Help Keep the Heat On: A Drive to Replace Our Boiler System

The ancient boiler needs replacement. It has done its job of keeping generations of church members warm for Sunday services and other events, but is extremely inefficient. The Property Committee and the Green UUs are spearheading a drive to raise the funds for replacement as the result of a challenge by two very generous members.

Why Now?

If the congregation can raise half the cost for replacement, Tom and Jean Gillespie will match the other half with a targeted donation. This is an item on the Property Committee Wish List. We would like to install a new system at the close of the heating season, in Spring 2014. So let's take up this challenge and meet the Gillespie's offer halfway.

How to Contribute

Please send your donations to the church office, Attention: “Boiler Fund.” Please be sure to address the check to “UUCUC” and to write "Boiler Fund" in the memo line. If you have questions, just ask Jerry Carden, chair of the Property Committee, whose e-mail is provided below in bold. We will provide you with a special letter recognizing your donation for any tax records you need.

Some Parameters:

1) It is important that this be considered an above and beyond donation that you give because of your interest in and enthusiasm for this particular project. We want to make sure this extra fund drive in no way impacts your church pledge.
2) This drive by the Boiler Elves will end on Tuesday, December 31 st .

A Centennial Birthday Gift to our Church

2014 is the centennial year of our stone church building. The prior brick church was torn down in 1913, and the new cornerstone laid on November 30 th of that same year. The church that we inhabit now was completed and dedicated in September of 1914. It was built on the foundation of the original Universalist church built in 1871. The current boiler system, itself over 50 years old, is hugely inefficient. We’ve had continued issues with its operation over the last few years. We would like to replace it before it becomes an emergency. This project is also part of the new overall church strategic initiative just adopted. It helps meet the Green UUs goals of becoming more energy efficient, which in turn helps us toward our recognition by the UUA as a green sanctuary, and should also significantly reduce our energy bills and current carbon
footprint.

The final bids are still being crafted, but we are guessing that we will need to raise between $12,000 and $14,000 to cover half the cost of a new system. The more we raise, the more enhancements we can include in the overall system. Some donors may be able to pitch in $500 or $1,000, but even smaller increments will help.

For additional information, contact Jerry Carden at jcarden@illinois.edu. 

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
The Boiler Elves

This drive is being brought to you by the Property Committee: Jerry Carden, Tom Gillespie, Jerry & Fran Hunt, Andy Robinson, Dave & Anne Sharpe, Charlie Wisseman, Steve Troyer, Jared Lofrano, and Ralph Dady. And by the Green UUs: Andy Robinson, Emily Laugesen, Barbara Jauhola, and Gail Hueting.

Shared Offerings for 2014

At its December meeting, the Social Action Committee paired each of the Shared Offering selections (made in November) with a particular month. You will be hearing more about our January Shared Offering, Wesley Food Pantry, in the next Uniter. Half of the cash collection and designated checks on each Sunday will go to that organization for the month. 

Here are all of the Shared Offerings for 2014 with their respective month:

·         January: Wesley Food Pantry

·         February: Education Justice Project/Prison Justice Project

·         March: Channing-Murray Foundation/Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant

·         April: Champaign County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

·         May: Children’s Advocacy Center of Champaign County

·         June: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

·         July: Union of Concerned Scientists

·         August: Rape Advocacy, Counseling, and Education Services (RACES)

·         September: C-U Immigration Forum

·         October: Canaan Development Foundation— Men’s & Women’s SAFE House

·         November: Urbana High School SPLASH Program

·         December: UU Partner Church Program

Meet Our New Membership Coordinator

Church Friends and Members,

Please welcome Samuel Shore as our new Membership Coordinator. He will officially join our staff on January 1^st, 2014. 

The purpose of his position is to integrate visitors, friends, and new members into church life and deepen the connections of ongoing members to each other and the church. To those ends, you’ll find Sam at the church on Sundays and Wednesdays and during events, meetings, and other office hours he’ll announce.

Sam Shore comes to us with a background in involving volunteers in activities and in using social media to mobilize volunteers. Sam has been the Coordinator for the Foundation Beyond Belief International Light the Night project, which has raised money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since 2012, when they raised $430,000 – the largest amount ever raised by a first year non-corporate team and the fourth largest amount raised by any team in the nation in that year. In addition, Sam spent two years as the Social Media Director for the Illini Secular Student Alliance, both during his time at the University of Illinois and after he graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in History. He was recognized multiple times by the Alliance and the Center for Inquiry for outstanding achievements in the areas of service work, diversity initiatives, and internet outreach as part of the Alliance’s leadership team. Sam has also been active in politics and is currently helping to found a Champaign County Young Democrats chapter.

The Membership Coordinator Search Committee would like to thank all who assisted our search to find this talented addition to our church staff. 

With appreciation,  

Millie Davis, Chair Membership Coordinator Search Committee, and Members Cindy Loui, Elaine Gehrmann, Tanja Hodges, Peggy Patten, and Axel Gehrmann.

Uniter Holiday Deadline and Publication

Due to Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, the next Uniter will be published on Monday, December 23^rd, not Wednesday the 25^th. This means the deadline to submit for this edition of The Uniter has been moved two days earlier, to Tuesday, December 17^th, not Thursday the 19^th.  

Share a Holiday Story this Christmas Eve

At our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services, to be held at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on December 24^th, we will have an opportunity to share meaningful holiday memories and traditions. Families or individuals who would like to participate by sharing a short personal story, reflection, or anecdote (300 to ­400 words) should contact Axel (minister@uucuc.org) by this coming Sunday, December 15^th.

Christmas Eve Hospitality and Assistance Needed

If you are attending either the 5:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve, we could use your help. All are invited to share a plate of cookies or other treats for our collective hospitality after each service on

December 24^th. Bring your plate of cookies to the kitchen and remember to bring your plate home at the end of the evening.

We also need volunteers to help with welcoming, ushering, and clean up after each service’s hospitality hour. If you can assist with these tasks, contact Peggy Patten at m-patten@sbcglobal.net. Thank you!

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Church

We are having a traditional Thanksgiving feast at the church. Any and all are welcome to join us on Thanksgiving Day at 4:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Please get in touch with Sam Beshers at beshers@illinois.edu or 390-3279 if you would like to come.

We will spend the afternoon at the church preparing food, decorating tables, playing games and enjoying the holiday season together. Many hands make light work, and too many cooks are just enough!

Church Office Closed Thanksgiving and Day After

The church office will be closed all day next Thursday, November 27^th and Friday, November 28^th in celebration of Thanksgiving. The normal office hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. will resume on Monday, December 2^nd. Thank you J

Poinsettias to Decorate Our Church and Your Home

If you would like to purchase a poinsettia to decorate our Sanctuary during the month of December and then your home after the Christmas Eve Candlelight Services, please stop by the poinsettia table in Fellowship Hall and fill out an order slip. The cost is $12, and the plant will be labeled with the name of the purchaser in addition to the name(s) of whomever you choose to remember or honor with your purchase. If you have questions, please direct them to Beth Cobb at bethac54@comcast.net.

Shared Offering Selections for 2014

The Social Action Committee recently held our annual Shared Offering Nomination voting meeting for the 2014 Shared Offerings. We had a great list of nominations with 27 in all! It was very difficult to whittle the list down to 11, but it shows how many wonderful organizations there are in our community doing important work. 

Here is the list of 2014’s 11 Shared Offerings (not in any particular order) that were chosen at the meeting. We will match each organization below to a specific month at the December SAC meeting. Thank you all who nominated an organization, and thank you all who attended the meeting to help select this list. 

C-U Immigration Forum

Rape Advocacy, Counseling, & Education Services (RACES)

Education Justice Project/Prison Justice Project (student group)

Canaan Development Foundation — Men’s & Women’s SAFE House

Wesley Evening Food Pantry

Channing-Murray Foundation/Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant

Champaign County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Children’s Advocacy Center of Champaign County

Urbana High School SPLASH Program

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Union of Concerned Scientists

In Recognition of the Centennial of Our Building

One hundred years ago, on November 30^th of 1913, the cornerstone was laid for the stone church building that, at that time, was just the Universalist Church. The Universalists first built on this corner in 1871; a brick building that was torn down to make way for a slightly larger footprint and a more appealing façade with the stone. The 1871 brick foundation was used again for the new structure. It took almost a year to complete the new building, which was dedicated in September of 1914. The cornerstone can be seen on the northeast wall of the Children's Chapel.

Watch for more ‘moments in history’ as we prepare to celebrate the hundredth birthday of the stone church.

— Jerry Carden, Property Chair 

New Church Directories Now Available

The 2013-2014 Church Directory, which contains contact information for friends and members of the church, is now available. You may pick up your household’s copy this Sunday, November 10^th after both services from the literature table in Fellowship Hall.

Going to be out of town? Contact office administrator Brittni Ballard at admin@uucuc.org and ask for your copy to be mailed. Prefer your directory in an electronic format? Contact Brittni to request a PDF copy via e-mail.

If you discover an error, please send the correction to Brittni so it may be reflected in the next printout and PDF.

A Night of Chocolate, Film, and Discussion

The Religious Education and Social Action Committees held A Night of Chocolate, Film, and Discussion on Thursday, November 14^th at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. They showed the documentary “The Dark Side of Chocolate,” which reveals shocking evidence of child and forced labor in the cocoa industry, and they took some simple actions to help end this exploitation. Children in attendance watched “Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” 

Did You Join Us for Stewardship Workshop?

A special worship service was held on November 17^th  featuring UUA consultant Thom Thomas, who spoke on “Renaissance.” Following the second service, at 12:30 p.m., Thom led a stewardship workshop. He wrote, “The workshop is going to be an afternoon focusing on Evangelism for UU's. We will explore how to ‘sell’ our mission, and how to put a foundation under our ‘City in the Clouds.’ In other words, we will learn how to talk to UU's about monetizing our dreams.”

Childcare and light lunches were provided.

Storytelling Benefit for Eastern Illinois Foodbank

The Social Action Committee, in partnership with the Champaign-Urbana Storytelling Guild, hosted a benefit for the Eastern Illinois Food Bank at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 16^th.  "Feeding Body and Soul", a storytelling celebration, was held in Fellowship Hall.

The evening was a feast of stories that entertained and engaged the mind and heart with a sampling of tasty treats for the body as well. Our own Sue Searing was one of the featured storytellers. 

The suggested donation was $10, with all proceeds going to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank.

Partner Church Sunday is Almost Here

Do you want to learn more about “Water in India,” sing along to a great spiritual with the CrUUners, and support our partner churches at the same time?  Then join us for our Partner Church Celebration during both services on Sunday, December 8^th!

Marriage Equality Celebration

Marriage equality legislation has finally passed in Illinois! The UU Church of Urbana-Champaign celebrated this civil rights victory between services on Sunday, November 10^th at the Second Sunday Potluck. Attendants were invited to bring a rainbow-colored or themed dish in honor of the new legislation.

October Forum: Society's Need for Retribution

While it is clear that the corrections industry is a source of tremendous profits for some, that alone doesn’t explain the billions spent each year on policies and practices that are for the most part abject failures. Grace Bauer, interim Executive Director for Justice for Families, will argue that Americans support this industry with our appetite for harsh retribution and punishment.

This event was held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October. 31st in Room 404 of the Illini Union.

Membership Coordinator Announcement

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign is seeking an organized, friendly, and professional membership coordinator to serve 20 hours a week for our busy congregation.  

This individual will be responsible for coordinating volunteer activities and communications, and developing volunteer management and support programs and tools.  Candidates must have excellent interpersonal, communications and organizational skills.  Computer skills required include word processing, database management, website editing, and social media.  Must be able to work independently and as part of a team, and to maintain confidentiality. 

A minimum of 1 year volunteer management experience is preferred.  Please e-mail cover letter, resume, and three references to membership-coordinator-search@uucuc.org, or mail to 309 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, Attention: Membership Coordinator Search Committee.  

Applications are being accepted until position is filled.

Orientation to Unitarian Universalism

Are you new to this church? Have you recently signed the membership book, or are you considering joining? Would you like to learn more about Unitarian Universalism? Axel Gehrmann and the Membership Committee will offer a three-part orientation at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, November 6^th, 13^th, and 20^th.

The sessions will focus on individuals’ religious journeys, discuss UU history, beliefs, and polity, as well as explore the various groups and activities of this particular church. If you are interested, please sign up on the sheet on the Minister’s Office door, call the church office, or e-mail Axel at minister@uucuc.org. 

“No More Deaths” Speaking Tour

The Social Action Committee is proud to host desert aid workers Kate Morgan-Olsen (a Champaign-Urbana native) and Ricky Cheney from No More Deaths, a ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, Arizona.

This presentation, titled “Our View From the Border,” will offer firsthand accounts of trends in migration; human rights abuse documentation in Nogales, Sonora; migrant support in the Sonoran desert; and allied movement-building in communities throughout Arizona.

This examination of the Southern border was held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 31^st in Fellowship Hall.

Winter Weather Will Come Again

At some point in the coming months, snowfall will coincide with a busy day or a Sunday morning here at church. How will you know whether to dig out your car or snuggle up with a blanket and a cup of cocoa?

v      First and foremost, use your own good judgment.  No matter what is happening at church, if you are nervous about road conditions, choose the cup of cocoa every time.  If it is at all dangerous for you to be out, stay home! But if you are wondering whether to come over, here's how things will be decided and communicated:

v      Sunday services will be held if at all possible.  Any decision to close would be listed on the local media.

v      For committee meetings or groups/chalice circles, the group leader or chair of the committee should determines whether or not to hold the meeting.  You may call that person or the church office.  Committee chairs should make every effort to contact the church office so that the correct message can be given.

v      Stay safe! Each person in this community is precious and we want all of you to come to church when the weather clears.

Habitat for Humanity Update

On a beautiful autumn morning, October 5^th to be exact, a number of fellow UUs gathered in North Champaign for the second and final Habitat UU volunteer work day  for 2013 (a third one was cancelled). Christine Cahill, Elaine Gehrmann, Elaine Harrington, Lynn Kelly, Jared Lofrano, Sarah McDougal, Michael Peirson, Andy Robinson, Sue Searing, Dave Sutton, Steve Troyer, and Lynn Wiley worked at the Mary Belford home to continue the work of many before them. This home is almost finished, so we got to see some great handiwork and envision the lovely home that this will be for Mary and her family.

Mary was there, of course, to help as were a number of UI students and other Habitat staff and volunteers. We painted, installed small fixtures, hung doors, cleaned, and planted a lot of shrubs, fall flowers and ornamentals, as well as raked away gravel, hauled rocks, and washed windows. We also got to know each other and swapped life stories, as well as tips on home repair and work on other projects.

UU volunteers have helped with many homes in the past and hopefully will help with many more in the future. Kim, the site coordinator, talked about the homes being framed now and new grants that recently came in to support more work. At our church, we are fortunate to have Jim and Sandy Hannum, who have both done a lot to get us started on these rewarding projects, along with Nancy Dietrich, who is now helping to coordinate that work with Habitat. 

If ever you have any questions about the work, please contact someone in the Social Action Committee or even any volunteer, especially if you’d like to help with some of the background work. These homes make a great difference to the lives of their new owners but there’s always more to do. The work is not too complicated and many hands make it easy and fun.

Social Action Committee Seeks Shared Offering Nominations

SAC is now soliciting nominations of non-profit organizations for the Shared Offerings for 2014 to be chosen by YOU — members and friends of the church at the November 18^th SAC meeting. Those organizations that are chosen for a Shared Offering will receive half of the cash collection and designated checks from each Sunday service for one month in 2014.

Nomination forms are available at the Social Action table in the Fellowship Hall after every Sunday service, or you can e-mail your suggestion (please include a short description of how it fits with UU Principles) to Nancy Dietrich at nancydietrich01@gmail.com. 

October Shared Offering: The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FtRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association. FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect — and individuals to access — information. The FtRF is also one of the sponsors of Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of the freedom to read. This year Banned Books Week was September 22-28.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees all individuals the right to express their ideas without governmental interference, and to read and listen to the ideas of others. The Freedom to Read Foundation was established to promote and defend this right; to foster libraries as institutions wherein every individual's First Amendment freedoms are fulfilled; and to support the right of libraries to include in their collections and make available any work which they may legally acquire.

The Freedom to Read Foundation was the American Library Association's response to its members' interest in providing legal assistance and support to defend librarians whose positions are jeopardized because of their resistance to abridgments of the First Amendment; and to set legal precedent for the freedom to read on behalf of all the people.

The Freedom to Read Foundation was incorporated in November of 1969. Its charter lists four purposes:

• Promoting and protecting the freedom of speech and of the press;
• Protecting the public's right of access to information and materials stored in the nation's libraries;
• Safeguarding libraries' right to disseminate all materials contained in their collections; and
• Supporting libraries and librarians in their defense of First Amendment rights by supplying them with legal counsel or the means to secure it.

The Foundation's work has been divided into three primary activities:

• The allocation and disbursement of grants to individuals and groups for the purpose of aiding them in litigation or otherwise furthering FTRF's goals.
• Direct participation in litigation dealing with freedom of speech and of the press.
• Education about the importance of libraries and the First Amendment to our democratic institutions. 

The Foundation is devoted to the principle that the solution to offensive speech is more speech, and the suppression of speech on the grounds that it gives offense to some infringes on the rights of all to a free, open and robust marketplace of ideas.

Q & A on Unitarian Universalism

On Sunday, October, 6^th, there will be a brief orientation to Unitarian Universalism in the minister's office after both worship services. The sessions are informal and designed to answer your questions, whatever they may be. Everyone is welcome, whether you are new to the church or have been attending for a while.

Get Connected at the Snack and Chat UU Community Fair on Oct. 6!

Find out about the many opportunities for involvement and connections at our church at this year’s UU Community Fair.  Representatives from our church’s committees and small groups will be in the Fellowship Hall after each service on Sunday, October 6^th. Stop by their tables, sample tasty snacks, and find out how you can get connected with others at church and contribute your time and talents to the many facets of our UU community. Questions? Contact Peggy Patten at m-patten@sbcglobal.net.

Small Group Leader Orientation

Are you interested in learning more about our Small Groups? Have you considered starting a new Small Group? Our worship services on September 29^th will be focusing on this.

Additionally, we will be offering a Small Group Leader Orientation on Thursday, October 3^rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the YRUU room. Anyone interested is welcome to join us. If you have questions, contact Axel at 384-8862 or minister@uucuc.org. 

Social Action Committee: Rainbow Flags Dedicated

On Sunday, September 15^th, the Social Action Committee dedicated rainbow flags at the Green Street entrance. These flags now serve as a public message to the casual passerby that the church is welcoming and open to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.  

September Shared Offering: Uniting Pride (UP) Center

The UP (Uniting Pride) Center of Champaign County is a multi-service agency, for youth and adults, with a purpose to support and promote human care, education, and community-building activities directed at furthering the well-being and development of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and ally community of Champaign County.

By donating to the UP Center, you help guarantee continued programming for you and adult members of the LGBTQA community. Donations also help with administrative costs such as rent, insurance, and supplies. 

THANK YOU!

New Office Administrator

As many of you know, we currently are working with local temporary employment agencies to staff our church office. We appreciate Donna Brittain’s service over the summer, and wish her the very best in her further pursuits.

On Thursday, September 5th, we welcomed a new Office Administrator: Brittni Ballard. Brittni has a degree in English Secondary Education from Purdue University and is looking forward to serving our congregation. Her office hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Your patience and understanding is appreciated during Brittni’s orientation in the office.

UU’S in Action-Habitat for Humanity home built August 3, 2013

We’re proud to help Habitat for Humanity in their mission to provide decent, affordable homes to families in need. UU’s will be helping build another Habitat home October 5th. It’s a great way to meet fellow UU’s and help a good cause at the same time. Interested in participating? See the Social Action table after Sunday services to sign up, or email SAC chair Nancy Dietrich at nancydietrich01@gmail.com to sign up or for more information.

Help Build a Habitat for Humanity House

The Social Action Committee invites you to help build a Habitat for Humanity house this summer. This is a fun way to get to know fellow UU’s and help a good cause at the same time! We are staffing work crews for August 3rd and October 5th, each from about 8:00am to 3:00pm with lunch provided. You don't need any knowledge of building construction nor do you need to be particularly strong. There are always tasks to do for people of all skill levels! If you are 16 or 17, you are welcome to participate if your parent or legal guardian signs up to work with you. Sign up or get more information at the Social Action table. We have plenty of spaces, so please consider participating!

August Shared Offering: Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club

The Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club is the recipient of our shared offering for August. This Club has operated in Champaign-Urbana since 1968 and provides recreation, mentoring, and education services to youth ages 6-18. Their nationally acclaimed SMART MOVES program helps children move toward good health, fitness and improved self esteem and steers them away from alcohol, tobacco, other drug use, and premature sex. A state of the art TEEN COMPUTER CENTER provides members with essential technology skills. One of their busiest programs is POWER HOUR. Youngsters receive mentoring and support from volunteers from the University of Illinois to address their homework assignments. TORCH CLUBS are small-group leadership and service clubs for ages 11-13. Members work together to plan and implement activities in several areas: service to Club, community, education, health and fitness and social recreation. KEYSTONE CLUBS are chartered leadership and service clubs for ages14-18 and are the most dynamic teen program of the Boys & Girls Club's Movement. Keystoners plan and implement activities in six areas: service to Club and community, leadership development, education and career exploration, unity, free enterprise, and social recreation. JOB READY! Provides club members with specific skills to be successful in the world of work. Teens learn to identify job opportunities, write effective resumes, perform well in interviews, dress appropriately, develop good work habits, and get along well with others. In addition, the Boys and Girls Club offers chances for youth to attend special activities such as university theatre productions, sporting events, museums, zoos, and youth conferences.

Summer Travel Reminder

On August 25, we will have our traditional Ingathering Service, which will again include a Water and Stone Communion. Please remember to bring a small vial of water or a stone, which you collect in the course of your summer, ­ and ­which you can share during the service.

Volunteers Needed for Habitat for Humanity Build

Join other UUs in helping build a Habitat for Humanity house this summer. We are staffing work crews for August 3rd from about 8:00am to 3:00pm with lunch provided. You don't need any knowledge of building construction nor do you need to be particularly strong. There are always tasks to do for people of all skill levels! If you are 16 or 17 years old you are welcome to participate as long as your legal guardian is on the build site with you. This is a great way to meet fellow UU's and help a good cause at the same time! If interested please contact Nancy Dietrich (nancydietrich01@gmail.com) to sign up or look for the sign-up sheets in Fellowship Hall after the Sunday morning Service.



 
(Photo is of 2012 Habitat for Humanity Build)

June Shared Offering: Compassion & Choices

During the month of June, we will share our offertory collection with Compassion & Choices. Half of all cash and any designated checks collected during the Sunday service will go to this nonprofit organization that supports individuals and families facing important end-of-life decisions. Compassion & Choices educates the public, health care professionals, lawmakers and the media on end-of-life issues, and advocates for compassionate end-of-life care in legislatures, courtrooms and at bedsides. Compassion & Choices spearheads initiatives across the country to secure rights to make important end-of-life decisions based on individual values and views. Their state and national litigation solidifies rights to excellent end-of-life care including aggressive pain and symptom management and palliative sedation. Compassion & Choices asserts your right to choose aid in dying under constitutional protections. The Compassion & Choices Action Network fights for aid-in-dying laws for terminally ill, mentally competent adults; builds coalitions to defeat bills that would force patients to endure feeding tubes against their wishes; strengthens advance directives; and mandates pain and palliative care training for health care providers. Compassion & Choices has supported the Death-with Dignity Laws that have been enacted in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Vermont. More information about Compassion & Choices can be found at their website: www.compassionandchoices.org. After the Sunday service on June 30, Jana Edge, who is a nurse in Bloomington, IL and a volunteer with Compassion & Choices, will be at church to talk with us about the organization, the importance of having advance directives, and the need to know your rights and responsibilities when dealing with doctors and hospitals concerning end-of-life issues. If you are interested, we hope you will join us on the 30th. We will have a light lunch, and can provide childcare if needed. Karen Retzer & Nancy Dietrich

May Shared Offering: Prairie Rivers Network

During the month of May, half of all cash and designated checks collected at the Sunday offering will go to Prairie Rivers Network, a non-profit organization based in Champaign that advocates for clean water and healthy rivers in Illinois. Prairie Rivers Network champions clean, healthy rivers and safe drinking water to benefit the people and wildlife of Illinois. Drawing upon sound science and working cooperatively with others, we advocate public policies and cultural values that sustain the health and diversity of Illinois’ water resources. Started in 1967 as the Committee on Allerton Park to stop a dam that would have flooded the beloved park, Prairie Rivers Network has a 45-year record of making a difference in Illinois. Prairie Rivers Network is an Illinois’ registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the independent Illinois affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. Prairie Rivers Network aims to address the most pressing clean water issues: industrial pollution, polluted runoff from cropland, and the unwise destruction of wetlands and other riverside natural areas that slow floodwaters and provide homes for wildlife and plants. One of PRN’s local projects is to press for responsible closure of the Vermilion Power Plant, an aging coal-fired power plant that was recently retired. The land will likely end up in the hands of the state, enlarging the oasis of natural areas along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River that is anchored by Kickapoo State Park and Kennekuk County Park. So that taxpayers aren’t left with a mess on our hands, Prairie Rivers Network is asking state regulators to require a thorough cleanup of the site, especially of toxic coal ash dumps in the Middle Fork’s floodplain. This is our state’s only National Scenic River! We must do this right and set a standard for responsible coal plant retirement for the rest of Illinois. From helping to organize the first Boneyard Creek clean-up in Champaign-Urbana, to restoration efforts along the great Mississippi River, to working on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp - Prairie Rivers Network is making Illinois a better place to live. For more information about Prairie Rivers Network, check out their website at prairierivers.org.

Immigration Reform Rally A Success!

Light the Path to Citizenship Rally at UUCUC held April 10th as part of a National Immigration Reform Vigil endorsed by the Standing on the Side of Love campaign.

2013 Auction Donation Catalog Available here

Join us on Saturday, April 13th in the Fellowship Hall for the 30th Annual Service Auction. The event starts at 4:30 pm with a reception in the sanctuary, with silent auction bidding and fixed price items. Dinner is family style at 5:30, followed by a live auction at 6:30. Desserts and coffee will be served after the live auction. Tickets are available after services this Sunday, or you may buy them at the door but RSVP to wchilder57@gmail.com! Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per child. $30 max for a family and $12 at the door for adults. There is still time to donate an item for the auction. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Jody Hanger at jody@hannauer.net or 351-6756. See you there! The list of items available for bidding are found by clicking Here

More Details about the Crop Walk: April 14th at the UU Church in Urbana

The big day is coming soon! On April 14 our church is hosting the community-wide CROP Hunger Walk. As you know, the six-mile walk will start and end here at the UU Church. Following are a few more details about the event that you may not know. On the day of the walk we will be collecting non-perishable food items to be donated to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank. This is an additional way of donating to the walk that is recommended by the organizers of CROP Walk. In addition to people from our own congregation, walkers from other organizations may be bringing food items as well. We will have a table set up to collect these donations. The UU Walkers are busy collecting donations and/or pledges at this time! A few of us have registered on the C-U CROP Hunger Walk 2013 website, since donations can be made directly online by credit card or Pay-pal. You may want to try this because it is an easy way to collect donations. It is a good idea to collect your pledges as soon as you can. However, don’t worry if you don’t have everything by April 14. You will actually have another 2 weeks to get your donations in to Sandy Hannum and Nancy Dietrich. We appreciate having your envelopes as soon after the walk as you can comfortably manage. The snack providers can bring any kind of hand-held food. Walkers from the entire community will end up here, so we need many, many snacks. We know that this is an area of great expertise in this congregation, and we appreciate your help tremendously!! Snacks can be taken to the church kitchen on the morning of the walk, and must be clearly labeled for CROP Walk so that they are not mistaken for Sunday morning hospitality. The building hosts will be sort of super-welcomers. This important role involves making the walkers from the community feel welcome, directing them to Fellowship Hall where they will find the snacks and drinks, and also the bathrooms. If they should happen to show an interest in our church, then you can take advantage of the opportunity to engage them in a discussion. We will make sure the literature racks are well-stocked! If you signed up to direct traffic we will put you in touch with Esther Portnoy, who will assign you a spot and give you instructions. The Hunger Initiative team thanks everyone for participating in all these different ways!

April Shared Offering: Illini Fighting Hunger

Illini Fighting Hunger is a Registered Student Organization at the University of Illinois, a program of the Wesley United Methodist Church and Foundation, and a Kids Against Hunger satellite organization. The mission of IFH is to address local and international hunger issues by making meal-packaging events more frequent, more accessible, and more effective in Champaign-Urbana. IFH is run entirely by student volunteers. They match trained student leaders with community partners to organize food or meal-packaging events of all sizes. IFH provides the expertise and equipment for packaging, and the networks for purchasing raw food products and supplies and for distributing the final product. The organization putting on the event is then able to focus on fundraising for their event, recruiting volunteers, and educating participants about hunger issues in our community and abroad. Together the partners are able to work very effectively to achieve great things. One example of a successful IFH community project is the rice re-pack in our own church, which was so efficient that we finished it in half the expected time!

Standing on the Side of Love Coffeehouse

From puppet skits and thoughtful readings to family bands, youth performances, and solo acts. What a creative mix of entertainment we had at the March 9 UU Coffeehouse! The Standing on the Side of Love coffeehouse was dedicated to social justice issues, including marriage equality to immigration reform. But performers covered many other topics as well, such as the whimsical evil genius of Skullcrusher Mountain and the puppet who was afraid of being buried in a box ("Just stop it!"). A large and enthusiastic audience cheered over 20 performing groups!

Auction Donation Catalog is Available Here

Join us on Saturday, April 13th in the Fellowship Hall for the 30th Annual Service Auction. The event starts at 4:30 pm with a reception in the sanctuary, with silent auction bidding and fixed price items. Dinner is family style at 5:30, followed by a live auction at 6:30. Desserts and coffee will be served after the live auction. Tickets are available after services this Sunday, or you may buy them at the door but RSVP to wchilder57@gmail.com! Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per child. $30 max for a family and $12 at the door for adults. There is still time to donate an item for the auction. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Jody Hanger at jody@hannauer.net or 351-6756. See you there! The list of items available for bidding are found by clicking here (older post) Join all your luucky friends at the annual UUCUC Service auction on Saturday April 13. This year we will have a reception featuring hors d'oeuvres, music by the Ken Smith trio, and beer, wine and soft drinks at the luucky dog saloon. After the reception we will have wonderful Greek dinner and then the main event. At the intermission of the auction we will have drawing for several prizes including a chance to win $20,000 a week for 20 years. If you win, Sam will immediately appear at your side with a pledge form! Remember, if you want to be entered in the drawing you need to buy your auction ticket in March! Also anyone that makes a donation to the auction during March will receive an extra entry in the raffle so get those donations in early!

March Shared Offering: We DREAM, We Act Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was established in an effort to provide financial relief to successful undocumented students at the University of Illinois. It is sponsored by La Colectiva, a non-profit student-run organization affiliated with the University Y. The organization was founded to address the various issues that undocumented students face on campus. Aware of the changing demographics in Champaign County, La Colectiva then made a philosophical change to move out of the “campus bubble” and engage with the immigrant community in Champaign-Urbana. Toward this end, La Colectiva has provided mentoring programs for Latino high school students and helped to establish La Linea Latina, a local immigrant helpline. La Colectiva is a collaborative partner with other immigration rights groups in the CU community. Although a national DREAM Act (Developmental, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) did not make it through the U.S. Congress, Illinois did pass its own version in 2011, recognizing the rights of undocumented youth to invest in their education. The goal of the We DREAM, We Act Scholarship is to award financial assistance to worthy students at the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University.

Standing on the Side of Love Coffeehouse: UU Church, March 9 at 7p.m.

Come and hear some good music, stories, and other entertainment while you support marriage equality and justice for LGBTQ people, and immigration reform. Do all of this by coming to and helping with the Standing on the Side of Love Coffeehouse on Saturday March 9 at 7 pm in Fellowship Hall. We encourage you to come and perform in the spirit of our theme of social justice, or just in the spirit of socialness. In addition to performers we need helpers who can set up, clean up, and bring desserts. You can sign up by contacting Sandy or Jim Hannum by email (hannum1 at illinois.edu; jwhannum at gmail.com). Childcare will be available at the event, please contact the church at 384-8862 for more information. Or just come and enjoy.

CROP Walk Rally March 7, 7:30 p.m. at UU Church in Urbana

Our church will host a rally for all interested religious groups on March 7 in Fellowship Hall at 7:30 pm. This is basically an informational meeting. If your organization wishes to participate in this important event, you must be present/represented at this informational meeting. If you need more information, please contact the church at 384-8862. The Hunger Initiative Team is happy to announce that the UU Church is the host for this year’s CROP Walk. We were invited to host largely because of the tremendous effort so many of you made last year which enabled us to turn in the third highest donation of all the religious groups in the community that took part in CROP Walk 2012. CROP Hunger Walks are sponsored by Church World Service all over the country. Each walk is organized locally, and involves an interfaith effort throughout the community. Funds that are raised are used to fight hunger both locally and internationally. Founded in 1947, CROP was an acronym for Christian Rural Overseas Program. Its mission was to allow Midwest farms to share their grain with hungry folks in post WW II Europe and Asia. Now the emphasis has shifted somewhat, but the acronym has stuck. Some of the funding still goes overseas to help developing countries obtain seeds, fresh water, and technical expertise. The rest of the funding goes to local agencies that will be designated at the beginning of the campaign. Everyone in the congregation who is interested in participating in the walk will receive a packet of information and forms. Each one will talk to friends and family about the event, and try to collect donations for the cause. The CROP walk will take place on the afternoon of April 14 from 1:30 to around 5pm. Walkers should gather in the sanctuary, then everyone will set off on a 6-mile walk, looping through town and back to the church. We will provide drinks and snacks for the walkers in Fellowship Hall during the afternoon. Watch for more details soon!

Hunger Initiative opportunities at the Wesley Evening Food Pantry!

Have you wanted to do something with this group? Lots of UUs volunteer at the Wesley Evening Food Pantry as part of our Hunger Initiative. Karen Ruhleder has volunteered for over a year and is impressed with the sense of teamwork at Wesley. She helps distribute the bread and sweets and helps customers pack their bags to make sure they fit in as much as possible within the household limit. She remembers one interesting moment: watching a mother talk her young child into picking cinnamon raisin bagels over chocolate cookies! Sandy Hannum has worked early afternoon shifts a few times. She was part of a crew that repacked a truck load of fresh vegetables (e.g., onions, tomatoes) into smaller bags. A meaningful part of this experience was getting to know an undergraduate nutrition student who was part of her work group. She helped with a special event at King School where food bags were packed for immigrant families. Cindy Loui has volunteered for over a year and others in her family join her when they can. She finds it very meaningful to be helping in such a hands-on way, to be interacting directly with customers and humbling to see the real faces and personalities of hunger and poverty in our area. Michael Loui has volunteered multiple times, directing traffic in the parking lot in the heat and the cold, replenishing the food lines, and helping clients shop. One gracious client told him the food was "a blessing." Karen Folk has volunteered since March and finds the volunteer work very fulfilling. With her Spanish skills, she has helped Latino clients select groceries, explaining the choices, etc. Like Karen R., she has mastered the skill of packing the bags in the best way to maximize the quantity of food the customers get. She really appreciates the enthusiasm and caring the other volunteers show to the clients and helping others with fewer resources reminds her of how privileged and fortunate her situation is. Jennifer Greene has volunteered for several shifts over the past year and a half. The crew she worked with unboxes the food that is being distributed. She fully enjoys interacting with the customers as they come through the food line, offering information about what food is available that evening. Upon occasion, she helps guide a Spanish-speaking customer through the line. Other UUs who volunteer at Wesley: Lynn and Carolyn Wiley, Sandy Finnerty, Umeeta Sadarangani, Marilyn Ryan, and Pat Nolan. The pantry is open on the third Thursday of every month. The next pantry date is Feb. 21. There are multiple ways you can help. Join us!

February Shared Offering Recipient: Saving Our Lives, Hear Our Truths

This month's Shared Offering recipient is Saving Our Lives, Hear Our Truths (SOLHOT), a "a space to celebrate Black girlhood in all of its complexity with Black girls and those who love and support us. In SOLHOT we dance, sing, discuss important issues, create art, and organize together to improve the communities of which we are a part. We do what needs to be done. The process of doing SOLHOT involves being together and deciding what our work will be based on the gifts, talents, and ideas of those who show up. More than anything we value Black girls’ lives and create spaces to affirm Black girl genius." Girls who participate in SOLHOT meet after school to gather together to share stories, insights, art, and expression--all with the aim of celebrating black girlhood." (SOLHOT is...) an arts-infused space that is dedicated to documenting the lived experiences of Black female students (from middle school to graduate students) for the purpose of producing knowledge that is relevant, action-oriented, and collaborative. In SOLHOT, Black women and girls creatively engage with and work against the obstacles in their daily lives. Working against and through a dominant culture that claims their race, gender, class, age, and sexuality cause their "problem behavior," these Black women and girls work together to disrupt contemporary discourses of Black girlhood as inherently problematic.

The History of the Unitarian Congregation of Székelykál

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Unitarian Congregation of Székelykál, Romania, The current minister of that congregation, Attila Molnar, wrote this very interesting history of their congregation. The written document was then translated by one of our own UU Congregation, Steve Herzog. Please enjoy! Click Here to read this very interesting account...

It's Stewardship Season!

Thank You for a Successful Guest at Your Table Program!

Congratulations! This year our congregation was able to raise $1,502.78 through our Guest at Your Table program. Five gifts of $100 or more are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar, thanks to the generosity of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, N. Y. Guest at Your Table gifts supports Unitarian Universalist’s Service Committee’s work where the need is the greatest for projects to advance human rights and social justice around the world. Thank you to everyone who donated.

January Shared Offering Recipient: Emergency Shelter for Families with Children (ESF)

The Shared Offering Recipient for this month is the new Emergency Shelter for Families with Children (ESF), slated to open next month. Currently, if a family in C-U becomes homeless and seeks emergency shelter, the mom has to stay at the women’s shelter, the dad at the men’s shelter, the kids go to yet another place. The ESF aims to change this situation by providing basic emergency housing and crucial case management services so that homeless families may remain together. During the family’s short-term stay, the parent(s) work with a professional to secure a more stable housing situation. Donations to the new ESF shelter will help with housing costs and staff salaries. Each school year in Champaign County, there are more than 300 kids whose families become homeless; living in their cars, couch surfing from the home of one friend to another. The ESF will give these families a place to stay while they work on finding safe, stable, affordable housing. All contributions to the church specifically designated as being for this organization, and half of the plate collections throughout the month of January will be donated to this worthy organization. For more information, contact the church at (217) 384-8862 or admin@uucuc.org.