This Week at TUC: Hello Members and Friends of Third Unitarian Church  

1. This Sunday's Events: May 11th 

10am
Board and Board Candidate Forum
The board will take the 10 a.m. forum time to introduce trustee candidates and to talk in general about what's happening around the church preparatory to the annual meeting. 

11am Service
 "Composing Motherhood"
The Reverend Covell, convening
The joys and challenge of balancing artistic creativity with raising a family is our focus this Mother's Day!  Our Director of Music Donald Neale and colleagues will perform a selection of music from the composer (and mother) Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847).  Brian will note how she overcame familial pressure in favor of subservience to become an artist rivaling her supportive younger brother Felix.  Please bring your favorite pictures of Mom for display this morning-you'll have a chance to comment on what made her unique!

Music Program
Prelude      Übungsstück    Fanny Hensel                       
Opening Hymn  For the Beauty of the Earth
Meditation  Allegro molto vivace from Piano Trio in D minor  Fanny Hensel 
Offering   Allegro vivace in A major   Fanny Hensel                 
Music      Andante espressivo from Piano Trio in D minor   Fanny Hensel
             Lied - Allegretto from Piano Trio in D minor   Fanny Hensel   
Closing Hymn  Sleep, My Child   
Postlude  Allegro Moderato from Piano Trio in D minor  Fanny Hensel

Our guest musicians are Sarah Alexander, cello and James, violin.

Religious Education   For children 3-14 years, Religious Education classes begin at 11AM with a 10-minute participation in the service followed by one-hour classes for each of three age groups (7-9, 10-11, 12-14) in the R.E. classroom area, ending at 12:10.   

Coming of Age curriculum Sunday: TBA

Starting at 10AM, children can gather at the TenSpot, a place to just be UU kids together!  Bring a game, a CD to listen to or just hang out with everyone as we enjoy drinks and treats until the start of the Service at 11.   

Please note the events after the 11AM Service this Sunday:

12:00   Coffee Half Hour  

12:30 - TUC 2015: Important Congregational Meeting for the Board of Trustees to introduce the TUC stategic plan TUC 2015. You will be asked to vote on this at the Annual Meeting, Sunday, May 18.  

1:00 - R.E. Program: Your chance to learn about plans for the TUC Religious Education program, a key part of TUC 2015. Opportunities to help will also be presented. The meeting will be short, so lunch will not be served. More information? Contact John Munger ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Christina Leone. Remember: "Children are our greatest natural resource and our best hope for the future."  

Do you believe in the importance of our RE program? Make your views known at the Religious Education Workshop Sunday, April 27th, 2-4PM. See the notice in Attachments below  

2. Other TUC Notices
Show TUC hospitality to our 2008 Scholarship winners. Volunteer to host a winner and family at the May 4th, Scholarship Sunday celebration. Please see Roberta Wilson or Allen Matthews. 

Church rummage sale June 7 and 8.  Please contact Karen Alanis and Deb Donovan about your donations. We want to give you a chance to clean your closets and give people in the neighborhood some bargains.

Are you interested in helping TUC to become more "green?" We can start by using more ceramic dishes rather than paper at Coffee Hour. A "Green Team" would help, when needed, washing dishes. Contact Karen Alanis at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Include "TUC" in the subject line.   

Spring All Church Clean-Up is Saturday, May 3rd, 9-12pm.  Please contact James Kane or Reverend Brian Covell 

Silent Auction parties still left! See the many opportunities listed in the Attachments below.

TUC Donut Day, Saturday, May 31. (No, that's not Memorial Day weekend) needs volunteers. It is a chance to meet and greet, mix and shake, and have fun while earning some good money for TUC. Contact James Kane to reserve your favorite job and time.  For newcomers, Donut Day is a TUC tradition.  We make and sell donuts at the Oak Park Farmers Market to raise funds for our church. It is light but focused and well-organized work in the well-equipped kitchen of Pilgrim Church. We need lots of help in two-to-three hour shifts.  Tom Bamonte had so much fun last year he wants to work two shifts!!!  

Three cheers for Lorie Ranker who has agreed to chair the TUC Back to School Block Party on Saturday, August 23rd!
   
3. Member Bulletin Board
Crop Walk is May 4.  Mina Riddle and Ron Chew are walking and thank those who sponsored them. Pledges are still welcome! 

Covenant Circles discussion groups.
Contact Estelle at 708-386-7197,  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

**Policy on posting on the Member Bulletin Board - Posting requires:
1. A TUC member sponsor who is saying that
2. This is something I am supportive of or attending
3. That is related to TUC's purposes and interests, and
4. I am a resource if there are questions (name will be placed with item).
Email your items of interest to David Boulanger no later than the Wednesday of that week's email. Please keep your items short and concise and put "This Week" in the subject line. 

4. Attachments
Silent Auction parties still left. Contact the host directly.

288 create a crockery mosaic with Helen Slivinski, 1 place left @ $15 

A-271 play reading & chili at Kathy Jeans’, 3:00 sat. July 12 - 2 places left @ $10   

G-274 dinner of snacks and poetry at Kathy Allen's, Sat. May 10, 6:30 pm - Many places left @$10

S-278 Knitting for beginners with Julie Von Hippel; 1 place left @ $10

G-262 Grant park music and potluck with the Kransdorfs, Jun 21, 6:15 picnic, 7:30 concert; many places left @ $10

232 Kids' dance party 8 places left @ $20/family

G-208 cookie party places with Mary Delbecq for 3 families @ $25/family

H-44 night of disco at TUC with Walter Plumer- many places left @ $20

H-112 apple tasting at Donovan Kanes', Oct. 19, 1:30 pm - many places left @$20

G-114 open garden; corn roast at Boulangers', Sunday Aug. 17, 4:00 - 7:00, -7 places left @ $10

J-162 Chinese dinner with the Chews, 1 place left @ $20

J-39 woods walk; picnic in Palos with Sue Lodgen, Sat, May 24, leave 11am; - 1 place left @ $20  

Covenant Circles
General Covenant Circle (afternoon)
The Sunday afternoon circle meets on the second Sunday of each month. Come discuss, listen, and explore the topics of the day at the Sunday afternoon Covenant Circle here at Third Unitarian Church. We offer a convenient time and location: right after coffee hour in the Green Room. We are a group-led circle, and offer each member the opportunity to inspire and lead sessions if they wish. We offer each member a safe space where they can be heard and where they can explore their thoughts. Best of all, we welcome you to join us! 

Currently in the circle:
Douglass Davidoff
Kathy Foulke
Tim Grover
Mary Lou Shadle
BeBe Simon
Julie Von Hippel
Elizabeth Zemke

General Covenant Circle (evening)
General Discussion Covenant Circle meeting on June 8th will be "What role does spirituality play in our lives"? The group meets every second Sunday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at home of Betty DiPasquale. In the successive months, we will be discussing aging, faith, what gives us hope, what keeps us going, etc. Betty will facilitate all the meetings, but the willing members of the group will take turns leading the discussion portion of the meeting.  

Currently in the circle:
Betty Harris
Dorothy Wilz
Suzanne Davis
Velna Kolodziej
Betty DiPaquale
lene Thornton 

The Spirituality Covenant Circle
The decisions about the group's format are still open. Marie is the convener and has obtained two books for the group's perusal and consideration. These are The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality and a beginner's book about Buddhism. A regular meeting time and date has not been finalized. 

Currently in the circle:
Karen Alanis
Bob Simpson
Kate Hlava
Deb Donovan
Sandi Wiatr
Marie Mahoney

Yoga Covenant Circle
Next meetings are Saturdays: April 5, 19, 26, May 3, 17 and June 7. All meetings are at 10am at TUC.

Sessions:
* Yoga instructor is Melinda Ashford and beginners are welcome.
* To be held every other Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30 am at Third Unitarian Church.
* Mats are provided and there is a fee of $4 per participate every session to offset costs.
* All are invited to participate, from the church or the greater community.
* The format will be as follows: A brief check-in, yoga, meditation,and discussion.
* Very brief check-in for each participant precedes the yoga segment.
* Half hour discussion segment after yoga practice is optional
* All topics are welcome.
* Members of another covenant circle are welcome
* The group can grow bigger than the other covenant circles, and new groups will be formed as needed.

Yoga Practice:
* 45-60 minutes of the session will be dedicated to yoga practice and meditation.
* Participants are encouraged to check in with the instructor and make requests if they are experiencing any problems or uncertainty with the poses.
* Participants are encouraged to bring in music or make suggestions for the group.
* Missing a session won't be a problem and practice at home between sessions is strongly encouraged.

Currently in the circle:
Kathy Osler
Anita McChriston
Craig Hunter
Mina Riddle
Estelle Carol
Deb Donovan
James Kane
Karen Alanis