Hi Friends,

 

I hope this summer is bringing you some moments of rest and some moments of joy. I am trying to visit new places this summer. This month, my wife and I went bowling at Timber Lanes Bowling Alley on Irving Park Road for the first time when four of our nephews visited us and ate lunch at the Waterfront Café on Sheridan Road for the first time with friends we haven’t seen in a while. Next week, I will be in Door County from July 27-31 visiting another set of new places. Rev. Elizabeth Harding, our Community Affiliated Minister, will be in town and available if you have a pastoral care need arise.

 

Each Sunday I am grateful for the community we have at UUCE. Grateful for the Sunday morning volunteers. Grateful for the Sunday morning guest leaders and staff. Grateful for each of you who shows up in this sacred space to share a bit of yourself, to share your joys and celebrations, to share your sorrows and hardships. 

 

If you are looking for ways to get more connected, here are several ideas for this summer:

  • Stay after the Sunday worship service and sit down in the Continuing the Conversation Circle near the lobby doors at the back of the sanctuary. 
  • Stop by our UU the Vote program table after the Sunday worship service to learn more about how to support voter engagement, maybe taking home a stack of postcards to write and mail.
  • Log into our online Yoga group on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 am.
  • Show up and join the Catalyst for Democracy Team members at the weekly Beacon for Democracy gathering on Thursdays from 6:00-6:30 pm at Dempster & Ridge.
  • Save the Date for our Service of Remembrance at 9:00 am on August 30th and our Engagement Fair at 11:30 am on September 20th.

 

And, if you are feeling new to UUCE and wanting to learn more about our community, I invite you to attend one of the upcoming Journey Toward Membership classes to learn more about how to make a deeper connection within UUCE. 

 

Our Journey Toward Membership class is a 90-minute class that explores our UU identity, what it means to be part of a covenantal faith tradition, and the rewards and responsibilities of membership. We will be welcoming new members during our September 27th worship service and one of the requirements to join is that you have taken the Journey Toward Membership class. You only have to take the class once and we are offering it several times in August and September. To register, please click the link on the date and time that works for you:

 

Whether you are seeking to get more engaged or enjoying a quiet summer, I am grateful you are part of our UUCE community. 

 

Yours in building kinship among us,

Rev. Susan