UUCC Community News

Unitarian Universalist Community Church December, 2013 Park Forest, IL

The President’s Column by Bruce Swiecicki

Sunday Worship Schedule 10:00 AM

December 1:

“The Passion in Our Stories”

By Gail Tala

December 8: “Climbing Jacob’s Ladder:

Wrestling with Holiness”

By Dave Matteson

December 15: “RE Holiday Service”

By Dan Feldt and the RE Kids

December 22: “Dance in the Dark of the Year”

By February Sky

December 29:

“Church Year Musical Review”

By Jessica Carter

Bruce Swiecicki

President

Darlene Obejda

Vice-President

Richard Treptow

Treasurer

Diane O’Connor

Office Administrator

We’re All On a Path

When I was a child growing up in the Roman Catholic faith, we didn’t spend much time

discussing the differences between Catholicism and other faiths. Not that it was taboo or

anything, it’s just that most everyone around me was Catholic and there was no need to

talk about anything else. Going to a Catholic grade school, I recall believing at some

point that if you were Catholic you were going to Heaven and if not, you would not gain

entry through the Pearly Gates.

But when I was a high school senior, my beliefs were shaken to their core. At a carnival

with some friends, we were approached by some young men slightly older than us who

asked if we were “saved.” After listening to their explanation, I was perplexed so a

friend and I accepted an invitation to visit Ashburn Baptist Church on the southwest

side of Chicago. Delivering a sermon that day was a visiting preacher from the South,

and did I ever get the “fire and brimstone” treatment! I was so shaken after that experi-

ence that when I returned home, I told my dad about it and asked him why he wasn’t

concerned that our family might not be on the right path to Heaven. My dad said some-

thing that I look back on and cherish, because it brought me comfort while my mind was

in great turmoil. He didn’t try to argue against what the Baptists believe; he simply said

that we all have to make choices in our lives. His choice was to be a Catholic.

I enjoy talking about faith and beliefs. It may be considered “taboo” to discuss in mixed

company, but religion is one of the subjects that really pique my interest. I’ve done a lot

of reading over the years, mainly on Christianity and the history of the Bible, but I find

inspiration in Unitarian Universalism because we’re so open to new ideas. Each of us

follows the Scientific Method, based on the Fourth Principle, “A free and responsible

search for truth and meaning.” We hypothesize a belief system and then test it over time

against new experiences and fresh knowledge. If it doesn’t stand up to the test, we

modify our hypothesis.

I believe that trying to live a “holy” life on earth is a good thing, and like the lesson I

learned from my dad years ago, there may be any number of paths taken to reach that

goal. Dan Feldt illustrated this concept very well during his first discussion on the

world’s religions when he drew a picture of a mountain from its base to its peak,

representing the ascension from lower states of being to higher, more spiritual states.

The point was made that Hinduism describes four separate pathways to reach the peak,

and it doesn’t matter which one is taken. We may never reach that peak in this life, but

that’s OK; the important thing is that we’re on the journey.

Happy Thanksgiving.

~Bruce

December 1: Community Sunday: NO FORUM

December 8: Care of the Earth: Faith in Place (sustainable energy)

December 15: Philosophical Considerations II, Leonard Kirchner

December 22: African Community Projects, Sandra Matteson

December 29: NO FORUM

U.U. for Social Justice Annual Meeting: Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013 2 to 5 p.m.

Held at the Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 N. Ridge Ave. (in Room 3), Evanston, IL 60201

(The church is roughly one block north of Dempster).

Parking is on the west side of the church

Program (2 to 3 p.m.): “MOVE TO AMEND” workshop, presented by the Task

Force on Economic Justice and Homelessness.

Business Mtg. (3-5 p.m.): Includes: financial report, election of officers, task force

reports and more

For further information: e-mail: uusj@sbcglobal.net or phone: 773-595-4921

The following are some of the highlights from the

Board of Trustees meeting November 19th:

The Board discussed the need to hire an Events

Coordinator for handling rentals of the church.

No action was taken and the matter will be dis-

cussed further in December.

UUCC administrative staff uncovered several

boxes of documents that will need to be reviewed

and possibly archived. The Board discussed the

possibility of creating an “historical” task force

that could review the documents and consider

which ones needed to be saved.

Along the same lines, the Board will be working

to establish a document retention policy that

would provide formal direction on how long to

retain church documents.

The Board reviewed the progress being

made on a brochure for the church rent-

als and discussed a similar brochure for

celebrants from UUCC.

Membership Growth

Brainstorming Session

Sunday, December 1st (during potluck lunch)

If you are interested in brain-

storming ways to invite visitors

and bring in new members, par-

ticularly young families, please

join us around the table in the

third classroom during our pot-

luck lunch on Sunday, Dec 1st.

Advent Taize Prayer Service

Date: Friday, December 13th

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Infant Jesus of Prague

1131 Douglas Ave

Flossmoor, IL

This one-hour service consists of simple songs,

scripture, a service of light, periods of silence

and meditation, and a time for voicing our

petitions. All are warmly invited for this

opportunity to rest and reflect during the

season of advent! Hospitality immediately

afterwards in the church hall.

Our eBay store is up and running!

UUCC is now a seller on eBay, and we are looking for dona-

tions. Shopping season is upon us, and now is the time to

clean out, green-out and help UUCC fund raise.

If you have unusual items, collectable items, jewelry, or some-

thing that may have value and you'd like to donate to the

cause, please contact Dorea or Diane. All proceeds go to

UUCC.

29th Annual Do-It-Yourself Messiah

You, your family and friends are invited to participate in the 29th

Annual “Do-it-Yourself Messiah”. You may sing, listen and/or par-

ticipate as a financial supporter. Either way, it is an inspiring and

most enjoyable afternoon.

Saturday, December 7th, 2013

at 3pm

Faith United Protestant Church

10 Hemlock Street, Park Forest

Winter WomanSpirit 2014

Wisdom for the journey:

A weekend with Sue Monk Kidd

Come spend a weekend laughing, learning, and growing at Winter

Woman Spirit 2014, with Sue Monk Kidd and the women of the

Central Midwest District. Explore your inner goddess!

Fee: $175. (Hotel is separate)

When: Feb. 7th through Feb 9th.

Where: DuPage UU Congregation,

1828 Old Naperville Road, Naperville.

For more information: Call 800-552-2599 or go to

www.hilton lislenaperville.com

WINTER MARKET OPENS at St Irenaeus

Do you already miss shopping in the

Farmers’ Market and the opportunity to

buy locally grown and market fresh items

for your family table? Good news, you

don’t have to wait until summer to get

fresh food for your family!

Each Sunday the Winter Market will be

in the gym at St. Irenaeus. You can shop

from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday.

S.A.F.E, (Sustainable Agriculture Food

Exchange) the hydroponic greenhouse

and farm in Wilton Center run by Gary

Friedlund will be our first vendor. As

many of you know, along with the com-

munity garden here at the parish, Gary

and S.A.F.E. provided our pantry guests

with fresh, healthy produce all summer.

In addition, the greenhouse provided pro-

duce in early spring and is continuing

through fall and winter to deliver food to

our pantry guests. S.A.F.E.’s mission is

to “provide healthy and earth friendly

food, especially to those in the commu-

nity who lack access due to social or eco-

nomic conditions.”

Come be part of a new project that will

benefit all who participate and taste the

difference fresh food makes in your fam-

ily’s kitchen. See you Sunday!

What’s going on in RE? Dan Feldt, Director of RE

Woodland Carols: Annual Food Drive

Saturday, December 14th Noon - 2pm

Enjoy a woodland twist to holiday carols, savor all you can eat homemade soups

AND help stock the Rich Township Food Pantry! Popular area musicians

performing seasonal songs and carols. Call Nature Center for reservations by

Thursday, December 12. Age 12 years and up. Thorn Creek Nature Center is

located at:

247 Monee Road, Park Forest 708-747-6320

Thorn_creek@att.net Additional parking at New Community Church

UUCC Microlending by Beverly Feldt

Last month I reminded everyone that some years back the congregation had sent $550 to Kiva, a microfi-nance organization that makes loans to help create opportunities for people all over the world. After some feedback from members, I’ve reallocated the money, all of which had been repaid from our previous loans. As the Kiva website says, “Kiva lenders combat poverty daily by making small loans to borrowers around the world. We believe in fair access to affordable capital for people to improve their own lives. Often a relatively small amount of money stands in the way of Kiva borrowers and their dreams. “Billions of people around the world don't have access to typical banking services. Sometimes providing just one small loan to people in poverty can be enough to help them become profitably self-employed and fi-nancially stable. These loans are not donations; they're almost always paid back to you. By giving someone a hand (not a handout!) you are helping them help themselves to a better life.” Here are the people we’re helping now:

Suhbaatar, a woman in Mongolia whose small grocery shop supports local farmers who grow or-ganic produce. Her loan will help her buy stock for her store and insulate it against the cold Mongo-lian winters.

Hannah, who will buy fabric for her business in Sierra Leone. She is married and has three children in school. She works 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and plans to own a big shop one day.

Kenneth in Kenya, who will expand his quarrying business. He’s 52 with four grown children, and he’s using his loan to hire more workers.

Gulby, a widowed nurse with two children in Tajikistan. Our loan will help her make needed repairs on her house, since she doesn’t earn enough from her job to do so on her own.

Ricardo Alfredo, who will be able to set up a market clothing stall with his wife in El Salvador. He’s following his dream of getting a high school diploma by starting his studies again in the new year.

Alicia in Peru, who will buy tables and chairs to expand her food stall and help support herself, her husband, and their five children.

Jesus Romeo also has a food stall, in Nicaragua. Our loan will help him buy ingredients to cook the specialties of his home region. He works ten hours a day at this home-based business.

Thamer will be able to pay the rent on his bakery in Iraq, thanks to us and other Kiva lenders. He’s earning money to support his family and pay his child’s tuition fees.

As these folks repay the money we’ve lent them, we’ll lend it out again, to other men and women all over the world. It’s a new kind of recycling! To learn more, visit the Kiva website at www.kiva.org.

Rainbow Cafe is a social event that

provides a safe and welcoming envi-

ronment for single or partnered gay,

lesbian, bisexual, and transgender

adults and their allies, by creating a

space where they are able to socialize

outside of the usual bars.

The Café is open every 3rd Saturday

of the month from 6:30-10:30 pm.

More info: Dave Matteson

708-672-8837 or 708-408-1421.

RAINBOW CAFÉ will meet on

December 21st at 6:30pm

Choir Rehearsals

If you are interested

in joining us for choir

practice on Sunday

mornings, please con-

tact Bev Feldt. bevfeldt@gmail.com.

Sacred Communica-

tion Workshops

December Dates to be

Announced

These Transformative Workshops will

help you in identifying and dissolving

mental and emotional blockages, learn-

ing to use your authentic voice, defin-

ing authentic friendships, and more. For

more information, call Rev. Henrietta

Byrd: 312-593-4732.

A Moment in Balance

Yoga Classes by Karen Nielsen Monday and Thurs

9:30am – 11am

Wednesday evenings

7:30pm – 9pm

No reservations needed. Drop in fee is

$10 per class and the 6th one is FREE.

Call (708) 755-3577 for information

Dances of Universal Peace… ...are Circle,

Meditative, Prayerful dances to the

mantras from all World Religions. They

originated with Murshid Samuel Lewis,

a Sufi teacher, in San Francisco in the

late 1960’s. We meet at UUCC. Nancy

Pfalscraft, a certified D.U.P. teacher, is

our primary leader.

For more info: Pat Segner 748-2217 Next Dances of UP: Dec 21st 2-4PM

Drum Circle

3rd Friday of each

month: 7-9pm

Come enjoy the sooth-

ing therapeutic effect of our open

drum circle. Drumming is fun and

good for you. The circle is "zero

level," requiring no experience.

Please bring a drum if you have one.

We will have a small selection of

community drums. A $10 love offer-

ing is requested.

There will NOT be a Movie Night for December due to the holidays.

The World’s Religions

(A series of classes

on World Religions)

This program is organized around a

study guide developed by the UUA

that uses the writings of Huston Smith

as source material. The religions

considered are Hinduism, Buddhism,

Confucianism, Taoism, Islam,

Judaism, Christianity, and the Primal

Religions.

For fifteen years Huston Smith was

Professor of Philosophy at M.I.T. and

for a decade before that he taught at

Washington University in St. Louis.

Holder of twelve honorary degrees,

Smith’s fourteen books include The

World’s Religions which has sold over

2-1/2 million copies, and Why Religion

Matters which won the Wilbur Award

for the best book on religion published

in 2001. In 1996 Bill Moyers devoted a

5-part PBS special, The Wisdom of

Faith with Huston Smith to his life and

work.

For further info email Dan Feldt at

ddfeldt@gmail.com.

1st and 3rd

Tuesdays

@7PM

Monday Night Silent Meditation

Monday evenings at 7:30pm. Bring a

cushion if you’d like. This is a free

weekly event. For more

info call the church

office at 708-481-5339.

1

10am Worship/RE

11:30am Community

Sunday Potluck

2

9:30am Yoga

7:30pm Meditation

3

7pm World’s Religions

Class

4

5

6

6:30pm Family First

Friday

7

8 10am Worship/RE

11:30am Forum

9 9:30am Yoga

7:30pm Meditation

10

11 7:30pm Yoga

12 9:30am Yoga

13

14

15 10am Worship/RE

11:30am Forum

16 9:30am Yoga

7:30pm Meditation

17 7pm World’s Religions

Class

18 7:30pm Yoga

19 9:30am Yoga

20 7pm Drumming

21

2pm Dances of Universal

Peace

6:30pm Rainbow Cafe

22 10am Worship/RE

11:30am Forum

23 9:30am Yoga

7:30pm Meditation

24 7pm Christmas Eve

Service

25 Christmas Day

26 9:30am Yoga

27

28 8pm Holiday Dance

29

10am Worship/RE

11:30am Forum

30 9:30am Yoga

7:30pm Meditation

31

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? ~ Dr. Seuss

Green Sanctuary Committee - by Jeff Green

Hello everyone,

I had the privilege of meeting a wonderful upbeat woman (Eleanor Hall) from the 1st Unitarian Church of Chicago. I have

been studying fossil fuel divestment off and on. It looks to be a painless way to make a statement about our values as a

church. We can shift our money out of fossil fuels and into the solutions if we wish. Meeting Eleanor helped to inspire me to

move this forwards into a slot of conversation. I have cut a great deal out of the document to fit our format. I encourage you

to email me for the larger document sent to me by Eleanor. Here is Eleanor’s if you would like to connect to here.

eleahall@yahoo.com and jeffgreen54@att.net

Summary and Frequently Asked Questions - Proposed Business Resolution on Fossil Fuel Divestment

For Consideration at General Assembly 2014, Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)

November 22, 2013 Summary

The goal of the proposed divestment resolution is to respond to the rapidly escalating climate crisis. The criteria

used in creating the resolution were that it be responsive to the crisis, achievable through a sensible process, re-

spectful of the shareholder advocacy position, and mindful of fiduciary responsibility. Provisions are as follows:

A freeze on investment purchases by the UUA’s Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF) of securities of the

200 companies identified by the Carbon Tracker Initiative as controlling the largest shares of fossil fuel

reserves among publicly traded companies (the CT200).

Divestment of the UUCEF’s direct holdings of CT200 securities within five years.

Negotiation with institutional investment providers to create more fossil fuel-free investment options, with

the ultimate objective of divestment of the UUCEF’s indirect CT200 holdings within five years.

Reinvestment in securities that will support the transition to a clean energy economy, such as in renewable

energy and energy efficiency.

Continued shareholder activism with targeted fossil fuel companies on climate-related issues.

Continued exercise of UUA’s fiduciary responsibility in management of the UUCEF.

Annual reports at General Assembly by the UUA President and Treasurer on the progress of the resolution.

A recommendation to UU congregations and individual members to consider fossil fuel divestment.

Delegates at General Assembly 2014 will consider this proposed Business Resolution if we meet the petition re-

quirement to place the resolution on the agenda. The minimum requirement is 250 member signatures from at least

25 congregations certified by UUA in 2013; up to 10 signatures per congregation count toward the total.

In summary, here are five reasons to divest fossil fuel securities:

1. Get our investments in line with our values.

2. Reduce corporate influence on energy policy.

3. Strengthen the climate movement.

4. Reduce investment exposure to potentially overvalued fossil fuel securities.

5. Reinvest in the solutions.

What about the moral and ethical dimension?

Respect and caring for the interdependent web of all existence is at the heart of our Seventh Principle. It is simply

wrong to attempt to profit from activity that will create climate chaos, cause immense human suffering, and alter

life as we know it. Social justice, the heart of our Second Principle, also calls us to action; the brunt of the burden

of climate change will fall on the poorest people in the world and on future generations -- those who are least

responsible for the crisis.

Sincerely,

UUs for Fossil Fuel Divestment and Sustainable Reinvestment (UU Divest)

Church Information Office Administrator 70 Sycamore Drive Diane O’Connor Park Forest, IL 60466 Office Hours: PHONE: 708-481-5339 M, W, F 10:30am - 3:30pm E-Mail: diane@uuccpf.org Web: www.uuccpf.org

(Please note from time to time some office hours vary)

Newsletter deadline is always the 20th of every month

*You can help save a tree and a stamp by simply picking up your newsletter or receiving it electronically via email.

Unitarian Universalist

Community Church

70 East Sycamore Drive

Park Forest, IL 60466-260

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