The Unichord
Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin - February, 2000
MONTH
OF SUNDAYS
February 6 - The Web of Life
Join us for our 4th Annual Fine Arts Intergenerational Service. This program shows the talent of our youth through drama, poetry and dance based on our seventh principle.
February 13 - Growing Pains
A look at our church community, its growth over the last decade, and the transitional point we have now reached. What we as a community have dreamed of, have worked towards, has largely come true and we are poised for the next step. Service led by the Rev. Dan Brosier.
February 20 - Standing Alone for the common Good
The Reverend Lynn Stauss, who is senior minister at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, will speak on post-modern ethics and the shift away from the modernist rule-based paradigm. How can communities of faith serve to ground our moral decision making? Service led by the Rev. Dan Brosier.
February 27 - Empowerment or Enabling
What position on third world debt is most consistent with UU principles and values? Service led by the social Justice committee.
All Services Begin at 10:45 A.M.
We look forward to seeing you then
Markings
On my way to work one morning I came across a construction site along the side of the road where they were laying a natural gas line. At that point time there appeared to be only one worker on the site. He was using a tractor with a bucket to fill in the trench and smooth out the surface. As he did this he backed on and off of the street inadvertently depositing dirt on the roadway each time. As required, I suppose, periodically he had to get off the tractor and with a shovel clean off the pavement.
When I arrived at that spot in the road he was shoveling the dirt off the pavement. I stopped my car and waited for him to finish his task and move to one side of the road. I was in no rush. I could have driven far to the left and gone around (which I would often do in my hurry to get somewhere), but I decided to wait the few moments it would take for him to finish. I thought I was being unusually respectful and about the whole thing.
To my surprise he looked up from what he was doing, started to shout angry words, and with great irritation waved me by. He stood there and cursed me as if I had done some huge wrong. I actually thought he was going to hit my car with his shovel as I drove by.
Beyond the shock of the moment, my first reaction was to want to run him over with my car. That is what I often fantasize about doing in such situations--I want to hurt and punish those who have disrespected me. That is what road rage is all about.
As I watched him, though, for some reason I was reminded of myself. I was reminded of those times in my life when I have felt so frustrated that I flew off the handle at the slightest provocation--similar to what he seemed to be doing. And I remember how miserable I felt at those times. I remembered the pain of such frustration--and how I tried to vent some of that pain through inappropriate expressions of anger. It never worked--it only made matters worse.
At that point I stopped seeing him as a jerk who needed to be punished. At that point I began understanding him as a fellow human being in pain. This happened within seconds and it made a huge difference in my attitude. When I saw him as a jerk I was filled with rage. I would have left the site angry and frustrated and felt that way for hours afterwards. But when I saw him as someone like myself who at that time was caught up in pain I stopped worrying that something was wrong with me, I stopped defending against his actions, and I felt compassion. I went on to work not consumed by resentment and frustration.
It is amazing that what we experience in life often comes down to how we perceive what is going on around us. The same event seen from different perspectives elicits very different responses. And we are the ones who must live with our responses.
I have always liked the phrase, "Seeing the world through loving eyes." It makes a difference. I wish I could do so with greater regularity.
Dan Brosier
Kudos
- Laurie Kiesewetter, Keith Wall, Laura Masonic, Charlie Schmidlin, Kyle
Underwood, Melanie Davis, Dan Brosier, Todd
Underwood, and the Free Spirits for their
participation and help with the Winter Intergenerational
Service.- Andrea Schmidlin, Jim Hermann, and Esther Hermann for making the church comfy and cozy for the New Year's Eve party.
- Doug Pratt and Cathy Braun for chaperoning the YRUU youth group's trip to Chicago.
- Brett Anderson for providing us with a Lease Agreement to use for building rentals.
Pantry Sunday
A list follows to help you decide what to buy for Pantry Sunday (February 6) donations: jelly, dry pinto beans, bar soap, peanut butter, fruit juice, chili and tuna fish. The All Peoples Inter-Faith Pantry people indicated that these items are needed.
Yes, as in the past, bring your donations of non-perishable food items, paper goods, toiletries or infant needs on our Pantry Sunday on February 6 for the Inter-faith Pantry.
Again, if you happen to forget to purchase something, you have the option of donating cash. Containers for your cash donations will be by the collection baskets in the entrance areas on Pantry Sunday. Henny DuBois
Wheel of Life
We are saddened by the news of the death of Joe Masonick's mother.
Steve Adkins and Donna Ruhl recently announced their engagement. They will be married at the church on Saturday, June 17, at 2:00 p.m., with the reception to follow immediately. The church is invited.
Positions Available
As our community grows it becomes clear that we have to be more intentional about seeing that certain things are done. Towards this end we are looking for a few people interested in volunteering to do certain tasks or forms of ministry.
We are looking for:
- a buyer: someone who will weekly shop for what the church needs
- audio tech: someone to monitor the sound system during the service and tape the sermons
- individuals willing to visit members who can't get to church often due to age or illness
If you are willing to consider any of these positions please contact Dan Brosier.
Aesthetics Committee
The Aesthetics Committee has had requests from the membership to extend the Art of the Soul display of members' work. We would like to start a rotating Art Gallery of members' work. We encourage members to consider displaying their individual artwork at the church for an extended period of a month or two. Jim Burnidge is the contact person for this. If you would like to have your work displayed at church please contact him. Any type of artwork is acceptable.
Conflict Management
Throughout the years that I have been a member of
this church, I have observed and have been involved in
conflicts, some of which were resolved satisfactorily and some
that threatened the fabric of our community and left lingering
pain in those involved. Some people left the church as a
result. As co-president I was called upon to intervene in a
couple of conflict situations. In these instances I brought my
best counseling skills to bear, yet I realized that I could use
additional training.
I took my concerns to the committee on the Ministry and the Board; in October 1998 three church members and I participated in a weekend workshop conducted by the Central Midwest District on conflict management. From this workshop we learned that conflict is inevitable in congregations but measures can be taken to prevent its becoming destructive. I encouraged the Committee on the Ministry to identify some individuals within the congregation and to have them trained in the management of conflict so that they could help congregation members to deal with conflict in healthy ways.
The Conflict management Committee is the result of these deliberations. Its members have had two training sessions with district executive, Helen Bishop, and are working to formulate a mission and goals and some guidelines for how the committee will operate within this community. They anticipate that this work will be completed no later than the end of the year, and the resulting document, subject to Board approval, will be sent to every member of the church.
The Committee wanted to allay any concerns that this committee was being formed as a response to an existing conflict, which threatened the peace and tranquility of our community. It is rather the result of a deliberate decision to be proactive in dealing with conflict so we will not be caught off guard as we have been in the past. Roberta Nauman
Quilting
The quilting group will be meeting at church from 9 am - 4 PM on Saturday, February 26 and March 18. We encourage anyone interested to attend. This year's raffle raised almost $900. Thank you for all your help and enthusiasm in this endeavor. Frieda
From Jesus To Christ
We will be showing this series of four videos produced by the PBS Frontline show which explores the life of Jesus and the movement he inspired. Each video will be shown after church beginning at 12:30 PM on the following Sundays: February 20,
March 5, 12 & 19. We will begin each session with a little potluck. If you are interested in participating sign up on the clipboard in the lobby or contact Dan Brosier.
Labyrinth Lunch
On February 12, at noon all people are invited to attend a gathering to discuss plans for the Earth Wisdom Labyrinth. We are looking to gather people from inside and outside the UUCE Community to form a group to manage the labyrinth. Contact Diana March or Jim Hermann for details.
Stained Glass Window Project
The Aesthetics Committee has requested that a separate committee be formed to deal with the process of funding, designing, constructing, and installing stained glass for the large window in the front of the church. People who are interested in working on this project should contact Jim Hermann or Roberta Nauman for more information or to volunteer to help.
Wearing Name Tags
A reminder to all members that it is important to wear name tags on Sunday morning. Wearing our name tags helps new people feel more at ;home since they can speak with us by name and associate a name with a face. Not wearing name tags is a way of encouraging newcomers to feel outside and separate from the established community.
Becoming a Member
Our community warmly welcomes those who wish to
join. There is nothing particularly difficult or mysterious
about becoming a member of our church, in fact it is quite
straightforward. After a person has
visited with us a number of times and is interested in learning more about membership that individual should contact the minister to set up a meeting. When the decision to join is finally made and the individual is ready to make a commitment, they then sign our membership book. This commitment of membership includes sympathy with our covenant and principles, participation in the events and committees of the church, and financial support. If you would like to join or want more information contact Jim Hermann or Dan Brosier.
Earth Wisdom Labyrinth
The Earth Wisdom Labyrinth is open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours. Groups wishing to walk the labyrinth are asked to avoid Sunday mornings. If a group is interested in using the building as well, contact the church office for rental information.
New Visitors and Friends in January
Did you get to greet these people when they visited in January? If not, then look for them and have a chat.
- Bryce Anderson -Algonquin
- Barbara and Russell Getz -Sleepy Hollow
- Dana Ginn -Geneva
- Bo Heller -Schaumburg
- Mary Ellen Knight -Schaumburg
- Gerry Lang -Geneva
- Tim Lovell -Carol Stream
- Kat (& Margaret) Walters -Libertyville
Have you met out new Church Friends? These people have attended our Church for a while. They may be new to many of us. Please welcome them to our community.
- Cheryl MacLoed Darling -Elgin
- Jen Fitzsimmons -Schaumburg
- Steve Ortman
- Treva Rodemaker - Elgin
- Dennis and Bonnie Schwank -Elgin
- Kathyrn Small -Elgin
- Ted Tecza -Elgin
- Jim and Gail Tischke -Crystal Lake
Fellowship Dinner
The Annual Fellowship Dinner will be held on Saturday, March 4. Everyone is invited to come to this evening of catered dinner and lively entertainment. Mark your calendars now.
Religious Education Department
After three weeks of preparation, the Religious
Education classes will be giving their Fine Arts presentation,
"The Web of Life" on February 6. Please come and support their
efforts this Sunday!
Secret Friends is also under way. This is a two-week program where adults are given a youth's name, and then send anonymous notes or cards to them with clues to their identity. On February 13, everyone will meet his or her secret friend. This is always a lot of fun for both kids and adults!
After several month of coordinating, the mentoring program for youth in grades 6 - 8 will begin with a Kick-Off Party on February 11 at 6:30pm. There are five youth participating in the program, which will end in June.
Aside from all of this, religious education classes resume on February 13 with the second semester teachers. So far the teachers are Charles Landauer, Elise Wall, Scott MacDuff, Katherine Brosier, Cathy Braun, Doug Pratt, Liz King and Roberta Nauman. On behalf of the Religious Education Council, I'd like to say "Thanks!" for working with what I believe is our biggest asset: our youth.
Kathy Underwood, Director of Religious Education
Its Nearly Here
The excitement has been building for Service Auction 2000, and now it is nearly upon us. Saturday, February 5, the activities kick off at 5:30pm with the lasagna dinner provided by the Y2KB (Year 2000, Boston). Tickets are $8 per person. This year's auction has some new twists; the most notable is a silent/blind auction of a 1991 Toyota Camry. This car is a low mileage; well kept gem, whose sole previous owner is, in fact, a diminutive member of the congregation from South Pasadena who only drove the car to church. Wholesale value for this car is put at $4,900. The lower limit on the biding is $4,500. This car would retail for $7,500. We have devised a special bidding mechanism for the car, due to its value. People will be permitted to submit a blind bid (they aren't permitted to see other bids) beginning on Sunday, January 23. Each subsequent Sunday, the current high bid will be announced. Interested parties can submit additional bids. This process will continue up until the end of Service Auction 2000. The current high bid will be announced at intervals during the evening and bidding can continue. The evening will be capped off by announcing the high bidder. If you are interested in test driving or inspecting the car, it will be available Sunday morning, January 30th, the night of the auction or by appointment (contact Alice Macy). As exciting as the car auction is, there are many other exciting offers for the evening. Four Skybox tickets for a Bulls/California Clippers game are being offered. Timeshares, opportunities to buy luxury resort accommodations in exotic places will be offered. A wide range of dinners, social outings, and trips are on the list as are offers for painting, yard work, babysitting, and more. Its not too late, to plan to go, to send someone as a proxy bidder for you, to offer your service to be auctioned off. See you there.
1- Dotti Carringi
2- Lydia Larabee10 - Anne Branstrator
14 - Bob Jones
17 - Bud Geister
17 - Kathy Hamill
22 - Sandy James
23 - Savannah Underwood
24 - Ayla Halberstadt
25 - Mark Rodda
26 - Greg Schmidlin
26 - Jack Thrasher
27 - Kelly Wall
29 - Carl Deitrick
Book Group
You are warmly invited to join the members of the Book Group at any of their upcoming meetings,
- February 11 The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie. At the home of Barbara Sugden.
- March 17 On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon by Kaye Gibbons. At the home of Jackie Van De Warker.
- April 28 Short History of a Prince by Jane Hamilton. At the home of Joyce Becker
- June 2 Personal History by Katharine Graham. At the home of Henny Du Bois.
Pledge Drive Campaign - 2000
I have a dream that this 21st Century Pledge Drive will be the best one yet.
I Have a dream that our Visions for the 21st Century for the Elgin church will be a reality.
I have a dream that our pledge units will increase both in amounts given and numbers participating.
I Have a dream that our membership will increase 20% this year.
I have a dream that this pledge campaign and all future ones will have a 100% participation.
I have a dream that our suggested pledge giving of 3.0% will be 100% obtained.
I have a dream that those givers that exceed the 3.0% level will continue to give to their heart's desire.
I have a dream that we can continue to support all our church staff, Minister, DRE, etc.
I have a dream that I am not just dreaming, but that the vision will be realized.
Though our annual pledge drive we, as a community, raise the funds to operate the church in the coming fiscal year. During the campaign members and friends are asked to make a financial pledge to the operating budget.
This year's pledge drive will be kicked off at the Fellowship Dinner to be held Saturday, March 4. This dinner is a celebration for a job well done the previous year and a chance to look ahead to the coming year. Often a group of UU thespians put on a production during the evening which highlights the theme of the campaign. Everyone, members and friends, is encouraged to attend.
Let's all have fun and enjoy our vision for the 21st century. Thanking you in advance for your help in realizing our vision. The Pledge Committee
Bully Pulpit - February
Almost every week, one or more people thank me for being President and for the work that I do. Like most people, I don't accept compliments well. I thank them and try not to let it go to my head. I don't usually feel that I deserve the compliment.
Many people in this congregation are more organized, have better judgment, are more knowledgeable, and understand people better than I. Many of them are current and past leaders of Committees, Councils, and the Congregations. There are quite a few past "principal executive officers" (per the By-Laws): Co-Presidents, Moderators, and Presidents.
They did a great job and I rarely disagreed with their decisions. In fact, they defined the role of the "principal executive officer" by their words and actions. I hope that I thanked them for being there and for the work that they did. On many occasions, I have expressed that we have been very fortunate to elect the right people at the right time.
My turn has come to add to the definition of the "principal executive officer" and President. In a few months, I will stop being President and a member of the Board of Trustees. In some other forum, I will record any changes to the tasks and goals that we assign to the "principal executive officer." I want to share my views about the character of my role as "principal executive officer" and President.
The characteristics of a President are different than the characteristic of Co-Presidents or Moderators.
Years ago, we had a Moderator, rather than a President. I don't know the details of why the title was changed and it might have been perceived as purely a semantic change. However, a Moderator presides over a meeting, while a President presides over a group,. It is important for a President to be able to be a good moderator. It is part of the role and is not the whole role.
Co-Presidents share the role of President and build a consensus between two individuals. Their actions already reflect a blend, a compromise of two individual points of view. By necessity, they have to slow down the group process to check with their partner. They don't have to be married, although they often have been. I'm sure it helps to have spent a lot of time together. On the other hand, a President has a single point of view and is not bound to represent a compromise at every turn. The group process speeds up and reflects the amplitude of individual thought.
A President need to be proprietorial.
A proprietor owns or manages a business. President and Co-Presidents need to act as if they are the person who is ultimately responsible for managing a business, the business of the church. In business, we often are taught to "Think like a customer, act like an owner." I manage the business of the Church as if it was very important to me, as important as if I owned it. I try to represent the needs of visitors, friends, and members (my "Customers") as if I were only a visitor, only a friend, only a member.
"The President is the people's lobbyist." - Hubert H. Humphrey
At times, a President must be able to be dominating, although never domineering or authoritarian.
When things go badly, someone must be able to take charge, even as an equal among equals. No good leader wants to dominate others and no healthy person wants to be dominated. The subject is especially charged for people who grew up in a counter-culture that encouraged us to question authority. Even the words are charged with negative connotations. At the risk of negative perceptions, I accept the need to be dominating sometimes. President and Co-Presidents must be able to use the superior authority of their offices - not arbitrarily or without question - just use them. That's why we have a representative democracy, rather than a direct democracy.
Jim Hermann (I ran out of space and time again.) - President
February Calendar
T 15 7:00pm Church Council
W 16 7:00pm Barn Bells
S 19 8:00am Frieda Fabric Fete
7:00pm Rental
SU 20 9:00am Unichord Rehearsal
12:30pm Dance Rehearsal
M 21 7:00pm Finance Committee
T 22 7:00pm Board of Trustees
W 23 7:00pm Barn Bells
S 26 9:00am Quilting Group
SU 27 9:00am Unichord Rehearsal
9:30am Stained Glass Project meeting
12:30pm Dance Rehearsal
12:45pm Membership/Hospitality Committee
