Sunday, February 5, 2017
“Are You Your Work?” – 9:15 and 11:00am
This month’s theme of identity begins with exploring the question “Are you your work?” The idea of vocation is often misunderstood to be question of employment, but it goes deeper. Continuing the conversation begun in “The Meaning of Ministry,” we will explore what it means to be called to serve the world in your unique way. Rev. Bret Lortie speaking.
News from CRS, UU Prison Ministry, UUANI
Actions you can participate in with CRS, UU Prison Ministry, and UUANI:
CRS (Community Renewal Society) – This year’s actions will focus on employment opportunities for people with records, violence prevention, implementing the Fair Cops Ordinance in Chicago, and resolving the budget impasse fairly. Join Community Renewal Society for our annual mass trip to the capitol on May 9, 2017 to advocate for these issues. Contact Dale Griffin or Doug Erickson for more information or to RSVP!
The UU Prison Ministry of Illinois will celebrate its progress and new website and newsletter with a party at UCE on February 18 at 7:00. Please contact Doug Erickson for information. Also go with us THIS SUNDAY to the DuPage UU Church in Naperville to see a play at 3:00 “A Day at Stateville” written and performed by people who have been incarcerated, and learn lots about the prison system in Illinois and what we need to understand about it and work toward changing. RSVP Dale Griffin for info or ride sharing.
UUANI (UU Advocacy Network of Illinois) has begun an “action of the week” in this time of rapid change due to the recent election. Here is the action, on the IL budget, for this week. It is easy to take this action, so if you agree with the need for a fair Illinois budget now, please do! Thank you.
The Illinois budget is at the top of the state agenda this week, with the Governor delivering his State of the State address and the Senate working on a “grand bargain” compromise. They need to hear from us now to make the difficult choices needed for resolution.
Please call or click here to urge your elected officials to pass a responsible, full year, fully funded budget NOW.
For more information on any of these please contact Dale Griffin or other participants. DaleCGriffin@comcast.net
Sunday, January 29, 2017
“Our Famlies” – 9:15 and 11:00am
Families come in many shapes and sizes, and evolve through stages of life. Members of some UCE families will help us explore the question “What makes a family?” A worship service for all ages. Rev. Connie Grant and Rev. Bret Lortie leading.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
“The Meaning of Ministry” – 9:15 and 11:00am
We are mistaken if we think that only ministers get to minister. Have you heard your call to ministry … yet? There are no spectators in our faith, only participants. Your ministry is vital to our faith and its future. Rev. Bret Lortie speaking.
Update from the Refugee Family
The Syrian Refugee Family team would like to thank everyone who donated yarn for Fattoum’s knitting projects. You have our sincere thanks because this work gives her a great sense of purpose. We are looking for someone who would like to play chess occasionally with Mohammad. Please contact Jeanne Kerl (figkerl@gmail.com) if you are interested.
Both Mohammad and Aya got jobs this week with a catering company that makes food for Mariano’s, Whole Foods, etc. Aya and Mohammad also started intensive English classes at Truman College this week.
The family is accomplishing a great deal when you consider they only arrived in the U.S. in September. The mother, Fattoum, is beginning to attend English classes through a parent program provided by the Skokie school system and their father Khaled continues English classes with Refugee One. Uday, the youngest, is doing very well in his studies at Niles West High School. The family continues to face the many challenges of adjusting to a new culture, but they are making friends and learning quickly. The family and the volunteer team celebrated the holiday season with a party hosted by Carol and Brian Nielsen.
The family’s oldest daughter, her husband, and their young child are still living in a camp in Turkey. We hope that they will arrive in Chicago soon, despite the current climate in Washington.
We thank each one of you who have donated time, energy, rides, or money to this effort. Your generosity has made their journey much easier.
Board of Trustees Report on the Status of the Black Lives Matter Sign
Following last summer’s General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio, UCE’s attendees and several other interested congregational members became involved in several long e-mail conversations about the status of our Black Lives Matter sign. At the July Board Meeting, the Trustees voted to appoint a task force to advise us on the issues raised in these conversations. The task force submitted a report to the Board in August, and followed up with a presentation to the Board and further discussion at the October 19, 2016 meeting.
The task force consisted of Heike Eghardt, Sarah Vanderwicken, and Karen Courtright. They were joined by Martha Holman for an edifying presentation and discussion at the October Board meeting, during which the Board accepted their report, including their recommendations.
Here is the report for your information.
Barbara Ghoshal
From Eileen Wiviott, Membership Director
Dear Friends,
I am so honored and grateful for your affirmations, congratulations and your unanimous vote this past Sunday to ordain me into Unitarian Universalist Ministry. I don’t remember ever feeling more held in love and I am humbled by your generosity and kindness. The ordination will be Sunday, June 4th at 4pm. More formal invitations will be sent out soon but I hope you will save the date to join me for this meaningful celebration. Some of you have asked for the written version of the comments I made on Sunday after the vote. I may have strayed from this a bit but, in essence, this is what I said and very much what I feel:
“Almost twelve years ago, I spoke in front of this congregation for the first time at the behest of our former minister, Rev. Pescan. If I remember correctly, the directive was something along the lines of, “say something pithy about how this church transforms your life.” I had no idea at the time just how much transformation was to come. I found that short speech I gave twelve years ago and is some of what I said:
My name is Eileen Wiviott and I am a new member of the Religious Education Board. Some of you have heard me say, because it is often something I repeat, that I am not a natural born leader. Tell me what needs to be done and I’ll do it but say the word “chair” or “lead” and I try to sit as still as I can and blend in with the background. As the youngest of five with only older brothers, I was never looked upon to inspire the dog let alone to inspire a vision. But low and behold there I was with some of the leaders of our church yesterday at the Connections Convocation to discuss our Mission and Vision. It was there that I realized that sometimes leadership happens just by nodding your head. This is why I am standing here. When Barbara asked who would be willing to share with the congregation a few tidbits about our meeting, I, who thought that was a great idea, was nodding my head in spite of myself. This is essentially how I have found my way into involvement here at UCE. When someone asks, I say, “yes.” I figure if they think I can do it then I must be able to. I often feel overwhelmed and under-qualified but I keep my ears and mind open and continue to ask, “What can I do?” Sometimes leadership happens just by following the leaders.
We broke into groups of two to discuss what brought us here and at what moment did it feel like home. I literally wandered into this church looking for something I hadn’t even put words to and it immediately felt like home. That feeling of belonging has deepened the more I have gotten involved and the more I have been able to meet the needs of my spirit.
There is a beautiful balance here between the nourishing roots of tradition and the spreading branches of openness. I like that I feel grounded and safe in this community at the same time that I am pushing my own comfort zone and reaching out to help others. I love that I have found peace as well as energy here. As I become more involved this year, I am looking forward to getting to know more of you. I hope you will all bear witness as I uncover the hidden leader inside me.
“My friends, my beloved community, my spiritual home, you have not only witnessed as I have emerged as a leader, but you have called me, nurtured me, loved me into being who I am. Each person in this room, and many who are not here in body but will remain forever with me in spirit, have and continue to transform my life.”
I am so excited to share in the celebration of my ministry with you on June 4th at 4pm. Your love and encouragement has made all the difference in my life. Thank you.