December 2020
The Unitarian Church of Hinsdale offers inspiration and tools to support full lives of
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Deepening Connections: A Time of Waiting |
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Rev Pam Rumancik
I am looking out my window as the first snow of the season blankets the yard. It’s not the heartiest of snows, being late November, but it has coated the landscape in a white lacy pattern that makes me smile and reminds me of winters long past when the first snow was a harbinger of the amazing holiday ahead.
Watching Rudolf, the Red-nosed Reindeer after Thanksgiving Day signaled that Christmas was indeed on the horizon. Back then, you had to really wait for Christmas. And waiting was hard! Hard to count the days before magical things could happen. Hard to go through the motions of school and work when it seemed December 25 was still so far away.
This is what the Christian season of Advent is about: waiting. But more than just waiting, it is about preparing and readying for something special. Looking ahead, but also being present to what is possible and needed on a particular day or moment in preparation.
The pandemic has put us all in waiting mode right now. We’re looking ahead to that magical moment when we can gather in person again and greet one another with hugs and kisses. When elders don’t have to be quarantined to keep them safe from the love of younger generations.
The holidays are ahead of us but will seemingly be scrubbed of many of the traditions and gatherings which make them special. No shared meals or cookie exchanges, no caroling, no sitting together in movie theaters watching this season’s film. Even sitting on Santa’s lap at the mall or town center may get a pass this year.
The holiday season is coming – and yet many hearts will continue to long.
We are all waiting, but what if we shift our perspective and begin to embrace an Advent mindset? Waiting can produce anxiety, preventing us from appreciating the present moment. People can spend their whole lives waiting for that perfect something – and end up missing so many amazing things available right now.
Instead, can we acknowledge that the light is still here even if seems to have dimmed?
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Fellow church members, Steve and Athena Trout, decided they would bring home-cooked meals to anyone who wanted one this Thanksgiving. Others volunteered to help. Steve said rather than focusing on what they were missing, they decided to try to make the season a bit brighter for others. A ray of light in the darkness.
Waiting is hard, but we can use this time to find hidden gifts. We can look with new eyes and maybe turn hardship into opportunity. So many people have been hurt by the pandemic. Can we turn our focus away from what we can’t do, and imagine what we can? Can your family go caroling in your neighborhood with the people in your bubble? Might you use the time not spent at parties to bake something special for your neighbors? Could you use money usually set aside for those obligatory work gifts and give them to a food pantry? A homeless shelter?
This month UCH’s December collection will be for PADS, the agency that supports homeless families all year round. Because of the pandemic, many homeless people are being housed in hotel rooms across the county, but often they don’t have access to refrigeration or cooking, and they still need the basics. We are collecting this month to support PADS’ good work, which only continues to grow in this economic climate. There are also opportunities to cook meals to share with these families. Please contact the office for details.
As we enter the darkest time of the year, let’s stop fretting and take time to dream. Imagine what might be possible in a pandemic landscape that was unrecognizable during our accustomed holiday seasons.
We know the light will return. We will get back together with our loved ones, with our church community, back to school and working onsite.
A new reality will arise, probably in the most unlikely of ways, like that baby born in the stable.
Instead of cursing the darkness, let us share our blessings with a world that needs us now more than ever. Who knows what magical things may be revealed?
Wishing you and yours a blessed holiday season!
~Rev Pam
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Our 2020 virtual Fall ZOOMraiser was a huge success! We raised over $12,000 for the church. Thank you all for such fun and generosity!
We send a huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated. A special shout out to Darren Howard, Megan Griffin and Susan Hebble who have been collecting items since last February.
We are incredibly grateful to all of you for donating and bidding and supporting our church! We exceeded the projected fundraising income for this event and are feeling confident about our church budget even during this difficult time.
I can’t say enough wonderful things about the team that put our Zoomraiser together. Nancy Kranz was the right hand of this operation. She designed our logo, put together the baskets, and worked to make all of our ideas come together. John Cooperrider produced the gorgeous catalog and our incredible Zoomraiser studio. Thank you Dave Lloyd and Mike Pabian our auctioneers. Thank you to our behind the scene zoom church mice Darren Howard and David May who worked to keep track of the bids and Suzanne Williams and Gene Schafer who were our technology gurus.
It was easy and fun for all of us to work together to make this a success!
There are still a few items to be had. Please check out the list on our website. Most notably is a week’s stay at a vacation home in Long Beach, Indiana. This would be a great place to come together as a family once it is safe to do so. The donor will work with you to pick out the best summer dates even if it is 2022! Please contact me for more information.
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Needed: Your Message of Hope & Joy! |
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As we approach the holidays we understand how challenging things may be this year; unable to see friends and family, unable to gather in person and hug one another. Let us take this time to remember that our family extends beyond our church building. Let us share our messages of love, joy, challenges and triumphs. Please submit small messages that can be shared via our social media. Feel free to submit words, images or video to posted throughout the holidays to Cherita Axel at
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Buddhist Mindful Meditation meeting |
Hello fellow UCH members. I’d like to introduce you to our Buddhist Mindful Meditation meeting. We meet via Zoom (for now!!) at 7:00 pm on Monday nights. We sit in meditation together for 20 minutes. We are going to explore various methods of guided meditations combined with some silent meditation for peaceful reflection. Around 7:30 we will listen to a dharma talk revolving around some aspect of Buddhist philosophy or psychology. During the first four weeks we explored handling difficult emotions. If you are interested in exploring meditation, finding practical methods to improve your life, or just getting to know some of your fellow church members better, this is a great opportunity to do it. All said, we meet for around 60 -90 minutes, but feel free to come for only the meditation from 7 to 7:30, or just the talk and discussion that starts at 7:30. I hope to see you all there. If you’d like to be added to our email list, drop me a line at ledgin72@gmail.com.
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“To live according to Buddhism’s ethical precepts, to apply its instructions on meditation, and to engage with its philosophical ideas seemed sufficiently self-validating and worthwhile in themselves. None of these activities needed to be justified or motivated by arcane theories of multiple lives and karmic causation.”- Stephen Batchelor
(Secular Buddhism)
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From Animal Ministry - Foster a Pet |
The holiday season is a popular time for families to adopt new members into their homes, and the UCH Animal Ministry is always available for referrals to adopt based on a family’s needs. Another option many people may not be aware of is fostering. Fostering is a deeply rewarding experience and a great way to support local animal rescues and shelters, which are among our community organizations hit especially hard during these trying times.
Many rescue agencies depend on foster families in order to provide temporary shelter for animals while they wait for adoptive homes. Foster arrangements decrease the resources required for animal rescues, allowing a greater number of animals to survive outside of shelters and providing them happy and fulfilling environments they may not otherwise have access to during the adoption process.
If you have “room for one more”, being a foster family can be an extremely rewarding experience. Knowing that you helped save a life while providing another family with their newest member can be deeply enriching. The rescue services will typically pay for all veterinary care, work within the foster family’s schedule and life demands, and are able to provide a foster family with animals that match their home’s needs. Whether you prefer playful kittens, pre-trained adult dogs, or you find fulfillment in providing second chances to especially difficult to adopt animals, you can find a rescue service that will work with you to benefit not only the animal, but your home as well.
If you are looking to adopt, a rescue service using foster families is extremely beneficial. Foster families are able to observe the animals in real-world applications, allowing greater detail of animal habits and activity level and ability to co-exist with other pets and children. This allows adoptive families to make more predictive decisions, allowing for peaceful transitions for all members of the household.
If you have any questions or would like any recommendations for adopting or fostering, please do not hesitate to contact the UCH Animal Ministry at UCHAnimalMinistry@gmail.com. |
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Dec 6- Waiting: An Advent Time of Year
We are waiting for so many things. How can we use this time to appreciate the gifts of the everyday? ~ Rev Pam
Dec 13 - No One a Stranger
Looking at life through the eyes of people constantly seen as 'other'. Our Sikh friends have suffered a lot and still promote a world of kindness and connection. ~Rev Pam
Dec 20 - Holiday Pageant - Zoom Style!
Our annual tradition continues, albeit online. We need you to send in pictures of yourself / family as shepherds, Angels or stable animals to Pam Fodor as soon as possible. We'll also be recruiting speaking parts so watch your email for more information! ~Rev Pam & Pam Fodor
Dec 21 - Solstice Service
Annual observation of the longest night of the year. Watch N&Ns or check Website for details. ~Paula Sejut-Dvorak & friends
Dec 24 - A Diaspora Christmas Eve
Even scattered far and away, we still gather together in song and story to celebrate this special night. ~Rev Pam
Dec 27 - A Kinetic Beginning to a New Year For those wanting to give 2020 the old heave-ho, a time of venting, laughing, and saying farewell to a year many would like to forget! Dave Lloyd & friends
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As with all our church family, 2020 has been a sad year for the Celebration Singers and our church musicians. Many have shared with me how much they miss being together in the same room, creating beautiful sounds. Jamie Pastman has filled the music void so beautifully during church services. His creativity and growing technology knowledge have been a joy to the ear and eye! It was Jamie's idea to try the recent Singers performance of Over the River and Through the Woods with each solo voice singing a short phrase. Baby steps!
We also very much appreciate the performance gifts of the Teppema family, Hays family, John Cooperrider and Allen Budziak and others during our virtual services. As we all grow more comfortable with recording and technology you can expect more offerings. We know music is so important for the enrichment of our services. We are happy to share our efforts!
~Julia Beckman
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Join us for Worship each week via Zoom or Youtube at 10:00 am
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Thrive with Pride Cafe Gatherings
for GBLTQ+ Seniors
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AgeOptions created Thrive with Pride Cafes to combat social isolation among LGBT+ older adults. This network of community sites provides social support and vital information to LGBT+ older adults and caregivers in suburban Cook County.
Thrive with Pride Cafes are envisioned as safe spaces for older adults and caregivers to learn more about benefits, share their stories and discuss topics that matter in a safe and affirming environment.
AgeOptions provides programming tailored to the needs and interests of participants at each site.
On the 4th Tuesday of each month, AgeOptions provides a plenary discussion with a helpful topic for GBLTQ+ elders.
UCH then provides a safe and affirming place to discuss the plenary information or to simply strengthen the online community on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
Details: Thrive with Pride Café
Time: Dec 8, 2020 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 823 2999 6123
Passcode: 616471
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The pandemic crisis has been going on for many long months now and holidays are approaching. Many folks have been affected in ways great and small. If you are facing challenges right now, know that your church is here to help. An emergency relief fund exists at all times for church members experiencing financial difficulties.
Help with groceries, utilities or other unexpected events is available with a call to Rev Pam.
There is a special collection on Christmas Eve which refills this fund and donors are welcome to give throughout the year to make sure there is enough to support the need.
You are loved and cared for. If you are in trouble, let us know so we can help. That's what community is for!
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Monthly Share the Plate: DuPage PADS |
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Due to the upsurge in Covid cases our staff is
working from home again and the office is closed.
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Staff Info & On-Site Days:
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