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The Unichord
Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin
December 1999
MONTH OF SUNDAYS
5 - Communion and Community
On this Sunday we will hold our annual bread
communion wherein we celebrate the sustenance we derive from
our community. The service will be led by the Rev. Dan Brosier.
This Sunday also marks the beginning of our Guest At Your
Table program which raises money and awareness about the
work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
.
12 - Speaking To The Heart
"Prayer is the opening of ourselves to life--to
sorrow, to joy and to mystery that surrounds us." Prayer is
present whenever we speak to the heart. This service will be
led by the Rev. Dan Brosier.
19 - Holiday Intergenerational
Service
This is our annual intergenerational service to
celebrate the themes of Hanukkah, Christmas and the Winter
Solstice. The service will be filled with music, stories and
dance to remind us of the holiday spirit. Service led by Kathy
Underwood and the Rev. Dan Brosier
24 - Christmas Eve Service
Our annual Christmas Eve service celebrating the
magic of Christmas will begin at 7:00 PM. Bring family and
friends to enjoy the music, stories and lights of the season.
Following the service, we will have refreshments and
participants and asked to bring an hors d'oeuvre to share. The
service will be led by the Rev. Dan Brosier.
26 - Kwanzaa
As one holiday ends another begins. In this
intergenerational service we will examine the African-American
holiday Kwanzaa through its stories and history. The service
will be led by the Rev. Dan Brosier.
ALL SERVICES BEGIN AT 10:45 A.M.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
Markings
I grew up in a neighborhood filled with kids. It seemed like
there was always someone to play with as various combinations
of playmates formed and dissolved. With some regularity we
would all come together to play the likes of kickball,
eeny-iiny-over, or a game we invented which was sort of a
dodgeball on bikes. One of our favorite times to play, though,
was after the sun had set when we gathered to play the games
which required the dark. There was often a special energy in
these games--an energy which came through our encounter with
the darkness. There was mystery, adventure, solitude, and on
occasion a quieting.
At one point my father installed flood lights on the back of
the house. I remember eagerly waiting for them to be ready for
they promised to extend our day--at least in the back yard. The
day came that they were fully operational, night fell and the
neighborhood gathered for the big moment. The switch was
thrown, the lights came on and the backyard was flooded with
light. It was almost like day. We were now free to play any of
the daytime games we wanted, whenever we wanted. And for the
first couple of nights we chased back the dark and gleefully
played in the light. But that didn't last too long. Steadily we
came to use the lights less and less and returned to our night
games. We chose the darkness because of what we could
experience in its domain.
We are entering the darkest time of the year. At the winter
solstice, around the holiday of Christmas, is when the nights
are the longest and the days the shortest. There is much
darkness. It is an opportunity to savor what the darkness
offers--the peace, the chance to look inward, the rest and
retreat from the business of the world. It is my wish that we
enjoy the lights and the darkness of this season.
Dan
Kudos
Susan Stafford and Charles Landauer for buying
snacks and goodies for coffee hour.
Jim Hermann for his work with Com Edison to get our
electric bills significantly reduced.
The youth from the teen sleepover who donated their
left over party snacks to the coffee hour.
Phil Becker and the Publicity committee for the
fine job they are doing.
Cathy Braun for the YRUU sleepover.
Dinna Johnson & Doug Pratt for coordinating the
Halloween Party.
Pantry Sunday Reminder
Sunday, December 5, again is Pantry Sunday. When
shopping, toss non-perishable food items, paper goods,
toiletries or infant needs into your grocery cart for the
Interfaith Pantry.
But, if you forget to do this, 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
Crop Walk
Thanks to all who helped out with the CROP walk
this year. A special thank you to those who walked: the Davis
Family, Henny DuBois, Dotty Carringi, and Scott MacDuff. Thanks
to all who pledged. We raised $646.00 to help end hunger in the
world. Twenty five percent of the money stays in the Elgin
area.
Membership & Hospitality
Committee
The Committee meets on the third Sunday of each
month, after coffee hour. We are looking for volunteers to be
escorts for visitors, committee members, coordinators for a
month, greeters, and kitchen helpers. Contact Jim Hermann or
Paula Zeugner.
Wish List
Long extending ladder to change light bulbs and
reach the roof. Contact Kevin Webster.
W.A.G.O.N.
The Boston Trip 2000 youth appreciate the support
they have received and are continuing their successful
W.A.G.O.N. fund raiser into December. Please consider ordering
certificates again, perhaps with holiday gift-giving in mind.
Remember, it's a win/win situation, costing you nothing extra
to buy certificates to later spend as cash or give as gifts,
while the merchants refund a percentage of the sales to our
fund raiser. There are more than fifty stores to choose
from.
Orders for certificates will be gratefully accepted
until December 5 and the certificates will be distributed on
December 12. From Mary Alice Masonick on behalf of the BT2K
youth group.
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 straight forward.
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 Dan Brosier.
Wheel of Life
We are saddened by the news of the death of Augusta
Askins, mother of Steve and grandmother of Marjorie.
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.
Religious Education Department
Once in a while, one of my children says or does something
that is truly enlightening, remarkable, out-of-the-ordinary,
sophisticated - or add your own adjective here. These are the
moments that I as a parent live for. And they are by no means
daily occurrences, but once-in-a-while happenings that make me
smile and enjoy my role in their lives.
A couple of weeks ago, Savannah was sitting at the dining room
table entertaining herself while I was trying to take a catnap
before going to work. Just as I was drifting off a bit she
stood by my side and said, "I'm writing special letters."
Now this is not unusual at all, since she has been learning how
to write words for about a year. So I simply replied, "That's
nice, sweetie."
"But these are letters in my secret code."
Having got my curiosity a bit, I opened one eye to look at the
paper she was holding in front of me. In her hand were about
eight pieces of 2" X 4" paper with scribbles all over them.
Surprised to see scribbles instead of letters I asked what the
secret code was.
"It's my secret cursive code," she said matter-of-factly.
"And what do the letters say?"
"I can't tell you because they're secret. They're letters to
God."
Well, it's amazing how a three-letter word can get my heart
going! Being raised a UU, and a humanistic UU at that, the word
"God" still pushes a button in my brain. Savannah and I have
had several conversations about God and Jesus in the past
couple of years, and I like to think that I have owned up to my
feelings regarding this subject. Perhaps I need to work on this
a bit more.
And then she asked, "Mom, what is God's address?"
I paused for a moment to think how to best respond, and simply
said, "I don't know." Knowing she believes there is a God and
that God is a man, I considered the question thoughtfully and
added, "Most people send letters to their God through prayers.
Prayers are like a letter you read out loud."
This was not a satisfactory answer. All week long she would ask
once or twice a day where to send her secret letters to God.
And then one day the letters were forgotten. Perhaps I should
have pretended to mail the letters - like one would to Santa
Claus.
Except that Santa has an address.
Thoughtfully,
Kathy Underwood, Director of Religious Education
BIRTHDAYS!
December
07
Linda Porter
11
Paul Hanifl
Megan Landauer
18
Rachael Guritz
20
Roberta Nauman
Barb Sugden
23
Helen Maxwell
Linda Rodda
26
Dave Guritz
27
Marilyn Hendry
30
Doug Pratt
31 Ed
Wall
Book Group
You are warmly invited to join the members of the
Book Group at any of their upcoming meetings, which begin at
7:00p.m.
December 3
Poisonwood Bible aby Barbara Kingsolver. At the home
of Dotty Carringi.
January 7
The Reader by Benrhard Schlink. At the home of Shirley
Wolen.
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.
Reliability Day and Millennial
Celebration
The second annual RELIABILITY DAY potluck will be
held at the church at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, December 21 in
celebration of reliability in meeting one's responsibilities.
This is so vital a quality in making things work that it seems
to deserve a special day to remind us all of its importance. As
December 21 is the first day of Winter and of the Seasonal
Year, December 21, 1999 we will celebrate as the first day of
the Seasonal Year 2000 and of the Third Millennium of seasonal
years. Everyone interested in attending this unique occasion
and promoting the values of reliability and community are
invited to bring a dish to join in this nonalcoholic Common
Value Seasonal Dinner. Call Robert Jones if you have
questions.
New Year's Eve Party
This New Year's Eve won't be just any New Year's
Eve - as we are reminded daily by the media, we will be
welcoming the New Millennium! If you would like to help
organize a whiz bang of a New Year's Eve party to celebrate
this event with members of your church family, sign the
clipboard on the table in the foyer. The Burnidge/Naumans have
agreed to host again this year. However, if enough people sign
up, we will hold it at the church. As usual this will be an all
family event.
Guest at Your Table
Our annual participation in the Unitarian
Universalist Service Committee's "Guest at Your Table" program
will begin on December 5. People who take boxes are asked to
pause once a day at meal time to reflect on the committee's
work to promote justice in the world in ways we are unable to
do individually and to put a donation in the box. In two weeks,
on December 19, participants are encouraged to write a check
for the amount in the box and bring it to church. A $25
contribution makes you eligible to become a member of UUSC;
gifts of $60 or more from individuals or families are matched
by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock,
Manahasset, New York.
The Larkin Center Giving Tree
If you have not been to church recently, you may
not have noticed the tree with tags in the Fellowship Hall.
Each tag contains a wish for a gift from a child at the
Creekside group home that our church sponsors or a gift that
staff have identified for the home itself. In a very direct way
you can make a difference in the experience of Christmas for
these children by taking a tag, recording your name and the
child's name on the register provided, selecting the gift and
returning it UNWRAPPED to the church, and recording the
approximate value of the gift in the register. We keep track of
the values because these count toward our total pledge of
support for the home. Last year you were very generous in your
Giving Tree support; we hope you will make this a tradition.
The gifts and tree will be picked up after December 12, so
return gifts by then. Roberta Nauman, Social Justice
Chair.
Bake Sale!
If you like to bake, the Religious Education
Committee needs your help! There will be a bake sale on
December 12th to raise funds for a preschool age
playground. Bakers are needed to contribute for sale: loaves of
quick breads, pies, plates of cookies, cakes, muffins. For
those who like to eat this sale will be a great time to stock
up on items for the holidays. Bakers should sign up on a
clipboard in the main lobby. Call Lydia Larrabee with
questions.
Committee on the Ministry
The COM has as its mission "to assist the church in
the practice of its mission/covenant." We are here to assist
committees, other working groups, the minister, employees, and
the congregation in assessment of the overall ministry, and to
facilitate communication as it relates to fulfilling ministry.
We want the congregation to know that we are here for you if
you have any concerns about the ministry of the church. We are
a link between the congregation and the minister - and the
minister and the congregation.
Some of our projects over the last couple of years
have been:
Leadership Training Retreat for Board/Council
Members - "Effective Meetings." They created a list of ways
they can facilitate and evaluate their meetings.
Created "Chair Position Descriptions" - Chairs
described what their responsibilities are, qualifications,
amount of time required, and length of commitment.
We've been working on an Employee Handbook that
describes the benefits and obligations of an
employee.
We've held a Board/Council retreat on "Planning For
Conflict." We invited Helen Bishop from the CMwD to share her
experience.
We've helped put in place a Conflict Management
Team that is just now a beginning to meet. This group of
individuals will be working on training in this area (some
members have quite a bit of training already)-- so that
individuals in the church will be able to consult the Team if
they feel there is some church-related conflict that they are
involved in that is not easily resolved.
Getting a Task Force started to address some of the
concerns borne out of the last Board/Council Retreat - "Action
Plan 2000." They hope to provide a mechanism for receiving
feedback and involvement in identifying what topics or
activities meet the needs of the church.
And, last but not least, to have FUN while we're
doing this!!!! The members are: Joyce Becker, Andrea Schmidlin,
Mary Shelden, Linda Porter, Dan Brosier, and Kathy
Underwood.
W.A.G.O.N
The Boston Trip 2000 youth appreciate the support
they have received and are continuing their successful
W.A.G.O.N. fund raiser into December. Please consider ordering
certificates again, perhaps with holiday gift-giving in mind.
Remember, it's a win/win situation, costing you nothing extra
to buy certificates to later spend as cash or give as gifts,
while the merchants refund a percentage of the sales to our
fund raiser. There are more than fifty stores to choose
from.
Orders for certificates will be gratefully accepted
until December 5 and the certificates will be distributed on
December 12. From Mary Alice Masonick on behalf of the BT2K
youth group.
Service Auction 2000
Mark your calendar now for Saturday, February 5,
for the Service auction 2000, the church's #1 fund-raiser and
fun-raiser.
It's time to be thinking of what you can offer for
sale at the auction. Previous years' items have included
dinners; parties; outings such as theater parties, a folk or
film festival, a baseball game, museum, or specialty shopping
trip. Always poppular is a one-week resort vacation at the time
or location of your choice. Services offered have included
baby-sitting, yardwork, housecleaning, painting, wallpapering,
massages, legal and computer services.
Once again we'll have the popular silent auction,
commencing two weeks before the live auction and featuring
"quality stuff" such as antiques, collectibles, jewelry,
needlework, art, crafts, baked good, etc.
Wheel of Life
We are saddened by the news of the death of Augusta
Askins, mother of Steve and grandmother of Majorie.
Temple of The Four Winds
For members' information, we are now renting space
to a Wiccan denomination by the name of the Temple of Four
Winds. This group meets at the church on the full and new moons
each month and holds Sabbat services on a number of other
occasions. Some of their services are open to the public,
others are not. If you have any questions, contact Dan
Brosier.
Minister's Office
Due to the confidential nature of some of the work
our minister does, members and friends are asked not to enter
or use his office without his permission.
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.
Bully Pulpit -December
Bully Pulpit - December
The year is 2005. As I sit here in our
Sanctuary, I am reflecting on the accomplishments of the UU
Church of Elgin. We have had a great many successes during the
last five years. It is important that we take time to examine
who we are and what we have done.
Our Religious Education program has really expanded since
1999. We have Adult RE programs that minister to the religious
educational needs of the adults in the congregation. The adults
that participate in IDEAS now outnumber the children in the
Children's RE programs. This is what the DRE likes to call
Whole Life Span Religious Education. The weekly Religious
Studies Class is always filled with members who want to learn
more about the religions of the world. Our library contains
many of the texts that they use for reference or just private
education. Of course, it takes head and heart to be a full
person and our spiritual growth is ministered to by our
Meditation Group, the Coven of UU Pagans, and the UU Christian
Fellowship.
The Director of Education has finally accepted the full-time
position that was offered after the number of children passed
100 this year, in addition to the 100 or so adults that attend
Adult RE (IDEAS) classes each month. The Junior and Senior High
Advisers have helped a lot and we need to recognize their
commitment to assisting the youth with the YRUU Convention last
year, along with the monthly community projects and social
activities. Of course, it helps to have 15 Senior High
students, in addition to the 20 students in Junior High. Let's
not forget the leaders of the weekly OWLS (Our Whole Lives)
sessions and the busload of people that went to Boston in
2003.
Since our membership looks like it will exceed 250 adults
this year, we need to recognize how much our congregation has
grown in the last few years. Growth was never the goal in
itself. Like life, it just happened while we were making other
plans. Once we got the word out about our programs, our
services, our minister, and our principles, people came to see
for themselves. They were UUs and didn't know it. Now they are
our friends, our committee members, and leaders of our
community. In fact, at the last service, I found that there
were more new members since Y2K than experienced members. It's
no wonder that every committee seems to have a dozen members
and the lists of committee membership show about 75% of the
members are on a committee. Everyone seems to be as committed
to the work of the Church as they are to our financial
stability, if the last Pledge Drive is any gauge.
Ever since we took the first step by becoming a Welcoming
Congregation for gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgendered
individuals (GLBT), our welcoming spirit has grown. We have
shown that we want to welcome additional oppressed people. It
seems that the more other Churches seek to exclude people, the
more we have welcomed them. Our GLBT members led the way and
took the risk. Now they guide others to welcome all people and
be welcomed by us.
Our new stature in the community helps us get our message
across. Since we have become recognized as one of the leading
forces for Social Justice in Elgin, people have wanted to learn
more about UUs. As a clear voice for justice in our local
community, the UU Church of Elgin has committed to work for
justice. It took a lot of work to develop our involvement in
local community services, youth community projects, and
significant social justice actions. However, once we developed
and expanded our awareness and involvement, the rest
followed.
Unfortunately, I am running out of space for this article. I
don't want to forget to mention our other successes: our
training program for Church leadership and staff, plus the
support they get from the congregation; our beautiful new
balcony and finished third floor; and, the Meditation Garden
and our Prairie.
Most of all: We care about, support and have fun
with each other.
Jim Hermann, President Emeritus Board of Trustees
December Calendar
WE 01
7:00pm
Barn Bells
TH
02
7:00pm
Publicity Committee
FR
03
7:00pm
Book Group
SU
05
9:00am
Unichord Rehearsal
9:30am
Meditation/Reflection
Sunday Services Committee
12:15pm
Action Plan Task Force
Dance Rehearsal
TU
07
7:00pm
Rental
7:00pm
EICA
W
08
7:00pm
Barn Bells
TH
09
7:00pm
Aesthetics Committee
FR
10
5-9:00pm
EICA Workshop
SU
12
9:00am
Unichord Rehearsal
RE Council
Social Justice Committee
9:30am
Meditation/Reflection
12:30pm
Islam & the Koran
Dance Rehearsal
Welcoming Congregation
Bake Sale
MO 13
7:00pm
Finance Committee
Committee on the Ministry
TU
14
7:15pm
Anti Racism
W
15
7:00pm
Barn Bells
TH
16
7:00pm
Church Council
SU
19
9:00am
Unichord Rehearsal
9:30am
Meditation/Reflection
12:15pm
Action Plan Task Force
12:30pm
Dance Rehearsal
W
22
7:00pm
Adult RE Meeting
7:00pm
Barn Bells
Rental
FR
24
7:00pm
Christmas Eve Service
SU
26
9:00am
Unichord Rehearsal
9:30am
Meditation/Reflection
12:15pm
Action Plan Task Force
12:30pm
Dance Rehearsal
12:45pm
Membership/Hospitality Committee
TU
28
7:00pm
Board of Trustees
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