Anvil header

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

Sunday, December 4
Service at 10:30
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music: Laura Joy
Accompanist: Reece Johns

Sunday, December 11
Holiday Music Service
at 10:30
Worship Leaders: Rev. Adam Robersmith and Director of Music, Amanda Thomas
Music: 2U Choir and more
Accompanist: Reece Johns

Sunday, December 18
Intergenerational Service
at 10:30
Worship Leaders: Rev. Adam Robersmith and Director of Faith Development, Alicia Obando
Music: Jim Simonis
Accompanist: Reece Johns

Saturday, December 24
Christmas Eve Service 
at 7:00
Preacher: Rev. Adam Robersmith
Music: 2U Choir
Accompanist: Angela Marciszewski

Sunday, December 25
Christmas Day
No worship service
Building will be closed

Sunday, January 1, 2017
New Year's Day
No worship service
Labyrinth Walk at 10:30

_____________________
Children & Youth Faith Development Schedule
 
Child care for infants and toddlers is available every Sunday in the Green Caterpillar room.

December 4, 2016
Spirit Play
UU Explorers

December 11, 2016
Intergenerational Service

December 18, 2016
Intergenerational Service

December 25, 2016
No classes or worship

January 1, 2017
No classes or worship
Labyrinth Walk at 10:30

Classes will resume on Sunday, January 8, 2017
_____________________
_________________
Church Office Information & Staff

 Minister
773-549-0260, ext. 13
Office Hours:
Wed-Thurs afternoons and evenings; Sunday afternoons
Other days & times by appointment

Director of Faith Development
773-549-0260, ext. 12

Director of Music
773-549-0260, ext. 14

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
                                  
2U Ministry Leaders

Board of Trustees
Tom Denio

Adult Faith Dev.

Bookstore

Buddhist Fellowship

Building & Grounds

Committee on Ministries

Covenant of Earth & Sky

Fellowship Committee

Finance Committee

Green Sanctuary

Hospitality 

Leadership Development and Nominating Committee

Library

Lifespan Faith Dev.

Membership

Music

Newsletter

Night Ministry Outreach
Open

Pastoral Care

Safe Congregations 

Senior Potluck Lunch

Small Group Ministry

Sunday Services

Transylvania Church

Webmaster

Young Adult Group
David Dyer
Stephanie Bens
_____________________
Board of Trustees 
 

 




                                  
From the Minister
I am so grateful to be moving into the holiday season! Perhaps, like me, you too need the reminders of what the holidays stand for at best: peace, hope, gratitude, rebirth, liberation, joy, community, generosity, rededication, and love. Whether we find the holidays to be a joyful time, a difficult time, or a bit of both, this season's observances can bring us reminders of the good and necessary things we need to carry us through the whole year.
 
You'll find our holiday season worship schedule below on the left side of the newsletter. This Sunday, Dec 4, we'll be looking at the spiritual gifts of the season. On Dec 11, our congregation's choir and musicians will offer us a service filled with music of many kinds. On Dec 18, we'll bring back the Intergenerational, No-Rehearsal, DIY Christmas Pageant in which everyone will play a role, even if you never leave your seat!
 
Please make note of our unusual schedule at the end of the month: On Saturday the 24th, we'll celebrate Christmas Eve with our annual Lessons, Carols, and Candlelight service. We will be closed on Christmas Day, even though it is a Sunday this year. On New Year's Day -- Sunday, January 1st -- we will be open for a special contemplative start to the new year with a labyrinth walk and meditation during our usual worship time.
 
Finally, the church office will be closed for the week between Dec 25 and January 1, and will reopen on Monday, January 2.
 
We are looking forward to being with you in this season. May your holidays be a blessing to you and all those around you!
 
Faithfully,
Rev. Adam
 
Special Gifts Campaign Launched with $ for $ Match
We are pleased to announce the Board and several leaders in the church have donated $7,000 to create a $ for $ match of your year end gift! Our goal is to raise $15,000. For every $ you donate, your gift will be doubled! The campaign is now through January 8, 2017.

These gifts help make 2U a vibrant community. Thanks to the generosity of your pledges, contributions and special gifts, we are able to benefit from a full time minister and critical staff.

Let's keep 2U healthy and strong in these challenging times.

Please donate today, a coming Sunday, or online by clicking here*If donating online, please indicate that your donation is towards our Specials Gifts Campaign.

Thank you for your continued support of 2U!
2U's Annual Holiday Cookie Sale
Sunday, December 11
11:30 AM

On Sunday, December 11, enjoy the beautiful music from our Holiday Music Service at 10:30 and afterwards, purchase a wide variety of homemade cookies to enjoy or give as gifts. This is a wonderful 2U tradition!

Cookie bakers and volunteers to help on the day of the event are needed! Sign up at the Welcome Table today, or for more information, please contact Barb Hailey at [email protected] or (773) 844-8846 or Kate Friedlob at [email protected] (773) 528-0884.
Social Justice Listening Campaign is Under Way
Many of us got to attend the recent Social Justice Workshop led by Rev. Scott Aaseng. We learned about the power of having one-on-one conversations between members of the congregation focused on our social justice goals and values.

I am pleased to announce that a passionate and dedicated team comprised of myself (David St. John), Kim Warman, Erin Rusmi, and Jill Althage, will be kicking off the Listening Campaign! What is a listening campaign you ask? Well, it is our effort to reach out to the people who expressed interest in one-on-one conversations. If you signed up at the recent workshop, one of us should be reaching out to you soon! 

We hope that engaging in these dialogues will help energize new social justice work, identify new leaders and new participants in the social justice life of the congregation, and bring people in the congregation closer together in the process. If you were not able to attend the recent workshop, and you would like to get involved with the listening campaign in the early stages, please reach out to Kim Warman ([email protected]).

We look forward to speaking with you soon!
Money Matters
What is our current financial condition? 
Dana Hill, our treasurer, reports that we are continuing to have a steady stream of pledge money coming in. We are now past the first third of the church year and we are above 40% of pledge income. Our budget for this year is $303,451 or $5,836 per week!

Pledge income to date is $91,964 out of $223,320 total pledged. However, roughly 20% of our total pledging units have yet to make their 1st payment. We need everyone to keep up with their pledges!

Fundraising results from the Spooktacular event were $10,104.07 out of the goal of $10,000.00. The event was well attended and members had a fine time.

The fund-a-need raised $3,310.00 toward the air conditioning in the sanctuary.

The TV fundraiser made $975.00 out of $999.99 and the church got to keep the beautiful TV.

Space sharing remains a highlight. We are ahead of our budget to date at $13,407.50 for the year so far. 67% of our budgeted $20,000 has been met. This is due to Andrew's hard work and marketing efforts.

While income remains steady, we also had a few unexpected expenses recently including the purchase of a new office computer and an unexpected plumbing repair earlier this month.

Pledges make up over 70% of the income that allow us to operate the church. While we exceeded our fundraising goal and space sharing revenue is remaining steady, we rely on all of our members to keep up with their pledges! Thank you for your support.

Here is a summary of our current finances starting July 1 through October 31:


ActualBudgetedOver/Under Budget
Pledges$91,964$73,025
+ $18,939
New Pledges$0$490
- $490
Collection Plate$3,935$4,900
- $965
Fundraising$12,100$3,700
+ $8,400
Space Sharing$13,407.50$6,100
+ $7,307.50

If you have any questions about the budget or would like more information, please contact Andrew Zallar in the 2U office.

Collection Plate Sharing
In October, we raised $563.94 towards the collection plate sharing recipient, ONE Northside.

Thank you all so much for helping to make 2U possible!
Questions about Medicare?
Questions about Medicare? 2U pastoral care team member Bonnie Ewald is a Senior Health Insurance Program counselor through the state of Illinois, and has offered to provide support to 2U members who may have questions about their Medicare coverage. Open enrollment for Part D (Medicare prescription drug plans) goes until December 7. Please contact Bonnie directly at [email protected] or 312-533-8026 with any questions you may have.
Labyrinth Workshop, hosted by COVES
Tuesday, December 13
7:00 PM in the 2U Library

Covenant of Earth and Sky (CUUPS Chapter) is offering a repeat of the Labyrinth Workshop from October. This is an opportunity to learn about the sacred meaning of a labyrinth which is not a maze. It is a spiritual tool where one can find peace, joy, sacred space and connection to your own self as well as the larger world around us.

The concept of the labyrinth is an ancient one. One can find forgiveness, recognition of life difficulties, inner absolution, and renewed strength and perspective within this Sacred Space. There is important information to learn in anticipation of a Labyrinth walk. All will have an opportunity to walk a Labyrinth at Second Unitarian on two different dates; Thursday, December 29th from 7-9pm and Sunday, January 1st, 2017 from 10:30am-1pm. This is a 25 foot canvas labyrinth that will be laid in the sanctuary. More info to come in the Dec.15th Anvil! Any questions or comments, please email Shauna at [email protected].
Library News
Many of the books in the 2U Library are donations from you, generous 2Uers. We have some real gems on many topics. I hate to have to ask you now to hold off on donating more, at least for a while. We are outgrowing our space. So, instead of giving, it's now time to take--take a book out of the library for a loan to last until you are ready to return it. You'll make this librarian happy if you do.

Jill Althage, 2U Librarian
Welcome New Member, Deb Rostorfer
Deb Rostorfer knew that Unitarian Universalism was "the church for me" when she attended her first UU service in Florida in 2007. The service included hand puppets talking about evolution. Within a few years she decided to go to seminary at Meadville Lombard Theological School, which brought her to Chicago. A seminary field trip introduced her to 2U, and she has been coming ever since. She graduated from seminary and is currently a candidate for ministry.
 
Deb was born in the Detroit area, and spent much of her life in Florida. Her mother's family has roots in Chicago, so "I'm very happy to be here." Deb has already gotten involved in the Spirit Play program for our children at 2U. While she loves sweets she is also lactose intolerant and vegan.
Winter Solstice 2016
Wednesday, December 21
7:00 PM in the Sanctuary

Since ancient times, we have gathered in this season to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun in the Pagan tradition.

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 light and hope to all the Earth.  On the longest night of winter, there springs the new spark of hope, the Sacred Fire, the Light of the World.  We are in the midst of winter at the darkest part of the year, but even in the depths of darkness there is the promise of light to come with the celebration of the Goddess and the Yule Child.

All are welcome to join Covenant of Earth and Sky (CUUPS Chapter) to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Please bring a sweet or savory holiday dish to share. There will be a drawing for a Winter Solstice Gift Basket! Questions or comments, please email Shauna at [email protected].
2U Member Survey
In an effort to get to know our congregants better, and to learn what motivates you to be a part of the 2U community, the Fundraising and Marketing committee is launching a survey. This survey asks basic demographic information about you and your household members (this information will be kept private), as well as questions regarding your training, work and volunteer involvement, and the activities that are of interest to you at Second Unitarian Church.


Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey - it will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
 
If you have any questions about the content of the survey, you may reach out to Susan Zeigler at [email protected].
Introducing Breeze!
Have you heard about Breeze, 2U's new online church management software for members?

This new software enables 2U members to have access to our online member directory (with pictures!), update their contact information, check their contributions online and much more!

Have you had a chance to update your profile and add your photo yet?

By now, you should have received an email inviting you to create your account login. If not, please let me know!

You can access the database here

As always, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions about this or anything else!

Thank you!

Andrew Zallar
Congregational Administrator
Choir Corner
Interested in singing and joining the 2U Choir? The 2U Choir meets on Thursday evenings from 7:15 to 8:45 in the sanctuary under the direction of our Director of Music, Amanda Thomas! All are welcome!

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Amanda at [email protected].
#AmazonSmile
Do you love to shop? Do you love to support 2U? Well, now you can do both through AmazonSmile! 2U is now a supported charity on AmazonSmile. Click here to sign up and to learn more!
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 14.

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
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM