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Sunday, April 26, 2026

Honesty, Integrity, Good Works

Long time UCE member and choir tenor, Mike Dickenson, shares his Spiritual Journey which includes what it means to him to be a ‘true Christian’ and a Unitarian. Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Heike Eghardt will serve as his Worship Associates, Charles M. Anderson as hymn leader and soloist, Kevin Barrow on guitar, and Gregory Shifrin on piano.

Today’s offering will be shared with Connections for the Homeless, one of our longest community partnerships. Connections serves as a safety net for neighbors who need support to maintain safe, stable housing in Evanston and northern Cook County.

Upcoming Services

May 3 – Faith Formation Sunday

May 10 – The Fierce Love of Mothering – Dr. Emma Farrell

May 17 – A Home By Any Other Name – Rev. Eileen Wiviott

May 24 – Rev. Allison Farnum

Sunday, April 26, 20262026-04-21T20:39:40+00:00

BOT Column – April 19, 2026

April Newsletter

 

Happy spring, everyone! This season of renewal and change brings longer days, warmer weather, and a welcome shift from sweaters to t-shirts and boots to sandals.

 

Last August, the Unitarian Church of Evanston (UCE) Board of Trustees held a retreat to reflect on the themes that emerged from the 2025 congregational focus groups that focused on what the future of our congregation could look like. One key theme that stood out across every conversation: a desire to reconsider our congregation’s name. A small workgroup was assembled that conducted research with over 40 UU congregations who changed their name previously and spoke with the Unitarian Universalist Association about their recommendations on a possible name change. 

 

Congregants shared two primary reasons for exploring a change. First, many expressed a desire to include our Unitarian heritage in our name. Second, there was thoughtful discussion about whether the word “church” fully captures our commitment to pluralism and the breadth of our faith community.

 

The Board acknowledged that a name change has been proposed several times in the past. In those instances, conversations stalled due to a lack of clarity around a specific alternative. To ensure productive conversations, the Board identified a potential new name to bring to the congregation for consideration: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston.

 

Over the past several months, the Board sought input from the congregation: 

  • Focus Groups: Four focus groups were held, with more than 80 participants
  • Individual Meetings: Board members met one-on-one with congregants who preferred to share feedback privately 
  • Emails: Board members received several emails from congregants who wished to share their feedback via email
  • Survey: An online survey distributed through the newsletter received over 50 responses

 

Survey Results: 

  • 74% of people supported changing to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston
  • 15% were opposed to changing the name to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston
  • 11% were undecided

 

Based on feedback, the Board compiled a summary of common themes, including both the benefits and concerns related to a name change. We encourage you to review this document for a deeper understanding of congregational perspectives. Click on this link to read the common pros/cons.

You should also have received the Annual Meeting packet that includes the congregational budget as well as a Frequently Asked Questions document prepared around the name change motion. 

 

What’s Next?

The proposed name change will be brought to a vote at the May 17th Annual Meeting following worship services. As a reminder: 

  • A quorum requires participation from at least 20% of voting members (either in person or online).
  • Approval for the name change requires a two-thirds majority of those present to vote during the Annual Meeting

 

The UCE Board of Trustees encourages all members to attend the May 17th Annual Meeting and vote on this important decision.

 

Finally, thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts on the name of our congregation. While we may not all agree, we are grateful for the care, respect, and thoughtfulness that have characterized this process.

BOT Column – April 19, 20262026-04-14T16:55:23+00:00

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Welcoming One Another Home

 We come together to practice Beloved Community, to welcome and affirm the worth of all people, and to heal our spirits through joyful song. This spring music service allows us to set down our loneliness and despair, as we participate in the

deeply human desire to experience home as a place of radical belonging. 

Musicians include:

The UCE Choir, Dana Plazak, vocal soloist, Andy Carpenter, soprano sax; Julia Schifrin, violin and fiddle; Kevin Barrow, clarinet, Gregory Shifrin, piano; Nadav Simon, drums and timpani; Vickie Hellyer, conductor

Readers include:

Eleanor Boyer, Thom Duncan, Ellie Feddersen, Robb Geiger, Lynn Kendall, and Rev. Eileen Wiviott

Today’s offering will be shared with Connections for the Homeless, one of our longest community partnerships. Connections serves as a safety net for neighbors who need support to maintain safe, stable housing in Evanston and northern Cook County. They’ve been a tireless advocate and leader for affordable housing in our area.

Upcoming Services

April 26 – Mike Dickenson’s Spiritual Journey

May 3 – Faith Formation Sunday

May 10 – The Fierce Love of Mothering – Dr. Emma Farrell

May 17 – A Home By Any Other Name – Rev. Eileen Wiviott

 

Sunday, April 19, 20262026-04-16T16:39:58+00:00

Update from Rev. Susan Frances – Friday, April 10, 2026

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

Update from Rev. Susan Frances – Friday, April 10, 20262026-04-07T16:07:56+00:00

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Breaking the Rules

In this special service, where our youth and young adults take the helm, we’ll explore what happens when we break the rules. Our young people will help us examine when rules should be broken, and how we can live with the consequences when our values, integrity and conscience call us to challenge unjust rules.

Rev. Eileen works with members of the Youth and Young Adult Groups to lead.

Worship Leaders/Designers: 

Youth: Birdie and Clementine Dreznick, Henry Donoghue, Lee Horn, Sophia Kern, Sydney Lawrence, Lucas O’Reilly, Ned Parsons

Young Adults: Julia Adams, Kevin Barrow, Bex Blackmore, Aidan Caravana, Rai Johnson-Nicholson, Kiley Korey, and Grey Wiviott

Today’s offering will be shared with Connections for the Homeless, whose mission is to serve and catalyze our community to end homelessness, one person at a time. 

Upcoming Services

April 19 – Music Sunday – Vickie Hellyer

April 26 – Mike Dickenson’s Spiritual Journey

May 5 – Faith Formation Sunday – Kathy Underwood

May 12 – Mother’s Day – Dr. Emma Farrell

Sunday, April 12, 20262026-04-02T16:51:27+00:00

DLFF Newsletter, Friday, April 5, 2026

Back and Forth

Congregational life in early spring is just like the weather: back and forth. One day it’s sunny and 72 degrees out and the next day it’s 27 degrees with snow flurries. I personally like the change in weather, because if it were nice and sunny every day, it would be difficult to get chores and work done. I also appreciate those nicer days even more after the colder, cloudy ones.

At UCE, my work life goes back and forth as well. There are the days when I am hunkered down and focused on what is happening in the coming week or two. There is a sense of routine in those tasks that makes it easier to stay the course. I have a particular destination that leads to various age groups connecting with one another and learning more about their UU identity, themselves, and the world around them.

And then there are the days when I am lured by the warmth and can veer away for a bit  – not just as a time to rejuvenate, but as a time to step back and look at the bigger picture, to see the whole ocean, the beaches, the islands and the forest and animals. How can I help us explore all that there is and discover the awe and wonder that lies all around us? Who among us needs more support and better tools for the journey? 

Perhaps the Deeper Joy map is a good visual for this (see above). Rev. Eileen and I led a worship service using this map on March 8, for those who aren’t familiar with it. And while it focuses more on building connection and community, it touches on the idea that we’re all on a journey together – a faith formation journey. The joy, as well as the challenge, is that we’re not all starting at the same place. Some are just arriving to Unitarian Universalism and some have been here a while. Some need the safety of the Bonding Harbor and others hunger for the Canyons of Deeper Sharing. 

I look at this map knowing that I am one person also on the journey and yet responsible for guiding others on theirs. It is an honor I take seriously. And I know I am not alone as I have the best beside me – a wonderful staff, an awesome Family Ministry Team, and friends and family. And there’s plenty of room on my boat for you to come along too.

In Faith,

Kathy

 

DLFF Newsletter, Friday, April 5, 20262026-04-02T20:38:49+00:00

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Another World is Possible

This Easter, we reflect on the possibilities of what might rise after the fall of the empire. We look to history and the courage of our ancestors to conjure up hope for our descendants. Rev. Eileen leads this service with Barbara Mesle as Worship Associate. The UCE Choir will be singing two pieces written by UCE congregants and directed by Vickie Hellyer and Gregory Shifrin, on piano, provide music for this service.

Upcoming Services

April 12 – Youth & Young Adult Service – Breaking the Rules

April 19 – Music Sunday – Vickie Hellyer and the UCE Choir

April 26 – Mike Dickenson Spiritual Journey

May 3 – Rebuilding Bridges of Faith Formation – Kathy Underwood

 

Sunday, April 5, 20262026-04-01T15:40:25+00:00

Unitarian Church of Evanston

A Unitarian Universalist Congregation

1330 Ridge Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
Directions

(847) 864-1330
uce@ucevanston.org

UCE's office hours:
Tuesday - Thursday: 10am - 4pm
Friday: 10am - 1pm
Sunday: 10am - 1pm

In-person and Virtual Sunday Service is held at 10:30 am.

Become A Member

Member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant to affirm and promote the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism.

The Unitarian Church of Evanston is recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Welcoming Congregation, a Peace Advocate Congregation, and a Green Sanctuary.

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