Sunday, March 18, 2018
“Where We Learn Generosity”
The conclusion to our annual pledge drive turns our attention to the generosity present among us and two questions: How we will use our resources to continue the work of our congregation, “to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole; and, when faced with fear, “where do we learn to be generous?” Both answers are rooted in finding balance. Rev. Bret Lortie, preaching
Your Input on Interim
As the board moves forward with the Interim Minister search process, we’d like your input. Just click here to answer this one question survey. We will be filling out the application form in the next couple of weeks, so we’d appreciate your quick response.
The Process
To review: March/April is the application and matching time for Interim Ministers. We will know by mid-May who our Interim Minister will be and they would start on August 1st. In the meantime, Rev. Eileen will be covering through the rest of May and the first part of June. Then she’ll go to General Assembly and take her vacation. During that time, we’ll have a Summer Minister, arranged by Revs. Bret & Eileen, since they know our church well, know who is available, and who would be a good match for the Summer. So, as they say, “We gotcha covered!”
Why a 2 Year Interim?
Many people have asked if we could replace our minister within one year. We understand that a year would mean a shorter time of uncertainty until we have our next settled Senior Minister in place. However, Interim Ministry is important and vital ministry and our Unitarian Universalist Association Transitions office recommends two years as a best practice. Additionally, the search process can take more than a full year to be done well and thoughtfully. Our focus now is on finding a really great Interim Minister who we will learn from, inspire us and keep our church advancing forward. So when our next settled Minister arrives we will be setting them up for a strong start.
Yours,
Janelle Brittain
UCE Board of Trustees President
Sunday, March 11, 2018
“For Such A Time”
The Rev. Sarah Lammert, the UUA’s Co-Director of Ministries and Faith Development will speak to us about finding our individual calls to transformation in challenging times such as these. She is also the official Endorser for Military and VA Chaplains. She is a graduate of Brown University and Starr King School for the Ministry and is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her ordination this year.
A letter from Debra Clements-Simmons on the Black Lives Matter sign (April 2018)
Dear UCE Family,
I am writing in regards to the Black Lives Matter sign that we will be voting on in May. Let me begin by just saying how much this sign has meant to my wife and I. Since its installation, it has been a constant reminder to me of why I chose to become a member of this community. There are a myriad of reasons why the sign is so important but l will mention just a couple.
First, it makes me proud because it tells all who pass by that UCE understands. It lets passersby know that this church gets that there are still very real issues in this country (world?) for people of color regarding the justice system, stereotypes, equal pay, law enforcement relations, civil rights, employment (and on and on). This understanding is a big deal. I feel as if I spend a lot of time trying to explain to people simply how these issues still present themselves to us in our day to day lives. My wife and I have more than once been mistaken for maids when lodging at a very nice hotel. Not sure what maids wear flip flops and a swimsuit cover up but I have stopped trying to figure it out. I just assume that my brown face seems out of place in a five star hotel – unless of course I am the maid. However, I do not have to explain these issues or problems to my church community. UCE understands -so much so that they put up a sign announcing it to the world. The sign does not just say Black Lives Matter; it says so much more.
My wife and I once joined the gathering to stand by the sign on a Sunday after church. An African American couple initially drove by with the wife enthusiastically hanging out of the window and her husband honking in support. The next thing we knew – they had parked and come to join us. They said they could not just drive by and that they wanted to stand with us. They seemed amazed that this group of (truth be told) mostly Caucasian People thought that Black Lives Matter. They even asked “What church is this”? It was just wonderful and I will never forget it. This is the message that the Black Lives Matter sign is sending, even when no one is gathered near it after church on Sunday.
The sign also makes me proud because it took courage to put it up in the first place. When so many cannot even begin to understand the slogan and get stuck asking “Doesn’t my life matter too?”. It is refreshing to me to know that I belong to a community that knew that when the sign went up some in the community may not only be unhappy but could very well vandalize the sign or church for that matter. Only pure love and courage could put the sign up anyway.
Thirdly, the sign is so important because like any sign it announces loud and clear what is happening inside of the building that it is in front of. Any good sign has one job and that is to inform in a short and concise manner what’s inside (a school, hamburgers for sale, open or closed for business, a church, etc.). Our Black Lives Matter Sign shouts that significant work is taking place inside of our church’s four walls. Why else would one put up a sign like that – unless it was to announce to the world that this is what we are about? In its simplicity, the sign tells the world about the wonderful and essential work that UCE has been doing and I am certain will continue to do. I personally NEVER get tired of telling people that MY CHURCH had Dr. King speak at it. People literally run from me when I start bragging. Never mind that I was not even born when he visited UCE.
Thank you for allowing me to tell you my feelings about the Black Lives Matter Sign. To me, it is a thing of great pride and beauty. I smile a big, fat, stupid grin every single time I drive by it. It was relevant when we put it up almost three years ago and it is still relevant. It is my sincere hope that the members of UCE will vote that it remain.
My best,
Debra Clements-Simmons
Tearing Down Walls – Building up connections, community & solidarity: A UU Justice Event
Friday, March 23: 6:00 – 9:00 pm and Saturday, March 24 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Register today @ uupmi.org and let Dale Griffin know you are coming
This weekend-long justice event is a collaboration between several Unitarian Universalist groups – the UU Prison Ministry of Illinois, the UU Action Network of Illinois, and the Youth & Young Adult Visioning Team. Our goals are to build power through affirming our collective story. We want to educate and agitate our faith community so that we can better contribute to movements working to abolish unjust systems. We will weave a narrative that includes a drastic reduction in our prison population, a fossil free world and a fair economic world. We recognize that dreaming sharing a larger vision can dramatically sustain us in this work. We affirm the value of multigenerational communities engaged in this work in our congregations and beyond.
Friday: Dinner & Panel Discussion be inspired by advocates and organizers: Ethos (Circles & Ciphers), Monica Cosby (Mothers United Against Violence & Incarceration), Marlon Chamberlain (Live Free Chicago), Michelle Day (Nehemiah Trinity Rising).
Saturday workshops: Rev. Scott Aaseng (UUANI), Monica Cosby, Ethos, Rev. Karen Mooney (UUPMI), Rev. Booker Vance (Faith in Place), Saeed Richardson (CRS/Poor People’s Campaign)
Brought to you by UU Advocacy Network of IL, Youth and Young Adult Visioning Team and UU Prison Ministries of IL :: Learn, Reflect, Act
Ministerial Plan Forward
From Janelle Brittain
UCE Board President
Rev. Bret’s sharing with us about his moving into a new role as a Chaplain in the Air Force has brought us a variety of responses. We are pleased that he’ll be able to share his unique and valuable ministerial support to people of many faiths at challenging times in their lives. We may feel sad that we are losing our wonderful minister who has touched our hearts, inspired our minds, challenged us to action and led the way on social change. As we look toward his last Sunday on May 6th, you may be asking, what happens after that?
Your Board of Trustees have been busy working with Rev. Bret, Rev. Eileen, and our regional and national specialists in ministerial transitions. We have decided to go forward with an Interim Minister. We are at a good time in that March/April is the application and matching time for Interim Ministers. We will know by mid-May who our Interim Minister will be and they would start on August 1st.
In the meantime, Rev. Eileen has agreed to cover through the rest of May and the first part of June. Then she’ll go to General Assembly and take her vacation. During that time, we’ll have a Summer Minister who will be someone Rev’s Bret & Eileen will choose, since they know our church so well and who is available who would be a good match for the Summer. So, as they say, “We gotcha covered!”
FAQ’s
A couple of commonly asked questions are:
Couldn’t Rev. Eileen just step into the Senior or even Interim Minister position?
The quick answer is no. The Ministerial Fellowship Committee will require Eileen to eventually serve another congregation in order to achieve Final Fellowship. She will definitely be with us at UCE at least through the next year (2018-2019).
Couldn’t we just do the “Evanston Model” approach we used last time we were in between ministers?
Even though we enjoyed all of the great ministers who each came for 2 Sundays + one workshop, it took a major toll on the church at a staff level, on support for our programs and did not set up the next minister well. Additionally, Interim Ministers have specific training and accreditation that will be a benefit to us as we move forward.
We have a very strong and healthy church. We are so grateful for how Rev. Bret has brought us together, lifted us up and helped to lead us to have the strong foundation we have today. We thank each of you for your participation and leadership as we go forward. After all, the church is made up of the congregation…YOU!