Hi, Friends,

 


UCE was again a polling place on March 17th for three precincts during the primary election. Since 2024, when we resumed being a polling place, I have enjoyed the camaraderie with the election judges in the 5-6 am hour when I arrive to let them in for the day. And my favorite part of voting day has become the moment at 6 am, when one of the election judges asks me to unlock the parking lot doors and then steps outside to proclaim “The polls are open.” 

 

This primary election, I was pleased to see more children with their parents than usual. I feel this might be because with all our country is going through, parents are motivated to make sure that the next generation understands not only what democracy means, but how, as a citizen, you actively engage with it. 

 

I am grateful for the unique ways each of us is doing what we can to live into our mission of nurturing the human spirit for a world made whole. The photo is of me on voting day wearing my UU the Vote shirt and the Melt the ICE hat handmade for me by Lynn Kendall. I wore my Melt the ICE hat again to the No Kings rally in Chicago on March 28th, where I was pleased that the speakers included two high school students who spoke honestly about the fear they and their classmates are experiencing due to the tactics of ICE agents in the Chicagoland area. My friends, we must stay engaged. Voting, crafting, protesting, playing – there is no one way to be engaged in caring for ourselves, our society, and our planet.

 

The day following the No Kings rallies, our Membership Team put together a lovely New Member Reception. We celebrated the 15 people who joined on Sunday, March 29th and the 9 people who joined in October. Plus, we have 9 more people who have joined over the past year but have not yet been available to participate in one of our new member worship services. I invite you to look around on Sunday mornings and take a moment to greet someone you do not know.

 

As we continue to build community within UCE, we also continue to build our community relationships across Evanston. Climate Action Evanston has put together a nice list of the Earth Day events happening April 18-26, along with who is sponsoring each event. The week starts off here at UCE on April 18th. That afternoon from 2-5 pm, we will be hosting the Community Earth Day Celebration organized by Climate Action Evanston and I will be providing the welcoming remarks. 

 

The upcoming week of Earth Day activities ends on April 26th with the Interfaith Action “Prayers for Planet” Service Day and Community Prayer from 10 am – 3 pm at the Evanston Ecology Center. Rev. Eileen will be providing a reading during the Prayers for Planet liturgy. I invite you to check out the list of Earth Day events and participate as you can. 

 

May we continue to care for each other and the next generation as we show up for democracy, show up for the planet, and show up for love.

 

Yours in Faith,

Rev. Susan