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Connecting UU: A Path to Belonging at UCE The “Connecting UU” program is a series of 45-minute discussions, offered most Sundays at 10:15 in Room 12.  These sessions are open to all, no matter where you are on the journey and are led by UCE’s New Member Committee. Childcare available. No need to sign up in advance. UU Principles  A discussion of the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism.  November 12 UU Sources  A discussion of the six sources from which we draw wisdom and spiritual nourishment. November 19 Spiritual Journeys (4 parts) Take any one or all of them in any order. Explore your religious and spiritual background, where you come from, what you want to cherish and what you want to release, and how you practice your spirituality. December 3, 10, 17, January 7 How to Get Involved  Learn how to become more engaged in the life of the church, find groups and activities of interest, discover the way things  get done, answer your questions about belonging in our community.  January 14 UCE History and Tour  Learn more about the history, architecture and art of our building through a guided [...]

Leadership Development Team Everyone is a leader at UCE! The Leadership Development Team is here to help you learn about positive leadership aligned with UU values and grow as a UCE lay leader, whether you’re a current leader of a UCE committee or team, want to be, or would simply like to learn more about yourself as a leader. Come to one of the leadership sessions we host, check out what we have for you online or join the Leadership Development Team! Here are three ways you can get started: Review UCE’s Leadership Model Take UCE’s Leadership Self-Assessment Browse Leadership Resources The Leadership Development Team is charged with supporting the emergence, development, and growth of UCE lay leaders. Our team promotes the distribution and utilization of the Leadership Development Guide, consisting of the UCE Leadership Model, a leadership self-assessment tool, and a variety of learning resources for current and aspiring leaders. In addition, the Leadership Development Team sponsors education, training, and discussion events related to the elements of UCE Leadership Model. Our team meets monthly at a time agreed upon by the team members, and can opt to do independent work between meetings. New members are [...]

Interim Reports Archive November Below is the report of November’s Volunteer Workshop and the Legacy report that helps frame past ministries in terms of the ways in which UCE has been shaped by the lasting gifts of past ministers. Saturday, November 23, 2019 42 UCE Volunteer Leaders attended. Here is a summary of expressed hopes: To be inspired and uplifted and more hopeful and enthusiastic To listen and learn and be heard: improved communication To identify strategic alliances and priorities and alliances To coordinate how groups fit into the larger whole of UCE To be both more joyful and content to live with mystery To seek clarity To imagine a future bigger than the past/ to find a path forward To find greater support for families and children To tap into the wisdom in the room To find ways to expand the diversity and number of leaders To be more inclusive To get information and find the “pulse of the church” To hear the wisdom in the room To extend possibilities for the future Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire that included the following questions relative to the group [...]

Transgender Inclusion in Congregations What to Expect This is an online course geared toward people from generally LGBTQ-welcoming congregations or faith groups who want to deepen their understanding of gender and transgender identities and are invested in creating truly trans-affirming faith communities.There are six sessions. Each one includes a 45- to 60-minute lecture by instructors Rev. Mykal Slack & Zr. Alex Kapitan, reflection questions, resources to take it deeper, and a short informal quiz. Sessions 1 and 2 are designed to ground you in this work, theologically, spiritually, and historically, and help you explore why we are called as people of faith to dismantle gender-based oppression—as well as exploring how each and every one of us are impacted by it and practices that can help us stay present. Sessions 3 and 4 explore gender diversity and the lived experiences of trans people—including the ways that race, class, and other factors influence those experiences—along with trans spirituality. Sessions 5 and 6 are all about culture and how to transform it. Expanding the circle of inclusion within a congregation or faith group requires understanding the unique culture of that group, along with how that culture works [...]

Interim Working Report Welcome to the interactive and working interim report. This report was originally generated in September 2019 and will be updated regularly by Rev. Karen Gustafson and the Transition Team. If you have any questions about the Interim work, please reach out or join one of Rev. Karen's Brown Bag Conversations usually held 3 times a month. # - indicates an event completed or planned for the Interim work. Introduction The following report represents input gathered in the following ways: Board of Trustees Weekend Retreat Day Long Staff Start Up Elected Leaders Retreat - Friday evening, September 6, 2019; all day, Saturday, September 7, 2019 After service forum on September 8, 2019 with approximately 100 members and friends attending Covenant Group Leaders Three “Brown Bag” sessions involving approximately 30 participants Membership Engagement Council Three extended e-mail responses Six meetings with individual congregants Invitations to Brown Bag groups and to contact me directly appeared in newsletters and were announced at the September newsletters and announced at the September meeting. # Brown Bag topic for [...]

Faith Formation for Adults UCE is committed to creating a welcoming space for adults to explore a variety of topics, whether in person or virtually during this time of COVID-19. The Adult Faith Formation Team plans and coordinates programs throughout the year. Recent offerings have included Infrastructure of Morality, The Science of Well-Being, Process Theology, Visions of God, Christ for UUs, and Intersectionality. Current & Upcoming Adult Programs Past Programs If you participated in a recent Adult Faith Formation program, please share about your experience using the anonymous evaluation form. Take the Adult Faith Formation Program Evaluation Form We also have the Forum Discussion Group, which meets bimonthly on Sunday mornings to provide a safe space for people to learn and discuss issues of importance and concern. Some of the topics they have explored have been Concepts of God, Virus Versus Human, and The 8th UU Principle. Once monthly the topic focuses on our UU Principles and/or Six Sources. Learn More About Forum Discussion Group In addition to these, we have two book groups, one for fiction readers and one for non-fiction readers. These [...]

Green Team The UCE Green Team puts into action the seventh UU principle: respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. UCE’s Green Team promotes good environmental stewardship in UCE’s facilities, at home and in the wider community.    The Green Team educates and motivates members of our faith community to promote and incorporate environmental consciousness into all activities. Since 2005 the Team has had a significant environmental impact at our house of worship with the following actions: the installation of low flow toilets lighting controls increased bicycle parking installation of two separate rain gardens the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits subscriber food scrap composting improved building wide waste reduction systems In August 2020, the adoption of a resolution by our Board of Trustees to meet the goals of carbon reduction in alignment with the Paris accord and the Evanston Climate Action Resilience Plan (CARP) ongoing research into enviro friendly HVAC solutions. We are a Green Sanctuary as recognized by the UUA, practicing environmental sustainability in multiple ways.  Led by the programs of the UU Earth Ministry (UUMFE), the Green Team focuses [...]

Rainbow Alliance The Rainbow Alliance supports the LGBTQ community both within UCE and in the broader community. We are meeting via Zoom. Please check the UCE Newsletter for dates and times. All are welcome to attend our meetings!  To be added to our mailing list for updates, contact Jordan Strueber or Lizzy Powers through the Realm Membership Directory or at admin@ucevanston.org. Join one or all of our events: Annual Rainbow Alliance Worship Service on a Sunday during June Pride Month. Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil on November 20th. Other events are publicized in the newsletter. Please feel free to join us any time. We love having new people attend our events. Resources Brave Space Alliance Center on Halsted - Community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. Side with Love – The UUA’s public advocacy campaign promoting respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person through advocacy, public witness, and speaking out in solidarity with those whose [...]

UU Network Team The UU Network Team seeks to strengthen ties between our congregation and the larger association: We alert our members to resources offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and encourage participation in our Chicagoland area, regional and national activities. We aspired to achieve this by serving as a catalyst for greater connection between UCE and Unitarian Universalism (UUism), being joyful in our work, creating fun-filled gatherings, and advocating for UCE participation in local, regional, and national activities. The UU Network Team meets the second Tuesday every month via Zoom at 11:00 a.m. You are welcome to join us any time. Contact Peggy Boccard via REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org. We interface with external UU organizations... Groups that UCE has representation or participation with, including with the UUA, MidAmerica Region, and local Chicago Area Unitarian Universalist Council (CAUUC). Continue in leadership role for UUA’s General Assembly delegates and attendees (in-person and virtual) Because the Association is often ahead of individual congregations in social justice causes, UUNT continues to monitor Unitarian Universalist (UU) social justice organizations for opportunities that might be of interest to UCE groups, e.g., REAL Team, [...]

Things to Know About Our Community Joys and Sorrows – Do you have something you would like to share with the congregation during the joys and sorrows time of our Sunday morning worship service? We encourage you to submit your joys and sorrows ahead of time to this online form. We will read aloud in the service, those that are submitted by 11 a.m. on Sunday. If you are unable to access the google form for some reason, you may send an email to Rev. Eileen Wiviott at ewiviott@ucevanston.org, however, it is easier for us to keep track through the google form. We continue to celebrate and mourn together through this important ritual and appreciate your understanding as we explore the various ways to hold what is on your hearts. Caring Concerns – Are you having surgery or a baby? Would you like a meal as you recuperate? Do you need a ride to an appointment? Let us know. The Caring Program helps us care for each other by providing practical assistance to people in our congregation who are experiencing life changes and challenges. Contact Lois Taft if you would like to volunteer for [...]