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The Board Wants to Hear from You
The Board Wants to Hear from You
Submitted by Kerry Heckman
This year the Board of Trustees set the following goal: “Increase Congregational Linkage Through Communications”
Our original intent was for us to communicate more to the congregation, through media such as the newsletter. Then, we realized communication goes two ways and we’d like to invite the congregation to communicate with us.
The recent Presidential election may have some of us questioning, “Who does the government actually work for?” The government is supposed to work for us. That is the purpose of the Board of Trustees. We are here to work for you. We are here to understand and bring about your vision for the church.
In October of 2014, we developed the “ends statements.” We met as a church to brainstorm what matters most to us. Then, the Board consolidated our vision into 5 short statements:
Spiritually aware: We cultivate spiritual awareness, joy and wonder through words, music, the arts and the natural world;
Intellectually excited: We foster intellectual excitement, lifelong learning, truth seeking, and respect for our traditions of reason and faith;
Community builders: We build beloved community through inclusive welcoming, compassion, care, generosity and forgiveness. We create a supportive place to take risks and grow in service to others;
Diverse in belief: We are a people of diverse beliefs united by our covenant. We develop relationships that open us to the lives of people in our congregation, community and world;
Acting for justice: We act for peace and for social, economic, and environmental justice through study, advocacy and outreach.
Each year the Board, ministers, and staff “monitor” each of the ends statements to determine whether or not we are living our vision. We evaluate based on the content of the worship services, the programming of the church, and the connections we are building outside of UCE.
The nine of us do our best to represent each and every member of the congregation, but we are only nine people. We welcome input from all of you. How are we living our “ends”? What are we doing well? What could we be doing better?
For those of you who don’t know who is on the current Board of Trustees, here is a list of our names (our contact information is listed in the church directory):
President: Barbara Ghoshal
Vice President: Janelle Brittain
Susan Comstock
Heike Eghardt
Ann Gadzikowski
Kerry Heckman
Jeanne Kerl
Tom Ticknor
Gary Zacny
Pull one of us aside after the service, request a one-on-one conversation, email us, or call us.
We are here to listen.
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.