Rae stormy lake

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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
August 1, 2014
In This Issue
Worship at 2U
 
Sunday, August 3
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Carey Farrell, Neal Shankman & Katherine Wolf

Sunday, August 10
Service at 10:30
Worship Leaders: Sunday Services Committee
Music by Susie Inverso &
Justin Amolsch

Sunday, August 17
Intergen Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Kat Wyand

Sunday, August 24
Service at 10:30
Preachers: Rev. Adam Robersmith &
Rev. Elizabeth Harding
Music by the Madrigal Ensemble

Sunday, August 31
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Rudra Dundzila
Music by Rosalind Hurwitz
______________________
Children & Youth Faith Development Schedule
 
Child care for infants and toddlers is available every Sunday in the Green Caterpillar room.

Sunday, August 3
Summer Spirit Play

Sunday, August 10
Summer Spirit Play

Sunday, August 17
Intergen Service
No classes

Sunday, August 24
Summer Spirit Play

Sunday, August 31
Summer Spirit Play
______________________
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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

Adult Faith Dev.

Bookstore

Buddhist Fellowship

Building & Grounds

Committee on Ministry

Covenant of Earth & Sky

Finance Committee

Green Sanctuary

Hospitality 

Library

Lifespan Faith Dev.
(vacant)

Membership

Music

Newsletter

Night Ministry Outreach

Pastoral Care

Safe Congregations 

Small Group Ministry

Social Justice

Sunday Services

Transylvania Church

Webmaster

Young Adult Group
David Dyer
Stephanie Bens
_____________________
Board of Trustees 
 
 






                                  
From the Minister

Go for a walk, a roll, a run. Get into or onto the water. Dig in the dirt. If nothing else, open a window and let the breeze bring the summer in! I can't remember a year with such pleasant weather - and after the rough winter, a summer like this is a great kindness.

 

This kindness that we're receiving through no merit of our own makes me reflect on those who are struggling and suffering now, too. People are fleeing illness, poverty, and war; fighting invasion, tyranny, and overconsumption; seeking work, justice, and freedom.

 

How are we to balance these things? How can we possibly manage this mixture of good fortune and hardship? Be thankful. Offer help. Find peace now to sustain you in the future. Honor beauty by enjoying it. Honor others through compassion and justice.

 

We should not ignore blessing and see only curse, dismiss evil for blissful ignorance. Instead, we must respond to each for what it is. Balance comes from how we respond, rather than dreaming of a less complex world.

 

So find a way to take some action for the betterment of the world and also enjoy the rest of this lovely Chicago summer...don't let either faithful act pass you by!

 

Faithfully,

Rev. Adam

2U Disability Pride
Pride is for everyone! Thanks to all the enthusiastic participants who joined the 2U contingent in marching in the Disability Pride Parade on Saturday, July 19th!
Disability Pride 2014

This I Believe
LAST CALL: If you are interested in participating in the first 2U This I Believe service to be held on August 10th, and have not yet made contact with John Broome, the time is growing short. Please contact John today! For those who are participating, please remember to join us for the meeting and rehearsal in the sanctuary after the service this Sunday, August 3rd.
News from COVES
Covenant of Earth and Sky is excited to present an adult UUA curriculum in the 2014-15 church year at Second Unitarian: Rise Up and Call Her Name. These sessions will start in September and will run through May of 2015. Please look for our curriculum brochure on the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room, as well as a sign-up sheet. Sign up today! We encourage all who sign up to attend each session for continuity within the group. A $10 materials fee is also required of each participant; financial assistance is available for those who need it. The dates and times of each session are printed in our curriculum brochure. Please contact Shauna with any additional questions.

COVES also invites all to attend Chicago Pagan Pride in Oak Park on Sunday, September 14th. The event runs from 11am to 6pm; you may attend the event at any time. This is an opportunity to learn about many different Pagan paths through workshops, more than 50 vendors, and live music throughout the day. The cost of admission is a canned good for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. It is a wonderful festival and open to all! COVES is very proud to announce that we will be performing the Opening Ritual Ceremony at next year's Chicago Pagan Pride in September of 2015!

Best Volunteer Job At 2U?
Important, engaging work; use your mind, not your muscles; less than one hour, just once a month; no extra travel - Sunday right after the service; best of all, no committee meetings! Curious? Find out more, no obligation. Talk to Larry Lefferts at church, drop him a line, or give him a call at (773) 973-5610.
Annual Involvement Fair
The 2U Council is in the process of planning our Annual Involvement Fair. We would love every 2U group and committee to be represented! If your group would like to participate in this year's Involvement Fair, or if you would like more information, please contact Council Chair Roger Wykes.
From the Music Director
Our first choir rehearsal of the church year will be on Tuesday, August 19th at 7:15pm in the sanctuary. We will start the year off right by getting music for the first several performances, and begin preparation for our first performance on Sunday, September 14th-- 2U's homecoming service!

I look forward to starting a great year of music making with you all, especially in choir, and also in the increasing number of small ensembles being formed within the congregation. I also look forward to building upon the choir's skill-set (sight-singing, ear-training, clarity) to make each performance a positive, rewarding experience.

New choir voices are always welcome! Please email me with any questions, or just come to a rehearsal.

Enjoy the second half of summer; see you all on the 19th!

Musically yours,
Marianne
Adult Religious Education Survey
We want your feedback! Adult Religious Education Co-Coordinators Laura Barnes and Dan Lewis want to know what 2U Adult Religious Education programs you've found most useful, and what programs you'd like to see in the coming year. Please click on the link below to complete a brief questionnaire on your interests. We're looking forward to serving you this year!
Survey Monkey
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 2013-14 Church Year, July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate =
$214,742
Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate =
$216,950
     Surplus or (Deficit)
$  (2,208)

ActualBudgeted
Total Revenues 2013-14 =$279,125$267,150
Total Expenses 2013-14 =$285,700$274,324
     Total Surplus or (Deficit)$  (6,575)$  (7,174)

In June, we raised $511.07 for the collection plate sharing recipient, Jane Addams Senior Caucus.

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, August 27.