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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
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F
rom the Interim Minister, Rev. Jennie Barrington
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"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!" [ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol]
Dear Members and Friends,
Many times, in several ways, my spirits have felt more cheerful, or cheered up, this Holiday Season, thanks to you. Despite the fact that these are highly conflicted and divided times in our nation, we have been having a good time together, in the church and around the town. Thank you for helping to make my spirits bright!
Thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment when we rededicated our Black Lives Matter banner on December 3rd. And thank you to the choir, Carl Kennedy, the special musicians, and especially to our Director of Music, Amanda Thomas, for the exuberant Holiday Music Sunday. And thank you to Barb Hailey and Kate Friedlob for the merriest, yummiest, most successful cookie sale I ever experienced. It would not have been possible without everyone who baked, and also who purchased, cookies. And though the No-Rehearsal Pageant is an annual favorite for 2Uers, this year was my first. It left me feeling filled with good cheer. The pageant's success was truly a group effort. I especially thank Deb Rostorfer! And Karen Goldner! And the Rev. Elizabeth Harding! And our ever-enthusiastic Director of Faith Development, Alicia Obando, who set us up for success. I also award an Honorable Mention to the guileless folks in the front rows who charmingly took on the mantle of portraying additional sheep.
As I write I am happily anticipating attending the Yule celebration, presented annually by our Pagan group, called, COVES. They lead earth-centered gatherings in our church all year. And the Yule celebration is one of the best attended and most fondly recalled.
And coming up this Sunday will be Christmas Eve, my favorite night of the year, which always reminds me of Charles Dickens. As I write, it is the 174th Anniversary of when Dickens' A Christmas Carol was published.
The first printing was finished on December 17, 1843, and the first edition was sold out by Christmas Day. I know that you won't read this column until January. But Charles Dickens, who was a Unitarian and a Universalist, believed that the true meaning of Christmas should be practiced every day, by all of us, all year 'round. Through A Christmas Carol, Dickens says that we should extend love and goodwill to all people- including those who labor to make our lives easier, including passersby unknown to us, including disabled children whose future is uncertain, and including misanthropes like Ebenezer Scrooge.
A singular joy of my Holiday Season was to attend "A Klingon Christmas Carol," presented by E.D.G.E. Theatre, at the Raven. In it, SQuja (a/k/a Scrooge) learns the true meaning of the Klingon virtues of courage and honor on the eve of the Long Night. What exuberant feasting and fighting! And what a hoot to hear SQuja being compared to a Ferengi! The play was literally fantastic, in that it is fanciful and removed from reality (and also a rare treat for Star Trek fans). But it was also quite serious. I wish that we were not in a time when examples of honor, courage, sacrifice, and unconditional giving are so hard to find in the public sphere. In Dickens' time, he implored his countrymen to do all they could to eradicate "ignorance and want." And in our time, we, like the Klingons at the Raven, must do all we can to eradicate "
quvHa'ghach"
[corruption] and "
SaHHa'ghach"
[apathy]. Encouragingly, I attended "A Klingon Christmas Carol" because our Affiliate Minister, the Rev. Darrick Jackson performed in it. And I attended with a friend from 2U. And we all saw two other 2Uers there. Dickens would have been pleased to see that, all these years later, a core group of UUs gathered with colleagues and comrades, doing their part to keep the Christmas Spirit he illuminated shining brightly. I can think of no more heartening words to give you at this cusp between the years than his closing words from "A Christmas Carol:"
"Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world... He had no further intercourse with Spirits... And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!"
Affectionately yours,
Rev. Jennie
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Worship Services in January 2018
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Sunday, January 7th
- "Our Burning Bowl Service" [Worship Leaders: Margaret Redlich and Susan Richter] What are some things you'd like to acknowledge and let go of in this transition time from the old year into the New Year? In this service, we will have the opportunity to reverently release our old anxieties or regrets. And we will reflect on "letting go" as a spiritual practice. [Choir Sunday]
Sunday, January 14th - "Martin Luther King Jr., Sunday" [Rev. Jennie preaching]
Sunday, January 21st
- "Meditations on Winter" [Rev. Jennie preaching] Let us not let winter get the best of us! Winter can bring out the best in us. This intergenerational, family-friendly service will include reading, reflections, and special music on the theme of winter. Please join us to reconnect with the delight and joy of this blustery season! [Choir Sunday]
Sunday, January 28th - "Teachings and Practice from Buddhism, and Ways we can put them to Good Use" [Worship Leaders: Stephen Starkey, Laura McKee, and Rev. Jennie]
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Black Lives Matter Rededication
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 On Sunday, December 3, 2017, members of Second Unitarian Church rededicated their Black Lives Matter banner, during the worship service, and outdoors. The banner had been taken down due to maintenance work on the front of the building. This important social justice effort was made possible by Kim Warman, Atena Danner, Monica Drane, Jim Redlich, Andrew Zallar, and the Rev. Jennie Barrington, Interim Minister. The congregation rededicated the banner with these words of individual and collective commitment:
We, the Members and Friends of Second Unitarian Church of Chicago, heartily rededicate our Black Lives Matter banner, today, and for all the days ahead, as this struggle continues. In doing so, we affirm that this commitment is both on an individual level, and as a whole congregation. In the words of the Rev. Louise Green:
"To display the sign, Black Lives Matter, is an act of cultural resistance, of public witness. This action is a symbol of something larger, and a spiritual practice as well-focus, attention, and steadiness. The aim and desire is to keep the spotlight on the complex set of issues affecting Black people in this country, dating from slavery through to (2017). Not since the Civil Rights Era has there been such a sustained commitment to make broad change. Black Lives Matter is a statement about that renewed commitment, a vow to keep looking, watching, and struggling." (the Rev. Louise Green, Minister for Congregational Life, River Road UU Church, Bethesda MD)
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Winter Orientation
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Calling all visitors who want to become members!
2U's Winter Orientation is coming soon and will be held on Sundays, January 21, January 28 and February 4 following the morning service. Sessions are scheduled to begin at 11:45 AM in Fleishman Hall. If you are interested in attending, please sign up on the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room.
While attending any one of these three orientation session swill 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.
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2U Dinners
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 Want to get to know people at 2U? Please join us for our evening of 2U Dinners on
Saturday, February 3
. These are small dinners in people's homes. The host provides the main course and menu, and lets the guests know what to bring. For a twist, we will also be having a dinner at 2U as well, to make sure that we have an easily accessible option for all our members and friends.
Hosts are needed! If you would like to host, either at your home or at the church, please contact
Karen Fort or
Judy Corbeille.
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Celebrating Abundance Campaign Launched with $ for $ Match
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 We are pleased to announce that the Board and several members in the church have donated $7,500 to create a $ for $ match of your year end gift towards our Celebrating Abundance Campaign! Our goal is to raise $15,000. For every $ you donate, your gift will be doubled! The campaign runs now through Sunday, January 7, 2018.
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 interim minister and critical staff and continue enjoying all of the meaningful programs and activities going on.
Let's keep 2U healthy and strong.
Please donate today, a coming Sunday, or
online by clicking here.
*If donating online, please indicate that your donation is towards our Celebrating Abundance Campaign.
Thank you for your continued support of 2U!
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Welcome New Member,
Susan Hier
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Susan Hier's parents met and married at 2U, so she and her younger sister, Christine, have been attending their whole lives. Realizing that the 2U community was her family, she decided to officially join, so that she could acknowledge this, as well as contribute herself. Susan feels that UU's are the "trailblazers", not only in accepting others, but enthusiastically welcoming "the other".
Susan received her bachelor's degree in Biology and is a Registered Veterinary Technician. She recently started her own in-home veterinary nursing business and has applied to veterinary school. She particularly wants to study surgery.
In her free time, Susan enjoys reading, competitive swimming, and horseback-riding.
Susan has volunteered with the Night Ministry and a group home---Paulina House. In the future, she sees herself becoming more involved with social justice issues, particularly outreach to the LGBT community. Welcome to 2U membership Susan!!!
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UU Climate Action Team Meeting
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Every
Second Saturday at 2U!
Next meeting: January 13
, 2018
11 am to 11:30 am new members
11:30 am to 2:30 pm meeting
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2U Choir
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I
nterested in singing and joining the 2U Choir? Join the 2U Choir
on Thu
rsday 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].
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Money Matters
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What is our current financial condition?
Our
budget for the 2017-18 year is $336,687 or $6,474.75 per week!
Here is a summary of our current finances July 1 through November 30:
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Actual |
Budgeted |
Over/Under Budget |
| Pledges |
$103,900
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$106,391
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- $2,491
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| New Pledges |
$0 |
$445 |
- $445
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| Collection Plate |
$5,954 |
$6,400 |
- $446
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| Celebrating Abundance Campaign |
$1,125 |
$1,000 |
+ $125
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| Fundraising |
$10,566 |
$13,000 |
- $2,434
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| Space Sharing |
$22,132.50 |
$11,667 |
+ $10,465.50
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If you have any questions about the budget or would like more information, please contact the church office at
[email protected].
Collection Plate Sharing
In November, we raised $484.42 towards our collection plate sharing recipient,
UUSC.
Thank you all so much for helping to make 2U possible!
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Interested in Social Justice?
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Interested in social justice? If you haven't already, sign up for 2U's monthly social justice newsletter, The Hammer. You can "opt in" by clicking here
and entering your email. Both members and non-members are welcome to subscribe.
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#AmazonSmile
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 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. Search for Second Unitarian Church. Click here to sign up and to learn more!
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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, January 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 church office. Space is limited!
Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
656 West Barry Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Phone:
(773) 549-0260 ext. 10
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
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