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

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Shall We Overcome?

What does it mean to sing this song of resistance knowing we have NOT overcome, that, in fact, we seem further from overcoming injustice than ever? We honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, by staying in the struggle while remaining honest about our current reality. Rev. Eileen leads this service with Bob Mesle as Worship Associate. Vocal tenor, Henry Pleas, and pianist Ken Smith offer their musical gifts.

Today’s offering will be shared with C&W Market Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the Evanston community by providing essential grocery access to those facing food insecurity and fostering career skills in the food and culinary industry.

Upcoming Services

January 25 – Finding the Way: Sophia Newman’s Spiritual Journey

February 1 – Pluralism: Resilience Born of Difference; Rev. Eileen

February 8 – Pleasure Activism; Dr. Emma Farrell

February 15 – Inhabiting Our Innate Power; Rev. Eileen

Sunday, January 18, 20262026-01-15T19:19:39+00:00

DLFF Newsletter – January 2026

New Year Changes

The ringing in of a new year lends itself to reflection and setting intentions as we embark on our journey in life. Our Fire Communion ritual offers a way to do so in community with others. While I missed this at UCE, I was able to participate at my home congregation, the Elgin UU Church, and I must say I struggled with it.

Their ritual has two parts to it: the first is to think of the things you wish to be rid of, the things that have not served you well in the past year, and then write them on flash paper and burn it. The second part is to then think of something that you wish to invite into your life, something that you need to help you be more authentic and a better person, and then think of a word or two that can be your mantra for the year. And this is the part I struggled with – what do I want to invite into my life this year? The possibilities are endless! How do I choose just one?

Those who know me also know that I am one to generally and enthusiastically embrace change, which is why I am baffled as to why I had a hard time coming up with my mantra. I seem to welcome it more in my professional life, which often shows up on our backpack tags that are blessed at the beginning of the school year. This year’s mantra is “Something Possible!” Perhaps I should keep that as my personal one as well.

Part of this New Year ritual and tradition is to look back on the previous year. Out of curiosity, I looked back at what I wrote in the newsletter in January 2025. It focused on some findings I learned about the ways parents and families are challenged and how faith communities can help. There were several ideas on ways to make connections across the generations, such as older adults being “grandparents”, “aunties” and “uncles” to our younger ones and young adults teaming up with our youth for game nights and other activities.

And while we have done some of this, we continue to explore more ways of connecting people. Rev. Eileen and I met with some parents this past fall to hear their thoughts on what helps them and ways we can offer even more support and connection. One of their ideas was to improve The Nest area for families in worship so that it is more accessible to late-comers and is situated so parents are closer to the rug where the children sit. Gillian Lawrence came up with a plan that encompasses these needs and we will unveil it this Sunday. I welcome your feedback as you experience this new arrangement.

A few of the ideas mentioned that we are tackling this year: ways to improve communication between parents, having parent activities while offering childcare, and a family sleepover. As these come to fruition, you will hear more about them, so stay tuned!

Whether or not you have a mantra or word for 2026, may you find encouragement, support, hope, and joy here at UCE as you travel the road of life.

 

In Faith,

Kathy

DLFF Newsletter – January 20262026-01-06T00:06:48+00:00

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Love Resists and Builds

UUs across the country are joining the UUA’s Love Resists campaign. We will explore building community, training geared toward engagement, and the various forms of action that contribute to collective resistance. Bring your whistle or plan to get one. Rev. Eileen leads the service with support from Rev. Susan, Mary Dudek, and UCE’s Catalyst for Democracy Team. The UCE Choir, director Vickie Hellyer, and pianist Gregory Shifrin provide our musical inspiration.

Today’s offering will be shared with C&W Market Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the Evanston community by providing essential grocery access to those facing food insecurity and fostering career skills in the food and culinary industry.

Upcoming Services

January 18 – Shall We Overcome? Rev. Eileen

January 25 – Finding the Way: Sophia Newman’s Spiritual Journey

February 1 – Pluralism: Resilience Born of Difference; Rev. Eileen

February 8 – Pleasure Activism; Dr. Emma Farrell

 

Sunday, January 11, 20262026-01-05T18:37:13+00:00

Sunday, January 4, 2026

Fire Communion: Finding Our Gift

This Sunday, in-person participants will be invited to burn flash paper and online participants will be invited to have 1 to 4 candles ready to use during the Fire Communion. We will set an intention toward finding our gift. A gift that reflects our unique qualities and is able to be shared with the world.

Worship is led by Rev. Susan Frances and worship associates Dr. Emma Farrell, Ellie Feddersen, Lynn Kendall, and Bob Mesle, along with hymn leader Jenn Wisegarver and pianist Gregory Shifrin.

Today’s offering will be shared with C&W Market Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the Evanston community by providing essential grocery access to those facing food insecurity and fostering career skills in the food and culinary industry.

Upcoming Services

January 11th – Love Resists – Revs. Eileen and Susan and the Catalyst Team

January 18th – Shall We Overcome? – Rev. Eileen with Henry Pleas as musical guest

January 25th – Sophia Newman’s spiritual journey with Rev. Eileen as worship associate

February 1st – Resilience Born out of Difference – Rev. Eileen

 

Sunday, January 4, 20262025-12-27T23:08:37+00:00

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Finding Hope when Plans Change

In this all-ages service, we’ll follow a story of setback and adaptation to explore hope…not as certainty or fixed outcomes, but as openness to possibility.  Dr. Emma Farrell, Ministerial Intern, leads our service with Worship Associate Annette Wallace. Gregory Shifrin shares his talents on piano.

Today’s offering will be shared with FORA – Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America, whose mission is to ensure that refugee families are provided access to an education sufficient to prepare them to become economically self-sufficient and robustly engaged in American civic life.

Upcoming Services

January 4th – Fire Communion – Rev. Susan

January 11th – Love Resists – Revs. Eileen and Susan and the Catalyst Team

January 18th – Shall We Overcome? – Rev. Eileen with Henry Pleas as musical guest

January 25th – Sophia Newman’s spiritual journey with Rev. Eileen as worship associate

Sunday, December 28, 20252025-12-18T21:15:58+00:00

A Prayer for Peace

In the bleak of winter, amidst the night of the soul, when peace feels so far away, we gather to pray for the clarity of a single star guiding us toward a peace we can only create together. Rev. Eileen Wiviott leads our Christmas Eve candlelight service with Worship Associates Shirley Adams, Mary Dudek, Dr. Emma Farrell, and Bob Mesle. Our UCE Choir, directed by Vickie Hellyer and accompanied by Gregory Shifrin on piano, Peter Schifrin on flute, and Nadav Simon on percussion, lead us in song.

A Prayer for Peace2025-12-18T15:00:35+00:00

Sunday, December 21, 2025

 A Story of Hope

The winter solstice brings the promise of returning light and warmth, and the Christmas story as we enact it, helps us to choose hope even when things are bleak. Join us in celebrating the season with the retelling of Jesus’ birth in an interactive and music-filled worship service. Kathy Underwood leads and Rev. Eileen will be the Worship Associate. Jenn Wisegarver, Kiley Korey, Charles M. Anderson, and Patrick Briody will lead our hymns.

Today’s offering will be shared with FORA, which stands for Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America. I invite Sue Larson up to share with us about her experiences tutoring at FORA.

Upcoming Services

December 24th – Christmas Eve Service (7pm)

December 28th – Living Faithfully – Dr. Emma Farrell

January 4th – Fire Communion – Rev. Susan

January 11th – Love Resists – Revs. Eileen and Susan and the Catalyst Team

January 18th – Shall We Overcome? – Rev. Eileen with Henry Pleas as musical guest

Sunday, December 21, 20252025-12-17T21:12:43+00:00
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