Easter Sunday Service

April 20, 2025 at 10:30am 

Passover and Easter Festivities for All Ages 

Passover Seder TONIGHT

April 18, 5:30-7pm

Easter Sunday Brunch and Peeps Show: Bring a casserole, bread, or eggs to share 

during Kinship Time.

Bring your Peeps display to the counter by the storage room for all to admire! 

UPDATE FROM KATHY UNDERWOOD

Springtime Joy

Our theme this month has been Joy, and it sure has lived up to it so far! Last Sunday’s worship service with the youth and young adults was full of joy and creativity! It is so inspiring and uplifting to hear and see their insights and passion. We are blessed to have them in our community.

This weekend, we celebrate Passover and Easter Sunday, both joyous occasions. All ages are invited to the family-friendly Passover Seder tonight at 5:30p in the sanctuary. Bring a side dish to share that doesn’t contain yeast or pork. 

On Sunday, we will be welcoming our newest and youngest members in a Child Dedication Ceremony during the worship service. Afterwards, we will have an Easter potluck brunch during Kinship Time. Those who made Spring Peeps displays can leave them on the counter by the storage room along the west wall by the kitchen. We had so many creative displays last year, like this one of the sanctuary made by Jim Dibble (notice the Rev. Eileen bunny and song-leaders!) I look forward to seeing what others thought up this year!

Passover Seder - TONIGHT

Friday, April 18, 2025 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

UCE Sanctuary

1330 Ridge Ave, Evanston

All ages are invited to participate in a family-friendly Passover Seder to experience aspects of this Jewish celebration, taste the foods, sing the songs, hear the stories and prayers, and search for the afikomen. You need not be Jewish to participate.

Feel free to bring a side dish to share that doesn’t contain yeast (such as bread/rolls) or pork. 

Please register with the number of people that will be joining us from your family so we can prepare.

Register HERE

Continuing the Conversation

Join the UCE Board of Trustees to continue building on congregational conversations held over this past year. How can we increase accessibility and connections to build a wider sense of "us"? Join the Board at the last session. All are welcome (you do not need to register on Realm to attend but registration is encouraged.)

• Tuesday, April 22nd 7 - 8:15pm on Zoom

• Refreshments will be provided!

Register HERE

Our hats are off to the tremendous Middle Schoolers and Young Adults who helped create a beautiful worship service on April 13th. Your creativity, enthusiasm, energy and joy made all the preparation and the service itself fun and meaningful. Thanks to Kevin Barrow for his musical leadership, Aidan Caravana for his leadership of the Middle School group and his reflection. Thanks also to Grey, Kiley, Juliana, Sydney, Amira, and Teddy for the many ways you contribute to our beloved community and bring us joy with your presence.

The UCE Children's Choir is returning on May 4th

If your young person would like to sing with us in worship service on May 4th, please join us for an optional rehearsal or reach out for resources to rehearse on your own.

Sunday, April 27th, 10-10:20 am (room 3)

Contact Norell Liddell for info and links to the music: NorellLiddell at gmail dot com

GRIEF GROUP

If you have experienced a loss recently or in the past you are welcome to join our grief support group. We will meet for six weeks, Wednesday evenings from 5 to 6:30 at the church beginning April 23rd. You will receive education and support as well as connection with others who may have similar feelings. If interested or for any questions please email ellenerieger at gmail dot com.

Ellen Rieger MA, LPCP

• NEW way to submit Newsletter requests! Please use our new Google Form found HERE to submit your articles and images.

• If you're viewing the newsletter in your email inbox, click on "View entire message" at the bottom of the email to read the full newsletter!

Our Shared Offering Program is one of the ways that we live into our mission statement "for a world made whole." Each Sunday, the funds collected during our worship service either via text donations or in the collection bowls (and not otherwise designated for a pledge or something else) are shared equally between our operating budget and the current Shared Offering Recipient.

This Sunday's offering will be shared with the Sanctuary Working Group (SWG) a solidarity organization supporting vulnerable migrants in their journeys toward sustainable independence.

J O Y

UCE’s theme this month is JOY. What does JOY look like to you?  

• Deepening relationships while working toward a worthwhile cause? Sign up online to volunteer at our upcoming Rummage Sale! We need folks to set up, cashier, clean up, donate baked goods, and help to feed volunteers.
• Decluttering and simplifying your life? Collect and organize your donations using the Donation Tip Sheet.
• Practicing hospitality and community connection? The Rummage Sale is a great opportunity to welcome neighbors into our beautiful space for one-of-a-kind shopping and friendly conversation, while enjoying a cup of coffee and a treat from Café Rummage. Invite friends and neighbors to shop the sale!

Visit the Rummage Sale FAQ page or email rummage@ucevanston.org with questions or comments. 

Meeting Our Interfaith Neighbors

May 6 at 7pm in Room 3 and on Zoom

We will begin our exploration of the

African Methodist Episcopal faith with 

our guest from Ebenezer AME, Pastor Deborah Scott.

We will be visiting Ebenezer AME (1109 Emerson St.) on Saturday, April 10^th at 9am for their Missionary Society Prayer Breakfast.

You can register here to be included on future emails.

Dark Sky Week, April 21st-28th

Take a pledge and learn ways you can cut down on light pollution and experience the awe of stargazing!

Are You Involved in Social Justice Outside UCE?

Many UCE members work with groups focused on anti-racism and anti-oppression—from food banks and voter registration to supporting immigrants and the incarcerated. Whatever you’re doing, we want to know!

Social justice takes many forms—picking up litter, helping a neighbor, or simply offering kindness. Every act matters.

Fill out our Social Justice Questionnaire to share your work and connect with others. Want to get involved? Take our quick 5-minute survey HERE

Members of the Anti-Oppression Task Force will be in the café during kinship time the next few Sundays to help you fill it out—or scan the QR code below to do it from home.

Let’s support each other and live our UU values out in the world. Thank you!

In collaboration with the Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders, Rev. Eileen Wiviott helped draft and signed onto a public statement in support of Mahmoud Khalil, Leqaa Kordia, and Rumeysa Ozturk. The "Letter to the editor: Interfaith statement on arrests of student protesters" was published in the Evanston Roundtable on April 6, 2025.

Please extend a big thank you to UCE members serving as delegates to the 2025 Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly. Delegates include Shirley Adams, Kera Beskin, Peggy Boccard, Cheryl Mounts, Joe Romeo, Steve Serikaku, Elaine Siegel, and Carla Williams. Several will be on-site in Baltimore for the assembly June 18th through 22nd. Others will participate via the delegate online platform. UCE delegates are recommended by the Denominational Affairs Planning Team and approved by the Board of Trustees. We convene prior to General Assembly to discuss business agenda issues such as UUA elections and budget, and Congregational Study Action Issues (CSAI). We also convene to share learnings from the many in-person and virtual workshops offered during General Assembly. Check upcoming newsletters for articles on UUA elections and CSAIs, and ways you can provide your input on these important issues.

May 9th at 6-8pm in Room 3

We hope to spread mulch for the playscape!

Bring a snack to share. 

Join the UCE Race Against Hate Team

Some of us run, some walk, some roll! However you roll, be part of the YWCA Race Against Hate by joining the UCE Racial Equity Team. Every Father’s Day, the YWCA hosts a race to honor Ricky Byrdsong, who was murdered by a white supremacist in front of his children while walking near their Skokie home. Proceeds from the event support the Evanston/North Shore YWCA's racial equity programming. More information about Ricky Byrdsong and the Race is here.

Register by Monday, April 14 to save $5 in registration fees. Be sure to join the UCE Racial Equity Team HERE

If you can’t be with us in the Race, but want to join in spirit, support the team by using the above link to donate to one of our racers or the UCE Racial Equity Team.

Dana Deane is coordinating the UCE Racial Equity Team 2025. Please let her know if you have any questions. Dddeane847 at gmail dot com

UCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights

Our next gathering is TONIGHT April 18, 7:30-9pm (After the Seder)



The Young Adult Group at UCE is a group for young adults (18-35) interested in exploring spiritual deepening in community. We meet on every 3rd Friday from 7-9pm in Room 3 to discuss monthly Soul Matters themes, check in with each other, eat snacks, and play games.

Contact Kiley Korey (kileyekorey at gmail dot com), Kevin Barrow (kbarrow13 at gmail dot com) or Kathy Underwood (kunderwood at ucevanston dot org) with any questions.

Tuesday, April 22 , 5-7pm, we will meet in Room 3 for our potluck and discussion. This month with so much happening nationally and with much that affects retirees directly:

"As retirees who don't have the collegial network to rely upon, how are we responding to the terrible personal cuts and losses being handed down from our government?"

Picnics in the Park resumes in April!

Weather-permitting, families of all ages (not just littles!) are invited to meet up at 

Penny Park after worship on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

Celebrate Beltane with UCE!

All are welcome to join the UCE Pagan Collective for an all-ages and all-mobility level Beltane (May Day) ritual potluck feast on Sunday, May 4 at 1 p.m. We'll celebrate the blooming of summer on the south lawn with a ritual, a Maypole dance, a bonfire and a potluck lunch. Join us for the party, including a hot dog and marshmallow roast, crafts for the whole family, and Earth-centered fellowship. Dishes for the potluck are optional but appreciated.

🌱 Calling All Gardeners! 🌱

It’s time once again for our Annual Community Plant Swap!

Nurturing Mother Earth

2025 Community Plant Swap

Saturday, May 10 | 1–3 PM

Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Avenue (enter parking lot via Greenwood)

Bring your extra plants, seedlings, or divisions—

Swap them for something new to grow and love!

✨ Come with something you have, leave with something you want to grow!

Stay tuned: online pre-swaps link coming soon.

Spring Garden Work Day! May 17th - 10:00am-2:00pm

Let’s shake off our Winter shivers and capitalize on our pent-up gardening needs by bringing UCE’s gardens to life! We have lots of gardening projects this year.

We’ll be digging holes for new perennials for the East Rain Garden, making rabbit-proof fencing for around the plants and picking out any weeds in our way. Join us on the South Lawn for any part or all of the time. Rain date May 24th. Contact Janelle Brittain or Neil Koreman, Garden Team Co-Chairs, for any questions.

Save the Date!

UCE Campout 2025 – June 6-8

Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park Campground

Reserve your site here.

Or stay at the nearby Illinois Beach Hotel!

More details to come!

The next meeting of the UCE Fiction Book Group

is TONIGHT Friday, April 18th, 7-8pm using our Recurring Zoom link

The Fiction Book Group is reading The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Pecola Breedlove longs for blue eyes so her world as a Black girl will open up with the privileges of her white counterparts.

Future reads:

May 16: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. In 18th century Ghana, half-sisters are born into different villages and different fortunes, following the lives of their families through eight generations of the American Black experience.

June 20: Bear by Julia Phillips. Sisters living in the wilds of Washington State respond differently when a bear adopts their encampment.

The Nonfiction Book Group will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, via our recurring Zoom link to discuss Liberalism as a Way of Life by Alexandre Lefebvre. In this book, Lefebvre explores liberalism as a personal approach to life—one that fosters a good, enjoyable, meaningful, and fulfilling existence.

Upcoming discussions:

• June 1: We Are Free to Change the World: Hannah Arendt’s Lessons in Love and Disobedience by Lyndsey Stonebridge
• June 29: The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution & How We the People Can Take It Back by Madiba Dennie
• July 27: Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck

ONGOING UU CONNECTIONS

Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330