Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
June 2020
The Wayside Pulpit: Compassion
Rev. Michael Walker
Dear friends,We use the Soul Matters curriculum to provide themes around which weorganize worship, small groups, and religious education. The theme for Junehad originally been Play, but in light of current affairs in our country, it was feltthis theme doesn’t feel right. So, it was changed to Compassion, the sharingof empathy and understanding, caring for one another, especially in light of allthat is happening now. While the change was made due to COVID-19, theprotests against blatant disregard of human life as experienced by AfricanAmericans has really driven home the point. Let us treat our neighbors withcompassion. Let us honor the lives lost, and the lives that are still endangered.As it seems more and more likely that our president will seek to imposemartial law (through the Insurrection Act), let us not remain quiet or on thesidelines. If someone among us feels they are not affected by what ishappening in the world, read some history of nations who are experiencing thelevel of turmoil we are now feeling here. We need to speak up. We need toinject compassion into the civic discourse, but this does not mean trying tosilence others who are also speaking up. This is a time when humancommunity needs to seek understanding for the manifold forms of diversitythat we encompass. For all we feel are different than ourselves, I would saythat we are far more alike than we are different. Let compassion be our guidein all human relations.Stay healthy,Rev. Mike
Rev. Michael Walker is the Interim Minister for the DuPage Unitarian UniversalistChurch. He is interested in connecting with you! You may email him with questions andconcerns at [email protected]. If you need an appointment with ourminister, you may schedule one by calling the office at (630) 505-9408 or [email protected].
Sunday Services @ 10:30am(Online Only)
In response to Coronavirus and with concern for the safetyand health of our members and visitors, all Sundayservices, Forums, and necessary meetings will be heldonline only.
Click here to join our live stream ServiceClick here to join our live stream Serviceand Forum on Sundays!and Forum on Sundays!
June 7, 2020
CommunityRev. Michael WalkerIn the past, there were no services on the day of the Annual Congregational Meeting.Thinking we would be attending church in-person, Rev. Mike suggested to the SundayServices Committee and the Board that we should have a service every Sunday of theyear. Imagine a visitor arriving for the first time, only to find we had no service. Thecompromise we made was to have a shorter than usual service, followed by the AnnualMeeting at noon. Even though we are meeting virtually now, this is still our plan.Today, we contemplate the importance of community, connection, and compassion inour lives and in the church. As a source of support that is the foundation of who we are,especially in the age of COVID-19, we have learned that the church is its community,more so than a building. Some have been saying, “No, the church is not closed; thebuilding is closed.” Indeed, the church is its people, and may it ever be so.
June 14, 2020
Strong Roots in Turbulent TimesBy DuPage UU Church member, Kat GelderOur world will never be the same after the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us pause amidst thehubbub to envision the world we hope to live in “after this is all over.” We will examinethe roots that ground us and nourish us, and we will also examine the assumptions,traditions, and structures that threaten a more equitable and compassionate future.
June 21, 2020
Reflections on FatherhoodThe DUUC Men’s Group will lead this Father’s Day service and provide inspiring songs,readings, and reflections celebrating the theme of fatherhood. Hope you can attendonline!
June 28, 2020
This service will be presented by DuPage UU Church member, Caroline Bailey.Topic to be announced.
What does it mean to be a people of COMPASSION? Click HERE to find out!
Annual Meeting - 2020 Style!Our Annual Meeting will be held June 7, 2020 at 11:30 am, following a slightlyabbreviated regular Sunday service. It will be a bit different this year! With COVID-19guidelines in place, we will not meet in person for the annual business meeting. Insteadyour Board of Trustees has discussed and agreed that a remote Zoom-formatmeeting will allow us to meet criteria for passage of business issues as well as celebrateand honor the people and activities in the past year that have made this our belovedcommunity. Find details about the format, slates for elected positions, voting, pre-meeting budget review dates (final budget review Sunday, May 31) and Zoom help onthe church website at dupageuuchurch.org/2020AnnualMeeting.Questions? Contact [email protected].
Community Reflections ReportDuring February and March, the Transition Team hosted sixCommunity Reflections Gatherings as a part of thedevelopmental tasks for our interim ministry period. Thegoal of these gatherings was to illuminate the church’sunique identity, its strengths, needs, and challenges. Over80 people participated in these gatherings, at which, weposed the following questions about our congregation:
What is significant about our past? Who are we now? And to what should we aspire inthe future? With these open-ended questions, we gathered a great number of ideas,attitudes and sentiments that will help guide us through our period of transition. Here isthe summary of our findings, which we have presented to the board:http://members.dupageuuchurch.org/sites/default/files/resources/Community%20Reflections%20Report.pdf
DUE TO COVID-19, GENERAL ASSEMBLYJune 24-28, 2020 WILL BE A VIRTUAL GA.The biggest benefit is that you can register for allGA activities for only $150 a person...a lot lessthan $400 a person, transportation, and lodging!And, if that still does not fit your budget, you canwitness a host of activities for free.For details, and there are many with more tocome, goto https://www.uua.org/ga/registration.
Nominations for Special CollectionsEach year the Community Outreach committee asks thecongregation to nominate local non-profit organizations tobe part of our monthly special collection effort. We arenow beginning the process for 2020-2021.The CO Committee reviews the nominations and selectsseveral to be part of the program for the next year. Inaddition to new selections, we currently have 5 standingrecipients: Holiday Meals on Wheels, Tom Galloway
scholarship at College of DuPage, PADS, Green Earth Harvest, and Riverwalk AdultDay Services. Each month one of the organizations is featured in a Sunday service andreceives the loose change in the offering plate and any checks written for that purpose.Due to the cancellation of Special Collections from March through May (and into the newchurch fiscal year), the CO will roll over those scheduled during our remote services to atime when we are meeting again in person.Please think about organizations with which you volunteer, utilize services, or just knowto do good works. You can find information on the criteria we use to make decisions onour nomination form.We are asking that you fill out the Nomination form (document available here) andemail completed forms to [email protected] by June 30.We look forward to learning about the organizations you think deserve our support.
Need a little something to cheer you up? Please click the link belowto view a video of Karen Campbell's Jefferson Junior High orchestrastudents.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QNqU8pwbWh-KOaM4BnSRd27u0xy7mn5a/view?usp=sharing
Creatures of North American MythologySun June 28 3 PM (via Zoom)The indigenous peoples of the North American continent telltales of a variety of strange, terrifying, and fantastic creatures.For many First Nations people these creatures are not meremyths but very real and sightings of some are still reported.Join us as we discuss some of the creatures said to inhabitthe land we call home.RSVP's are greatly appreciated. Contact Michael Martin([email protected])
Support DuPage UU Church and all of its programs
DuPage UU [email protected]: Monday - Friday, 8am-4pmhttps://dupageuuchurch.org/
See what's happening on our social sites:
