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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
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From the Minister
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On this sunny day, after so many storms and so much rain, I have the windows wide open and the birds singing beautifully just outside my office. After our Flower Communion and water-themed Music Sunday, my awareness of the blossoms around us and the rain that brings them is heightened. Yet today, the sky is brilliant blue. The gardens look lush and full. My heart is full, too, with gratitude and delight in this day, with hope and possibility for the days to come.
So I write with a deep sense of excitement and opportunity for 2U in this Anvil, as I announce our Sabbatical Minister, the Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher! While I am on sabbatical from Sept through the end of January, she will serve 2U half-time, working with the leadership and staff, the pastoral care ministry, and will lead worship three times each month. She won't be joining us until September, but we (the Board, Emmy Lou, and I) wanted you to know what was happening this fall as soon as possible. We're pleased to welcome her to our congregation and pulpit, and will give her a warm welcome come the fall!
Faithfully,
Rev. Adam
Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher
Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher has been ordained since 1989, serving four churches since that time: Traverse City, MI (1989-2004); Morristown, NJ (as interim 2004-5); DuPage UU Church in Naperville (2005-2014); and Universalist Unitarian Church of Joliet (2014-15). She was given the title Minister Emerita by the DuPage church. 1980-1987 she was the Director of Religious Education at First UU Church of Detroit. She has held many posts in the Districts in which she served as well as being the president of the Chicago area ministers' group for three years.
During the time when Meadville Theological School was re-doing its curriculum, she served on the advisory group of local ministers to develop the embedded internship program now used. Two students have been interns under her supervision and five ministers in preliminary fellowship have been mentored by her. At the Traverse City church, she led the congregation through two capital campaigns to build their church, then enlarge it, and led the DuPage church during their $2 million capital campaign to build their current sanctuary. Emmy Lou has a son and daughter-in-law who live Chicago with their two young daughters, Elena and Catalina. She writes, "I am looking forward to meeting you and being with you while Adam is on Sabbatical. My first service with you will be on September 13."
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Worship Associate Training on Sunday, July 26
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Have you thought about lighting our chalice? Being one of the friendly folks assisting during the candlelighting? Offering our readings to the congregation? Would you like to be a part of presenting worship at 2U without preaching or being a musician?
If you've answered "yes" to these questions, I invite you to consider becoming a Worship Associate for 2U. Please email, call, or catch me on a Sunday after worship to let me know that you're interested. I'll be happy to answer your questions. We'll be holding a training on Sunday, July 26th at 12:00pm after worship in the Sanctuary. You can sign up either by emailing me at [email protected] or by using the sign-up sheet on the Welcome Table.
Faithfully, Rev. Adam
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New Sunday Social Managers Needed
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Darrin and I regrettably find ourselves unable to continue hosting the Sunday Socials. We hope we have given you a sense of what a delightful tradition this could be for our congregation, bringing us all together over a good meal and good conversation.
The responsibilities of the manager include publishing notices of the upcoming Socials, assigning food dishes to bring, ensuring all needed kitchen supplies are available for the event, setting the food out for service, keeping the food warm and ensuring clean-up is complete.
If you have an interest in being involved in these events, please call either Darrin Weatherspoon at (773) 316-4264 or myself, Nancy Kloetzli at 773 561-5150. Either Darrin or I could arrange to be available for the first one or two Socials to help you get comfortable with operating the kitchen equipment, etc. Looking forward to hearing from you.
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2U Folk Fundraiser on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:30 PM
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The Folk Fundraiser returns to the 2U sanctuary on Tuesday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m.
This year's performers are the Good Graces, an Atlanta-based indie-folk collective led by singer-songwriter Kim Ware. The Good Graces have been described as "indie Lucinda Williams" and "countrified Liz Phair," and their blend of dreamy pop and heartfelt folk recently captured the attention of the Indigo Girls, who have invited the band to tour with them this summer.
Tickets are $15 each and will be available at the What's Happening table after Sunday services, and at the door the night of the concert.
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SUMMER SOLSTICE on Thursday, June 18 at 7 PM
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Covenant of Earth and Sky (CUUPS CHAPTER) invites all to join us for SUMMER SOLSTICE on Thursday, June 18th at 7PM. Also know as Litha, we celebrate the energy and passion of the sun. We turn the wheel of the year with each other in community and light. We will honor the Sun God in his many manifestations and the guidance of the Goddess as the year turns toward the waning time. We welcome all to bring a summer dish to share (sweet or savory) and we will make a Spirit Bag to take home. Please contact Shauna for any questions or comments at [email protected].
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Youth Group Lock In on Saturday, June 27
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The youth group is hosting it's first ever night lock in on Saturday, June 27, to celebrate Pride. We will host youth from local UU churches. We are in need of donations for dinner, breakfast, and snacks. We are a small, but growing youth group, so please help.
Get in touch with us by contacting either Megan Selby at 812-391-0491 or [email protected] or Jonah Bondurant at 773-816-8201 or [email protected].
Thank you!
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UU Worship resumes at Great Lakes Naval
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Dear Colleagues,
I would like to share the good news: Recruit Training Command has decided to resume civilian led worship for Unitarian Universalists and several other faith groups. The chaplains found uniformed personnel to lead worship for the remaining faith groups that were discontinued in early April. Details and a meeting are forthcoming over the next week. Worship resumed on May 31st, in time for the "Summer surge," the time of year when a bulk of recruits join after high school graduation.
There was an article in the Chicago Tribune about the changes: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-great-lakes-religion-policy-reversed-met-20150513-story.html
The Chief Chaplain also made it clear that he is still looking for uniformed personnel to lead Unitarian Universalist worship. We remain in negotiations to insure the continuation of UU worship for the recruits. The Great Lakes Ministry is seeking ways to comply with this request, thus preventing a future possible shutdown of worship services. If you have active duty or reserve military personnel in your congregations who would like to lead worship at Great Lakes once a month, please have them get in touch with me.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Ministry, I also look forward to working with you to schedule plate sharing and pulpit supply opportunities that would lend financial support for the ministry.
In faith and fellowship,
Rev. Rudra
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2U Gardening Update
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A team of seven gardeners tackled the job of moving the plants from the east planter to the main front yard at church over two days in mid-May in order to save them before the city removes the east planter to make room for the larger parking space for those who need assistance getting into church from a car pulled up on Barry Avenue.
We did it--and we hope that you like the results! In addition to finding new spots for peonies, irises, lilies, and phlox, we also weeded (and weeded and weeded!), laid a dozen bags of mulch where we weeded, and set up new fencing around the main yard (and used the old fencing for the west planter). The purpose of the fencing is to deter dogs. At some point, it would be nice to have a permanent, low fence with a gate and some decorative elements (our 2U wreath pattern, for instance). But for now, we have the fencing that we have. If you would like to be added to the list of 2U gardeners, please contact Andrew in the office.
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From the Sunday Services Committee
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Do you have an idea, a concept, or a story you want to share with our congregation? Do you think there is something we could all benefit from learning or thinking about or just sharing together? Consider doing a lay service!
Second Unitarian has a long tradition of lay services, in which a members of our congregation are given the pulpit to share their thoughts and feelings. Recent services have included topics such as prison ministry, the poetry of Rumi, and "This I Believe." If you are interested in providing a service, the Sunday Services Committee will support and guide you through the entire process. To learn more, simply email [email protected].
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Coffee Hosts STILL Needed!
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Please sign up to be a coffee host! Providing snacks assures that we have a welcoming environment for guests and more reasons to connect with our community following service. Your service and participation is GREATLY appreciated!
Please sign up in the Palmer Room or by clicking below:
Please contact our coffee hour maven, Laura McKee, if you have any questions at [email protected].
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Choir Corner
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2U choir members will be taking a break and resting their voices over the summer. Regular Tuesday night rehearsal will resume with the start of the official church year in the fall. If you would like to be added to the 2U choir notification list, please email Congregational Administrator, Andrew Zallar. For more information about the choir, please contact Music Director, Marianne Parker.
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Money Matters
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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, 2014 to May 31, 2015:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate = |
| $213,150 | Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate = |
| $227,865 | Surplus or (Deficit) |
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($14,715)
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| Actual | Budgeted | Total Revenues Year-to-Date = | $286,668 | $282,712 | Total Expenses Year-to-Date = | $295,859 | $279,333 | Total Surplus or (Deficit) | ($9,191) | $3,379 |
In May, we raised $891.52 towards the collection plate sharing recipient, Jane Addams Senior Caucus.
Thank you so much for helping to make 2U possible!
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Stay Connected
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Did you know that the UUA and MidAmerica Region UUA have their own respective newsletters?
Click here for more information about the UUA and click here to sign up for their newsletter, UU World.
Click here for more information about the MidAmerica Region UUA and click here to sign up for their newsletter.
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Submission Deadlines
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Have a message to put in the next Anvil or Orders of Service? Plan ahead!
Please have all submissions for the next newsletter submitted by noon on Wednesday, June 24.
Please have all submissions for the Orders of Service submitted by noon on Wednesday prior to the Sunday you'd like the announcement to appear.
Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
656 West Barry Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
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