From Rev. Susan Frances: December 17, 2021
Dear Friends,
As the longest night of the year approaches, I have been spending more time with a cup of tea and a notepad being introspective. Some of the wonderful gifts during this dark time of year are nature’s examples of slowing down and settling in, which I find to be an invitation for spending some time reflecting on where I am, where I have been, and where I am going. This year I find myself thinking mainly about what connections I would like to make in the new year and what I would like to learn this year.
I have been voted onto the Board of Directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois (ACLU-IL) and will start a three-year term on January 1, 2022. I am humbled by the caliber of the other Board members and am looking forward to learning from and networking with them to continue to make Illinois a state where women have access to all types of health care, where the police have some accountability under a consent decree, and where trans students have a legal ally to assist them with negotiating safe space in their schools. I am hopeful this connection will provide possibilities to enhance our community’s already deep commitment to social justice.
What connections are you interested in making? Would you like to be in a Covenant Group? Do you need the support of the Addictions and Recovery Group, the Caregiver Support Group, or the Cancer Support Group? Do you need guidance on how to connect with BLUU Havens or Rainbow Alliance? Have you been waiting to volunteer to teach our children, advise our youth, join one of our social justice teams, or spend a day in the administrative office? If I can help you get more connected within our UCE community, please reach out to me at sfrances@ucevanston.org. If you would like someone from the Pastoral Care Team to talk with you, please let me know or complete our Request for Care form.
One of the joys of my monthly meetings with the Committee on Ministry for my Preliminary Fellowship with the UUA is that we spend time sharing our values and the underlying theology and talking about how we are living those values out in the world. I spent some time earlier this week finding a good resource for them on Religious Naturalism and it made we want to spend time this year reading some of the Religious Naturalist theologians that I know about but haven’t read their texts yet. Side note: If you look up Religious Naturalism on Wikipedia, you will find reference to and a photo of our own retired community minister, The Rev. Jerry A. Stone.
What are you interested in learning about? In January and February, we have two classes that everyone is invited to take to deepen your understanding of Unitarian Universalism or your own belief system. For new and ongoing visitors, we have a third class about UCE and membership.
Would you like to learn more about Unitarian Universalist history? Our Introduction to Unitarian Universalism class takes an in-depth look at our progressive faith, including Unitarian Universalist principles, sources, and covenant. This class is a must for visitors wanting to learn about Unitarian Universalism, but it is also a class for anyone wanting a reminder on how the threads weaving our faith tradition together have been woven from the 2nd Century into the 21st Century. This is a single session class that will be offered virtually on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 1:00-2:30 pm or in-person on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at 2:30-4:00 pm. Click here to register.
Would you like to enhance how you express your personal theology? What do yUU Believe? is a 4-part class designed for youth and adults (age 12 and up) to take you on a journey toward better understanding and articulating your Unitarian Universalist theology. This 4-session class will alternate between being in-person and being on Zoom on the following Tuesdays, January 18 (in-person), 25 (via Zoom), February 1 (via Zoom), and 8 (in-person), 2022 at 7:00-8:30 pm. Click here to register.
Would you like to learn more about becoming a member of UCE? Journey Toward Membership is a 2-part class that explores our spiritual lives and what it means to be a member of an intentional community like the Unitarian Church of Evanston. The next in-person class, parts 1 and 2, will be on Tuesdays, February 1 and 8, 2022 at 6:30-8:00 pm. Click here to register. The next virtual class, parts 1 and 2, will be on Wednesdays, February 2 and 9, 2022 at 6:30-8:00 pm. Click here to register. You may also mix up the sessions, for example taking part 1 virtually and part 2 in-person.
As the Winter Solstice on December 21st approaches, embrace the long nights. Make time to slow down, settle in, and reflect on what is happening in your life, in our community, and in our country and world. Many of us are not feeling holiday festive this year and that is okay. If you don’t have the energy to reflect on making new connections and learning something new, that is okay. Be present in the here and now, however that is for you.
Whatever holiday traditions you celebrate during this time of year, I’m wishing you love, comfort, and joy to fill the long lovely nights of winter.
In faith,
Rev. Susan
December 19, 2021
We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, December 19th at 10:15 am.
The Story of Christmas, our annual participatory pageant
An annual UCE tradition, the Christmas Pageant is a time of joy and celebration where all ages can be a part of the Christmas story. This service is led by Kathy Underwood, our Director of Lifespan Faith Formation.
A few important notes about participating in-person:
- Everyone over 2 in and around the UCE building will need to be masked.
- We will maintain physical distance, which means, chairs will be spaced apart and seating is limited in the sanctuary to 150. We will have overflow seating in room 3 (30) and room 6 (25), to participate in the service through the livestream.
- Vaccinations are expected. We are a pro-vaccination community. For your well-being and the safety of the whole community, if you can be vaccinated, get vaccinated!
- Please review our UCE Guidelines for Building Use before Sunday.
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 Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).
Upcoming Classes for Deeper Engagement: Jan-Mar, 2022
Would you like to learn more about Unitarian Universalist history? The Introduction to Unitarian Universalism class takes an in-depth look at our progressive faith, including Unitarian Universalist principles, sources, and covenant, and is led by Rev. Susan Frances. This class will be offered virtually on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 1:00-2:30 pm. Click here to register for the virtual class. This class will be offered in-person on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 2-3:30 pm. Click here to register for the in-person class.
Would you like to enhance how you express your personal theology? The What do yUU Believe? class is designed for youth and adults (age 12 and up). Kathy Underwood and Rev. Eileen Wiviott will accompany you on the journey toward understanding and articulating your Unitarian Universalist theology. This 4-session class will be offered on Zoom on the following Tuesdays, January 18, 25, February 1, 8, 2022 at 7:00-8:30 pm. Click here to register.
Would you like to learn more about becoming a member of UCE? The Journey Toward Membership (JTM) class includes the exploration of our spiritual lives and what it means to be a member of an intentional community like the Unitarian Church of Evanston. The JTM class is divided into two sessions and is led by Rev. Susan Frances. The next virtual class, sessions 1 and 2, will be on Wednesdays, February 2 and 9, 2022 at 6:30-8:00 pm. Click here to register. The next in-person class, sessions 1 and 2, will be on Tuesdays, March 1 and 8, 2022 at 6:30-8 pm. Click here to register.
2022 REAL Team History Program: January 12-Feb 2, 2022
The REAL History team will present 4 episodes of the series Amend from Netflix, on four Wednesdays from January 12 through February 2. Amend tells the story of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. From its origins in the heart and mind of Frederick Douglass to the political wrangling needed to get ratification to the attempts to nullify it over the years and the struggle to make this country live up to its stated ideals. This series tells unfinished story of this life-changing, controversial addition to the Constitution. The REAL team will show episodes 1, 2, 3, and 6 – – the ones that involve race and ethnicity.
Each Wednesday, we will watch an episode together on Teleparty at 7:00, then move to Zoom at 8:00 for our discussion. You can join for both, or join the Zoom for discussion at 8:00. Please register, so that you can be included in the Teleparty. We will send instructions on the Teleparty for those who register and on the first Wednesday, January 12, we will start at 6:30 on Zoom for those who want to walk through how to get on the Teleparty.
The struggle continues; this past year could provide another chapter to the evolution of the 14th Amendment.
REAL Team Meeting: December 15, 2021
REAL Team Meeting – Wednesday, December 15, 2021
at 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/my/ms.crawford
Do you understand the relationship between defensiveness and fear? When faced with new or challenging ideas, why do we become defensive? Defensiveness often comes from the fear of losing power, losing face, losing comfort and losing privilege. It is this defensive behavior that creates an oppressive culture. Judy Blair’s video focuses on this characteristic of white supremacy, on what we must learn about our own defensiveness and discusses ways in which defensiveness toward new ideas get in the way of our anti-racist work.
The video “How Can We Win” is a powerful look by Kim Jones at civil unrest. She talks about protestors, rioters and looters; and the need to focus on why people are creating civil unrest not what they’re doing. Jones points out the great disparity between what black people can get and the hopelessness many feel about what is unobtainable.
Join the Real Team this Wednesday, December 15 at 7 p.m. to discuss how we can acknowledge our defensiveness and change our behavior. In addition, we’ll get a glimpse of turmoil and pain faced by the black community when white supremacy interferes with liberty and justice. Last of all, we will briefly discuss the use of light and darkness imagery, especially at this time of year, and how to keep our language mindful and anti-racist.
We ask you so join us as we move forward to fulfil the UU 8th Principle.
“We, a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
Becky Crawford, Martha Holman, Cheryl Mounts, Gail Smith
December 12, 2021
We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, December 12th at 10:15 am.
“Joy Shall Be Yours in the Morning”
UCE’s traditional Music Sunday with a medley of musicians to help us find joy on the journey toward the longest night and the cold of winter. Worship leaders are Music Director, Vickie Hellyer, Rev. Eileen Wiviott, with guest storyteller, Graig Tertulien, and worship associates Tory Bassani, Jane Kenamore, and Robb Geiger.
A few important notes about participating in-person:
- Everyone over 2 in and around the UCE building will need to be masked.
- We will maintain physical distance, which means, chairs will be spaced apart and seating is limited in the sanctuary to 150. We will have overflow seating in room 3 (30) and room 6 (25), to participate in the service through the livestream.
- Vaccinations are expected. We are a pro-vaccination community. For your well-being and the safety of the whole community, if you can be vaccinated, get vaccinated!
- Please review our UCE Guidelines for Building Use before Sunday.
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 Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).
BOT Report on the Nov 18 Board Meeting: December 3, 2021
At our regular November meeting, we devoted considerable attention to Board priorities regarding the pending annual pledge drive and the 22/23 UCE budget. We realized that this will be a challenging year, financially.
We developed a balanced budget this year despite the loss over the last couple years of significant rental income and the loss of our largest pledge, due to changes in their circumstances. This happened with important increases in pledges and to a nonrecurring $72,000 federal PPP grant.
The first pass for next year, which importantly aims to maintain current programs and staff, projects an operating shortfall of about $46,000. (This does not include any additions to programming or personnel.)
The Board has asked the Budget Working Group to look for new resources and to consider using existing resources in different ways to increase funds available for the budget.
We also discussed a proposal that Endowment funds cannot be used for issue advocacy. Our research has shown that we can indeed use any of our resources to advocate for issues which support our UU values, as long as we stay within the IRS rules in this regard. Our present and past activities have stayed within federal requirements. A special Board meeting will be held December 15 for the purpose of considering the grant applications submitted by the October 31 deadline.
More routine issues included policy governance monitoring of Treatment of Staff and Compensation and Benefits, noting that some of our staff positions pay below the UUA mid-point for metropolitan congregations of our size.
The next regular Board meeting is December 16 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. All are welcome.
