UCE Mitten Tree Needs You
MITTEN TREE 2023!
Mitten Tree gift sign-up is up and running (HERE). Gifts are due back at UCE for sorting and wrapping by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, so don’t delay in signing up! Don’t want to shop? You can donate money and the mitten tree elves will shop for you–you may Zelle or Venmo Sheila Holder, skholder8@gmail.com or 224-235-1621, or write a check to UCE with Mitten Tree in the memo.
Sign up to help with organizing/shopping/wrapping HERE.
This longstanding tradition is a beautiful snapshot of our community’s shared values and a privilege to help organize. Read on below about where your gifts will go this year, AND MAY WHAT YOU GIVE BRING YOU JOY!
Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, works to restore human dignity through hospitality, hope, and healing. Their work includes: building relationships among youth and families impacted by violence and/or conflict; creating safe spaces where people can experience radical hospitality, hope, and healing; and promoting a restorative justice approach to resolve conflict and build a sense of community.
Mitten tree gifts will go to members of the monthly mothers’ circles, which support women healing from trauma and striving to move forward. By coming together in circle, they create a safe space to share stories of loved ones, laugh and cry, and journey together toward healing. This is not a path that should be walked alone; participants find strength being in relationship with one another. To learn more about this amazing work, ask Alice Swan!
Lydia Home (formerly Rice Child & Family Center) is located just down Ridge from UCE and is a safe home with wrap-around services for children with post-traumatic behavioral dysregulation making traditional foster care inaccessible to them. The facility includes a medical clinic, group therapy classrooms, special education facilities, art therapy and maintains a goal of helping children return to a loving family environment. UCE has supported residents of the center for a number of years as our own Mitten Tree founder, Carol Nielsen is a long-committed volunteer.
Connections for the Homeless is an organization near and dear to our UCE community. Whether through shared plate, Mitten Trees past, Our Giving House donations, or supporting affordable housing programs, Connections has and will continue to be a meaningful partnership for us. Connections supports more than 1500 people a year – preventing homelessness, sheltering those in crisis, providing advocacy services, and fostering development of job and educational skills.
Building Peaceful Bridges is a local nonprofit organization supporting people of all faiths whose mission is to foster multicultural relationships by assisting in the integration of refugees into American society and educating communities on the challenges facing refugee populations through their stories. They carry out their mission by assisting legal refugees to integrate into American culture by financial and non-cash donations, sponsoring and mentoring families, and partnering with other organizations. They also work to educate communities on the challenges refugees face during resettlement and foster multicultural relationships that provide the foundation for a deeper understanding, acceptance, and support. https://www.buildingpeacefulbridges.org/
Brain Health & Wellness Series: Aging, Memory, and Care
The Pastoral Care Committee invites all to take part in their new Brain Health and Wellness Series: Aging, Memory, and Care in partnership with the Great Lakes Clinic Trials. This 4-part series will begin August 1 and held via Zoom, featuring various speakers each week. You do not have to attend each part of the series, but registration is required.
August 1 at 10-11 am: Acti-V8 Your Brain: Brain Wellness
presenters:
presenters:
- Steve Satek, President & Founder, Great Lakes Clinical Trials
- Cheryl Butterbach, Registered Dietician, Great Lakes Clinical Trials
August 8 at 10-11 am: Introduction to Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Signs and explanation of the disease
presenters:
presenters:
- Steve Satek, President & Founder, Great Lakes Clinical Trials
- Dr. Concetta Forchetti, Neurologist, AMITA Alexian Brothers Medical Center
Wednesday, August 19 at 7-8 pm: New treatments and clinical trials underway for Alzheimer’s
presenters:
presenters:
- Amber Holst, Director Clinical Operations, Great Lakes Clinical Trials
- Ida Manning, Alzheimer’s (prevention study) clinical trial volunteer
Wednesday, August 26 at 7-8 pm: Pointing to Resources, Help and Information for Caregivers
presenters:
presenters:
- Susan Scatchell, CDP, Gentle Home Services and board member of the Memory Care Coalition of Chicago
A History of 8 Years of Shared Offering at UCE
The Social Action Council recently reminded us that it is time to submit the shared offering nominations for next year. Submit your nomination today! We have been a generous congregation in our contributions. This report covers the past eight years of donations.
The report shows that we have contributed to 56 organizations. Some organizations have garnered sustaining support because of our long-term relationships with them. Organizations such as Interfaith Action of Evanston, The Community Renewal Society UUANI, the UU Prison Ministry, and the Mitten Tree have received consistent support. Other organizations have been nominated only once or twice and thus have received less funding.
This information is offered to spur congregants into some deep thinking about how we want out money to be shared with the world. The Social Justice Council has set criteria for funding organizations though the shared plate that address systemic racism and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color and the poor.
Think deeply and creatively and submit your nominations by the July 31st deadline.
Capital Campaign Building Transformations: July 10, 2020
Your Investment at Work
Building improvements are continuing due to your investing in UCE’s Capital Campaign (more pictures at the link below). If you drive by the parking lot, you’ll see piles of asphalt and dirt, as well as cement squares covering the new storm drains that will prevent flooding. AND you’ll see our beautiful new sidewalk that will keep walkers from having to pass through the parking lot to get to our front door. The sidewalk cement was just poured this week. Lighting and landscaping will come later, as well as bike racks and planters. By late July our parking lot and lawn will be lovely and accessible.
Lobby and “Wing” Updates
The new Lobby floor has been laid and looks wonderful. The flooring in the “Wing” (Rooms 1,2 and 3 and hallway) is being demolished and tiles will be coming soon. Also coming soon will be new lighting in the lobby area, new ceiling tiles above the lobby furniture and new shades will be installed in the Wing. By investing in our building we’re investing in our future facility to live our mission.
From DLRE: July 10, 2020
In our policy governance, we have Ends Statements to guide our work within and beyond UCE. For lifespan religious education, our Ends are:
We foster intellectual excitement, lifelong learning, truth seeking, and respect for our traditions of reason and faith
We are a people of diverse beliefs united in covenant. We develop relationships that open us to the lives of people in our congregation, community, and world
How would you answer these thought-provoking questions?
- What would it look like for us to incorporate these ends, to practice striving toward them in our daily lives?
- How can our End statements serve the purposes of the church in this new reality?
Some of you participated in a recent All-Church Wednesday gathering to ponder these questions. There was much lively conversation! Revs. Eileen and Karen G. and I have been thinking about and sharing our thoughts on these questions as well. It is our intention to engage as many people into thinking and expressing their thoughts as UCE continues to mold and solidify its mission during this last year of interim work and in anticipation of calling our next Senior Minister. We encourage you to mull these over and share within your families, with life partners, as well as in groups and committees you gather in.
On another note, communication is crucial and can be a challenge especially in larger communities and groups. This week, I had a challenge present itself. Without going into the minute details, it showed me two things: first, that in order to effectively communicate, you need to know who it is that needs the information; and second, that people need to know where and how to find that communication.
The newsletter is a huge part of the communication channel at UCE, as well as email, phone calls, and social media. What arose from the challenge this week was the realization that people categorize things differently, and therefore don’t always know where to find the information they need.
Specifically, there is confusion on what falls under Lifespan Religious Education. (Actually, there also appears to be confusion on the word “lifespan”, but I won’t digress here.) Let us consider the non-fiction book group here – is it considered religious education, or does it fall under programs and groups? Since it is non-fiction, one could argue the former, and since it is an interest group, one could argue for the latter. The next question is, what label should information about this be categorized under for our website and in the newsletter?
I have been including programs and events that connect to religious education and lifelong learning in my communications, even if they are not directly under my umbrella. You may have noticed that in the newsletter religious education has a purple banner, social justice has a green banner, and general UCE info has a yellow one. I also try to put things within RE in chronological order, with the upcoming programs first.
As we move forward in the interim process during this period of virtual UCE, communication will be even more crucial. What mechanisms are best in gathering and disseminating information about the process and decisions being made? How do we coordinate these efforts and allow time and space for as many to participate as possible?
We must also acknowledge that there is a responsibility on the receiver’s end to seek the information needed and then actually read it. Too often I hear, “I didn’t know that xyz event was happening!” And when I ask if they read the newsletter the reply is often along the lines of “no, I didn’t have time”. Another reply given is, “it’s too long to read all of it.” While I would agree with this, I also believe that it is still our responsibility to keep as informed as possible and take some ownership of the communication process. Jessica does a great job compiling all of the information sent to her every week – and we sure have a lot of awesome things going on to write about! And that is the best problem to have!
In Faith,
Kathy
July 12, 2020
We will host an online worship service on Sunday, July 12th at 11:15 am.
“Yes, And” – Rev. Darrick Jackson
Improvisation is more than a source of entertainment. It can be a way of being in the world, a practice of living mindfully. This service will explore ways to embody an improv spirituality.
The Rev. Darrick Jackson is the Director of Ministries for Lifelong Learning of UU Ministers Association and an Affiliated Community Minister with Second Unitarian Church. He is one of the authors in the book “Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity and Power in Ministry.” Darrick is active in DRUUMM (the UU ministry for people of color). He is also the treasurer and Workshop Leader for Healing Moments (a ministry for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s). In his free time, Darrick likes to knit and to be involved in theatre. He is married to James Olson, a United Church of Christ minister and lives with their two cats, Merlin and Morgana.
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 Deborah’s Place (Click here to learn more).
UCE in Phase 4: July 3, 2020
What does Phase 4 mean for UCE?
Thank you to those who’ve had a chance to fill out the survey about your comfort in relation to UCE opening our building, and to provide information regarding your experience of our virtual gatherings. If you haven’t done so yet, it’s not too late. Please see the link below.
Of the 35 who responded, about 64% have health considerations or age-related factors, which contribute to your overall discomfort with reopening. While this is a small sample, we feel this confirms the caution most of us are feeling. I want to reiterate that we are not considering large, indoor gatherings (including Sunday worship or Wednesday evening All Church gatherings) until Illinois enters Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan.
The discussions that have taken place among UCE ministers, staff, and leadership have been rooted in the science and recommendations of the Illinois Department of Public Health, CDC, and the UUA. We have created a comprehensive set of guidelines for limited use of the building and grounds, with an abundance of caution. And we welcome your input through the survey regarding how we can continue to improve our virtual gather spaces. As we consider ways of fostering connection and well-being, we ask that you review these guidelines thoroughly before approaching staff with questions, concerns, or to request a small in-person gathering at UCE, either outside or in one of our large rooms (sanctuary, room 3 or 6).
Again, on-line worship, meetings, and gatherings are still the safest option. However, we recognize that in the absence of guarantees, and a need to minimize risks while living within the confines of the pandemic long-term, we will be offering opportunities for small groups to meet outside (25 or fewer) or indoors (10 or fewer) with social distancing of 6 feet, face masks, and proper sanitation practices.
Each person will need to attend to their own needs and comfort. Each small group or committee must work together, in covenant, to make decisions about how and where your group will meet. Please be mindful of the accommodations and accessibility of each participant as we’ve outlined in the guidelines.
Know that your well-being and our ability to live our mission has been and will remain at the center of these decisions.
Yours in faith and in service,
Rev. Eileen Wiviott
Rev. Karen Gustafson
Sandra Robinson
Martha Holman
Jessica Tomell-Presto
Joe Romeo
Dana Deane
Cathy Deamant
Ben Kornfeld
Bridget Wild
Matthew Snowdon
Susan Comstock
Evanston Interfaith Juneteenth Letter
Dear Faith Communities in Evanston and Beyond,
Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders write to you in celebration of Juneteenth, 155 years after the last enslaved people were told of their emancipation from the evils of slavery. We add our voices to the calls to make this day a national holiday in recognition of the power of Black Indigenous People of Color to survive and thrive despite the overwhelming systems of racism which exist in all facets of society and our economy – in education, healthcare, housing, and in policing and criminalization.
We write with heavy hearts about the murders of so many Black and Brown siblings at the hands of police, recognizing these murders as the result of violence, militarization and oppression, which disproportionately impact Black lives while diminishing the humanity of everyone.
We join in mourning and remembrance of the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others whose lives have ended because of racist systems that have been unchallenged. We also lament and mourn the tremendous losses our nation has sustained due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has also disproportionately impacted marginalized communities including People of Color.
The Chicago Board of Rabbis issued a statement in response to the murder of George Floyd, which says:
“The Torah … teaches, “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor”(Leviticus 19:16). Too many have stood by for too long through a history of lynching, kidnapping, enslavement, Jim Crow, [criminalization] and other forms of racism. We must not stand idly by as our fellow human beings cry out with anger and grief.”
A statement on racism from the Evanston Catholic Pastors says:
“We lift our voices in prayer and unite our voices with all here on earth that this police abuse of power must stop now everywhere in our nation. To those who tried to make this moment something else by their violence, we unite with all who condemn them and their mask of evil which will not ever cover the true face of justice and truth.”
We call on our congregants, especially those who have white skin privilege, to engage in the struggle to dismantle white supremacy as it collectively exists. We must be brave in examining the way power moves in this world. We must be fearless in examining how we benefit or are harmed by abusive power, and we must accept responsibility and accountability for the ways we either abdicate or use our own agency.
We encourage the people we serve, and we dedicate ourselves, to continue to learn together, to invest in local Black owned businesses, to join in partnership with Black led organizations, to advocate and organize and witness to the harm that is done every day in oppressed communities.
Your faith leaders unite in our love of God and love of our neighbors. We unite to recognize our common humanity and our interdependence. We unite to contribute to our collective liberation, knowing we are bound in mutuality, and that none of us are free until all of us are free. We unite to create the Beloved Community built on the foundations of equity and compassion that recognizes the dignity and worth of all human beings.
Yours in faith and in service,
Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders
Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Unitarian Church of Evanston
Rabbi Andrea London, Beth Emet the Free Synagogue
Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors, Second Baptist Church
Rev. Michael Kirby, Northminster Presbyterian Church
Rev. Ann Ohlrogge Johnson – Parish Associate, Northminster Presbyterian Church
Fr Robert Oldershaw, St Nicholas Parish
