Anvil header

Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
November 15, 2014
In This Issue
Worship at 2U
 
Sunday, November 16
Service at 10:30
New Member In-Gathering
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by the 2U Choir

Sunday, November 23
Service at 10:30
Lay Preachers: Laura McKee & Erin Rusmi
Music by Rosalind Hurwitz

Sunday, November 30
Intergen Service at 10:30
Worship Leaders: Rev. Adam Robersmith & Raquel Garcia
Music by Lauren Nelson

Sunday, December 7
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Carey Farrell
_____________________
Children & Youth Faith Development Schedule
 
Child care for infants and toddlers is available every Sunday in the Green Caterpillar room.

Sunday, November 16
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, November 23
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
Youth Group

Sunday, November 30
Intergenerational Service: No classes
______________________
_________________
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:
Sun 9:00-3:00
Other days & times by appointment

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
I consider it a great blessing to be a part of a congregation that is overflowing with opportunities to learn, serve, worship, and grow together. Even our after-worship Sunday schedule has been packed with events and meetings-none of us can do them all, no matter how much we try! Finding the places that call you most deeply can be a difficult thing when so much sounds worth doing, but choosing where to put your energy is an important spiritual practice. In this Anvil, you'll see opportunities to make those choices and learn about how we as a congregation are responding to the choices we have.

First, you'll see that Jen Duston, our Office Administrator, will be leaving her position (but not the congregation!) no later than the end of January. We'll look forward to her presence among us as a non-staff 2Uer once again. I am deeply grateful for the skill, kindness, effort, and all around brilliance she brings to us every day. We are in the process of searching for our next Office Administrator and are thankful for Jen's willingness to help the new person learn the job!

Next, Michael Dawkins, our Event Sexton and member of the 2U community, will be joining us as our quarter-time Church Sexton. He'll be helping to keep our building clean and well-maintained and taking the burden of clean-up after Sunday worship off our Hospitality volunteers.

On Sunday, we'll be celebrating the Ordination of 2U member Karen Mooney. In Unitarian Universalism, ordaining a minister is the privilege and responsibility of congregations. No one else can "make a minister." Please join us on Sunday at 3:00pm for this joyful event!

Finally, a decision is likely to be announced soon in the grand jury's deliberations regarding whether to indict Ferguson, MO police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. Regardless of the decision, this is an opportunity for us and the nation to reflect on how race and power affect our communities in ways that leave People of Color afraid, in danger, and oppressed. The UU clergy from across the city have scheduled a vigil at First Unitarian in Hyde Park the night of the day following the verdict announcement. All UUs are invited to attend. We will publicize the information again as soon as we have more information.

I hope you'll choose to be with us for the joyful events and the justice-making events, and as many of the others as you are able! We are truly a vibrant community.

Faithfully,
Rev. Adam
karenOrdination of Karen Mooney
In our covenant, we agree to build a community that challenges us to grow and empowers us to find the truth within ourselves. Is it any wonder that for many, this growth and reflection turns in a spiritual direction? In November, we will celebrate a major milestone of this spiritual growth when we ordain Karen Mooney as a Unitarian Universalist minister, one of our own members who started her way along her path at Second Unitarian.

 

Please honor our covenant and join in the ordination service and reception on Sunday Nov. 16 at 3:00 pm at Second Unitarian.

 

Child care will be provided. Reception to follow. Please join us!

jenFrom the Office Administrator

As some of you already know, I will be leaving 2U as an employee in January of 2015. The search process is already underway for a wonderful new office administrator, and with a number of truly exemplary candidates in the pool, I'm confident that I'll be leaving the church in good hands!

 

My time working at 2U has been a challenge and a privilege, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have served this community in this way for the past two+ years. I have learned so much during my time here, and continue to be amazed by the boundless energy and dedication of my fellow 2Uers.

 

Although I'll be leaving the staff of 2U, I won't be leaving the congregation! Tyler and I will definitely continue to attend Sunday worship, and I plan to re-join 2U as a member down the road. We are excited and nervous and very, very happy about embarking on this new chapter in our lives as we start the process of growing our family through adoption, and we can't imagine doing it without the strength and support of our 2U family.

 

In love and gratitude,

Jen

fergusonvigilVigil for Ferguson at First Unitarian Church
Dear Members and Friends of First Unitarian Church,

People around the country are preparing for the prosecuting attorney to announce the grand jury's decision whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. Indications point to a grand jury announcement soon. An indictment is extremely unlikely, but whatever it is, whenever it is, there will be much pain and anger.

Our theology and commitments as a justice-seeking people calls upon us to take action. Our UU brothers and sisters in St. Louis have asked us to SHOW UP in solidarity and witness for justice in our own community. It is our responsibility to respond to that call.

On the night of the next day after the verdict announcement, First Unitarian Church will host a vigil at 7pm. If the vigil falls on a weekend, we will meet at 5pm. Unitarian Universalists and clergy from around Chicagoland will join us here-and we will open our doors wide to our interfaith friends and neighbors here in Hyde Park. We NEED YOU. Bring your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, your colleagues-elders and children-it is time to answer the call and stand together.

As your ministers, we are urging each and every one of you to stand with us in vigil, followed by a worship service of solidarity. Imagine 200 people gathered on the corner of 57th and Woodlawn to stand for justice and peace. We can make that happen: this is a historic opportunity to witness for justice, to exercise leadership in our community, and to build deep relationships.

We ask you to show up and stand with us-and one another-as a united people.

In hope,

Rev. Teri Schwartz
Rev. David Schwartz

Additional Notes:

We need volunteers to make this vigil happen! If you can assist with hospitality, set-up, ushering, etc. please contact Rev. Teri.

The most current information will be found on the Standing on the Side of Love Ferguson page, and more from the MidAmerica Region.

Ferguson is not about Ferguson. It is about the systematic dehumanizing of people all over America. As Unitarian Universalists, we have faith that it need not be this way. We can create a world that is accepting, fair, loving, and diverse. We know we can make a difference.

- Rev. Peter Morales, President of the UUA

Help 2U Be A More Welcoming Place!
hands_hearts_hdr.jpg
The Hospitality Team needs you to help share all the warmth and fellowship that 2U has to offer! Commit to just one Sunday a month to welcome new and existing churchgoers with a smile, hand out orders of service, assist during the offertory, and other tasks before, during, and after the Sunday service. It's a great way to serve our community and connect to your fellow 2U-ers at the same time. Please contact
Christine H. for more information, or sign up on the Welcome Table.
COM Chats in November

Give us your feedback and ideas!

 

Our tradition here at 2U is based on a shared ministry of clergy and laity. This month we would like to begin receiving the congregation's annual feedback on the work of our minister. We want to applaud successes, get suggestions and encourage changes if needed.


We have held two chats so far; upcoming chats will be held on:

  • Thursday Nov. 20th at 7:00 p.m.

  • Sunday Nov 23rd at 9:30 a.m. and at Noon

There will be 5-7 participants per group.

 

The COM Chats will have sign up sheets in the Palmer room. If you cannot attend one of the COM Chats but have comments or suggestions, you may request a meeting with a COM member or email us as a group, For individual contact info, see the COM bulletin board in the Palmer room.

Peace, Respect, Unity and Love:
Rumi's Whirling Dervish Teachings

Sunday, November 23, 2014

10:30am

 

2U community members Laura McKee and Erin Rusmi bring personal reflections on the poetry of 13th century Persian poet Jalalu'l-Din Rumi in a lay-led service on Sunday, November 23rd.  Rumi's leadership in Sufism encouraged peace, respect, unity and love.  How do we live out these values in our lives?

Transgender Day of Remembrance Altar & Gallery

Sunday, November 23, 2014

10:00am - 1:00pm in the Palmer Room

 

The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is an annual event set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Several TDoR events are held every year across the nation at schools, churches, and community centers. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester's murder - like most anti-transgender murder cases - has yet to be solved.

 

Join the LGBTQ Task Force on Sunday, November 23rd from 10am to 1pm in the Palmer Room to mourn and honor the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

12:00pm

 

2U will once again be hosting a Thanksgiving pot-luck dinner, coordinated by Judy Corbeille and Ian McPhaden. The bird and dressing will be provided; those who wish to attend should plan to bring their favorite dish to share.

Sign up on the Welcome Table to let us know what you'll be bringing, or to volunteer to help out.

Please email Judy with any questions, or call her at (773) 525-9416.

2U Buddhist Fellowship Fall Retreat

Saturday, November 29, 2014 

9:00am - 5:00pm

 

Join the 2UBF on Saturday, November 29th in the shrine room at Shambhala Chicago, 37 N. Carpenter, for a day-long meditation retreat between 9am and 5pm. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

Deck the Halls at 2U!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 

7:00pm

 

Save the date for 2U's annual holiday decorating party! Join us at 7pm on Wednesday, December 3rd to decorate the sanctuary and Palmer Room for the holidays. The staff will provide the decorations, the music, and the coffee, tea, and hot cocoa; we're counting on you to provide the laughter, the helping hands, and the fellowship to get us ready for the holiday season.

 

We hope to see you there!

Intergenerational UU Dance Party & Talent Show
-- A fundraiser for Chicago Chalice Connection --
Saturday, December 6th, 6pm - 10pm 
Second Unitarian Church, 656 W. Barry
You're invited! Chicago Chalice Connection is a community of young adults across the Chicagoland area exploring our faith and engaging in local struggles for justice. Please join us and UUs of all ages from across Chicago for a night of dance and celebration. 2U's own Adam Higgins will be one of the emcees for the evening.

Tickets are being sold on sliding scale, and we ask that everyone pay what you can.

Children ages 0 - 12 free
$10 - $30 for individuals
$15 - $40 family price

No one turned away for lack and funds!

To purchase tickets, talk to a young adult at 2U or email Megan.
Choir Corner
musical chalice The 2U choir rehearses in the sanctuary on Tuesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:30. All voices are welcome! Sopranos are especially welcome! For more information, contact music director Marianne Parker, or just come to a rehearsal and enjoy a warm greeting on a chilly autumn evening.
Crossing Boundaries:
Multifaith Leadership in the New America

August 9-15, 2015 at the Chautauqua Institution

 

A new Meadville Lombard non-credit course just for lay leaders, taught by the Rev. Dr. Lee Barker and Roger Doebke.
 
Lay leaders taking this course will build a foundation of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are necessary for emerging leadership in the American multi-religious context by:
  • Participating in communities of practice
  • Attending lectures and cultural performances that draw on the viewpoints of various faith traditions
  • Having dialogues with religious leaders who are working in the realm of mulitreligious leadership
  • Engaging in discussions with lay leaders from other congregations
To register for this non-credit course, click here. The tuition for the course is $1300 and includes classwork and lectures, shared housing, some meals, and a Chautauqua Institution gate pass (a $400 value). The Chautauqua Institution gate pass will admit you to all of the arts and cultural events during the week.
 
Prefer to arrange your own housing? Pay just $1100 for your tuition which includes classwork, lectures, and a Chautauqua Institution gate pass (a $400 value).  

Chautauqua Institution is a summer community on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State that uniquely provides a mix of fine and performing arts, lectures by national and international renowned speakers, interfaith worship and programs, and a variety of recreational activities. Over the course of a week, some 7,500 visitors are on the campus to participate in programs, classes and community events.
 
Questions about the course content? Email Roger Doebke.
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 October 31, 2014:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate =
$ 77,062
Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate =
$ 80,123
     Surplus or (Deficit)
($ 3,061)

ActualBudgeted
Total Revenues Year-to-Date =$109,091$104,637
Total Expenses Year-to-Date =$103,896$ 99,785
     Total Surplus or (Deficit)$   5,195$   4,852

In September, we raised $606.15 for the collection plate sharing recipient, Crossing Borders Music.

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, Nov. 26.