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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
September 15, 2014
In This Issue
Worship at 2U
 
Sunday, September 21
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Michael Barrette

Sunday, September 28
Service at 10:30
Worship Leaders: Rev. Adam Robersmith & Green Sanctuary
Music by Katie Johnson

Sunday, October 5
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Kat Wyand

Sunday, October 12
Service at 10:30
Guest Preacher and Musician:
Roy Zimmerman
______________________
Children & Youth Faith Development Schedule
 
Child care for infants and toddlers is available every Sunday in the Green Caterpillar room.

Sunday, September 21
First Day of Classes!
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, September 28
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
Youth Group

Sunday, October 5
Spirit Play
Roots & Shoots

Sunday, October 12
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
Youth Group
______________________
_________________
Church Office Information & Staff

Minister
773-549-0260, ext. 13
Office Hours:
Wed-Thurs 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

Fellowship Committee

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

What a wonderful Homecoming service to start our church year! The 2U Choir sounded wonderful, the sanctuary was full and still had room to welcome our visitors, and the water communion reminded us of how we come together in spirit and in body.

 

I am pleased, too, to have completed weaving the banners that I'd promised as a gift to the congregation upon my installation back in 2012. It's wonderful to see the dream that I'd had come true. I hope that this year will be a year in which we can make other dreams come true as well, but that's only possible if you all get involved and help it to happen.This is the time to find your place within our congregation and step into it. Dream something spectacular and make it real!

 

I have lots of hopes and dreams for 2U. One simple one: I hope that those of you who do fiber or fabric arts will see these new banners as inspiration for you to get creative! If you'd like to create banners for our sanctuary to add into our rotation, please talk to me. It would be wonderful to have lots of options to beautify our sanctuary and I would love to see our artistic talents fill our space.

 

I am so looking forward to this year with you!

 

Faithfully,

Rev. Adam

Help Make Our Church More Beautiful!
Date change! Please join the Building, Infrastructure, and Grounds Committee on the afternoon of Saturday, September 20th (weather permitting) in working on the church grounds. We will meet at 12:30pm to weed the front yard and trim the hedges along the walkway. Please contact Tyler Duston, BIG Committee chair, if you are interested and able to help out.
Strong Women by Still Point Theatre Collective

Saturday, September 20, 2014

7:00pm

 

A compelling performance piece is coming to 2U's sanctuary this Saturday, September 20thStrong Women is being performed by Still Point Theatre Collective, a Chicago- based theatre company. 

 

Currently, Still Point conducts a comprehensive program that provides theatre workshops for women who are incarcerated in two facilities in and around the Chicagoland area: Lake County Jail, and the Cook County Jail. In these workshops, the facilitators initially lead theatre games to help the women release their inhibitions and learn to trust and support each other. Later, the women tell their stories, and create scenes to express insights they have received in the course of their lives; writing exercises are also incorporated which help the women reflect on their experiences. At the end of a three to four month period, the participants present a performance, written by themselves, for invited guests, prison volunteers, and their fellow inmates. This performance gives them a forum to express their views, and an opportunity to share with the larger community the experiences and challenges of incarcerated women. 

 

Strong Women is built solely around poetry written by women incarcerated at the Cook County jail. The subjects explored include the shock of arrival, the experience of incarceration and abuse, seeking your spirit in the midst of oppression, separation from children, and the quest to grow as a person and eventually release long-held fears. 

 

Admission is free - a pass-the-hat donation will be taken. For information, please call Erin Rusmi at (773) 888-2829.

2U Family Group: Zoo Trip!

Sunday, September 21

12:00-2:30pm

 

All the families with kids under 18 are invited to meet up for another autumn trip to Lincoln Park Zoo! Bring a lunch or buy one at the Zoo cafe. Travel together on the #36 CTA bus or on your own and meet the group there by sending a text to Christy Grant at (312) 213-1588.

Learn more about the 2U Family Group on our website.
Attention 2U Bikers
Please be reminded that that the ideal parking spots for bikes at 2U is at the bike rack in front of the church, or in the back yard behind the church, if the bike rack is full. Please do not park/lock bikes along the railing near the main entrance. That space is needed for guests entering and exiting the church. Additionally, the sidewalk is used by our Hospitality team after service to move large garbage bins from the backyard to the curb for Monday morning pick-up.

Thank you for your help in keeping our sidewalk clear!
Classes From the Pastoral Care Team This Fall

The Pastoral Care Team at 2U is hosting a series of classes throughout fall 2014 and spring 2015 to provide information about approaches to planning for many aspects of the end of life. We have designed the series to cover a variety of topics: communication skills, legal considerations, healthcare decisions, and financial planning. The series will comprise of a variety of formats, and you may come to any or all of them. If you have not yet done so, please take our survey to help inform us of your interests for specific topics in the series.

 

To kick off the series, we are hosting two events in September and October. Click here to RSVP.

  • Homegoings documentary screening on Sunday, Sept. 21, 12:30-2:00pm in the sanctuary. Homegoings is a PBS Point-of View documentary that originally aired on June 24, 2013. Through the eyes of funeral director Isaiah Owens, the beauty and grace of African-American funerals are brought to life. Filmed at Owens Funeral Home in New York City's historic Harlem neighborhood, Homegoings takes an up-close look at the rarely seen world of undertaking in the black community, where funeral rites draw on a rich palette of tradition, history and celebration. Combining cin�ma v�rit� with intimate interviews and archival photographs, the film paints a portrait of the dearly departed, their grieving families and a man who sends loved ones "home."
  • Introductory session on Sunday, Oct. 5, 1:00-3:00pm in the Palmer Room: "Critical Conversations and Planning that Impact the Quality of Life as One Ages" led by Eldercare Coach Susan Hayward. Susan is the owner of Roots and Wings Eldercare Coaching. Her passion for Eldercare Coaching came after her own family struggled (before she knew anything about life coaching) with the care of her aging parents and she realized that by simply being more prepared, the whole experience could have been so different! Susan works with families to navigate the challenges of family caregiving with more grace and ease.

If you are interested in attending one/both of these sessions, please click here to RSVP so we know how many people to expect. More sessions to be announced later this fall. This series is open to everyone, regardless of age, spot in the "planning" process, or being a 2U member or not. To help cover costs of guest speakers, we request each attendee to donate a one-time amount of $10, no matter if you attend one class or all of them. You can bring cash or check (made out to Bonnie Ewald) on the day of the event. Please contact Nanna Cross, Michael Walver, or Bonnie Ewald with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

Old Narthex Gallery Opening Reception

Sunday, September 21, 2014

 

Old Narthex Gallery (possibly the smallest gallery in Chicago) opening reception for Hill People Fiber Works, who are Adam Robersmith and Don Myers. Please join us on Sunday, September 21st during coffee hour to meet the artists and celebrate their collaborative artwork of hand-marbled silk scarves.

 

All items are for sale, with 50% benefitting the artist and 50% benefitting 2U. This exhibition will run through October 26th. Gallery hours following Sunday services.

 

Questions about showing your artwork? Pleas email Colette Adams with "old narthex gallery" in the subject line.

Autumnal Equinox Celebration

Sunday, September 21, 2014

7:00pm

 

The Covenant of Earth and Sky (2U's CUUPS Chapter) welcomes all to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox with us on Sunday, September 21st at 7:00pm at 2U. 

 

Also known as Mabon, we will celebrate the turning of the season as we enter the Second Harvest. We will explore the meaning of Mabon, the Cornucopia, and the symbol of the Apple. We will honor Demeter, the Goddess of the Harvest, Fertility and Grain. All are welcome to bring a harvest dish to share.

 

Blessed Be! 

Seeking Hospitality Volunteers

Are you interested in helping 2U welcome new and existing churchgoers?  If yes, please consider volunteering to serve on The Hospitality Team! We'd love your commitment to help just one Sunday a month, joining one of the teams that provides pre, during and post-service duties each week. Please contact Christine H. for more information, or sign up on the Welcome Table.

Fall Orientation

Calling all visitors-- who want to become members!

 

The 2U fall orientation will be held Sunday, September 28; Sunday, October 5; and Sunday, October 19 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. Child care will be available for those who request it in advance.

 

While attending any one of these three orientation sessions 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 Membership Chair Judy Corbeille with any questions, or for more information.
Sunday Parking Restrictions

We have received word from our alderman's office that free Sunday parking at metered spaces ENDS as of Sunday, September 28th! Beginning the week of September 22nd, LAZ Parking will begin changing all of the signs which delineate the area in which the paybox spaces are defined as well as the "pay here" signs to indicate 7-day paid parking. On Sunday, September 28th, parking on commercial streets will no longer be free on Sunday between the hours of 10am and 8pm.

2U Climate Action Team

The new 2U Climate Action Team will meet first or second  Thursdays from 7-9:00pm in the 2U library. Karen Fort, who is also the facilitator for the 2U Environmental Justice group, will lead.

 

Upcoming Dates: October 2nd, November 6, December 11.

 

The UUA has launched a national network of Climate Action Teams or CATs in UU congregations. Each Climate Action Team establishes its own program and structure for climate action. Climate Action Teams will be networked together nationwide for more effective action. The goal is for UUs to act as ethical/moral leaders for climate action. Contact Karen with questions at (773) 750-7835.

 

Also, Karen co-leads the Citizens Climate Lobby Chicago North, which will meet Saturdays from 11:00am-1:00pm on  October 4, November 1, and December 6 at the Library, 644 W. Belmont, auditorium. The purposes of Citizens Climate Lobby are to 1) create the political will for a stable climate and 2) to empower individuals to have breakthroughs in exercising their personal and political power.

2U Social Justice Book Club & Praxis Group

Burning Down the House

by Nell Bernstein

Thursdays, 6:30pm: Oct 2, Oct 16, Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov. 20, Dec 4 

 

2U's Prison and Restorative Justice Action Team invites you to participate in a 6-session Book Club and Praxis Group on Nell Bernstein's Burning Down the House, recently referred to as The New Jim Crow of the juvenile justice system.

 

Praxis is the cycle of study, action, and reflection. Each week, in addition to discussing a section of the book, we'll take action to support local work against the criminal punishment system and towards alternatives.

 

We'll meet on Thursdays at 6:30pm: Oct. 2, Oct. 16, Oct. 30, Nov. 6 (*note, only one week later, not two), Nov. 20, and Dec. 4. All meetings will take place in the Palmer Room except Dec. 4, when we will meet in Fleishman Hall. We ask that you RSVP to Megan Selby, or sign up in the Palmer Room after the service. Let us know if you want to volunteer to bring some food for one night.

Spotlight Luncheon

Sunday, October 19, 2014

12:00pm

 

The Second Unitarian Social Justice Committee invites you to a Spotlight Luncheon titled Unaccompanied Alien Children and Family Detention. The luncheon will be held on October 19, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. in the 2U Sanctuary. As you have likely heard, a large number of Central Americans are fleeing their countries and seeking refuge in the United States due to rampant and pervasive violence by criminal organizations, as well as significant problems with violence against women. 2U Member Mary O'Leary will provide updates on her trips to the family detention center housing mothers and children in Artesia, NM. Speakers will also be present to discuss the situation of unaccompanied minors as well as the factors leading to the increase in migration. Please join us for a "light food" potluck: either bring what you want to eat, something easy to share, or $5.00. Please RSVP to Mary O'Leary and Katherine Wolf.

Fall Involvement Fair
volunteer
You are invited to 2U's Fall Involvement Fair, hosted by the 2U Council, on Sunday, October 26 at noon. The Involvement Fair is a chance to learn more about the committees and organizations that make our church a vibrant and diverse community. Committee members will be on hand to share their plans for the year, answer questions, and help you find the volunteer positions that are just right for you. Whether you're new to 2U and looking for ways to connect with the community, or a long-time member seeking new ways to give your time and talents to 2U, we welcome you to join us for fun and fellowship!
From Janice Stashwick: 30 Years of Chicago ADAPT

This year marks 30 years of Chicago ADAPT, one of 2U's plate-sharing recipients.


This 30-minute video highlights the struggles and victories of Chicago ADAPT. Some of it is hard to watch, but it shows the reality of life for people with disabilities.  When you have the time, it is well worth the watch and it will definitely make you more aware of what's happening in the disability rights  movement.

The video begins with fights for access to public transportation, then moves to actions calling for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It also highlights protests of Jerry Lewis' Labor Day telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, focusing on how an event of that nature is offensive to some in the disability community. And finally, it covers the ongoing struggles for in-home and community services for people with disabilities.
Choir Corner
The 2U Choir rehearses in the sanctuary on Tuesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:30. All voices are welcome! Basses are especially welcome! For more information, contact music director Marianne Parker, or just come to a rehearsal.
Money Matters
The weekly cost of running 2U is $5,890!

2U's annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 is $306,403.

For the Year to Date period July 1 to August 31, 2014:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate =
$ 33,354
Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate =
$ 39,311
     Surplus or (Deficit)
$ (5,957)

ActualBudgeted
Total Revenues Year-to-Date =$ 36,629$ 42,518
Total Expenses Year-to-Date =$ 47,997$ 49,762
     Total Surplus or (Deficit)$ (11,368)$  (7,244)

In August, we raised $579.40 for the collection plate sharing recipient, ONE Northside, and $195.90 for the fifth Sunday recipient, 2U's Night Ministry Outreach.

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, Sept. 24.