlife habitat. We're hoping to have one to raffle off as well!

 

Help! If you have any decorative 12" x 12" paper, ribbons, yarn, buttons or decorative trinkets that need to be repurposed, please drop them off in the Spirit Play Room, after service and prior to April 27th. Please contact Shauna or Libby with questions, or if you would like to help with the celebration.
Volunteer With Team 2U for Chicago River Day!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

9:00am - noon

Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell

(behind Lane Tech High School)

 

 
On Chicago River Day thousands of volunteers gather for a day of hands-on environmental work throughout the Chicago River system working side-by-side to collect garbage and sort for recycling, remove invasive vegetation, spruce up river-edge trails, plant native seedlings, and much more.
 
Chicago River Day participants include corporate teams, community organizations, school groups, families, and individuals of various skill and ability levels from throughout the 673-square mile Chicago River system.
Learn About Lay-Led Services
podium Do you sit in the pews on Sunday watching the service and thinking, "Hey, I could do that!"? 
 
Do you have an idea or message that is just bursting out of you, ready to be shared with the Second Unitarian congregation? 
 
Are you looking for a new way to open yourself up to the community and share your ideals and beliefs?
 
If any or all of these are true, contact the Sunday Service Committee's application support person, Gary Bondurantto receive a copy of our Lay-Led Service proposal document and learn more about the process of turning your ideas into a sermon.
2014 UUA General Assembly & MidAmerica Regional Assembly

This year's UUA General Assembly takes place in Providence, RI on June 25-29. The theme of the gathering is "Love Reaches Out." The UUA provides 2U with credentials for five member delegates and one alternate member delegate in addition to our minister-delegate credentials. Off-site delegates may participate for a fee, and must register by June 20. The tentative agenda for GA 2014 is available at uua.org/ga

 

The UUA's MidAmerica Regional Assembly takes place on April 11-13, 2014 in Topeka, KS; Bloomington, IN; Ann Arbor, MI; or Wausau, WI. The MidAmerica Region has granted 2U five congregational delegates for this assembly.

 

Please contact 2U board chair Monica Drane for more information or if you would like to serve as a 2U member delegate to either/both the MidAmerica Regional Assembly or the UUA's General Assembly.

Choir Corner

choir Welcome spring! Sing! The 2U choir rehearses in the sanctuary on Tuesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:30. All voices are welcome! For more information, contact music director Marianne Parker.

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 February 28, 2013:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate =
$140,108
Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate =
$142,882
     Surplus or (Deficit)
$   2,774

ActualBudgeted
Total Revenues Year-to-Date =$197,055$177,754
Total Expenses Year-to-Date =$188,467$186,704
     Total Surplus or (Deficit)$   8,588$ (8,950)

In February, we raised $695.24 for the collection plate sharing recipient, Chicago ADAPT.

Thank you so much for helping to make 2U possible!
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 Wednesday, April 9.