Hello UTUUC Friends!
In our continued effort to stay in touch with you, we will continue our "Reflecting with the Board" sessions this upcoming Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 2:30pm (NOTE: NEW TIME as to not conflict with the celebration for Alan at First United) and Monday, June 14, 2021 at 7pm. The Zoom link for both is here. Zoom ID: 921 8222 1879.
These sessions are a time for us to listen to you–we want to hear how you are, as well as your ideas, suggestions, and concerns. Here are a few things we would like you to know:
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Farewell celebrations for Rev. Alan Taylor continue! There are several events coming up that need you to RSVP to attend so please make sure to do so.
Upcoming Events:
Sunday June 13, noon-1:30pm
Meet on the lawn at First United for an opportunity to come together after Alan’s last Sunday in the Unity Temple pulpit and be with him and his family. No RSVP needed.
Saturday, June 26, 2pm-6pm
Celebration at the Nineteenth Century Club (178 Forest Ave) for food, music and speakers to celebrate Alan’s 18 years of service. Required RSVP here.
Sunday, June 27, 9am-noon
Join with friends and fellow congregants outside Unity Temple on Kenilworth Avenue for Alan’s last Sunday with Unity Temple as he turns over the keys. Required RSVP here.
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Unity Temple Summer RE for Children begins June 13 via Zoom at 9:30am. We'll have activities for all ages every Sunday with an opportunity to connect and practice our principles together. Feel free to contact our Summer RE coordinator, Juliana Engel-Storms at summer_re@unitytemple.org.
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The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Reverend Dawn S. Cooley will be joining UTUUC as our Interim Minister! Read more about Rev. Cooley here.
Rev. Cooley will be joining us on August 1, 2021. We expect Rev. Cooley to be with us for two years. In that time, we will first come to grips with where we are as a congregation, then, through careful discernment, where we ought to be heading. We don’t yet know what the next step beyond a 2-year Interim Ministry will be. The possibilities are multiple, and we are excited to look ahead!
Rev. Cooley has already been in contact with our leadership staff. Please stay tuned for more information about this ongoing ministerial transition after June 30, 2021. Welcome, Reverend Dawn Cooley!!
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The Board continues to work to form a Transitions Committee to work with Rev. Cooley. We are looking for a diverse group of five members who are widely known among the congregation, display healthy interpersonal boundaries and have a clear perspective into our systemic church functionings. If this is you, or someone you know, please email us at transition@unitytemple.org.
If you are interested in reading more about the Interim process, the UUA recommends the book In the Interim, by Barbara Child and Keith Kron. You can email us at transition@unitytemple.org to borrow a copy.
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The Community Transformation Team (CTT) is making progress towards our goal to return to Unity Temple for Homecoming Sunday on August 29. In the meantime, we continue to work on systems that will allow small groups to begin meeting mid-late summer at the Community Center and Unity Temple. We are so close! Stay tuned for more details. Questions and comments may be directed to ctt@unitytemple.org.
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Elizabeth Plummer, Director of Operations, made a presentation to the Board on why UTUUC needs a Development Committee and asked us to consider moving forward to create one. This committee would look at how we intentionally raise money for our congregation and for our operations. The Board agreed this was a crucial need and asked Elizabeth to assemble a team to help create a draft charter and job description for this committee in order to move forward.
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A new committee has formed with the goal to adopt explore the 8th Principle.
The 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
This committee has a thorough, intentional plan to engage our congregation first in conversation about the principle and the reasons we should adopt it. Clara Lewis and Chuck Ruth presented this information to the board and will be available at the Reflecting with the Board sessions to discuss further.
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Our staff have worked diligently to create and update our new website!! It is full of useful information for our congregation! We hope you will visit it regularly at unitytemple.org for all the latest UTUUC information.
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We look forward to reflecting with you all.
Together in our hearts,
Your UTUUC Board of Trustees
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Ed McDevitt, President
Julie Willoughby, Vice President
Kimberly Brumirski
Aisha Ellis
Amanda Kaleta-Kott
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Stephanie Kiesling
Stephen Lee, Secretary
Alice Ocrey
Rich Pokorny
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