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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
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From the Minister
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Next time you're at the church, you'll see a pretty dramatic change! During the last week of July, Suzanne Frank of Bluestem Garden Design, her staff, and volunteers from 2U re-landscaped the front and back gardens of the church. Suzanne's generosity in helping us create and implement a design within our budget that will be easier to maintain made this possible - and the help of so many 2Uers made it real! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who dug weeds, moved mulch, planted, watered, and cheered the workers on. Both gardens will offer us a greater ability to use and enjoy our space for worship and socializing.
| 2U gardening crew hard at work |
We hope you'll enjoy and help care for our newly beautiful spaces. If you'd like to offer your help, please contact Monica Drane. Also, please mark your calendars for two work days in the fall: Saturday, September 10 from 9 am to noon and Saturday, October 15 from 9 am to noon. We'll tend to the new plants to make sure that they're healthy, continue to weed, and lay 30 more bags of mulch.
There are changes coming to the life and the leadership of the congregation, too! We'll be bringing on a new Director of Music and a new Director of Faith Development in the coming month. The Rev. Scott Aaseng of UUANI is working with us to re-organize our Social Justice ministry to better meet our needs and those of the world. Considering our nation's current racial justice movement, I am working with 2U members and UU colleagues to find the kinds of education and action that will keep us moving toward the Beloved Community.
This has been an incredibly full summer thus far with travel and programming and new things happening at 2U. I will be taking August just a little bit more easily, with no travel and study leave to get my D.Min thesis done. I hope you'll enjoy the rest of the summer - even with getting new staff up to speed, I plan to rest a bit and enjoy this month as well.
Faithfully,
Rev. Adam
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2U Welcomes Rev. Colleen Vahey
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2U will welcome guest preacher Rev. Colleen Vahey to the pulpit this Sunday, August 7. She will be preaching on her sermon, "Resiliency is Rooted in Love."
Rev. Colleen Vahey was ordained as a UU minister in 2012. Over the past 25 years she has served as a chaplain, religious educator, professor, and minister. Currently, she serves on staff at Unity Temple UU Congregation in Oak Park, helping coordinate their social justice ministries.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Colleen has also lived in Australia, Switzerland, France, and Czech Republic. She and her partner currently live in the Chicago area with their three children and three animal companions. She enjoys reading, kayaking, and spending time in nature.
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2U Announces New Contemplative Worship Service
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We are delighted to announce a new contemplative worship service inspired by Buddhist and Quaker practices. Our first service will be on Friday, August 12th and then continue every first Friday starting in September. Services will be in both the Palmer Room and the Sanctuary at 6:30pm and end at 8:30pm, containing elements of fellowship, meditation, and contemplative conversation. No prior meditation experience is required. Instruction will be given as needed. Come as you are. All are welcome!
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2U Marketing/Fundraising Updates
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The new 2U Marketing and Fundraising Task Force has been meeting for a couple of months, and is very excited about the energy surrounding its efforts. There are several events scheduled out for the new church year, so be sure to mark your calendars for the following:
Sunday, September 25, 2016 - Celebration Luncheon for the start of the church year
Saturday, October 22, 2016 - Fall Fest Fundraiser
Sunday, June 4, 2017 - Celebration Luncheon for the end of the church year
We are starting to plan for an open house for the church after the landscaping is complete in the front of the building - not sure of the date yet, but we will keep you posted.
If you are interested in the work of the 2U Marketing and Fundraising Task Force, please do join us for our next meeting that will take place next Sunday, August 14, 2016 after the service. All are welcome, as there is a lot to get done - at this meeting in particular, we will be talking about more details for the fall events, recruiting for event leads, and discussing logistics for a marketing focus group. Hope to see you there!
If you have any questions or are interested in joining the 2U Marketing and Fundraising Task Force, you can send an email to us at [email protected].
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FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
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Covenant of Earth and Sky is hosting a FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: Saturday, August 27th at 4:00pm in the Sanctuary. We will be showing Disney's "BROTHER BEAR".
The film is about Kenai, a boy who is turned into a bear by the Nature Spirits because he took the life of the bear that killed his brother. In order to be human again, Kenai must travel to a mountain where the Northern lights touch the earth, and learn to see through another's eyes, feel through another's heart, and discover the meaning of brotherhood.
Popcorn and drinks (soda/juice/water) will be provided. We will collect donations to order Pizza for after the movie. Post movie activities will also include some talk about the film and a craft based on the movie theme! Children 4+ years old are welcome.
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Testimony to Cook County Board
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On July 13, 2U member Jim Simonis testified in front of the Cook County Board regarding proposing county board ordinance in support of low wage workers. Below is Jim's testimony:
Good afternoon. My name is Jim Simonis. I am a member of the Workers Rights Team at ONE Northside where I represent the Second Unitarian Church. I am also a constituent of County Commissioner Bridget Gainer. I am here to comment today on item 16-4263 on the agenda regarding Cook County's FY2016 Year End Revenues and Expenditures.
I have felt and seen the impacts of the state budget crisis and know all too well that our current fiscal crisis comes from the stranglehold that big corporations have on state-level politicians. The County needs to rise above this and not end up in the same stranglehold. You all at the County have the power to address this crisis of low wages, poverty, and lack of revenue to fund public services by passing the Responsible Business Act.
Although I am now retired, in 2010 I found it necessary to go back to work. I worked in customer service at a store of a large nationwide pharmacy chain. I was surprised to see that when my co-worker and trainer bought his personal groceries he used a "link" card to pay for them. I remembered that when I was growing up in the sixties, food stamps were considered a temporary, emergency necessity for the unemployed and that once they returned to the work force they would no longer need them.
But times have changed as many large companies now actually expect the state and the state's taxpayers to subsidize the insufficient wages that they pay their workers. As we at ONE Northside like to say in situations such as this, "That ain't right!". I am a strong supporter of the RBA because I feel it addresses thisbasic social injustice in that it requires large corporations to either pay their employees a living wage or to pay into a fund that would help the state in providing low wage workers the necessary social services that they need for their survival.
We have heard some Commissioners say cannot support the ordinance because Anita Alvarez's State's Attorney's office has concerns about the legality of it. Back in January, we met with the State's Attorney's office and they said that their determination was based on the most conservative interpretation of the law and that they would defend the RBA if the County Board passed it.
We at ONE Northside strongly feel that all of our County Commissioners should take a true progressive stance and follow the lead of Commissioner Robert Steele and other commissioners who have chose to challenge the status quo in the name of promoting social justice. This sometimes involves not being afraid to rock the boat. The RBA is a worthy measure that deservesyour support. It could be a significant step in the path of freeing the working people of Cook County from being forced to work for sub-subsistence wages while big corporations dodge paying their fair share into Cook County.
Thank you.
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UUSJ Quarterly Meeting
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No Justice, No Peace
UUs for Social Justice Quarterly Meeting
Sunday, August 28, 2016, starting at 2 pm
Unitarian Church of Hinsdale,
17 W. Maple St., Hinsdale, IL 60521
(two blocks north of Chicago Ave., 1 1/2 west of Garfield)
Program: 'Whose Justice? A Workshop on Bringing Restorative Justice to Our Communities' (2:00-3:30 p.m.)
Speakers: Prof Michael Seng, Co-Director of John Marshall Law School's Restorative Justice Project
Linda Cooper, Restorative Practices Trainer and member Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice Organization
Rev Karen Mooney, Minister of Beverly Unitarian Church and peace circle facilitator
Quarterly Board Meeting 3:35 - 5:00 pm
Both the workshop and board meeting are open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
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From Jill, the Librarian
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The 2U Library is open to all the following Sundays from Noon to 2 PM:
August 14 and 28
September 11 and 25
October 9 and 23
November 13 and 27
December 11 and 25
Are you ever in a meeting when your mind wanders away from the topic? If this should happen during a meeting in the 2U Library, go ahead and let your eyes roam the shelves. Later after the meeting take the book, DVD, CD or item and find the card. Just write your name (first and last) and the current date on a card you'll find in a pocket near the back of the book or item. Then place the card in the box beside the computer. When you return the item, place it in the green box. Jill Althage will re-shelve it!
Here are some of the items added this month:
DVDs:
As We Forgive DVD 967.57104 HIN
God Grew Tired of Us DVD 962.4043 QUI
Hotel Rwanda DVD 791.43 GEO
Human Experience DVD 170 CAM
Slumdog Millionaire DVD 780-9866 BOY
BOOKS:
Anatomy of Censorship: Why the Censors Have It Wrong 363.31 WHI
Book of the Dead: The Papyrus of Ani 299.31 BUD
Complete Guide to Small Group Ministry 253.7 HIL
Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling 253.03 HUN
Dreams of My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance 973.0405967625013 OBA
Larousse World Mythology 291 GRI
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From Rev. Rudra Dundzila
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Dear Congregants,
By the time you will be reading this Anvil, I will have been in Transylvania for nearly two weeks, including visiting our partner congregation in Kenos.
You may recall that I had requested photographs from congregational life to share with Kenos. Thank you to all the individual who sent in photos. I had a hard time to select the images for the album. Attached please find a digital version of the physical photo album that was shared in Kenos over the weekend of 29-30-31 July.
You will hear more on my trip and our church partnership this fall.
In faith and fellowship, Rev. Rudra
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Money Matters
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The weekly cost for running 2U is $5,835.60!
2U's annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 was $328,672.
Below is a brief summary of our pledging/collection plate revenue vs our expenses through May 31, 2016. A detailed summary of the full July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 fiscal year will be coming soon.
Budget Update: 11 months ending May 31, 2016
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Actual
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Budget
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Difference
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Pledges
| $210,107 | $204,437
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$5,670
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Collection Plate
| $12,989
| $17,055 |
($4,066)
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Total Expenses
| $306,015 | $301,539 |
($4,476)
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Collection Plate Sharing
Thank you all 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, August 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
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