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Sunday, May 4, 2025
May Our Faith Be With You
We find ourselves facing the dark side of The Force these days, and yet as we continue to fight the injustices of the world, we have our faith and each other to create the world that we imagine it can be. We celebrate the many ways our faith formation prepares us to go out into the world. We will be welcoming new members and recognizing our 8th grade and high school seniors too.
Led by Kathy Underwood, DLFF; Rev. Susan Frances, Worship Associate
Choir; Vickie Hellyer, Music Director; Gregory Shiffrin on piano; Enzo Wallin on violin
Today’s offering will be shared with the Sunrise Movement. The Youth Group selected the Sunrise Movement as this month’s shared offering recipient because they are a group that is organized by youth and is working toward a world in which everyone has access to clear air and water, full pantries of food, affordable housing, free public transportation, good and meaningful jobs, vibrant community centers, and lives filled with joy.
Upcoming Worship Services
May 11th – Mother’s Day – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
May 18th – Dreaming Who We Want to Be – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
May 25th – Memorial Day Weekend – Dr. Emma Farrell
Friday, April 18, 2025
Click here to read the newsletter!
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Knowing Ourselves, Growing Ourselves
We will explore the joy that is cultivated when we take time and expend energy to get to know ourselves better, which often empowers us to grow our capacity for experiencing joy when living our values out in the world.
Rev. Susan Frances, Kathy Underwood, and Jessica Tomell-Presto lead our service this Sunday, along with musicians Kiley Korey and Gregory Shifrin.
Today’s offering will be shared with Sanctuary Working Group, a solidarity organization, supports and accompanies vulnerable migrants in their journey towards sustainable independence.
Upcoming Worship Services
May 4th – Faith Formation Recognition & New Member Covenanting – Kathy Underwood & Rev. Susan Frances
May 11th – Mother’s Day – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
May 18th – Dreaming Who We Want to Be – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
May 25th – Memorial Day Weekend – Dr. Emma Farrell
DLFF Newsletter – April 2025
Springtime Joy
Our theme this month has been Joy, and it sure has lived up to it so far! Last Sunday’s worship service with the youth and young adults was full of joy and creativity! It is so inspiring and uplifting to hear and see their insights and passion. We are blessed to have them in our community.
This weekend, we celebrate Passover and Easter Sunday, both joyous occasions. All ages are invited to the family-friendly Passover Seder tonight at 5:30p in the sanctuary. Bring a side dish to share that doesn’t contain yeast or pork.
On Sunday, we will have an Easter potluck brunch during Kinship Time. Those who made Spring Peeps displays can leave them on the counter by the storage room along the west wall by the kitchen. We had so many creative displays last year, like this one of the sanctuary made by Jim Dibble (notice the Rev. Eileen bunny and song-leaders!) I look forward to seeing what others thought up this year!
For those with youngsters, we will also have an Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn, weather permitting. We will gather in The Nest after worship for instructions. Our youngest will go outside first for a head start, followed by older children and youth.
Last month, Jeanne Kerl led a seed-planting activity for our Family Friday event, and a couple of families have reported that they are now seeing sprouts. It is such a joy to have members of the congregation share their passions with our younger ages! I like to think that the kids will watch their seedlings as they grow and then plant them in their yards for the summer and think of the fun they had making the terrariums that nurtured them.
We have been nurturing our young people and adults too all year long with the many programs, events, celebrations, and gatherings we’ve had. In just a few weeks on May 4, we will celebrate our new members who have joined our community recently as well as our young people who are in the midst of big transitions in their lives. Our youth will participate in our traditional Bridging Ceremony, a ceremony that recognizes those who are entering high school as well as those who are leaving high school and becoming young adults, or in UU terms, “emerging adults”. It is a most moving and emotional event that the whole congregation takes part in and witnesses.
Of course, our nurturing doesn’t end here! Our summer program for our young people begins on June 15. We will be doing an art-based program this year that we’re calling Artsy-Fartsy Summer. Kiley Korey and Grey Wiviott are helping me build and lead this program, which is so exciting! They have so many great ideas, it’s been hard choosing which ones to do. We’d love to have any adults who like to engage in a variety of arts to join us too. Look for more details soon.
As always, if you have an idea to share or would like to help nurture others’ ideas that build community between generations, the Family Ministry Team welcomes you to join them. What better way to make the world whole than by nurturing our young people and families? After all, the future is theirs to grow.
In Faith,
Kathy
Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025
Dedicating Ourselves to Joy
We celebrate the joy of dedicating our children and dedicating ourselves as a community to the care of our littlest ones. What does it mean to cultivate relationships of care and caregiving so that we can usher each other into our best selves? Rev. Eileen leads the service with Dr. Emma Farrell, our Ministerial Intern, as Worship Associate. Soloists, Kiley Korey, Kevin Barrow, Jenn Wisegarver, and Chester Beck, and the UCE Choir will be directed by Music Director Vickie Hellyer and accompanied by Gregory Shifrin on piano.
Today’s offering will be shared with Sanctuary Working Group, a solidarity organization, supports and accompanies vulnerable migrants in their journey towards sustainable independence.
Upcoming Worship Services
April 27th – Knowing Ourselves – Rev. Susan Frances
May 4th – Faith Formation Recognition
May 11th – Mother’s Day – Rev. Eileen
May 18th – Dreaming Who We Want To Be – Rev. Eileen
Friday, April 11, 2025
Click here to read the newsletter!
Recent Endowment Grant Approvals
As you may know, a portion of the proceeds from the Endowment Fund investments are granted to support projects recommended to the Endowment Committee. Grants may be made for:
– Congregational Support for special projects, care of the building and property, and education and training;
– UCE Community Partners to deepen relationships with organizations that have long-term relationships with UCE volunteers and the Congregation; or
– Community Projects of nonprofit organizations that support the wider mission of Unitarian Universalism.
The following grants were recently approved by the Board of Trustees.
Current year Community Projects
– $1,000 to Rainbow Alliance to support Evanston’s InterFaith Annual Pride Celebration
– $3,206 to REAL Team to support air quality reviews of neighborhoods near the Evanston Waste Transfer Station conducted by the NAACP and Garrett Seminary.
2025/26 Year Congregational Support
– $1,360 for East Rain Garden plantings
– $4,920 for South Rain Garden plant rejuvenation
If your team would like to apply for a grant to support Community Projects in the 2025/26 Church year, please submit an application HERE by May 31 or October 31.
Friday, April 6, 2025
Click here to read the newsletter!
Sunday, April 13, 2025
The Practice of Everyday Joys that Sustain Us
Small joys. Every day delights. Easy to miss beauty. Noticing, sharing, and growing these little things can help us soften the hard edges of our lives and fill the empty spaces with meaning. Rev. Eileen works with the UCE’s Middle School Youth and Young Adults to offer a celebration of liberating love through the practice of joy.
Today’s offering will be shared with the Sanctuary Working Group, a solidarity organization, supports and accompanies vulnerable migrants in their journey towards sustainable independence.
Upcoming Worship Services
April 20th – Easter Sunday and Child Dedications – Rev. Eileen with Dr. Emma Farrell
April 27th – Knowing Ourselves – Rev. Susan Frances
May 4th – Faith Formation Recognition
May 11th – Mother’s Day – Rev. Eileen
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Returning to the Root of Joy
Music is an expression of our deepest emotions and it can also transform our spirits into a transcendent experience of joy, especially when practiced in inclusive, beloved community. Vickie Hellyer, Director of Music, leads worship with the UCE Choir; Ann Gadzikowski on viola, Elizabeth Anderson on cello, Andy Carpenter on sax, Nadav Simon on drums, and Gregory Shifrin on piano. Soloists and Readers from the UCE Choir and Rev. Eileen contribute to this, our annual Spring Music Sunday.
Today’s offering will be shared with the Sanctuary Working Group, a solidarity organization, supports and accompanies vulnerable migrants in their journey towards sustainable independence.
Upcoming Worship Services
April 13th – Rev. Eileen with UCE Youth on Joy
April 20th – Easter Sunday and Child Dedications – Rev. Eileen with Dr. Emma Farrell
April 27th – Knowing Ourselves – Rev. Susan Frances
May 4th – Faith Formation Recognition