Facing Climate Change: April 2021
Tuesdays, April 6, 13 at 7 pm | All sessions will be via Zoom | Facilitated by UCE members Andy Fisher and Dan Solomon
On April 6th, Andy Fisher will lead a PowerPoint presentation based on Al Gore’s “Climate Reality Project.” He’ll begin by sharing some of his own experiences with climate change, followed by three questions that Al Gore poses:
- Must we change? This part shows the reality of how fast CO2 has been building up recently. It includes views of the increasingly terrible floods, hurricanes, droughts and wildfires worldwide, as well as graphical illustrations of the trends.
- Can we change? This presents evidence for the great increases in clean renewable energy recently and its dramatic reduction in cost.
- Will we change? This lists the MANY countries, states, and private industries who have already committed to zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
There will be time for Q & A after the PowerPoint presentation
On April 13th, Dan Solomon will present some ideas by “Evolutionary Evangelist” Michael Dowd, providing a religious framework for facing our environmental crisis. Michael Dowd summarizes his Credo as: “Reality is my God. Evidence is my scripture. The Epic of Evolution is my creation story. Ecology is my theology. Integrity is my spiritual path. Fostering a just and healthy future is my mission.”
There will be a brief film presentation, followed by discussion.
April 4, 2021
We will host an online worship service on Sunday, April 4th at 11:15 am.
The Transformation of the Tomb
After such a period of hardship, entombed in isolation, loss, and darkness, what resources will be needed to emerge? Finding hope, healing and resilience after the trauma of the tomb.
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 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 Restore Justice.
From Rev. Karen Gustafson: March 26, 2021
Dear ones,
The snow is nearly gone from my part of northern Minnesota. Last night there was a little dusting from Mother Nature who remains decisively in charge of this nameless season between winter and spring. It seems likely that I will end my tenure as your Interim Minister without appearing again in person, but I am honored to think that my name will appear, for better, for worse, among the array of colleagues who have helped to shape the unfolding story of UCE. In my remaining newsletter offerings, I intend to reflect a bit on what I humbly hope might be a legacy.
This time, I am thinking about the challenging balance between the personal particular and the mission of the many.
My observation early in my time with UCE is that this was a congregation founded and sustained by kind, caring, competent, generous individuals, many of whom had formed solid and meaningful interpersonal connections. The motivation to participate had grown for many over decades as friendships, working on common projects that sprang up through the need to raise money, to support emerging social causes, to support members in times of crisis. And to supporting professional ministry- for better, for worse.
All of that is important beyond measure. And with all great pools of assets come liabilities. Untended, liabilities threaten assets. Some of the liabilities faced by UCE have resulted in lay leader burn-out, a perception among folks new to the congregation that getting involved is more complicated than it looks, unmanaged personal expectations that lead to disappointment and conflict. All of this is deeply human and certainly not confined to UCE.
There is a lot of good news here. Over the past 18 months, through good times and hard times, many of you have been willing to engage in conversations and meetings and Sunday services where these issues have been aired and considered. What has emerged is the beginning of a shared understanding that beyond the particular relationships and tasks and even the particular minister, you all are serving a common mission, “To nurture the human spirit for a world made whole.”
This is answer to the larger “Why?” in the question, “Why do I hang in when things get hard?” “Why does this conflict need to be resolved instead of being swept under the carpet?” “Why do I need to raise my pledge?” Why do I need to stay on a committee with people who bug me?””Why do I need to provide loving feedback to the minister or the staff when I am concerned about the direction that something is headed”.
It’s because, in addition to having friends and personal fulfillment, each of you is part of something that has a life of its own that is shaped by all of its parts.
I am confident that this unnamed season between winter and spring will resolve itself as the cycles that nature ordains. I am also confident that the you at UCE will sustain your growing momentum to the Shared Ministry that will make your shared Mission live in the world through many more seasons.
Blessings, all!
Karen
VirtUUal Faith Formation: March 26, 2021
What’s Happening in Lifespan Faith Formation?
Welcome as we continue our theme of Commitment! This week we focus on the segments At The Bedside, The Extra Mile, and Blessing. Check out this week’s video here. You can access the Soulful Home packet here at your own leisure.
Many Ways to Connect
Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. See the email with Zoom info.
Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – March’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.
High School Youth – Outdoor gathering this weekend. Look for an email with details.
Looking Ahead
Easter Sunday – April 4 – once again this year we will be participating in a virtual egg hunt with over 70 UU congregations around the country and Canada! Details in next week’s newsletter and on Facebook!
Popcorn Theology Online for 6th-8th Grade Youth – Sunday, April 11 at 1 pm.
Current & Upcoming Adult Faith Formation Programs
Neo-Paganism History, Theology, and Ritual – Tuesdays, March 30 at 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Rev. Susan Frances and Taryn Seawright. In this three-part series, Taryn and Rev. Susan will explore the history, theology, and ritual of Neo-Paganism.
Join us for Forum on April 4 at 10 am to discuss the Imagining the 8th Principle!
Come join us to hear about how the 8th Principle is being discussed within our congregation and to get an update on its adoption by other congregations and the UUA process for adoption. Bring your ideas to add to the list of suggestions about how the adoption this new principle could shape UCE.
Tickets Now Available – Peter Mayer Virtual Concert: March 26, 2021
Peter Mayer, celebrated singer and songwriter, will perform on Saturday, April 24 at 7 pm. Peter’s work is known throughout the Unitarian Universalists Congregations and one of his best known and beloved songs Blue Boat Home is included in the UU Hymnal.
Our congregation was honored to see Peter perform in our sanctuary last year and are very excited to welcome him back, this time on Zoom. The concert is hosted by the UCE Green Team with proceeds benefitting The Talking Farm. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased through Eventbrite here starting Monday, March 29.
The Talking Farm is an initiative that helps people learn to farm and grow, harvest and eat their own food. It works closely with the students of Evanston Township High School, who work the Edible Acre, a garden across from the high school. Its harvest is used in the ETHS cafeteria and students learn about local climate, local farming, and developing a relationship with the land. Students from the Edible Acre will be participating in our April 22 Earth Day celebration!
For more information contact Sandra Robinson at srobinson@ucevanston.org.
VirtUUal Faith Formation: March 19, 2021
What’s Happening in Lifespan Faith Formation?
Welcome as we continue our theme of Commitment! This week we focus on the segments At Play, and From the Mailbox. Check out this week’s video here. You can access the Soulful Home packet here at your own leisure.
Many Ways to Connect
Family Fun Outdoors – This Sunday, March 21 at 11 am – 12:30 pm – we will meet at North Park Village Nature Center (5801 N Pulaski Rd. Chicago) for a short hike. Families are welcome to stay longer. There is a nature center there, but it might not be open.
Popcorn Theology Online for 6th-8th Grade Youth – Sunday, March 21 at 1 pm after the nature hike!
Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. See the email with Zoom info.
Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – March’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.
High School Youth – Outdoor gathering either Saturday or Sunday. Look for an email with details. And feel free to join the gathering at 11 am Sunday too!
Current & Upcoming Adult Faith Formation Programs
Neo-Paganism History, Theology, and Ritual – Tuesdays, March 16, 23, 30 at 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Rev. Susan Frances and Taryn Seawright. In this three-part series, Taryn and Rev. Susan will explore the history, theology, and ritual of Neo-Paganism.
UCE Forum Discussion – Join us for Forum on March 21 at 10 am. We will host UCE member, Shawn Iles who is the new Assistant Director at Interfaith Action. Sean has responsibility for the Overnight Emergency Shelter, the Producemobile, and the newly opened afternoon warming shelter. UCE has been a long-time partner with Interfaith Action of Evanston, and many have helped with the Overnight Shelter and the Walk for Warmth. UCE has also been also been one of four churches sponsoring the “Let My People Go” port-a-potties sites. You can read up about Interfaith Action here.
Annual Meeting Preview: April 9, 2021
What will happen at our annual meeting this year? Many wonder what may be on the agenda, so let’s talk about that now. There will be a financial report and a vote on a budget for the new fiscal year starting July, 2021. There will be a slate of candidates for new Board of Trustee members, the name of the proposed new Endowment Trustee, and a slate for new Nominating and Recruiting Committee members. Those are the standard agenda items. There will also be proposed changes to our bylaws.
In addition this year there will be a vote on adopting the 8th principle. The Board will host a Board Special Edition: Consider the 8th Principle on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 6:00 pm. The Board will create space to hear the pros and cons from church members before the congregational meeting regarding the idea of adopting the 8th Principle.
To find out more about the entire congregation meeting, please read more and plan to attend a congregational conversation at our Town Halls on April 21 at 6:30 pm (COMPLETED) and April 25 at 11:45 am.
8th Principle Vote
There have been many open sessions introducing the 8th principle and discussing its meaning for us at UCE. Two more sessions are planned – one on April 11th after coffee hour and one Friday evening, April 23rd. The Friday, April 23rd meeting will be co-hosted by the Board of Trustees and the 8th Principle Team as we seek to listen carefully to all members on this topic. Links to both of those meetings can be found in the newsletter for those weeks. In addition, your covenant groups are holding discussions on the 8th principle, as are other small groups. If you would like a discussion guide and/or facilitator for your group, please contact the Board for more information (BOT@ucevanston.org).
The Board of Trustees is recommending we call for a 75% YES count for the vote on the 8th principle at the annual meeting. We believe it merits a 75% positive vote because it is a significant addition to our guiding principles!
Changes to Bylaws Vote
As part of the Interim work, the Board has been reviewing the bylaws and has found a few areas that need to be updated to more closely reflect the practices of UCE. Some of the changes to the Bylaws are technical, clarifying how UCE is operating and fulfilling our mission. The Board proposes
- We change all pronouns in the bylaws to gender neutral pronouns.
- Any minister of the Unitarian Church of Evanston, whether called or hired, shall have freedom of the pulpit. Until recently, we had only called ministers, and we believe we should change the bylaws to ensure this is clear: all ministers have freedom of the pulpit.
- To update the table of contents to match any changes.
Other changes are more complex.
- Currently a board member may serve up to three terms within a ten-year period. The Board proposes that these three terms be staggered by requiring a three-year hiatus before being slated again, if a trustee has already served two terms within an eight-year time period.
- We need to clarify how senior staff positions are filled within a modified policy governance structure such as that at UCE. Language has been added to show that, while the senior minister is always called by the congregation, other positions may be hired by the senior minister in covenantal consultation with the Board of Trustees and the Executive Team. Contracts with these hired employees will be co-signed by the senior minister and the Board President, with approval of the Board of Trustees. The positions affected are a minister other than senior minister, a director of religious education, director of congregational life, director of music and executive operations director.
Please note that, since all changes are clarifications and corrections, we will vote for the full list of changes all at one time; there will be only one vote for all the bylaw changes. This will also ease the complexity of our Zoom voting process.
Please attend town hall meetings to discuss the proposed budget and these proposed bylaw changes on Sunday, April 25 at 11:45am (following the special UUANI service at 10am and a brief coffee and conversation time.) Please plan to attend the Board Special Edition on the 8th Principle on Friday, April 23 at 6:00pm. Meanwhile, should you have any questions or concerns, please contact a board member or email us at BOT@ucevanston.org. We want to hear from you!
UCE Needs Your Pledge Today: March 26, 2021
If you've already sent in your 2021-22 pledge, THANK YOU. We are so grateful for your generosity.
If you haven't pledged yet, please fill out your pledge form now!
The UCE budget for 2021-22 needs to be finalized in the next few weeks, and we need your financial commitment to make that happen. Time is running out!
Every pledge matters and every dollar makes UCE's mission possible.
Remember, pledge drive packets were emailed this year. To find yours, please search for UCE and 2021-22 PLEDGE DRIVE.
You'll also want to check out all the resources on the Pledge Drive page, including a FAQ, tips on completing the Google form, how to set up automatic payments, and more.
Here's how every dollar you give will fund these critical program areas:
Thank you for your generosity … and may what you give bring you joy!
Questions? Jessica Meis is ready to help you at admin@ucevanston.org or (847) 864-1330.
