Fall Greetings,

Beyond my window is a gorgeous array of colorful sun-kissed leaves ranging from red, rust, orange, yellow and a tinge of green. I am reminded of the beauty that surrounds us in this space, our building, the grounds, our sanctuary. So many hands have tended the soil, planted trees, and have cared for all with their talents, time and treasure. I want to remember Bud Brock this month as we will hold a memorial for him. Bud loved this building and spent many years caring for it. He was a most dedicated co-lead on Buildings and Grounds with me. He was always here when I needed him, even mopping after a flood in the kitchen at midnight. I reluctantly accepted his keys to the building after a few years, as we had trained Dick Whitaker to take on that responsibility. Dick eagerly and graciously took on the work and cared for our buildings and grounds. And now, Robb Geiger has taken on this role. Still we continue a tradition of ensuring a welcoming, clean and comfortable space for each and every one within and outside our church community. Bud Brock, “Big Brother”, “Little Sister” will always remember your kind self, your generosity of spirit and your love for this church.

We are all trying to return to a world that feels normal, but the rhythm is just off. Church Administrators talk of the shortage of volunteers, Rentals are more challenging as organizations are doing online fundraisers. But, on Sunday morning, we are seeing a growing number of members, friends, and guests whose desire is to come together to hear a message that will inspire more hope, more of what we need to do our part to heal the world.

This past Sunday we had a successful music concert featuring Howard Levy and Chris Siebold 120 in attendance. The duo performed a satisfying 3 hours of music with an intermission where guests could enjoy refreshments and purchase merchandise. Howard shared the merchandise income with UCE. Attendees commented on the feeling of being in a living room enjoying great music with Howard and Chris. It was a very special evening. Thank you to all who attended and supported our fundraising effort as we heard outstanding selections that warmed our souls. A special note of gratitude to David Carling, Adam Gough, Lynn Kendall, Peg Boccard, Janelle Brittain, Renee Hoff, Marcy Hicks, Alice Chrostowski, David Schroeder and Kathy Talmage who helped me make this concert a terrific evening for all who attended. A special thanks to Gay Riseborough for the motivating article about the concert and UCE in The Evanston Roundtable.

Your staff is working to provide a space for our congregation to return with ease and comfort. It’s not easy to return to following protocol and to make things happen. Please help us by remembering to fill out your Room & Publicity form when requesting the use of a room. There is some juggling to do as many want our rooms with the new hybrid equipment. Our new Office Administrator David Carling will do his best to balance out all needs and requests.

Rentals are beginning to pick up. We have an assertive budget this year and are striving to use our space to support our financial needs.

Mothers of Multiples joined us for their resale in September. North Shore Choral Society has a concert in our sanctuary on November 13, North Shore Weavers Guild meets monthly, North Shore Chamber Orchestra returns for rehearsals and a concert. I continue to reach out to not-for-profits to rent our space for their meeting and event needs. If you know of an organization that needs meeting space or a music group that wants to record or perform, please give them my email address srobinson@ucevanston.org

Our Capital Campaign projects continue to progress. Soon we will be launching construction of an accessible and inclusive bathroom in the lower level, as well as cosmetic changes to the existing girls bathroom. The Capital Campaign Implementation Committee has hired Biltmore Homes headed by Contractor Eric Barton to do this work. Drawings were done by Architect Mark Miller, former UCE member and someone who provides excellent guidance to us from time to time. This is an important and exciting addition to our lower level.

Thank you to Johna Van Dyke and Maggie Weiss who will be working in our lower level Room 7 to repair the sanctuary banner that was deteriorating due to sun and age. Your talents and efforts do not go unrecognized.

Yay to our Serendipity Auction Team. October 30th is the deadline for submitting your donations. Please support this terrific “Fundraiser” by donating an item, a dinner or service and plan to attend the auction on Saturday, November 12. Details can be found in this newsletter and on our website at ucevanston.org

Dear Friends,

I have been enjoying all the moments of beauty and joy our community has created this fall. From our rainbow filled congregational picnic to our new Journey of Belonging membership classes to our overflowing animal blessing, it has been good to be together in-person on a regular basis while still maintaining connections via Zoom. I am so grateful to be part of a faith community that makes time and creates space to celebrate the wonders in life and embrace life’s moments of delight.

I am also grateful for a community that holds space for our grief. Within the last four weeks, both my brother’s family and my sister’s family have endured the death of their 14 year old dogs, who joined our family as puppies. I’ve grown into an allergy to dog dander, so Bosko and Truffles were the closest I’ve had to a furry pet in over 17 years. They will be missed. I know the past two and a half years have been full of grief for many of us. Since the pandemic lockdown occurred in March of 2020, I have had 2 uncles, an aunt, and a great-aunt die. Navigating grief in this time of limited in-person contact has been challenging. Ellen Rieger, LCPC, will be offering a grief group beginning November 10, 2022.  If joining this group would be helpful to you, whether you have lost someone recently or in the past, please contact Ellen directly or reach out to me or Rev. Eileen and we’ll help get you connected with Ellen.

If you are finding the upcoming holidays daunting or life right this minute is overwhelming, please do not hesitate to contact the Pastoral Care Team. They are able to offer a listening ear or help you get connected with one of the ministers or other resources. You are not alone.

During the next few months, there will be many ways for us to connect with each other, virtually and in-person. The first way being our annual fall fundraiser, the Serendipity Auction. We are still looking for donations and volunteers. Please check this newsletter for details. You are invited to join-in online during auction week and participate in-person or online during our Celebration Party on Saturday, November 12.

On the heels of our Serendipity Auction is the start of our annual Mitten Tree. This year we will be partnering with four organizations to provide holiday gifts to their clients. Keep your eye on the newsletter for details about how to donate gifts or join in the gift wrapping parties.

One great way to connect with others is to join one of our Hospitality Teams. The commitment is four Sunday mornings over the course of a year (and since we are well into October, if you join now, it will only be three Sundays over the rest of this congregational year). We are always looking for more volunteers for our Greeters Hospitality Team, Kitchen Hospitality Team, and Online Host Hospitality Team. Contact me at sfrances@ucevanston.org if you are interested or want to learn more.

If you want to get deeper involved, the new Leadership Development Team is in the process of forming right now and the Nominating & Recruiting Committee will start contacting congregants soon. I invite you to say yes if you are contacted by members of either, knowing that our teams and committees are grounded in covenant, which allows you to bring your entire self to whatever the work is. In addition to attending to the needs of the congregation, you are also attending to the joy of relationship building and often spiritual growth (yes, even through committee work!).

The leaves on the tree outside my office windows are a wonderful red color. If you haven’t taken a moment to walk through UCE’s South Lawn, with its hop scotch tiles, children’s labyrinth, and rain garden, then I invite you step outside on a Sunday morning or walk around the building on another day and enjoy what the nature in our own backyard has to offer you. Fall is my favorite season. I find it is a beautiful time of year to bundle up and be restored by a walk that engages my senses – feeling the wind on my skin, viewing the vibrant colors and listening to the rustle of the leaves, and noticing that smell of healthy decay.

Whatever rejuvenates you, make time soon to engage in that activity. From sitting down with a good book and a hot cup of tea to jogging at the gym or through the neighborhood, we each have something that restores our life sustaining energy to thrive. What is yours? I invite you to make time to do that and in the process to be open to life’s moments of delight.

Yours in faith,

Rev. Susan