Anvil header

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

Sunday, March 6
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music: Marianne Parker

Sunday, March 13
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music: 2U Choir

Sunday, March 20
Service at 10:30
Preachers: Shauna Womeldorff and Janice Stashwick
Music: Reece Johns

Sunday, March 27
Intergenerational 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, March 6
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, March 13
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, March 20
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

Sunday, March 27
Intergenerational Service
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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 Minister
It is good to be back!
 
I know you've heard me say it a few times now, but it is especially nice to say it now that I've been back from sabbatical for a month. Over the last four weeks, I've been watching and listening and thinking about what's next for us. I've got some ideas from my sabbatical study to expand the ways we connect with one another for spiritual support and growth that we'll put into practice next fall. I'll be following up with our various committees about continuing to improve our communication and effectiveness as an organization. I'll be continuing to work with the board to plan how we will move into the future-including conversations about the building, our budget, and how we will continue to be a beacon of Unitarian Universalism in our neighborhood and the wider community.
 
I've also been thinking about what you've told me you'd like to know more about, so I'm setting up a number of classes for this spring and summer that I hope you will join!
 
Creating Connection: A UU Exploration of Prayer        
Thursdays, April 7-21; 7-8:45pm
In three class sessions, we'll talk about what prayer is and is not, how it can be a part of a UU religious life, and ways you might begin, renew, or deepen your own prayer practice. Each session will include some lecture, some discussion, and an opportunity to practice a new form of prayer.
 
What Do UU Believe? Unitarian Universalist Theologies
Wednesdays, June 15-July 6; 7-8:45pm
In four class sessions, we'll talk about what we believe in the context of the variety of UU beliefs about how the universe works, including a look at UU Humanism, Christianity, Paganism, and Relational/Process theologies as well as international forms of Unitarianism, Universalism, and Unitarian Universalism. If there is sufficient interest, we can add a session or two to explore other UU theologies (such as UU Buddhism, Mysticism, Transcendentalism, or Judaism) more closely.
 
Making Peace with Your Religious Past
Thursdays, July 28-Aug 25; 7-8:45pm
We try to offer this class at least once a year to give members of the 2U community an opportunity to explore their own religious past and figure out their religious present and future. Whether you're a long-time UU or just recently come to UUism, whether you have a happy, difficult, or non-existent history as a member of a religious community, you are welcome to take this class. By understanding where you've been, it becomes easier to be more fully here right now!
 
If you'd like to join me and other 2Uers for any of these, please let me know via email or by signing up on the Welcome Table. I look forward to deepening our Unitarian Universalism together!
 
Faithfully,
Rev. Adam
Spring Equinox Service
Covenant of Earth and Sky, 2U's CUUPS Chapter, will be presenting the service at 10:30 AM on March 20th in celebration of the Spring Equinox. We are at the time of balance, Spring Equinox, when the light is of equal length between night and day as we enter the Planting Season. The light will continue to grow as we move forward in the Wheel of the Year. We will celebrate new beginnings, the story of the Goddess Eostre, the importance of Eggs which hold the power of new ideas as well as the significance of the Hare. We will have special music celebrating the Spring Equinox. All are welcome!
Welcome Our Newest Member!
Maureen King found 2U online when she and her son, Alex, a sophomore at Lincoln Park High School, felt the need for "a community of people with values we can share." They wanted a strong social justice mission and a place that felt welcoming to all people, and were considering several churches including one that was closer to their home in Portage Park. However, "in the first five minutes we knew" that Second Unitarian was their choice. Maureen works in fundraising communications for Lurie Children's Hospital. She has become active at 2U already by joining the Membership Committee.
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]
Why Pledge?
A call faces each of us this time of year: it's 2U Canvass time.  Incidentally it is also tax preparation time, and matters financial are a common consideration, both for ourselves and for our community. The Board of Trustees maps out where our financial situation governs what we can do as a community, and where we might stretch to make it better. For now, though, we're speaking on the more basic decision level of "Do I, and how much?" - pledge support to 2U that is. If you're reading this, I'd suggest to you that you are at least interested in what happens at Second Unitarian, and maybe you are fully engaged to the limits of your time and skills or somewhere in between.

If you are like most of us, there are natural cycles that govern your involvement with this church - times that you may be less visible, and maybe even remote in some sense, balanced by times that you engage more fully when your heart resonates more strongly with an action or event, or you simply see a need. One of the most magnificent aspects of our community is how there is room within the collective efforts that absorbs our physical ebbs and flows.

When I am less physically engaged, I feel safe feeling that when I am ready there will be ample opportunity for me to jump back in and contribute in those present ways - that the flow of our efforts to make this world a bit less hellish and a little more heavenly continues without me. What if I couldn't feel safe in that knowledge? If I came back and, for example, learned that someone new took over coordinating cooking for the Night Ministry, but that the money to purchase food had to be cut, and all the volunteers dissipated so that ministry was lost to all of us.

The point is, whatever enjoyment or enrichment you draw from 2U, the only way for you to know that it will be here for you when you are ready for it is by keeping your individual financial lifeline intact to keep the church moving. So I hope that it is plain to see that as we grow more talents, we live better by bringing those to our communal efforts. Likewise as we have more or less time to exercise those talents we must support the momentum by pledging our financial support - to keep the "there there"  for when we can best add our shoulders, hands and ideas, so there is a source that calls for our action. That source is like life: simultaneously balanced between amazingly robust and surprisingly fragile.  Choosing to pledge, and pledging with generosity puts your thumb on the robust side of the scales and helps make the room for each of our ebbs and flows.
From the Community Minister
February 22 was the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of international scouting. It is celebrated at Founder's Day internationally, or as Scouts' or Guides' Day. It is a day for scouts to celebrate their rich, world-wide heritage. Scouting has 8 fundamental principles, combined called the "Scout Method:" scout law and promise, learn by doing, team/patrol system, symbolic framework, personal progression, nature, adult support, and community service. Unitarian Universalist congregations sponsored both Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts USA troops. The UUA offers Unitarian Universalist scouts the Religion in Life award (http://www.uua.org/re/children/scouting).

The UUA relationship with the BSA went sour from 1998-2013, when the BSA explicitly prohibited gay scouts and scout leaders, although the policy was implemented haphazardly. Chicago basically ignored the policy. The BSA admitted young women to become Venturers (14-20). Without a policy, the BSA is currently trying to figure out the status of transgender scouts. The BSA also requires members to be faithful to the "Duty to God" scouting principle within a religious tradition. Atheists and agnostics are excluded, if they do not have a religious affiliation. Unitarian Universalists and Buddhists allow for atheist and agnostic scouts.

The Girl Scouts USA did not follow the BSA, allowing lesbian, transgender, atheist and agnostic scouts. Most Canadian and European scout organizations have policies in line with those of the Girl Scouts USA. Conservative religious groups have moved to disaffiliate themselves from the Girl Scouts USA, because of their inclusive stance. In February, the Catholic Bishop of St. Louis recommended Catholic churches and organizations no longer sponsor Girl Scouts USA. Some Catholics are boycotting Girl Scout cookies.

In response to the issues with the BSA, Unitarian Universalist congregations created a uniquely UU scouting group, Navigators/USA, http://navigatorsusa.org/. They have just over 100 chapters in the USA, England, and Canada. They focus on craft meetings, excursions into nature, and community service.

Rev. Dundzila in the blue sea scout uniform of Lietuvos Skautija/Scouting of Lithuanina

Yours in (sea) scouting,

Rev. Rudra Dundzila, Community Minister
Mate, Chicago Sea Scout Ship, Lithuanian Scout Association
From 2U's Night Ministry Outreach Program
The 2U Night Ministry Outreach Program is looking for Event Coordinator Volunteers who would like to run one or more of our monthly Volunteer events.  Currently, alternate months we are delivering a hot meal either on Halstead and Belmont or at "The Crib" shelter.

Throughout the next several months, there is an opportunity for the 2U Night Ministry Outreach Program to grow and expand.  In order for us to be able to meet these new demands, we will need trained Event Coordinators to be able to step into some of these upcoming opportunities.

Before the idea becomes overwhelming and you consider dismissing it, know that:
  • Event Coordinators can be a single person or a team, such as a couple. 
  • Event Coordinators pick the month(s) they'd like to volunteer and there is never any pressure to do more.
  • The role of an Event Coordinator is a simple, repetitive and learnable process that anyone who loves to organize and cook would truly enjoy.  
So what does an Event Coordinator actually do?  From a high level, an Event Coordinator picks the Soup or Entree of the month, submits the selected recipe(s) for nutritional review, incorporates any suggested changes to the recipe, makes a grocery list, takes a quick food inventory, goes shopping, returns groceries to the Church Kitchen, labels items, and shows up to run the evening on the day of the event - That's it!  

Administrative needs such as maintaining event sign ups, disseminating communications, ensuring volunteer positions are filled for each event, and providing the necessary list of tasks and timeline for the evening are all provided by the Program Coordinator.  

Additionally, Event Coordinators don't have to feel like they must go it alone.  The Program Coordinator is available to each Event Coordinator throughout the process and, until they feel they are ready, is by their side on the night of the event.  The Program Coordinator ensures the Event Coordinator is comfortable and will provide any needed support where necessary, even if that means doing the dishes!  

With a time commitment of less than 11 hours a month to run a single event, not only is it a small time commitment, but running an event is personally rewarding as well as a lot of fun!  Ask those who are doing it today!

If you'd like to volunteer or perhaps just learn more about this unique opportunity, please reach out to the Program Coordinator Kerry Marchetti-Knarr by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at 412-613-7171.
Money Matters
The weekly cost of running 2U is $6,321! 2U's annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 is $328,672.


For the Year-to-Date period July 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016:
Actual Pledges + Collection Plate =
$154,229
Budgeted Pledges + Collection Plate =
$141,305
     Surplus or (Deficit)
$12,914

ActualBudgeted
Revenues Year-to-Date =$231,271
$196,581
     + Use of Reserves (Rev. Belcher)* =$17,000
$17,000
Total Revenues Year-to-Date =$248,271$213,581
Total Expenses Year-to-Date =$198,413
$199,235
     Total Surplus or (Deficit)
$49,858
$14,346

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

Collection Plate Sharing
In January, we raised $685.46 towards the collection plate sharing recipient, Lakeview Pantry.

Thank you all so much for helping to make 2U possible!
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, March 9.

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