Snowflake Garland

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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
December 1, 2014
In This Issue
Worship at 2U
 
Sunday, December 7
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Carey Farrell

Sunday, December 14
Music Sunday
Intergen Service at 10:30
Worship leaders: Rev. Adam Robersmith & Marianne Parker

Sunday, December 21
Intergen Service at 10:30
Worship leader: Rev. Adam Robersmith & Raquel Garcia
Music by Kat Wyand

Sunday, December 28
No Service Today!
Pancake Breakfast
at 11:00
_____________________
Children & Youth Faith Development Schedule
 
Child care for infants and toddlers is available every Sunday in the Green Caterpillar room.

Sunday, December 7
Spirit Play
Roots & Shoots

Sunday, December 14
Music Sunday
Intergenerational service: no classes

Sunday, December 21
Intergenerational service: no classes

Sunday, December 28
Pancake Breakfast
No classes or Green Caterpillar
______________________
_________________
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 
 
 






                                  
As we wind down the year, it is a perfect time to reflect on what our community has accomplished. In 2014, we saw many of our Committees work to make our world, city and community a better place. 2U members:
  • coordinated free energy audits of our Church, which saved money and resulted in the installation of high-efficiency light fixtures (Green Sanctuary Committee);

  • helped families of those incarcerated, served the homeless through the Night Ministry, advocated for seniors through the Jane Addams Senior Caucus, developed grass-roots leaders to effect change with ONE Northside, and worked with the Community Renewal Society to reduce violence and barriers to employment along with efforts to achieve education reform (Social Justice);

  • expanded more members' knowledge of paganism and secured our CUUPS status (COVES);

  • provided opportunities to explore Chicago and socialize (2U Family Group);

  • cared for members in need and offered classes to provide information about planning for end of life (Pastoral Care Team);

  • established a group for those interested in effecting change in our climate (Climate Action Team);

  • explored Unitarian Universalism (Small Group Ministries);

  • started a meditation group (Buddhist Fellowship);

  • implemented our Second Sunday Socials (Fellowship);

  • continued to give us pleasure every Sunday (Choir and Musicians);

  • established the smallest art gallery in Chicago (Old Narthex Gallery);

  • increased our membership and made everyone welcome (Membership);

  • greeted members, friends and visitors each week (Hospitality); and

  • maintained and preserved our beautiful church home (BIG).

To be able to accomplish all that we have, we rely on our wonderful staff: Rev. Adam, Jen, Raquel, Marianne and Rev. Rudra. It is this staff that leads us and our children in faith development and supports every activity at Second Unitarian Church, from administrative needs to blending voices in our monthly choir presentation. As we rely on them, they rely on us to provide the financial support that Second Unitarian Church needs to meet its obligations. That is why we hope you will give generously to this year's Special Gifts Campaign. Our budgeted goal for this campaign is $9,000, an amount that was approved by members in last May's Annual Meeting. To put that in perspective, our goal represents 72% of our music director's salary or 90% of the expenses associated with all 2U Committees.

 

Our goal is to have every member of our community make some gift to the church during the campaign, which runs from November 23rd through January 4th. Please give as generously as you are able. You may mail your contribution, place it in the offering plate, or donate online at secondunitarian.org/contribute. Please indicate that your gift is for the Special Gifts Campaign.

 

With best wishes for the holidays and on behalf of the 2U Board of Trustees,

 

Darrin Weatherspoon

Chair, Board of Trustees

Wednesday, December 3rd: Please join us at 7pm for our annual holiday decorating party.

 

Sunday, December 14th: Our Holiday Music Service and Cookie Sale! This will be an intergenerational service; there will be no regular children's classes, but the Green Caterpillar Room will be open for infants and toddlers.

Sunday, December 21st: This Solstice Sunday, we will celebrate the season together in an intergenerational service. Then, join us at 7pm as 2U's Covenant of Earth and Sky offers our yearly Winter Solstice celebration.

 

Wednesday, December 24th: Join us at 7pm on Christmas Eve as we come together for our annual candlelight service, based in the Lessons and Carols tradition. With stories and songs, we'll reflect on the spirit of Christmas, the promise of hope, and the season of peace.

 

Sunday, December 28th: A 2U tradition continues! On the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's, we'll have a Pancake Breakfast and Fellowship Sunday. There won't be a full worship service this day; instead, we'll have time for members of the congregation to come together for a morning of good food and great fun. No children's classes or Green Caterpillar.

 

Remember that our church office will be closed from December 25th to January 1st. Rev. Adam and the church staff will be working from home and will be reachable by email. Church office hours return to normal the week of January 4th.

 

Regular children's classes will also resume on January 4th.

 

We look forward to seeing you through out the holidays!

Epiphany Paris and her daughter Joy (6) recently joined 2U and they are already very active in our faith community. They both enjoy participating in 2U Family Group activities. In addition to singing with the 2U Choir, Epiphany has joined the 2U Sunday Services Committee. Epiphany is a Care Coordinator for Birthways, a non-profit agency that provides labor and post-partum support for families. In her spare time, Epiphany is interested in video production and film making.

 

Carla and Michael Tebbe and their sons Andrew (9), David (7) and Ryan (3) recently joined 2U. Carla is a speech pathologist for Chicago Public Schools and Michael works a research librarian for a Chicago investment firm. Their sons enjoy chess, art and soccer. In their free time, Carla and Michael both enjoy reading. Carla and Michael both are from Kansas and they have called Chicago home since 2003.

 

Pat Wilder joined 2U after relocating to Chicago from Lincolnshire where she was a member of the North Shore Unitarian Church. Pat enjoys meeting other 2U members and participates in 2U's senior group activities, such as the senior pot luck luncheon. In her free time, she likes to travel to San Diego to visit her three year-old granddaughter. Before retiring, Pat worked at Stevenson High School where she counseled students about career choices and helped them find mentors.

 

Mark Williams is a Lakeview resident. He was drawn to 2U's community faith and tradition of religious freedom. Mark grew up in Evanston. He works as a fundraising consultant to non-profits, including agencies that serve individuals with disabilities and persons who are homeless. Mark enjoys bicycling and volunteering for agencies that care for seniors with dementia. Mark has joined a small group and looks forward to meeting other 2U members.  

 

Welcome Epiphany, Joy, Carla, Michael, Andrew, David, Ryan, Pat, and Mark! 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014 

7:00pm

 

Join us this Wednesday, December 3rd at 7pm for 2U's annual holiday decorating party! 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 our sanctuary and Palmer Room 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.
Book Nook Sale
books The Book Nook is having a sale! Most books are $4 or less. Cuban coffee, whole bean or ground,  $4 for 12 oz. Check us out during coffee hour on December 7th.

Many thanks to Gene Horcher who oversaw the Book Nook for many years. Anne Duston is our new book maven.
Old Narthex Gallery Reception
Sunday, December 7, 2014
11:30am

Linda Marquis, a longtime member of Second Unitarian, continues to display her watercolors, entitled "Spirit Play," in 2U's Old Narthex Gallery. We invite you to meet the artist at a reception during coffee hour next Sunday, December 7th. The exhibition will be up through December 21st and all work is for sale, with 50% of the proceeds to benefit the artist and 50% to benefit the church. 

 

If you have questions about purchasing the art, please contact the artist; if you have questions about displaying your artwork, please contact Colette.

cookies Sunday, December 14, 2014
11:30am

Enjoy the beautiful music on this Music Sunday, and afterwards purchase a wide variety of homemade cookies to enjoy or give as gifts. This is a wonderful 2U tradition.

Cookie bakers and volunteers to help on the day of the event are still needed! Sign up at the Welcome Table. For more information, contact Barb Hailey at (773) 844-8846 or Kate Friedlob at (773) 528-0884.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
7:00pm

Covenant of Earth and Sky, 2U's CUUPS Chapter, invites all to join us for the celebration of Winter Solstice on December 21st. This is the beginning of the Pagan New Year where we celebrate the return of the light with the birth of the Sun King, the importance of evergreens and this time of year of renewal, peace and interconnectedness. We will sing pagan carols, accompanied by guitar. All are welcome to bring a treat to share afterwards. Any questions or comments, please contact Shauna.

 

Blessed Be!

Sheet music star The 2U choir rehearses in the sanctuary on Tuesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:30. All voices are welcome! Sopranos are especially welcome! Fend off the holiday blues with the warmth of musical community - join the choir. For more information, contact music director Marianne Parker.
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, Dec. 10th.