Sunday, December 24, 5:00pm – “Lessons and Carols, UU-Style”
An untraditional service, crafted with families in mind, of Lessons & Carols with traditional texts set against modern poetry and prose. The trombone choir will play a brass prelude beginning at 4:45.

Sunday, December 24, 9:00pm – “For the Time Being,” a service of Lessons and Carols based on W. H. Auden’s famous Christmas poem.
A dramatic reading of W. H. Auden’s For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio in the form of colorful monologues spoken by the traditional characters in the Christmas story. Widely viewed as one of Auden’s greatest works in which he reconsiders the idea of faith in modern times, the poem recasts the story as relevant to finding hope in the dark days of the ancient world, and ours. The choir sings at the 9pm service.

Alice Swan

Even though the UCE annual meeting and election is six months away, your Nominating and Recruiting (N&R) Committee is already hard at work. Per UCE bylaws, N&R is responsible for identifying candidates for positions that are elected by the church membership. Those positions are the Board of Trustees (3 new members annually), the Endowment Committee (1 trustee annually) and N&R (3 new members annually). UCE bylaws can be found here.

We are currently reviewing our church membership lists to see who we think might be ready to move into various church leadership roles including, but not limited to the positions listed above. To that end, we have begun scheduling one-on-one conversations with some members we feel may have potential to become more involved church participants.

However, there are only nine of us and several hundred of you, many of whom we would like to meet and get to know better. In addition, we are feeling a need to support and embrace our church’s progress toward increasing our diversity – diversity of thought and experiences and ways of approaching problems. Accordingly, we are taking this early opportunity to reach out to all our UCE members to get your suggestions and comments for people we should be considering. Specifically, if you know anyone you think we should be considering for a position, including yourself, please let us know.

If you are looking for additional ways to focus your time and talent, speak to or email our N&R Co-Chairs Shirley Adams and Alice Swan or any N&R team member (Chris Allender, Steve Courtright, Ally Hunter, Sarah Iles, John LaPlante, Ruth Orme-Johnson and Steve Serikaku). We can then follow up with more one-on-one interviews and make sure that the Unitarian Church of Evanston is as representative and responsive as possible.  Thank you for your advice and help in this important part of church life.

We need to feed ourselves, of course, but we also need to feed our Dedicated Funds. So what better than a Potluck and Raffle to fill both needs?

On December 3^rd, Music Sunday, following the second service, the Social Justice Council and its associated teams will provide a Potluck and Raffle for the benefit of hungry Unitarian Universalists and for the replenishment of three of our much-used and increasingly depleted Dedicated Funds.

The first of these funds, the Community Action Fund, was used toward membership in Open Communities, covered expenses for UCE’s February overnight shelter (this in conjunction with Interfaith Action), and was used by our intern, Kevin DeBeck, for gift cards to help veterans in need, as part of our Military outreach.

With the second of these, the Marjorie Fisher Environmental Fund, we have established our attractive and environmentally-friendly Rain Gardens. We also recently sent representatives to the Green Team Summit of Faith in Place, a multi-congregational environmental organization and resource for UCE’s Green Team.

With the third fund, the Susan Walker Social Action Fund, we have, as a congregation, sponsored the Race Against Hate. This race, established by Rickie Byrdsong’s widow, family, and friends, helps fight hatred in all its forms.  Proceeds from the race are used by the local YWCA for racial justice and violence prevention work.

Funds from the Susan Walker Social Action Fund were applied to the training and curriculum for our Beloved Conversation groups, to costs of racial justice workshops and presentations brought to UCE by the REAL team, and to Rainbow Alliance’s book cart purchases related to LGBTQ issues.

If you wish to help support UCE’s Social Justice work, and you have a favorite dish (main dish, salad/side dish, or dessert) which you would be willing to prepare for this Potluck, please sign up now at the link below.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15lWRghIKZVm4369_Tlj4qsWjL3ZUdil5jIYUPzVz-Js/edit?usp=sharing

This Sunday, the music will feature guest musician Henry Pleas. Henry H. Pleas, III  has appeared as leading tenor in operatic productions throughout the United States and Europe. He has appeared as soloist for Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Grand Rapids, Skylight Opera Theater, Chicago Opera Theater and South Shore Opera Company of Chicago. Henry was a finalist in the Lotte Lehman CyberSing competition,  and a past participant in the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists.  Henry toured with the American Spiritual Ensemble for their 2016 season and received critical acclaim for his performance in Harriet Tubman: When I crossed that Line to Freedom (2016).  In 2017 “Come Down Angels!” a recording of Vocal Works by Women Composers was released for the Unveiled Voices Project (UVP).  Henry Pleas is the founder and CEO of UVP, an enterprise which seeks to produce and perform quality works by composers deserving performance on world concert stages, but denied based on gender, race, sexuality or other characteristics having nothing to do with achieving musical excellence.

Many members and friends of UCE have made donations over the years for special purposes. These donations have been consolidated into a number of Dedicated Funds, including several especially intended to support Social Justice initiatives.

On December 3^rd, following Music Sunday Services, the Social Justice Council and its associated teams will provide a Potluck and Raffle to help replenish three of the Dedicated Funds.

These are (1) the Marjorie Fisher Environmental Fund, which supports Green Team efforts including Green Sanctuary certification, efforts to make our building more environmentally sustainable, recycling in the church, organic gardening, Faith in Place sponsorship, etc., (2) the Susan Walker Fund, which is dedicated to projects and initiatives that promote social change, cultural diversity, and economic justice, and (3) the Community Action Fund, which supports activities that alleviate the hardship, suffering, and alienation of homelessness and/or hunger in our community.

More information about these Funds will follow in an up-coming newsletter.

If you wish to help support UCE’s Social Justice work, and you have a favorite dish (main dish, salad/side dish, or dessert) which you would be willing to prepare for this Potluck, please sign up now at the link below.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15lWRghIKZVm4369_Tlj4qsWjL3ZUdil5jIYUPzVz-Js/edit?usp=sharing

Mark your calendar now to begin your planning for Guest At Your Table (GAYT) this year. An annual program of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), this program raises crucial funds for UU social justice work in the United States and around the world. The idea is take home a GAYT box and make a small daily contribution, an amount perhaps equal to what we would pay to host a guest at our dinner table.

Whether you sit down to dinner with a large family or on your own, the box is, in a season so often prone to frenetic activity and commercialization, a tool for daily mindfulness about the hope that each of us may bring to address real need and ease suffering in the world, and about the deeper meanings of this holiday season. As we launch and throughout our GAYT season (Sun Nov 12 – Sun Jan 7), we’ll be sharing. via the RE newsletter and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/520586461667097/), stories and resources for your dinner table reflections and conversations. The boxes will be collected as the season of Epiphany begins, and there will be an opportunity for all to share our collective epiphanies from this daily practice during our first Sunday together in the new year.

As we look forward to Endowment Sunday this week, we want to remind you of the purpose of the Endowment Fund and fill you in on some of what Endowment has accomplished this year!

The UCE Endowment fund was established in 1986 as a source of support for special projects that further the mission and work of UCE. It is intended to provide a strong and lasting financial foundation which will nourish the congregation and the church’s programs as well as strengthen UCE’s vital position in the wider community. The fund grows each year through investment growth and new gifts. Each year, a maximum of 5% of the funds is available to fund projects. The funds are used for projects outside of the operating budget, such as community outreach, scholarships and grants, special opportunities for enrichment within the congregation, and UCE building and property upgrades and repairs.

The fund has supported a wide variety of projects over the years, including the all church Racial Equity Training program, furniture for the Syrian refugee family, a new nametag cabinet, a new sound system for the sanctuary, new kitchen appliances, and many, many more. In 2017, the fund was able to support several projects, including scholarships for general assembly, a new AV technician, and our new elevator which will be coming soon! You can see the full list of the projects that have been funded by endowment grants at ucevanston.org/endowment.

There are many different ways that you can donate to the UCE Endowment Fund. You can make Endowment part of your legacy by naming the Fund as a beneficiary in your IRA, life insurance policy, retirement plan, will, or trust. You can also make a one time or recurring cash gift to remember a significant person, event or occasion. You can also make a memorial gift to honor the passing of a loved one. Those who make a gift of $10,000 or more will be enrolled in the Nellie Brough Legacy Society and will be recognized in the UCE lobby.

Our available funds are based on the amount in the fund at the end of the year. So, the amount of funds available for 2018 will be 5% of the amount in the fund at the end of this year.  Any donations made this year will have real impact on the projects we can fund in 2018. Currently, the fund has grown to over $400,000. This means that at least $20,000 will be available to fund projects in 2018! If you have been thinking about making a gift to the Endowment Fund, either over several months or a one time gift, this might be the perfect time to speak with a committee member.

The more we have in the fund at the end of the year, the more projects we will be able to support!

Please contact us at endowment@ucevanston.org.

Trustees:

Ellen Zacny
Amy Dooley
Marianne Griebler
 

Committee Members:

Ally Hunter
Barbara Butz
Holly Bergren
Jim Clark
Kay Gibbs-Novy
Will Van Dyke

After you peruse our catalog here (no log in required) or pick up your Serendipity Auction catalog at church this Sunday, you’ll be excited by the outstanding items you have to choose from. There are old favorites and new and exciting offerings. And don’t forget to book your delicious dinner (lemon pepper chicken and pasta primavera) and free childcare here.

So, what can you expect?

– 24 group outings offered this year! It’s a wonderful way to interact with your fellow UCE members and meet some new people.

– Many items in our Children’s section this year, which also work as great gifts for families with children. Think of the auction as a way to get your holiday shopping done early.

– Gift cards galore, tickets to shows, art pieces, physical fitness, delicious food, lessons, and everything in between.

– Check out the lodging options and see if any would be perfect for your family vacation this year.

Pick up your catalog at the back of the sanctuary after church this Sunday to browse the offerings and check your availability for dinners and vacations. Please bring your checkbook, but we will still gladly accept credit cards with a 3% fee. Remember to bring your copy of the catalog with you, and see you on November 11 at 5:30pm.

The Serendipity Auction has been around for at least 40 years and this year it’s getting a few exciting upgrades.

We are thrilled to announce that for the first time Curt’s Cafe is catering the event. Come and enjoy delicious food with a purpose. There will be gluten-free and vegetarian options available, and a vegan option upon request.

We also have a brand new auctioneer who performs magic. It will be fun for all of you to meet him and enjoy some new tricks. We are sure you won’t be disappointed.

There’s more—this year we have two new co-chairs, Susan Comstock and Jenny Walsh. They are incredibly enthusiastic and coming up with inspired ways to make this a very special evening. You can contact them with any questions you have about donations or the event. Take a look at the catalog here and you’ll see the creative donations already posted.

Another change is that we are encouraging people to bring their checkbook this year. There will be a service fee of 3% for all credit card transactions to match the actual cost the church incurs. Think of it as a positive change, because if we avoid service fees, UCE will be able to raise even more funds for all our fantastic programming. Plan ahead and bring your checkbook!

What else is new? Your one-of-a-kind donation! Help by providing a new and exciting item for the auction. There is still time to donate items at the following link: http://www.togetherauction.com/ucevanston. The deadline for your item to be featured in the catalog is October 29th.

Dinner is $15 with a reservation ($5 for children 6-11) and $20 at the door, so make sure to make a reservation. For $15 you get a delicious full dinner, open bar, and free childcare. Click here or you can call the office to make your reservations for dinner and/or childcare.

UCE will host the Emergency Overnight Shelter again this year. Interfaith Action of Evanston provides some staff to manage the shelters, which rotate among six different faith communities but we need you to help volunteer, especially when UCE hosts during the weeks of February 25, March 4, and March 18. What we need to focus on now is the brief but necessary training. Three opportunities for this hour-long training will be offered at 7pm on 11/7, 11/8, 11/9. You only need to attend one of these evenings if you haven’t been trained before. Below are details about the volunteer roles and the locations of the training sessions. Thank you for your much needed help keeping people off the streets on the coldest winter nights.

Volunteers roles for the overnight shelter

Set-up Volunteers – 8:00 pm to 9:30  pm – able to set up the cots, prepare the rooms, prepare hot drinks and greet guests as they arrive at 9:00

Overnight Volunteers – 9 pm to 7 am – able to spend the night to assist the staff person.  Lights will be turned out at 10:00.  Volunteers should be able to get some sleep.

 Clean-up Volunteers – 6 to 7 am – able to help wake the guests and ensure they leave the facility on time.  Also assists the supervisor in taking down/storing cots, cleaning up the facility, and preparing the laundry/cots for pickup.

 Emergency Shelter volunteer requirements:

…Attend one training session

…Comfortable with email notifications

…Compassionate heart and ability to get along with diverse people

…Listening ear

…Reliable and prompt

…Boundary keeper (Able to enforce rules, not easily manipulated)

Please email Sue Murphy at ia@interfaithactionofevanston.org if you are interested or for more information.

Training Sessions (required to come to one)

Tuesday, November 7         7pm                Northminster Presbyterian Church

2515 Central Park

Wednesday, November 8   7pm                First Congregational Church

1417 Hinman

Thursday, November 9       7pm                First Presbyterian Church

1427 Chicago