Anvil header

Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
October 1, 2014
In This Issue
Worship at 2U
 
Sunday, October 5
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Tom Clowes & Rosalind Hurwitz

Sunday, October 12
Service at 10:30
Guest Preacher and Musician:
Roy Zimmerman

Sunday, October 19
Child Dedication
Intergen Service at 10:30
Worship Leaders: Rev. Adam Robersmith & Raquel Garcia
Music by the 2U Choir

Sunday, October 26
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Karen Mooney
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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, October 5
Spirit Play
Roots & Shoots

Sunday, October 12
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
Youth Group

Sunday, October 19
Child Dedication
Intergenerational service;
no classes

Sunday, October 26
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.

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
The calendar has finally caught up with our weather! Autumn is here in earnest and our church schedule is correspondingly full. There are so many ways for you to get involved with the 2U community these days, from one-shot events and programming to ongoing classes and groups, from service through Green Sanctuary, Social Justice, and the Night Ministry Outreach to service through our fellowship, fundraising, and small groups!

This issue of The Anvil includes plenty of information on how to jump in, but let me highlight three options that include ongoing involvement without joining a committee or overwhelming responsibility:

Join the 2U Choir! We are always looking for singers to make our sound full and joyful. Whether you are just learning to read music or a master sight-reader, you are welcome to see if this is the right place for you in the church.

Join a Small Group! We're building groups that will meet twice a month from the latter half of October to the end of May. These can be a terrific way to get to know people at 2U, whether you're a long-term member or brand-new. 

Join the Hospitality Team! Our Hospitality volunteers are the ushers and greeters you see on Sunday mornings. We're in the process of simplifying the ministry of welcome by hiring a sexton to manage the after-worship tidying up, so that Hospitality can focus on our members, friends, and visitors.

I wish I were able to call each and every one of you to invite you into a ministry that matches the call of your hearts and spirits. Unfortunately, there is only one of me and more than 200 of all of you, so we have to rely on you to step forward into the places you'd like to be. Many of you already know where you'd like to get involved - so jump right into what makes you curious, hopeful, or fulfilled. If you can't figure out what that might be, then please contact me at [email protected] or (773) 549-0260 x13 and I'll be happy to talk with you, send you to the right folks, and welcome you into a new way to be part of 2U.

Faithfully,
Adam 
2014 Fall Fest: Hayday!
Join us for a night of community at the annual Fall Fest on Saturday, October 25th at 6pm! This year's fun-filled, night-on-the-farm celebration will feature live and silent auctions, vegan and gluten-free dinner options, and another fabulous 2U sing-a-long. Free child care and children's activities will also be offered!

Buy tickets at 2U by cash or check on Sundays after the service, or online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Cost:
In advance: $35, $13 Student/Senior, $5 Children 10 & Up
(At the door: $45, $25 Student/Senior, $15 Children)
Children 9 & Under: Free
$70 to be a Homesteader (Beloved Sponsor & Supporter)

If you have any questions or would like to contribute an item to our silent auction, contact Laura McKee at (773) 301-7076.
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, including communication skills, legal considerations, healthcare decisions, financial planning, and spirituality. The series will comprise of a variety of formats, and you may come to any or all of the sessions. 

 

Thank you to those of you who joined us on Sunday September 21 for our kickoff viewing and discussion of the documentary Homegoings! Our upcoming sessions are:

  • "Critical Conversations and Planning that Impact the Quality of Life as One Ages": Sunday, October 5, 1:00- 3:00pm in the Palmer Room. This session will feature guest speaker/facilitator Eldercare Coach Susan Hayward, owner of Roots and Wings Eldercare Coaching. Susan's 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, making her a perfect guest speaker to have at this introductory session.
  • "Communication Essentials to Address your Changing Needs": Sunday, November 2, 1:00- 2:30pm in the Palmer Room. Eldercare Coach Susan Hayward will join us once again to highlight communication strategies related to difficult conversations related to end of life decision making and the types of outcomes that can come from these conversations. Susan will also talk about advocacy skills when working with professionals and other family members.

If you are interested in attending any upcoming sessions, please click here to RSVP so we know how many people to expect. 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 CrossMichael Walver, or Bonnie Ewald with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

SGM2014-15 Small Group Ministry

Small Group Ministry is a wonderful way for all members of the 2U community - both newcomers and long-term members - to connect with one another. In twice-monthly sessions, participants learn about themselves and Unitarian Universalism while building relationships with a variety of people. These groups work best when participants make a commitment to one another to make attendance a priority. When you're not there, you're missed!

 

Small Groups for the 2014-15 church year are forming now! Registration forms are available on the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room. To register, please rank the options from 1 to 3 in order of preference; we will strive to put you in your first- or second-choice group if at all possible. All groups plan to meet at 2U.

  • 1st and 3rd Sundays at 12pm with Hugh Visor
  • 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7pm with Adelaide Meyers
  • 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9am with Will Kunz
Groups will begin meeting in mid- to late-October. Questions? Contact Rev. Adam!
Child Dedication
Sunday, October 19, 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 October 19th, please email DFD Raquel Garcia.
Samhain Celebration

Friday, October 31, 2014

7:00pm

 

Covenant of Earth and Sky (2U's CUUPS Chapter) welcomes all to come join us for Samhain on Friday, October 31st at 7pm in the 2U sanctuary.

 

This holiday celebrates the Earth Mother as Crone. The earth enters the Third Harvest, a time of honoring the dark; the veil between the worlds of the living and dead is thinnest. In this spirit, we honor the Ancestors; those who came before us and have taught us lessons of life and love. We invite all to join us and bring a memento of your ancestor (photo, jewelry or other token) to place on teh altar at this time of year in their memory.

 

Please bring a dish to share afterward.

 

Blessed Be!

HospitalitySeeking 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.

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.

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!
choirChoir Corner
Studies show that singing in autumn clears our sinuses, fends off flu, and cleans all the dead leaves out of the gutters. 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, or just come to a rehearsal.
Position Available: Sexton

2U is now accepting resumes for a quarter-time sexton! Responsibilities will include cleaning and maintenance of Second Unitarian property. Please refer to the job description for details. Inquiries and resumes can be sent to personnel@ secondunitarian.org; we will be accepting resumes through October 17th.

Qur'an for Religious Liberals

Muslims read it devoutly every day. Extremists, calling themselves Christians, try to have it banned and burned. The media quotes and misquotes it. Unitarian Thomas Jefferson studied it (Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, took his oath of office with his hand on Jefferson's Qur'an). Have you ever wondered what the Qur'an actually says? Unitarian Universalists acknowledge "Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life" as one of our religious sources. What do we really know about Islam's holy book, the Qur'an?

 

This Adult Faith Development course will cover the basic teachings of the Qur'an:

  • the one God of mercy and compassion;
  • ethics and virtues;
  • the Prophets Muhammad, Isa (Jesus), Mariam (Mary) and others;
  • the vision of religious and world community;
  • stereotypes and controversies (women, polygamy, hijab, sharia, jihad);
  • the day of Reckoning, paradise and hell.

The course will use the Adult Faith Development praxis cycle of study, action, and reflection. The six sessions will run during winter 2015: 7-8:30 pm, Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11 (alternative dates Thursdays, January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12, in case of last minute change in schedule).  The recommended textbook is: Kabir Helminski PhD. The Book of Revelations: A Sourcebook of Selections from the Qur'an. Bristol, England/Watsonville, CA: The Book Foundation, 2005. ISBN-10: 1904510124. ISBN-13: 978-1904510123. The Second Unitarian Library has a copy. On-line booksellers have used copies available for sale.

 

2U's community minister Rev. Dr. Rudra Dundzila will facilitate the course. He teaches religious studies, including the Qur'an and Islam, at Harry S Truman College (City Colleges of Chicago).

Sunday Parking Restrictions

A reminder from our alderman's office that free Sunday parking at metered spaces has ended as of Sunday, September 28th! Please plan to park on Barry, Briar, or another residential street; or park at Illinois Masonic with a chaser tag, available at the Welcome Table or from one of the hospitality team members.

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, Oct. 8.