Dwell in Possibility: Bounteousness

Unitarian Church of Hinsdale
17 W. Maple
Hinsdale, IL 60521
www.hinsdaleunitarian.org
630-323-2885
Sunday Services begin
at 10:30 a.m.
Childcare and education services
are available.
Minister
Pam Rumancik
minister@hinsdaleunitarian.org
Director of Programs
Pam Fodor
re@hinsdaleunitarian.org
Director of Operations
Linda Liberacki
office@hinsdaleunitarian.org
Board of Trustees
Julia Beckman, President
Liz Reyes, Vice-President
Steve Trout, Treasurer
Susan Hebble, Secretary
Trustees at Large
Dan Bennecke
Susan Mooney
Karen Porter
Mike Pabian
Editors of The Touchstone
Kim Ryan
kimjnsn710@gmail.com
Linda Karlen
uchtouchstone@gmail.com
Winter 2015/2016
Dwell in Possibility: Bounteousness
D
Rev. Pam Rumancik
ecember is upon
us, and I find
myself reflecting
on the myriad changes of
the past year. Karen and
I recently celebrated our
first anniversary of being
a legally wed couple, and
I am able to say ‘my wife’
without looking around
for a hostile reaction. I’m
amazed at the acceptance
that I’ve experienced related to this
major shift in societal norms, and I
am grateful beyond measure
for a relationship that is strong
and nurturing, and that challenges
me to continue growing into my
best self.
In this community, many of you
have moved from the stranger
to friend category, and I am so
grateful to be serving as your
minister. I’ve found here a
generous spirit and people who
truly look for ways to bring their
own sense of fairness and equity
into the world; people willing
to show up, to learn, to expand
beyond current boundaries and
who are engaged in the deep and
challenging questions of life.
Your Board of Trustees has
brought enthusiasm and intention
to the work of creating policies that
will guide and sustain long term
success. Three goals coming out
of their fall retreat were to focus
on a vision of social action in the
church, to complete an updated
policy manual, and to begin a fiveyear strategic planning process.
All of these are well
begun.
From the new
carpeting, to the
picture directory
that will be arriving
shortly; from the
press release process
created by Beacon,
to the ongoing
investigation into
green energy;
from our new partnerships with
tutors & music teachers, to the
invigorated music program; and
in the tremendous work being
done by the newly formed Black
Lives Matter Initiative, there is a
sense of common purpose and
energetic engagement that makes
for a vibrant and joyful church
community.
Coming back from attending the
World Parliament of Religions this
fall, one of the things that most
impressed me was the practice of
Langor by the Sikh community.
Each day, 10,000 people were
served a delicious Indian meal of
rice, cheese,
beans with fruit and dessert for
free. We sat in rows upon the
ground and had our trays filled
with fragrant deliciousness. Our
Sikh hosts came back two or three
times offering more helpings,
always smiling with a warm
welcoming graciousness.
There were hundreds of people
involved in the process, but the
interesting thing was that, as
the week went on, more and more
Continued on next page
The Touchstone 1
Continued from previous page
Dwell in Possibility
Your UCH Board of Trustees – What are
They Doing?
Julia Beckman, President
non-Sikhs were taking part in
serving. The overwhelming
generosity of Langor made
others want to give as well.
Folks wanted to be part of the
goodness, part of the joy of
giving, part of the best of
being human.
I
It seems to work that way
here in our little corner of the
world as well. As we see people
around us giving their time and
talent, as we receive from their
bounteousness, we are called to
offer our own bit of goodness to
the world. I’m so grateful to be
part of the generous unfolding
of abundance and giving that
defines UCH in this moment in
time. Blessings upon each and
every one.
On a practical note, your Board
of Trustees is also changing how
we do business. You are aware
that we embarked on the path
toward policy governance a few
years ago. I’m pleased to say
we have made great progress
toward that goal. Policy
governance means that Board
members no longer work
with a specific portfolio of
responsibility. That system keeps
trustees involved in the small
day to day details of church
operations (what color will we
paint the Alice Warren room?)
and not on the larger picture,
including policies and long term
planning. Those day to day
details are very important, but
need to be managed by many
more people than nine Board
members. Enter the Circles,
groups of many volunteers
who take responsibility and
make decisions for important
activities: Community,
Stewardship, Worship,
Social Responsibility and
Communications. Within each
Circle are committees that handle
important efforts in membership
such as caring for each other
or caring for our building and
the environment. Many of our
members are working hard
to take on these chores and
accomplish great things.
The UCH Mission
The Unitarian Church of
Hinsdale is a welcoming,
caring community celebrating
Unitarian Universalist values.
WE SHARE
creative, expressive worship,
vibrant religious education,
and a commitment to a just
world.
WE INSPIRE
spiritual exploration, personal
growth, appreciation of
diversity,and courageous,
compassionate action.
hope all our members and
friends are as pleased as your
Board is with the excitement
and energy that our beloved
church is experiencing. Rev.
Pam is inspiring us all as a
shining example of “courageous
compassionate action.”
policy and future plans. At our
most recent retreat, we learned
more about how to accomplish
this transition. We now have
a schedule for re-writing and
creating new policies, four of
which are now on the website.
One important change (we think
it’s an improvement!) is to limit
our meetings to one hour. If we
seem to be going longer, we take
a consensus on how many more
minutes we are willing to stay.
That means we will be studying
information prior to meetings.
Gone are the marathon four-hour
gatherings. So far it’s working!
We are also gathering a strategic
planning committee whose goal
will be to come up with a fiveyear plan in time for the 2016
Annual Meeting.
Beginning in November, our
meetings will take place on the
first Tuesday of the month. This
date will allow Treasurer Steve
Trout to present a complete
monthly report for our review.
We will meet at 7:30 p.m. in
one of the classrooms in the RE
building. You are all welcome. Of
course, always feel free to contact
any of us with concerns and
questions.
It is my honor and privilege to
serve as your Board president.
Thank you!
Julia Beckman
beckman110@comcast.net
Phone: 630-985-4688
The Board now has time to focus
on monthly finances, church
The Touchstone 2
Holiday Happenings
CAUUC Board Meeting
L
Cathy Blanford
ast month (October)
was the second CAUUC
board meeting in which I
served as board president. We
now have 12 members
representing 11 churches in
the Chicagoland area. Each
meeting is a great opportunity
to work with other UUs and
to share thoughts about what
is happening in our respective
congregations. As a board, we are
working hard to provide Chicago
UUs collaborative opportunities
such as our fall social media
workshop and our spring
leadership gathering. Marketing
Unitarian Universalism continues
to be a high priority, which is
why we are helping Chicago
congregations learn how to better
use social media to promote
the work they are doing. By
next year, we hope to have
enough money in our budget
to again support an advertising
blast like the one we sponsored
on NPR last year. Do you have
ideas about other collaborative
efforts that CAUUC might
sponsor? Please don’t hesitate to
talk to me about what this group,
which is your organization, is
doing. We are working for you,
UU congregants, throughout
Chicagoland. Call or write me,
Cathy Blanford, with your
thoughts:
cathy.blanford@sbcglobal.
net or 708 415-4694. I look forward to hearing
from you. M
ark your calendars with
these special holiday
services and times:
A Festival of Lights
Dec. 6 - 10:30 a.m.
Sunday’s service will honor
the Jewish holiday of Hanukah
by looking at the story of the
Maccabees. Where in our lives
does resistance serve us? How
are we sustained through the
dark night? ~ Rev Pam
No Rehearse Holiday Pageant
Sunday Dec. 13 – 10:30 a.m.
A twist on the ancient passion
plays of the middle ages, this
service will be time for the whole
church to act out stories of the
season. Why do we honor a child
in a stable? Who were the wise
men? Why is a star the symbol of
Christmas? Help create treasured
memories for our own kids by
sharing in the reenactment of
the Christmas story. Help with
costuming is greatly appreciated.
Contact Pam Fodor to volunteer.
The Shortest Day of the Year
Sunday Dec. 20 – 10:30 a.m.
Join us in sharing the rituals of
the winter solstice, exploring
how our own internal rhythms
align with the seasons. Can our
candle burn brightly and shine
out into a waiting world?
Family Christmas Eve Service
Thursday Dec. 24 – 4:00 p.m.
Join us for a traditional evening
of carols and stories. What is the
best and brightest of Christmas?
How can we remember the
truth of love and carry it with
us always? This service will
include a child dedication,
welcoming young membersinto
this caring community on a
night of candlelight and magic.
Contact Rev. Pam or Pam Fodor
if you wish to have your child
dedicated.
Candlelight Christmas
Eve Service
Thursday Dec. 24 – 9:00 p.m.
Join us fora simple service
remembering the deepest truths
of Christmas with music and
story. We are each a bright light
in the darkness – we hold one
another in that light and love.
Santaland Diaries
Sunday Dec. 27 – 10:30 a.m.
A holiday themed service built
around the comedy of David
Sedaris. Come join us for a few
more Ho Ho Ho’s.
UCH Lunch Bunch
UCH Lunch Bunch will be on
hiatus November and December
2015. Stay tuned for January 2016.
The Touchstone 3
Thoughts from the Director of Religious Ed
Pam Fodor
SPIRIT PLAY
ast church year we kicked
off a curriculum called
“Spirit Play.” For several
years, the church has dedicated
a significant amount of money in
the budget to funding this new
curriculum. Not only have we
supported this new curriculum
monetarily, but we have also
embraced some of its philosophies
throughout the RE program.
L
WHY SPIRIT PLAY?
Spirit Play is a UU program
written by three religious
educators who were having
difficulty reconciling the method
used in Sunday school religious
education classes with the
openness of UU thought and
theology. What draws someone
to UUism as an individual, a
parent and/or an educator is the
openness to questioning rather
than finding specific answers,
the “cherish our doubts”
philosophy. As UU’s, we talk
about encouraging questions
yet have often handed children
prepackaged content. Even
though we say we want to teach
children to think for themselves,
we have used a hierarchical
model of the teacher having the
knowledge and experience and
imparting it to the children as if
they have none of their own.
WHAT IS SPIRIT PLAY?
So Spirit Play was born. This
curriculum seeks to engage
children in existential questions
about life within the context of
the Unitarian Universalist faith.
Stories are presented using
an active storytelling method
followed by a “wondering”
time that opens up the child’s
wider spheres of experience, the
message is that our universe can
be a place where we strive to
keep our promises. We don’t just
covenant with the people in our
church but with the whole earth
and its beings.
response to the story. Then, the
child is free to work directly
with that story or another, or to
respond to the story or his or her
feelings with art materials.
Children are introduced to the
stories of our faith in a concrete
way and can wonder about them
at their own level of maturation,
intelligence, and creativity. They
are invited to make their own
choices at work time. They may
go back again and again to the
same story and/or make painting
after painting. It is individualized
learning that takes into account
multiple styles of learning and
being.
WHAT MAKES SPIRIT PLAY
DIFFERENT AND SPECIAL?
In Spirit Play, we have made a
change in language, substituting
the word “Promise” for
“Principle.” “Principal” is a word
most children understand as the
person who runs their school. We
gave it a more concrete meaning
by talking about promises, “the
promises we make to one another
as Unitarian Universalists so that
we can all get along and
do what is right.” Children know
“promises” and have experience
with making and breaking
them from an early age. As
the lessons move into their
extensions to include wider and
Most children are naturals
at recognizing a spiritual
dimension. They have all felt
awe and wonder at something
new. They have felt lost, alone,
or sad at times. And they have
all felt connected by deep love.
Children are in a constant
state of play and expression
and even at a young age, they
instinctively try to help others
or to change injustices that they
see. As Unitarian Universalists,
we want to be sure that we don’t
indoctrinate a child into a set of
beliefs, but instead lead them
and connect them to this impulse
within them. So in Spirit Play,
we talk about the “Spirit of Love
and Mystery that some people
call God.” Children can relate to
this language of love. Also, by
connecting it to the theological
language, they will understand
what it is that children from
other faiths are talking about
when the conversation turns, as
it inevitably will, to what they
believe about God.
I am grateful to the church for
its continued support of our
religious education program. If
you have more questions about
any of our programs or would
like to get involved with our
young people, please contact me
anytime.
The Touchstone 4
Working to Bring Small Group Ministry to UCH
By Jessica Friess
W
hat is Small Group
Ministry? Don’t we
already have that
here? There are many questions
surrounding the buzz on this
topic. The Touchstone will feature
a series of articles introducing this
concept of powerful ministry, why
we should bring it to UCH, and
how we are working to get there.
First, let us review the definition
of “Small Group Ministry”,
(information from www.
smallgroupministry.net: ):
Small Group Ministry is
intentional lay-led groups that
deepen and expand the ministry
of a congregation.
“Small” means a group with
a maximum of 8-10 people,
including facilitator. Groups
of this size provide an
opportunity to relate on a more
intentional level.
direction. Again, from www.
smallgroupministry.net:
The Power and Promise of
SGM are Intimacy, Ultimacy
and Growth.
Intimacy is increased depth of
relationship that comes from
meeting over time, willingness
and ability to listen without
comment or advice, to learn from
others, and to share from the
soul, beyond the surface.
Ultimacy focuses on meaning and
significance, rather than details,
information or outcome.
Growth: Small Group Ministry
provides opportunities to grow
leaders and the potential to
grow churches in numbers,
and in generosity, cooperation,
and sense of well-being. This
growth occurs when people are
connected.
I get goose bumps when I read
• Integrate new members
into our community
• Create a space to be fully
present and “unplugged”
• Maintain a healthy
church community
• Create an opportunity
for group members
to participate in
service projects
Our SGM team will call our
groups Covenant Circles. Rev.
Pam will deliver a sermon on
what it means to be in covenant
with each other, and our
Covenant Circles will be an
important part of how we keep
that promise. This February,
you will hear some testimonials
about SGM. Our February
Touchstone will present our
Covenant Circle facilitators and
their monthly dates/times for
meeting so you can see which
Small Group Ministry is intentional lay-led groups that
deepen and expand the ministry of a congregation.
“Group” is a gathering of
individuals, sometimes selected
at random, sometimes for a
specific interest or characteristic,
which meet over a period of time.
“Ministry” is the process or act of caring or being present with another. This
relates to the spiritual as well as the
physical and emotional well-being of
the group participants.
At first, this type of group may
sound familiar, like our Chalice
Circles or other groups that
already meet. However, the
Small Group Ministry Program
moves further in a specific
this. I’ve been getting goose
bumps a lot lately when I come
to UCH, both at our services and
other events. Our community is
experiencing a huge change in
spiritual growth, and it is exciting
and scary, but mostly exciting.
Our SGM team has the following
goals for our program:
• Deepen intimacy and interconnection
group will fit your schedule.
In early March, we will have
a sign-up luncheon, with
facilitators. Shortly after, our
first meetings will begin.
I look forward to being on this
journey together. Please contact
me with any questions or
comments: jessicab8@gmail.com
• Create an opportunity
for spiritual and personal
growth
The Touchstone 5
ANOTHER FUNDRAISER?!
Pam Fodor, Director of Programs
For several years now, WE
have decided (we is the board,
the circle coordinators, and
the voting members of the
congregation) to balance the
budget with extra fundraising
money. “Extra” meaning not
from pledges, not from Holiday
Harvest, and not from MANNA.
Extra also means that a group of
church members, a fundraising
committee, is working all year to
raise that extra money. This year
our target amount is $7757.
The way I see it, there are two
types of fundraisers:
Selling stuff: We could sell
cheesecakes? Wrapping Paper?
We could require everyone to
purchase 40 bars of chocolate and
then try to sell them to others
to make back your money. No,
Yuck. I already do that- for PTO,
softball and band. I imagine
many of you do too, or have at
one time.
Events: We could get together
and enjoy a meal, some music, a
toast, some magic. We can get to
know each other and laugh and
feel good about supporting our
community. Yes, please! I want to
do more of that!
The fundraising committee has
planned five fantastic community
building events. We are hoping
that each one nets $1500 so that
we can reach our goal. We are
confident that these events will
be fun and will offer different
ways for our community to
connect. All of the events, with
the exception of Theater Night,
are child friendly, so everyone
can attend!!
“EVERYONE PROFITS”
October 24, 2015
This event was great fun. We had
a delicious dinner and a fabulous
concert. Thanks to everyone who
participated. We made a little
over $1000!
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
December 31, 2015
Ring in the New Year with your
church family and friends. Good
snacks, fun drinks, games and
laughter!
THEATER NIGHT
January 20, 2016
Join us at The Theatre of Western
Springs for Leading Ladies, an
outrageous comedy. Tickets will
be on sale before Christmas. They
will make great gifts for your
friends!
TRIVIA NIGHT
April 9, 2016
Put together a team or join a
team when you arrive. Have
fun discussing and figuring out
Trivia questions to win prizes!
EVENING OF MYSTERY
May 14, 2016
You won’t want to miss an
evening of mystery and magic!
Experience professional
magicians at their best!
TICKETS: You will be able to
purchase tickets before each
event at the cost of $25 for adults
and $10 each for children, OR
you can purchase a four-pack
ticket at a discounted rate. Tickets
are always available at the door
of each event, but the presale
of tickets helps us plan for food
and other things, which, in turn,
help us keep costs down so that
we increase our profits. Please
get your tickets early. All it takes
for us to reach our fundraising
goal is for 97 people to buy a four
pack ticket!
COME OUT and enjoy our events
and support UCH. We cannot
continue to balance our budget
with fundraising money if these
community building fundraisers
are not successful. Put away your
excuses and join us!
For questions, comments,
concerns, and to join the
fundraising committee, or to
volunteer for an event and
receive free admission, contact
Pam Fodor
re@hinsdaleunitarian.org.
Circle Coordinators
Caring Circle:
Deborah Stillman
stilld99@yahoo.com
Communication Circle:
Paula Sejut-Dvorak
psejut-dvorak@sbcglobal.net.
Growth and Learning Circle:
Jessica Friess
jessicab8@gmail.com
Stewardship Circle
Ron Solberg
solbergeasycom@aol.com
Social Responsibility Circle:
Dave Lloyd
davelloyd@mindspring.com
Worship Circle:
Kathy Salzano
ktsalzano@gmail.com
Home and Garden Circle
Judy Jeske
judyjeske@gmail.com
The Touchstone 6
Fighting Poverty through Fair Trade
Debbi Daniel-Wayman
U
CH's current involvement
with fair trade began when
the high school youth
group participated in a service
trip to Heifer Project in Arkansas
and learned the importance of
fair trade in fighting poverty
by influencing the number one
imported agricultural product in
the U.S.: coffee. Following that
trip, youth group members made
a presentation to the Board asking
that all coffee served at the church
be fair trade; the board passed the
policy, and the youth group sold
fair trade coffee for a few years,
using any revenue generated for
their programming.
Last year, Debbi Daniel-Wayman
and volunteers Linda Karlen &
Suzanne Williams (plus some
Ten Thousand Villages folks
who wanted to help) offered
a weekly table with fair trade
goods purchased on clearance,
and chocolate, coffee and tea
purchased wholesale through
an arrangement with Equal
Exchange and the UUA. This
year, even more options are
available as Debbi is using her
wholesale purchasing ability
through the book and fair trade
shop she purchased in Door
County on Washington Island
(where she now spends 6 months
a year) to offer a more expanded
selection of fair trade items at the
church. wholesalers who buy directly
from artisans and farmers,
the people who produce the
items for sale on the fair trade
table are given a living wage.
There are 10 principles of
fair trade established by the
World Fair Trade Organization
and they include many basic
concepts such as no child
labor and long term trading
relationships so that workers
may plan ahead.. Producers
use the increased wages paid
to them under this system to
pay for many basic items, often
school fees for their children
(which is not free in many of
the developing countries that
fair trade purchases goods in)
and basic health care. Artisans
are frequently organized in
cooperative structures, which
regularly sponsor projects that
benefit the entire community.
Examples include clean water
projects, child care centers, or
worker savings programs.
This year, since offerings at the
table are more numerous, people
can browse the items available
online. Visit fairisleshop.com and
under the "shop" tab, click the
Fair Trade Gifts button to view
things that may be purchased
and picked up at UCH on
Sunday mornings. All items
picked up at UCH generate
funds for the general operating
fund of the church, and coffee
proceeds benefit the youth group
since they were instrumental
in bringing fair trade coffee
to the church. Gift Enclosures
describing the artisan group
that creates the product and any
traditional techniques used in
creating it are available to print
for most items at the table.
A big thank you from the
fair trade volunteers for
your support of this unique
method of addressing poverty
in developing countries. The
artisans we work with appreciate
the dignity of being offered a
hand up rather than a hand out,
and we benefit from beautiful
handmade items from around
the world.
How does fair trade fight
poverty? By eliminating
middlemen in the purchasing
pipeline and using non profit
Allen Budziak and Alex and Ben Dvorak participating in the Animal Blessing.
The Touchstone 7
Do You Know About Manna?
H
Pam Fodor
ow many of you had
a Starbucks coffee this
week? Dunkin Donuts?
Anyone go to a movie? Anyone
shop at Mariano’s? Jewel? Target?
Anyone buy gas for their car?
Did you know that just by doing
those things - just shopping for
Manna card, you have made the
church $3.75.
And gas? If you usually spend
about $40 on gas a week for a 2%
kick back, you would make the
church 80 cents.
These amounts may not sound
Need some gift cards for the
holidays? Think Manna!
the things you need every day you can make the church money
and not spend any extra?
You can through our MANNA
program! This is how it works….
You buy gift cards at face value
from any of the 235 participating
retailers. Out of 235 stores, there
must be one where you shop.
You use your gift card when you
make your purchase, and the
church makes a profit. That is it!
It couldn’t be any easier!
Let me give you an example…
Starbucks donates 8%, so if
you have two pumpkin lattes
this week and pay with the
MANNA cards you bought here
at church, you have made the
church 80 cents.
Mariano’s donates 5%, so if
you do your weekly grocery
shopping, say around $150, and
pay with your MANNA cards,
you have made the church $7.50.
Target donates 3%, so if you
spend $100 or so at Target (and
who doesn’t leave Target with a
bill less than $100?) and use your
like a lot, but if you add them
up, it is $12.85 a week… $51.40 a
month…. $616.80 per year. If
50 families participated like
this, our MANNA program
would make the church $30,840.
We would never have to hold
another fundraiser!
So what is the catch? There
honestly is no catch! When you
buy a gift card for $25, you get to
spend $25. It is as simple as that!
Please stop by the MANNA table
in the Alice Warren Room during
coffee hour on Sundays. Janice
Sejut and Paula Sejut-Dvorak
will be waiting to take your
order. Maybe you will even
consider making a standing
monthly order.
Manna cards make excellent
holiday gifts for teachers,
teenagers, arty hosts and
hostesses, mail carriers,
really anyone!
Thank you for your continued
support of our fundraising
programs!
Women’s Alliance
Monthly Meetings
O
Jackie Bruns
ur annual Christmas
Pot Luncheon will be
on December 10 at
noon. We will meet at Cathy
Goering’s home, 17 Kyle Ct. in
Willowbrook. Bring a dish to pass
while we hear the harmonious
voices of Jay Van Cura and Joe
Saintcross! Questions call Cathy
at 630-325-0310 or email Jackie
at butterfluffy@gmail.com.
On January 14, 2016, we will
meet to hear “Reproductive
Choice - Back to the Future?” by
Velaine Carnall, Coordinator for
UCH Clinic Escorts.
February 11, 2016 will be your
opportunity to bring and or
recommend your favorite book.
Meeting starts at 1:00 or come
early with a sandwich and/or
snacks at 12:15.
At 1:00 On March 10, 2016,
“Decluttering to Enhance Life
Goals at Any Stage of Life”
with Nancy Abrahamson. This
presentation will explore ways
decluttering can assist in meeting
life goals at various life stages.
Hear how to streamline your
daily routines to free up time and
resources for what really matters
in your life. Come early with a
sandwich and/or snacks at 12:15.
Reminder: If you are interested in
UU Jewelry, on the first Sunday
of each month, it will be available
downstairs after Church.
Questions call Cathy at 630-3250310.
The Touchstone 8
Why did our minister get arrested?
Rev. Pam Rumancik
The test of a civilization is the
way that it cares for its helpless
members. - Pearl S. Buck
I
t didn’t make the local news,
but I had the good fortune
to spend a day in jail at the
beginning of November. I say
“good fortune” because it was
a day of learning, a day of
meeting new friends, and a day
of living out my values in a very
public way.
My wife, Rev Karen Mooney, and
I went downtown to participate
in a Moral Monday protest event
sponsored, in part, by a group
called Fair Economy Illinois. It
is a coalition of many groups,
including The Community
Renewal Society (CRS), which is
a UCH partner. Moral Mondays
are an offshoot of a movement
that has been holding protests
in North Carolina for a number
of years.
When we headed downtown to
protest at the Thompson Center,
we didn’t intend to get arrested.
We assumed we would take part
in waving banners, listening
to speeches, and marching
through the streets – and all
that happened. But when we
arrived at our destination, the
LaSalle Street Board of Trade,
we realized we might be a little
bigger than anticipated. Young
activists were blocking the doors,
preventing people from getting
in or out of the building, and
tempers were rising. Traders
make obscene amounts of money
in minutes, and they were
furious that their time was even
momentarily interrupted.
Men in business suits screamed,
“Get a job!” even though many
of us were wearing clergy collars
and definitely had jobs. When
asked to step in front of the
door-blockers to provide a line of
protection, Karen and I complied.
We were holding a banner with
a picture of Sojourner Truth on it
– how could we not? The rest is a
matter of court record…
Why do this? Why block
ordinary people who were just
trying to get to work? Why go
have no voice, no power, no
ability to change the system.
The Rev William Barber, the
architect of the original Moral
Monday protests, said this is the
moral issue of our time. It is not
a conservative or liberal issue. It
is not a right or left issue. It is a
human issue. Continually taking
resources away from the most
Continually taking resources away from the most
vulnerable among us is immoral and obscene.
out of our way to disrupt the
lives of strangers?
Because the system is broken
and disrupting the system is
one way to get people who are
not affected to pay attention.
Governor Rauner is championing
austerity measures which are
already creating immeasurable
harm for the most vulnerable
in our society. There are cuts
for childcare, for tuition aid,
for senior services, for mental
health support. The cuts are on
the backs of people who already
vulnerable among us is immoral
and obscene. As people of faith,
we need to be on the front lines
of this work; by not speaking up
we are part of the problem.
Illinois is not a poor state. We
have a large contingent of
Fortune 500 companies that pay
nothing in taxes to the state.
They use resources, sell to our
citizens, utilize infrastructure,
but give nothing back in return.
The current level of inequality in
Continued on page 10
The Touchstone 9
Continued from page 9
Social Action Committee Report
Why Did Our Minister Get Arrested?
the distribution of wealth is the
widest on record.
Jimmy Carter said, “The measure
of a society is found in how they
treat their weakest and most
helpless citizens.” Right now
our government is treating our
marginalized populations with
an immoral disregard. I want a
better society than the one we
currently have - and I am willing
to get arrested, among a myriad
of other actions - to work toward
that goal.
PRAYER FOR THE
MORNING
By Audette Fulbright Fulson
Did you rise this morning,
broken and hung over
with weariness and pain
and rage tattered from waving
too long in a brutal wind?
Get up, child.
Pull your bones upright
gather your skin and muscle into a
patch of sun.
Draw breath deep into your lungs;
you will need it
for another day calls to you.
I know you ache.
I know you wish the work were
done and you with everyone
you have ever loved were on a
distant shore
safe, and unafraid.
But remember this,
tired as you are:
you are not alone.
Here
and here
and here also
there are others weeping
and rising
and gathering their courage.
You belong to them
and they to you
and together,
we will break through
and bend the arc of justice
all the way down
into our lives.
T
Kim Ryan
he past couple of months
have been exciting and
busy for the Social Action
Committee. In September, we
announced that the committee had
approved buying and displaying
a “Black Lives Matter” banner,
which led to both a town hall
meeting and the beginning of our
“Black Lives Matter” committee,
facilitated by Sherrine PeytonAcosta.
Another area that we’ve been
working on is involvement in
Restorative Justice. Gail Smith,
a member of the Unitarian
Church of Evanston, held a
discussion at our church on
October 18, 2015. Gail has many
years of experience assisting
women in prisons and county
jails. She is now working with
other churches on beginning
a UU ministry within Illinois
prisons. In addition, Gail spoke
about a workshop called The
Prison Industrial Complex 101,
which includes an introduction
to the PIC from an abolitionist
perspective. “Abolition” refers to
the replacement of the current,
unjust system with a system that
is just and equitable. It’s easy to
feel helpless in the face of the
racial injustice in our society, but
in the workshop, participants
examine the PIC’s roots, reach,
and impact on our lives, as well
as our ability to transform this
system. We will be scheduling
this workshop for Hinsdale soon!
Please watch “News & Notes” for
more information.
Also, this year, we on the SAC
decided that church members
should know how generous
we are during our Special
Collections. Each Newsletter,
I’ll have the quarterly report
of our collections, along with
the schedule for the next three
collections. Remember, our
collections are always on the
1st Sunday of the month, and
we choose the charities by
suggestions of church members.
If you would like to suggest a
charity/non-profit, email Kim
Ryan (kimjnsn710@gmail.com)
with your ideas. Better yet? Come
to the Social Action Meetings,
which are held on the first
Sunday of the month at noon.
September:
UU Military Ministry $382
October:
Pillars of DuPage
$716
November:
UUANI
$583
The next 3 collections include:
December:
Minister’s Emergency Relief Fund
January:
Planned Parenthood
February:
Liberation Library
The Touchstone 10
Black Lives Matter Initiative
T
Sherrine Peyton
he UCH Black Lives Matter
Initiative (BLMI) was created
after the Town Hall Meeting
on posting “Black Lives Matter”
on our church’s outdoor signage.
Approximately 60 individuals
participated in the discussion
regarding the purpose and
implications of posting the sign.
After the meeting, 17 individuals
signed up to participate in a group
for planning conversations and
actions around the Black Lives
Matter efforts. Rev. Pam and
Sherrine Peyton are co-leading the
initiative.
The group has established its
purpose: “To make visible
the systems of racism and to
create and follow pathways to
substantive change.” The group
has identified the following
values: commitment to a just
world; compassion and respect
for others and ourselves; sincere
and thoughtful inquiry; and
value and respect for “first
voice.”
The group has identified the
following goals: BLMI will
Touchstone Submission
Linda Karlen, Kim Ryan
address policing policies, prison
reform, and drug law reform
through local actions; BLMI will
promote how and why black
lives matter through thoughtful
inquiry; and BLM will have four
Sunday services in FY16 during
which BLM issues are explored.
Some activities identified include
monthly discussions about
books, articles, documentaries,
and movies that explore why
there is a need for a Black Lives
Matter Initiate and what we as a
community can do to make the
title more than just a concept.
T
Additionally, the group will
select at least five opportunities
for the UCH community to
participate in local Black Lives
Matter activities. The group
will continue to meet bimonthly until we have at least a
12-month action plan. For more
information, please contact Rev.
Pam at the church’s office, or
Sherrine Peyton at 4sherrine@
gmail.com.
If any member objects to the
posting of his or her name,
image, actions or voice on the
Church’s website, Twitter or
Facebook pages, or in Churchprepared press releases, please
contact Linda Liberacki (office@
hinsdaleunitarian.org).
he Touchstone newsletter will
be available on a quarterly
basis (Fall, Winter, Spring
and Summer). The deadline
for the next issue is March 1, 2016.
Please submit articles and meeting
dates for Spring 2016 to Linda
Karlen at:
uchtouchstone@gmail.com.
Remember to keep your article
less than 500 words, or it will be
edited for length.
Communications/Posting Policy
http://wfto.com/fair-trade/10principles-fair-trade
The Touchstone 11
Caring Circle
Deborah Stillman, Coordinator
Caring Circle Reminder:
I
n our ongoing efforts to provide support to our church community in times of need, transition and
celebration, our Caring Circle is listed here. Our ability to provide support is made possible not only by
the many volunteers who offer their time, but also by the information that is provided to us by our
members so that we may reach out to those in need.
The Caring Circle provides support and coordinates assistance such as phone calls, cards, visits, and
email. We are able to provide assistance that may include simple errands, rides, meals, and small chores.
Caring Circle Captains
Area 1
AREA 6
(Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Burr Ridge)
(Westchester, Brookfield, Lyons,
River Forest, Riverside, Chicago, Hillside,
North Riverside, Oak Park, Berwyn)
Deborah Stillman — (630) 908-7508
AREA 2
(Willowbrook, Darien & Westmont)
Susan Mooney — (630) 963-1860
Catherine Goering (630) 325-0310
AREA 3
(Indian Head Park, Western Springs,
Willow Springs)
Susan Hebble — (708) 784-1688
Jazmina Baukys — (708) 246-8629
Diane Barnes — 708-784-6003
AREA 4
(Elmhurst, Villa Park, Roselle,
Arlington Heights, Bensenville, Des Plaines)
Lynn Brackett — (630) 279-5851
Mary Getty — (630) 833-3082
Karen Hays — (630) 209-9340
AREA 5
(Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wheaton,
Lisle, Oak Brook, Oak Brook Terrace)
Nancy Kranz — 708-387-1247
Liz Reyes — (708) 514-0002
AREA 7
(LaGrange Park, LaGrange,
Countryside, Hodgkins, Burbank)
Nancy Weill — (708) 352-9128
Sara Takash — 312 282 2517
Nancy Keane — (708) 352-0454
AREA 8
(Downers Grove)
Cathy Zimmerman — (630) 810-0561
Jill Jackson — (312) 231-9870
AREA 9
(Aurora, Woodridge, Bolingbrook,
Lemont, Lockport, Plainfield, Romeoville,
Naperville, Shorewood, Cresthill)
Paula Sejut-Dvorak —(815) 210-1909
Pam Fodor — (630) 795-0295
Debbi Daniel-Wayman — (630) 495-8761
The Touchstone 12