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Nominating & Recruiting Task Force: May 13, 2022

At the urging of our interim minister, Rev. Karen Gustufson, and in response to concerns expressed by members of the Nominating and Recruiting Committee, the Board has determined to form a Nominating and Recruiting Task Force.  If you are interested in becoming a member of this Task Force, please send an email to Joe Romeo, (BoT@UCEvanston.org)  by May 31.  We want to form a group that will bring as many different perspectives as possible to this endeavor.  If you know someone who would be an excellent addition to this task force, please encourage them to contact Joe.

The Task Force will review the policies and procedures that support and guide the work of the Nominating & Recruiting Committee, which is charged with creating a slate of candidates for elected leadership roles for consideration at the UCE annual meeting. Their work is done in alignment with our UU principles and with the specific goal of minimizing bias and widening the circle among those invited, nominated, and elected. This Task Force is a temporary group whose specific purposes will be defined through discussions and surveying of the Nominating & Recruiting Committee and the congregation. We hope that this work will be completed by winter, 2023.

The Task Force will consist of fewer than ten members. It is the goal of those organizing this task force that it will be representative of all UCE members.  In particular, we are looking for a member who has recruitment experience in a professional and/or volunteer capacity.

The members of the Task Force will work collaboratively.  The Task Force will also be soliciting recommendations from the congregation.  The end result will be for the Task Force to present the committee’s findings to the Board, and then, if Bylaw changes are recommended, those would be presented to the congregation at the annual May meeting in 2023.  If you have any questions, please contact BoT@UCEvanston.org.

Nominating & Recruiting Task Force: May 13, 2022UCE UCE2022-05-13T15:01:45+00:00

May 15, 2022

We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, May 15th at 10:15 am.

Wider and Deeper Than Tolerance
Intolerance is clearly on the rise. The chasms between people on opposing sides of any and all issues are deepening and widening. Amidst such divisions and polarization, is mere tolerance really the aim? If we can’t count on basic tolerance, how can we build our capacity for genuine curiosity, openness, celebration of difference, and a willingness to be transformed in life-giving ways? Carla Williams and Cheryl Mounts were the bidders at the 2021 Serendipity Auction who won the chance to talk with Rev. Eileen and plan this sermon topic. Diane Markel will be the Worship Associate.

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 9 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with “shared offering” in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient is UU Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI).

May 15, 2022UCE UCE2022-05-11T15:14:10+00:00

May 6, 2022

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May 6, 2022UCE UCE2022-05-06T19:21:52+00:00

Ministers Response to leaked US Supreme Court draft: May 6, 2022

UCE Ministers Response to Leaked U.S. Supreme Court Draft Opinion for Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health

We know that many of you are struggling, as we are, with the leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that appears to overturn the decision in Roe vs. Wade establishing the right to an abortion. The viewpoint in the leaked draft opinion is a direct threat to many of the values we hold dear as Unitarian Universalists. It would overturn the decision in Roe vs. Wade, which established the right to an abortion as a privacy right guaranteed by federal constitutional law. In addition to impairing reproductive rights (which are human rights) for many people, particularly marginalized people, this opinion would create a threat to all other privacy rights critical to maintaining our liberty. In this climate where our Unitarian Universalist values are so deeply politicized, it is hard to feel safe and easy to feel defeated. But we must work to stay together, to support each other and those who are most vulnerable to the stripping away of human rights. Let us work together to stay engaged and emboldened in protecting and advocating for our values in the world, in whatever ways we can.  

Here are some resources you might find useful: 

Attend the We Won’t Go Back Rally this Saturday, May 7, 2022, at noon at Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn, Chicago: https://fb.me/e/1ES4xL5hD. Meet Rev. Susan and Rev. Eileen at 11:45 am outside Garrett Popcorn, 27 W. Jackson Blvd, and walk over to Federal Plaza together.
Train to help provide resources in Illinois, a state that is an oasis of reproductive rights:
Self-Managed Abortion and the Law Training, Wed May 11 from Noon-1:30 CST , REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/UuuKH1bgnDL2zgy7A

More info: Knowing that Illinois will become a critical source of access to abortion for surrounding states if the Supreme Court rolls back Roe v. Wade (which is expected in late June), faith communities are organizing to identify what we can do–and the potential legal risks of doing so. This training on Self-Managed Abortion and the Law will be provided by If/When/How, a national organization of lawyers dedicated to reproductive justice. https://www.ifwhenhow.org/.

Read the UUA’s Side With Love Campaign response, which includes other action steps, including being involved in Voting Rights efforts.

You are not alone with your sorrow and worry, Beloveds. Please reach out to either one of us if you want to talk, cry, rage, or move into action. 

~ Rev. Eileen and Rev. Susan

Ministers Response to leaked US Supreme Court draft: May 6, 2022UCE UCE2022-05-06T18:04:13+00:00

From EOD: May 6, 2022

Greetings everyone,

Hearing Loop – Our next Capital Campaign project is underway. A Hearing Loop will be installed beneath our Sanctuary floors that will enable all who enter our sanctuary with a t-coil hearing aid to hear without the aid of our hearing devices. We are excited about this new addition to make our space even more welcoming and accessible for all who enter.

Rummage Sale 2022 – We are rapidly approaching our longstanding big fun/fundraiser at UCE. Rummage Sale 2022 will take place Friday, May 20th from 9 am – 6 pm and Saturday, May 21 from 9 am – 1 pm. The theme is “Share the Work’. This means everyone joining together to help us pull this sale together with fewer volunteers and only one level of selling space. It is our goal to reduce excess unusable items that are donated by asking everyone to follow the “Donations Tips Sheet” provided for easy sorting of your items.

Set up begins just after the Annual Meeting on May 15. We ask that everyone who can stay afterwards and help with moving chairs and setting up tables, as we “Share the Work”. Just after set-up we begin to accept donations from 3 p.m. until. p.m. All clothing donations must be hung on hangers. This is important as we just don’t have the staffing to sort the many bags we received in previous years.

We are so excited that we will have a “Boutique” featuring gently used higher fashion items and vintage wear. Shannon Lang has terrific ideas on how to set up this boutique in the sanctuary that will capture the attention of those seeking to find quality higher end shoes, clothing and accessories or vintage wear. Whether you are donating or selling, keep this in mind. You can refer to the Donation Tips Sheet for guidance on what she is accepting.

Other departments are Art, Jewelry, Treasures, Adult Clothing, Children’s Clothing/Toy/Accessories, Housewares, Small Appliances, and Durable goods such as sporting goods and bikes. Again you can see this department and what is listed in the Donations Tips Sheet.

If you have not yet signed up to volunteer, please do here. We need everyone to “Share the Work”.

Renee Hoff and Jeanne Kerl have worked very hard to promote this event through publications, emails, flyers and social media. We expect big crowds. Meredith Haydon provided 50 yard signs, which have all been taken and placed in yards. Thank you to co-chairs Lynn Kendall and Margaret Schatz, and Department Heads Tory Bassani, Shannon Lang, Alice Chrostowski, Woody Haynes, Johna VanDyke, Gillian Lawrence, and Sandy Danforth.

Do all that you can to help us ensure success of this redesigned Rummage Sale 2022.

Annual Meeting – Please join us in the sanctuary on May 15 for the Annual Meeting. Many important topics are on the agenda. Voting members have received packets with items we will be voting on. If you have not received that through email please contact Jessica Meis at Admin@ucevanston.org If you are unable to join us in person, you may do so online. Jessica will be sending voting members a link on the day of the meeting. Others can view on YouTube. It is important that we reach a quorum for voting on the 2022/23 budget, slate for board and nominating/recruiting, our value statements, a by-laws change and reparations statements.

Church Picnic – We are looking forward to another All-Church Picnic on Sunday, June 5. If you have a charcoal grill to donate or for us to borrow for the day, please email me at srobinson@ucevanston.org If you are available to help with grilling on that day, please email me. We need three people and have one so far.

From EOD: May 6, 2022UCE UCE2022-05-06T13:00:35+00:00

May 8, 2022

We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, May 8th at 10:15 am.

Nurturing Beauty in Our Children
In our faith tradition, we dedicate our children to our community and we dedicate our community to the spiritual care and faith formation of our children and families. Through this ritual, we re-commit ourselves, people of all ages, to the cultivation of Beloved Community, and to finding beauty and meaning amidst our shared struggles and limitations. This service is led by Rev. Eileen Wiviott, with Shannon Lang as Worship Associate, and reflections by Nehanda Julot and Ellen Bates-Jefferys.

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 9 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with “shared offering” in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient is UU Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI).

May 8, 2022UCE UCE2022-05-03T20:07:00+00:00

April 29, 2022

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April 29, 2022UCE UCE2022-04-29T18:46:32+00:00

From Kathy Underwood: April 29, 2022

Life is awakening in the earth and at UCE! It has been a joyous month, with many activities happening and I wanted to share some of it with you.

Our first Rosemary Zwick Afternoon of the Arts event was a "rebirth" of the former Night of the Arts and was a wonderful time to be creative and get to know people better. Families appreciated the earlier time so that younger children could participate. About 45 people engaged in a wide variety of art activities to feed the soul.

And on the next day, our awesome youth led a thoughtful and informative worship service on “Gender: Bending the Narrative”. I was so impressed with their leadership, not to mention their lack of procrastination. They were quick in organizing with little nudging from their advisors, Linda Herreid and Margaret Shaklee.

Easter Sunday was definitely a joyous day, with a beautiful Music Sunday worship followed by Easter eggs and hot cross buns and kinship time. Two of the youth helped hiding canned goods and Easter eggs around the South Lawn, and 24 youngsters then had fun looking for them all. Thank you to all who brought canned goods, which were donated to Connections for the Homeless.

We then had yet another youth-led event for Earth Day, coordinated by Kristin Lems and Lucinda Lindstrom Lodder among others in the community. I am always amazed at the dedication and passion we have at UCE, especially when youth are involved. It makes me feel so much better about the future of our world.

Last Saturday, 21 youth from four area UU congregations gathered at Busse Woods for a “mini-con” – the first time they have gathered since late in 2019. An afternoon of games, a nature walk, and a demonstration from a therapy dog and trainer. It was a perfect way to gather again after so much time.

This past Sunday, the Green Team led a social action fair on being eco-friendly for our Faith Formation Hour. As a part of this, the Family Ministry Team coordinated making 50 lunch bags for Connections for the Homeless. We learned how we can make our lunches more eco-friendly, especially in regard to composting.

And now with May just a couple of days away, Rev. Eileen and I will be hosting some listening circles to hear your experiences with our new faith formation hour. What have you participated in and how was that experience? If you didn’t participate, what kept you from doing so? And what would you look forward to that can help awaken your spirit and faith? Our first one is this Sunday after Kinship Time. Please join us at any of the following:

May 1 at 11:30 am during Faith Formation Hour
May 4 at 7 pm via Zoom
May 10 at 10 am via Zoom
May 14 at 7 pm at UCE

In Faith,

Kathy Underwood
Director of Lifespan Faith Formation

From Kathy Underwood: April 29, 2022UCE UCE2022-04-29T15:12:14+00:00

May 1, 2022

We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, May 1st at 10:15 am.

Building Upon Braveness
This year has been a journey full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and having to re-chart our course more than once. We have envisioned what a multigenerational community looks and feels like and began building it by being brave and experimenting with new ways of doing things. Today, we celebrate the beauty of what we have built and look towards ways to build upon our braveness. Kathy Underwood leads the service with Rev. Eileen as worship associate.

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 9 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time so that we can gather together as a whole community of faith. You can still give to the shared offering through “text to give,” mail a check to the office with “shared offering” in the memo line, or go to our website and hit “give” on the upper right or click here. This Sunday’s shared offering recipient is UU Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI).

May 1, 2022UCE UCE2022-04-26T19:23:11+00:00

April 22, 2022

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April 22, 2022UCE UCE2022-04-22T18:30:05+00:00

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