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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
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From the Minister
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As I sit here in my office, I am remembering the times that I sat in here early on in my ministry: when it wasn't yet ~my~ office, when it wasn't comfortable or decorated, when it was just a place to put on my vestments before leading worship. Over time, though, it became a place where many of you have come to talk with me, or where I've planned worship, or where I've thought about what is next for Second Unitarian Church and how we might get there. It's become a place where I feel connected with all of you - and even though it's in the basement, the window now looks out on to green growing things in the window well, too.
Soon, this office-my office-will become Rev. Jennie's office, and it will be decorated differently, used at different times...but it will still be one more place where you can connect with the minister of this congregation. It will be a little weird for me (and for many of you, too) at first when that minister isn't me. But before long, it will be less weird for us all. It'll be the minister's office, no matter who that minister is.
As some of you have said to me over the years, "Ministers come and go, but the congregation continues on." That is exactly right. Ministers come when they are needed and go when it's time, but you all are the congregation. You are what makes Second Unitarian Church the vibrant, warm, hopeful congregation that I have come to love. I am very much looking forward to remembering and celebrating our time together this month. And then, after I have gone, to hearing now and then from my colleagues about how things continue on for you into the future.
For now, it's time to remember, celebrate, and give thanks! I am so very thankful for all of you.
Faithfully,
Rev. Adam
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Worship in the Park
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Please join us on
Sunday, July 30
at 11:00 AM for 2U's Annual Worship in the Park service as we bid fare Rev. Adam farewell for his last service at 2U! Worship will be located in Lincoln Park, right on Lake Michigan! We will meet at Grove 15, just south of the Waveland Clock Tower at 3700 N. Recreation Dr.
Please click here for a detailed map. Hard copies will also be available at the Welcome Table on Sunday!
There will also be a church-wide picnic right after the service. So, please bring your favorite dish or beverage to share! If you're bringing drinks: iced tea, lemonade or water are preferred!
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the church office or Darrin Weatherspoon either by email at
[email protected] or by phone at 773-316-4264.
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Climate Action Team Meeting
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Saturday, July 8, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Palmer Room
2U's Climate Action Team will host a monthly meeting of the Citizens Climate Lobby, every second Saturday.
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Social Justice Conversations
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 Saturday, July 8, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
in the Palmer Room
Bring a dish or beverage to share, and maybe a title of a social justice book you'd like to read over the summer. Friends and members of 2U are all a part of our Social Justice Community, and we'd like to share a social space, to eat, cook, talk... and maybe read together over the summer!
Saturdays don't work? Out of town? Contact us with questions or suggestions for dates for later in summer!
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Disability Pride Parade
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The 14th Annual Chicago Disability Pride Parade
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Downtown Chicago
Show your support for disability rights by joining the 2U contingent in marching in the Disability Pride Parade. The parade lines up on Plymouth Court and Van Buren, behind Harold Washington Library and ends in a rally and entertainment in Daley Plaza. Sign up at the Welcome Table in the Palmer Room. Contact Janice Stashwick at
[email protected]
or 312-810-2233 for more information.
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Toward Becoming an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation
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In January, we established four initial goals, in our first steps toward become an Immigrant Welcoming Church. Two of them involved reaching beyond the walls of Second Unitarian:
1. Reach out to other UU churches as well as congregations of various faiths around to Chicago, to determine what work is already being done in the area of Immigrant Justice.
We now have established ties with the UU churches in Hyde Park, Evanston and Oak Park. Additionally, we now participate as part of the Chicago Religious Leaders Network - Latin America.
2. Form relationships with Lakeview Churches who support or provide sanctuary.
Some of us have begun working in an Affinity Group with Wellington Ave United Church of Christ (UCC) and Holy Covenant, United Methodist Church.
Just prior to the federal Muslim ban and the response of resistance at airports, Second Unitarian's neighbor, Wellington Ave. UCC, welcomed
two asylum-seeking families from Central America. Each member of both families has been in school, the adults learning English. One child has graduated from Head Start, and another has graduated from eighth grade. All have received medical, dental and mental health care which they had not had access to, and continue to be housed via friends in the larger community who do not charge rent. The mothers of each family are unable to work until they receive authorization, which is hoped to happen within the coming year. In the meantime, financial support is necessary to cover all their expenses.
Additionally, the younger sister of one of the mothers
remains in the Eloy, AZ Detention Center
- a huge prison complex in the middle of the desert outside of Tucson, with a high deportation rate. At an impending bond hearing, it is hoped that she can be released to our community in Chicago, and reunited with her family so that she may heal. At this time, the amount of funds required for bond is unknown, and at immigration hearings, 100% of the bond is necessary.
Any donations we can make are greatly appreciated. These are real women and children, seeking refuge and healing from horrific situations.
Gift cards
to Aldi, Target, Jewel, Mariano's, and Walgreen's are welcome, as well as support for necessary medical care. Please donate at the 2U Social Justice Action Table on Sunday mornings, or mail directly to:
Wellington Ave. UCC
615 W. Wellington
Chicago, IL 60657
Additionally, transfers can also be made through PayPal and are tax deductible.
A breakdown of their budget is available at the 2U Social Justice Action Table.
"Never forget that
justice is what love looks like in public."
-Cornel West
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From Community Minister, Rev. Rudra Dundzila
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Historic Unitarian Raków Poland
The Unitarian denomination has a long history of liberal Christianity. The first Unitarian denomination was established on 10 June 1565 as the Minor Reformed Church of Poland-Lithuania, also known as the Polish Brethren (two years before Transylvania). The Unitarian and Reformed churches parted ways over disputes over the trinity, the role of Jesus, and the sacraments (American Congregationalists and Unitarians shared a similar fate centuries later, in 1825). Congregations were clustered in the Krakow-Lublin corridor, with a second smaller swatch of congregations scattered to the north, in Lithuania (see chalices in the map below for a partial listing of Unitarian churches).
This is year is an history anniversary year for Unitarianism. 450 years ago in 1567, Raków was chartered as a Unitarian city by nobleman Jan Sienieński (?-1599). He was a member of the Reformed church, but his wife
Jadwiga, nee Gnoińska, (dates unknown) and son Jakub (1568-1639) were Unitarian. Unique for its times, the charter expressly granted inhabitants religious freedom: "to each of them, until the Lord shall give them his grace and bring them to the unity of faith in life eternal, do I promise in my name and in the name of my successors to let them remain in their faith, and this I promise." Settlement began two years later. The city quickly grew to 1100-1500 residents. Racovians tended to be pacifists, carrying short wooden swords to mark their opposition to warfare. Jews established a synagogue in the city, however Catholics were not allowed a church.
Raków is famous for its Unitarian Academy (
1602-1638), a college with 1000 students and teachers. Unitarian scholars from all over Europe came here to teach, study, and exchange ideas. Unlike other schools of the time, people of all faiths were welcome to engage in religious dialog. Tuition was free, but students worked for their room and board.
Raków left a long-lasting legacy through its printing press. It published 200+ Unitarian titles in Polish, Ruthenian (Early Byelorussian-Ukrainian), and Latin. The most famous book is the Racovian Catechism of 1605. God-given human reason must be the basis for interpreting scripture; Jesus was the greatest human prophet who taught people how to reconcile with God. It was reprinted for centuries and translated, influencing generations of Unitarians. The press also published a Hymnal and Psalter, with marvelous Renaissance era music
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Alas, Raków did not survive. Emboldened by the Jesuits and the Counter Reformation, Catholics sought to stop the growing popularity of Protestantism. In 1638, they accused drunk students from the academy of desecrating a Catholic crucifix (similar accusations were being made against Protestants all over Poland-Lithuania). The government closed the academy and press, and ordered all the Unitarians to leave the city within four weeks. Catholics destroyed the Unitarian Chapel, and built the Church of the Holy Trinity in its place: the name and a plaque warns about the Unitarian heresy. Persecutions continued, leading to the expulsion of Unitarians from Poland in 1658.
Rev. Jay Atkinson, Scholar in Residence at Starr-King School for Ministry, organized a study tour of Raków and other Unitarian sites this June. Participants from the United States, England, Transylvania and Germany met with the Warsaw and Krakow Unitarians to visit historic Unitarian Poland. The next tour will coincide with the Raków anniversary of settlement celebrations in fall 2019.
Rev. Rudra Dundzila
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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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Painting in the "New" Basement
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 As a way to kick off the new church year, we're planning to freshen up the "new" basement with a fresh coat of paint. As such, we'll be painting over the existing children's mural. We thank Sue Dunmore for organizing that effort with our RE children several years ago. And, we are planning to take several photos and archive the existing mural. However, we forward to the future when our current group of RE children will be able to put something brand new in its place!
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Money Matters
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What is our current financial condition?
Our
budget for the 2016-17 year was $303,451 or $5,836 per week! Details of the summary of the full 2016-17 year will be coming soon.
Here is a summary of our current finances starting July 1 through May 31:
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Actual |
Budgeted |
Over/Under Budget |
| Pledges |
$200,835
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$196,116
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+ $4,719
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| New Pledges |
$2,247 |
$1,870 |
+ $377
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| Collection Plate |
$15,258 |
$14,000 |
+ $1,258
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| Special Gifts |
$14,970 |
$15,000 |
- $30
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| Fundraising |
$14,877 |
$14,000 |
+ $877
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| Space Sharing |
$35,160 |
$19,000 |
+ $16,160
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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 May, we raised $835.77 towards the collection plate sharing recipient,
Lakeview Pantry. We also raised $529.64 towards healing resources for People of Color within the 2U community.
Thank you all so much for helping to make 2U possible!
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2U Member Survey
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 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].
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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, July 12
.
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
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
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