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

UCE Ministerial Search Congregational Survey: Have your voice heard!

An important part of the Search Committee’s work is hearing from you and including your opinions and experience in discerning the next settled minister. 

We want to hear about your experiences at UCE. What inspires you about our congregation and what keeps you involved? How do you envision our church’s future? What skills and experiences would be helpful in a settled minister?

We encourage you to take our anonymous survey and let us know your thoughts. Your answers will inform the information we share with potential ministers about the congregation and help us discern what our community is looking for in a settled minister. After the survey is complete and the results have been aggregated, we will share the results with the entire congregation.

We ask that people complete their surveys between now and September 20.

And if having your opinions heard wasn’t reason enough to take the survey, you can also win a prize for doing so! Every Sunday while the survey is open, there will be a weekly drawing for a variety of prizes. Look for instructions on how to enter at the end of the survey. And be sure to complete your survey early to have the most opportunities to win.

Need help with your survey? Please contact Jordan Streuber at jordan.strueber@gmail.com or Sandy McNabb at smcnabb89@gmail.com with technological questions. A member of the search committee is also happy to provide paper copies upon request.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

UCE’s Ministerial Search Committee
Susan Carlton
Emily Eckwahl-Sanna
Tom Hempfling
Sandy McNabb
Steve Serikaku
Jordan Streuber
Alice Swan

UCE Ministerial Search Congregational Survey: Have your voice heard!2020-08-27T18:37:39+00:00

From BOT: August 28, 2020

The Board of Trustees is asking all members to assist the Ministerial Search Committee in its work. In order for us to have the best match possible for our settled minister, we need to all participate in the process.

The committee needs to complete a Congregational Record, which will become available for prospective ministers who are looking for a congregation. There are three important ways we, the congregation, can help in its creation. The Board of Trustees is asking everyone to take advantage of these opportunities to participate. Our success in finding a good match depends on our doing so.

One key ingredient is the Congregational Survey which is now available for us to complete. UUA believes that the best matches are found when 75 % or more of the congregation completes the survey. That means that we need about 300 of our 400 members to participate in the survey.

In addition to the survey, the committee will also hold cottage meetings and focus groups to help them understand and represent our needs and hopes. These steps will help the Search Committee discern the skills, characteristics and experience needed in our next settled minister.

Full participation by the congregation in all aspects is essential to a successful search process.

To encourage us, everyone who completes the survey will have their name entered in a raffle for the opportunity to win prizes. The sooner you complete the survey, the more opportunities you will have to win.

Here is the schedule for gathering information from congregants:

  • Congregational Survey distribution begins August 28.
    • The survey period closes September 20.
  •  Cottage Meetings: Each meeting will be 1 ½ hours via Zoom, registration required.
    • Wednesday September 30, at 5:30, (replacing our regular all-church meeting),
    • Friday, October 9 at 10:30 am,
    • Sunday, October 11th at 9:30 am as Forum agenda,
    • Sunday, October 25th at 12:30 pm, (replacing our regular coffee hour).

In advance, we thank you for your efforts.

From BOT: August 28, 20202020-08-27T18:25:23+00:00

From EOD: August 28, 2020

I will be away from September 3 through September 14 If there is an urgent message for me, please contact Jessica Meis at admin@ucevanston.org or call the general number at UCE 847-864-1330.

This is an exciting week for UCE as we plan for the parking lot blessing scheduled for next Wednesday. Please see information in this newsletter. Greg Grabowski, Janelle Brittain and I have been busy working on punch lists, sharing ideas on landscaping, hiring our grounds care person to lay mulch, trim trees, and install sod. Liz and Steven have diligently watered new sod.  Greg and I are currently orchestrating the installation of our new planters which will serve as protection for those who are making their way from our sidewalk to the accessibility ramp. These planters will also provide a spark of color to the entrance our church. Our parking lot and entrance to our beloved space is forever changed in a lovely way. In the fall we will resume planning for an accessible and inclusive bathroom in the lower level, as well as the Intergenerational Playscape east of the wing and the accessibility ramp from the southwest sanctuary door. Please visit the Capital Campaign page to follow updates on Capital Campaign projects as we continue to move forward.

Greg Grabowski and I are working on a team with Andy Schlickman and Michael Drennan of the Green Team to explore sanctuary cooling options for our sanctuary. We have been meeting at 9 a.m. every Monday morning for several weeks and will continue to do so until our research, the consultant’s work is complete, and we make a final decision on the appropriate system for our sanctuary. Once complete the consultant will prepare drawings and send RFPs to HVAC companies to obtain competitive bids for the work. I will keep you apprised in future newsletters, as will Janelle Brittain, CCIC Chair, in her monthly reports and newsletter articles.

Meanwhile, work continues on the wing and lobby as Johna VanDyke coordinates new lighting above the furniture and near the washrooms. Projects for the fall include new furniture for the lobby and room 2 as well as a streamline kiosk with a computer for the lobby where visitors can sign in and REALM, our database, can be accessed.

During this period of working at home we are all busy keeping programs at UCE running. On the administrative end of things Eileen and I have been reviewing and updating UCE Guidelines, Personnel Guidelines and Compensation Guidelines. Board policies call for 3-5 year reviews on each of these items. We are taking this time to ensure we are staying up-to-date.

I attended our annual board retreat last weekend. The meeting was facilitated by our Interim

Minister Karen Gufstafson and Board Chair Jessica Tomell-Presto. Friday evening was an

Opportunity for each of us to lean into the process, break out into small groups and get to know one another on a deeper level as we prepared for the work of the day on Saturday. We delved deeply into the discussion around Widening the Circle and sharing meaningful exchanges about white supremacy, anti-racism, and the work ahead of us as a church, board, staff and congregation.

After a couple of false starts I will be taking vacation starting Thursday, September 3 and returning Tuesday, September 15. On September 15 I have the honor of joining UU Regional

Executive Directors and Senior Administrators on a first-ever zoom gathering. It will be inspiring to share ideas on how our work has changed as we transitioned to working at home,

holding zoom meetings, and conducting essential fundraisers. Earlier this summer I attended AUUA days as part of General Assembly this year. We had a record-breaking 160 participants on a two day zoom event. These opportunities to share with colleagues is important during this time of COVID-19 church closures.

As you know, UCE’s rental program has suffered due to the COVID-19 closure of our building. We are now offering meeting space for groups of 10 or smaller, as well as outside space for groups of 25 or smaller, as long as they meet our safety criteria and adhere to our UCE COVID Phase 4 guidelines compiled by our UCE COVID Task Force (Executive Staff, UCE Attorney, and member physicians). If you know of not-for-profits or individuals who need a place to gather during these times, please let me know. Ask them to email me at srobinson@ucevanston.org.

Last but not least, we are almost ready to rollout REALM, our new membership database. Tom Carlton, Project Manager, Adam Gough and Jessica Meis will inform congregants about this exciting launch and how you can participate in upcoming newsletters.

Sandra Robinson, Executive Operations Director

From EOD: August 28, 20202020-08-28T22:20:11+00:00

August 30, 2020

We will host an online worship service on Sunday, August 30th at 11:15 am.

“So, What’s Next?” – Rev. Karen Gustafson
There is an old saying that goes something like, “People plan. God laughs”. Not so much for me a theological statement as a reminder to be nimble in my planning in the face of the impossible to plan for. And so it is that we pick up the work of moving UCE in the direction of forming a new covenant with a settled minister in the midst of a pandemic and in the face of a renewed commitment on the part of our whole religious movement to address systemic racism and white supremacy culture. The next phase of the Ministerial process will involve your input through a survey and cottage meetings to commence and complete by the end of October. And the work of the Interim continues. What will that look like? Why does it matter?

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 11 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time during the summer 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 the Brennan Center for Justice.

August 30, 20202020-08-24T15:29:54+00:00

From DLRE: August 21, 2020

I can’t help but notice in August the change in the trees and the hours of sunlight decreasing. While planning for some gatherings on the lawn for September, I had to check the times of sunset so that groups wouldn’t be sitting out there in the dark! And yet, I love the approaching fall season.

With local schools deciding to continue with e-learning, and parents are telling me that they don’t want their kids to sit in front of a screen any more than necessary, I am organizing some small gatherings over the next four weeks. These will be held on the South Lawn at UCE, where there is space to run or sit in the shade of the trees. Our first gathering last Sunday was small, but very enjoyable! My hope is to continue with these small gatherings through the church year, although when the weather gets cold, they will be in the sanctuary. So parents, please sign up! Here are the dates:

August 24 at 6p – 2nd-5th Families. Sign up here!

September 3 at 6p – 6th-8th Families. Sign up here!

Sept. 9 at 6p – Pre/K/1 Families. Sign up here!

Sept. 13 at 2:30p – Parents (kids will walk to Anderson Park with chaperones). Sign up here!

Many of you have asked how you can support and help during this unprecedented time. For the Lifespan Learning Council, they need your creative juices – ideas on how we can become a truly multigenerational faith community. For example, ways to invite and include our young people to participate more in worship services. This could be a reader’s theater, reading, telling or acting out stories, or using their tech-savvy talents.

For myself, I need folks who can take an idea and help coordinate it. Some ideas are a drive-in movie in the parking lot, and a trivia game night. For the latter, Joe Romeo is looking for someone to help one this winter and needs someone to work with him. Maybe that person is you!

As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback on how we can create beloved community for all ages during this unusual time.

In Faith,

Kathy

From DLRE: August 21, 20202020-08-20T19:45:13+00:00

MSC Update: August 21, 2020

This fall the Ministerial Search Committee will be reaching out to the congregation to gather your input regarding the skills, characteristics and experience needed in our next settled minister. Your participation is critical to a successful search. Below is a list of three different ways we’ll be obtaining feedback and the schedule for these events. Please complete the survey and plan to attend a Cottage Meeting. In addition, contact Susan Carlton, Chair of the search committee with any questions or feedback (susan.carlton@sbcglobal.net).
Congregational Survey – The survey will be distributed beginning Friday, August 28th and will be available in the UCE newsletter, on UCE social media and via a special email sent to members. Surveys should be returned no later than September 20th.
Cottage Meetings – Participants will be asked to share their thoughts about how they hope the congregation will live out our mission and the characteristics, skills and experience needed in the next settled minister to help us achieve our goals.
All meetings will be held via Zoom. Registration is required.

  • Wednesday, September 30th at 5:30 pm – this cottage meeting will replace our regular all-church meeting.

  • Friday, October 9th at 10:30 am

  • Sunday, October 11th at 9:30 am

  • Sunday, October 25th at 12:30 pm – this cottage meeting will replace our regular coffee hour.

Focus Groups – These are discussions with specific groups or committees within the congregation (Ex. Social Justice Council). Participants will have an opportunity to provide input about their specific group and what involvement they would like from the next settled minister. Focus groups are currently being scheduled.

MSC Update: August 21, 20202020-08-19T20:06:11+00:00

August 23, 2020

We will host an online worship service on Sunday, August 16th at 11:15 am.

“Widening the Circle of Concern” – Rev. Eileen Wiviott
What would it mean for UCE to be a truly inclusive community? What would it ask of us? Our Unitarian Universalist Association, through the Commission on Institutional Change has issued a powerful report which names the way white supremacy culture lives within our systems, just as it does throughout our larger society. The good news is that it also provides tools for dismantling systemic racism within, among, and beyond us. We can use these tools to build a more loving, anti-racist, anti-oppressive world. We can use these resources to practice building the Beloved Community. Those who attended the UUA General Assembly in June will share why Widening the Circle of Concern is essential to all of us.

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 11 am, we will try to read it that Sunday. Thank you for your patience as we are adapting to best serve you all! Note there will only be one service time during the summer 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 are My Block, My Hood, My City and Bryan Stevenson’s group Equal Justice Initiative.

August 23, 20202020-08-14T19:59:18+00:00

Capital Campaign Projects Update

Many thanks go to Sandy Danforth, Johna Van Dyke and Sandra Robinson, the CCIC Sub-Committee in charge of the Lobby and Wing Renovations who have been very busy. As you’ll see from the pictures below, we’re showing the tearing up of the tile, office furniture temporarily stored in Room 3, new solar shades and much more. 

There’s lots going on in Room 3. You can get a peek at the new solar shades, see the items stored from the office while it’s getting new floor tile (matching the tile you see here), and the materials on the floor are for the work in progress to refurbish the wall of folding doors. 

The lobby has new floor tile that looks like elegant stone and soon will have new ceiling tile (instead of the water marked one) and better lighting.

The old tile had been solidly installed 30 years ago and was hard to remove, so special equipment had to be brought in to lift it up. But now finally, the office has new fresh tile and the furniture has been replaced. 

Capital Campaign Implementation Committee chair Janelle Brittain displays the new solar shades and new flooring in Room 3.  

Outdoor Projects Blessing 

Be sure to put September 2nd 6:30 PM on your calendar for the blessing of all of the outdoor projects. It will be a fun drive-in socially distanced event complete with goody bags. 

For Further CCIC Updates go to the UCE homepage, scroll down to the button “Capital Campaign Projects Update” and you’ll see pictures and descriptions of the other projects we’ve been working on this year.  

Capital Campaign Projects Update2020-08-13T20:08:55+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: 10 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM – 4 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM – 1 PM
Thursday: 10 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM – 4 PM
Friday: 10 AM – 1 PM
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: 10 AM – 1 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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