Kitchen Renovation Update #2
May 1, 2020
With the opportunity to renovate our kitchen due to the Capital Campaign, the Kitchen Team came up with the idea to have a Coffee Station that is easier to access, can serve more people simultaneously, won’t blow our fuses, saves us lugging huge 100 cup coffee percolators and is safer. How did they do this? They created a Coffee Station that has water automatically piped into permanently positioned coffee makers. These commercial grade coffee makers produce coffee quicker, so kitchen staff doesn’t have to come to early to get the coffee going. Brewing coffee will be easy by following touch screen instructions. They are easier to clean and more hygienic. Because it fills carafes so quickly, we can have multiple carafes filled and available so more people can serve themselves more quickly.
The new Coffee Station not only will brew coffee but will also provide hot water at a spigot. Tea and hot cocoa drinkers will not have to go into the kitchen for the hot water. Additionally, it is safer because it is located in a place where people won’t bump the table and risk tipping it over. The countertop is located right under cupboards where the tea, coffee and other supplies will be located. The cupboards below the counter have pull out trays where new clean coffee cups will be stored. We’ll no longer have to transport platters of cups to the side table. The UCE Endowment Fund provided a generous grant to buy new cups and other dishes and housewares.
We’re very excited about our new Coffee Station! Yet another thing to look forward to when we return to the church.
Kitchen Renovation Update #1
April 24, 2020
Our new kitchen is excited to share its clean shiny splendor with you. As we wait for our return to the church, we’ll share various parts of the newly remodeled kitchen each week. This week, Carol Nielsen, Kitchen Project Coordinator, is opening the doors for you to peek inside and see the new island and counter that has built-in cabinets (no more plastic ones- yeah!). And you can see the shiny stainless steel (easy to clean) backsplash behind the stove. The cabinets next to it are just the beginning of many new cabinets to store our new plates and kitchen items.
Much gratitude goes to Carol for her expert and creative decision making, contractor management and making sure that every iota is just right. She had dedicated several months of her time to see this project through for us. Thank you Carol!!!
From Rev. Karen Mooney: May 1, 2020
Do you remember the first time you joined this congregation in worship? Remember the feeling of hearing words that sparked inspiration or deliberation? Remember the person sitting next to you who laughed at the same time or simply said hello? Do you remember what it felt like to read a comment you agreed with or one that invited you to ask what if? Remember? Remember the time you felt welcomed? I remember every time I felt truly welcomed into a community of people. It might not have happened in the first moments of meeting, but I remember every time I have felt welcomed into a community. There was always an invitation or a conversation or a comment that made me know there would be a space made for me and suddenly I knew I could belong.
Being able to extend ourselves in welcome is an important part of being a religious community- one that people here at the Unitarian Church of Evanston do with great care and style. The word religion is thought by some to have its root source (etymology) from the Latin religare – to bind fast by acknowledging the bonds of humans to something greater than ourselves. For Unitarian Universalists that something greater may be termed many things including humankind, the great ground of all being, or even G-d. Whatever term is used to describe, this binding only happens if someone is first welcomed into our midst. Today I wonder what does binding into our midst mean when there is no midst to bind within.
As we find ourselves in this new place of welcoming one another through words on a screen and two-dimensional electronic waves, I am reminded that we are still welcoming and creating space for each other in all our actions. Everyone wants to be seen and reminded that there is a place. Everyone wants their post responded to, their thoughts acknowledged, their smile seen. It can seem overwhelming to try to see everyone in this fashion. While it remains a task for all of us to welcome and build a community of care, there may be specific roles that some of us can take on that will help. What is the virtual equivalent of offering a hymnal or letting someone know where their name tag lives? Together we will explore what welcome might look like in this time of COVID-19.
We are still here, as a church, to be bound with those who would join in nurturing the human spirit to make the world whole; with those who seek to create a world filled with justice and mercy for all. We are here to remember the commitments of our seven principles – including acknowledging the worth and dignity of every person and our participation in an interdependent web of being. In living out those ideals, with style and generosity. We are each made the richer by the things we share with one another.
-Rev. Karen Mooney, Director of Congregational Life
Update on UCE Finances: May 1, 2020
From UCE Treasurer, Susan Comstock
Thanks to all in our congregation for steadfast support, both spiritually and financially. As those who came to the budget townhall this week heard, the socially distancing requirement of the pandemic has hit our budget in two significant ways: first, we have had a significant loss of rentals, and second we have had to postpone holding our annual rummage sale. There have been some small savings from the building shutdown, but ¾ of our operational expenses are staff salary and benefits. Fortunately, most of our staff has been able to perform their duties (very ably!) from home. The employees who cannot or have reduced responsibilities (lobby, kitchen, childcare, and custodial) are being fully paid through at least the end of the fiscal year on June 30, at which point we hope to have the building open again. As a result, we are currently predicting a loss of $26,000 for this fiscal year. The good news is that we started this year with over $100,000 in operational reserves, thanks to careful financial management over the last few years. So while this loss reduces our reserves, we have the cash on hand to get through it.
For the new fiscal year starting July 1, first off, thanks to all for participating in our annual pledge drive in the midst of uncertain times. The result of the drive was a 3-4% reduction in pledges compared to last year—not a surprise given that some congregants have lost their income. We are also expecting somewhat lower results from rentals and fundraisers this coming year given what is likely to be a slow return to normalcy. As a result, for the first time in years, we do not expect to be an honor congregation with the UUA, as we have budgeted to cut our dues by 50%. We are pleased that we are planning to maintain all staff positions, but are planning no pay raises. And we are planning to tap into Endowment distributions to pay for building repairs and maintenance that may arise over the year.
Next year’s budget will be sent out with the annual meeting package, and will be voted on by the congregation at the annual meeting on May 17th—please plan to attend as we need a quorum in order to conduct our official business of elections and budget passage.
Questions, concerns or comments about this year’s finances or next year’s budget? We would like to hear from you—please email me at susan.l.comstock@gmail.com.
VirtUUal RE: May 3, 2020
As I mentioned last week, the Children and Youth Program Team and I have been making some phone calls to see how families, especially parents, are doing. We want to hear from you what it is that we can be doing to help during this time. Please know that we want to provide programs that are helpful to you, and not to overwhelm you. So in that spirit, feel free to explore the following activities whenever the spirit moves you! And if there is something you would like to see happen that you or your family would enjoy, let me, or another member of the Children and Youth Team (Sue Larsen, Sarah Iles, Gillian Lawrence, Beth McDonald) know.
Happy May Day and Beltane to those who celebrate! With a new month, we begin exploring a new theme: Thresholds. This week’s VirtUUal RE session is about the thresholds many are experiencing at this time of the year – those who are school-age and are ending the year and possibly beginning a new phase on their educational path. You can read this week’s VirtUUal RE session here or watch the video here.
For middle school youth, you can watch some videos on Native American life:
- A 12-year-old Lakota Sioux boy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJapHc7B8Xs
- National Museum of American Indian Museum Virtual Tour – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQFscvrkU1I
- American Indian Center of Chicago – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSoFuSQO98k
- Trickster Gallery in Schaumburg, IL – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mieAXRWl6o or https://vimeo.com/193993912
- Crow Reservation House Tour – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKdRFdNzZMA
- News segment on poverty on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqr9xsUn-ks
High school youth can connect Sunday evening at 7 pm on Zoom. Look for an email from the advisors later in the week with info on how to join.
Of course, we also have our virtual worship service on Sunday mornings at 11:15 am. I continue to post ideas on the UCE Children and Youth Facebook page, along with some interactive things to share, so look for that as well.
For our theme of Thresholds this month, check out the Soulful Home family packet here.
Here’s the last week of Creating Sabbath Space from Soul Matters.
And for adults, the Non-Fiction Book Group will be discussing An American Summer: Life and Death in Chicago by Alex Kotlowitz on Sunday, May 3rd at 2 pm with Sarah Vanderwicken leading the discussion. Look for more information on this discussion in this week’s newsletter.
A new program facilitated by Robb Gieger, The Infrastructure of Morality, will be on Wednesday evenings beginning May 6. Email Robb if interested so he can send you some info and the link to the program: rjg6177@gmail.com
In Faith,
Kathy
May 3, 2020
We will host an online worship service on Sunday, May 3rd at 11:15 am.
“All I Really Need to Know I’ve Learned with Unitarian Universalists”– We celebrate the faith formation, spiritual learning and growth of people of all ages. Join us for this special service honoring lifelong learning. Worship leaders are Rev. Eileen and Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Kathy Underwood.
Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. We are finding some messages do not show up in the chat box during the service. If you submit a message by 11 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. After 11 am you may still submit Joys and Sorrows through the chat, but if it is not read please email ewiviott@ucevanston.org or submit it through the online form for the following Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all!
Note the 9:30 and 11:15 services are being rolled into one service time so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with “shared offering” in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient is The Poor People’s Campaign (click here to learn more).
VirtUUal RE: April 26, 2020
I hope that this week finds you and your family healthy and safe. It’s hard to believe that by the time you read this, it will be about 50 days since UCE closed its doors. Time seems to be going by quickly and slowly at the same time for me. For those of you with school-aged young people at home, it might feel differently!
The Children and Youth Planning Team and I have been making some phone calls to see how families, especially parents, are doing. We want to hear from you what it is that we can be doing to help during this time. So far, we are learning that most families are feeling overwhelmed and not finding time to be together. That seems strange since we’re all stuck at home, right? For many of you though, the kids still have schoolwork to do, music lessons, martial arts, and other activities, and many parents now have to work from home. Please know that we want to provide programs that are helpful to you, and not to overwhelm you. So in that spirit, feel free to explore the following activities whenever the spirit moves you! And if there is something you would like to see happen that you or your family would enjoy, let me know.
You can read this week’s VirtUUal RE session here or watch my video here.
If you missed the virtual Easter Egg Hunt (https://tinyurl.com/vpyujjy) you can still participate until May 1. So far, over 500 people have done the hunt!
Calendar Connection:
- Ramadan (Islam) – April 23 – May 23 (more here and here)
- Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day – April 26 (more here, here and here)
- Day of Silence (LGBTQ) – April 27 (more here and here)
- National Tell a Story Day – April 27
- National Superhero Day – April 28 (more here)
- Hosea Ballou’s Birthday – April 30 (1771) (more here)
For middle school youth, you can learn about Native American medicine and healing in this short session.
High school youth can connect Sunday evening at 7 pm on Zoom. Look for an email from the advisors later in the week with info on how to join.
Of course, we also have our virtual worship service on Sunday mornings at 11:15a. I continue to post ideas on the UCE Children and Youth Facebook page, along with some interactive things to share, so look for that as well.
For our theme of Liberation this month, here’s a family social action activity.
From Soul Matters: Creating Sabbath Space, week 4.
And for adults, the Non-Fiction Book Group will be discussing An American Summer: Life and Death in Chicago by Alex Kotlowitz on Sunday, May 3rd with Sarah Vanderwicken leading the discussion. Look for information on how to join this virtual gathering later this month.
A new program facilitated by Robb Gieger, The Infrastructure of Morality, will be on Wednesday evenings beginning May 6. Email Robb if interested so he can send you some info and the link to the program: rjg6177@gmail.com.
In Faith,
Kathy Underwood
From the Interim: April 23, 2020
Dear ones,
Greetings from my shelter in northern Minnesota! I am still picturing many of you as I departed on February 23 in the glow of the wonderful celebration of UCE’s Mission.The power of shared stories and the music of Peter Mayer still come to mind as I wonder when the next such gathering will be possible.
Lately it has been difficult some days to remember that there are some things that, in spite of Covid19, are just continuing to happen . Babies are being born, plants are coming up out of the ground, people are falling in and out of love, children are asking questions, old people are forgetting where they put their glasses. In the river near where I live the steelhead salmon are persisting toward their spawning grounds. And in spite of the ways in which we have changed the way we do church right now, we are still planning for the future. A large part of what we are planning for is to call and settle a Senior Minister in the spring of 2021. The careful attention to how to celebrate the strengths and address the challenges at UCE continues. This is what will form the foundation of your invitation to whomever that might be.
As someone who has previously been in search, I am aware of the “old bait and switch” that can happen when the best face hides an unexamined life. No minister in search worth their salt is looking for a “perfect” congregation. They are looking for a congregation with honest self understanding and a willingness to more fully express its values and Mission.
On Wednesday you received an email inviting you to participate in a survey about where we are in the interim process. This is your chance to weigh in on UCE’s readiness to invite the next settled minister. If you haven’t already, you can take the survey here.
This survey is not perfect. More than anything else, it is an invitation to participate in helping me and your leadership to figure out how we are all doing in our efforts to leverage UCE’s strengths and understand your challenges. In the face of our limited togetherness we can still find ways in the coming months to do this.
The statements in the survey are there to encourage you to think about your church. Please think in terms of what is possible; what is measurable; what is worthy of celebration. Think of your responses as a love letter that includes both realized and tough love.
The sun is shining today where I live. The thermometer is creeping toward 40 degrees. The squirrels are eating the birdseed. Spring is not here yet and still I am grateful for the life force that reminds me that in both joy and strife, for better and for worse, “ this too shall pass”.
In love and gratitude,
Karen
(Gustafson)
April 26, 2020
We will host an online worship service on Sunday, April 26th at 11:15 am.
“Technology: Liberator and Captor” – Rev. Karen Gustafson
In these days in which “Social Distancing” has become a way of being for most of us, an already growing dependence upon technology has surged appreciably. It has made possible a wide variety of ways to connect without touching; ways to be together while maintaining a safe space. What impact might this growing dependence be having in the long term ? What gaps is it opening even as it is bridging others? How might it be both feeding and sapping our spirits?
Note the 9:30 and 11:15 services are being rolled into one service time so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with shared offering in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient is Faith in place (click here to learn more).