Anvil header

Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
January 19, 2016
In This Issue...
Worship at 2U

Sunday, January 24
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher
Music: 2U Choir

Sunday, January 31
Service at 10:30
Preachers: Laure McKee and Karen Goldner
Music: Jonathan Dunmore and Rosalind Hurwitz

Sunday, February 7
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music: Kimberly Bares and MarySue Barrett

Sunday, February 14
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music: 2U Choir
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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, January 24
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, January 31
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, February 7
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, February 14
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
_____________________
_________________
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
_____________________
Board of Trustees 
 

 





                                  
From the Sabbatical Minister, Rev. Emmy Lou
This is my last Anvil article. By the time your next edition comes out, Adam will have returned. 

Working with you has been a good experience for me, using some of the skills acquired over 27 years of ministry and 8 years before that as a Director of Religious Education. I write this on the Sunday that I was not able to do the Sunday service or an afternoon wedding because of illness. It is only the third time in all those years that I have not been able to fulfill my Sunday duties. I am really grateful to Rev. Rudra for stepping in on Saturday night when I realized that my speaking abilities were hampered by excessive coughing that I couldn't control, and that none of you probably wanted the germs that the coughing would produce, especially the wedding party! 

I am impressed by the talented leadership in 2U and have enjoyed meeting another crop of interesting human beings (UUs never fail in that category!). We have two more weeks to work together. Meantime, thank you for this opportunity to get to know you and your church. It has been satisfying and challenging - exactly what attracted me to ministry in the first place!

~Emmy Lou
"2U-itude" Service on Sunday, January 31
We invite you to worship on Sunday, January 31 for a special service on "2U-itude: Why We Are Members of this UU Religious Community."

Committee on Ministry members Laura McKee and Karen Goldner bring personal reflections on the value of our unique 2U religion and the role of religion in our lives.

We hope to see you there!
Time and Talent Survey
Members of the board and the 2U Council are excited to announce the roll-out of our Time and Talent Survey. The purpose of this survey is to gather general information about our congregants (household composition, demographic information, etc.), as well as detailed information regarding your professional work, talents, hobbies, and interests. This information will be extremely helpful in learning more about our congregants, and in linking them to opportunities within the church. The survey also gives the opportunity for congregants to show their interest in a wide array of committees and affinity groups, ultimately connecting those individuals to the leadership of those groups.
 
Keep an eye out for an email from the office that will have a link to the Time and Talent Survey (there will also be paper copies available at church or by emailing Andrew Zallar, Congregational Administrator). The survey will be released by the end of January.
Small Group Ministries


Dear congregation,
 
We have one more opportunity this year to join a small group ministry group this year. It starts this week. It is a short-term Circles Group. It will meet the third Wednesday of each month, January-May: Jan 20, Feb 17, March 16, April 20, and May 18. Meetings will be 7-9 PM at the church. The co-facilitators will be Erin Rusmi and David Dyer. Meetings include social time, chalice lighting, check in, a brief reading, discussion of the topic, more social time, selection of next month's topic, check out, and extinguishing the flame.
 
Sign up now: http://goo.gl/forms/f7S5UySDWn. Although the group starts this week, the sign up has been extended until the start of February. You can join now and come Wednesday.
 
If you have any questions, please contact me (773-593-7500 or [email protected]).
 
Stay warm!
 
Rev. Rudra Dundzila
Community Minister
UU Women's Federation Event at 2U
Monday, January 25
7:00 PM

Join us Monday, January 25 at 7:00pm in the Palmer Room for a conversation about gender.

How has gender affected your life? What was it like being part of the 70s feminist movement? What is it like to be part of the trans liberation movement today? The Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation intern Shaya French and SUCC's Ben Polson are hosting a conversation on gender. It will be an opportunity to share stories and talk about sexism, transphobia, and the queer and feminist movements.

In her role as UUWF intern Shaya is mobilizing UUs to fight for reproductive justice. Ben Polson is an Actor / Director / Mathematician / Musician working on increasing the visibility of LGBTQ+ personal narratives.
Chicago World Music Chorus Performance at 2U
Sunday, January 24
5:30 PM

Chicago World Music Chorus invites the entire 2U community to enjoy a FREE concert in the sanctuary this upcoming Sunday, January 24 from 5:30-6:30 PM. Chicago World Music Chorus, under the direction of Patty Cuyler and Mollie Stone, has been practicing at 2U once a month since last fall. Come and experience their powerful a capella songs from around the globe.
Winter Orientation 
Calling all visitors who want to become members!

2U Winter Orientation will be held Sunday, January 24, Sunday, January 31 and Sunday, February 7 following services. Sessions are scheduled to begin at noon in Fleishman Hall and will end at 2:00 PM 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 sessions 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.
"Reinventing Church Leadership" Workshop
Saturday, January 30
9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

39W830 Highland Ave
Elgin, IL 60121

The MidAmerica Region UUA will be hosting a "Reinventing Church Leadership" workshop at the UU Church of Elgin, IL on Saturday, January 30 from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

This day-long workshop will explore the changing world of how we do church. Churches are facing important questions, including: Who runs this place? How do we make decisions? How can we have more clarity about our decision making? What is the changing nature of ministry, and how do congregations work well with ministers, and get new ones when their current ministers depart or retire? How can we work together? How do we get and support a new generation of leaders? 

These are the kinds of questions we'll explore together.

For more information or to register, please click here.
Imbolc: Sunday, January 31
Sunday, January 31
7:00 PM

Covenant of Earth and Sky (CUUPS Chapter) welcomes all to celebrate Imbolc., Sunday January 31st at 7pm. We are in the time of Resting in the Wheel of the Year, waiting for the Planting season to begin.
 
It is the time of Imbolc, when the light is changing in the waxing year, growing and illuminating. It is the time of Brigid, keeper of the hearth, inspiration, illumination, the healing Waters and Sacred Flame. We will have live music and will make a Brigit's cross after the ritual for all to take home.  Please bring a dish to share (sweet or savory).

Any questions or comments, please contact Shauna at [email protected].
From the Library Committee 
The 2U Library welcomes more volunteers. Can you help? Specifically we can use help processing books that have been cataloged. Processing includes pasting on labels, cards, and pockets; stamping our name on the title page, and placing them on selves. You can help our library evolve. Contact Jill Althage at [email protected] or 773-973-5610. We'll set up a time to meet and process some books. You'll see we have some really interesting books. Perhaps you'll find one you'd like to check out and read too.
February Food Drive
2U will be hosting a food drive throughout February to support Lakeview Pantry. Lakeview Pantry is a non-profit organization with a sole purpose of providing food to those who can't afford it in the neighborhood of Lakeview. Following the holiday months, the Lakeview Pantry is in need of canned food, especially whole grain cereal, jelly, lotion, and juice. Of course other canned items are much appreciated too. Barrels will be located throughout February in the Palmer Room. Thanks for your help!
2U Dinners on Saturday, February 6
What are 2U Dinners? Dinners are planned potlucks held every few months in members' homes purely for social enjoyment. You may sign up to be a guest or to host a dinner, usually for 8-14 persons. The host provides the main dish and "assigns" the other participants one item to bring, i.e. salad, vegetable, dessert, etc.

This is a fun way to get to know your fellow members and to enjoy the 2U community. Find the sign-up sheet on the Welcome Table. The next 2U Dinners will be held on Saturday, February 6. Come join us.
Money Matters
Pledge Income a Source of Concern 
This source of donations (very difficult to forecast) remains a key concern for the Board and Finance Committee with a possible shortfall vs. budget of $12,000 to $20,000.
  
  • 14% of pledge units had contributed $0 as of Dec 31.
  • 11% of pledge units are behind by more than 2 months.
  • On the bright side, over 10% of pledges have been paid in full already.
Members will be contacted in coming weeks about catching up on their pledges.
 
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.
 
Cookie Sale Raises $1,187 on Music Sunday
Thanks to Barb Hailey and Kate Friedlob for organizing and to Monica Drane and Julie Carlson for helping out the day of the event along with the many bakers and cookie buyers. What a delicious variety of holiday cookies to choose from... 

Special Gifts Exceed $15,000 Target
The year end giving campaign raised $16,337 so we were able to take full advantage of the $ for $ match of $7,500 created by a number of concerned members. Fifty households with 70 members contributed with donations ranging from $5 to $2,500. Thank you to all who contributed. These funds are critical in funding our operating expenses from the gas bill to building insurance to salaries for our staff.
 
How are the Church's Finances for the First Half of Fiscal 2015-16?
The weekly cost of running 2U is $6,321! 2U's annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 is $328,672.
 
Think of the church budget like a squirrel's weight. During the fall we gather acorns and fatten up and then during the winter all the weight is lost and hopefully our squirrel does not starve to death. Right now we are the fat squirrel! 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 in 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 was a very healthy $62,923 as folks caught up on pledges and we had the Evergreen Fest 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 December 31, 2015:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate =
$137,162
Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate =
$126,849
     Surplus or (Deficit)
$10,313

ActualBudgeted
Revenues Year-to-Date =$200,776
$170,199
     + Use of Reserves (Rev. Belcher)* =$12,918
$12,918
Total Revenues Year-to-Date =$213,694$183,117
Total Expenses Year-to-Date =$165,752
$165,814
     Total Surplus or (Deficit)
$47,942
$17,303

Expenses are right on track but we expect 2nd half income to be much less and as a result, the Finance Committee (1-17-2016 meeting) is concerned about a loss of $10,000 to $20,000. For now, we are delaying payment of about $9,000 in UUA dues as a result of the pledge situation.

*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 December, we raised $1,346 towards the collection plate sharing recipient, the Minister's Discretionary Fund. This is used by the Minister to help members and non-members, in need.

Thank you all so much for helping to make 2U possible!
Stop Junk Food Marketing in Public Schools
Care about public health? Want to fight McDonald's marketing in schools? Join us for the nearest Value [the] Meal Kick-Off Meeting!

We're currently facing an epidemic of diet-related disease, driven by an industry that targets kids and gets them hooked on junk food while they're young. Just one example of these marketing practices is McTeacher's Nights, where McDonald's enlists teachers to serve McDonald's food to their students, creating an undeserved association between their junk food and education.
 
We can make a difference and end this exploitation of school and students. Join us in Grand Boulevard (Tue, Jan 19th), the Loop (Wed, Jan 20th), or Lakeview (Thur Jan 21), to learn more!
 
We're mobilizing broad public support from citizens, medical professionals, parents, and teachers to show the Chicago Board of Education that they must eliminate junk food marketing in our public schools.
 
So please join other concerned residents and local organizations to find out how we can make sure that today's children don't become tomorrow's diabetic adults. RSVP to let us know you can make it, and bring a friend!
 
To learn more and find out how to get involved before the meeting, contact Lilly Adams at [email protected] or (206) 462-9238.
Thank You Spot!
 
Although Second Unitarian Church has a long history, its survival depends on the worker bees in the congregation. Here we are, in a new year, saying thank you to all the folks who pushed and pulled and tugged us along so that 2U made it into 2016.

2U may sustain our spirits, but spirit alone cannot sustain 2U! Thank you to the people who keep an eye on our budget - counting pennies, watching the debit and credit columns closely, figuring and re-figuring, making sure the church can keep going.

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].
Choir Corner
Enjoy the warmth of musical community in the cold of winter - join the choir!

The 2U choir rehearses in the sanctuary on Tuesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:30 in the sanctuary.

All voices are welcome! Tenors and sopranos are especially welcome! 

For more information, contact Music Director, Marianne Parker.

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, January 27.

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