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From The Interim Minister
ORDINARY RESSURECTIONS
We find ourselves in the midst of spring, perhaps the one time of year when the word “resurrection” is used in public discourse. Coming back to life from the dead doesn’t happen every day, you know. It may not happen at all. Think about it: how would you use “resurrection” in a sentence?
There’s virtually no word from this word all year until the thump-thump-thumping of the Easter Bunny beats a b-line to my door. Only then do graves fly open and spirits soar. But it doesn’t have to be that way; we can look for new life rising from old corpses any day of the week, every day of the year. We can experience ordinary resurrections.
I think of the CASA worker who stayed the course with a difficult child and witnessed his hard heart soften, his tired eyes sparkle, and his trust slowly build. Today he is preparing for adoption and will soon meet his “forever family.” The young man literally rose up beyond his circumstances and will forever live in new and meaningful ways.
I think of the yoga teacher who cautiously entered the prison system with a mat and a smile, intending to help inmates alleviate stress and connect with their inner spirits. It was rough going at first, lots of taunts and jabs, but our yogini kept her fear at bay long enough to know the inmates as individuals. That’s when everything changed. No longer a “nuisance,” prisoners began sharing with their teacher future hopes they simply could not envision for themselves previously. Now living makes sense.
I think of the executive who was laid off far too long to believe he would ever work again. Money was tight, time was running out, and nerves were frayed when a better job finally landed on his lap. Or the teacher who could not get hired in the public schools and was ready to give up the ghost of teaching until he scored a position—in Saudi Arabia. This resurrection was never on his radar, a gift from the Universe, but now he tells me he has found his purpose in life.
With these examples, all of whom are members of churches I’ve served, we can use the word “resurrection” freely and accurately. Life arises out of death each time we proclaim our liberal religious “Yes!” even when circumstances shout No. Expect a resurrection: Just as long as I have breath, I must answer, “Yes,” to life, says the hymn. That’s music to my resurrected ears.
The joy continues,
Greg
From The President of the Board of Trustees
Hello UCE community,
I promised that I would update you more often, so, here we go…
1) The board has invited a group of church leaders to attend a Friday night, Saturday morning meeting called the “No Agenda” meeting on April 12-13th. This meeting idea came out of board discussions related to the interim self-examination led by Rev. Greg. A facilitator, recommended by our regional UUA office (MidAmerica), will lead us–her name is Karen Gustafson. She will help us explore several issues: how we relate to our ministers, how we relate to our staff (and vice versa in both cases), how we might discern if we are doing too much? We also want to discuss how we might decide which projects are closest to our mission and say “no” to supporting others. This is all part of the interim self-reflection. Greg and I assume that this will only be the first of these meetings with different leaders/congregants invited in the future. The larger congregation will also be talking about these themes over the next year. Greg has many activities planned. If you have any questions about this meeting—just ask me: figkerl@gmail.com
2) Search Committee: the same weekend that we’ll be holding the No Agenda meeting, the Ministerial Search Committee will be holding their retreat. This is retreat just for them. They will be led not by Rev. Amy Shaw, but by Lisa Presley from MidAmerica. Rev. Amy’s schedule was too busy for her to lead this retreat or to be our Transitions Coach. And, due to the reorganization of job roles at MidAmerica, Lisa Presley will no longer be our point person for transitions. After the retreat, our Search Committee will have a new coach. Christine Purcell will be our coach and she is a member of the Congregational Life staff who is coordinating transitions in the Southern, New England, and, as of now, the MidAmerica region as well. We look forward to learning more from the committee as they settle into their new role. They will be busy getting our Congregational record ready this summer and fall and I’m sure they’ll be sharing updates with you.
3) Budget: the board’s primary focus right now is the budget. As we find out how much has been pledged—we’ll be able to continue work on the budget. We are making reminder phone calls this week to folks who haven’t had a chance to return their pledge forms. If we get forms into the office a timely manner–the whole process is so much easier. Remember the annual meeting will be held May 19th. If you have questions before that, please email me. Sandra Robinson and Tom Ticknor have been holding information tables at the back of the sanctuary for anyone to ask questions about the budget. Again, ask questions if you have them.
4) Endowment committee: We are so lucky to have an endowment committee who handle all the applications for funding. They ask the applicants thoughtful questions and keep the proposals moving. They are also the stewards of our Endowment fund—trying to ensure that it performs well. With last year’s major gift to the Endowment fund—there are more applications and a larger fund to manage. But with this greater responsibility comes more joy as engaging programming, social justice projects and new additions to UCE (like the new teal hymnals) are funded. The board and endowment are working together to discern how the endowment funds should be used. We have guidelines, but the guidelines are open to interpretation.We are working together and will continue to do so. These are conversations that will be ongoing. If your group wants to champion and organize a worthwhile project, please do. The Endowment application can be found on the website>Members>Endowment.
5) Rummage Sale: if you are relatively new to UCE you may not know much about the Rummage Sale. It is one of our largest fundraisers and, more importantly, it’s a huge team effort. I have worked in the clothes department for several years (on and off) and I the people that work in that department have fun as we sort through with the mountain of old t-shirts, etc. that descends upon us.
Consider donating a couple hours of your time, bake a treat that can be sold in the café, or pitch in with the clean-up team. Every contribution matters. If you want to donate a large items that would require pickup—there are special directions, so pay attention to that. If you don’t have stuff to donate—ask a friend who might be downsizing or doing spring cleaning—offer to bring a couple boxes of their stuff to our sale. And then help us advertise the sale to make sure we “move” as much as possible. Those dollars turn into the programming that we all enjoy throughout the church year.
I will do another update soon. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of our community.
Jeanne Kerl
President of the Board of Trustees
April 7, 2019
What Is Our Good News?
Headlines pummel us daily with bad news, and television news sources offer “Breaking News” around the clock with the fear that the end is surely near. Does Unitarian Universalism give us anything to hold on to in troubled times? We’ll find out by examining the core of our liberal faith and the Unitarian Universalist movement that arises out if it. I believe that what distinguishes our congregation from others makes us a destination for those who desire a fresh movement of the spirit, unencumbered by dogma and encouraged by debate. But how will they find us if we don’t articulate our faith? This is a good day to begin again. Service led by Rev. Gregory Stewart. 9:15am All-Ages Worship, 11am Worship in Sanctuary & Religious Education downstairs.
March 31, 2019
“We Don’t Need Another Hero”
The Hero’s Journey is a well know literary device and it’s also a metaphor for our spiritual journeys. Each life is a Hero’s Journey in some way. We are each called to something and there are thresholds we all must cross. What can we discover and what can we create on the inner journey of the hero? Service led by Rev. Eileen Wiviott. 9:15am All Ages Worship, 11am Worship Service
5th Sunday Service Day
10am Service Project, Rm. 5
11am Guest Speaker from Niles Township Pantry, Rm. 10
From the UCE Director of Music
We learn, we connect, and we heal through music.
It’s a way we live our mission: nurturing the human spirit for a world made whole.
It’s Pledge time and Julie Milner asked me to write a newsletter article on this week’s Pledge focus:
the UCE Music Program. Of course, the music making at UCE could not take place without your generous donations! Thank you for your financial commitment to UCE!
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how our UCE Music Program aligns with our “Who Do We Want to Be in this World” End Statements, and I thought it might be nice to share this with you.
Spiritually Aware
We perform pieces that have music and/or texts that have been chosen to fit the services and have been influenced by many different beliefs. Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Humanism, Hinduism, and Pantheism, to name just a few. Also, when time allows, at choir rehearsals, we discuss the deeper meanings of the pieces. And often people are lifted to a new place when singing or listening to the music.
Intellectually Excited
The process of music making very much involves the intellect. Counting rhythms, learning intervals, hearing the harmonies, learning the nuances involved in using one’s body as an instrument, and learning what’s involved in blending one’s instrument (voice or other) with other instruments are all ways to excite the intellect. Add to that the chance that musicians get to explore and discuss the background and history of the piece, the composers, and the meanings of the texts and poems and it becomes a very rich experience for the intellect.
Community Builders
Choir is small group ministry. Singing in a choir is the epitome of community. It is the vocal version of a team sport where all strive to work together. And music, whether solo or ensemble, performed in front of others is collaborative as all are experiencing that music together as it’s being performed.
We build community through (to name a few) . . .
- Hard work, laughter and communication during rehearsals
- Choristers working together as music is learned and, when learned, phrasing and blending together
- Singing Happy Birthday to choristers and sending cards to choristers who are sick or grieving
- Socializing after rehearsals while enjoying treats brought by choristers
- Collaborating with Gregory through the rehearsal process and when the piece is performed
- Collaborating with solo singers and instrumentalists
- Collaborating with other communities (2U Choir this weekend, Evanston’s Children’s Choir last year)
- Collaborating with the congregation – hymn singing and joining in on the occasional choir piece
- Collaborating with other groups within UCE – youth, Sing Thing, Dances of Universal Peace
- Collaborating with volunteers who have read in pieces that have narration
- Collaborating with volunteers and staff who have helped with the projected lyrics
- Collaborating with AV
- Collaborating with the Ministers in so many ways including working to make the music selections fit the themes of the services
- Choirs can be, and have been, a strong source of community support following tragic events such as the 9/11 attacks. Singing at such times is both healing for the individual and builds community.
Diverse in belief
As with any group of UU’s, the choir is made up of individuals from a variety of backgrounds
and with a variety of beliefs.
Acting for justice
The choir, Gregory, and guest musicians often perform pieces that deal with justice
(“Never Turning Back” and “Make Them Hear You” to name just two).
I’m so grateful to have such committed and wonderful staff, choristers and other volunteers, and guest musicians to work with. As we each think about how much we’d like to Pledge to UCE, I want you to know that I am grateful for the gifts given by members and friends of the church that help us continue to provide music for UCE! Your generosity helps us to buy sheet music, helps us pay composers and arrangers for new pieces, helps us to buy instruments and keep the instruments maintained, helps us hire guest musicians, and helps ensure that we continue to have great staff (I love my colleagues!)!
Thank you to Julie Milner for the work you are doing for the UCE Pledge Drive.
Thanks to all who are involved in our music program and thanks to all who help to support the music making! Your contributions – whether they be a kind word said about the music, “sweat equity,” or financial donations – are all very much appreciated!
With Gratitude,
Vickie Hellyer, UCE Director of Music