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Every Pledge Matters: March 5, 2021

Every Pledge Matters … Especially YOURS!  

The 2021-22 UCE pledge drive is officially underway!  

If you haven’t already, please look for your pledge packet in your email inbox. There are three easy ways to pledge; please use the one that’s most convenient for you.  If you have already pledged, you should have received a confirmation email from Jessica Meis. If you have submitted a pledge, but have not received a confirmation, email admin@ucevanston.org ASAP.

You’ll also want to check out all the resources on the Pledge Drive page, including a FAQ, tips on completing the Google form, how to set up automatic payments, and more. 

One of our goals is 100% participation this year from all our members and pledging friends. Your pledge is an essential part of bringing UCE’s mission to life and light in this world!  

Here’s how every dollar you give will fund these critical program areas: 

 

Submit your pledge form as soon as you can and no later than March 14th. 

PLUS, once you’ve submitted your pledge form, you’re automatically eligible for one of the fabulous door prizes at the March 13th Pledge Drive Celebration!  

Thank you for your generosity … and may what you give bring you joy! 

Questions? Jessica Meis is ready to help you at admin@ucevanston.org or (847) 864-1330. 

Every Pledge Matters: March 5, 20212021-03-04T23:24:33+00:00

March 7, 2021

We will host an online worship service on Sunday, March 7th at 11:15 am.

The 8th Principle
Our congregation is on an ongoing journey of shaping our welcoming community through our anti-racism and anti-oppression work. One part of this journey involves the proposed 8th Principle, which reads: “We … covenant to affirm and promote: Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and in our institutions.”

This week we will touch upon the concepts encompassed within the 8th Principle. Together, we can actively engage in accountable anti-oppression and anti-racism work as we build Beloved Community.

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 11 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 during the summer 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 Poor People’s Campaign.

March 7, 20212021-03-03T19:21:39+00:00

From DLRE: March 5, 2021

What’s faith got to do with it? 

Since my arrival at UCE, I have been engaging many of you in conversation about your thoughts on what the term “religious education” means to you and the congregation. For most, it is the teaching of Unitarian Universalism to children. And yet it is so much more! How so, you may be asking? 

Let me count the ways… 

  • We strive to teach people from all ages and stages of life, not just children and youth.
  • We yearn to learn about our world and our place in it, not just about UUism. 
  • We search for our truth about life’s Big Questions in community, with those who guide and challenge us along the way. “Teacher” is the common word for people who help us, but we can also say “guide”, “spirit guide”, “mentor”, “elder”, “sage”, “prophet”.  
  • We want to be transformed, not just educated. 
  • Faith is not a subject; it is a way of life that is to be modeled and lived – no matter what your beliefs are about the divine. 

If the above is true, then does the term “religious education” encompass all of this? In my opinion, not entirely. Other words are being used more in our denomination, such as faith formation, faith development, religious exploration, spiritual development. I personally feel drawn to faith formation though. It speaks to the growth and learning across our lifespan, that it is a process that continues as we age. I asked some colleagues to chime in on what the difference is between religious education and faith formation, and here are a few of their thoughts: 

  • Religious education is teaching to model, and faith formation is a growing with the model. 
  • Faith formation is deep, broad, done in community, everyone doing it. Religious education is top-down, teacher knows, and student learns (might not be mono-directional in practice). 
  • Faith formation helps move us beyond reductive understanding of the word education. 
  • Faith formation is lifelong and evolving, and RE is equated as being mostly “for kids”. 

We are beginning to use “faith formation” more in our language- on the website, in the newsletter, and in conversations. For some this is a moot point, and for others it is pushing buttons. I can understand the latter, as I have had some words hang me up, such as the word “church”. As I have grown in my understanding of spirituality and faith formation, I have become less sensitive to this, although I still experience it at times.  

With the creation of the Faith Formation Force, aka F3, we will be exploring with curiosity what faith formation can look and feel like at UCE as one goes through the stages of life. How do we support and encourage each other to “yearn to learn” about our faith as Unitarian Universalist and human beings? What do we need along the way? What are the best and engaging ways to do this? 

I am excited to be headed on this journey with you – transformation is a beautiful thing! 

In Faith, 

Kathy 

From DLRE: March 5, 20212021-03-01T22:30:41+00:00

Deepening Our UU Identity: Spring 2021

Deepening Our UU Identity 

What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Without a common creed or theology, what unites us and grounds us? Contrary to the common misunderstanding of our inclusivity, that we are the ones who "can believe whatever we want," Unitarian Universalism is a chosen faith that asks a great deal of those who commit to its aspirations and covenants. In this four–part series, we will explore the religious roots of our movement, the covenant that is our seven principles, and the six sources of our faith from which we draw wisdom. We will also delve into a Unitarian Universalist definition of spirituality and a variety of spiritual practices we can engage in. Finally, deepening our understanding of what it means to be a UU grounded in the practice of Beloved Community, right here at UCE. This series is open to all lifespan learners, and may be most engaging for those twelve and up. 

Join us for any or all of the sessions: 

 

  • Session One – March 31st 7-8:30 pm via Zoom 

    The Seven Principles: an exploration of the UU principles, how they came to be and how they can inform our lives. Led by Rev. Eileen Wiviott. View the recorded session here (Passcode: 7s5&!?a&).

  • Session Two – April 28th 7-8:30 pm via Zoom 

    The Six Sources: understanding UU pluralism – how the broad sources from which we draw inspiration and wisdom make our living tradition unique. Led by Rev. Susan Frances.

  • Session Three – May 26th 7-8:30 pm via Zoom 

    UU Spirituality: what does spirituality mean to us and how can we practice spirituality however we answer ultimate questions.  Led by Rev. Eileen and Rev. Susan Frances.

  • Session Four – June 30 6:30-8 pm at UCE – IN PERSON

    UCE History & Tour: Ever wonder what’s up in the balcony? Did you even know we had a balcony? What’s it like to stand in the pulpit or peek behind the chancel? Do you even know what the chancel is or how it got there? Come to church for a tour of the building you thought you knew. Learn about the history of our congregation, what the church was like when we first moved in. Join in a scavenger hunt of hidden passageways and lost artifacts. This is an event for all ages and whole families. As with all church activities, you’ll need to wear a mask.

Register
Deepening Our UU Identity: Spring 20212021-06-28T20:47:15+00:00

VirtUUal Faith Formation: February 26, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Faith Formation?

Welcome as we continue our theme of Beloved Community! You can access the Soulful Home packet here at your own leisure. This week we focus on the segments At the Bedside, Blessing and The Extra Mile. Check out this week’s video here.

Many Ways to Connect

The Ecology Center Outing – THIS Sunday, February 28 at 2-3:30 pm – we have one spot open and the forecast looks good – mid-30s! Signup here.
Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.
High School Youth – Virtually on Sunday at 4 pm. Look for an email with details.
Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – February’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

Current & Upcoming Adult Faith Formation Programs

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – Tuesday, March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Learn More and Register
Join the Meeting

Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry – March 9 at 7 pm via Zoom As a part of our denomination’s work and effort to examine white fragility and supremacy, this book was chosen as the Common Read. Congregations all over the country are reading and discussing this book to help understand these complex systems and relationships that support racism and oppression. Facilitated by Kathy Underwood.

Learn More and Register
Join the Meeting

Upcoming Forum Discussion – March 7 at 10 am

The Forum’s Future
Leaders: Carol & Brian Nielsen
This discussion will provide an opportunity for Forum participants to consider the future of the Forum, evaluate this past year’s program, and discuss plans for going forward.
VirtUUal Faith Formation: February 26, 20212021-02-25T21:06:47+00:00

Mark your calendars! Pledge Drive Celebration – March 13, 2021

Join us virtually on Saturday, March 13th for a fun “evening in” to celebrate the end of the pledge drive. Pre-parties – a great chance to chat with old friends and make new ones – begin at 6:30 pm. The main event gets underway at 7:00 pm and will showcase the New Rhythm Arts Center. UCE member Alicia Oloroso Hempfling is the founder and Executive Director of this innovative community cultural arts center located in Rogers Park. Performances will include African drumming and dance with the opportunity for those of us in the audience to learn some basic drumming rhythms. You will also enjoy performances from a well-known Chicago blues singer as well as homegrown UCE talent. Anyone who has submitted their pledge by the end of the evening will be eligible to win one of three fabulous door prizes, including a Lenovo tablet, a gift certificate for Kabul House in Evanston and a tasty, rich dessert delivered to your door. Don’t miss this special evening. Mark your calendars now! 

Mark your calendars! Pledge Drive Celebration – March 13, 20212021-02-25T20:16:26+00:00

UCE is Kicking Off Our First-Ever Virtual Pledge Drive: February 26, 2021

Get ready to celebrate our time, talent and treasure at UCE with the 2021-22 Pledge Drive!

To keep volunteers and staff safe, everything will be done virtually this year. Here’s how it works:

STEP ONE: Look in your email inbox for your pledge drive packet from the UCE Office. If you don’t see it, check your spam folder or, if you use Gmail, the promotions tab.

Still can’t find it? Let Jessica Meis in the office know ASAP by calling her at 847-864-1331 or emailing her at admin@ucevanston.org.

STEP TWO: You can pledge one of three ways … whatever’s easiest for you! Please pledge early if you can and no later than March 14th.

STEP THREE: Plan to attend the kickoff at our 11:15 service on Sunday, Feb. 28th AND our closing celebration at 7:00 p.m. on March 13th. More details to come!

Thank you for your generous support of UCE’s mission!

UCE is Kicking Off Our First-Ever Virtual Pledge Drive: February 26, 20212021-02-25T20:11:07+00:00

From the BOT: February 26, 2021

Pledge Drive Kick Off!

The 2021 pledge drive kicks off this Sunday, February 28th at the 11:15am service.  Important announcements about the pledge drive will be made at that time; so please join us!  This year the pledge drive will be different: In order to keep all volunteers and staff safe, it will be our first-ever all virtual pledge drive. You will be receiving all of the information you need to pledge through email.   The pledge drive team will not be meeting in-person with congregants, but they are happy to set up a Zoom or phone call with you.  What you give supports the mission and vision of our church.    With your financial support, we can approve a budget that empowers us to imagine our mission in bold, innovative ways under the leadership of our newly settled minister, Reverend Eileen Wiviott.  We will be able to pay our staff equitably and add hours to Reverend Susan Frances's schedule.  Every pledge matters!  Every dollar makes a difference!  Thank you for your generosity. 

Visit the Pledge Drive Page!
From the BOT: February 26, 20212021-02-25T20:03:23+00:00

Can We Change the Wording?: February 26, 2021

Learn about the 8th Principle at the next 8th Principle Town Hall gathering on Wednesday, March 10 at 6:30 pm. ALL ARE INVITED!
We will have additional congregation-wide gatherings on March 21, April 4, and April 11. If none of these dates fits into your schedule, Team 8th is considering adding either a Monday or Friday evening presentation later in April. Email Sally Parsons (psally944@gmail.com) by April 1 stating your preference. You may also plan to have your covenant group or small group discuss the 8th Prinicple when you meet in March or April.

Q&A from the Town Hall meetings: Can we change the wording? 

We will not be discussing any revisions to the 8th Principle. The established wording of the 8th Principle is: “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.” 

This wording was created by BIPOC and white UUs working in collaboration. The established wording was solidified in 2013 and has been endorsed by BLUU (Black Lives of UU) and DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries). In an effort to have the 8th Principle be a consistent message across the UU world, UCE will not be discussing any edits to the wording of the 8th Principle.  

Our friends at the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Brookfield, WI share these ideas: 

“While it is phrased differently from the more vision-focused language of the other 7 Principles, it was specifically worded to express the need for accountable action because the implicit language of dignity, respect, equity and inclusion in the current 7 Principles has not resulted in sustained and significant change towards anti-racism in the UUA or its congregations.  

Also, in our journey of understanding white supremacy culture (which includes an emphasis on the perfectibility of the written word) we recommend releasing the desire to tinker with the 8th Principle’s wording, and simply accept what UUs of color have said is needed, and the way it is being said.”  

We will continue discussing the concepts and meaning of the 8th Principle, and look forward to seeing you at one of the Town Hall meetings. 

Can We Change the Wording?: February 26, 20212021-03-05T19:13:45+00:00

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
Directions

(847) 864-1330
uce@ucevanston.org

UCE’s office hours:

Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 10 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM – 4 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM – 1 PM
Thursday: 10 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM – 4 PM
Friday: 10 AM – 1 PM
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: 10 AM – 1 PM

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 Universalist Congregation 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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