Claiming Our Identities, Claiming Our Joy

As the summer fades and the throngs attending the various identity parades disburse, it is sometimes difficult to continue to claim our identities and claim our joy on our own. You are not alone. Join us this Sunday as we honor the culmination of identities that makes each of us unique and experience the joy that comes from getting to know ourselves.

Also, bring your backpack, school bag, or work bag for a blessing! As we head into a new school year, and for some new jobs or a new work season, we will be sending you off with a blessing. 

Rev. Susan Frances, Kathy Underwood, and Carla Williams lead the service along with Robb Geiger, hymn leader and pianist, Gregory Shifrin.

Today’s offering will be shared with Brave Space Alliance, an LGBTQ+ focused Center on Chicago’s South Side that welcomes and serves all who come through our doors.  

Upcoming Services

August 24 – Claiming Our Identities; Claiming Our Joy – Rev Susan

August 31 – Honoring the UU Service Committee – Rev. Eileen

September 7 – Ingathering/Water Communion – All Ages – Rev. Eileen

September 14 – Belonging: Interdependence & Engagement – Rev. Eileen

Growing Curiosity

Masks are required for this service.

Cultivating curiosity, in a polarized and atomized world in which entrenched certainty is validated, is a revolutionary spiritual practice. Let’s explore the call of our values, visions, and covenant to practice curiosity and a willingness to learn. Let’s lean into the possibilities born in the release of certainty. Rev. Eileen leads this service with Andy Fisher as Worship Associate. Gregory Shifrin, on piano, is our music leader.

Today’s offering will be shared with Brave Space Alliance, an LGBTQ+ organization in Chicago’s south side providing services, programs, and an affirming space. Their mission is to empower, embolden, and educate one another through mutual aid, knowledge sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as they build a world of liberty and justice for all.

Upcoming Services

August 24 – Claiming Our Identities; Claiming Our Joy – Rev Susan

August 31 – Honoring the UU Service Committee – Rev. Eileen

September 7 – Ingathering/Water Communion – All Ages – Rev. Eileen

September 14 – Belonging: Interdependence & Engagement – Rev. Eileen

The Journey of Discovering Love Without Limits

Wendy Herman, UCE member and storyteller, shares her spiritual journey of discovering how to live a life of compassion. Rev. Eileen will be the worship associate. Gregory Shifrin offers his musical gifts on the piano and Kiley Korey will be our soloist.

Today’s offering will be shared with Brave Space Alliance, an LGBTQ+ organization in Chicago’s south side providing services, programs, and an affirming space. Their mission is to empower, embolden, and educate one another through mutual aid, knowledge sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as they build a world of liberty and justice for all.

Upcoming Services

August 17 – Curiosity – Rev. Eileen (Masks Required)

August 24 – Claiming Our Identities; Claiming Our Joy – Rev Susan

August 31 – Honoring the UU Service Committee – Rev Eileen

September 7 – Ingathering/Water Communion – All Ages – Rev. Eileen

Exploring AI Part 3: Building Our Future Together

In this final sermon of our summer series on artificial intelligence, we turn toward the future not with certainty, but with courage and care. If faith means stepping into the unknown with open hearts, then we are a people of faith, facing a changing world together. We’ll reflect on the power of community, the beauty of imperfection, and the invitation to help shape a future we may not fully see, grounded in love and guided by our shared values.

Dr. Emma Farrell leads the service with Lynn Kendall as Worship Associate. Melissa Briody and Gregory Shifrin share their musical talents. 

Today’s offering will be shared with Brave Space Alliance, an LGBTQ+ organization in Chicago’s south side providing services, programs, and an affirming space. Their mission is to empower, embolden, and educate one another through mutual aid, knowledge sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as they build a world of liberty and justice for all.

Upcoming Services

August 10 – Wendy Herman’s Spiritual Journey 

August 17 – Curiosity – Rev. Eileen (Masks Required)

August 24 – Claiming Our Identities; Claiming Our Joy – Rev Susan

August 31 – Honoring the UU Service Committee – Rev Eileen

Disability Pride & the Evolution of Community Belonging 

This Sunday masks are required during our worship service. We will honor the 35th anniversary of the American Disabilities Act, celebrate Disability Pride Month, and reflect on the ways our congregation continues to evolve into a community of belonging for people with hidden and visible disabilities. Rev. Susan Frances and Gail Smith lead our service along with pianist Gregory Shifrin. 

Today’s offering will be shared with Open Communities, which works to eradicate housing discrimination and unjust practices that perpetuate segregation and inequity. 

Upcoming Services

August 3 – Exploring AI (Pt. 3) – Dr. Emma

August 10 – Wendy Herman’s Spiritual Journey 

August 17 – Curiosity – Rev. Eileen (Masks Required)

August 24 – Claiming Our Identities, Claiming Our Joy – Rev. Susan

Exploring AI Part 2: The Soul in the Machine

 Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping our world, and raising big questions about what it means to be human. Who is creating these technologies, and whose values are encoded within them? What might AI reflect back to us about ourselves, and how do we stay rooted in compassion, discernment, and care amid the noise?

Join us as we explore the spiritual dimensions of this technological moment. Together we’ll reflect on what it means to stay truly human in an age of machines.

Dr. Emma Farrell, ministerial intern, leads this service with Robb Geiger, Worship Associate. Gregory Shifrin shares his talents on piano, and Chester Beck appears as guest soloist.

Today’s offering will be shared with Open Communities, which works to eradicate housing discrimination and unjust practices that perpetuate segregation and inequity.

Upcoming Services

July 27 – Disability Pride & the Evolution of Community Belonging – Rev. Susan (Masks Required)

August 3 – Exploring AI (Pt. 3) – Dr. Emma

August 10 – Wendy Herman’s Spiritual Journey

On Humility

 If hubris will be the downfall of humanity, can humility save us? Exploring the imperative of living in a world that needs us to live our values boldly, while knowing no one, alone, is enough. Rev. Eileen leads this service with Sarah Vanderwicken as Worship Associate. Gregory Shifrin enriches our service with his musical talents.

Today’s offering will be shared with Open Communities, which works to eradicate housing discrimination and unjust practices that perpetuate segregation and inequity. 

Upcoming Services

July 20 – Exploring AI (Pt. 2) – Dr. Emma

July 27 – Disability Pride & the Evolution of Community Belonging – Rev. Susan (Masks Required)

August 3 – Exploring AI (Pt. 3) – Dr. Emma

August 10 – Wendy Herman’s Spiritual Journey 

Seeking Refuge

In honor of World Refugee Day (June 20th) we are exploring the national, Unitarian Universalist and our congregation’s history of supporting people needing refuge and how we can engage in this life saving work today. Rev. Eileen leads the service with members of the Immigrant Solidarity Team – Janelle Brittain, Jeanne Kerl, Anne Sullivan, and Maggie Wilson. Melissa Briody will be the hymn leader and Ken Smith is our guest pianist this morning.

This week’s offering will be shared with Open Communities, whose mission is to eradicate housing discrimination and unjust practices that perpetuate segregation and inequity. We foster thriving, inclusive communities through fair housing enforcement, housing counseling, education, outreach, and advocacy.

Upcoming Services

July 13 – On Humility – Rev. Eileen

July 20 – Exploring AI (Pt. 2) – Dr. Emma

July 27 – Disability Pride & the Evolution of Community Belonging – Rev. Susan (Masks Required)

August 3 – Exploring AI (Pt. 3) – Dr. Emma

Throughout history, technological leaps have sparked fear and uncertainty, prompting questions about what it means to be human. Now, as artificial intelligence reshapes our world, similar fears arise. Join us as we explore how to hold our anxieties with gentleness and approach AI with mindfulness, guided by our shared UU values. Together, we’ll consider how our tradition’s wisdom can help us embrace the unknown with open hearts and grounded spirits.

Today’s offering will be shared with Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network Illinois, known as UUANI. UUANI empowers Unitarian Universalists across Illinois to work for spiritually grounded, relationally accountable, and strategically effective action in solidarity with those most impacted by injustice.

July 6 – World Refugee Day – Rev. Eileen with Immigrant Solidarity Team

July 13 – On Humility – Rev. Eileen

July 20 – Exploring AI (Pt. 2) – Dr. Emma