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

Dec WTC Reading: December 19, 2021

Widening the Circle of Concern
Reading for December 19 Faith Formation Hour

December 19th 11:30-12:30
Come learn how hospitality imbues every aspect of congregational life. 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 December, you are encouraged to read the chapter on Hospitality and Inclusion before December 19th so you are prepared for the conversation. You do not need to have participated in previous conversations to join this one! 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 by December 12th 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 

Dec WTC Reading: December 19, 20212021-12-03T18:37:56+00:00

From EOD: December 3, 2021

Greetings everyone,  

As the holidays fast approach, I hope you and your family are well and navigating the many challenges we face each day. There has been much loss in our congregation, family and friends. May we all find peace and strength in the midst of change and heartbreak.  

Your staff continues to brings the best possible service to you, our members and friends. We are in the midst currently of planning the 2022/23 Pledge Drive. Jim Strickler and Raphael Fernandez are this year’s co-chairs. We have met as a team and are continuing to add members to the team to get this important effort launched in February.  

Today you will be receiving an email from Finance@ucevanston.org. Your fiscal year 2021/22 pledge statement and capital campaign statement will be included in this email. If you find that our information does not match yours, please contact Vickie Doebele, Staff Accountant in the paragraph or call 847-864-1330 x 109 and discuss with Vickie. Our hope is that members and pledging friends can respond with payments toward outstanding pledges as we approach December 31st.  Thank you for your generosity and continued support of UCE and the many programs and activities that move us closer to accomplishing our mission of “Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole”.  

Your church finances continued to be managed well and Integrated Stewardship Council meets every second Thursday at 6 p.m. So far, this fiscal year we are holding our own. Expenses are monitored carefully by your EOD and Tom Carlton, Treasurer is doing an excellent job of working with our Staff Accountant Vickie Doebele to keep the books in good order. Per our by-laws we will be conducting an official “Financial Review” by an outside accounting firm by the name of ECS Financial Services. This work will be done in early January after the Audit Task Force agreed upon to hire this firm.  Thank you to Vickie Doebele for juggling the many bookkeeping responsibilities she handles. In addition to our operating fund Vickie is a volunteer bookkeeper for the Capital Campaign and serves on the REALM Database Team with Rev. Susan Frances, Jessica Meis and Adam Gough. Thank you to all of you and to Tom Carlton.  

The Budget Working Group of the Integrated Stewardship Council has met and will meet again today to review a second pass at the proposed budget for 2022/23 fiscal year. Next year will be a challenging year as we will not have the benefit of the PPP that helped us through the pandemic. Pledges and contributions will be all the more essential as we move forward to next year. Team members are Tom Carlton, Treasurer; Susan Comstock, Immediate Past Treasurer and ISC Member at Large; Joe Romeo, Board Chair, Rev. Eileen Wiviott and myself. Once our preliminary budget is established it will be presented to the ISC and then to the Board of Trustees. A final version will be voted on in April in preparation for the May Annual Meeting.   

Next week our Lobby Refurbishment Team meets with two woodworkers who will provide quotes on our new “Welcome Center”. This project has been long in the making, but we believe you will be pleased with the outcome once complete. This will be a welcoming piece that provides a focal point for those entering our church to meet with our membership team representatives, sign in and get more information as needed. A computer will be located at that station where one can sign into REALM. Storage of membership materials and a brochure rack will be integrated into this piece of furniture.  

The hallway bulletin boards and monitors are a big improvement toward getting the message out about who we are, what we are about, and how one can get involved in programs or activities. If you have not taken a moment to stop and check these out, please do.  

The Sanctuary Cooling Team continues to meet weekly and do the work of getting air conditioning installed before summer. We have two contractors we are working with after much research over the past year and a half. Greg Grabowski, Michael Drennan and I are using a matrix designed to help us organize the information we have gleaned. Currently we are very close to being on track per the timeline we established and shared with the Board of Trustees. 

The Intergenerational Playscape Garden has held up well. We lost only a few minor plants which will be replaced in spring. Our littles love the berm where they climb, run and play. If you have not yet checked out the mosaics in the hopscotch area or leading to the labyrinth and next to the ramp, please do so. Families, parents, children and a few of us staff had a wonderful time together making these mosaics with Artist Indira Johnson. Indira came this week to do a final step of protective coating.  

We are looking forward to the spring when we can add furniture pieces, the fountain (or sculpture) and the fairy houses in the wooded area. Stay tuned for more information.  

Rentals continue to return to UCE, of course, following our UCE COVID Guidelines. This is an important revenue stream for us as well as providing a welcoming environment for those from outside our doors to utilize our space.  

Staff will be sending a communication out soon to all of you who helped with our annual Rummage Sale and last year’s pop-up sale. We have some preliminary ideas for how we can make this year’s budgeted event successful. If you are interested in being involved in any way, big or small, please let me know.  

 Please feel free to contact me with questions, ideas or concerns you may have that relate to the building/grounds, events, rentals, or finance: Srobinson@ucevanston.org or 847-864-1330 x 108 

Sandra Robinson, EOD

From EOD: December 3, 20212021-12-03T18:02:48+00:00

December 5, 2021

We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, December 5th at 10:15 am.

A Light in the Darkness: Opening to Joy in Relationship
As the longest night approaches, people of many faith traditions celebrate light in the darkness. Unitarian Universalism, draws wisdom from many sources and we strive to appreciate with respect, the many cultures and traditions that contribute to humanity’s search for meaning. This Sunday we celebrate Chalica, the Unitarian Universalist celebration of our principles and this year we will celebrate all eight! Finding meaning and joy in our principles, we share our inner light with one another.

A few important notes about participating in-person:

  1. Everyone over 2 in and around the UCE building will need to be masked.
  2. 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.
  3. Vaccinations are expected. If you can be vaccinated, we expect you are if you enter the building.
  4. 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).

December 5, 20212021-11-30T20:14:18+00:00

Endowment 2021-2022

Endowment Grants 2021-2022

  • $2,000 for Chalice House – sponsored by Immigrant Solidarity Team

  • $8,000 for Buildings and Grounds – sponsored by Integrated Stewardship Council (ISC)

  • $1,600 for Racism, Reparations and Reconciliation – sponsored by REAL, Peace & Justice, Reparations Task Force

  • $950 for 8th Principle – sponsored by the Board of Trustees, REAL, Team 8th

  • $18,600 for Hybrid Worship/Conferencing Equipment – sponsored by Administrative Staff

  • $15,000 for Interfaith Action Community Support – sponsored by Food and Shelter Team (FAST)

  • $6,650 for Family Focus Scholarships – sponsored by Fair Trade and Food and Shelter Team

  • $900 for Leadership Development Scholarships – sponsored by Denominational Affairs

  • $1,800 for Religious Education Storyteller – sponsored by Faith Formation Force

  • $9,000 for Worship Arts-Choir Section Leads – sponsored by Worship Arts Team

Endowment 2021-20222022-11-30T21:24:33+00:00

Boodles of Thank Yous: November 26, 2021

A huge thank you from the entire auction team to all our Serendipity Auction bidders this year. Thanks to you (and all our amazing and creative donors), we exceeded our auction goal, grossing over $30,000!! About 100 people attended our closing celebration and enjoyed entertainment in the form of music and quizzes while making last minute bids on favorite items and purchasing tickets for 5 fabulous raffle items! Many thanks to Christine Allender for the past auctions photo slideshow, Kristin Lems and Steve Courtright for premiering Kristin’s “We Need a Vaccine” song and to Lizzy Powers and the Serendipity Singers for a super fun, serendipity auction version of “Let It Go”!

Just a few items are left in the catalog, including a few seats at some great and affordable virtual entertainment–Jim Strickler’s Civil War Reparations talk, Kristin Lems’ concert, a Virtual Karaoke night, Ben Butler a Play by Richard Strand, and an Evening Square Dance. Take a look here. All are now set as “Buy It Now”, so items are first come, first served. If you are not registered, use your email in the church directory to do so or email us at auction@ucevanston.org for help. And if you haven’t collected your boodle yet, please come during church office hours, Tues-Fri from 10 am-5 pm to pick up your items.

Thoughts about how to make the auction better, or interested in being a volunteer for next year? We would love to hear from you at auction@ucevanston.org.

Boodles of Thank Yous: November 26, 20212021-11-24T19:22:14+00:00

From DLRE: November 26, 2021

Holiday Happenings are Here! 

The winter holiday season is about to begin, and there are many ways you and your family can engage and connect at UCE, both in-person and virtually. There is something for everyone in the coming weeks during Faith Formation Hour and beyond. Please know that it is perfectly fine if you can’t participate – this really isn’t meant to make anyone feel guilty! Just know that you are warmly welcomed to partake in whatever works for you and your family, and whatever will help brighten your spirit this holiday season. Here’s a synopsis of what is coming up: 

This Sunday, our Faith Formation Hour focuses on spiritual practices – just what you need as we head into the holidays! 

  • Hanukkah – All ages are invited to room 6 to learn about the holiday, share stories and traditions, play games, hum songs, and have fun! This will also be available on Zoom for those who prefer to participate from afar. Join on Zoom.
  • Meditation for Compassion: A Beginner’s Meditation Mantra from Thich Nhat Hanh’s, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching in room 12. Bob Mesle leads this program for people wanting to begin or renew their meditation practice. Experienced folks are invited to come and share their experience and insights.  
  • Chair Yoga – Doug Erickson facilitates this spiritual practice that is perfect for those who are less mobile or new to yoga. This will also be offered on Zoom. Join on Zoom.

In December, I hope you can join at least one of these events. Helping people in need and connecting with others can be a spiritual practice on its own, and certainly good for your spirit: 

  • Now through December 10 – UCE Mitten Tree – sign up here to purchase a gift for a person in need, staff a table, or to help wrap gifts. There are many ways to help! 
  • December 5th during Faith Formation Hour (11:35-12:30) 
    • Ornament Sunday – come make ornaments for the UCE Christmas trees or to take home. 
    • Forum – the Green Team will be sharing ways to green your gifting.
  • December 6th – Chalica, a UU Holiday, begins for 8 days. Use this guide for your family!
  • December 10th from 6-7:30 pm – Charity, Carols, and Cocoa – all ages are invited to help assemble care bags for Connections in room 6, followed by a tree-lighting, carols, and cocoa outside. Come for either or both events. 
  • December 12th during Faith Formation Hour (11:35-12:30) 
    • Storyteller Workshop – join our storyteller, Graig Turtullien, for all-ages fun in room 3. 
    • Caroling – spread some holiday cheer in the neighborhood! 
  • December 19th 
    • Annual Christmas Pageant during worship – everyone can be a star in this no-rehearsal pageant. Come to the back of the sanctuary by 10 am to choose a costume. Folks from home can join via Zoom and be animals or twinkling stars. 
    • Forum – during Faith Formation Hour – Personal connections during the holidays and a pandemic.
  • December 21 – Solstice (Yule) Ritual – this will be a family-friendly event to celebrate the turning of the wheel and the return of the sun. 
  • December 24 – Christmas Eve worship at 7 pm. Join in community at UCE or virtually on our YouTube channel. 
  • December 26 – Worship service on “Nurturing Our Spirits with Laughter”. This promises to be a good time for all ages! 

May your spirits be filled with love and joy! 

In Faith, 

Kathy Underwood
Director of Lifespan Religious Education

From DLRE: November 26, 20212021-11-24T03:39:04+00:00

From Immigrant Solidarity Team: November 26, 2021

On October 27, the Immigrations Solidarity Team showed the film La Bestia, a documentary following a number of Latin American migrants who try to reach the United States by riding Mexico’s railroads, followed by a panel of Oscar Chacon of Alianza Americas and Charlotte Jones-Carrol, chair of Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice.  

Current US immigration policy toward Latin American immigrants, essentially unchanged since the 1940s, creates roadblocks to that immigration, but migrants continue to find ways around the roadblocks.  Oscar argued that our best approach is to try to address the intolerable circumstances in the home countries, which are the root of the migration.  More migrants are coming in family groups and even unaccompanied minors, people who often travel in “caravans”, or even on buses, who are seeking to join families already in the States.  One impact of the use of Rule 42, rejecting people on the relatively specious grounds that they represent a danger of covid infections, is that people turned back on those grounds do not face the potential 10 years’ bar that arises from legal deportations, so they continue to try to reenter.  

Oscar argued that the gradual predominance of Latin Americans in migration patterns to the US was met from 1940 on with a concerted white supremacist campaign that migrants are dangerous.  At the same time, he has noticed that Latin American migration tends to increase when jobs are more plentiful in the US.  Thus, he argued, Latin American migration, and migration in general, is actually a net positive for the US economy and for wealth generation and even tax collection.  Charlotte pointed out that the industries which are primarily reliant on migrants are hospitality, food preparation (including meat and poultry butchering), and agriculture.  Migrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits.  

UUSJ is trying to address US immigration policies by lobbying Congress.  Charlotte mentioned that several reasonable legislative proposals have been submitted to Congress, but that the only avenue that has any reasonable chance of progress is Dream Act reform.  While that is a positive step, it addresses at most 700,000 people, while the undocumented population of the US is closer to 11 million.  Oscar argued that the persistent negative campaign against Latin American immigrants has made immigration reform a toxic issue for Democrats, who fear that they will be defeated in the polls if they push for such reform. 

From Immigrant Solidarity Team: November 26, 20212021-11-22T21:08:36+00:00

November 28, 2021

We will host an in-person and virtual worship service on Sunday, November 28th at 10:15 am.

Holding History: The Liberatory Ministry of Joshua Young (winner of the 2016 UU History Convocation sermon prize)
Joshua Young was a Unitarian minister who, with his wife, was a conductor on the Underground Railroad and through serendipity, conducted the funeral of radical abolitionist John Brown.  Young’s ministry preached what we today would call “collective liberation;” his story is one that inspires.

Our guest preacher, Reverend Karen G. Johnston is the Settled Minister at The Unitarian Society, a UU Congregation, in East Brunswick, NJ.  She has preached here once before. Ordained in 2016, she won the 2019 Dana Greeley Sermon Prize and the 2016 Unitarian Universalist History Convocation Sermon Prize. She is the co-author of the entry on Joshua Young, the focus of the sermon, in the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography. The heart of her spiritual practice is befriending death; she is the founder of Date with Death Club, a way to explore mortality in community.

A few important notes about participating in-person:

  1. Everyone over 2 in and around the UCE building will need to be masked.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Renaissance Social Services.

November 28, 20212021-11-22T15:08:24+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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