The Wayside Pulpit:
Happy New Year!
Rev. Michael Walker
Dear friends,
So, I doubt it’s just me… 2019 was not a great year for America, and even much of the world. It seems to me that most of us will gladly let the past year go, and good riddance to it!
Finding hope in the new year is going to be the challenge we face now. I’m reminded of the turning of the seasons. At some point, we shall leave the dead of winter behind us and look to enjoy the vibrancy of life. New shoots will begin to grow, flowers will bloom, and life will return to some semblance of normalcy.
Let us enter the new year with this same set of expectations and hopes: new growth and blooming, even in civic and political spheres. For all the disappointment many of us feel, despair does not help us solve problems. Rather, let’s face them face-on, no matter who is in the White House.
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are
to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the
tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own
nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the
divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our
happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
On that note, I wish you all a Happy New Year!
– Rev. Mike
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Rev. Michael Walker is the Interim Minister for the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church. He is interested in connecting with you! You may email him with questions and concerns at
revmike@dupageuuchurch.org
.
If you need an appointment with our minister, you may schedule one by calling the office at (630) 505-9408 or emailing
office@dupageuuchurch.org
.
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What does it mean to be a people of INTEGRITY?
Click
HERE
to find out!
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Sunday Services
10:30am in the Sanctuary
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Sunday, January 5, 2020
Make the next decision a good one
By Steve Cooper, Director of Religious Education
January begins our month of thinking about what it means to be a people of integrity. Each of us builds our own character by the actions we take in the world. And, most of us would say that we strive to be good people. Yet, we know that we regularly say and do things that take us further from good character. We sometimes act petty, selfish, entitled, impulsive, aggressive, hurtful, etc. We want one thing, and we do another. How do we reconcile these two realities?
We will have special music for this service for all ages.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
The "Letter from the Birmingham Jail" Revisited
Rev. Michael Walker
Today, we commemorate the prophetic witness and drive to achieve civil rights and social justice by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In honor of Dr. King’s legacy, Rev. Mike will look back at one of King’s pivotal writings, which he penned from jail after marching in a campaign to end racism and segregation. In this letter, he defends non-violent resistance and calls on all people, including white brothers and sisters, to join their black brothers and sisters in the struggle.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Stepping in the Dukkha… and suffering we may cause
Rev. Michael Walker
In Buddhist teachings, the path to ending suffering (
dukkha
) in this life come through the practice of eight attributes. These are: Right Understanding, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. Rev. Mike will discuss suffering in our own lives, and how the above informs a set of Buddhist practices that helps one to end suffering in our own lives. But, what about in the lives of others? What if one does something (perhaps unintentionally) that causes another pain. How can one return to Right Intention and Right Effort, to make things right with this other person?
The
Special Collection
will benefit our very own
SMILE Project:
Students, Mentors, Internship with Local Employers. This DUUC-led program mentors local youth aged 15-18 years through a summer internship.
SMILE’s mission is to prepare and assist students to realize their potential, develop a work ethic, and to make positive choices for their futures. DUUC was recently named a Breakthrough Congregation because of the SMILE project. If donating by check, please make payable to DUUC, with SMILE noted on the memo line. Thank you for giving generously!
Sunday, January 26, 2020
What Does Faith Mean in a Rational World?
Rev. Michael Walker
With every advancement in science, spiritual people wonder if the shelf-life of faith has expired. Some people will avoid anything spiritual and especially the concept of
spirit
, which they perceive as supernatural. However, the Transcendentalists taught us that spirit is a part of nature – and we will explore that idea this Sunday. As for faith, what happens to our lives when we have faith in something larger or beyond ourselves?
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Sunday Morning Forums
9:15am in the Learning Center
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Sunday, January 5, 2020
Science Sunday
will discuss the science behind CRISPR-cas 9 and gene editing. What can scientists do to alter chromosomes in the body to correct for genetically inherited diseases? What are the ethical issues involved? Scientists are developing means to precisely adjust chromosomes that control our genome, but is any genetic adaptation off limits?
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Parenting Unitarian Universalists Forum
By the Youth RE Committee
Do You Have Spiritual Practices?
Expressing your spirituality is a way of connecting with your soul, your innermost spark, the deepest part of yourself. Since the spiritual practices we introduce to our children influence their lifelong faith, it is important to be intentional about what we share and encourage.
There will be child care and programs provided for all ages during the Forum time.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Science Sunday
- Scott Thompson will continue to lead a thorough and comprehensive discussion about origins, from the perspective of natural science. During this season, the Science Sunday community tackles some of the Big Questions: "How did we come to be?" "Where does everything come from?" "Where does life come from" and so on. Having finished the discussion of the Big Bang, we turn to the formation of stars, planets, the chemical elements and - if we have time - the Earth. Bring your curiosity, your knowledge and your questions.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
To be determined.
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Whole Church New Year's Eve
Come celebrate New Year's Eve with your church family. We will have conversation, food, fun and games for the adults and children. The New Year will be celebrated at 8:00 pm so that our younger ones can be home and in bed at a decent time.
We will have an indoor moon jump set up for the young and the young at heart.
5:00 pm Arrival
6:00 pm Potluck dinner (bring sides or desserts)
8:00 pm Ring in the New Year!
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World Peace interfaith gathering, January 5.
Naperville Interfaith Leaders Association (NILA) is holding its annual interfaith prayer event on January 5, 2:30 - 4:00 pm at Wentz Hall on the North Central College campus. DuPage UU Church is co-sponsoring with other local faith groups the theme of 20/20 Vision: Seeking a World Where Everyone Belongs. Keynote speaker will be Regina Brent, founder and president of Unity Partnership, an organization that partners citizens with police to rebuild trust and relationships. Ms. Brent is a member of the DuPage AME Church. Always uplifting, so necessary in these interesting times. Join with others who seek peace for all.
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Your Ideas Are Important to Us!
The Transition Steering Team is now meeting regularly with Rev. Mike and is making plans to directly gather your ideas. The members of the transition team are Chris Brown (chair), Karen Hutt, Becky Trombly-Freytag, and Robert Skrocki. Please seek us out with your ideas. We want your input.
We are planning a series of conveniently scheduled listening sessions this winter to help guide the church’s work on the developmental tasks of this two-year interim ministry. For those unable to attend the sessions, we will provide opportunities for written input.
As discussed at the October 13
th
ministry start up session, our church’s developmental tasks are to:
- claim and honor our past and heal its griefs and conflicts,
- illuminate the church’s unique identity, its strengths, needs, and challenges,
- clarify and navigate the staff and lay shifts in leadership needed during the transition
- renew connections with available resources within and beyond the UUA
- enable the church to renew its vision, strengthen its stewardship, prepare for the new settled minister’s professional leadership, and engage its future with anticipation and zest!
We look forward to working with Rev. Mike, the board, and the whole church community to prepare us for the future!
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Ask Me Anything (AMA) with the
DuPage UU Church Board
The Board will be leading AMA Sessions on the Second Sunday of the Month. On
Sunday, January 12, 2020
, please grab a cup of coffee and join the Board during Coffee Hour in the Founders Room. Chat informally with Board Members, learn more about exciting projects going on in the church, get your questions answered or just connect with the Board and other church members. This is a drop-in event, so there’s no commitment to stay for the whole time period and no RSVPs are necessary. We hope to see you there! Questions? Email Church President, Jenny Hobbs at
president@dupageuuchurch.org
.
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Friday, January 10, 2020 at 7:20 pm: Big Pharma
The problem of extreme drug prices in the US and how drug cost impacts the public, businesses and the overall US economy is what this documentary is about, and more.
Big Pharma – Market Failure
digs deep to answer key questions: Do the normal rules of business apply to the pharma industry? How have free market principles impacted drug prices in the USA? How much do pharma companies spend on research and development and for what kinds of drugs? And how much on lobbying? And how much on advertising, and to whom? This film uncovers an array of problems created by the USA profit system, and what can be learned from other countries, pointing ways to potential solutions. For more on film, go to
https://fixithealthcare.com/
.
Healthcare professionals and members of Illinois Single-Payer Coalition, Shannon Rotolo and Jordan Centers, will join us afterwards for discussion and questions & answers. Shannon is a specialty pharmacist at the University of Chicago working with patients needing high-cost, complex medications. Jordan is a mental health nurse serving those on the state’s managed Medicaid program. We welcome your participation! Just Views Director is sociologist Stephanie Hughes 630/ 420-4233; Associate Director is Carol Tritschler 630/961-0106.
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DUUC Library January Featured Book of the Month
In the Library book,
Let Your Life Speak,
author Parker J. Palmer shares his understanding that learning to let his life speak means "living the life that wants to live in me." It involves creating the kind of quiet, trusting conditions that allow a soul to speak its truth. As we examine Integrity this month, Palmer’s book is a useful resource to learn to stop and listen to what is truly important.
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Special Collection
On Sunday, December 15, 2019,
$2,861.00
was collected for PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter). Thank you for your generosity! In an effort to foster collaboration, please send an email to
CommunityOutreach@dupageuuchurch.org
if there is something the Community Outreach Committee can do to help in the work of your committee.
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The Wider Circle
is a support group for parents, family members, and caregivers of those with special needs. Join us as we support one another by sharing our joys, challenges and, when possible, information and resources. We meet the first Friday of the month at 7:30 in Whitney Young. Contact Kristen Tang at
fivetangs@sbcglobal.net
for more information.
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The deadline for the
FEBRUARY
newsletter is
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 @ 9:00am
.
Please email your submissions to
office@dupageuuchurch.org
.
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The church office will be
closed January 1st - 3rd.
If you have an
emergency,
please contact Reverend Michael Walker by leaving a voicemail at 630-505-9408, ext. 702.
Regular hours will resume on Monday, January 6th.
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NON-CHURCH SPONSORED EVENT
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DuPage UU Church
office@dupageuuchurch.org
630-505-9408
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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