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MORE CHOICES ON SUNDAY MORNING
It is so good to be together after the journeys of summer. On September 16, 2018, we’ll return to two worship services on Sunday morning, along with two sessions of Lifespan Religious Education. As you might expect during an interim period, we are making some changes in worship and RE. They are changes designed to enhance the worship and learning life of congregants. Take a look.
Simple. Church. The 9:15 a.m. service is brief, often only 35 minutes long. There’s a full sermon, but the liturgy is simplified and the vibe is casual. Expect contemporary music in a celebratory setting. Watch for a more interactive worship service. Families may come and worship together, and little ones can squirm or move freely. It’s a great opportunity to invite your reluctant friends and neighbors to a less “churchy” service. A full RE program happens during worship time (downstairs) and all are always welcome.
Sunday Worship Experience. This hour long service at 11:00 a.m. is bit more traditional and structured than Simple. Church. But it’s every bit as exciting and engaging. Come and hear the music of the ages, sing the hymns you know and love, observe or participate in rites of passage, hear our superb choir and talented musicians, and be challenged by compelling sermons and readings. Once again, a full RE program is offered during the worship hour.
Large or large-becoming congregations seek to offer more choices to address the diverse needs of going, growing UUs. (See elsewhere for information about two types RE programs we’re offering every Sunday.) Worship and educational ministry are no exception. Let’s spread our good news of “not hell, but hope and courage.” We may not need larger church, but there’s a whole wide world that needs Unitarian Universalism. Help me spread the word!
The joy continues,
Greg
September 9, 2018
As we begin the opening of the church year on Homecoming Sunday, we’ll consider what it means to live a meaningful life and why it matters. As the great poet Mary Oliver once asked, “Are you living just a little, and calling it a life?” I’ll offer concrete ways to break though the barriers than can hold us back. All Ages Sunday (sanctuary). Service lead by Rev. Gregory Stewart.
September 2, 2018
Are we all immigrants? How shall we define our relationship with immigrants today who need our support? How has our nation’s view of immigration changed through the decades? Today’s service will dip into these questions and provide insights into their world and how we might connect. Rev. Eileen leads the service, assisted by the UCE Immigrant Solidarity Team.
From The Executive Operations Director
Last evening our 2018-2019 Integrated Stewardship Team had its first meeting. This year will be a busy year with all things financial at UCE. We voted to expand our member-at-large membership to include three congregants, which gives us more coverage for various working groups. Members of the ISC are Sandra Robinson, EOD and Staff Lead;
Susan Comstock, UCE Treasurer; Ann Peterson, Capital Campaign Chair; Amy Dooley, Endowment Chair; Tom Ticknor, Budget Working Group; Marianne Griebler, Information Working Group (REALM) and Penny Doyle – members-at-large. Rev. Greg Stewart, ex-officio, Budget Working Group; with Rev. Eileen Wiviott, ex-officio and Susan Frances, Ministerial Intern, ex-officio. A new Secretary position was formed this year and is served by Susan Carlton. Martha Holman and Jean Kerl are Board Liaisons.
UCE has many things happening this coming year that relate to ISC responsibilities: the proposed capital campaign which is now in the feasibility study stage; enhanced distribution amounts available for endowment, a new membership database that will change and enhance our ability to reach members and provide information; and the need to further educate our congregation about Stewardship and support of our Operating Budget.
Updates on our building and grounds . . . Clean up work was done on the east lawn by the annex area. Weeds were pulled and dug and additional topsoil was added to improve the drainage angle away from Room 2 door. Mulch was added to the area. Bushes on the west side along the annex were trimmed, as well as the lilac bushes. Debris was removed.
A new drain pipe was added to move water away from the building. Apparently, the water removal pipe had been smashed by a construction truck and covered by soil after completion of the project. This was uncovered during exploration and work on the east side. The crushed pipe was causing back up of water to the annex roof and pushed water down into Room 2 during the last two heavy rains.
I have been seeking bids on tree trimming as well as parking lot patching.
My two co-leads on Buildings and Grounds will meet on Wednesday to discuss the roof, and bids that are on their way for replacement of the annex roof, as well as drainage of the roof deck and gutters.
Michael Skilton and Julia Takarada continue their work on the automatic doors. Revised drawings and information has been provided to the preservation department, as requested by the City of Evanston. Mike and Julia have developed a budget that includes costs of the doors and electrical work. A donation was made to UCE for this project.
Beth Emet’s last day of space sharing is September 1. After the high holidays their Director and I hope to have our congregations gather for a celebration together. This has been a satisfying journey together with Beth Emet services and soup kitchens held at UCE over the summer.
Clean-up of the lower level floors, classrooms and other areas of the church will be deep cleaned and prepared for Ingathering Service on Sunday, September 9 at 10 a.m.
A celebration of the LULA will take place after the Ingathering Service. Gratitude abounds for the generous donation by MaryBeth and Kinnie Smith and various other members of the congregation and staff. Thank you for your contirbutions. This was a long, important process that involved Staff, Buildings and Grounds and the Accessibility and Inclusion Team. We all learned more about what it means to be universally accessible and to learn to work on a challenging project in good covenant with one another. I am proud to have been a part of this addition to our church building which will make us more welcoming for all who enter.
We begin our year with our new Interim Sr. Minister. I am excited and grateful we are off to such a good start.
Please contact me at any time if you have questions, concerns or just want to share something of importance about the building, grounds or programs which relate to my areas of responsibility. My door is always open and my email is srobinson@ucevanston.org.
REAL Meal at Badou
On Friday, July 28, our second REAL Meal attracted 12 eager culinary adventurers to Badou Senegalese Cuisine at 2055 W. Howard, Chicago.
Chef Badou had helpfully suggested in advance that, instead of ordering individually, he would choose for us four of his best and most representative dishes. These were: Djolof Rice: a vegetarian dish with jerk chicken on the side Mafe: a peanut butter stew with either vegetables only or with chicken (We had the vegetarian version) Yassa fish: tilapia cooked with lime, dijon, and vinegar Lentils and peas, or Badou Soul Food.
When we arrived, the table was set for us in the middle of their very modest space, but the chef had left, taking several large trays of food, for an event he was catering. This left his wife to prepare our dinner by herself. As you might imagine, service was slow but well worth the wait. We started with an appetizer of pastries filled with a choice of meat or vegetables. The entrée dishes came out one by one, all delicious, and with mouth-watering aromas and seasonings. The platters were piled high, and by the time we finished the third dish, we were all stuffed and decided to forego the lentils and peas and instead enjoy a conversation with our hostess, with high praise for her cooking.
The leisurely pace of the meal forced us to really savor the food and enjoy some lively and interesting talk. Most of us thought we’d be back again to try other offerings.
REAL plans to have these events on a regular basis, so watch for our next announcement.
August 26, 2018
We are all unfolding, transforming, and becoming. Sometimes our evolution leads us to a new sense of gender identity and a new name. In this service we will lovingly support and affirm the names of those who are authentically living their gender journey. Rev. Eileen leads the service.