Palatine, ILLINOIS - "This church is uniquely geographically positioned to be of service in a changing cultural landscape," says Hilary Landau Krivchenia, Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church's new settled minister.  Rev. Krivchenia is passionate about encouraging and embracing cultural and ethnic diversity, and intends to find ways to celebrate our common truths and unique views throughout the Palatine and northwest suburban community.  She also intends to put to work some of her energy and unusual, varied background in the interfaith community of greater Chicago, with emphasis on the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

With a calm and composed demeanor, Rev. Hilary looks 10 years younger than her age, and speaks extemporaneously in beautiful, quotable phrases.  Married, with a daughter, 14, and two stepchildren in college, she was, for 8 years, the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lafayette, Indiana, after having received her Masters of Divinity at Meadville/Lombard Theological School in Chicago.  Born in Morristown, New Jersey, she lived in many places during her growing-up years, including Rochester, New York and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1977, Reverend Krivchenia earned her B.A. in Philosophy from Beloit College in Wisconsin, worked on the 1979 March on Washington for the Extension of the Equal Rights Amendment, and the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.  She also spent a year in VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) monitoring community development block grant funds.  In 1984 she was certified as a massage therapist and studied related holistic health techniques.

"I want to build on the talent and vision that is clearly present in this congregation in order to strengthen and lift up this remarkable religious community and to serve the larger community,” declares Rev. Krivchenia.  "I believe people are hungry for more meaning in their lives, and I want us, together, to cook more spiritual nourishment.  I want our liberal religious voices raised so more people with critical minds and seeking hearts can find us.  I want us to be more visible in the community for those who are tired of superficialities and dogma."       

Her varied life experience includes two summer retreats with Buddhist Monk Thick Nhat Hanh, travel to Israel and Palestine as part of Joint Interfaith Peace-Builders and the American Friends Service Committee, writing a Passover Haggadah for Unitarian Universalists, and teaching Adult Faith Development classes on subjects ranging from scripture study and prayer to training for Pastoral Care Associates.

Her first official sermon will be on Sunday, September 6th, with services starting at 10:30 am.  Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 1025 North Smith Road in Palatine, and can be reached at 847-359-8440 or through its website www.ccuu.org.