Sunday, October 5, 2025
Compassion for All Beings
With gratitude for the lessons we learn from the creatures we share this planet with, and in honor of St. Francis Day, we bless the animals who bless our lives. Bring your well-behaved pet or a photo. Rev. Eileen leads this worship with Annette Wallace as Worship Associate. Ally Hunter leads us in song, and Gregory Shifrin, offers his musical talents on piano.
Today’s offering will be shared with the Run On Climate Education Fund, working to build the climate movement by empowering those devoted to climate justice with the skills they need to move their community off of fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
10/12/2025 Fierce Compassion – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
10/19/2025 – Self-Compassion – Dr. Emma Farrell
Friday, September 26, 2025
Click here to read the newsletter
Sunday, September 28, 2025
The Biochemistry of Belonging
What if belonging isn’t something we have to earn or build, but something written into our very atoms — something inherent to our existence? We don’t just live beside one another; in a very real sense, we are one another. Join us this Sunday as we explore how science and spirit remind us that we already belong, and how that truth can inspire us to live with greater care for one another. Dr. Emma Farrell leads this service with Sally Parsons as Worship Associate. Gregory Shifrin shares his talents on piano.
Today’s offering will be shared with Building Peaceful Bridges, whose mission is to foster multicultural relationships by assisting in the integration of newcomers into American society and educating communities on the challenges facing newcomer populations through their stories.
10/5/2025 Pet Blessing – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
10/12/2025 Fierce Compassion – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
10/19/2025 – Self-Compassion – Dr. Emma Farrell
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Belonging Without Othering
Drawing insights from the book by this title by john a. powell and Stephen Menendian, we explore the ways of building belonging within that is ever expansive beyond the borders of ‘us’ and ‘them.’ Rev. Eileen leads this service with Kiley Korey as our Worship Associate. The UCE Choir, led by Music Director, Vickie Hellyer and accompanied by Gregory Shifrin on piano, inspire us with music.
Today’s offering will be shared with Building Peaceful Bridges, whose mission is to foster multicultural relationships by assisting in the integration of newcomers into American society and educating communities on the challenges facing newcomer populations through their stories.
Upcoming Services
9/28/2025 The Biochemistry of Belonging – Dr. Emma Farrell
10/5/2025 Pet Blessing – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
10/12/2025 Fierce Compassion – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
10/19/2025 – Self-Compassion – Dr. Emma Farrell
September 21, 2025
Belonging Without Othering
Drawing insights from the book by this title by john a. powell and Stephen Menendian, we explore the ways of building belonging within that is ever expansive beyond the borders of ‘us’ and ‘them.’ Rev. Eileen leads this service with Kiley Korey as our Worship Associate. The UCE Choir, led by Music Director, Vickie Hellyer and accompanied by Gregory Shifrin on piano, inspire us with music.
Today’s offering will be shared with Building Peaceful Bridges, whose mission is to foster multicultural relationships by assisting in the integration of newcomers into American society and educating communities on the challenges facing newcomer populations through their stories.
Upcoming Services
9/28/2025 The Biochemistry of Belonging – Dr. Emma Farrell
10/5/2025 Pet Blessing – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
10/12/2025 Fierce Compassion – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
10/19/2025 – Self-Compassion – Dr. Emma Farrell
Friday, September 12, 2025
Click here to read the newsletter
Update from Rev. Susan, 9/12/2025
Hi Friends,
Strength in community. That is where our present and future lies.
I know the uncertainty of potential national guard troops being deployed in Chicago and the ongoing appearances of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Chicago, Evanston, and other suburbs is weighing on us. I know the increase in invitations to show up to protest against troop deployment and ICE raids and to rally for our democracy is overwhelming. Please try to remember that the infliction of stress, fear, and the feelings of being overwhelmed are part of the tactics of an authoritarian government to seek cooperation and compliance.
It is with a view toward the coming weeks and months, that I sincerely ask you to make time to do things that calm your nervous system – purposeful breathing or exercise, warm baths and enough sleep, listening to calming music or gathering with friends and family who delight you.
This is also a time be measured in how we are engaging with each other. This week, I have experienced that, collectively, our nerves are starting to fray. Many of us are, understandably, tired and anxious. This naturally affects the things we are doing, even if those things are not what are making us tired and anxious. I invite you to try and be more present in your interactions with each other, drawing upon a little more patience and granting a little more grace in our communications and conversations. For it is in taking care of ourselves and each other that we will be able to continue forward together.
Some of you have asked about how you might become more involved with what is happening locally. Here are a few options:
- Attend one of the virtual Know Your Rights Trainings for your home or your place of work. Bi-weekly trainings are hosted by Immigrant Justice: The Resurrection Project. English trainings are on Tuesdays at 2pm CST. Spanish trainings are on Thursdays at 6pm CST.
- Sign up to receive notices from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) with alerts about ICE updates and opportunities to take action.
- Sign up to receive notices from the ACLU Activator group with alerts about civil liberties updates and opportunities to take action.
- Show up with a sign on Thursday evenings for our Beacons of Light gatherings. Starting on September 18th our gathering time will shift to be 6:00-6:30 pm. You are invited to join us at Dempster & Ridge, Chicago & Main, or Central & Lincolnwood!
As we continue to be engaged in preserving our democracy, we must also be engaged in caring for our congregation – this place that is a source of hope and rejuvenation for so many of us.
I invite everyone to attend our annual Engagement Fair next Sunday, September 21st after the worship service. No RSVP required, just show up with your curiosity and enthusiasm!
For those of you who are new or newish to UCE and are looking for deeper engagement with our congregation, please plan to attend one of our Journey Toward Membership classes and then think about joining as a member on Sunday, October 12, 2025, when we will be welcoming new members during the worship service. The Journey Toward Membership class is a 90-minute session and you only have to attend one session. Here are the options for dates to take the class:
- Sunday, September 14, 2025, 9:00-10:20 am, Room 12, child care available. Register here
- Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 6:30-8:00 pm, via Zoom. Register here
- Saturday, September 20, 2025, 1:00-2:30 pm, Room 12, no child care provided. Register here
I am grateful to be part of this caring and engaged community. If you need to talk about what is happening in your life or in the world, please reach out to friends and family or contact me, Rev. Eileen, or Rev. Elizabeth.
Yours in community,
Rev. Susan
September 14, 2025
Building Belonging through Interdependence and Engagement
Inside the word belonging is longing. The human heart longs to be known and accepted in a community beyond oneself. At UCE we strive to usher one another into that sense of belonging, knowing it’s an ongoing aspiration we’ll never perfect. Amidst increased polarity and social atomization, how do we continue to engage and deepen our existing connections, while remaining open to all who come searching for a spiritual home? Rev. Eileen leads this service with Lynn Kendall as Worship Associate. Charles Anderson is our Hymn Leader with Gregory Shifrin on piano.
Today’s offering will be shared with Building Peaceful Bridges, whose mission is to foster multicultural relationships by assisting in the integration of newcomers into American society and educating communities on the challenges facing newcomer populations through their stories.
September 21 – Belonging Without Othering – Rev. Eileen
Friday, September 5, 2025
Click here to read the newsletter
DLFF Newsletter September 2025 – New Beginnings
September is always an exciting and busy time of the year, as I’m sure many of you experience too. Most schools have begun and the newness of it all changes to a familiar routine. Rosh Hashanah begins on the 22nd to mark the start of the Jewish New Year as well as the Autumnal equinox and Wiccan Mabon. The sun rises noticeably later and sets earlier. The days are mild and usually sunny, and the nights are cool. The sky has the most beautiful blue color; it’s almost like looking at Lake Michigan on a clear day. So many birds migrate through as well as monarch butterflies. Simply put, it’s my favorite season in Chicagoland.
I can appreciate the season from my office windows, with the trees and now some new plantings in the old rain garden. I love seeing the kids and parents out in the playscape after worship on Sunday mornings too. I hope to see more of that as we start the new church year.
This weekend kicks off the new year with two family-friendly events. On Friday, the Family Ministry Team and the Lively Spirit Dancers have teamed up to host a dance party for our first Family Friday of the year. We have a great playlist of dance music – some old classics as well as newer ones. Bring a snack or beverage to share and enjoy the beautiful south lawn as we dance the evening away!
On Sunday, we have our traditional water communion worship service followed by a potluck. Hopefully the weather will be just as lovely for gathering then too. I encourage parents to meet up at a couple of the tables on the south lawn to have conversation while the younger ones enjoy the playscape and lawn games. I would love to see that happen every Sunday while the weather is nice! Later this fall, parents are invited to gather in room 6 after worship with their coffee while waiting for their kiddoes to finish their faith formation programs. I will also be at a program table in the café area with a laptop for parents to register their young people (you can also register here!)
Our youth in grades 6-9 will be having a lock-in at UCE on September 12-13. We’ll start the evening with a make-your-own bowl dinner followed by some games. The youth will also get to vote on some ideas for the year. Parents can fill out a permission form here and can help by either chaperoning part of the night and signing up for food and snacks here.
Faith formation for our young people begins on the 14th. Chalice Children for pre/k/1st grade will be led by Ann Gadzikowski and Karen Wylie. Once again, they will be building friendships while listening and telling stories, creating art, and having free time to play.
Our Heads, Hearts, and Hands group for 2nd-5th grades will begin the year using Soul Matters materials and focus on making connections and friendships by playing games and exploring the monthly theme of Building Belonging. Later this month they will vote on a social action project to do during the year.
Our youth group this year will be for those in grades 6-9. They will also begin the year with Soul Matters materials and choosing a social action project. My hope is that they will decide on a fun name for the group during their lock-in too.
We also have a full year ahead with adult faith formation opportunities, beginning with a continuation from last year’s End of Life series on October 5 focused on Estate Planning and Charitable Giving led by the Endowment Committee.
Dr. Emma Farrell, our ministerial intern, will be facilitating a series on Artificial Intelligence on the first Tuesdays of the month beginning October 7. This program is to continue the conversation about AI from her sermon series on the topic. It’s sure to be thought-provoking!
Rev. Eileen and I will be leading our Deepening the Spiritual Journey program on October 14, 21, and 28. This is an exploration of the spiritual pathways we have all traveled in our lives; the pathways which have led us to where we are today. We’ll reflect on, map out, and share our journeys, with the hopes that some will consider sharing theirs in worship. This is an extension of the new member journey class, open to members and friends, high schoolers and up, no matter how long you’ve been at UCE.
In Faith,
Kathy