Widening the Circle during Faith Formation Hour: October 17, 2021
Faith Formation Hour – 3rd Sundays
Small Group Discussions
October 17th 11:30-12:30
1st Chapter – Theology
Adult congregants are encouraged to participate in small group discussions of the Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change, Widening the Circle of Concern. This report is a guiding document for UCE’s Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression work. For our discussion in October, it is strongly recommended that you read the chapter on Theology before October 17th so that you are prepared for the conversation.
These conversations will be taking place in-person as well as on Zoom. If you hold a marginalized identity and would want an identity-based caucus space to discuss Widening the Circle of Concern, please contact Rev. Eileen Wiviott or Rev. Susan Frances by October 10th so we can arrange that space.
If you would like to take part on Zoom, here is the link for October 17th at 11:30 am: https://zoom.us/j/93634773993?pwd=TXlTMG9XODd3dEFkd2Z0aEZnWkZSUT09
The UUA Commission on Institutional Change (COIC) was commissioned by the 2017 General Assembly to conduct an audit of the power structures within the UUA and analyze systemic racism and white supremacy culture within our movement. This report, issued in June 2020, is the result of three years of labor by the COIC, gathering painful stories and doing the difficult emotional labor of identifying the ways systemic racism exists within Unitarian Universalism. The purpose and goals of the report include, to “identify the aspects of [white supremacy] culture that must be dismantled to transform us into a faith for our times.”
As the Board of Trustees, staff, and a few members have engaged with this report over the past year, we are clear that dismantling systemic racism within our institution is a shared responsibility and requires all of us to take part. Please join us in these vital conversations the 3rd Sunday of each month during the Faith Formation Hour through June 2022 (except April will be the 2nd Sunday).
~ Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Rev. Susan Frances
From EOD: October 1, 2021
As we gather for worship in our building, our COVID Task Force continues to meet regularly to discuss safety protocols. We pay close attention to data on cases and vaccinations to determine what is best practice for our congregants and guests seeking spiritual renewal and connection. The team consists of the senior minister, three doctors, our church attorney, board chair, executive staff, faith formation leaders and our music director. Careful consideration and in-depth, thoughtful discussions result in regularly updated guidelines that foster inclusion and safety. Please check the website for our most recent guidelines.
We are excited about the progress on the Intergenerational Playscape and Accessibility Ramp. As you see, the ramp is complete and handrails are installed. Stanley Doors will be out soon to install Accessibility Buttons on the interior and exterior of both sets of doors on the south side of the sanctuary. We have never had door handles on the outside, only crash bars on the inside for safe exit. Now, with the ramp we need a way for those using walkers and wheelchairs to access the building from the outside. Sandy Danforth and I are also meeting with Nature’s Perspective to get a handrail installed on the southeast sanctuary door. It is tricky to place because of the way the doors open, but it is possible. Meanwhile, children are enjoying the berm, running to and fro, up and down, rolling and scooting down just as we had envisioned. Last Saturday, many families showed up to make mosaics with Artist Indira Johnson. This Saturday morning we meet again to grout them. The stepping stones for the pathway to the labyrinth and the hopscotch are just beautiful. Children and parents impressed us with their creativity and the joy this process provided. Imagine that these little ones will walk on their artwork for years to come. They can look back on this project and recall the connectedness with others and the freedom to create. I too unexpectedly designed a stone next to the ramp. I will cherish that opportunity always. Next steps for the garden include choosing a focal piece for paved walkway and adding two sets of tables and chairs in their designated spots, as well as adding fairy houses in the woodland area and log benches in the children’s chipped play area near the ramp. Our hope is that this becomes a place for play and contemplation. Your generous Capital Campaign contributions made this happen.
Inside work continues as the Lobby Refurb Team focuses on a new hospitality “Welcome Center” desk that will create a welcoming focus as guests and congregants enter the building. Furniture selection and flow are still in progress, We have some good ideas on our working plan that will create a family-friendly and beautiful space. Two new monitors were installed. One provides information for the day and the other information about events and activities UCE is sponsoring or involved in. The bulletin boards are taking shape. A new concept of a highly organized way of letting guests know who we are and what we are about is underway. This method helps newcomers and congregants alike easily plug into what is going on, who we are and who to contact to become more deeply involved at UCE. The board is the lobby are nearing completion, the ones in the wing hallway are still under construction. We are excited about this new approach and will have more information to share in a week or so.
Our Sanctuary Cooling Team of the Capital Campaign Implementation Committee has selected a system after almost two years of study and analysis of various systems following an engineering report done at the beginning of this process. We did a multi-page concise summary to the Board of Trustees and one of two systems was recommended and approved by the board. In the spring, a split system will be installed to provide cooling in the sanctuary and south social area which will make our worship services more comfortable during hot weather and will increase our use of the space to the outside community including weddings and memorial rentals.
You may recall my article about the south lawn rain garden study project by Northwestern University Professor Kimberly Gray and her students. This week, the rain gauges were placed. More information on the study and signage about the project and the rain garden will be installed out there in the months to come. It is impressive that of eight rain gardens they are studying as part of this federal grant, ours was one of two who were selected to have the weather station installed. They were impressed with our rain gardens, their functionality, and what they offer to gather good data for their study. This study will ultimately lead to more opportunities for urban rain gardens, particularly in underserved communities where flooding can be a problem.
Sandra Robinson, Executive Operations Director
Reparations Workshop Update: October 1, 2021
The final session of our workshop on Faith, Justice and Reparations in Evanston will be held this Sunday afternoon from 4 to 5:30 pm. The three-part series is being held completely on-line. Register today to attend.
This week, we’ll be hearing from former Ald. Robin Rue Simmons, who spear-headed the Reparations movement in Evanston. We’ll also be hearing about an exciting opportunity for us to support this important racial justice initiative.
Our second session last week, which focused on the history of race relations in Evanston, was very well-received. We heard from a panel of local religious leaders, as well as from Dino Robinson of the Shorefront Legacy Center.
Are you familiar with the Dodge Ave YMCA? The Community Hospital? The crusading 5th Ward Alderman who integrated the public school teaching staff and began the fight for equal housing in Evanston. Tune in to the recording of last week’s session to find out more.
Over the summer, several members of the Racial Equity (REAL) and Peace and Justice teams have been working to develop this faith-based workshop series on Reparations. We have begun to explore what “reparations” means, how Evanston’s history of exclusion and discrimination calls for repair, what is happening with the city’s current Reparations programs — and to consider how we, as people of faith, are called to act at this significant moment in history.
To find out more and to access links to articles and videos on Reparations, Evanston history and faith statements on slavery and racial justice, visit the workshop website here.
This program is a joint effort by UCE, Lake Street Church, Northminster Presbyterian Church, Saint Luke Episcopal Church, and Sherman United Methodist Church. It is endorsed by Interfaith Action Evanston and funded by the UCE Endowment Fund.
UCE ENDS Statements: October 15, 2021
These questions were posed during the October 10th service as we begin the journey of reflecting on our End Statements. You are asked to join in a small group discussion, which will be open-hearted, spirit-filled conversations to explore our shared values. From these discussions, we will gather insights and begin to draft a new set of ends to be presented to the congregation for feedback and ultimately approved by the congregation next May at our annual meeting.
Here are the scheduled dates* of these small group discussions. Please sign up for one:
*We may add more dates and times later in January or early February, based on need.
We hope that you will find time to take part in this process of determining where we are going in shared ministry, for what purpose we are committed most as a congregation, and how we strive together to make our vision of nurturing the human spirit for a world made whole realized.
Endowment Task Force Update: October 1, 2021
The task force recently held its 8th meeting and we have three more scheduled for October.
After the task force discussed our own experiences and after we looked at the concerns from members of the congregation, we found about 130 particular issues to examine. We then refined those to 17 larger topics which incorporate all of the original issues.
In our last few meetings, we have listed ideas for how to address these topics. We have not finished this step yet, but hope to complete that task soon.
Some members have made suggestions for the task force to consider. If you have any ideas for improving aspects of how the Endowment Fund is managed and distributed, the task force would love to learn about them. Please send any such suggestions to BOT@ucevanston.org or romeo.joe@gmail.com. Please be as brief as possible.
Our next step will be to evaluate which solutions seem most workable and whether some of them could be combined so that we have a manageable list of viable solutions.
Progress has been very good.
Joe Romeo
October 3, 2021
We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, October 3rd at 10:15 am.
The Blessing of the Animals
Animals bless our lives in many ways, whether we keep them as pets or enjoy watching them scamper or fly past our windows, we are connected to and benefit from the contributions of animals. In this annual tradition, we honor and express gratitude for the life-giving diversity of animal life. Send in your photos of animal friends (past and present) with the names of you and your animals to ewiviott@ucevanston.org by Wednesday, the 29th. Rev. Eileen Wiviott leads the service with Betty Walker as Worship Associate.
A few important notes about participating in-person:
- Everyone over 2 in and around the UCE building will need to be masked.
- We will maintain physical distance, which means, chairs will be spaced apart and seating is limited in the sanctuary to 120. We will have overflow seating in room 3 (25) and room 6 (20), to participate in the service through the livestream. Beyond this, there will be seating outside the sanctuary on the south lawn.
- Please review our UCE Guidelines for Building Use before Sunday.
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 NAACP Evanston North Shore Branch.
From DLRE: September 24, 2021
When I was first hired just 6 months before the pandemic, I had heard about UCE’s desire to create a more multigenerational community. When Rev. Karen Gustafson came as our interim minister, this was reiterated many times. Knowing this gave me such hopes and dreams as a religious educator!
And so this past year, the Faith Formation Force has been working hard to find a creative way to make this happen, and we’re about to launch this new idea of all-ages worship and faith formation and see it come to fruition! Or are we? Will the continued challenge of the pandemic force us to veer our course?
We have a volunteer challenge. The reality is that many people are not comfortable working with our young people for many reasons, partly due to vaccination issues. What this means for our young people is that we cannot have age-specific programs at this point, even with only having these programs twice monthly.
The past 18 months have been challenging for parents and families. They need our support. If we are striving for a shared ministry, then it is not the responsibility of parents solely to fill the role of guiding our young people and youth. Rather, it is our collective responsibility – whether we personally do this or not. I also acknowledge that working with young people is not everyone’s cup of tea. We want people who genuinely care and want to be with our young people. And so I ask those of you who do, volunteer to be a helper one Sunday this year – just one! I promise that you will be amazed by our young people, learn about UUism, and have fun! What more could one ask for these days?
One thing the past 18 months has told us is to be flexible and forgiving. With this approach, we will go forth with this vision of a shared, multigenerational faith formation experience, and learn and grow along the way.
In Faith,
Kathy
Keeping in Touch with Springfield Reps: September 24, 2021
Are you interested in state politics? Have you followed the state’s budget, prison reform and environmental bills? You might want to join the legislative action teams we’re forming to meet periodically with our state representatives and state senators.
We’ll be encouraging our local reps to follow a progressive agenda as they vote in Springfield. Separate teams are being formed in each legislative district. We’ll be letting our representatives know our concerns and highlighting the bills endorsed by UU Action Network of Illinois (UUANI) and Community Renewal Society (CRS).
Our current priority is to contact our representatives prior to the veto session which starts October 19. If you’d like to join us, contact Jane Bannor at jbannor@sbcglobal.net .
We hope to forge meaningful bonds with the legislators who represent us. Separate teams are being formed for each Evanston-adjacent legislative district. If you live far from Evanston, we’ll try to connect you with interested UUs in your area.