Worship at 2U
Sunday, December 21
Intergen Service at 10:30
Worship leader: Rev. Adam Robersmith & Raquel Garcia
Music by Kat Wyand
Wednesday, December 24
Christmas Eve
Service at 7:00pm
Sunday, December 28
No Service Today!
Pancake Breakfast
at 11:00
Sunday, January 4
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music by Michael McElvain
Sunday, January 11
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
_____________________
|
Children & Youth Faith Development Schedule
Child care for infants and toddlers is available every Sunday in the Green Caterpillar room.
Intergenerational service: no classes
Sunday, December 28 Pancake Breakfast No classes or Green Caterpillar Sunday, January 4 Spirit Play
UU Explorers
Sunday, January 11 Spirit Play Roots & Shoots Youth Group
|
Recent 2U Plate-Sharing Recipients
|
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
Fellowship Committee
Finance Committee
Green Sanctuary
Hospitality
Library
Lifespan Faith Dev.
Membership
Music
Newsletter
Pastoral Care
Safe Congregations
Senior Luncheon
Small Group Ministry
Social Justice
Transylvania Church
Webmaster
Young Adult Group
David Dyer
Stephanie Bens
|
|
|
From the Minister: The Gifts of the Season
|
No matter what it looks like outside, the calendar tells us an important truth: the end of the year and the holiday season are upon us!
Each year, there are certain things that remind me of what I love about this time of year: decorating my home and the church, spending time with others in celebration, going to concerts and watching various holiday specials at home, preparing gifts to give. This is also a time when I seek out quiet and calm moments in direct proportion to the events and parties that I attend. The holidays, for me, are a time of seeking balance - it's so easy to be caught up in the rush or the doldrums, and neither extreme brings me joy. Instead, I remind myself of what I enjoy with little things: a good cup of eggnog, a beautiful ornament for the tree, a piece of music that speaks to my heart and soul.
Along with the traditions that connect me to my history and family, I am also paying special attention this year to the things that connect me with the wider world to tend to that balance. I am talking with UU ministers, members of our congregation, and members of the wider community about the various ways in which we seek to make this world the place of peace, justice, and goodwill that our stories tell us it can become. I am reminded that the language that works so easily among people with the same experiences as I have may fail to connect with people who have different experiences and frames of reference. Whether we speak of holidays or social movements, we have to create commonality rather than assume it: neither the winter holidays nor our desires for the world are all just exactly the same, even if there are some common themes!
We all come from such a breadth of traditions, places, and perspectives that no simple statement can hope to hold all of what has become part of the end of this year. If I could, I would give you each a personal wish for this time. Instead, I will hold us all in prayer and hope through the coming weeks and simply say: Whether you celebrate one, many, or none of these winter holidays, I hope that you are able to enjoy the things that bring you joy and peace in this season! Faithfully, Rev. Adam
|
Congregational Conversation with the SJC:
How to Stand on the Side of Love
|
Sunday, December 21, 2014
12:00pm
After the failures of grand juries in Ferguson and New York to indict the police officers responsible for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, respectively, and to follow up on the December 7 congregational witness that Black lives matter, the Social Justice Council invites you to a congregational conversation this Sunday, December 21, at noon in the sanctuary to discuss where we are as a congregation and how best to continue our witness. All are welcome.
|
Special Gifts Campaign
|
When I was a kid, my extended family got together every Thanksgiving and played poker for hours after dinner. When I was in 4th grade, I won the pot of nickels, dimes, and quarters - and completely forgot about it until I felt the plastic bag of change in my pocket one December Sunday in church. I poured the bag into the collection plate during the special holiday offering, to the usher's surprise. I felt great about helping the congregation with what I could give at the time.
If you've been in worship this month, you've heard members of the congregation speaking about what they value about 2U and why they're choosing to make a special end-of-the-year gift to our community. People have spoken about the work of the committees, the choir and music, faith development, the staff and our space. I suspect that you each can add your own reasons to the list. We hope that you will take advantage of this time to help our congregation do its best to serve you and the world beyond our walls. Special gifts can be of any size - whether bags of Thanksgiving poker change or something that fits tidily into the red Special Gifts envelope. Your generosity of time, talent, and treasure makes the church's work possible all year round. Thank you for everything you give! Faithfully, Rev. Adam
|
|
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!
|
Winter Solstice Celebration
|
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!
|
Winter Orientation
|
Calling all visitors-- who want to become members!
The 2U Winter Orientation will be held Sunday, January 11; Sunday, January 18; and Sunday, January 25 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.
|
Crossing Borders Music Presents:
Looking Back and Looking Forward
|
Sunday, January 11, 2015
3:00pm
2U Social Justice Council presents a free concert of Crossing Borders Music in Looking Back and Looking Forward: A Concert for the 5th Anniversary of Haiti's Earthquake, a program of chamber music by Haitian composers that remembers the victims of Haiti's earthquake and presents a hopeful vision of moving forward in solidarity. Free-will donations will benefit the Haitian American Museum of Chicago, whose collections highlight the country's rich visual arts tradition. Selected artwork from the museum will be on display at the concert.
|
Call for LGBTQ Task Force Facilitator
|
Beginning in January, 2015:
- Lead monthly meetings with a fabulous group of activists!
- Coordinate the 2U/Chicago Area contingent in the LGBTQ Pride Parade!
- Organize Transgender Day of Remembrance event each year!
- Network with other loving churches in Chicago to bring greater LGBTQ equality!
- Stand on the Side of Love all the time, 24/7/365!
If any of this sounds of interest to you, let me know! Email me or give me a call/text at (773) 573-7991. Send along any questions as well.
In Solidarity,
Ashley
|
UCE Seeks Home Hospitality
|
Home hospitality is needed for the UU conference Escalating Inequality or Opportunity for All? to be held at the Unitarian Church of Evanston on February 20-22, 2015. To find out more about the conference, or to sign up to attend, go to the Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community website. If you can offer home hospitality for those attending the conference, please complete this form. Call Carol Nielsen with any questions at (847) 869-1177.
|
Third Unitarian Seeks RE Assistant
|
Third Unitarian Church of Chicago is seeking a part-time RE assistant as they anticipate the departure of their Director of Religious Education at the end of the church year. They are hopeful that the right candidate for this assistant position would transition into the DRE position next year. A job description can be found here. If you're interested in applying, please send cover letter, resume, and three references to Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom.
|
|
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 November 30, 2014:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate = |
| $106,144 | Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate = |
| $100,929 | Surplus or (Deficit) |
| $ 5,215 |
| Actual | Budgeted | Total Revenues Year-to-Date = | $144,971 | $135,549 | Total Expenses Year-to-Date = | $125,516 | $124,377 | Total Surplus or (Deficit) | $ 19,455 | $ 11,172 |
In November, we raised $687.00 for the collection plate sharing recipient, the UUSC.
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. 24th.
|
|
|