Professional Documents
Culture Documents
May 8 :: Beyond Light Bulbs: Covenant and Collective Adult Religious Enrichment 6
Action with Matt Meyer Religious Education 6
Matt Meyer is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music Music Director 7
and has studied abroad in Cuba, Ghana, and Central Chalice Circles 8
America. Matt has lead hundreds services for UU congre‐ Social Mission 9
gations across the country and lives in Boston, where he Sabbatical Minister for Pastoral Care 9
plays with several world music groups. He is also a UT Restoration Foundation Events 10
member of the UUA's Council on Cross Cultural Engage‐
ment and a board member and resident of the Lucy
Stone Cooperative, a newly‐formed Unitarian Universal‐
ist housing cooperative creating an intentional commu‐
nity and a center for social justice in the Boston area. MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
May 29 :: “Love in Action” with Andrew Harvey taken Introduction to Unitarian Universalism. Partici‐
Harvey is an internationally acclaimed poet, novelist, pants will reflect on and discuss their personal attitudes
translator, mystical scholar, and spiritual teacher. He has and beliefs about religion and spirituality with others in
published over 20 books, including The Hope: A Guide to the class, and learn more about our congregation and its
Sacred Activism (Hay House) and Heart Yoga: The Sa‐ programs. For more information or to register for this
cred Marriage of Yoga and Mysticism (North Atlantic class, contact Rob Bellmar at rbellmar@gmail.com or
Books). Harvey is a Fellow of All Souls College Oxford 708‐763‐0260. This month’s sessions will be offered
from (1972‐1986) and has taught at Oxford University, Sundays, May 15 and 22, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Location:
Cornell University, The California Institute of Integral Unity House. Cost: $20. There will be no Pathways
Studies, and the University of Creation Spirituality, as classes in June or July. Pathways will be offered again on
well as various spiritual centers. He was the subject of August 13 and 20.
the 1993 BBC film documentary The Making of a Modern
For free childcare at all of these opportunities, contact
Mystic. He founded the Institute for Sacred Activism in
childcare@unitytemple.org at least one week in advance.
Oak Park, where he lives. His website is
www.andrewharvey.net.
May 2011 • 3
S trange doings in the
world of public policy
lately make me think it’s not
a bad use of this column for
May to update you. For
those who didn’t yet hear,
FROM THE INTERIM
the bill requiring disclosure of the contents of any natural MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
gas hydraulic fracturing formula that Faith in Place put
forward passed the Illinois State Senate unanimously in From Tina Lewis
April. Thanks to the many people from Unity Temple who tlewis@unitytemple.org
joined us in Springfield (they had fun – ask them!) and
signed postcards, and called. At time of writing there was
still plenty of work to do in the Illinois House, so if you
haven’t called your state representative asking them to
W elcoming Sunday always makes me cry. It never
fails, as soon as I hear the beginning of "Come,
Sing a Song with Me," I turn to mush. Though I managed
pass Senate Bill 664, now is a good time to do that. More to maintain my composure, the April Welcoming Sunday
information on all this can be found at the Faith in Place was a particularly moving experience for me. I knew I
home page (www.faithinplace.org). would be in a risky situation. The sound of everyone
Bringing a bill through the General Assembly has singing, greeting new members with a rose, and all the
been an adventure for all of us in How Things Work. happily hugging people would surely cause me to be
Another one arrived the other morning in Chicago, when overcome by emotion. Somehow, I did not require an
an ordinance offered by Ald. Joe Moore that would emergency tissue or need to be excused at an inappro‐
require the clean‐up or shut‐down of Chicago’s two priate time, however, I was feeling every bit of the usual
ancient and dirty coal plants was supposed to come up mushiness that I always feel when we welcome new
for a vote in committee. A large coalition of organizations people into our religious community. It was truly a
had been working on this ordinance for some time (Faith beautiful and meaningful morning.
in Place has tried to do its part in that, though other The celebration dinner that followed in the evening
groups have done much more). By Thursday, April 21, was equally wonderful. Everything worked out just
they believed they had the 26 votes needed to pass the perfect. Of course, things could not have worked out
ordinance. When the crowd of supporters arrived at the "just perfect" without the time and energy of volunteers
City Council chambers on Thursday morning they found it in the congregation. Many thanks to those people who
full of Midwest Generation employees (most of whom worked hard to make Welcoming Sunday a pleasure:
were from plants outside the city – only about 200 Rev. Clare Butterfield, Rev. Scott Lewis, Mona McNeese,
people work at the city plants, and only 20 percent of Mary Ellen Munley, Mark Robinson, Sue Anderson, Rob
those are from the communities where the plants are and Laurie Bellmar, Lisa Gariota, Hilary Gray, Tom and
located). The employees, in uniform and hardhats, were Sunny Hall, Margaret Klemundt, Allen McVey, Christine
reportedly even blocking the doors to the chambers and Steyer, Sue Stock, Joan Van Note, Jennifer Walters, Vera
reserving empty seats for colleagues who somehow Dowell, Charlie Rossiter, Jane Ditelberg, Jan Johnston,
never emerged from the restroom. Supporters had to Bonnie and Stephen Jordan Collette Clark, Brian Hance,
stand out in the hall. The two chairs of the environment Allen Van Note, Diane Maciejewski, Gary Wilson, Alison
committee, neither of whom supports the ordinance, Price, and David and Luis Osorio. Your efforts are greatly
then announced that they would table the issue until appreciated. Thank you.
after the new administration is in place.
Events like this are best viewed through the tragic‐
ironic lens, but with as much sense of tragedy as irony. A
May 2011 • 5
attorneys who share their legal skills with the under‐
NOMINATIONS FOR UTUUC served. She also serves on the development committee
BOARD OF TRUSTEES for Faith in Place. Prior to her work at home and in the
community, Kristina practiced law at Jenner & Block.
The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the
following members of our congregation as candidates for
JOSHUA DITELBERG
the UTUUC Board of Trustees. If elected by vote of the
Josh and his wife, Jane, have been members of Unity
Congregation at the Annual Meeting on May 22, 2011,
Temple since 2009. Coming from different religious back‐
they will serve a 3‐year term beginning July 1, 2011 and
grounds, they wanted to find a common spiritual home
ending on June 30, 2014.
in which to raise their daughter, Claire. Josh and Jane
have been delighted at how welcoming the congregation
LARRY STUDER
is at UT. Josh presently is serving as a member of the
Larry Studer was sampling religions in 1993 when he
Worship Committee, the Personnel Committee, and as
began attending the Beacon UU Church. Larry continued
an Usher. He is a Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago,
to attend after Beacon merged with UTUUC and has
specializing in labor and employment law. He has a BA
been a member since 1994. He has taught classes in the
and an MA from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD
RE Program for 15 years and considers the experience to
from the University of Michigan. Originally from the Bos‐
be very satisfying. He’s had the rather unique experience
ton area, Josh moved to Chicago in 1996 after Jane (a
of daughter Caroline being in his classes K‐6, and daugh‐
St. Charles native) convinced him that it would be the
ter Julia K‐8. He now serves on the Religious Education
best place to start their lives together. Nonetheless, Josh
Committee and plans to continue teaching.
maintains a fierce allegiance to Boston, including Bos‐
Larry lived in Oak Park for 32 years in a house that his
ton's sports teams. He is somewhat horrified that Claire,
wife Carol and he restored several times over a number
having been taken to yearly Red Sox–White Sox games,
of years. In 2006 Larry and his family moved into a new
has become a White Sox fan. ("But I'm from Chicago,"
house in Elmhurst. He was surprised to find out that new
says Claire, with devastating logic). Josh hopes to use his
homes require projects, too.
perspective as a relatively new UT member to look for
Larry has worked in the corporate aviation business
ways to integrate new members into congregational life,
for 37 years and has held technical and managerial posi‐
and to strengthen overall membership.
tions with large corporations. His aviation experiences
have been challenging, demanding, and rewarding. He
In addition, the Nominating Committee is presenting
served on several technical boards and the National Busi‐
the UTUUC member JEFFREY STOCKER as a candidate for
ness Aviation Association Technical Committee. He vol‐
the UTRF Board of Trustees. If elected, he will serve a
unteers time working at the Elmhurst Food Pantry two
three‐year term.
days a week. Larry enjoys working with daughter Julia
and her team during softball season.
Larry appreciates being nominated to the Board of
Trustees. He looks forward to working with the board in
serving the needs of our congregation.
Unity Temple Gives...
KRISTINA ENTNER The generosity of our congregation is making a
Kristina Entner began attending UTUUC in 1999. She difference in people’s lives. Every Sunday our
was drawn into the building by its famous exterior, only collection plate offerings are donated to a worthy
to discover that what happened inside was what was charitable organization in support of our mission and
truly extraordinary and revolutionary. She has been a values. During the month of March 2011, your weekly
member of the congregation for about 8 years. Kristina collection donations contributed the following
has been a member of the Green Sanctuary Committee amounts to these organizations:
for several years and has chaired the committee since Lawyers Committee for Better Housing: $763.43
2009. She has also assisted in her daughters’ RE classes Parenthesis: $1104.35
throughout the years and worked on Social Mission Sun‐ UUA Fund for Japan Earthquake Relief: $2,009.95
days for all Ages. Kristina is married to Ed Malone and Austin Scholarship Fund: $1091.94
has two daughters, Hannah and Marlena. Kristina is the
Thank you for your generosity!
chair of the Whittier Elementary School Green Team and
is active in the West Cook Pro Bono Network, a group of
6 • The Beacon
4 p.m., UU Church of Rockford Duane Dowell President
Ian Morrison Vice President
May 1 & 8 Open Forums on Peace Resolution
Margaret Ewing Secretary
12:30 p.m., Unity House
Glenn Brewer Treasurer
May 6 Teacher Appreciation Dinner Jean Borrelli
6 p.m., Unity House Betsy Davis
May 10 Community Renewal Society Spring Nina Gegenheimer
field Lobby Day Jay Peterson
David Ripley
May 14 & 28 Knitting for Peace Diane Scott
2 p.m., Gale House Jennifer Walters
May 15 6th Grade Pancake Fundraiser Polly Walwark
12:15 p.m., Unity house
Introduction to UU Our Staff
1 p.m., Unity House For all calls, please dial 708‐848‐6225
and then your party’s extension:
Movie: Why We Fight
1 p.m., Gale House Rev. Alan C. Taylor, Senior Minister
May 15 & 22 Pathways to Membership On sabbatical through June 30, 2011
1 p.m., Unity House Rev. Emily Gage, Minister of Faith Development
May 19 Movie with Meaning: ext. 103 egage@unitytemple.org
The White Ribbon (2009) Rev. Scott Talbot Lewis, Sabbatical Pastoral Care
6 p.m., Unity House Minister
May 21 3rd Saturday Coffeehouse 708‐250‐6810 slewis@unitytemple.org
7:30 p.m., Unity Temple Tina Lewis, Interim Membership Director
May 22 Annual Meeting ext. 102 tlewis@unitytemple.org
12:30 p.m., Unity Temple Sanctuary David Wilke, Director of Administration
ext. 100 dwilke@unitytemple.org
May 25 Purple Sages (Senior Women)
11:30 a.m., Oak Park Library Martha Swisher, Music Director
music@unitytemple.org
May 27 Taizé Service
7 p.m., Sanctuary Heather Godbout, Youth Coordinator
ext. 107 indigo1370@aol.com
Meridian Herman, Rental Manager
Visit Our Calendar Online!
ext. 108 rentals@unitytemple.org
At www.unitytemple.org/calendar you can find real‐
time listings of everything occurring at Unity Temple Sule Kivanc‐Ancieta, Preschool Coordinator
as well as schedule rooms. Select Add Event at the Janet Krumm, Nursery Coordinator
top of the calendar and complete the web form. You David Osorio, Sexton
will receive an email when your UTUUC event as been
confirmed. Rito Salinas, Sexton
Peter Storms, Accompanist
BEACON Newsletter Submissions Jennifer Flynn, Publications Assistant
June 2011 Beacon submissions are due at 10 a.m. on ext. 105 jflynn@unitytemple.org
May 23. If you are promoting an event or group, please
Tracy Zurawski, Bookkeeper
use the publications submission link on the lower left‐
ext. 104 bookkeeper@unitytemple.org
hand side of the Unity Temple homepage,
www.unitytemple.org. Questions and inquiries an be
directed to newsletter@unitytemple.org.
WWW. UNITYTEMPLE. ORG
Unity Temple Nonprofit
Organization
Unitarian Universalist Congregation US POSTAGE
875 Lake Street PAID
Oak Park, IL 60301
Oak Park, IL 60301 Permit No. 305
708-848-6225
www.unitytemple.org
Upcoming Services
Sunday Services are at 9 & 10:45 a.m.
May 1
Big Questions May 22
UTUUC Youth Service and Bridging Ceremony Coming of Age
Offering: Trinity Boy Choir, Port‐Au‐Prince, Haiti Rev. Emily Gage
Offering: Parenthesis
May 8
Beyond Light Bulbs: Covenant and May 27 at 7 p.m.
Collective Action Taizé at Unity Temple
Matt Meyer
Offering: Trinity Boy Choir, Port‐Au‐Prince, Haiti May 29
Love In Action
May 15 Andrew Harvey
A Choral Service: Requiem Offering: Sarah’s Inn
Mary Swisher
Offering: Maywood Fine Arts Fund