Dear Friends,
I love new experiences. From trying a new food to trying trapeze for the first time, I love the curiosity, the openness, and even the occasional trepidation that accompanies trying something new. The photos are of me flying and then falling into the net at the trapeze school on Foster Beach in Chicago a few weeks ago.
Before the pandemic, trying something new for me typically involved traveling. Since I am not yet getting on planes, trains, or buses, I am actively seeking out new things that I can experience close to home. Things that I can do outside, inside with a mask on, or online. Things that have always been around me, but my attention has been elsewhere.
One of the new things I recently said yes to is being an online presenter at the Faith in Place 2022 Green Team Summit. I will be one of a handful of faith leaders each presenting a short spiritual practice that grounds our environmental justice work during Session 3: Interwoven – Exploring Environmental Justice with Faith Leaders on September 12, 2022.
What will be a new experience for you this year? What might you say yes to?
Here are a few things you are invited to say yes to:
· Vote in the November 8, 2022 election. The three Illinois Supreme Court elections are crucial this year. Educate yourself on the issues. Fill out one of the “I Commit to Vote This Election” sheets while waiting in line for food at our congregational picnic this Sunday.
· Take our UCE Journey of Belonging series, which is a membership class for visitors and members. Get to know folks in our UCE community as we delve into UU History, our sources, and our values and principles. The first three classes (A Journey Through UU History; Spiritual Journeys & Inspiration; and Journeying in Covenant) are for everyone and the fourth class (Journey Toward Membership) is geared toward visitors interested in becoming a member.
Register here for the online series being held each Tuesday in October from 7:00-8:00 pm. The first three classes will be part of the regular Tuesday night adult education program and the fourth class will be additional for visitors interested in becoming a member.
The series will also be offered in-person on the second Sunday of each month. Register here for A Journey Through UU History on October 9, 2022 from 9:30-10:30 am.
· Join a 6-month Covenant Group meeting from October 2022-March 2023. A Covenant Group is designed for meaningful connections between members of a group of up to 10 people who meet on a regular basis to establish and further themselves in community. Click here to sign up
· Volunteer to be on the Greeters Hospitality Team. We have a core of dedicated volunteers who would love to have you join the Team to welcome everyone on Sunday morning. Email me at sfrances@ucevanston.org to find out more.
· Volunteer with the Mitten Tree. This is our annual program to provide winter holiday gifts to clients of organizations that share our values. We are looking for a co-captain as well as shoppers and wrappers. Contact Bridget Wild to find out more.
I know some of us are feeling overwhelmed and the idea of doing anything outside of what is required to get through the day is not an option. If that is true for you, please reach out to family or friends, contact me, or consider submitting a Request for Care form to get connected with Rev. Eileen or the Pastoral Care Team. There are still many changes happening with the pandemic from masking requirements being lifted to a new booster being on the way to loved ones getting sick and needing care. I often think about how we are caring for ourselves through all of this.
For me, a piece of my mental, emotional, and spiritual self-care is continuing to engage in new experiences. A year and a half ago, a friend and I started meeting once a month to go for a walk and we go someplace new each time. To name a few places, we’ve explored the entirety of the 606 or Bloomingdale Trail, Northerly Island Park, Jackson Park’s Wooded Island with the Garden of the Phoenix, and walked through several cemeteries including the Bohemian Cemetery with the columbarium for Cubs fans and a memorial for the Eastland Disaster of 1915. These explorations have enriched my life and if I hadn’t been prevented from traveling abroad by the pandemic, I might never have explored these places so close to home.
I invite you to make time to figure out what it is you need to care for your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual self. If you don’t know, try out your ideas until you find that one thing that brings comfort or delight to your day.
Yours in faith,
Rev. Susan