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Newsletter of 2nd Unitarian Church of Chicago
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From the Interim Minister, Rev. Jennie Barrington
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"They asked, 'If a tree should fall in the woods and you are not there, does it make a sound?'
And the answer came, 'If a tree should fall and no one is there, listen for the cry of the mourning birds who grieve the loss of their nests. They know where the tree lies. They call you to companion them as they search for a place to rest. Listen, then, for the mourning birds.'"
[The Rev. Aaron R. Payson]
Dear Members and Friends,
There are so many needs in the lives of 2U's members and friends, and your loved-ones, and in our whole nation. For any one worship service, or newsletter column, it can be difficult to prioritize. They are all important. They could all use some extra tender loving care. But for right now, the needs of the people in the wake of Hurricane Harvey are utmost in our hearts and prayers and hopes for safety and solace.
As I mentioned in our first worship service together, I am all too familiar with hurricanes, historic floods, and the need to evacuate, and the fear for one's safety and property. But I also will never forget the people who reached out to me during the historic flooding in South Carolina shortly after I moved there. And I remain deeply moved by all of the Unitarian Universalists, from all over the nation, who sent money to our congregation in Columbia, South Carolina, for assistance to people who suffered losses due to the flood. Many of you have been talking with me and expressing your heartfelt sorrow and concern for people in Houston in the path of Hurricane Harvey. So I am writing to give us all a way that we can help them.
First UU in Houston is a congregation of over 450 adults, and approximately 100 children and youth. They have three campuses, their main one, and the Copperfield campus and the Thoreau/Stafford campus. They are served by several ministers; their lead minister is the Rev. Dr. Daniel O'Connell. I have heard from Rev. O'Connell. In his all-church email he wrote, in part:
"I hope you and yours are safe and dry. Some of our folks have been flooded out of their homes, especially in the Museum District and Thoreau/Stafford... Many staff have their residences surrounded by an unwanted moat... I know all the grocery stores and some of the gas stations near my house are closed and have been for several days. As you probably know, the convention center has 9,000 people in it (designed to hold 5,000). So, the aftermath will be a bigger problem than the storm itself... Our hearts grieve with the loss of life, the anxiety of homelessness, power outages, loss of internet, and all the rest of it. Our hearts swell when we see and hear all the kindnesses and compassion strangers show for each other in such times of need. I have received emails from UU folks all over the country wanting to help and/or offering their thoughts and prayers. It is truly heartwarming. We have set up a donation item on our webpage: http://tinyurl.com/1stUU-Hurricane-Relief
We know the aftermath of Harvey will go on for years after it's finished. We will be a caring community for each other and for our civic partners and greater Houston. We will pay particular attention to marginalized communities not likely to be served by traditional relief providers and we will look to help where we can... You are in our thoughts and prayers, and know that UU folks all over the country are rooting for us and our city. (Daniel) P.S.: Stay Safe!"
A donation to First UU in Houston will potentially help hundreds of people. And it will help to remind our UU brothers and sisters in Texas, reassuringly and supportively, that they are not isolated and on their own in this historic weather disaster. In sending them money, we are also sending them care, and strengthening the loving connection between all of us. Let us hold the people harmed by Hurricane Harvey in our hearts, not just right now, but for weeks and months and years to come, and tenderly so.
In faith, your Interim Minister,
Rev. Jennie
***
Rev. Jennie's Office Hours:
Rev. Jennie is available to meet with people at the church on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and by appointment. Mondays and Monday nights are her day off. Her sermon-writing time is usually the latter part of the day on Friday, and the first part of the day on Saturday. She can be reached through her confidential voice mailbox at the church's number: 773-549-0260, ext. 13, and email address: [email protected]
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Wedding After Service This Sunday, September 3
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This
Sunday, September 3 after the service, there will be a wedding party arriving around noon to setup for their wedding ceremony starting at 2 pm. As a result, the chair setup for this Sunday's service will be different and will be setup in preparation for the wedding ceremony for the service. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding to help
accommodate
the wedding after the service!
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Homecoming Worship and Gathering of the Waters
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Sunday, September 10
10:30 am
Please join us for our homecoming intergenerational celebration worship service at the start of the church year on Sunday, September 10 at 10:30 am! We will celebrate our community through our annual ritual of water communion. Please bring water to the church from places sacred and meaningful to you, from near or far-- your home tap, a beach, winter's snows, or another beloved body of water. We look forward to beginning this new year together.
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Building Updates
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We removed the Standing On The Side Of Love/Black Lives Matter banner on Tuesday, August 22 in order to prepare for the painting of the exterior trim on the south side of the building. We had to take it down so that the painters could access the trim at the peak above the front door. We'll re-hang it in September as soon as possible. With questions, please contact Monica Drane (312.550.3412).
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Release Your Religious Past
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From Black & Pink
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Black & Pink sends lots of love and appreciation to 2U for hosting a movie screening during their National Gathering, described in the link below. We send love and appreciation right back to them for all of their radically loving work and we're proud to be host to
"The abolition of prison in its current structure is the end goal," Black and Pink's soon-to-be national director Tray Johns told In These Times. "But in the mean-time-between-time, we have to create a system of humanity ... to help and serve the people that are being most impacted by the prison system as we tear down the prison system."
If you'd like to become a penpal with Black & Pink they have penpal matching nights every 3rd Monday of the month at 2U in Fleishman Hall (the basement). For more info see their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/408581512808959/
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Photography Help Wanted!
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2U is looking for a photographer to help take pictures after service on Sundays for the coming weeks to help
launch of 2U's online photo directory campaign coming this fall!
Interested? Please contact Andrew Zallar in the 2U office at
[email protected]
.
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2U Climate Action Team Meeting
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The 2U Climate Action team invites you to the Citizens Climate Lobby meeting 11:30 am-2:30 pm, Saturday, September 9. I'm personally motivated because I'm trying to save people from suffering much worse heat waves than we faced here in 2006, or in 1995, when 739 died in Chicago.
Under the 'business as usual' scenario, future heat waves and floods in Chicago are projected to become ever more frequent, intense, and long-lived - unless we act. It's urgent; we are the last generation that can prevent the worst. It's not too late; studies by U. of Michigan predict that CCL's policy would save 1,600 lives in the great lakes area annually by 2050. The world will gradually heal after that when many added solutions are applied. Come build political will to solve climate change with us. We report our meetings with politicians, write letters to the editor, table at events, learn to give presentations. The first best step is a national legislative economic policy solution: Carbon Fee and Dividend. There is hope.
https://citizensclimatelobby.org
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
, Questions? 773-750-7835
-Karen Fort
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Beloved Conversations
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On
September 22 to 23
, our congregation will kick off our inaugural offering of Dr. Mark Hick's Beloved Conversations. The program consists of a 1.5 day retreat that launches the curriculum, followed by 8 non-consecutive sessions of guided dialogue and experiential exercises, each two hours long.
The retreat will be held in community with other congregations and not at 2U, but the follow-up sessions will be at 2U.
Beloved Conversations is an experiential curriculum that provides a space to re-form/fuse the brokenness of racism into new patterns of thought and behavior ushering in social and spiritual healing. This is a small-group experience for approximately 10 to 12 people.
The curriculum differs from many approaches to anti-racism/multicultural work in that it frames the discussion not only in terms of demographic urgency or cultural critiques (both of which are useful to understand!), but how developing skills and the habits of an anti-racist mind helps everyone -- those in dominant groups as well as those who are targets of oppression -- heal from the wounds of racism.
For more information:
Discussion about the development of Beloved Conversations, video from Meadville Lombard.
Church of the Larger Fellowship Google hangout on Beloved Conversations at the VUU, in both podcast and video.
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Webmaster Wanted!
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2U is looking for a skilled webmaster to help maintain 2U's website! Experience with WordPress preferred! Interested? Please contact Andrew Zallar in the 2U office at [email protected].
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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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Plate Sharing Applications
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Applications for plate sharing are due by Wednesday, October 25 for the January-March 2018 quarter. The application form may be secured through the 2U office, or from Norm Groetzinger at
[email protected]
. Electronic submission is encouraged. The organization for which you are submitting must be one in which you are involved, preferably as a volunteer. Applications are to be submitted to both Norm Groetzinger and to Susan Richter, who chairs the board's plate-sharing committee at
[email protected]
. Feel free to approach either of us with any questions about plate sharing.
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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 July 31:
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Actual |
Budgeted |
Over/Under Budget |
| Pledges |
$31,395
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$32,797
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- $1,402
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| New Pledges |
$0 |
$0 |
$0
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| Collection Plate |
$1,618 |
$1,200 |
+ $418
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| Special Gifts |
$0 |
$0 |
$0
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| Fundraising |
$0 |
$0 |
$0
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| Space Sharing |
$5,298 |
$2,334 |
+ $2,964
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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 July, we raised $809.09 towards our collection plate sharing recipient, our Transylvania Partner Church.
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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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, September 13
.
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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