Sunday Service: In-person and Online Sunday at 10:30am

April 5, 2020

We will host an online worship service on Sunday, April 5th at 11:15 am.

“A truth so real it has lasted centuries” – Rev. Karen Mooney
In this time of ambiguity and anxiety what do we put our faith in? How do we hold onto hope for ourselves and others? Is there a message in the Palm Sunday story that holds some truth about how to live in these times? Let us explore together where we are and how the ancient stories hold open hope for this time.

We invite you to send us your concerns and gratitudes by 11:00 a.m. that morning to be read aloud by the ministers. Please submit them by clicking here. Note the 9:30 and 11:15 services are being rolled into 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 Faith in place (click here to learn more).

April 5, 20202020-03-31T22:29:48+00:00

VirtUUal RE March 29, 2020

Dear Parents,

I hope you are hanging in there this week and that you and your family are finding a new “norm”. If you’re not already connected to our Children and Youth Facebook page, please do! You’ll find suggestions on things to do at home and other ideas shared there. Of course, if you have something your family is doing that you’d like to share, I’d love to see it!

This week’s VirtUUal RE session is on the Wisdom of Simplicity. Click here to watch the video. During this video, feel free to pause when suggested, or whenever you need to, and come back to it. For the activities I mention, here are the links:

Story: Henry Builds a Cabin – https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=henry+builds+a+cabin#id=2&vid=046b6126cccef1ced81889fbed33ff39&action=click or check it out as an electronic book from your library.

Further Reading:

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg: https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrJ7JhtNXleRdsA1ExXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyNW1hOXZiBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDQjk3NjZfMQRzZWMDc2M-?p=Henry+Hikes+to+Fitchburg&fr=mcafee#action=view&id=3&vid=4a2377ff3e20e202e3da96d3c94da3ef

The Biggest House in the World by Leonni: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDg9GxETmXQ

A Squash and a Squeeze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkdX73Onf04

The Gift of Nothing by Patrick Mcdonnell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH6Btqh2fus 

Stuff by Margerite Palantini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uoBh1cW7Go

Kite Flying – here’s a simple kite you can make using a garbage bag, two dowels/sticks, string, and tape:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u5Aa3BkCQg

Neighborhood Love Notes Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1111215548947191/

Send pictures of any of the things you did to me too! kunderwood@ucevanston.org

For middle school youth, you can learn about and teach your family about Hinduism here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZXZLKclKfUSHKyrd5VeUloAcheK7F0FsG2oBdz3aY8A/edit?usp=sharing

Another resource for families from Soul Matters, Soulful Home: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ja5oAHPu9-PBGtG6x08l9eEOK78dJAfXDKeXukYaJr8/edit?usp=sharing

In Faith,

Kathy Underwood

VirtUUal RE March 29, 20202020-03-26T19:31:25+00:00

Pandemic Breeds Greater Need for Justice

Due to the harsh environment, fear, and very real health risks, most of us are settled into staying at home except for essential needs.  We are staying connected to the light of our UCE faith virtually, and staying connected to relatives and friends the same way.  AND, we are still doing what we can to be kind and thoughtful, to continue to actively help those who live on the margins, and to reach out to those who are most vulnerable right now.   

Even though we are living through a pandemic, UCE social action work continues.  Here are some of the ways to offer support: 

What Is UCE Doing These Days to Make the World Whole? 

Here are just some of the ongoing efforts in which you all are involved. 

  • UCE Endowment funds the Immigration Team request to send more than $6,700 to Team Brownsville to aid in the water purification project that provides daily drinking water to over 3,000 people at our border. 
  • UCE Endowment funds the Immigration Team request for $1,800 as a partner with Countryside UU Church and others in creating Chalice House, a home for a family or three individuals while they await determination of their application for refugee status.  http://ccuu.org/chalice-house
  • UCE folks have worked in West Rogers Park to assist Communities United in finding free food sources for people unable to leave home due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). 
  • Action e-mails to congregants and others to send messages to Jan Schakowsky, Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth encouraging them to be sure the aid package sends money to those most impacted by the current crisis. 
  • Messages to the same lawmakers to support healthy voting rights actions throughout this important election year. 
  • Social justice teams at UCE continue to meet and plan and act – virtually now for the most part .
  • UCE people are helping each other as needed, calling people, seeing who needs assistance, making masks at home for healthcare workers and those who are caring for the elderly and sick. 
  • Trying to support Black small business owners in the area, like Yo-Fresh Café which uses GrubHub for delivery. 
  • REAL Team is making plans for virtual movie discussions and more. 
  • UUPMI pen pal program and solidarity circles are ongoing.  
  • UCE’s Soup Kitchens Managers are hard at work planning creative alternate ways of serving the hungry – offering doorstep take-out!   

I’m sure there are more ongoing efforts that we have missed – let us know!  And if you want to connect with one of these groups please feel free to contact Martha Holman (holman.martha@gmail.com) or Rev. Karen Mooney (kmooney@ucevanston.org) or the team involved for more information. 

Pandemic Breeds Greater Need for Justice2020-04-02T21:07:43+00:00

VirtUUal RE – March 22, 2020

Dear Parents,

I hope you are doing as well as can be given all that is happening. I am holding you all in my thoughts and prayers – that you are able to work in safety, that your family is taking care of each other, and that you are finding some joy and gratitude in this challenging time.

This week’s VirtUUal RE session is on the Wisdom of Our Bodies. Here is the link to it: https://youtu.be/KuybkrY7sIc

During this video, feel free to pause when suggested, or whenever you need to, and come back to it. For the activities I mention, here are the links:

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iEdCgp1QEc

Parts that Bend (Sung to: “B-I-N-G-O) – https://www.preschooleducation.com/sbody.shtml

For middle school youth, you can learn about and teach your family about Hinduism here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10mRlDC3-byDxANUwAHhm0E9qs4ep0wBFSuL5im3G1js/edit?usp=sharing

There will also be a virtual check-in and gathering on Monday mornings at 10a and Wednesday evenings at 7:30p, where folks can drop in to share what is happening in their lives and do an activity or read a story. I encourage you to share your ideas too! Perhaps families could take turns showing a simple craft or activity that they did during the week? Let’s see what we can do with this!

For Monday, March 23, you can Join Zoom Meeting at
https://zoom.us/j/712829587?pwd=bUtkejVHOUwzOFFpcEhuSXQrWlBCUT09
Password 251684

For March 25, Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/850227269?pwd=dno2NWhsUytpd1lTdHJMRXlkeWFBQT09
Password: 060826

Another resource for families from Soul Matters, Soulful Home: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ja5oAHPu9-PBGtG6x08l9eEOK78dJAfXDKeXukYaJr8/edit?usp=sharing

In Faith,

Kathy Underwood

VirtUUal RE – March 22, 20202020-03-20T18:00:47+00:00

Virtual RE 03-15-2020

Dear Parents,

I hope you are doing as well as can be given all that is happening this week. I am holding you all in my thoughts and prayers – yes, even those of you who I haven’t met yet! Parenting is challenging enough these days, and when exceptional events happen, it becomes even more so.

I did a short ~16 minute video of this week’s RE session for the elementary ages. Here is the link to it: https://youtu.be/OUW5Hwdwz3U

I am not a video person by any means, so this was a good learning experience for me! Since we will be virtual for a bit longer than one week, I will hopefully get more comfortable with this as time goes on! During this video, feel free to pause when suggested, or whenever you need to, and come back to it. I talk about a link to a YouTube video on how to make a mini-book. Here is the link to that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-XcyV9rwwY

For middle school youth, we had planned to visit the Buddhist Center, but had to cancel it. So, let’s try the next best thing: a virtual tour! Here’s one created in China by university students from Idaho: http://thinglinkblog.com/2017/05/26/virtual-reality-tour-of-chinese-buddhist-monastery-on-thinglink/

For high school youth, there will be a virtual youth group gathering at 7p. Youth can join via this link: https://zoom.us/j/310513248?pwd=SkFrK3F4QzQvanJWdGozemJxcXNQUT09
Meeting ID: 310 513 248
Password: 650391

I would like to offer some virtual check-ins during the week – perhaps one afternoon for young kids, and another for older youth and then one for parents. If this would be valuable to you and your family, simply e-mail kunderwood@ucevanston.org and let me know which days/times work best from these:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday at 4-4:30p for younger kids
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday at 8-8:30p for older youth
Monday, Wednesday, or Friday at 10a for parents
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday at 9p for parents

Some resources:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tumble-science-podcast-for-kids/id984771479?i=1000468315460&fbclid=IwAR0mXj2qJ6aEjVe7oetXq0u_eJ8o6Lg21BEqvz5mmKyoNNSAUubKlQfK6bQ

  • Don’t forget the family pages in your UU World magazine!

And to end on a happier note, a little UU humor:

The youngsters in a UU RE program were drawing pictures. The adult leader asked one, “What are you drawing a picture of?”
“I’m drawing a picture of God,” was the reply.
“But nobody knows what God looks like,” objected the adult.
“They will,” said the youngster, “when I get my picture done.”

In Faith,

Kathy

Virtual RE 03-15-20202020-03-15T14:26:17+00:00

You’re Invited!

Invitation to Celebrate and Re-dedicate UCE’s Mission and the Start of the Annual UCE Pledge Drive

“Nurturing the human spirit for a world made whole.” 

On February 23 at 10:30am you are invited to participate in a worship experience celebrating and re-dedicating UCE to its Mission. This service will include the singer/songwriter Peter Mayer and stories from you of how your life is informed by the mission of UCE.  

Please take some time to consider what about your connection to UCE nurtures your spirit.  

Recall a time when a UCE-associated experience, relationship, enhanced awareness, or intentional practice fed your better self; when you have been inspired or found hope or restored confidence. Think about something that happened at UCE when you knew that you were not alone but part of something greater than yourself; when you experienced or witnessed the the “love that is the spirit of this church.” How has your spirit been nurtured? 

Consider then how that nourished spirit has moved you and/or others toward making the world whole. 

Recall a time when when you have been engaged at your job or as a volunteer, when you experienced or witnessed the world inching toward wholeness; a time informed by your UU Faith or some invitation from UCE. 

What is the story of that recollection? Might that story inspire others? Nurture their spirits? Reinforce hope for wholeness? 

If so, please consider sharing your story. Here are some ways to do that: 

  • Just tell it in coffee hour. 
  • In February when I am in Evanston, in place of our Brown Bag conversations, we will be having Story Circles, which will be opportunities to hear and tell your experiences of living the UCE mission. 
  • Write your story and send it to admin@ucevanston.org. These stories will be collected and shared as part of UCE history AND with Ministerial candidates. 
  • ALSO if you are willing for your story to be shared at the service on February 23, please indicate that on your submission. We will be choosing five or six stories representing a wide demographic of UCE to use with Peter Mayer’s music. 
  • There will be three additional stories selected to share on Sundays in March. 

A mission needs to be more than words. It is a dynamic spirit that nourishes and is nourished by the lived experience of the community that claims it. Whether you are just finding UCE or have made it your home, we welcome your stories! 

You’re Invited!2020-01-31T00:51:11+00:00

Beware Email Scams – January 2020

Attention!

Do not fall for email scams asking for a favor using the minister’s name with a made up email. A creative but ill-intentioned person or network is using clergy names to send emails from created email addresses to ask for gift cards. You may get an email that sounds something like this:

Good morning,

I need a favor from you
Email me as soon as you get this

God Bless
Rev. Karen Gustafson

When you respond, they give you a story about someone they need you to send gift cards to. This is a scam. Do not fall for it. You can report these through your email:

  • Mark them as phishing or report them as Spam or block the Sender based on their content. If the sender is using another Gmail address (please confirm before reporting), use this form to report abuse – I would like to report a Gmail user who has sent messages that violate the Gmail Program Policies and/or Terms of Use.

  • You can’t prevent spoofing. So, recipients must remain alert, particularly for messages supposedly from people they trust which they may find under Spam or vice versa.

  • As a rule of thumb, if ever suspicious about any email, check whether the email was authenticated by the sending domain. Click on the drop-down arrow underneath the sender’s name (next to the receiver’s name), and make sure the domain seen next to the ‘mailed-by’ or ‘signed-by’ lines matches the sender’s email address. e.g: If you see messages claiming to be from google.com, but are not properly authenticated as coming from google.com, then they are phishing messages and you must report them. For additional details, click on this link: Email authentication

  • You can also report the gift card scam to the Federal Trade Commission in DC. Many of these crimes are under-reported and discounted as not traceable or not worth pursuing by most organizations and people who experience this type of crime. FTC has a hot line to call about these types of scams and they appreciate getting as much information as possible from concerned citizens and since they used your e-mail information you should contact them and give them all the information you have available to you.
    Federal Trade Commission
    Washington, DC
    Eastern Regional Center
    (202) 326-2222

We appreciate you letting us know that this is happening and are grateful that so many are recognizing this as a scam. However, it is difficult to respond to the flood of emails and texts asking about this. Please know we regret that this is happening and there is little we can do to prevent it. If you can report or mark the email as phishing, that is helpful. If you’d like to report the incident to us, you can use the contact form on the website at https://ucevanston.org/contact/

Beware Email Scams – January 20202021-01-26T22:35:26+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 – Thursday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Friday: 10 AM – 1 PM
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: 10 AM – 2 PM

In-person and Virtual Sunday Service is held at 10:30 am.

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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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