Posts from October 2021
John Lennon, Influencer
I invite you to tune in to this Sunday’s Service, which focuses on Lennon’s 10-year post-Beatles career. Having long tired of Beatlemania, he lit out on his own with Yoko. He issued two amazing records in his first two post-Beatles years, 1970 and 1971: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine. The first was a serious statement of freedom from pop music, and an embrace of his new wife, and of being able to freely sing about his interior states. It’s…
Reopening Postponed
We’re committed to a reopening that honors our UU Principles and is safe for all: young, old, healthy, immunocompromised, vaccinated, and those who cannot get vaccinated yet or at all. Because of this, we are postponing our reopening until the cases for school-aged children meet our metric goals again. School-Age COVID Cases UUCE has three metrics for determining reopening. Two of our metric goals are being met, but in order to reopen, school-age cases need to have a two-week downward…
Personally, Emotionally, I am Sorrowful
The Church’s leadership and I have negotiated an agreement that saves having to take monies from the scant remaining reserves to pay out my contract for a ministry that too many of you have found unsatisfactory. So, this is a sad ending, but under the circumstances, one that feels fair to all. Personally, emotionally, I am sorrowful, but OK, thank you, and I wish you the best. I depart at the end of October, and my final time with you…
We’re all Booked for October. Yay!
Dear Friends, Although we are all booked up for October, will you consider supplying one of the three courses, either main dish, vegetable or fruit/dessert for November? Here’s a testimonial from a monthly contributor: “Helping PADS is an easy way to give back to the community, since UUCE and our volunteers have already established a relationship. Even when we’re not able to serve the meals because of COVID, the staff is very grateful for our home-cooked dishes. I make the same…
Good News — Please Read! In-Person Reopening Celebration Service Planned for Sunday, October 17
We are excited to announce that reopening is near! Wednesday evening the Reopening Team met and determined that COVID-19 metrics are in alignment to reopen the church. While Kane County and surrounding areas still carry “high” COVID risk levels, key metrics have been declining for several weeks and it appears that we can carefully begin to meet in person again. October 17th has been chosen as our first in-person service date since the pandemic shut us down. Please note this is subject to change if metrics move in the wrong direction. Aptly, this service…
YWCA of Elgin
The Share the Plate recipient for the month of October is the YWCA of Elgin Every year we work together to support the mission of the YWCA of Elgin by collecting funds and participating in their “Giving Tree” Program. YWCA Mission YWCA Elgin is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.We will get a head start this season by collecting funds in October and starting our Secret Santa shopping in November. We do…
Neglected Aspects of Starr King’s Life and Work
In 2006, Unitarian minister Thomas Starr King’s statue in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall was removed by vote of the California legislature and the approval of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and replaced by a statue of Ronald Reagan. Each State gets two statues. California’s other honoree was and still is Father Junipero Serra a builder of missions in Spanish California. There has been a movement in California to banish Father Serra too, on account of his enslavement and mistreatment of native…