April 2019 Newsletter. Sunday Services

Transcription

1 April 2019 Newsletter Sunday Services Sunday, April 7, 9:30am & 11:15am Wholeness and Widening the Circle By Steve Cooper with the Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry Team The author, Universalist Edwin Markham, gives us the theme for reflecting on the practice of inclusivity. He drew a circle that shut me out- Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle and took him in! Wholeness is about larger understandings of my people. Wholeness is about who we welcome in. This is a service for all ages. Sunday, April 14, 9:30am & 11:15am Why Resurrection by Reverend Karen Mooney At this time of year a story is being told all over the world. A story about a journey, a cross, an empty tomb and the life of an itinerant carpenter named Jesus. Let us take the time explore this great tale. Let it help us understand a bit about our world today. In the same way any truly good story let it be a guide. Bio: Rev. Mooney works with the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministries of IL as they seek to bringing UU faith and worship to incarcerated people. She is honored to offer circles of care for those living in prisons and jails and supporting all those affected by incarceration. Karen is a life-long Unitarian Universalist who learned the art of church from her very involved parents. She has been educated far and wide working and playing, listening and walking with people. She loves that UU communities are places where you find people who are alive and seeking throughout their lives. She has worked as a chaplain, a congregational minister and a web platform manager. Each one was a joy and difficult for different reasons. Sunday Services continued on next page Old Naperville Road, Naperville, IL Phone: 630/ Website: 1

2 Sunday Services continued... Sunday, April 21, 9:30am & 11:15am Wholeness: Rebirth for Easter and Earth Day By Kelley Trombly-Freytag and Steve Cooper Wholeness is not always about restoring things to their original state; it s about taking the broken pieces and making something new. New things emerge from what is broken. Brokenness is a source of rebirth. Service for all ages. Our Special Collection will benefit Green Earth Institute in south Naperville. GEI is a 60-acre organic farm that sells shares of their harvest directly to the community and offers educational programs year-round, including summer children s camps. They also donate their fresh produce to area food pantries. DUUC member Steve Tiwald is Founder and Executive Director. If donating by check, please make payable to DUUC, with Green Earth Institute noted on the memo line. Thank you for giving generously! Sunday, April 28, 9:30am & 11:15am On Broken Bodies: Mother Theresa and Frida Kahlo Reverend Dr. Myriam Renaud In honor of Orthodox Easter, the Rev. Dr. Myriam Renaud, DUUC s Community Minister, will take up themes tied to broken bodies. She will explore the importance of the broken body of Christ to the work of Mother Theresa, and the selfportraits of Frida Kahlo, an artist who intertwined her own broken body with symbols and icons from diverse belief systems, including Catholic ones. Warning: If you are triggered by Christian themes and iconography or by images of pain and suffering, you may wish to skip this service. Got an Idea for a Service? The Sunday Services committee is looking for individuals and committees who would like to create and lead one of our lay-led services in June and July. A member of the committee will help you with administrative tasks like turning in an order of service and can even help you craft and present the service, depending on your needs. Contact Kat Gelder at kgelder@gmail.com if you are interested and we will look at dates together! Sunday Morning Forums Forums are held on Sundays at 9:30am in the Learning Center. Sunday, April 7, 2019 Science Sunday will investigate the finches of the Galapagos Islands. Charles Darwin didn't realize it when he spent two weeks on a few of the islands on his now famous trip, but the finches of the Galapagos have an amazing story to tell once a robust science explores their secrets. Peter and Rosemary Grant and their colleagues spent time on the islands over the course of almost three decades investigating what role these small animals on a desert locale can play in demonstrating, in real time, the power of natural selection. Come and hear the story! Sunday, April 14, 2019 This forum will be presented by the Green Sanctuary Committee. Sunday, April 21, 2019 Science Sunday: Scott Thompson will conclude his series about "A Scientific Disposition." This last part will focus on the importance of honesty. Scientists have an institutionalized kind of honesty. Because of peer review and the expectations of professional integrity, scientists must learn to be honest with themselves, their teams and the wider world about the "whats" and "hows" of their experiments and derivations, as well as their conclusions. Scientists expect each other to be forthright and honest. Overcoming confirmation biases, whereby we see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe is, arguably, the most important part of scientific honesty. What lessons can we learn from this to help us succeed in the conduct of our lives outside of science? Scott will propose definite benefits for both individuals and broader society (e.g. government) by holding ourselves and our leaders to a higher standard of honesty. Sunday, April 28, 2019 The Great Art Day Event. Our theme for May is curiosity. Show yours at the Art Day Sunday Forum. Come as a family or as an individual artist. You ll be able to explore a range of art media you have been curious about or hone a skill. We need helpers! If you re willing to help make it fun and creative morning, please contact Kerry Freedman at kfreedman@niu.edu. 2

3 DUUC Outstanding Volunteer Nomination: Due on Sunday, April 28, 2019 As members of DUUC, each of us has committed to sharing responsibility for the life of the church, volunteering to run the church and to building our church community. Many of us see someone or some group who deserves special recognition for their volunteer work at DUUC. We invite you to nominate a DUUC member, pair of members or a group (not currently holding an elected position) that represents outstanding volunteer service. Staff members are eligible for recognition for volunteer work outside of their paid duties. Nominations must be kept to one page in length, double spaced. Submit nominations as an attachment to drconnet@yahoo.com or mail to Deb Connet. Include answers to the following questions: 1. Name of individual submitting nomination. 2. Name of nominee 3. Brief explanation of why you are nominating this person or group for this award. The Outstanding Volunteer(s) will be recognized on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at the Congregational Meeting or when the nominee is available. Deb Connet, Committee Chair 320 S. Brewster Ave. Lombard, IL PASSOVER SEDER APRIL 18 at 6:00pm. The DUUC Jewish Heritage Group celebrates the meaning of Jewish Heritage in a Unitarian Universalist context. Most participants grew up in a Jewish home or have a partner who was raised in a Jewish family. Other members developed a practice of celebrating Jewish holidays as adults. We welcome anyone who wishes to participate in traditional Jewish celebrations or other Jewish oriented activities. Please contact Bev Becker if you would like to be a member of the Jewish Heritage Group (Phone: or tovah04@yahoo.com). The annual Jewish Heritage Group Passover Seder will be on Thursday, April 18 at 6:00 PM in Kreves Hall. Contact Bev if you would like to attend the seder and let her know the food/ drink you will bring. Social Justice Book Reviews are back! We will be starting our 2019 Book Reviews in May, (dates to be determined). The first book to be reviewed and discussed will be Robin DiAngelo - White Fragility. This book is a call to white folk everywhere to see their whiteness for what it is and to seize the opportunity to make things better now. Begin your read, then sign up on the Kiosk in Kreves for a convenient book review time with facilitators Karen Hutt or Ken Koresch. News & Events JUST VIEWS: Free & Open Film & Discussion Program: Friday, April 12, 2019 at 7:20 pm: Exploring Human Rights in Israel-Palestine Today -- through the eyes of children. Tonight we will critique a film directed by Zelda Edmunds that examines contemporary Israeli political and military systems' impacts on Palestinians. It follows the stories of four young Palestinians who have been detained and prosecuted in Israel. Their narratives, along with the voices of their families, reveal some oppressive conditions common in the region. We're seeking a panel representing different backgrounds for discussion after the film, which is entitled "Imprisoning a Generation". We'll discuss an associated human rights campaign and the history and current events in Israel-Palestine. A trailer for the film and other resources are available at All points of view are welcomed for civil multilogue. Join us! Just Views Director is Stephanie Hughes ; Associate Director is Carol Tritschler NEWSLETTER DEADLINE The deadline for the May newsletter is Monday, April 22, 9AM. Please your submissions to office@dupageuuchurch.org. From the Public Ministries Committee On Sunday, March 10,2019, $3, was collected for DUUC s SMILE project. Thank you for your generosity! In an effort to foster collaboration, please send an to Pubmin@duuc.org if there is something the Public Ministries Committee can do to help in the work of your committee. 3

4 News & Events Elders Circle meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 10 a.m. until noon in the Founders Room at DUUC. For the meeting on April 24, we will be viewing the film, Raw Faith, which will be shown in 30 minute segments, with discussion following each viewing. The film touches on issues of retirement, aging and renewal. Please join us; you won't be disappointed! Contact Bob Harris, to be put on the list for notifications. Some people like to bring a lunch from home to eat alongside others after the meeting ends at noon, so feel free to bring your too. Pastoral Ministry Associates (PMA) are selected church members who extend care to our church members who are experiencing a crisis or struggling with a difficult time. We provide a ministry of support through one on one care and helping activities. If you or your family are experiencing life changes, or if you are concerned about another member of our church who is experiencing life changes and would like assistance, please contact PMA Co-Chairs: Sue Gately suemgately@icloud.com or Sarah Baldwin baldwinsarah60@gmail.com or Mary Law, Congregational Life Coordinator membership@dupageuuchurch.org DUUC Library and Book Store April Featured Books of the Month DUUC Library: Christian Voices in Unitarian Universalism edited by Kathleen Rolenz is a collection of fifteen personal stories from laity and clergy alike show what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist Christian today. These men and women arrive at their faith by many paths - influenced by the Bible, Jesus Christ Superstar and even the Bernstein Mass. DUUC Book Store: Meet Jesus The Life and Lessons of a Beloved Teacher written by Lynn Tuttle Gunney and illustrated by Jane Conteh-Morgan introduces children to Jesus' life and message of love, kindness, peace and tolerance with simple text and lively, full-color illustrations. This book is a resource for a wide range of liberal religious parents and teachers, appropriate for Unitarian Universalists, progressive Christians, humanists, non- Christians and families blending more than one religious tradition. You may have seen someone use a device that produces electronic voice output, giving individuals who can t use their voice to talk a way to communicate. This is a form of augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC. Here are some things you should do (or not do) when talking with someone who uses AAC: Do focus on the message and not the communication method. Do be patient. Allow for extra time for communicating as it takes longer using AAC. Do wait for an answer before moving on. Give the person opportunities to communicate. Do speak directly with person you are communicating with, not to a person they are with. Don't speak for them. Don't assume they don't understand. COFFEE WITH THE BOARD! On Sunday, April 14, 2019, please grab a cup of coffee and join the Board during both Coffee Hours in the Founders Room. Chat informally with Board Members, learn more about exciting projects going on in the church, get your questions answered or just connect with the Board and other church members! This is a drop-in event, so there s no commitment to stay for the whole time period and no RSVPs are necessary. We hope to see you there! Can't make this one? No worries! Coffee with the Board will be held during both Coffee Hours on the 2nd Sunday of the month through May. Questions? Jenny Hobbs at community@dupageuuchurch.org 4

5 News & Events Coffee, Light Lunch and Fellowship! Join the all-church cleanup crew to help clean windows and perform other housekeeping tasks on Saturday April 20th between 9:00 AM and noon. All members and visitors are invited to attend, even if only for an hour or 2, because many hands make light work. Newer members and longtime guests report that this is an easy way to support our beloved community and get to know others. Youth are welcome to help when accompanied by an adult. Enjoy snacks and social time toward the end of the work session. (Bring your water bottle or beverage of choice.) All cleaning supplies are provided by the church. Please let us know if you can help that day by signing up on the kiosk or sending an to MAKE ANOTHER DUUC CONNECTION! WHO: All members, visitors, & friends of DUUC WHEN: Sunday, April 28th from 12:30 to 2pm WHERE: DUUC Learning Center Face-2-Face is an opportunity to get to know friends in our ever-changing community. Enjoy a pizza lunch with the community. Then pair with an individual in the group and, using your own or provided conversational prompts, take time to talk. Sign up on the sheet provided in Kreves Hall or Bob Harris at oofyprosser@outlook.com to register. Please note any dietary and childcare needs. Hosted by the Congregational Life Committee. Pledges are due APRIL 1st! Please submit your pledge today, in the church office or by clicking HERE. Chris Cable with any questions at treasurer@dupageuuchurch.org. Nominations for Special Collections Each year the Public Ministry Committee (PMC) asks the congregation to nominate local non-profit organizations to be part of our special collection effort. We are now beginning the process for The PMC reviews the nominations and selects 7 to be part of the program for the next year. Once a month, an organizations is featured in a Sunday service and receives the loose change and checks collected in the offering plate that service. It is now time to think about organizations that you volunteer with, utilize services, or just know do good works. We are asking that you fill out the Nomination form (available on the members section of the website and in the PMC Mailbox) and a completed form ( pdfs/nomination%20form.pdf) to pubmin@duuc.org or return a hard copy to the PMC mailbox by April 28, 2019 at 12:30pm. We look forward to learning about the organizations you think deserve our support. Introduction to Using Zoom (teleconference) for Meetings Are you interested in learning how to use Zoom to participate in meetings? Are you a Committee Chair looking to offer a Zoom option for your meetings? Look no further! Come join your friendly local tech guys, Justin Hobbs and Steve Cooper in the Founders Room on April 14 from 12:45-1:45pm to learn how to set up and use Zoom. Zoom can help make your meetings more efficient, inclusive and accessible to more potential volunteers. Bring your laptop if you have one, and they will help you get all set up. They will also demonstrate how to get your desktop PC set up, so even if you don't have a laptop, still come. Please RSVP to Jenny Hobbs at jenny.hobbs8@gmail.com, or if you have questions. 5

6 Join the DuPage Human Race! When: Saturday, April 27, 2019 at 9:00 am. What: This is a 5K run/or 2 mile fitness walk for the whole family. Where: The Esplanade at Locust Point, 1901 W. Butterfield Road, Downers Grove The SMILE Project is participating in the Giving DuPage 8 TH annual DuPage Human Race, a community event and fundraiser that benefits non-profit organizations in DuPage County. The S.M.I.L.E. Project (Students, Mentors, Internship, with Local Employers) an initiative of the Social Justice Committee of DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, will participate in this event to help raise funds to support the SMILE Project. Please join the DuPage Human Race by visiting the website, and register to support the SMILE Project - DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church in one of 3 ways; * Register to run or walk * A one-time donation, or * Become a fundraiser. Be sure to choose the SMILE Project as your charity of choice. This promises to be a family fun event for those who run, walk, cheer, or become a donor or fundraiser. Please join us in making this a huge success for the SMILE Project. For questions contact, Maggie Kivisto, Chairperson SMILE Project, Cheryl Clayton or Ken Koresch, Co-chairs of the Social Justice Committee. April - Green Things to Do while Celebrating a Year of Green With spring here, and April 22 nd being Earth Day, this is Celebrate the Planet month! College of DuPage hosts movies and discussion in their Sustainability Series: 4/8 Plastic China 7pm Health and Science Center, rm /22 Racing Extinction 7pm Health and Science Center, rm sustainability.aspx Trolls After Dark Arboretum, 4/11 Native Illinois Plant Sale Saturday 4/27 8:30-11am, Wheaton Public Works Building From Earth Day parties to Clean-Up events and 5K Runs Spring Cleaning/Recycling Events Wheaton and Elmhurst, among others, hold events this month Make a commitment to DuPage nature and volunteer with the DuPage County Forest Preserve District DuPage River Sweep and Restoration Event multiple locations. Plan now for 5/18 6

7 News & Events Sacred Origins #3 Valentinianism- Sunday, April 3pm. As Islam occupied the full time last session the Gnostic Christian sect known as the Valentinians has been moved to the next time. The Valentinian Christianity believed that the God of the Hebrews was only the creator of the material universe and not the true God. Jesus was sent be this true God to remind humanity of it's origins beyond the realm of the creator. With a complex cosmos and multitude of divine beings, the Valentinians were VERY different from orthodox Christianity. Questions? Please Michael SeraphMichael@hotmail.com Memorial Service for Ruth Barr A memorial service for long-time church member, Ruth Barr, will be held at DuPage UU Church on Saturday, April 13, 2:00pm, followed by a reception with light refreshments. Chaplain Tim Manwell will officiate the service. Condolences may be sent to Ruth's son, Duane Barr, at the following address: Duane Barr 178 Thompson Cove Ln Shirley, AR NON-CHURCH SPONSORED EVENTS 2019 UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION Location: Spokane, Washington Dates: June 19-23, 2019 For details go to: uua.org/ga For hotels with best location, register as soon as you can. 7

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9 1828 Old Naperville Rd. Naperville, IL