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
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
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
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
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 Sanctuary Working Group, a solidarity organization, which 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 – Rev. Susan
May 4th – Faith Formation Recognition
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Understanding Each Other
Rev. Susan is back from her three-month sabbatical, during which she traveled through Nepal and Morocco. She encountered people from many backgrounds, from fellow travelers to her Nepali and Moroccan hosts, teachers, and guides. Her conversations restored her hope for our future. This Sunday, she will share some of her experiences around opening ourselves up to discussions involving complicated cultural and political topics as we continue to vision a future that benefits all.
Today’s offering will be shared with Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network Illinois (UUANI), whose mission is to build power among UU congregations in Illinois to accountably advocate with those who have been historically marginalized.
Upcoming worship services:
April 6th – Music Sunday – The Practice of Joy
April 13th – Rev. Eileen with UCE Youth on Joy
April 20th – Easter Sunday and Child Dedications – Rev. Eileen with Dr. Emma Farrell
Sunday, March 23, 2025
Call & Response
Singing out and singing together is part of the creation story of humanity. When our ancestors felt worried or alone, they called out into the darkness with song, and their community would respond in harmony. Join us for a service of song and silence, and an exploration of call and response. When times are uncertain, let’s gather to celebrate the communities where we practice love and resilience.
March’s shared offering recipient is the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI), whose mission is to equip UU’s in Illinois to transform institutions; partnering with and supporting people harmed by the prison industrial complex.
Upcoming Worship Services
March 30th – Rev. Susan returns from sabbatical to share her experiences
April 6th – Music Sunday – The Practice of Joy
April 13th – Rev. Eileen with UCE Youth on Joy
April 20th – Easter Sunday and Child Dedications – Rev. Eileen with Dr. Emma Farrell
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Trusting the Way
Up is down. Left is right. Fact is fiction. In these dizzying and dispiriting times what and who can we trust?
Drawing from The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust by Francis S. Collins, Rev. Eileen with worship associate, Robb Geiger, will explore the essentialness of cultivating trust in community. The UCE Choir, directed by Vickie Hellyer and accompanied by Gregory Shifrin will lift our spirits.
March’s shared offering recipient is the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI), whose mission is to equip UU’s in Illinois to transform institutions; partnering with and supporting people harmed by the prison industrial complex.
Upcoming Worship Services
March 23rd – Call and Response – Matt Meyers, UU Musician and Worship Leader
March 30th – Rev. Susan returns from sabbatical to share her experiences
April 6th – Music Sunday – The Practice of Joy
April 13th – Rev. Eileen with UCE Youth and Young Adults on Joy