From Our Board President
Dear Countryside members and friends –
The calendar tells me it’s autumn and nearing the end of September, but the thermometer tells me it’s still the middle of Summer. Although the days are getting noticeably shorter, it just doesn’t feel like autumn with daytime temperatures reaching the 80’s and 90’s. On top of that, we haven’t had any significant rain for many months, and we are in a drought. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. While I am enjoying this longer than normal summer, I realize that the weather could have easily been below normal temperatures with above normal rainfall. So, I’m going to appreciate the gift that nature has given us these past few months and pray that when the weather does finally change, and it will, that it does so slowly and calmly. At the same time, I’ll be ready for it to change quickly and forcefully. This is Chicago after all.
Another reminder of the turning of the seasons was this past Sunday’s service. It was a celebration of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concertos on the 300th anniversary of their publishing. Appropriately, the Autumn concerto was performed during the service. The service was beautiful from start to finish. It was an unexpected gift which turned what might have been an ordinary Sunday service into an extraordinary and memorable Sunday service. Thank you to Reverend Pam, Karen Noorani, the choir and all the other musicians who participated. There will be three more services themed on the other concertos from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons over the course of the next year. Be sure not to miss them.
The Board held its annual retreat this past weekend and I’m still gathering my thoughts on how to summarize and present it. There were no ground-breaking decisions made, just some ideas on changes to the way we do things that will be further discussed by the Board to hopefully improve the way we get things done at CCUU.
One more sign of the changing of the seasons is that the Stewardship team will be getting back together in early October to begin planning for this year’s stewardship campaign. For the most part, they will work behind the scenes, but you will likely begin hearing from them closer to year-end.
As always, please pay attention when you are gathering with friends in the narthex before the service and afterwards in Atherton Hall. If you notice a new face, please welcome them warmly. As is often said, you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.
Thank you for being a part of this amazing spiritual community,
Gary LaBedz, Board President