Come “meet” Judy Chicago, one of the most prominent feminist artists of our time.  Judy Chicago has been a working artist for more than 5 decades and much of her work has been focused on women and women’s issues.  Her monumental art piece, The Dinner Party, is a larger than life dinner table that literally makes room at the table for more than 1000 women.   This work has been called pornography by some and sacred by others.  We invite you to explore the piece with us.

Join us for a 3 part series as we celebrate Women’s History Month

Session #1

March 8th, 7:00PM, Grayslake Library
“Meet” Judy Chicago and “See”  The Dinner Party
A Discussion about the Dinner Party and Judy Chicago

Session #2

March 17th 11:00AM , The Neil Estrick Gallery in Grayslake
Paint a Dinner Plate honoring a woman(en) who made a difference in your life
$20 per plate (Must sign up by February 26th)

Session #3

March 31st, Location TBD
Come  share a seat at our Dinner Party.
Share the story of the woman(en) you honored on your plate, and celebrate the 1038 women honored at Judy’s Dinner Party

The deadline to order a plate is Sunday, February 26.  An order form will be available at the Visitors’ Welcome Table on Sunday mornings or you may contact revziegler@comcast.net or calling her at 847-629-5868.

A plate’s cost is $20. Please make checks payable to PCUUC.  Confidential financial aid is available through Rev. Ziegler.

Board Meeting Agenda — February 16th, 2012

I.        Opening Reading

II.       Approval of January Board Meeting Minutes

III.      DRE Report

IV.     Minister Report

V.      Treasurer Report

VI.     Update from Nominating Committee

VII.    Renewal of Rev. Ziegler’s Contract

VIII.   Stone Soup Fundraiser

IX.     Update from the Allocation of Board Energies

X.      Follow-Up from Board-Hosted Community Forum

XI.     2012 Pledge Drive Update

XII.    Planning for Almost Church Revitalized Workshop

XIII.   New Business

XIV.  Summary of Follow-Up Actions

XV.   Closing Reading

I invite you to attend the PCUUC Community Forum after services on Sunday, February 12, 2012.  The Community Forum will be held in the Barn from 10:30 – 12:00, we will serve bagels, coffee and fruit, and child care will be offered.

You may be asking yourself….What is the PCUUC Community Forum?  The Community Forum is a PCUUC Board-hosted opportunity for our community to check in with one another, for the Board to check in with the community and for an exchange of thoughts and ideas.  We will be breaking into small groups and two topics will be discussed.

1) As we approach the renewal of Rev. Ziegler’s contract, a check-in to allow the Board to get a sense for the will of the congregation.  If you are unable to attend the February 12 Community Forum and have thoughts you would like to share, please contact me or another Board member.

2) If you were to start a brand new church tomorrow, what would be the characteristics the ideal member of your church?  Perhaps this activity sounds silly and I think we will have a lot of fun with it.  (As an aside, I am taking wagers now on the percentage of groups that will say a solid portion of their ideal membership would be generous and rich so that they don’t have to hold pledge drives or fundraisers.) In addition to a little fun, I think at least of couple of insightful thoughts, visions and/or realizations will come out of this exercise that could have real meaning as we continue to work to create visions and plans for what we want to become as a church community.

So, please participate in the February 12 Community Forum.  We need your voice, insights and ideas.  As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and questions.

Peace and Blessings,

Tonia Becker VerShaw
PCUUC, President of the Board
President@PrairieCircleUUC.org

Contact: Jan Kirch at  837-816-7602 or IdeasJan1217@comcast.net or Julie Palumbo at 312-550-8358 or RE@PrairieCircleUUC.org

“Healing and Re-energizing the Soul-Weary Activist”

            The Rev. Jacqueline Ziegler will be offering this special workshop. It is one she has offered in many other locations and it always receives accolades from participants.  This free workshop is offered for people who are feeling despair or suffering disappointment, disillusionment and fatigue from their work on behalf of justice.  Through this workshop people will have the opportunity to experience a sense of healing and new energy.  Its goal is to bring hope back to the activist’s work.

            This workshop is better than anything the doctor could have ordered to heal the soul-weary activist! It is based on the work of Joanna Macy, the world-renowned Buddhist and activist. 

            Watch for more information in the future E-nnouncements and the March newsletter. Please tell any activists you know about this workshop.  If you’d like more information sooner, feel free to call Rev. Ziegler at 847-629-5868.

Join us Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 10:30 – 12:00 after services in the Byran Colby Barn to discuss targeted issues important to our church and community life.  Two general areas of discussion and brainstorming will be addressed within small groups.  Then we will share summary ideas with the group as a whole.  The first area of discussion will be the church ministry including our experiences to date with Rev. Ziegler as part of our community.  The second topic will be a fun brainstorming activity in which participants will be asked “If you were starting your own church tomorrow what would be the characteristics of your ideal member?”

Bagels and coffee will be provided.  In addition, child care will be provided.  Please contact Tonia Becker VerShaw, Board President at President@PrairieCircleUUC.org with any questions.  We are looking forward to your participation in this fun and important conversation.

Board Meeting Agenda — January 26, 2012 – 7:00pm

I.        Opening Reading

II.        Approval of December Board Meeting Minutes            ~ discussion and vote, 5 minutes

III.      DRE Report                                                                           Julie Palumbo ~ 10 minutes

IV.      Nursery Situation Update                                                   Julie Palumbo

~ potential vote to secure additional funds, 15 minutes

V.       RE Teacher Recruitment                                                      Julie Palumbo

VI.      Minister Report                                                                      Rev. Jacqueline Ziegler  ~ 10 minutes

VII.     Resources for Recording Sunday Sermons                      Leo Wazlo  ~ presentation, discussion and vote

VIII.    Expectations and Requirements of Membership           Rich Fendrych

IX.      Rescheduling Almost Church Revitalized Workshop ~ 5 minutes

X.       Treasurer Report                                                                    Chris Kozlowski  ~ 5 minutes

XI.      Healthy Congregation Team Update                                 Chris Kozlowski  ~ update/ discussion, 5 minutes

XII.      Identifying Next Treasurer                                             ~ point of information, 5 minutes

XIII.    Update from Allocation of Board Energies                  ~ updates from group, 10 minutes

XIV.    Board-Hosted Community Forum                                 ~ planning, 30 minutes

XV.     2012 Pledge Drive                                                               ~ final plan, 20 minutes

XVI.    Realtor for Potential PCUUC Space                                ~ point of information, 10 minutes

XVII.   Stone Soup Fundraiser                                                      Donna Marshall

XVIII.  Involving New Members on Committees                     Donna Marshall

XIX.    New Business

XX.     Summary of Follow-Up Actions

XXI.    Closing Reading

The series will be co-led by two of our members, Michael Merritt and Mark Wilson.  Mike is a political science instructor at College of Lake County. Mark Wilson is a highly respected practicing lawyer who has argued a case in front of the United States Supreme Court.

Specific information about the goals of the sessions, times and location will be offered in Prairie Circle’s weekly E-nnouncements, announcements at the Sunday services and articles and publicity in the area electronic and hard copy newspapers.  If you’d like information sooner please feel free to talk to Michael Merritt, Mark Wilson, Mike Honegger or Rev. Ziegler.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 – “A Contemporary, Contemplative Winter Solstice Celebration”

Rev. Jacqueline Ziegler

T This service will be offered by The Rev. Jacqueline Ziegler and members.

As space is limited, you’re encouraged to come early. Please bring anything that can be used as a drum (an oatmeal box, coffee can, etc.) and a treat to share for the social hour following the service. Older children and youth are encouraged to attend.

This service will be held at:

The Byron Colby Barn
1561 Jones Point Road
Grayslake, IL 60030 and

The service begins at 7:30 p.m.