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* Lectionary Bible Study (Hybrid) - 9:30 am
For those interested in attending our Lectionary Bible Study on Sunday, please know that you can click on the link to see information to prepare for the Bible Study in advance. Join in person in the Library or Join on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 895 7905 3221 / Passcode: 095084
* Sunday Worship and Communion Service (Hybrid)- 11:00 am
Download the worship bulletin. Join from home on Facebook or YouTube 
Zoom dial: 1-312-626-6799 (Chicago) 
    This coming Sunday we will join the Communion Table together. If you would like to join from your place, please prepare your elements beforehand.
     As we move toward May, the Asian American Heritage Month, there will be a joint event and a PAAM worship service.  Let's start with a letter from our old friend, Pam Hashimoto, who wrote a warm note. Pam shared with us her parents' journey, geographically from the west coast to the incarceration camp, and to Chicago. As Japanese American citizens of the US, their experiences of incarceration were incredible. Fortunately, our church and Hyde Park community played an essential role in supporting this family. You can find this letter at the end of the newsletter or read it on our website (link to the letter).
    Institutionalized discrimination and exclusion are not in the past history. They still exist in our society. On May 7, from 10 to 12 pm, we will host a joint hybrid event with Christ Church of Chicago, a historically Japanese American UCC church in North Chicago. We will watch a PBS documentary, Injustice at Home - Looking Like the Enemy, and follow up with a discussion. This is a documentary regarding the incarceration camp during WW2. We will share memories of Hashimotos who were among us, reflect on the documentary, and how we could make a difference for racial justice together. You can find more information in the Up-Coming UCHP Events. Pam Hashimoto will join us remotely from Arizona too.
    Keep May 9 evening and May 14 morning available. On May 9th, Monday, at 7 pm, we will have United Chat. You will have updates from the Church Council and conversations with the whole congregation. May 14, Saturday, 10 am, we will gather at our lawn for the upkeeping. Let's get ready for the warmer spring.
    One last thing, the Chicago Coalition of Welcome Churches will host the online event, "God, Sex, and the Church" this Saturday morning. It's not too late to register for it. Also, CCWC is seeking volunteers to assist with Pride Parade this year. See more information in the Community Events section.
    Keep warm and dry! The spring shall eventually come!
 
* The United Church of Hyde Park's Council recommends mask-wearing as optional. Out of an abundance of caution, we are still recommending that families and individuals sit six (6) feet apart from others.
United News
"Happy Birthday” to Joe Wilkinson (May 3). Henry G. Coffee and Yazi  Frazier - Muhammad (May 6). We hope your day is filled with lots of love and laughter! May all of your birthday wishes come true. Have the best birthday ever!
 
The Pastor’s Emergency Fund serves special needs which may arise from time to time for members and friends of our church family. Referrals may be made directly to our Pastor Charlene Hill. Donations to the Pastor's Emergency Funds can be made by check to United Church of Hyde Park with Pastor's Emergency Funds in the memo line or click chpchicago.org/give to give online.
Denomination News
At the monthly updates meeting of the Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ, Conference President, David Holston, gave us a presentation to summarize what has been accomplished for the past two years on April 27. At the same meeting, participants realized the need to change the governing body and Conference Constitution to reflect on the fact that the number and membership of the congregations are shrinking. It is very challenging to fulfill the quorum for some ministry committees. The Conference President will also keep improving the communication to narrow down the gap between the Conference level, ordained ministers, and laypeople. Multiple and flexible times for the all-conference chat or meeting will be considered, and the meeting recordings will be released to all congregations. The Illinois Conference Annual Meeting and Celebration will be online on October 21 and 22. The Chicago Metropolitan Association spring meeting will be on May 16 online. All of us are welcome to attend. You can also sign up for the weekly E-Blast to receive those updates (subscription link).
Up-Coming UCHP Events
based on Central Standard Time
In May, the Asian American Heritage Month, United Church of Hyde Park and Christ Church of Chicago co-host this hybrid event: “Injustice at home – Japanese Americans’ life at incarceration camps and how we can move toward a nation of racial justice together,” on May 7, Saturday, from 10 am to 12 pm.

This event has two sections:
* Section one: documentary evidence (10 am)
We will watch a PBS-KSPS documentary: Injustice at Home (length 58 minutes)
https://www.pbs.org/video/injustice-at-home-h8mdt0/ 
You can watch this documentary with us in-person in the Hashimoto Hall or watch it at home on your devices.

* Section two: memories sharing and discussion – hybrid (11 am)
After the documentary, we will have a hybrid section of the discussion. People are welcome to tune in remotely for the discussion. We will cover (2) the reflection on the documentary, (2) share our memories of the Hashimoto family, who were quite active members at United Church.(3) Then, Elaine Kaneshiro, an active member of the Christ Church of Chicago, will share some of her works about restorative justice regarding this history. We hope that we connect our conversation with the systematic exclusion of the minorities and lead us to keep working on a nation of racial justice together.
 
All in-person participants are encouraged to bring anything related to Japanese or Asian motifs to this event, including drinks and food. We will share those items during the event.

* Registration link for remote participants (on Zoom)
https://reurl.cc/GxrgYA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

* in-person participants will gather at United Church of Hyde Park (1448 E. 53rd Street, Chicago, IL 60615) in the Hashimoto Hall (library) or fellowship hall (if the participants exceed the library capacity).
This year we are holding quarterly United Chats with our members. Conversations help us to grow stronger as a United family. Communication is something we continue to work on, and United Chats is one more way for us to stay connected and up to date on what is happening in the life of our church. These gathering have three parts: a presentation, a check in period, and a report from the Council.

We hope you will join us for the first Untied Chat on May 9th @ 7pm
Join on Zoom
Meeting ID: 844 4133 9658
Passcode: 073427
Sharing & Experiencing God's Love Committee is hosting a Lawn Maintenance Day on Saturday, May 14 at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to come out and join us.
Community Events
The Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches (CCWC) is pleased to announce they will be hosting an online educational event on Saturday, April 30th, called “Sex and the Church”! Based on the 3-part BBC documentary series of the same name, we will be opening up to a conversation about how our views of God, sexuality, and specifically homosexuality – have evolved over time through the Western church. (Registration link)
CCWC is seeking for some volunteers to ensure the success of the Pride Parade this year in assistance with (1) Pride Day Worship, (2) Parade, and (3) Post Parade Picnic (later in August). For now, reaching out to member churches and knowing the human resources are the first priority. Everyone can help. Contact ONA Team or Rev. Wei-Jen for more information if you are interested.
    Thank you for the opportunity to share some thoughts of how the church influenced and supported my parents growing up.  Church provided the children of immigrant parents an opportunity to achieve a sense of belonging, for many grew up in often poor, isolated Japanese American communities in California. Their parents left Japan around the turn of the century (early 1900’s) into a country that was not always welcoming. That first generation was denied meaningful jobs and found work where they could, as janitors, handymen, gardeners, chauffeurs, domestics, and cleaning ladies often working 2 jobs with little time to raise their children. They were further handicapped not knowing the language and customs.  Some parents even sent their youngest children to Japan to be raised by their grandparents until they reached school age, so they could save enough to provide for their children. 
    There were extraordinary individuals in the church in the Palo Alto and Covina communities where my parents were born and raised.  These unsung heroes, and they are everywhere, saw a need to help these children acclimate to the American way of life, and introduced them to things American, like birthdays, holidays, and celebrations – joyful events. They formed girls and boys clubs for them and provided opportunities to meet other young people to talk, play sports, have fun, and discuss concerns, especially as they grew into young adults and began to personally feel the sting of discrimination building during the pre-war period.
    Fortunately, my parents were in their early 20’s when their families were taken from their homes, and had already developed a sense of identity.  Residents in the relocation centers felt a need to share a sense of community and foster leadership in a sometimes-chaotic and hostile environment, trying to create some semblance of normalcy for the children.  Churches, Buddhist, Shinto and Christian, were started among the residents. My parents would tell us about The Friends or Quakers who helped them find temporary housing and moral support on leaving the relocation centers in Wyoming.
    After the war, my parents settled in Chicago and each found transient housing in the Woodlawn area. They married in 1945, and found an apartment at 5531 Kenwood, after being told there was a landlord who was friendly and would rent to them.
    We were fortunate that my parents settled in the Hyde Park community which welcomed and supported diversity.  Actually, a church minister in a suburb of Chicago encouraged my parents to live in that community until members of his congregation strongly pressured him to stop.  How lucky we were to land in Hyde Park!  My brother, sister and I attended Ray School and Hyde Park High before we left for college and beyond.  My parents continued to be active in the church, it’s mission and activities, and were grateful they could raise their children in a community that indeed seemed color-blind in the days following the war. 
    Their ties and sense of belonging and commitment to church were strong all through their lives until their deaths in 1979 and 2011.  How honored my dad would be to know there is a meeting room named for him at your church.  The fellowship and wonderful, lasting friendships made throughout their years at The United Church of Hyde Park enriched their lives immensely and they would speak of them often. 
    I commend you on your continued vision and mission to promote and encourage diversity and inclusion in your community and beyond.  Best wishes as you move forward in these uncertain times.

*download Pam Hashimoto's letter (link)
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1448 E. 53rd St,
Chicago,
IL 60615

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United Church of Hyde Park · 1448 E 53rd Street · Chicago, IL 60615 · USA

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