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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
December 15, 2015
In This Issue...
Worship at 2U

Sunday, December 20
Intergen Service at 10:30
Worship Leaders: Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher and Raquel Garcia, DFD
Music: Jonathan Dunmore

Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 PM
Preacher: Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher

Sunday, December 27
No Service Today! Pancake Breakfast at 11:00

Sunday, January 3
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Margaret Redlich

Sunday, January 10
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher
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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, December 20
Intergenerational Service
No classes

Sunday, December 27
Pancake Breakfast
No classes or Green Caterpillar

Sunday, January 3
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, January 10
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
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Church Office Information & Staff

 Sabbatical Minister
773-549-0260, ext. 15
Office Hours:
Wednesday afternoons and evenings; Sunday afternoons
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

Congregational Administrator
773-549-0260, ext. 10
Office Hours: 
Mon-Thurs 10:00-4:00
 
Community Minister
773-593-7500
 
Community Minister
773-592-2809
 
Music Director
                                  
2U Ministry Leaders

Board of Trustees

Adult Faith Dev.

Bookstore

Buddhist Fellowship

Building & Grounds
Open

Committee on Ministry

Covenant of Earth & Sky

Fellowship Committee

Finance Committee

Green Sanctuary

Hospitality 

Library

Lifespan Faith Dev.

Membership

Music

Newsletter

Night Ministry Outreach

Nominating Committee

Pastoral Care

Safe Congregations 

Senior Potluck Lunch

Small Group Ministry

Social Justice

Sunday Services

Transylvania Church

Webmaster

Young Adult Group
David Dyer
Stephanie Bens
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Board of Trustees 
 

 





                                  
From the Board Chair, Susan Zeigler
I am so full of gratitude for the 2U community! The Evergreen Festival was a grand success, thanks to the members of the congregation who organized and attended. This event gave us a new and unique fellowship opportunity - I don't think I've danced with any of you before, but I look forward to doing it again. If you have auction items or party slots for which you have a balance, please follow up with Andrew Zallar, Congregational Administrator, at [email protected] as soon as possible (he will be grateful to finally have his office uncluttered!).
 
As 2015 comes to an end, I think of the many ways that the members of 2U have supported me and the work of the board, in particular during Adam's absence. As I have mentioned before in this forum, I did have some concerns about how to best lead with Adam gone. What I have learned during this time is that there are always persons "at the ready" no matter what may come up. These are individuals who are willing to spend extended time on the phone to work out details for a fundraising event, reach out with profound love when a member of the community is impacted by a major health scare or loses a family member, or do any number of things that keep our community whole. Our amazing staff have also kept the day-to-day operations running smoothly, in addition to their forward thinking about enhanced programming and administrative efficiencies. These are all examples of a well-run organization with the necessary supports for continued success and longevity.

I look forward to seeing what 2016 brings for our community. Thank you for all the ways that you contribute, and have a safe and happy holiday season.
 
See you in church.

Susan Zeigler
From the Sabbatical Minister, Rev. Emmy Lou
I would like to wish you all a warm and joyous Christmas/Solstice.

Most certainly I am awaiting the return of longer days, and it would be lovely to have just the right amount of snow to make Christmas Eve a magical night. Not so much snow as to make parking a problem for that evening, of course!  Which brings to mind how much we would all like everything to be just right all the time. But we know that at least one of our Christmas gifts will not be just right, and we will work hard to bring up gratitude for the intentions of the person who gave it. My gifts always come with the blessing to pass them on if they are not right for the recipient. But I didn't think that as a child. I wanted everyone to be delirious with joy at what I had picked. 

I remember shopping at the Woolworths when I was seven. I had my total amount of gift money (about $1.50) and worked hard to find gifts for each parent and my sister that would be meaningful to them. I'm not sure if my mother ever used the handkerchief and my father raved over the ashtray even though I now realize he was planning on quitting smoking that summer (and did).

Appreciation for the intent is a big thing. So one of the things I wish for you this Christmas (besides just the right amount of snow) is appreciation for the gifts that come your way. Maybe they won't be under a tree but instead show up in unexpected places - which is the basic message of the Christmas story. But look for them behind the glowing lights and joyous carols. And may you find there the caring and love that people have given to you.  Merry Holidays, everyone!

Rev. Emmy Lou
2U's Holiday Schedule
Sunday, December 20
Please join us this Sunday at 10:30 AM as we celebrate the season together through an intergenerational worship service. 

Monday, December 21
Please join us for our annual Winter Solstice celebration at 7:00 PM offered by 2U's Covenant of Earth and Sky. More information is below!
 
Thursday, December 24
Please join us at 7:00 PM 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 27
The 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! There will also be no children's classes or Green Caterpillar. More information is below!
 
Also, the church office will be closed from Thursday, December 24 through Saturday, January 2, 2016. Church office hours will return to normal the week of Sunday, January 3, 2016.
 
Regular children's classes will also resume on January 3, 2016.

We look forward to seeing you throughout the holidays!
Winter Solstice

Monday, December 21
7:00 PM

Covenant of Earth and Sky (CUUPS Chapter) welcomes all to join us for WINTER SOLSTICE on Monday, December 21 at 7pm. On the Winter Solstice, the darkest of nights, the Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth to the Sun and the new yearly cycle, bringing new light and hope to all the Earth. On the longest night of winter, and the dark night of our souls, there springs the new spark of hope, the Sacred Fire, the Light of the World.

We gather tonight to await the new light. Blessed Be! We will be singing Pagan carols with live music! All are welcome to come celebrate and please bring a dish to share (sweet or savory). Please contact Shauna with any questions or comments at [email protected].
Pancake Breakfast and Fellowship Sunday

Sunday, December 27
11:00 AM

The Fellowship Committee is hosting its annual Pancake Breakfast on  Sunday, December 27 starting at 11:00 AM in the Palmer Room. There will be no service this day, but 2U has created an excellent opportunity to Fellowship and have a hearty pancake breakfast. Everyone is invited to attend. 

We need volunteers for the following areas: Event-Co-Lead, cooks, set-up and clean-up. We also encourage you to contribute your favorite breakfast dish. Volunteers will need to be at the church on Sunday at 9:30 AM. We have sign-up sheets in the Palmer Room for Volunteers and Attendees. If you have any questions please contact Darrin Weatherspoon at [email protected].

Thank you for your participation.
Money Matters
Please Catch Up on Your Pledge!
A significant number of folks are behind on their pledges so the Board & Finance Committee are concerned about a potential deficit this year ending 6/30/2016 of at least $15,000 or even more! Why?
  • 18% of pledge units have contributed $0 as of December 14.
  • Last year, pledge income fell short of budget by 7.7%, the highest level in quite some time.
  • Collection plate income is coming in lower this year.
The Board & Finance Committee will be watching the pledge situation more closely and contacting late members in January. For now, we are delaying payment of UUA dues.
 
Remember! If your circumstances have changed and it is no longer possible for you to honor your pledge, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE notify Andrew Zallar in the office ([email protected]) so the Board can take action to conserve our resources!
 
We have already depleted our reserve fund by 23% this year to a balance of $58,516 in order to hire an interim minister, Rev. Belcher, and the Board strongly desires to maintain this level of reserves. For our last fiscal year, 2U had a loss of $4,936 and we can not continue to deplete our rainy day fund.
 
Evergreen Fest Raises $9,545!
A fun time was had with auction bidding, dancing, dining and socializing on Dec. 5. Over 100 tickets were sold and many thanks to all who participated! 
 
Special Gifts Target Raised to $15,000
This year end fundraising campaign helps fund everything in our budget from the minister's salary to the mortgage and heating bill. The Board raised the target by $5,500 due to lower expected fundraising income this year. A match of $7,500 created by a number of concerned members should help us hit the target. The campaign runs through January 4.
 
How are the Church's Finances so far this Year?
The weekly cost of running 2U is $6,321! 2U's annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 is $328,672.

So far, we are doing OK and the surplus shown below reflects the timing of our income as the Fitts fund income mostly comes in during the first half of our year and rental income is running ahead of target. And those paying pledges upfront have masked those behind on their pledges but this effect will disappear in the new year. December income should be healthy due to fundraising and special gifts. But in the January to June stretch, we use up the fall's surplus and try to break-even for the year. For us to break-even it is important for everyone to honor their pledges!

For the Year-to-Date period July 1 to November 30, 2015:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate =
$97,433
Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate =
$98,661
     Surplus or (Deficit)
($1,228)

ActualBudgeted
Revenues Year-to-Date =$137,890
$131,919
     + Use of Reserves (Rev. Belcher)* =$9,689
$9,689
Total Revenues Year-to-Date =$147,579$141,608
Total Expenses Year-to-Date =$136,229
$135,322
     Total Surplus or (Deficit)
$11,350
$6,286

*Note: The Interim Minister position is budgeted at $17,000 for the 5 months Rev. Belcher is with us and Rev. Robersmith is on sabbatical and this is being paid for out of our reserves. The $17,000 had been transferred into our Operating Account and will be paid out through the end of January.

Collection Plate Sharing
In November, we raised $713.08 towards the collection plate sharing recipient, UUSC.

Thank you all so much for helping to make 2U possible!
January Board Chat
Sunday, January 17, 2016
11:30 AM

Our January Board Chat will be on Sunday, January 17 after service at 11:30 AM, and will be led by Roger Wykes, the Council Chair of the Board of Trustees. The topic will be receiving feedback regarding 2U's Council and 2U's various committees/teams/groups/councils.
Thank You Spot!
 
A Thank You Spot reader writes:

"I want to say THANK YOU to the Board for all of their very hard work to raise money to round out our budget. I am not even sure of all they are doing, but I know there is A LOT going on and I am very grateful."

This space is for the many many things around 2U that we'd like to thank someone for, but we don't know who. Or we know who to thank and this spot is a good place to do it. Have an anonymous thank you that you'd like to share? Please email it to [email protected].
UU Holiday Giving Guide
Choir Corner
The 2U choir will be taking a break for the holidays the last two weeks in December. 

Rehearsals will resume in January - Tuesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:30 in the sanctuary.

For more information, please contact Music Director, Marianne Parker.

Happy holidays! Sing and be merry!
Stay Connected
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.
Submission Deadlines
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, December 30.

Please have all submissions for the Orders of Service submitted by noon on the Wednesday prior to the Sunday you'd like the announcement to appear. All announcements are subject to change at the discretion of the Congregational Administrator. Space is limited!

Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
656 West Barry Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657

Phone: (773) 549-0260