January  9,  2011                    A  Publication  of  The  Union  Church  of  Hinsdale,  U.C.C.                    Volume  43,  Issue  1  

Inside  This  Issue:    

Holiday  Offering  News  Stewardship  Update  

Newsletter  Submissions  Coat  Drive  

WA  Selling  Used  Books  Martin  Luther  King  Jr.  Day  

Allegro  Fundraiser  Letter  to  the  Congregation  

And  more!  

Message From The Minister

“I  AM  GLAD    TO  BE  HERE!”  

   

Dear  Members  and  Friends  of  Union  Church:    Greetings!    I  have  been  invited  to  be  your  Transitional  Senior  Minister  for  the  time  ahead.    I  am  glad  to  be  here!        I  have  much  experience  for  this  ministry.  This  will  be  my  fourth  intentional  interim  position.    The  congregations  I  have  served  as  a  transitional  senior  minister  have  ranged  in  size  from  400  to  1700.    I  have  special  training  to  be  a  transitional  minister  in  addition  to  holding  Masters  of  Divinity  and  Doctor  of  Ministry  degrees  from  Eden  Theological  Seminary,  Mediation  Training  from  the  Lombard  Mennonite  Peace  Center  and  Appreciative  Inquiry  training  from  the  Clergy  Leadership  Institute.    I  have  been  an  ordained  minister  in  the  United  Church  of  Christ  for  34  years  and  served  4  United  Church  of  Christ  congregations  in  the  Midwest  before  becoming  an  intentional  interim.    I  have  asked  the  Moderators  to  appoint  a  Transitional  Steering  Committee  to  work  with  me  to  develop  a  plan  of  action  for  moving  into  your  future.    I  have  several  ideas  of  how  to  do  this  but  need  input  and  collaboration  from  the  Steering  Committee  to  chart  a  direction.    There  will  also  be  much  opportunity  for  input  from  you  as  well.    I  will  have  more  to  share  soon.    In  the  meantime,  I  want  to  get  to  know  you,  learn  your  story,  and  learn  your  thoughts  about  Union  Church.    Please  feel  free  to  stop  by  the  office  to  talk  to  me  or  invite  me  over  for  refreshments  or  lunch.    I  plan  to  be  in  the  office  Monday  through  Thursday.    I  drive  here  from  Mokena,  Illinois.    So  I  will  be  here  around  9:30  a.m.  except  for  days  I  have  night  meetings.    On  those  days,  I  will  come  in  a  little  later  because  I  will  stay  at  the  church  through  the  evening  hours.    I  want  to  be  one  of  your  pastors  and  spiritual  leaders  during  this  time  of  transition.    You  can  email  me  at  TZoelzer@uchinsdale.org  or  call  me  at  the  church.    You  can  also  text  me  at  708-­‐638-­‐5123.    People  have  asked  what  to  call  me  since  we  have  two  pastors  with  similar  names.    I  prefer  to  go  by  my  name  "Tom."    However,  you  can  also  call  me  "Tom  Z"  or  "Rev.  Tom."    In  any  case,  I  want  to  have  meaningful  communication  with  you  during  this  time  of  transition.    I  pray  that  the  Spirit  of  Christ  be  with  us  as  we  discern  what  God  is  calling  us  to  do  and  be.    I  am  happy  to  be  here!    

-­‐  Rev.  Dr.  Tom  Zoelzer  Transitional  Minister  

Union  Church  of  Hinsdale,  U.C.C.  

 

2

Invitation to Faith: Transformative Worship

Our  Staff  

Transitional Minister: Rev. Dr. Tom Zoelzer Minister for Mission

and Outreach: Rev. Dr. Thom Parrott-Sheffer

Minister for Christian Formation and Family Life:

Rev. Tanya Sadagopan Director of Children’s Christian Education:

Penny Johnson Director of Youth

Formation: Jeremy Hylen

Director of Music Ministries: Michael Surratt

Director of the Chancel Choir:

Todd Diehl Director of

Contemporary Music: Brad Nye

Director of Children and Youth Choirs: Roberta Wentling

Assistant Handbell Director: Elizabeth Jung

Director of Early Childhood Programs:

Jennifer Keldahl Executive Manager:

Merrilee Hall Financial Manager:

Gaby Perez Project Manager:

Joel Gratcyk Communications Assistant:

Melanie Burton Buildings and Grounds:

Jim Vojtek, Bob Brija

WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship

9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Prayer and Healing Service 3rd Sundays at 7:00 p.m.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

.

Holiday Offering Shares Faith & Joy with Our Mission Partners

 Thank  you  to  everyone  who  shared  in  our  holiday  offerings  this  Thanksgiving  and  Christmas.    Your  generosity  helps  make  the  continued  ministry  of  our  Mission  Partners  possible.    This  year’s  Thanksgiving  offering  raised  $2,842  for  A  Just  Harvest.    This  ministry  provides  a  warm  and  nutritious  meal  365  days  a  year  to  the  homeless  and  needy  in  the  Rogers  Park  neighborhood.    They  have  been  our  mission  partner  for  many  years  and  many  Union  members  have  served  the  meal  on  the  4th  Sundays  of  the  month  –  which  is  our  designated  Sunday.    If  you  are  interested  in  helping  sometime,  contact  Fran  Evans  or  Pastor  Thom.    Our  Christmas  offering  raised  $8,370  for  the  Night  Ministry.    The  Night  Ministry  provides  shelter,  warm  food,  clothing  and  supplies  and  medical  care  to  many  of  the  homeless  in  Chicago.    We  have  been  their  partner  for  many  years,  as  well,  with  our  Youth  Mission  Possible  program  serving  on  the  street  bus  every  month.    Thanks  again  to  all  who  helped  make  these  holiday  gifts  possible.  

                     

Pledge Envelopes  

If  you  would  like  to  have  weekly  pledge  envelopes  for  2011,  please  contact  Gaby  Perez,  our  financial  manager  at  (630)  323.4303  or  GPerez@uchinsdale.org.  

 Newsletter Articles and Submissions

 ALL  contributions  to  the  newsletter  should  be  emailed  to:  newsletter@uchinsdale.org    If  you  need  to  send  graphics  or  pictures  please  be  sure  that  they  are  less  than  1  MB  in  size,  total.  If  you  have  ANY  questions  or  concerns  about  the  newsletter  please  contact  Pastor  Thom  with  all  inquiries.  Thank  you!  

   

 

 

3

Invitation  to  Faith:  Community  &  Church  Life  

Dear Fellow Union Church Members, As  many  of  you  know  by  now,  the  church  has  experienced  a  significant  decline  in  its  pledging  units  and  pledge  income  for  the  year  ahead.    Despite  a  concerted  effort  by  the  Stewardship  Committee,  Trustees  and  many  other  church  leaders  to  reach  out  and  contact  members,  we  still  have  more  than  100  members  who  pledged  last  year  but  who  have  chosen  not  to  pledge  this  year.    Others,  because  of  financial  circumstances  or  other  reasons,  have  chosen  to  reduce  their  pledges.    This  comes  on  top  of  a  significant  decline  a  year  ago.          As  result  of  this  20%  reduction  in  our  expected  pledge  income  for  2011,  the  Budget  Committee  and  the  Executive  Council  have  needed  to  take  a  series  of  difficult  steps  in  order  to  be  good  stewards  of  our  financial  resources  and  bring  to  the  congregation  a  balanced  budget  for  2011,  while  still  trying  to  protect  that  core  elements  of  the  church  which  we  hold  most  dear.    The  Preliminary  Budget,  which  indicated  the  magnitude  of  these  changes,  was  made  available  to  the  congregation  two  weeks  ago  and  there  will  be  budget  conversations  with  the  congregation  this  coming  Sunday,  January  10,  at  10:15  and  11:30  in  the  Chapel.      The  Budget  Committee  worked  long  and  hard  to  deal  with  a  number  of  painful  choices.    Apart  from  a  significant  reduction  in  the  mission  budget  and  cuts  to  all  program  expenses,  including  elimination  of  our  four  paid  section  leaders  in  the  choir,  it  was  determined  that  our  payroll  and  benefits  needed  to  be  reduced  in  line  with  the  20%  reduction  in  income.    Last  night,  Executive  Council  made  two  extremely  difficult  decisions  which  will  result  in  the  elimination  of  the  Executive  Manager  position,  currently  staffed  by  Merrilee  Hall,  and  consolidation  of  our  two  Associate  Pastor  positions  into  one,  which  means  saying  farewell  to  Rev.  Tanya  Sadagopan.    To  lose  two  dedicated  and  faithful  staff  members  like  Merrilee  and  Tanya  is  the  last  thing  that  we  wished  to  do,  but  the  reality  of  our  financial  situation  left  us  with  few  options.    We  thank  them  both  for  their  service  to  Union  Church  and  wish  them  well  as  they  transition  away  from  us  in  February.      While  we  look  forward  with  great  hope  to  the  transitional  period  ahead,  through  which  we  believe  Tom  Zoelzer  will  capably  lead  us,  and  while  we  celebrate  the  increased  attendance  at  our  two  new  services,  we  are  deeply  saddened  to  be  sharing  this  news  with  you  and  can  only  hope  that  we  have  found  a  platform  now  from  which,  together,  we  can  grow  and  strengthen  Union  Church.      

Respectfully,      

Terry  Kilens,  Moderator  Coleman  Tuggle,  Vice  Moderator  

 

Seniors Invited to Defer Property Taxes    Qualified   senior   citizens   aged   65   years   and   older   are   invited   to   apply   for   the   Senior   Citizen   Real   Estate   Tax  Deferral  Program  offered  through  the  DuPage  County  Treasurer's  office  by  the  State  of   Illinois.  This  program  allows  qualified  senior  citizens  to  defer  property  tax  payments  until  which  time  the  property  is  sold.  In  other  words,   once   you   qualify   each   year   for   the   program,   you   don't   pay   your   real   estate   taxes   until   you   sell   the  property   or   no   longer   own   it.   The   deferral   is   treated   as   a   loan   and   accrues   6   percent   simple   interest   until  paid.   To   qualify,   the   senior   citizen's   household   income   cannot   exceed   $50,000.   Additionally,   the   property  must  be  used  exclusively  for  primary  residential  purposes.      The  application  period  closes  March  1,  2011.  For  more  information,  go  online  at  treasurer.dupageco.org  or  call  the  DuPage  County  Treasurer's  Office  at  (630)407-­‐5900.      

Gwen  Henry,  Treasurer    

4

Invitation to Faith: Music & Community Life

         

Benefiting The Allegro Handbell Ensemble  

The  Allegro’s  new  fundraiser  will  continue  through  May.    It’s  fundraising  while  you  shop.    RING  RING  CHA-­‐CHING  fundraising  gift  cards,  also  called  scrip,  are  the  same  gift  cards  you  would  normally  purchase  from  a  retailer  in  your  local  retail  stores,  and  they  work  the  same  way.      Our  weekly  Sunday  “Cash  &  Carry”  table  is  stocked  with  a  limited  assortment  of  cards.    However,  our  order  form  is  filled  with  cards  you  can  use  at  grocery  stores,  gas  stations,  restaurants,  movie  theaters,  home  improvement  stores,  and  almost  any  business  that  accepts  gift  cards.      Using  RING  RING  CHA-­‐CHING  is  easy!    Purchase  gift  cards  for  places  where  you  plan  to  shop,  and  use  those  cards  instead  of  cash  or  credit.  We  sell  the  cards  to  you  for  full  face  value  and  you  redeem  the  cards  for  full  face  value.    Allegro  purchases  those  gift  cards  at  a  discount  &  keeps  the  difference  as  a  rebate,  earning  a  percentage  of  every  dollar  spent  using  the  gift  cards.    Order  forms  are  available  at  uchinsdale.org  and  on  the  Music  Ministry  bulletin  board  as  well  as  the  Gathering  Place  on  Sunday  morning.    If  you  would  like  to  place  an  order  and  the  retailer  you  need  is  not  listed,  please  call  Elizabeth  Krainc  or  Wendee  Greene;  they  might  be  able  to  add  them  to  our  list.    Share  this  news  with  friends!    Questions  and  to  place  orders  by  phone,  please  call  Elizabeth  Krainc  (630-­‐969-­‐0545)  or  Wendee  Greene  (630-­‐969-­‐7668).    

Thank  you,    The  Allegro  Handbell  Ensemble  

   

 

 

Spaghetti Dinner: Save the Date

 The Annual Spaghetti Dinner is a fundraiser for our Bell Choir

and Youth Work Tours. This year it will be held on Sunday, February 27 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Join us for a fun family style dinner with music and friends.

Tickets will be going on sale soon.

Questions? Call the church offices at (630) 323.4303.    

5

Invitation to Faith: Expanding Mission and Social Justice for All People

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Empowerment

Assembly

 Monday,  January  17,  2011  9:00  a.m.  –  12:30  p.m.  

First  United  Church  of  Oak  Park  848  Lake  Street,  Oak  Park  

 

This   year,   Community  Renewal   Society   and   its  member  congregations  are  starting  a  new  tradition  to  live  out  the  legacy   of   Dr.   King   by   taking   action   for   racial   and  economic  justice  on  the  day  that  our  country  celebrates  him.  The  first  annual  Martin  Luther  King  Day  Community  Empowerment   Assembly   is   designed   to   build   the   skills  congregations   need   to   do   the   work   of   justice   in   their  churches   and   communities.   The   event   will   consist   of  three   sessions:   participants   will   come   together   for  opening  prayer  and  a  historical  witness  to  the   legacy  of  Dr.   King;   breakout   skills   workshops   will   provide  participants   the   opportunities   to   hone   their   abilities   to  effectively   act   for   justice;   and   finally   participants   will  come  together  for  action  items  on  current  campaigns  for  change.      The  event  is  free,  but  registration  is  needed.    Pastor  Thom  is  going,  so  you  can  register  through  him  at  (630)  323.4303  or  TParrott-­‐Sheffer@uchinsdale.org.  

     

 Coat  Drive  Has  Begun!

 Our  Annual  Coat  Drive  for  Interfaith  House  has  begun.  

 Bring  donations  of  adult  winter  coats  to    

Pastor  Thom’s  office.  Thank  you!    

Used  Books  Available  through  the  Women’s  Association

 

Snuggle  up  with  a  good  book  this  winter.    Throughout  the  month  of  January  there  will  be  an  assortment  of  used  books  available  on  the  lower  level  in  the  coat  area  between  the  staff  offices  and  the  dining  room.    You  are  invited  to  come  and  browse  –  then  purchase  these  used  books.    Come  often  to  look  at  the  books  as  new  ones  will  be  put  out  throughout  the  month.        Women’s  Association  will  add  all  money  donated  to  their  

scholarship  fund  for  college  students.    

Caregivers Are  you  in  need  of  a  caregiver?  Are  you  called  to  be  a  caregiver?  

 Whether   you   are   looking   for   an   in-­‐home   caregiver   or  looking  to  become  an  in-­‐home  caregiver,  you  might  want  to  look  into  Comfort  Keepers.    If   you   are   interested   you   can   look   at   their   website:  http://comfortkeepers.com  or  contact  Pastor  Thom.    Positions  are  available  now  and  training  is  provided.  

   

 

Have  you  made  your  pledge  for  2011?  Would  you  consider  increasing  your  current  pledge?    Please  contact  Gaby  Perez,  the  church’s  Financial  Manager,  to  notify  us    

of  your  pledge  amount  over  the  phone  or  to  have  a  pledge  card  sent  to  you.    Questions?  Call  us  at  (630)  323-­‐4303  or  email  Gaby  at  gperez@uchinsdale.org.