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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
February 1, 2016
In This Issue...
Worship at 2U

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

Sunday, February 21
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music: Marianne Parker

Sunday, February 28
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Rudra Dundzila
Music: Folk Ensemble
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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, February 7
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, February 14
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, February 21
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, February 28
Spirit Play
UU Explorers
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Recent 2U Plate-Sharing Recipients





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Church Office Information & Staff

 Minister
773-549-0260, ext. 13
Office Hours:
Wed-Thurs 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
Other days & times by appointment
 
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 Board Chair, Susan Zeigler
It is with great rejoicing that we welcome our settled minister, Adam Robersmith, back in the pulpit on Sunday, February 7th! Please do come to this service to wish him well. I am sure that he will appreciate getting back in touch with members, and in particular, to meet those of you who joined the church in his absence.
 
We have some challenges ahead due to unpaid pledges in the current church year. Some of these pledges were from families who have moved away, so we know the budget for the upcoming fiscal year will not include their contributions. Unfortunately, new membership has not kept pace with unpaid pledges, which means we may end the year with a significant deficit, forcing us to dip into our limited reserves.
 
As we move into the canvass season, if you are in the position to do so, please consider a significant increase in your pledge to the church. These funds cover the day-to-day expenses of the church, no frills! If we cannot meet our budgeted expenses with adequate pledges, we will need to take measures to cut expenses, and believe me when I say there is not a lot of "fat" to trim.
 
While it pains me to share this news, it is important for the 2U community to know what we are up against. If you have any questions about the canvass, feel free to contact Mary-Helen Steindler, canvass chair.
 
See you in church!
 
Susan Zeigler
Fundraising Committee Meeting
Have you participated in planning fundraising activities (events, canvass) at 2U in the past? Have you had an interest in planning fundraising activities at 2U? Are you creative? Do you love to plan parties? Are you someone who is not afraid to talk about money?

We are having a fundraising meeting on Sunday, February 21st at 11:45 AM in the Youth Room to discuss fundraising plans for the remainder of the church year and create a more formalized structure for a fundraising committee. Please join us!
From the Nominating Committee
Dear members and friends of Second Unitarian Church,
 
The Nominating Committee would really appreciate your help in finding leaders for our annual slate and also for creating a list of possible future leaders. Each year the Nominating Committee is responsible for preparing a slate of candidates for our church leadership. This is an opportunity for you to share your suggestions or indicate your own interest in leadership by answering these two questions: Who do you think would be or has been a good leader at 2U? What do you think this person would bring to a leadership role?
 
Please fill out our online form by clicking here or complete the form located at the Welcome Table and place your response in the Nominating Committee box at the Welcome Table--it is optional to fill out your name unless you are self-nominating. You can also submit your responses by sending an email to [email protected]

Your suggestions will be an important piece in our consideration of people to nominate. As part of the process, we will review all suggestions with the Minister and the Board of Trustees. We invite you to contact the Committee, or any of us individually, if you have questions or suggestions you would like to discuss at [email protected].
 
We request your response by March 2, 2016.  Thank you for participating with these suggestions.
 
Faithfully,
 
2015-16 Nominating Committee:  
Linda Marquis [email protected]
Kate Friedlob [email protected]
Curtis Smith [email protected]
Jill Althage [email protected]
BIG (Building and Grounds) News: Tree Care at 2U
On January 21, after months of effort and consideration, 2U employed a crew from a professional tree-care company, The Care of Trees, to help manage the trees on the church's property. The workers removed six trees, an ailing shrub, three small "volunteers," and the trumpet vine along the back wall. They also pruned the two elms.

Last June, interested members convened to take a close look at the church grounds in an effort to improve them. We identified the need for some expert advice about the trees on the property. Over the course of several weeks last fall, I met on the church grounds with four certified arborists to get their opinions. The ad-hoc landscape group, along with members of the BIG Committee and the board, reviewed the recommendations of the arborists, and I hosted a board chat in November to discuss the plan with anyone from the congregation interested in the topic. We also obtained input from those with a special connection to the space--both COVES, which uses the backyard for various activities, and the Green Sanctuary group--and those involved in previous
landscaping efforts at church.

We were guided by our desire to protect the building from damage caused by trees too close to the structure, to tend to all of the vegetation on the grounds, and to beautify the space so that we reflect to the public and our neighbors the loveliness of our congregation. We were also mindful not to disturb the cremains in several places on the grounds. One of the trees that was removed was an unhealthy hemlock in the front yard. The other five were "volunteers"--trees that no one planted, but instead grew due to inattention--that had become large and were very poorly positioned in the backyard. Three of these were mulberry trees, two were maples. The trumpet vine was encroaching on the windows in the loft.

The tree-care crew took great care with the two elms, raising their skirts, trimming, and pruning to improve structure, develop a single leader (on the one in the front), and maintain appropriate form. The next step is for the ad-hoc landscape group, in conjunction with the entire congregation, to develop and assess plans for reworking the grounds, based on the new conditions. We received thoughtful recommendations from the arborists about which kind of trees might work well on our property and we're working with landscape designers to devise sketches before embarking on a more comprehensive design. Stay tuned!

If you have questions or would like to join the landscape group, please contact me.

~Monica Drane
February Board Chat
Jill Althage and Kate Friedlob will be sharing the Board Chat time after the service on Sunday, February 14. Please come to ask or discuss the letter from the Nominating Committee that is asking: 
Who do you think would be or has been a good leader at 2U? 
What do you think this person would bring to a leadership role?
More BIG (Building and Grounds) News
The BIG Committee met on Sunday, January 24 to discuss the condition of the building and grounds and ways to maintain and improve them.

It recommended that the 2U Board of Trustees draw no more than $7,500 from the Building Fund to cover costs associated with two special projects, each of which need immediate attention and for which there is no money in the church's building maintenance and repair budget: lighting repairs in the loft and preliminary landscape redesign work. This withdrawal will reduce the Building Fund by about a third, and the committee hesitates to take this action due to the fact that we rely on the fund in case of a building emergency, such as the need to replace a furnace should one of the church's seven furnaces break. But, the members of the committee believe that these two projects are necessary. The members of the committee discussed other pending large maintenance and repair projects (BIG "big" ones) and put them in priority order, given the best information we have: 

1) exterior caulking, repairs, and repainting of the church, 
2) more progress on a landscape redesign for the grounds, front and back, 
3) heating and cooling system upgrades, 
4) repairs to the loft, including new windows, and
5) repairs to the "old" basement (that part on the north side of the building).

Fortunately, the roof is relatively new. Unfortunately, this priority list does not include repairs to the sanctuary, namely the expensive replacement of the sanctuary floor. 2U is a lovely, but old building and the needs are many and costly. 

We discussed other projects, including BIG "small" ones, and we noted that the money in this fiscal year's building maintenance and supply budget is nearly gone, despite that there are five months remaining in the fiscal year. We are making good progress toward the completion of several projects, including the replacement of the handicapped parking sign in order to extend the space. Andrew has tended to a few basic maintenance tasks, including having the furnaces and fire extinguishers checked, plus monitoring snow removal.

If you are interested in joining the BIG Committee, please contact Monica Drane . In particular, the Committee is looking for people to help:
● investigate the cost and feasibility of adding a handicapped button for the main entrance door at the top of the ramp on the east side of the building, and
● perform some light handy-person duties on an occasional basis (there is a punch list of items that need immediate attention).

The BIG Committee will meet again on Sunday, March 20 at 11:45 AM in the Youth Room.

Please join us!
From the Library Committee 
The library now has over 800 books cataloged and ready for your perusal and checkout. Come in and browse--just before Sunday services or immediately after (from 11:30 til noon). Let Jill Althage know if you're looking for a particular subject. We even have some books on Yoga in the 600 Dewey decimal category. You may check out the material by writing your name on a card found in the pocket at the back of the book. Then place the card in the box next to the computer. You'll note that others have placed their cards there already.
Winter Orientation 
Calling all visitors who want to become members!

The last session of the 2U Winter Orientation will be held Sunday, February 7 following service. The session is 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.

Please contact Membership Chair, Judy Corbeille, with any questions or for more information.
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!
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!
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, February 10.

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