We Are From The Water – For our annual Ingathering ritual we come together and gather waters that symbolize our activities during the summer months, the drops of rain that have scattered and regroup to form refreshing, life-giving streams of community. Bring a little container of water – either symbolic or actual – from your travels or staycations or daily activities in the months of longer light. Rev. Karen Gustafson, our Interim Minister, and Rev. Eileen Wiviott, our Acting Senior Minister, will co-lead this service welcoming you to this year of transformation in the life of our congregation. Please join us! This will be a one service, worship for all ages, Sunday at 10 a.m. Immediately following the service, Rev. Karen will lead a discussion of the interim activities planned for this year.

Immigrant Stories – Dispelling myths and changing the narrative, sharing stories is a powerful way to cast away the shadows of fear and lies. We consider our stories, the stories of our families, and the journeys that have brought us to this time and place.

Our Faith in Truth and Meaning: Moving from Certainty to Curiosity – Bring your Backpacks, Bookbags and Briefcases to be Blessed in this end of summer ritual. As we get ready to go back to school or more fully back to work, we invite people of all ages to bring your backpacks and brief cases on Sunday, August 25th to be blessed in our service. Carry the love, wisdom and courage of Unitarian Universalism with you through your week of learning, growing and working.

Beloved Conversations: Meditations on Race and Ethnicity – More than 10% of our congregation has participated in this transformative curriculum developed by the Fahs Collaborative of Meadville Lombard Theological School. Beloved Conversations creates an intentional, supportive space where participants can learn, reflect and share about their own experiences with race and white privilege and identify opportunities for individual and communal growth. In this service, participants will share their learnings and hopes for UCE as we continue to practice Beloved Community.

Denominational Affairs – Unitarian Universalists make up a small percentage of the population but our voice can be a mighty force for good if we collaborate beyond the walls of our congregations. There are many ways to connect to the larger UU movement to engage in the work of social justice and be a part of the ongoing stream of our faith tradition. We will hear from some among us who have had transformative experiences within Unitarian Universalism beyond our walls, learning of the “Power of We.” Rev. Eileen leads the service.

Telling the Truth – For a study group, I was asked to write a paper on “Truth.” I thought that might be simple, but many books and magazine articles later, I found it to be a subject with more than one answer. In this service, I will present my findings and ways we might approach “The Truth” in the political arena.

Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher is Minister Emerita from DuPage UU church. For over 30 ears she labored in the vineyards of UU churches as a teacher, Member of the Board, DRE, and Minister. In retirement, she has moved to Chicago to be nearer to her two granddaughters whose parents wouldn’t consider living anywhere else. Before becoming a minister, Emmy Lou was an artist with a degree from the University of Michigan and teaching credentials from Carthage College in Kenosha. She has run art galleries, done restoration work in old Detroit mansions, illustrated ads and created logos, worked the ropes for a tree trimmer and cutter, and taught art to people from age 5 through 80.

Person ≠ Mental Health Obstacle – People living with mental health obstacles are but one group who desire the visibility of the individual. We live in a society that is fascinated with labels. One could imagine that labeling is a way of our culture that aims to provide a comfort zone for the unknown. Nevertheless, many individuals want family, church, work, and society-at-large to see them beyond such labels.

     Jon Gilbert Martinez is a recent graduate with a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He is originally from Deep South Texas along the US/Mexico border and a multi-generational Tejano and Chicano. His home church is First Congregational Church of Evanston a part of the United Church of Christ where Gilbert is a member in discernment on track for ordination. Currently, he serves as the Community Pastoral Care Minister at San Lucas UCC in Humboldt Park. He also serves on the United Church of Christ Mental Health Network Board of Directors. Gilbert lives in Chicago with his husband, infant son, two nieces, sister, and several fur-children.

Every Long Journey – Curiosity is a gift but to act on it requires courage. Empathy is a skill and to learn it enables us to move from a place of shame to a place of compassion and courage.  Come listen to voices of curiosity, empathy, and courage in the songs we will sing, in the meditative music of crystal tone bowls, and in the words of Rev. Linda’s sermon.

Rev. Linda Slabon, LCSW, served the UU Fellowship of DeKalb for 26 years along with her spouse, Dr. Toni Tollerud, who served as Music Director. Now retired, Linda is a Minister Emerita, a DeKalb County Board member, and Clinical Social Worker.  She sees clients in her private practice and completes the laundry at home promptly.

A retired professor from Northern Illinois University, Toni does state-wide seminars on supervision and trauma, and gardens with a passion. Grandma Toni and Bionic Nana Linda (with her new titanium hips) love to sing with their three year old grand-daughter, Amelia.