An Important COVID-19 Update: October 30, 2020
For the last several months our region of Illinois has been in Phase IV of Governor Pritzker’s Illinois Plan. However, with the recent and significant spike of cases of COVID19 affecting the state, we have gone back down to Phase III, which means we can only accommodate up to 25 persons or 25% of space occupancy, whichever is less.
Fortunately, UCE has been operating under much stricter guidelines than Phase IV allowed so we are not needing to pull back but maintain the guidelines already established in June. Our Covid Response Team has reviewed those guidelines and made slight clarifications, which you can find here.
As we move toward the winter months, knowing that outdoor gatherings will be less likely, the staff, board and leaders of UCE, remain committed to holding everyone’s wellbeing as our highest priority.
You can also find full information on the state website [we are in Region 10].
VirtUUal RE: October 30, 2020
This week in the Soulful Home packet we focus on the segments Welcome Mat, At the Table, and The Message Board. Check out this week’s video for a short synopsis.
Registration Time
Although we might not be having in-person RE on Sunday mornings yet, it is important to know who wants to connect – whether virtual or not. By registering, we can ensure that you get information on all programs and events for all ages this year. Sign up here!
Many Ways to Connect
All Families:
Fellowship – Sunday after worship – Join the virtual coffee hour zoom where parents and families can meet and greet in their own breakout room!
Parents on the Porch – November 15 at 8:30-9 pm – Grab your favorite beverage and join other parents on the porch – virtually – to share concerns and thoughts on our monthly theme of Healing and life in general. Sign up here.
Campfire on the Lawn – November 21 at 5:30-7:30 pm – Sign up here.
Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers)! Novembers’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule. We’ll have a parent’s virtual gathering on November 23 at 8 pm to share our experiences. Sign up at here. Zoom info will be sent via email closer to the event.
1st-5th Grade Kids and Families – November 12 at 4-4:45 pm. Sign up here.
6th-8th Families – Popcorn Theology – Sunday, November 8 at 9:30 am. Sign up here. Info will be emailed out to participants beforehand.
High School Youth – Sunday at 7 pm – Look for emails with details!
UU Kids Connect – A free virtual gathering of UU kids K-8 from around the country and Canada! This program started as a summer camp and was such a success that they are continuing with monthly virtual gatherings. Click here for more info.
For Adults
UCE Forum – Sunday, November 1st at 10 am
UCE’s Green Team
Leaders: Andy Schlickman, Renee Hoff
UCE’s Green Team presents an update on activities and plans entitled “We’re still in Evanston and UCE is pursuing the goals of the Paris Accord”.
Come to discuss and explore the ways our congregation is being challenged to meet the goals.
Click here to join the Zoom meeting. Meeting ID: 983 5136 0044 Passcode: 789218
One tap mobile +13126266799,,98351360044#,,,,,,0#,,789218# US (Chicago)
Christ for UU’s
Tuesdays, Nov. 10, 17; Dec. 1, 8, 15; 7:30-8:45 PM,
All sessions will be via Zoom.
Facilitated by UCE member Amy Pooley.
What can we as Unitarian Universalists learn from reading the New Testament?
Who was Jesus and why does he matter?
How can getting in touch with our Unitarian and our Universalist roots help us rethink the Christian message and even understand it in a new way?
Join us in discussing these questions and more on five Tuesdays in November and December. The course will be based on readings from the New Testament and the recent Beacon Press release “Christ for Unitarian Universalists.” We welcome you to purchase a copy of the book here to follow the course’s reading schedule, but the discussion will also be accessible for those who have not done the reading and would simply like to show up to share and listen.
Amy Pooley has been a UU for over a decade and a Christian for just a few years. She has a love for our faith’s Unitarian and Universalist roots. She is a graduate student in Counseling and she and her wife Ruth are the moms of a toddler.
If you’re interested in attending, please click here to RSVP.
Contact Amy Pooley at amycpooley@gmail.com if you have questions.
From DLRE: October 30, 2020
October has been a busy month considering that almost everything is being done virtually still. I hope you have been able to participate in some of the programs. If not, be sure to catch one in November!
We started the month with the Stuffies Sleepover at UCE and showed a video of our fun during the Animal Blessing worship service on October 4. In case you missed it, you can watch the video here. We just might have to make this an annual event!
We had our first successful Popcorn Theology Online program for 6th-8th grades, where 6 youth watched clips from the movie Life of Pi and shared their thoughts on spirit animals and anger.
The highlight of the month for many was the Halloween Campfire. About 30 people of all ages gathered on the South Lawn, roasted marshmallows, ate s’mores, and talked and laughed in person (and with masks on). The youngsters had fun running around playing made-up games. Quite a few people wore costumes too in the spirit of the season. We’ll try to have another campfire on November 21, weather permitting.
Looking into November, our new theme will be Healing. Young people should get their Soul Kit in the mail this week. Parents can access the Soulful Home packet here. Each week, I will have a short video of a section of the packet that you can watch on its own. Or you can use the packet and do the activities from there. The idea is to connect as a family using the monthly theme as a starting base.
We will be starting a new Adult RE program this month, UUs for Christ. This is an opportunity to learn more about our Unitarian and Universalist roots in Christianity, whether or not you consider yourself to be Christian. This 5-session program is facilitated by UCE’s Amy Pooley beginning November 10. Sign up here or contact Amy with questions.
The Forum Discussion Group continues to meet via Zoom on the first and third Sundays at 10a. This week is a presentation by the Green Team followed by conversation. Look for more info in the RE section below.
If you haven’t registered your child/youth yet, you can do so here.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback on how we can create beloved community for all ages during this unusual time.
In Faith,
Kathy
A Holiday Tradition You Can Count On: October 30, 2020
Dear Ones, in a season where it might be hard to get your cheer and bearings, THERE WILL BE A MITTEN TREE. This tradition has over 3 decades of rich history at UCE and highlights the love and care of many of our members to help us all live our UU value of respect for the interdependent web of all existence in which we are a part.
In full disclosure, Mitten Tree will be a little different this year. Beyond the need to modify for safety of our congregation and our partnering communities, this is my first time taking the lead to coordinate our efforts. I have big mittens to fill and am in awe that Carol Nielsen devoted so many years of intention, relationships, and great record keeping that I have the honor to maintain.
This year, we will be partnering with 3 very special organizations to make the holiday season a little brighter:
The Rice Child & Family Center is located just down Ridge from UCE and is a safe home with wrap around services for children with post-traumatic behavioral dysregulation making traditional foster care inaccessible to them. The facility includes a medical clinic, group therapy classrooms, special education facilities, art therapy and maintains a goal of helping children return to a loving family environment. This year, we will be matched with 12 children to fulfill their holiday wish list. For security and safety, items can be purchased from an Amazon registry and sent directly to the Rice Center.
Connections for the Homeless is an organization near and dear to our UCE community. Whether through shared plate, Mitten Trees past, Our Giving House donations, or supporting affordable housing programs, Connections has and will continue to be a meaningful partnership for us. Connections supports more than 1500 people a year – preventing homelessness, sheltering those in crisis, providing advocacy services, and fostering development of job and educational skills. This year, we are looking to fulfill requests from 50 of their deserving clients.
Our third partnering organization this year is NEW. Sarah’s Circle has a proud history dating back to 1979 focused on meeting the needs of homeless women in Chicago. In December 2020, they will be opening a 38 unit Permanent Supportive Housing facility in Uptown. It is truly inspiring to see their team bring the pieces together, and we have the opportunity to make sure every new home has towels and dishes for each woman’s new home. Check out their website at https://sarahs-circle.org/ to learn more about this amazing organization.
Beginning in the second week of November, electronic “mittens” will be available for members to claim to purchase the requested items. In the meantime, please email me at bridget.wild@gmail.com or call or text if you would like to volunteer for Mitten Tree. This year, we would especially welcome people who are “Sign Up Geniuses” wishing to help set up and manage a list, “package guardians” who can receive purchased items for two of our organizations, “shuttlers” to help with delivering the collected items, and “designated shoppers” to fulfill last minute gifts.
Board Actions Sept-Oct: October 30, 2020
Want to know what the Board has been doing in September and October?
- Voting to show our support of the city of Evanston’s Climate Agreement
- Working on and approving a preliminary budget for 2021-22
- Working on a compensation package for the settled minister
- Meeting with the Endowment Trustees and Nominating and Recruiting in order to review our structures and systems and nurture our relationships with these groups
- Reviewing our Bylaws for possible changes to be suggested for our May annual congregational meeting
- Reviewing our Board policies
- Meeting to discuss how to begin the work of the Anti-Oppression Task Force
- Reading Widening the Circle of Concern
- Discussing the Governance chapter from Widening the Circle of Concern
- Meeting with the Committee on Shared Ministry monthly to review the seven areas of co-ministry
- Writing the Board’s evaluation for Rev. Eileen’s final fellowship
- Having a Board Retreat
- Collaboratively writing our Board Goals
- Reviewing and updating our Board Job Descriptions to share with the congregation and Nominating and Recruiting
- Supporting the Search Committee in their work
- Supporting Rev. Karen in her interim work
- Monitoring the Ends statements
- Attending Council meetings as liaisons – there to learn and to assist, if needed
- Preparing more and better communication with you, the congregants of UCE (look for our virtual Reflections with the Board coming soon)
- Creating a calendar for the Board to use to track our progress toward tasks
Want to know more about any of these topics? The Board minutes and agendas are available on the UCE website or feel free to contact the Board at BOT@ucevanston.org!
Auction Update: October 30, 2020
We still need YOUR donations, for UCE’s Serendipity Auction to be a success. Never donated before? This is the year to do it! Do you have a hidden artistic or creative skill that we do not yet know about? Put it on display at the auction. Would you co-host a virtual group event? We will help you with ideas and finding a compatible co-host. Is there something that you have treasured and now are ready to part with? Find it a loving home with another church member.
The deadline for submitting donations is November 2, 2020.
Click here to go to the auction website to look for inspiration from the catalog or from our Ten Inspiring Ideas list on the Donate tab. And don’t forget to put the highly entertaining and joyful virtual Celebration Party on your calendar, Saturday, November 14 from 7-8 pm. Pre-party fun starts at 6:45 pm. Coming soon: an e-mail with the answers to all your questions about registering and bidding on our new online platform. If you have any questions, write the Auction Team at auction@ucevanston.org.
From the BOT: October 30, 2020
It is our goal as the Board of Trustees to maintain connections with you. To that end, we are beginning a new program entitled, “Reflections with the Board.” We will host these sessions via zoom once a month at 10am before the service. The purpose of these sessions is twofold: One, we will often have information that we would like to share and two, these sessions are a time for us to listen to you. We want to hear how you are, as well as your ideas, suggestions, and concerns.
Our first session will be held on November 8th at 10am. For this session, the Board will be inviting Dale Griffin, Carol Nielsen, and Connections Staff, Nia Tavoularis and Sue Loellbach to speak about the important work of Connections for the Homeless. Please join us to hear about UCE’s history with Connections for the Homeless, the work that Connections is doing in our community, the Endowment grant that was recently given to the organization, and ways that our congregation can be more involved with this organization.
Just for our first month, November, we will hold two sessions. Our second session will be held on November 22 at 10am. For this session, the Board would like to spend some time talking with you about Widening the Circle of Concern. The Board has had our first discussion where we focused on the Governance chapter. What questions and comments do you have about this chapter? What have you been learning as you have been reading? Please join us for this discussion.
We hope you will join us in November and the following months! We look forward to hearing from you. Please let us know what information you would like to receive from the Board at future sessions. As always, if you have any appreciations or concerns, please contact us at BOT@ucevanston.org.
Click here to join the Zoom Meeting.
Meeting ID: 862 4288 7134
Passcode: 220807
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,86242887134#,,,,,,0#,,220807# US (Chicago)
November 1, 2020
We will host an online worship service on Sunday, November 1st at 11:15 am.
“Learning From Our Ancestors”
On All Souls or All Saints Day, we remember our ancestors. Spiritual growth and maturity require both honesty and appreciation as we reflect on the lives of those who have come before us. What can we learn from the mistakes and triumphs of the past? Can we recognize the sinner and the saint in each of us as we recognize the worth and dignity of those we’ve loved and lost? Please send your photos of loved ones you have lost in the last year to Rev. Eileen at ewiviott@ucevanston.org for a photo montage.
Howard Levy, UCE favorite and accomplished musician, will be our musical guest.
Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 11 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time during the summer 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 Brennan Center.