November 2020 - Page 3 of 4

Calling all Bidders!: November 13, 2020

Have you signed onto the Serendipity Auction website yet? It has over 170 different donations from 115 different members! Easy to use and fun to peruse, please take a look–you only have one day left to bid! Click here to go to the Auction website! You can register using your email that you use in the church directory (any issues, please email us at auction@ucevanston.org). There is something for everyone, including children–and three different raffles, with tickets only $5 each!

Later today, we will send members and registered bidders the Zoom link for our entertaining Celebration Party on Saturday evening at 7 pm, with lots of Zoom preparties starting at 6:40 pm. Want to make a Serendipity Boulevard or Anything Goes mocktail or cocktail? Click INGREDIENTS for the ingredients list and come to Dan Lawrence’s preparty. Have technical questions, or just want to hang out for a bit with old or new friends? There are preparties for that, too. The Celebration will be your last chance to get your final bids in, all the raffle winners will be drawn and announced, and you will get to see up close the final minutes of action. Hope to see you there!

And don’t forget, you need to actually get your won items. Dessert boxes need to be picked up at UCE on Saturday from noon – 2 pm. Physical auction items and gift certificates need to be picked up on Sunday (with few other dates available). Click PICKUP TIMES to sign up for a contactless pickup slot at UCE. Need your items delivered to your home? No problem, contact us at auction@ucevanston.org.

Calling all Bidders!: November 13, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-11T21:51:06+00:00

November 15, 2020

We will host an online worship service on Sunday, November 15th at 11:15 am.

“Hope, Expectation and Disappointment on the Road to Beloved Community” – Rev. Karen Gustafson
“There can be no deep  disappointment  where there is not deep love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Disappointment is a normal part of every day. Things just don’t always live up to our hopes or expectations. We are, nonetheless, drawn forth by longing and hope for a closer approximation of how we think life should be and what it would take to make it that way. How do our differing ways of managing our expectations and disappointments shape the various cultures we live in – our families, our social connections, our work environments or even the past and future of UCE? What do our Unitarian Universalist covenants teach us about the path forward from disappointment in our progress toward beloved community?

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.

November 15, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-10T16:36:25+00:00

VirtUUal RE: November 6, 2020

Welcome to our November Theme of Healing

This week in the Soulful Home packet we focus on the segments Around the Neighborhood and At Play. Check out this week’s video for a short synopsis.

If you missed the Welcome and Intro to RE, check it out here, or you can read about it here.

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 – This 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 15th at 10 am

UU 6th Principle: 6th principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all

Leader: Jim Strickler

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.

VirtUUal RE: November 6, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-06T20:25:21+00:00

From EOD: November 6, 2020

Thank you to all who joined us after the election night to share anxious feelings and to gather strength. Eileen put together inspiring and thoughtful readings and videos. Liz, Kathy, Karen and I offered readings as well.  Especially in these times, I am most appreciative of this church and our community.  

So much has been happening at UCE even though we are not present in the building. Please check out Eileen’s video of her walk around our building. Our building is here being cared for and will be ready for us to return when it is safe. 

Updates for the congregation

Buildings and Grounds

Our newly re-formed Buildings and Grounds Committee met last week via zoom to introduce ourselves and discuss projects we want to track in the building over the next year, five years and ten years. Members of the team are Robb Geiger, co-chair, myself as co-chair, Barb Butz (UCE gardens) Doug Erickson (Green Team), Woody Haynes (lighting and misc. projects) Melanie Kitchner (Accessibility & Inclusion), David Bates-Jeffreys (construction projects) Carol Nielsen (projects review and resources), and Johna VanDyke (Interior Design). As you can see, this is a dynamic group who will be vastly helpful in overseeing and managing projects beyond our capital campaign. We will meet during the next two weeks to do a building walk-through and create a spreadsheet.

Adam Gough is updating our UCE inventory of contents, which I started two years ago. Adam will include all music and technology equipment. This is important for insurance purposes, but it will also give the Buildings and Grounds team information to work with to better familiarize themselves with our building.

On November 10th Robb Geiger, a member of the Green Team and I will do a walk through with Elevate Energy to evaluate lighting and other equipment that uses electricity in our building to determine where improvement might be made and how these could possibly generate funding assistance through Com Ed.

Carol Nielsen, Robb Geiger and I met to review the east entrance. A railing has fallen and concrete is spalling. This project did not make it to the Capital Campaign so we have carefully evaluated what needs to be done and have proposed a solution for funding this essential repair. The Executive Committee will discuss on Friday. Carol has reached out to a local concrete repair firm who has given us a quote.

Sanctuary Roof repairs, including the skylight were done late summer. New gutters were installed on the wing.

I have been working to hire a reliable snow removal company for this year. We received a contract from our usual provider, but it is based on a 7–day week contract, which we no longer need as we are closed. An Evanston snow removal person is coming this week to look at the lot and provide a quote. This firm will clear the lot when needed, clear the sidewalks and apply salt. If you know of a good company that you use please let me know. Carol Nielsen has provided a list of several names and I have been making appointments this week so that we can get this wrapped up before snowfall.

David Bates-Jeffreys and Robb Geiger have volunteered to change the furnace filters, which will negate the need for the furnace company and consequently save money for UCE.

Liz Kennedy has been gearing up for the overnight shelter which runs for 3 weeks beginning November 8. Cleaning supplies, safety gear for Liz and Steven, as well as air purifiers have been purchased in anticipation of the shelter. Liz and Eileen have been in close contact with Sue Murphy to ensure that every safety precaution possible and our COVID guidelines are enforced.

Administration

Our outside accountant started the application for PPP forgiveness. She has been following guidelines and watching this process carefully. This week our funding company opened up the application process. She is proceeding accordingly.

I’d like to express a special word of gratitude to Vickie Doebele for the work she does for UCE. Vickie is dedicated to keeping our books in good order. She comes to the church twice a week, picks up the mail, writes checks, makes deposits, and does payroll. Additionally, Vickie volunteers for the Capital Campaign as their bookkeeper. Thank you, Vickie.

Integrated Stewardship Council meets the second Tuesday of the month. Last month we reviewed the preliminary budget that is required by the Ministerial Search Committee. We meet again this coming Tuesday for our regular monthly meetings.

Each area of UCE finance provides a verbal and written report: Endowment, Capital Campaign, Pledge Drive and ISC Information Working Group. Of particular interest this month I will report on the information below provided by Jessica Meis updating us on the website and REALM.

Website Updates & Realm

Our staff have been working diligently on updating the website. Check out the updated Religious Education and Social Justice sections of the website. Under Religious Education, check out the updated Forum page and the new Program Archive page that stores content and resources for past classes. Under Social Justice, you can see volunteer opportunities, info about the 2020/2021 Shared Offering Recipients, and check out the updated teams’ pages!  Jessica  is actively working with groups to update their webpages, so if you haven’t heard from her yet, you will soon. 

Another significant update to the website is a REALM button at the top of the page. Click on the blue “Realm” button log in to UCE’s online Membership community. If you are have not set up your Realm account, please do so today! If you are having trouble or you have lost your Realm invitation email, please reach out to  Jessica  or Adam. Check out the Realm resources page  under the “Member Directory and Resources” with tips and videos on how to use Realm with ease! There will be more training sessions or help hours offered soon, so be on the lookout in the newsletter for those. 

Susan Comstock will update us on the upcoming Serendipity Online Auction. Cathy Deamant, Susan Comstock and Jenny Walsh have been working day and night with a team to pull this event off. This online event is a wonderful opportunity for the congregation to gather for some fun and fundraising.

If you have questions about Buildings and Grounds, Capital Campaign, Integrated Stewardship or Financial Matters please do not hesitate to contact me at srobinson@ucevanston.org

From EOD: November 6, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-06T20:13:15+00:00

2020/2021 Board Goals: November 6, 2020

One of the tasks at the annual Board of Trustees retreat is to review and assess the goals from last year and to create new goals for the current year. These are the goals the Board has approved for the 2020-21 church year. We will monitor progress for each goal through the year.

Goal: Financial Monitoring

As part of striving to act for justice, we will monitor and support UCE’s financial activity and assure the use of our anti-oppression lens. We will

work in collaboration with the ISC to develop an annual budget
encourage staff to use an equity lens when hiring outside contractors by discussing these regularly
present the annual budget to the congregation in a clear and transparent manner
encourage the Endowment committee to use an equity lens in making investment and grant decisions
encourage good stewardship and generosity in the congregation in ways that are sensitive to the differing financial situations of our congregants
monitor the work of the Capital Campaign Implementation Committee in the final phases of the campaign, to be sure that funds are retained for reserves

Goal: Improving Linkage

As part of being community builders, Board members will work to maintain and improve the connection between the congregation and the Board. We will

publish the Board email address as an option for the congregation to communicate withus.
publish the Board minutes after they have been approved, and meeting agendas before the meetings on the website and in the newsletter, as well as instructions on how to attend meetings.
listen to and read summaries of such activities as the Minister Search cottage meetings and survey results to integrate that information into board decisions.
participate in and read the summaries of the Interim brown bag events to integrate that information into board decisions.
use newsletter articles and announcements to help inform the congregation regarding the term “linkage” as defined by the UUA.
utilize the Facebook Member-to-Member page for Board announcements.
increase the use of Realm in communications.

Goal: Addressing Covid-Related Changes

To best support three Ends, being Spiritually aware, being Intellectually excited and being Community builders, we must recognize that UCE has undergone many changes since the onset of Covid-related quarantines in March of 2020. Board members will evaluate the various changes to operations and congregational community that have been implemented during 2020 to determine the best path into the future. We will

create a list of changes that have been implemented during 2020 due to Covid-related restrictions.
establish a subcommittee to review the pros and cons of each listed item and create a report back to the Board with recommendations regarding retention and/or improvements.
review the report and make recommendations back to the parties responsible for implementing the specific changes.

Goal: Interim Work

As an important step in building the community of UCE, the Board will continue to support and engage in the Interim work so that we reach our collaborative goal of resolving old issues and understanding who we are as a church, thus providing an accurate and timely UCE story to the Ministerial Search Committee for their writing of the congregational record. We will

communicate monthly at least one week prior to board meeting with Rev. Karen Gustafson about Interim Working Report progress for clarification regarding status, needs, progress.
check with board members via email prior to this clarification call/meeting. At each board meeting, the report will have included questions from the board and answers.
engage in and encourage congregants to participate in Interim activities.
support Interim minister and fulfill any requests they have of the board.
relay questions from the congregation regarding Interim work to the Interim minister.

Goal: Supporting the Ministerial Search Committee

To support all of the Ends of UCE, the Board will continue to support and engage in (as congregants) the Ministerial Search Committee work so that we call a ministerial candidate who will support our journey with our UCE mission and end statements. We will:

develop the 2021-22 budget in conjunction with the ISC to support the preparation of a compensation package offering. This must be ready for approval by the October 15th board meeting.
assign two board members to a Compensation Team to work with Tom Hempfling from the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) to prepare a compensation package for the prospective ministerial candidate. This must be approved by the board at the October board meeting and completed by the end of October. The Compensation Team board members will be available to the MSC negotiator(s) to provide Board response to any questions.
improve the return rate of MSC survey by helping to text/call congregants during early September, including board member direct participation.
improve the attendance rate at cottage meetings through clearly stated board publicity, including board member direct participation.

Goal: Anti-Oppression Work

As steps to support all of our Ends statements, we will work to ensure that anti-oppression efforts are a part of all UCE activities, we will

encourage all members to read the Widening the Circle of Concernand encouraging congregational discussions of specific topics in the book,
hold monthly Board of Trustees meetings to discuss specific topics in Widening the Circle of Concern.
pursue the adoption of the Eighth Principle,
strongly encourage all Board members to take Beloved Conversations,
encourage all leaders to take Beloved Conversations,
ask all councils to use the racial equity lens in their meetings,
monitor and support the Anti-Oppression Task Force,
request that the Endowment committee examine grants and investments using an equity lens, and
strive to increase the portion of shared plate contributions that is given to appropriate outside organizations.

Generative Thinking Goal

As a way to insure the continued pursuit of all of the Ends Statements, the BOT will pursue generative thinking. We will

regularly devote time to generative as well as fiduciary and strategic thinking
where appropriate, incorporate generative thinking into the policy governance monitoring process
have a “generative observer” report after each BOT meeting
bring generative thinking into the shared plate and endowment process
carefully monitor and incorporate the generative thinking aspects of the interim ministry, Anti-Oppression Task Force, and ministerial search process
update our Key Big Questions annually at the BOT retreat.

2020/2021 Board Goals: November 6, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-05T22:06:41+00:00

Update on the Anti-Oppression Efforts: November 6, 2020

UCE’s call to dismantle white supremacy, be inclusive, be antiracists, and be accountable continues and we need your assistance!

First, if you have ideas about the process that should be used to organize the Anti-Oppression Task Force, including how to determine membership and mission, please contact one of the following people by November 15, 2020:

Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org or Rev. Karen at kgustafson@ucevanston.org
Jessica Tomell-Presto, President of the Board of Trustees at BOT@ucevanston.org
Any member of the REAL Planning Group.

Second, as mentioned in the October 2nd newsletter, representatives from the Board of Trustees, the ministerial team, and REAL are working to find an outside consultant to partner with UCE as we form our Anti-Oppression Task Force. Below is the list of organizations that we are reviewing. If you know of any other organization that you would recommend regarding a racial equity audit or anti-racism consulting, please send that information to Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org by November 15, 2020. 

Organizations being reviewed:

Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Ministries at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis 
Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism
Crossroads of Chicago
Evanston/Northshore YWCA
Transforming Hearts Collective

Our first conversation will be with Julica Hermann de la Fuente with the Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Ministries at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis on November 24, 2020 at 7:30 pm. Please contact Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org by November 15, 2020, for the Zoom link.

Update on the Anti-Oppression Efforts: November 6, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-05T20:19:42+00:00

Serendipity Auction Starts Monday: November 8, 2020

It’s finally here! The newly reimagined Serendipity Auction opens on Sunday at the after church coffee hour! We are thrilled with the catalog–over 160 items of “Boodle”. Now we just need YOU “Bidding” so that we end up with a lot of “Bonding”!

Here is your To Do list:

Get yourself registered on our new Auctria auction platform using the email you use for the church directory–it’s very quick. Refer to the two emails you got on November 2 at about 10 am from “Unitarian Church of Evanston” for detailed instructions and the link to register. Do this NOW so we can fix any registration issues early.
If you have any questions or problems with registration or bidding, please come to one of our friendly information sessions–the information is here. Or email us at auction@ucevanston.org.
Come to the church coffee hour on Sunday, open the catalog and start your bidding! Check back often during the week. Don’t forget to buy raffle tickets–we are running THREE different raffles this year for delectable baskets of goodies.
Mark your calendar for our big closing celebration on Saturday, Nov 14 (preparties start at 6:40, and the celebration–which we promise will be a lot of fun–is from 7 pm to 8 pm).
Buy a dessert box from the catalog by Nov 12 to have desserts from UCE’s best bakers during the celebration. And, if you are so inclined, get the ingredients for the “Serendipity Boulevard” and “Anything Goes” mocktails/cocktails (click here for ingredients list) before the 14th and come to Dan Lawrence’s drinks preparty to learn how to make them!

Serendipity Auction Starts Monday: November 8, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-05T18:13:19+00:00

Mocktail/Cocktail PreParty: November 4, 2020

Ingredients List

Mocktail/Cocktail Preparty

Saturday, Nov 14, 2020 6:40 pm

(Zoom link to be sent later)

Anything Goes Mocktail (with Cocktail Variation)

So named because hopefully many people will have enough of something lying around to make some version of this if they can’t/don’t want to get special ingredients!

One lime (or a lemon would do in a pinch; lime works best for the majority of spirits, but a lemon would work nicely with vodka or a more specialty spirit like pisco or possibly a very spicy rye)
Some type of sugar (dark brown sugar, simple syrup, agave syrup, etc.)
Some type of base spirit (rum, gin, whiskey, vodka, tequila) if making this alcoholic
Club soda (only for a splash if desired to top, or in larger amount if making non-alcoholic)
Maraschino cherry to garnish (if desired)

Additional non-alcoholic variations on the Anything Goes include:

A modified Moscow Mule (needing only spicy ginger beer (which is non-alcoholic) in addition to existing ingredients, with mint leaf as an optional garnish)
A modified Mojito (needing fresh mint leaves, apple juice, and perhaps a tiny dash of almond extract (optional)
Or any sort of sparkling Italian soda instead of club soda; sparkling grapefruit soda with muddled fresh lime and an orange peel garnish would be a particularly nice version

Serendipity Boulevard Cocktail

Campari
Sweet vermouth
Bourbon or rye whiskey
One orange (to use peel as a garnish)
Angostura bitters are a nice addition if you have them around, but are not part of the traditional recipe

Mocktail/Cocktail PreParty: November 4, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-04T21:36:40+00:00

Post-Election Day Resources: Updated November 5, 2020

Your UUA staff is working collaboratively with many other organizations to be able to provide support, and we are encouraging you to link up with organizations in your community to be part of the justice making. Some possibilities for you:

Join the Post-election Vigil and Community Gathering on Facebook on Thursday, November 5, at 7:30 pm Eastern, 6:30 pm Central:
https://www.facebook.com/events/3713971198666868/
Our Organizing Strategy Team, working closely with the UU Service Committee, is participating in national justice organizing coalitions Frontline Election Defenders and Choose Democracy, which are specifically focusing on election theft and preventing a coup. Together, they have included this content in the UU the Vote Organizing School, hosted a webinar with the UU Ministers Association, and are currently doing more work to engage other UU groups in the same conversation about preparation and asset mapping.
UU The Vote: https://www.uuthevote.org/ is one of the places to get more information about how the UUA is responding to the election and the activities that you can join in with.
Side with Love, our social justice advocacy organization: https://sidewithlove.org/
Choose Democracy is an organization promoting better use of democracy in our country: https://choosedemocracy.us/
We are encouraging congregations to use an asset map tool to frame their discussions around preparation for large-scale crisis scenarios (companion video here to explain the asset map tool).

Post-Election Day Resources: Updated November 5, 2020UCE UCE2020-11-05T23:10:03+00:00

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