The Unichord

MONTH OF SUNDAYS

This service, the final one before the annual all-church picnic, marks the end of another church year. During the service we will recognize those youth who are making the transition from Jr. to Sr. High, and reflect upon where we have been and where we are headed. The Rev. Dan Brosier will lead the service.

We will hold our annual flower communion and all-church picnic at the Hanifls. The day begins with a short service during which we hold a flower communion. All those attending the service are asked to bring a live plant/flower to place in communion which at the end of the service will be taken home by someone else to plant and nurture throughout the summer.

Everyone is asked to bring either a salad, dessert or vegetable dish to share, and a beverage. Also bring any gear you need to play--swimming suits, fishing poles, bait, softball equipment, etc. See the enclosed map for directions to the Hanifls.

UU humor and what our jokes say about our faith and our people. Join us for a hearty laugh and some insight into Unitarian Universalism. Presented by the Sunday Services Committee. Please note: this service will begin at 9:45 A.M.

All Services Begin at 10:45 A.M.- during summer at 9:45A.M.

We look forward to seeing you then

At home, as of late, when I get a little time I have been working in the gardens. This is the third summer we have been in our house—the third opportunity to plant in the various flowerbeds. In those three years we have figured out what goes well in a few beds, but much of the garden space is still a work in progress.

The more I garden, the more I realize that figuring out what looks good and does well in the various beds is tricky—almost an art form. One has to know about the various conditions present—such things as the amount of sunlight, which can vary from place to place in a bed depending upon time of day, day of the year, and the other vegetation in the area. In addition, wind is a significant factor for some plants—others are very sensitive to soil pH. All this takes time and attention to accumulate the necessary understanding—understanding which comes through involvement with the elements. One has to be a presence daily to see what is going on, one has to get their hands dirty digging in the soil, one has to know what different plants need to thrive. This is what has to be done in order to have an attractive and healthy garden. It is, of course, much more complex than buying something at a garden shop that looks good, planting it, and watering every now and then. Occasionally this approach works, but usually it leads to disappointment and frustration.

This year I think we made some progress. The beds are looking better now than they have in previous years. Nothing earth shaking mind you, but in the established beds there are fewer weeds and the perennials are looking healthier. They have responded to the care given them. We now are planting the annuals. We are planting varieties which have done well in the past, and some new varieties which seem suited for the conditions. In addition, we have even created two new beds.

Over the coming months we will tend it all, we will observe what happens, we will share information with our neighbors and friends, and we will enjoy what grows. This time next year we will have a bit more information—information we will mix with our dreams in order to make our gardens all the more rich, diverse, and beautiful.

As the song we have long sung at the flower communion goes: "Inch by inch, row by row, we’re gonna make this garden grow."

This is a big fundraiser for the church, and is an easy way for you to contribute. We accept all donations, but would request that everything, particularly clothing, be clean and in good condition. If something is not in working order, please mark it as such.

All items can be brought to the church and put on the third floor at any time (please make sure you mark your donations "for rummage sale" or something similar). If you have large and/or heavy items which you need help moving, please call Andrea Schmidlin.

Please mark your calendars with this year's sale dates. If you have some time to spare, please consider volunteering. In order to make the sale successful, we need many people to pitch in. You can help with set up, pricing, making/setting out signs or working during the sale. Look for the clipboard at church.

REMEMBER SUNDAY, JUNE 4 IS PANTRY SUNDAY. BRING YOUR DONATIONS FOR THE INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY! Any questions call Henny DuBois.

Simple Living Group

After the service June 4, all those interested in continuing to explore the notion of forming a "Simple Living" Group are invited to participate in a potluck. The focus of such a group would be to study how our life-style impacts the environment and social justice. The potluck will begin at 12:30 P.M. and end around 2:00 P.M.

June 25, July 9 & 23, Aug. 6 & 20

The two handbell choirs of the Unitarian Universalist church of Elgin have finished a great musical year--a year that completed a decade of bell ringing in our various locations. This year the Unichords rang for:

• 8 Sunday morning services
• 2 weddings
• 1 memorial service
• 1 Wiccan ceremony
• 1 Christmas Eve service

The Barn Bells rang for:

• 4 Sunday services

During the year we made $525.00 which we quickly spent on new tables and sheet music. Next year we hope to purchase some bass bells.

It's easy to forget how proficient and dedicated our ringers are. Two of us ring permanently and two are subs for Random Ringers, a community choir based in Palatine. The Barn Bells have produced two accomplished ringers who can sub at the last minute in any position in the Unichords. All ringers in both choirs can flick a ladybug out of their bell soundlessly and without losing the beat. Few choirs I know can manage (or need to manage) that!

This summer I will be ringing with Donald Allured at the Directors Convention in Dayton, Ohio and back in Bayview's Week of Handbells. In October I've been asked back to Simply Bronze in Myrtle Beach. Hopefully this year there will be no hurricane to disrupt rehearsals.

The congregation should expect wondrous music next year from the Unichords & Barn Bells

Margot Cusimano

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

Colleen Connelly

Margaret Lund

Mollie Kiesewetter

Gordon James

Andrew Pratt

Todd Underwood

Lisa Kerpoe

Elizabeth Webster

Keith Wall

Michael Rodda

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Wheel of Life

We are saddened by the news of the death of Charles Landauer’s father, and the death of Bruce Kiesewetter’s mother.

This year, as in the past, we will be producing a July-August newsletter rather than two separate ones. Please think ahead and get your submissions in by the June 18 deadline.

There will be a Landscape and Grounds Work Party on Saturday, June 17 from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the church. We will be working on all foundation planting sites, transplanting some plants to new beds, and doing general cleanup in other areas.

All are invited to come help out. Landscape Plot Caretakers are especially encouraged to attend. Lunch will be served. See Jim Porter, Linda Porter, Kathy Underwood, or Suzanne Hanifl for information

Please return all curricula to Kathy Underwood by June 11. Thanks!

We warmly welcome Sarah Browning and Pat Pryor to the community. Sarah signed the membership book in April and Pat in May. We look forward to being a part of their lives.

We will be hosting a drumming circle on Sunday, June 18, beginning at 8:00 PM at the church in conjunction with the summer solstice. Drumming circles create a rhythmic experience to celebrate community and nature. This drumming circle is open to those 10 years of age or older. Participants are invited to bring drums or other percussive instruments. The event should last about an hour and a half. For more information contact Dan Brosier at 847-888-0668.

Well here it is, the last month of the "church year"! In these last couple of weeks, there are many things going on. As of this writing, the RE classes will be going to Burnidge Woods to enjoy the interdependent web of life and play some games. Hopefully the weather will cooperate!

The RE Council is very busy at this time of the year. Evaluation forms for parents, teachers, and students have gone out to those participating in the program. Please return these before the last service so we can look at them over the summer and make any changes as needed.

Plans are being made for the five summer services that will take place. For those of you who do come during the summer, there will be multi-aged activities for any youth attending those services. Nursery care will also be available. We still have some spots available for anyone who would like to do such an activity with a small group of students. So if you have a hobby or passion to share, let us know, because those opportunities will fill up fast.

The RE Council is also making plans for next fall. The focus of our curricula will be Unitarian Universalist Identity. We are purchasing a new curriculum for the YRUU (Young Religious UU- high school aged youth). The Council is also seeking adults interested in co-teaching a class next year. If this is something you think you’d enjoy, I would love to tell you more!

At this time of the year, I am often told, "Enjoy your summer off!" People are always surprised to learn that I do not get the whole summer off- on the contrary it’s one of my busiest times! So please feel free to call over the summer with any ideas or concerns!

Enjoy-

Kathy Underwood
Director of Religious Education

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Book Group

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

• June 2 Personal History by Katharine Graham. At the home of Henny DuBois.
• July 14 Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. At the home of Laurie Kiesewetter.
• August 18 The Hours: A Novel by Michael Cunningham. At the home of Alice Macy.

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Art of the Soul will be the last service in August. If you are interested in displaying your artwork or being a presenter in the program, please contact someone on the committee. Committee members are Frieda Anderson, Jim Burnidge, Suzanne Hanifl, Roberta Nauman, and Norm Wilkinson. We encourage all members to share their art work with the congregation. All art forms are welcome.

A potluck dinner will be held at the church at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 21, in celebration of the fundamental value of learning and education in making good conditions possible, and in celebration of a certain community of people throughout the world in their use of knowledge as a basis for their actions and beliefs. To make possible the holding of this experimental event for world community at this church, this potluck is being sponsored by the R.E. Council. For more information one may contact Robert Jones.

The next Quilting Group work day will be on Saturday, July 15, from 9:30 - 4:30 to begin work on the coming year's raffle quilt. Please join us if you can.

• Doug Pratt & Betsy Olson for their time and energy in facilitating the O.W.L. program,
• The Kieseweetters for hosting the O.W.L. overnight,
• Henny DuBois for her contribution of two ladders,
• Phil Becker for serving two years as chair of the Publicity Committee,
• Chuck Jeffries for his efforts in this years's pledge drive,
• Roberta Nauman for serving several years as Social Justice chair,
• Joyce Becker for serving as Committee on the Ministry chair for 1999-2000,
• Paul Hanifl for donating a lap-top computer,
• Linda Porter for donating a new wreath for the front entryway,
• Spring semester teachers: Laurie Kiesewetter, Chris Davis, Kim Cecil, Kevin Webster, Charles Landauer, Cheren Waller, Katherine Brosier, Elise Wall, Scott MacDuff, Tim Davis, Joe Masonick, Katherine Lucas, Cathy Braun, Roberta Nauman, and Liz King.

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Connections 

June Calendar

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

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