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

WTCC Discussion: April 10, 2022

April 10th 11:30-12:30 

9th Chapter – Restoration and Reparations 
and
10th Chapter – Accountability and Resources  

Want to learn what our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is recommending as ways to dismantle white supremacy culture within our Faith Formation structures? Congregants are encouraged to participate in small group discussions of the Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change, Widening the Circle of Concern. This report is a guiding document for UCE’s Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression work.  

For our discussion in April, we will be reading 2 chapters. You are encouraged to read the chapter on Restoration and Reparations and the chapter on Accountability and Resources before April 10th so you are prepared for the conversation. You do not need to have participated in previous conversations to join this one! 

 If you would like to take part on Zoom, here is the link for April 10th at 11:30 am: Click here to join on Zoom.  

These conversations will be taking place in-person as well as on Zoom. If you hold a marginalized identity and would want an identity-based caucus space to discuss Widening the Circle of Concern, please contact Rev. Eileen Wiviott or Rev. Susan Frances so we can arrange that space.  

The UUA Commission on Institutional Change (COIC) was commissioned by the 2017 General Assembly to conduct an audit of the power structures within the UUA and analyze systemic racism and white supremacy culture within our movement. This report, issued in June 2020, is the result of three years of labor by the COIC, gathering painful stories and doing the difficult emotional labor of identifying the ways systemic racism exists within Unitarian Universalism. The purpose and goals of the report include, to “identify the aspects of [white supremacy] culture that must be dismantled to transform us into a faith for our times.”  

As the Board of Trustees, staff, and a few members have engaged with this report over the past year, we are clear that dismantling systemic racism within our institution is a shared responsibility and requires all of us to take part. Please join us in these vital conversations the 3rd Sunday of each month during the Faith Formation Hour through June 2022 (except April will be the 2nd Sunday).  

~ Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Rev. Susan Frances 

WTCC Discussion: April 10, 20222022-04-08T15:54:16+00:00

DRUUMM Worship Service: May 4, 2022

Join DRUUMM (Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries) for a public worship service on May 4, 2022 at 7:30 pm.

You Can Count On This

Rev. Tyler Coles, Guest Preacher

Dr. Zanaida Robles, Musical Artist

Faith can be both a guiding light and sustaining force throughout the course of one’s life. Yet in a world that is all too cruel and harsh, faith can be twisted, becoming instead a tool that fosters both isolation and a sense of underwhelm. What do we do when this happens for us as Unitarian Universalists? Come, let us gather in the fortifying spirit of love made known in community as we re-member ourselves, for ourselves, in the presence of all that we choose to name as Holy. RSVP at this link by May 3rd.

Our Worship & Fundraiser is an opportunity for the wider world of Unitarian Universalism to connect with DRUUMM and be in community together. The Worship is open to everyone while prioritizing space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We particularly encourage our DRUUMM members in multiracial families and White antiracist allies to join. We are at a sensitive moment after two difficult years of pandemic and loss in our communities. Your witness and solidarity are greatly needed to help us thrive into the future. Our goal is to connect more deeply with our wider Unitarian Universalist community to share DRUUMM’s mission, highlight some of our key activities, and raise funds in support of expanding our chaplain and pastoral care work with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Unitarian Universalism. For more information, please contact Dawn Robinson our DRUUMM Administrator dawn.druumm@gmail.com.DRUUMM is the Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries, a UU People of Color organization. Learn more at www.druumm.org

DRUUMM Worship Service: May 4, 20222022-04-08T15:46:05+00:00

From EOD: April 8, 2022

Greetings Members and Friends,

We are into the 4th quarter of our 2021/22 fiscal year which ends on June 30. The Budget Working Group of the Integrated Stewardship meets this weekend to revise the budget draft based on results from the pledge drive. Members of the team are Board President Joe Romeo, Sr. Minister Eileen Wiviott, Treasurer Tom Carlton, ISC Member-At-Large Susan Comstock and myself as Executive Operations Director and Staff Lead of ISC. The draft will be presented at the ISC meeting on Thursday evening and to the Board of Trustees on the following Thursday evening. The budget will be voted on at the May 15th Annual Meeting.

For those of you who may not have had the opportunity yet to pledge please do so as soon as possible. Every pledge counts as we review budget numbers as we are required by policy to include in our pledge income only pledges in hand. Thank you to all of you have done so. Your financial participation and support make it possible for us to continue to provide the quality programming and worship that we all need now more than ever. We have done well to weather this pandemic and are working very hard to continue that momentum.

Two major fundraisers are ahead. Mark your calendars and plan to join us on April 30 at 7 p.m. as Emma’s Revolution returns to the UCE stage with their powerful and beautiful voices for social justice. Click here to purchase tickets. 

On May 15th we begin set up for Rummage Sale 2022. Just after the Annual Meeting we return to the famous raucous turnover of the sanctuary as we prepare for the sale. Please sign up with this link to volunteer after the service or for work in a particular department, or to bring sweets for the café. All of these efforts will contribute to a successful sale. It is not only an important fundraiser for UCE, but a wonderful time for members and friends to enjoy time together. See the article in this issue of the newsletter with more information about the sale and the donations tips form which is an easy-to-use guide when figuring out what to bring for the sale.  

This Saturday, Afternoon of the Arts will be held in the sanctuary for all ages. More information is listed in this newsletter. Shirley Adams will lead dancing, Adam will play songs from his famous playlists, among other fun art projects. Drop by and see me at my clay sculpting table. It is guaranteed to be a great time for all. Don’t miss it. 

 Thank you to Johna and Will VanDyke, Gay Riseborough, Eleanor Boyer, and Eleanor Speis-Ferris for continuing our Lobby Arts Program. Please visit the lobby and enjoy the current exhibit by artist Leslie Riley. Our Endowment has funded this year’s program with a grant. We hope that Afternoon of the Arts donations and other contributions will continue to make this program possible. The arts help to nurture our spirits at UCE. We want to continue the legacy that Rosemary Zwick began so many years ago.  

Capital Campaign projects continue. You may have noticed activity outside the lobby on the west side of the building. Our new air conditioning installation has begun. Once completed in early summer we will landscape the area and provide camouflage of this area so that it remains attractive as guests arrive to our building.  

Inside the building you will soon notice a new Welcome Desk where hospitality team members will greet you and you will immediately know you are welcome at UCE. We will also add a sofa to the mix of chairs, some of which will be moved to another room in order to provide a good mix of comfortable and easy to use seating. I hope you have noticed the new children’s reading area with a bookrack especially for them.  

Our UCE Garden Team meets regularly to plan for maintenance of and improvements to our gardens. We have the pollinator and prairie gardens on the west side, the peace garden to the right of our entry, welcoming planters along the front of our west entrance, new grasses and yews along the west wall of the wing, hostas along the south end of our new parking lot, and, of course, the new playscape area which is almost complete.   

For information on Administration, Finance, Buildings and Grounds, to make suggestions or learn more, contact me at srobinson@ucevanston.org.

From EOD: April 8, 20222022-04-08T14:18:08+00:00

April 10, 2022

We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, April 10th at 10:15 am.

“Affirming the Worth and Dignity of Every Gender”
Each of us is a gendered being.  But our gender is subject to societal dictates of which genders have power and privilege.  We reach out to you to embrace a spectrum of genders as equally deserving of power, privilege and possibilities.  The service is co-created by the UCE Youth Group. 

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 9 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 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.

April 10, 20222022-04-06T17:41:59+00:00

What’s all this I hear about Shared Ministry?: April 1, 2022

What’s All This I Hear About Shared Ministry?
The UUA describes Shared Ministry as the concept that the “ministry of the congregation does not belong exclusively to ordained clergy, but to everyone.” As a faith community we believe that all have equal access to the divine. Shared ministry means that each of us–ordained minister, staff, UCE member—contributes to carrying out the mission of the congregation. You might serve on the Board, sing in the choir, participate in a covenant group, join a social action group—the list is long at UCE. 

What is the COSM?
The Committee on Shared Ministry helps the congregation live into shared ministry. That is, it helps members recognize and improve the contributions we each make to UCE. Shared Ministry has a sacred quality to it: it is not just “what we do” but also “how we do it.” As both the “great covenant” that we say each Sunday and the Covenant of Engagement state, we agree to engage with each other with compassion and respect as we strive to carry out our mission.

What are the Main Goals of the COSM?
The COSM focuses on three goals:

  1. Greater Transparency: identify groups contributing to UCE’s shared ministry,  share information about them, and provide additional channels for congregants to share feedback on our shared ministry.
  2. Greater Accountability: work with the ministers, staff and Board to assess how well the congregation is meeting its goals and identify needs we should address.
  3. Greater Partnership: serve as a sounding board for the senior minister and support their continued development.

 

How is COSM organized?
The committee was organized in 2020. It consists of six members, the Senior Minister, and a Board liaison. Below is a list of the current members. Please contact them with questions or suggestions.  

Susan Carlton
Ben Kornfeld
Ann McCallister
Jim Strickler
Jenny Walsh
Carla Williams
Rev. Eileen Wiviott
Michelle Novak, Board Liaison 2021-2022

 

What’s all this I hear about Shared Ministry?: April 1, 20222022-03-30T23:32:52+00:00

Endowment Funds UU Prison Ministry of IL: April 1, 2022

Endowment grants come in different sizes and the impact of each may be difficult to measure. The use of Endowment funds by the UU Prison Ministry of IL for Solidarity Circle grants clearly shows that a small amount of money can make an impactful difference in an individual’s life.

These Endowment grants, distributed over the past year, benefited four Solidarity Circle leaders making their way back into society after being in prison.

  • Robert, in his Evanston circle for over three years, has recovered from health problems and currently has a job as a tow truck driver.  He used $400 in September 2021 to help replace his car. He received $400 in March, 2022 to repair damage to his car from an uninsured motorist.  
  • Jimmie, in a solidarity circle at 2U for two years, used $400 in November 2021 for groceries, money on his bus pass, and some winter clothing items.  He is in a job training and housing program and is eligible for another grant.
  • Thomas, in a circle since 2019 at First and Third Unitarian, received $400 in December, 2021 for a warm jacket and boots and housing supplies.  He is eligible for another grant.
  • James is a new circle leader at Tree of Life.  He received $400 in December 2021 for brake repair on his car. He is eligible for another grant.

Members of the UCE UU Prison Ministry of IL Team are: Becky Taveirne (convener ), Les Butler, Mary Ellen McGoey, Steve Serikaku, Gail Smith, Jordan Strueber and Dale Griffin. Thanks to Dale Griffin for this report.

Whatever size grant may be under consideration, the first deadline for Endowment proposals is May 31. At the June Endowment Committee meeting applications for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, will be reviewed and recommended to the Board of Trustees for funding approval.

If you have questions about submitting a grant application to the Endowment Committee, please contact  an Endowment Trustee:

  • Margaret Schatz, chair, mesharbor@gmail.com 
  • Tom Hempfling, thempfling45@gmail.com 
  • Bill Hartgering, bhartgering@gmail.com
Endowment Funds UU Prison Ministry of IL: April 1, 20222022-03-30T23:15:57+00:00

From Kathy Underwood: April 1, 2022

Spring Awakenings 

With signs of spring in the air and the earth, there is a feeling of hope and renewal. The encouragement in the lowering of Covid cases recently certainly helps as we can gather with others a little more comfortably and be outdoors more. Nature is awakening and is surely a salve for the soul! 

Springtime is a time for celebration for so many faiths – Bahá'í, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. With two of our Unitarian Universalist Sources being "wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life" and "Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to love our neighbors as ourselves" we are called to learn about other faiths and their traditions. For many UUs, Easter is the holiday usually celebrated, although the reasons vary. And for children, it is a fun time with egg hunts. With being back in person this year, the Family Ministry Team will be coordinating a canned goods hunt with the collection of goods going to Connections for the Homeless. Be sure to look for upcoming announcements on where to drop off donations. 

Awaken the artist within at our Afternoon of the Arts event on April 9 from 3-5p. This is a "rebirth" of the former Night of the Arts begun by Rosemary Zwick. And if that isn't enough for you, our awesome youth will "awaken" us with a worship service on April 10, "Gender: Bending the Narrative". 

April is also when we witness the Earth re-awakening from its winter slumber, and we celebrate Earth Day. Once again this year, UCE is playing a key role in an Earth Day celebration, being coordinated by Kristin Lems and Lucinda Lindstrom Lodder among others in the community. I am always amazed at the dedication and passion we have at UCE, especially when youth are involved. The celebration will be at 7p on April 22, and the hope is to offer it in person as well as virtually. Look for details in the newsletter.  

For our last Sunday in April, our Faith Formation Hour will focus on Social Action and being eco-friendly. The Green Team will be facilitating a fair with activities for all ages, and the Family Ministry Team will coordinate making lunch bags for Connections for the Homeless. We will look at lunches and how we can make them more eco-friendly, especially in regards to composting. 

And as we head into May, Rev. Eileen and I will be hosting some listening circles to hear your experiences with our new faith formation hour. What have you participated in and how was that experience? If you didn't participate, what kept you from doing so? And what would you look forward to that can help awaken your spirit and faith? These conversations will take place as follows: 

  • May 1 at 11:30 am during Faith Formation Hour

  • May 4 at 7 pm via Zoom

  • May 10 at 10 am via Zoom

  • May 14 at 7 pm at UCE

In Faith,

Kathy Underwood

From Kathy Underwood: April 1, 20222022-03-30T20:08:36+00:00

April 3, 2022

We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, April 3rd at 10:15 am.

Awakening Curiosity
To nurture the human spirit and make the world more whole, we must practice together being open to all there is we don’t know. We will explore what it means to cultivate curiosity through cultural humility. Rev. Eileen Wiviott leads the service and Robb Geiger is our Worship Associate.

Please submit your Joys and Sorrows through this online form. If you submit a message by 9 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 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.

April 3, 20222022-03-30T15:50:15+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.

Become A Member

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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