THE Unichord

Markings - Rev. Dan Brosier

   I subscribe to a "hUUmor" network over the internet. The network was created to disseminate humor which might be useful in our UU ministry. What follows came over the wire a while ago and I thought it might be helpful to some of us on our religious journeys--especially those of us riding horses. It is entitled "Cowboy Wisdom".

· Don't interfere with something that ain't botherin' you none.

· Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

· The easiest way to eat crow is while it's still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.

· If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

· The biggest trouble maker you'll probably ever have to deal with looks you in the face in the mirror every morning.

· Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.

· If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

· Always drink upstream from the herd.

· Generally, you ain't learnin' nothing when your mouth's a-jawin'.

· Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

· When you give a personal lesson in meanness to a critter or to a person, don't be surprised if they learn their lesson.

· Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back.

· If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there with ya.

Happy Trails,
Dan

   WHY ARE WE HERE? Bear with me. This is not entirely a philosophical question. I am a scientist and must produce a complete answer.

   Why are we here on this planet? Whether it was by divine plan or the natural result of molecules coming together, I believe that we are meant to be here. By that same plan or those same natural forces, we are meant to advance as a species and an ecosystem.

   Why are you and I here? Our existence is due to the events that took place before we were born. Our nature is due to the combination of heredity, environment, and chance that influenced our lives. Like pieces of a patchwork quilt, we don't have complete control over what comes our way. It's how we put them together that determine what we make of our lives. (Thanks to Quilters)

   But why are you and I meant to be here?

1. Follow your bliss. Have fun while you are here. Do the things that bring you joy.

2. Find a special someone that can share your life. Someone to whom you can get very close.

3. Leave something special behind. Leave the world in a little better shape than you found it. Leave parts of yourself behind, whether it be children, trees or poems.

4. Be an integral part of something larger than yourself. Support it, sustain it, and advance it.

   I think that every one of these four purposes is important, all vital to our nature (and maybe there are more). The balanced person must pursue all four paths. If we leave one of them out of our lives, then we become a fraction of the potential whole, a part of the complete person that we were meant to be.

   Have I had some joy this week? (Did you catch my "quieting group" announcement?)

   Have I found my special someone? (You bet I have!!)

   Have I left a part of me behind? (Maybe this article?)

   Am I advancing something larger than myself?

   This Unitarian Universalist church of Elgin is my something larger than myself. It consists of 134 members and more children and friends, in addition to me. As an entity that stretches through time, it consists of thousands of members, friends, and children. Both in the past and in the future. It consists of all the lives that it affected that never attended the church, all the oppressed people who found an ally, all the disenfranchised groups that heard another voice for their rights, all the troubled individuals that were influenced by the arguments for reason and tolerance.

   Are you an integral part of something larger than yourself? I hope so.

   This is not just a question of money, time, and talent. In the words of Steve Askins and Mary Shelden, "Pledge Your Heart." My heart is here.

Department of Religious Education - Kathy Underwood, DRE

   I would like to begin by welcoming two new teachers this spring semester: Charles Landauer and Kevin Webster. Charles will be teaching the pre-school class, and Kevin will be working with the Kindergarten-2nd Grade class. It's great to have them on board!

   This month, the preschool class will be talking about Easter, spring, Earth Day, and the emotion of anger. The K-2nd grade class will be learning about Easter, Pescah, describing God, and cleaning up the grounds around the church for Earth Day. The 3rd -5th grade class will be spending more time learning about Easter, in particular the Crucifixion and Mary Magdalen. They will also talk about Ruth and Daniel. The 6th-8th grade class will be learning about the Methodist church as well as visiting one.

   The YRUU group (senior high - Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) will be planning their first Sunday Service which will be presented on April 25th. I am personally looking forward to experiencing their efforts, and I encourage the congregation to come hear what they have to say.

   Happy Spring,
   Kathy

05 Sheena John
06 Katherine Lucas
07 Donn Branstrator
     Tara Lehner
     Marjorie Osborne
12 Mark Braun
14 Donna Ruhl
     Dan Brosier
17 Bob Hamill
18 Charmaine Hamill
19 Margot Cusimano
20 Kim Cecil
     Ron Williams
24 Chris Laux
29 Regina Mrowczynski
     Emily Webster

· Linda Porter for washing and ironing the tablecloths.

· Dan Brosier for having a new labyrinth donation box made.

· Children's videos (G & PG only)

We are saddened by the news of the deaths of Sue Sitter's father and Susan Goldberg's father.

Bill and Lee Jackson have decided to "deactivate" their membership. We wish them well as they continue their spiritual journeys. They and Anita will be missed.

Last month Charlie Schmidlin was presented with the UU Love and Help emblem after completing the Love & Help program designed for UU Cub Scouts.

You are warmly invited to join the members of the Book Group at any of their upcoming meetings, which begin at 7:00p.m.

· Friday, April 30 - Tortilla Curtain, by T. Coraghessan Boyle, location TBA.

· Friday, June 4, Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, at the home of Henny DuBois.

When you go shopping, remember to throw some non-perishable food items, paper goods, toiletries or infant needs into your shopping cart for the People's Interfaith Pantry. Pantry Sunday is April 4th. A basket/area to deposit your donations is located along the west wall in the multi-purpose room. Please direct any questions to Henny DuBois.

Are you new to our church and would like to know more about the UU Church of Elgin and Unitarian Universalism? Would you like to get to know more people at this church - both new and long-time? Do you feel you have found a church home at the UU church of Elgin and would like to know more about membership and what it involves? If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions then we invite you to sign up to attend the New UU Orientation program.

The New UU Program consists of three sessions:

· Session One: An introduction to Unitarian Universalism and the UU church of Elgin. This session will be presented by the Reverend Dan Brosier, Shirley Wolin and Alice Macy. Session One will be held on Monday, May 10th at 7:30 PM at the Church.

· Session Two: An exploration of religious journeys. We all have our own paths that have led us to the UU Church of Elgin. Linda Porter and Henny Dubois will facilitate a discussion of these paths and how one can continue this journey at our Church. Session Two will be held on Monday May 17th at 7:30 PM at the Church.

· Session Three: A potluck and general discussion of what it means to be a member of the UU church of Elgin. Session three will be held on Sunday, May 23rd at 12:30 PM (after the church service).

  The purpose of the sessions is to introduce you to our church. There is no requirement or expectation that attendance will lead to membership - which is always a personal decision on your part. If you would like to attend you may sign up on a clipboard in the Church Lobby. It is preferable but not required that those who sign up attend all three sessions.
  Childcare will be available if needed. For more information or to arrange for childcare contact Linda Porter.

   The Unitarian Universalist Newcomers Email list is a way for people who are new to Unitarian Universalism to explore their religious journeys by sharing their experiences and exchanging information. The purpose of the list is to provide a sensitive, caring and loving environment to support the individual's responsible search for truth and meaning in their life. Knowing that each of us is in a different place in our spiritual work and that our journeys do not always lead us to the same place, list members hold sacred certain rules and ethical standards: compassion, understanding, honesty, openness, no put-downs, no name-calling, non-judgmental, non-pushy. To subscribe to this list, send an e-mail newcomers-request@uua.org with a short introduction of yourself.

Do you like to play in the dirt? Then join the Landscape committee at its first work party of the season on April 24th 9am-12pm.

   Members of the Social Justice committee, after careful consultation and deliberation, wish to propose to the congregation that the church sponsor a Larkin Center group home. Group homes are an attempt to provide structured, yet homelike residences for 7 or 8 children, ages 7 to 17, who for compelling reasons no longer live with their families.
   Typically children have been placed at Larkin by the Department of Children and Family Service, the Department of Mental Health, or the Department of Corrections, which pay the Center for the residential, therapeutic, educational, and recreational services provided. Since fee payment is controlled by political processes in the state, Larkin often has to beg and cajole for the money it needs and to which it is entitled. Sponsors of group homes help to provide some of the extras which the agency budget cannot provide.
   If we become a sponsor, we make a commitment for two years to provide cash or in-kind contributions of $1000 per year, provide volunteers for at least two work projects per year, assist the staff in celebrating special occasions (sending birthday cards, Valentines, Christmas cards, etc. or planning holiday parties), and providing a contact person to communicate with the staff and assist in planning for the church's involvement.
   The Social Justice Committee believes this is doable. One church member has made available $1200 in Jewel food certificates and another has offered to donate a Steve Askins concert. We supported the Larkin Giving Tree generously this year; next year tags would be exclusively for "our house." This would be an opportunity for either individuals or entire families to be involved and to be able to associate human faces with social outreach.
   We invite input from the congregation. Members of the Social Justice Committee are: Jim Burnidge, Henny DuBois, Scott MacDuff, Roberta Nauman, Betsy Olson, and Andrea Schmidlin. Please comment on the appropriateness of this project and your willingness to participate in some way.

   The Sunday Services Committee would like to welcome church members to join us for lively discussion and planning sessions at our meetings held the first Sunday of every month at 12:15 after church. As you may know, the committee provides a service once a month throughout the church year and provides all five services presented during the summer months. As with any committee which must meet regular deadlines throughout the year, we experience some pressure! But we also have the privilege of engaging in the most stimulating conversations and contribute to an element of church life which is at the core of this community's shared experience. If you have ideas of your own to present, speakers you would like to see in the pulpit, a group's work to share with others—come let us know about them. Tell us which services have moved and/or enlightened you, then share the excitement of putting one together.
   At our next meeting we will be planning summer services. Because of Easter Sunday and two special lunch/discussion gatherings following the service on the next two Sundays, our April meeting has not yet been scheduled. If you are interested in participating, whether or not you wish to join the committee at this time, please sign a clipboard in the church lobby so that we may contact you. OR contact Betsy Olson.

   Put this on your calendar and begin collecting any "treasures" you are willing to recycle through the church. It is best if you can hold off bringing them until the week of June 7th, but if you have to bring them sooner put them on the third floor with all the other stuff.
   Questions? Call Andrea Schmidlin or Chris Davis.

The Quilt Group would like to invite all who are interested to attend the quilting on April 17th,
Saturday 9 am - 4 pm. No skill required!

   The Church of the Larger Fellowship, creators of the children's magazine, "UU& Me!", has a great new web site! Visit it at http://www.uua.org/uume and enjoy a sample of the articles, games, activities, and fun that each issue can offer. If you're not already a subscriber to" UU&Me!", there's a link on the website to subscribe. Share the joy of being a UU kid with those in your life by visiting the new "UU&Me!" website!

November, 2000 - Present Unichord Newsletters (PDF):

• Latest Issue
• December, 2001
• November, 2001
• October, 2001
• September, 2001
• July-August, 2001
• June, 2001
• May, 2001
• April, 2001
• March, 2001
• February, 2001
• January, 2001
• December, 2000
• November, 2000

April, 1999 - October, 2000 Unichord Newsletters (HTML):

• October, 2000
• September, 2000
• July-August, 2000
• June, 2000
• May, 2000
• April, 2000 (missing)
• March, 2000
• February, 2000
• January, 2000
• December, 1999
• November, 1999
• October, 1999
• September, 1999
• July-August, 1999
• June, 1999
• May, 1999 (missing)
• April, 1999

Return to UU Church Home Page.