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

From the BOT: February 5, 2021

Want to know what the Board was working on in December and January? 

  • Reviewing our shared structural relationship with the Integrated Stewardship Council 
  • Assisting the Stewardship Chairs by developing Board Goals for the Pledge Drive 
  • Meeting to find a consultant for an equity audit  
  • Writing an Endowment grant for the Anti-Oppression Task Force 
  • Reading and discussing Widening the Circle of Concern 
  • Reviewing and updating our Board Job Descriptions to share with the congregation and Nominating and Recruiting 
  • Supporting Rev. Karen in her interim work 
  • Discussing the structure of committees and councils and their relationship to each other with Rev. Karen as we develop Bylaws recommendations 
  • Monitoring the Ends statements 
  • Supporting the Search Team in completing the ministerial agreement 
  • Attending Council meetings as liaisons – there to learn and to assist, if needed 
  • Hosting “Reflections with the Board” where we meet monthly with the congregation 
  • Planning and hosting a holiday party for the staff 
  • Connecting with other UU congregations and the Midwest UUA through weekly leadership zoom calls  
  • Continuing to review and revise our Bylaws to bring to the congregation during our May Annual meeting 
  • Working with the Denominational Affairs Team to develop a formal process for UCE delegates going to General Assembly 
  • Renewing our Behavioral Covenant 
  • Organizing, publicizing, and leading the congregational meeting regarding the vote on the call for our next settled minister 
  • Welcoming our settled senior minister, Reverend Eileen Wiviott 
  • Writing newsletter articles to keep you updated! 

Want to know more about any of these topics?  The Board minutes and agendas are available on the UCE website or feel free to contact the Board at BOT@ucevanston.org! 

From the BOT: February 5, 20212021-02-02T18:58:24+00:00

Reflections with the Board: February 5, 2021

It is our goal as the Board of Trustees to maintain connections with you. To that end, we are hosting a program entitled, “Reflections with the Board.”  We host these sessions via zoom once a month at 10 am before the service.  Our next session will be held on February 14th at 10 am. For this session, the Board would like to spend some time talking with you about Widening the Circle of Concern. This month we will focus on Chapter Three, Congregations and Communities.  You did not have to attend any of our previous sessions to join us this month. Here are the questions from the WTC Study Guide: 

  • The shaded box on p. 47, Recommended Congregational Practices to Increase Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, details six actions that can be taken by congregations. Discuss which of these you are already engaged in and which of these you might like to add. 

  • An important part of this chapter (shaded box pp. 40-41 and pp. 48-49) is understanding congregational polity and the covenantal understanding of each congregation’s relationship with the UUA and other congregations.  

    • Discuss how you understand these relationships. 
    • How well do you think they are understood in the broader congregation? 
    • What actions can you take to build shared understanding? 

  • There is a case study of a congregational audit on pp. 52-53.  

    • Is this something your congregation should consider? 
    • What might be barriers to implementing this? 

  • There is a case study of a congregation that intentionally focused on welcoming a younger and more diverse leadership team on p. 45. Read the excerpts from their identity documents and reflect on your own.  

    • In what ways are they similar and what ways are they different? 
    • When was your congregational covenant last renewed? 

  • Which of the suggested actions related to this chapter seem relevant to our community?  

    • What would be the first task? 
    • What are the barriers to implementation? 

As you can see, many of these questions rely on having the chapter on hand.  You may want to review those sections or have that information pulled up on your computer or your book available.  Here is a link to the Chapter: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening/congregations-communities 

Which of these questions would you like to discuss?  What have you been learning as you have been reading Widening the Circle? Please join us on Sunday. Thank you. 

Click here to join Zoom meeting. 

Meeting ID: 862 4288 7134 

Passcode: 220807 

One tap mobile +13126266799,,86242887134#,,,,,,0#,,220807# US (Chicago) 

Reflections with the Board: February 5, 20212021-02-01T19:51:03+00:00

February 7, 2021

We will host an online worship service on Sunday, February 7th at 11:15 am.

Renewing our Covenant: We Begin Again in Love – led by Rev. Eileen Wiviott
As a new shared ministry begins out of a long-standing relationship, we rekindle our commitments to one another – me as your newly called senior minister, and you as a congregation eager to live into the partnership and practice of Beloved Community. We will make explicit our promises – how we strive to be together in service to our common mission. Together, we celebrate beginning again.

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 during the summer 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 Interfaith Action of Evanston.

February 7, 20212021-02-01T16:38:45+00:00

VirtUUal RE: January 29, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Religious Education?

Welcome to week four on our theme of Imagination! You can access the new Soulful Home packet here. This week, we focus on the segments At the Bedside, Blessing, and The Extra Mile. Check out this week’s video.

REvisioning Our Multigenerational RE Program Update – See more in Kathy’s column.

Mystery Match is Here!

What’s Mystery Match? This program takes interested adults and matches them with a young person anonymously. During the week of February 6-13, adults send a card or two to their Mystery Match with some clues to their identity. The young people love to get snail mail, and they love guessing games! Then after the worship service on February 14, we will have a Meet Your Match virtual celebration where the young people will guess who their match is and meet you. This is a fun and easy way to get to know our young people!

Non-Parental Adults, if you’d like to participate in Mystery Match, sign up here by Wednesday, February 3.

Parents, sign up your child(ren) or youth here by by Wednesday, February 3.

You can also email Kathy at kunderwood@ucevanston.org.

Many Ways to Connect

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – January’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.

Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.

High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. Look for an email with details.

Current & Upcoming Adult RE Programs

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – Tuesdays, February 2; March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Learn More and Register
Click here to join the Zoom class

Process Buddhism: Zen Style (Part of the “Visions of God” series.) – Sponsored by UCE and the Cobb Institute for Community and Practice – Tuesdays, February 9, 16, 23 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Dr. Jay McDaniel, Cobb Institute

Learn More and Register
Click here to join the Zoom class
VirtUUal RE: January 29, 20212021-01-29T22:06:20+00:00

VirtUUal RE: January 22, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Religious Education?

Welcome to week three on our theme of Imagination! You can access the new Soulful Home packet here. This week, we focus on the segments On the Porch and From the Mailbox. Check out this week’s video.

REvisioning Our Multigenerational RE Program Update – We had 19 members participate in last weekend’s gatherings! Thank you to all who came to the conversation on our hopes and dreams for our program as we begin a new ministry with a settled minister and a vision for when we return to in-person gatherings. Looking ahead, we are forming a task force to explore models of faith formation that fit our shared values, inspire us, and meet the needs of our children, youth, families, and whole congregation. This task force will meet virtually 4-6 times over the next 3-6 months. We’d love to have a few more folks – preferably young adults, older youth, and parents of younger children. Email Kathy at kunderwood@ucevanston.org to learn more.

Many Ways to Connect

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – January’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.

Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1:30 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.

High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. We’ll take a leisurely walk around the Landfill/Lakefill path. Look for details in the email, and RSVP to Mike Takada at mdtakada@gmail.com.

Upcoming Adult RE Programs

PROCESS RELATIONAL THEOLOGY: A Vision For Environmental And Social Justice – (Part of the “Visions of God” Series)

Tuesdays, January 19, 26. at 7-8:30 pm

Facilitated by Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Bob Mesle.

The process relational worldview, values, and modes of thought offer a broad worldview which creatively links these UU principles and give them greater depth. Since this is part of a larger series on VISIONS OF GOD, we will give some attention, but not all of our attention, to this radically different concept of God. Process relational thinking is a valuable resource helping us address issues of environmental and social justice, and links with feminist, womanist, and queer theologies.

We will highlight how Process Theology relates to these UU Principles:

1. The Inherent worth and dignity of every person

2. Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are all a part.

Click here to join this class

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – Get a jump on this read now so you can join us next month! Tuesdays, February 2; March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Click here to join this class
Click here to register for Towards an Understanding of Beloved
VirtUUal RE: January 22, 20212021-01-28T23:32:54+00:00

Rev. Connie Simon Workshop: February 21 and 25, 2021

Join this two part workshop, “Beyond Channing, Parker, and Francis David?” led by Rev. Connie Simon.

Rev. Connie Simon, warm, approachable, and knowledgeable, shared her insights about Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist history from an anti-oppressive lens with the Midwest Leadership school this past fall. Several UCE congregants attended leadership school and were so blown away by what they learned from Rev. Simon, that they wanted to invite her to share her wisdom with the whole congregation. She will be preaching for us on February 21st, followed by a 2-part workshop that we hope the whole congregation will take part in on February 21st, 12:30-2pm and February 25th, 7-8:30 pm. Please mark your calendars! We are so grateful to Rev. Simon for working with us to provide necessary context for the work of Widening the Circle of Concern. Youth and young adults are encouraged to attend.

About the Workshop

How much do you really know about Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist history?  You might be surprised to hear that there’s more to the story of our movement than a European heretic and a handful of 19th century White men.  Our history is broad and rich and deep.  It’s interesting, inspiring, confusing, and sometimes disheartening and even downright maddening.

More than two centuries after the start of Unitarianism and Universalism in America, we’re struggling to dismantle white supremacy culture in our congregations, our denomination, and our world.  But first we need a little understanding of where we’ve come from.  In this two-part workshop, we’ll look at some of the old stories in a new light – through an anti-oppressive lens.  We’ll see the origins of white supremacy culture in our faith and how it’s shaped who we are today and informs the work we need to do going forward.  And we’ll learn stories that don’t often get shared of Black and Biracial people, Indigenous People, people of color and others of marginalized identities in Unitarian Universalism

Workshop Materials

February 21, 2021 Service
Workshop Slides
Workshop Recording – February 21
Workshop Recording – February 25

About Rev. Connie Simon

Rev. Connie Simon was called as minister of First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati in August 2018.  An avid history buff, Rev. Connie is a Trustee of the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society and Editor of the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography.  She also teaches UU History and Theology at Midwest Leadership School and the Extended Leadership Experience.  Rev. Connie recently adopted a four-year old Brussels Griffon mix that she named “Rev. Dr. Janeetha Ridley” or “Mama” for short. 

Rev. Connie Simon Workshop: February 21 and 25, 20212021-04-12T21:54:59+00:00

From DLRE: January 29, 2021

A huge “thank you” to those who participated in the recent REvisioning gatherings. Rev. Karen, Rev. Eileen, and I were blessed to witness the honesty, hopes, and dreams that were shared. There is a great desire to create innovative ways for people to connect within and across generations in all aspects of congregational life: worship, faith formation, social justice, and social gatherings.  

This is no small task, of course, and so we have formed a coalition of people who are excited to explore the many options out there as well as think outside the box. And so I introduce to you the Faith Formation Force 2021! Gladly serving on our task force are: Ben Kornfeld, Karena Nelson, Carolyn Leman, Ann Gadzikowski, Shirley Adams, Margaret Shaklee, Dan Solomon, and Cheryl Mounts.  

Over the next several months, we will explore these with and for our congregation:  

  • Ways to co-create a multi-generational, inclusive community of life-long learning and growing in spiritual depth, commitment to living our values, and cultivating care.  
  • Models of faith formation that will help us strive toward our ends and our mission.  
  • Practical, clear, and accessible methods to create experiences of learning at all ages about our UU history, identity, and values.  
  • Opportunities to work for justice, deepen relationships, and have fun together. 

You will be hearing from us along our journey towards building a more vibrant UCE! Of course, there are still ways to connect with others as we set out forging a new path. One opportunity coming this next week is Mystery Match! 

What’s Mystery Match? This program takes interested adults and matches them with a young person anonymously. During the week of February 6-13, adults send a card or two to their Mystery Match with some clues to their identity. The young people love to get snail mail, and they love guessing games! Then after the worship service on February 14, we will have a Meet Your Match virtual celebration where the young people will guess who their match is and meet you. This is a fun and easy way to get to know our young people!  

If you’d like to participate in Mystery Match, sign up here or email me at kunderwood@ucevanston.org. 

In Faith, 

Kathy 

From DLRE: January 29, 20212021-01-29T17:07:17+00:00

Our Neighbors Without a Home Still Need Lunches: January 29, 2021

Many thanks to all of you who made bag lunches and delivered them to one of Evanston’s three locations for Connections for the Homeless.  We are resuming our program on February 1 and have secured a grant which will allow us to contribute 600 more lunches! 

We are encouraging people who have not done this before, to give it a try. Of course, everyone who has made lunches is invited to jump in again. Join the 25 folks who packed lunches last year and see how easy it is to make a contribution that is hugely appreciated by the men and women who receive it. Imagine what it is like to have no kitchen and no food.  Then, you open a brown bag and find a fresh, tasty sandwich, fresh fruit, a juice box and a granola bar – Wow! 

How do you get started? 

  • Choose a day (Mon. through Fri.) from the calendar on the Connections website, Connect2home.org  Go to ‘volunteer’, ‘make bag lunches’, ‘sign up to prepare bag Lunches to one of our locations’. This is also where you choose the location you prefer.
  • Email Maggie Weiss to let her know the date and location you have chosen. msmaggie6@comcast.net.
  • Pick up a bag with nonperishable components of 25 lunches from Carol Nielsen. This will contain juices, granola bars and condiments. carolnielsen2100@gmail.com

Then, you buy the fresh items you will use in your lunches – bread, meat, cheese,fresh fruit. We will pay for all the nonperishables; you will pay for the fresh items. We have found the best prices at Aldi, but shop wherever you want. 

Spread a little love in the month of Valentine’s Day with bag lunches – and in March, too! 

Questions? Please contact Sheila Holder at skholder8@gmail.com  

Carol Nielsen, Maggie Weiss, Sheila Holder

Our Neighbors Without a Home Still Need Lunches: January 29, 20212021-01-29T17:00:42+00:00

Endowment Application Deadline: February 1, 2021

This is a reminder that the January 31 deadline for Endowment applications is coming up quickly.  Since January 31 falls on Sunday, the deadline is extended until midnight, February 1.  Endowment has expended its full distribution for this fiscal year; however, with the expected return of unspent funds from the Ministerial Search Committee, about $8,500 will likely be available for distribution through June 30.   

The spring deadline has been changed permanently to May 31, after the congregational vote to approve the Operations budget for 2021-22.  At that time Endowment will entertain proposals for projects in the next fiscal year.   

If you have questions, please contact Margaret Schatz or Jane Kenamore, co-chairs of the Endowment Committee. 

Endowment Application Deadline: February 1, 20212024-01-18T19:58:02+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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