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In-Person & Virtual Worship Service

this Sunday, April 30th at 10:30 am

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday!

• Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10am-11:45am

• Chalice Children (pre/k) in room 9 from ~11am-noon – Our youngest will explore how we care for the earth by looking at More About Trees.

• Heads, Hearts, and Hands (1st-6th) in room 8 from ~11am-noon – The young people will explore our theme of Resistance in connection with Ramadan in Resisting by Sticking With It.

• Youth Group (7th-12th) The youth will remain in the worship service this morning.

Families can explore our theme, Resistance, at home at their own pace with the Soulful Home packet.

Rev. Eileen Wiviott is currently on a scheduled sabbatical until Sunday, May 28th. In her absence, please contact:

• Rev. Elizabeth Harding (eharding@ucevanston.org), Sabbatical Minister covering pastoral care: Wednesdays, 11:00am-4:30 pm, Thursdays, 10:30am-2:00pm, or by appointment.
• Rev. Allison Farnum (afarnum@ucevanston.org), Sabbatical Minister covering worship and staffing: Tuesdays, 10:30am-3:30pm, or by appointment.
• Rev. Susan Frances (sfrances@ucevanston.org), Assistant Minister for Congregational Life: Thursdays, 10:30am-3:30 pm, or by appointment.

Do Not Get Scammed: Rev. Eileen will not be sending or receiving emails or text messages during her sabbatical.

Peter Mayer Concert

Friday, May 19 - 7–10pm

Minnesota's Peter Mayer has been singing and songwriting full-time for over 20 years, performing in venues across the United States and beyond. He writes songs for a small planet--songs that celebrate life on earth and the mysterious and wondrous fact of our existence. Peter wrote and produced Blue Boat Home which is in the UU teal hymnal. Peter Mayer performed days before we closed for the pandemic. He played to a full house and it was a memorable experience.



Tickets are $30 and can be purchased through Eventbrite by following this link. Tickets will be available at the door for $33.

Seeking Your Feedback on New Chairs

You asked for it! In the Capital Campaign you asked for new chairs for the sanctuary. The Capital Campaign Implementation Committee formed the Sanctuary Chairs Team to work on this project. After listening to input from a Focus Group, we researched MANY options, trying to meet as many of our needs as possible.

This Sunday, April 30th, is the last day to provide feedback on the 4 sample chairs available for you to test for comfort. At the back of the sanctuary, there are 4 chairs and feedback forms to record your input. Please keep in mind these are warehouse samples, i.e. ignore the colors. We will choose colors later. Also, we’ll probably be ordering some with arms and some without. The main reason for this testing is to experience the comfort of each chair. Come join the fun and share your feedback!

Hats off to...

Our hats are off to all the volunteers who made the New Member Reception a welcoming space to meet and greet our 21 new members. 

Thank you to our New Member Team, Maggie Wilson, Trudi Davis, and Diane Markel, for organizing the event.  

Thank you to our kitchen crew, Gillian Lawrence, Marlene Frykman McArthur, Alice Swan, Michael Skilton, and Ally Hunter, for setting up and cleaning up the café and kitchen. And, a special thanks to our kitchen crew members, Steve Serikaku and Dan Lawrence, for cleaning up the glass from the vase of flowers that tipped over during the new member covenanting ceremony during the worship service.   

Thank you to Lisa Solomon, Janice Milanovich, Meredith Haydon, Ellie Feddersen, Sheila Holder, Jean Durkin, Barbara Mesle, Harry Hirsch, Sally Parsons, Sarah Bloethe, and Mary Morrison for bringing food. 

Thank you all for your commitment to enriching and deepening the experiences of the new members within our community! 

TAI CHI

This is a gentle reminder that there will be no Tai Chi classes in the entire month of May. Classes will resume Saturday, June 3rd, at the usual times.

2023 UUA Presidential Forum Hosted at UCE

-TOMORROW -

UCE is honored to be one of four congregations hosting UUA Presidential Candidate, Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, for a Presidential Forum. The forum will be in-person and livestreamed.

(Under “What is your geographical location within the UUA regions?” Select “MAR – Mid America Region”.)

Bylaws and Endowment Agreement Changes

TOWN HALL MEETING, MONDAY, MAY 1

We Need YOUR Vote! Bylaws and Endowment Agreement Changes

Every so often, the UCE Bylaws and other important documents need to be amended by the full congregation to reflect how our practices get updated over the years. At our annual meeting on May 21, the congregation will be voting on changes to our Endowment Agreement--the first in 18 years, so the Agreement is badly out-of-date. We will also be voting on proposed changes to the UCE Bylaws related to the Endowment Agreement update and related to updating our Nominating and Recruitment Committee procedures.

Please join us for an informational session on Zoom this coming Monday, May 1 at 7 pm to answer your questions.

And please be sure to come to the UCE annual meeting immediately after the service on Sunday, May 21--we need a significant number of members to establish a quorum, so it's very important that as many members as possible join us for this meeting. Besides voting for the changes we described here, we will also be voting for Endowment trustees. Board trustees, and Nominating Committee members, and for the budget for 2023-2024. And it's also a great place to get updated on all the great things happening at UCE!

For a preview of the changes:

Click below for the proposed bylaws changes supporting the work of the Nominating & Recruitment Committee.

Click HERE for Discussion Points.

Click HERE for Proposed Bylaws Revisions.

Click HERE for UCE Bylaws.

Click HERE for information about the proposed changes to the Endowment Agreement and the proposed changes to the UCE Bylaws related to that update.

Questions? For Nominating & Recruitment, contact admin@ucevanston.org. For Endowment, email endowment@ucevanston.org. 

Thanks in advance for taking the time to join us on May 21 to vote!

UUA Board announcement about the

Article II Idea Submission Form

The UUA Article II Study Commission has released its report and the proposed revision of Article II. Submit your suggestions and ideas about the Article II revisions by April 30, 2023 here.

On May 7, 2023, join Cheryl Mounts with the Denominational Affairs Team for our final discussion of the Article II Final Report before General Assembly in June. There is no registration, you are invited to drop in from 9:30-10:20 am in Room 3.

Click the Read More button to find links to the Article II Study Final Report with the proposed Article II revisions, and to frequently asked questions.

Friday, May 12 ~ 9:00 am - 6:00 pm 

Saturday, May 13 ~ 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm

Visit the 2023 Rummage Sale FAQ page for more info

This week’s Rummage Sale message is brought to you by the letter 

D for Donations!



It’s time to organize your donations for drop-off. Here’s some helpful info to help make our sale set up go smoothly:

• Drop Off Dates:
• Sunday, 5/7 - 1:00pm - 8:00pm
• Monday, 5/8 - 9:00am - 8:00pm
• Please organize your donations by department (Housewares, Children’s, Treasures, Jewelry, etc.)  
• Refer to the Donation Tip Sheet for a comprehensive listing of which items belong in each department, as well as what items are/are not being accepted.  
• All adult clothing donations must be on hangers. Hangers are available across from the bathrooms on the main floor.
• If you are able, please stay after service on May 7 to help set up the departments, unload cars and distribute items to respective departments. (There will be pizza!)

Questions? Visit the 2023 Rummage Sale FAQ page or email rummage@ucevanston.org.

Nurturing Mother Earth

Plant Swap 2023

Sunday - May 14, 2:30-4:30 pm

Unitarian Church of Evanston

Parking Lot enter on Greenwood

1330 Ridge Avenue, Evanston

Plants, Seedlings, Divisions

Come with something you have,

Leave with something you want to grow

For any questions, please contact Doug Erickson via REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org.

2023 Annual Congregational Meeting



Save the Date for our annual congregational meeting after the worship service on May 21, 2023

Annual Meeting Bootcamp for Virtual Participants

If you are planning to attend our annual meeting online, please join David and Adam on May 9, 2023, from 12:00-1:00 pm to ask questions and get information on how to participate virtually. 

Join the Fun!

Volunteer to Help with Games at our Annual Picnic

The Congregational Connections Team is looking for a few good folks to help with setting up and overseeing fun games for children and adults at the UCE annual picnic on Sunday, June 4, immediately after the Flower Communion service. There’s going to be a rousing game of bingo with prizes, a chance to float in and out and bounce things up and down with our parachute, spin yo-yos and blow bubbles, lots and lots of bubbles. 

If you’ve always wanted to take a turn with our parachute, if you’re a yo-yo pro, or you just want a chance to enjoy some games and get to know other church members, please volunteer to help for a half hour during the picnic. There will be a sign up sheet at the back of the sanctuary after the service on Sunday, April 30th (Check out the yo-yos and the paddle balls, too!) or email Janice Milanovich.

More generally, the team also welcomes folks interested in meeting with our new members and helping them to engage meaningfully in the various activities of our church. To join our team, or simply for more information, contact Susan Carlton.

Spots Available for 2 Serendipity Auction Group Events

Square Dancing (June 9)

GUUrls’ Night Out (June 16)

Missed the chance to bid on these two group events from the UCE Serendipity Auction? There are still spots available, while they last. Put on your best “Wild West” outfit for a fun-filled, square-dancing event for age 8 years to ‘ageless’ on Friday, June 9 from 7:00-9:00 pm at $15/person and $30/family.

Join the annual GUUrls’* Night Out Party for delicious dinner, delightful desserts, wonderful wine and convivial conversation on Friday, June 16 at 6:30 pm at $45/person. Don’t miss this UCE tradition designed to honor the positive aspects of the feminine. Join us if you wish to spend an evening living up this side of you (*GUUrls=female, transgender, femme, womxn, non-binary). To reserve your spot, email us at: auction@ucevanston.org.

2023 UUA General Assembly

The 2023 UUA General Assembly will be held in Pittsburgh, PA from June 21 – 25 online and in-person. 

Registration is now open. Click here for details.

The Denominational Affairs Team is asking you to consider being a Delegate to this General Assembly. Delegates will be considering changes to the UUA Bylaws, Article 2, that address racism, non-human life, and the inclusivity of the democratic process in our Principles, Purposes, and Sources. Delegates can attend in-person and virtually.

If you are interested, please contact Peggy Boccard via REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org.

We will continue to provide information via the Newsletter. 

Family Friday – May 5 at 6pm –

Save the Date!

Bring a picnic supper – weather permitting we’ll be outside.

More details to come!

Chalice Sparx July 7-9, 2023 We are a multigenerational community that is intentionally welcoming for LGBTQ+ families, and families who have a member who is trans* or non-binary make up a sizeable portion of the families who have attended over the years. We have nurtured several trans kids in their journey toward adulthood and offer a time out of time and a place out of place experience for Unitarian Universalist families to connect and support one another.

Camp Marwood July 16-22, 2023 - Marwood is designed to be a 4-year experience for youth aged 12-15 (rising 7th graders - rising 10th graders) and the majority of campers choose to attend for all four of the summers they are eligible. Therefore, a potential camper’s best chance to “get in” is the summer before 7th grade. Some years, we have spots for rising 8th or 9th graders.

UCE Fiction Book Group 

I Will Die in a Foreign Land by Kalani Pickhart

The Fiction book group will meet Friday, May 19, 2023 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

The story follows the experiences of four characters working behind the scenes of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, also known as the Revolution of Dignity. Ukrainian citizens defended their democracy against a President who resisted aligning with European democratic allies and instead forced the country toward Russia, resulting ultimately in the Russo-Ukrainian War. I Will Die in a Foreign Land is an ambitious, moving, intimate portrait of human perseverance and empathy. 

UCE Non-Fiction Book Group: 

Different: Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist by Frans de Waal

The nonfiction book group will meet Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 2 p.m. via Zoom.

In this book world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal draws on his long career of investigating chimpanzees and bonobos to argue that biology does not automatically support the traditional gender roles in human societies. Different is a fresh and thought-provoking approach to the long-running debate about the balance between nature and nurture and where sex and gender roles fit in. The pages of Different are packed with great stories, fascinating data, and thought-provoking ideas.

Grateful for our April 27th Participants in YWCA Evanston/NorthShore's 

Unite Against Racism.

Tornado in Rolling Fork, MS March 24, 2023

The Evanston North Shore Branch of the NAACP is requesting relief items to assist families devastated by the disaster through May 8.

Join the UCE Team in the Race Against Hate

Now in its 24rd year, the Race Against Hate will be held on Fathers’ Day, June 18, 2023, at 7:30 am in Long Field, Evanston, and UCE will again be a part of it! 

Some of us run, some walk, some roll! Please join us for the Race Against Hate by joining the UCE Racial Equity Team 2023. (The YWCA has generously offered UCE 2 free registrations. So, the first 2 people to register using the code unitarian23, will be able to register for free!) If you can’t be with us in the Race, but want to join in spirit, support the team through your donation. Click this link to get to our Team page where you can register or sponsor the UCE Racial Equity Team or one of its members. 

Dana Deane is coordinating the UCE Racial Equity Team 2023. Please let her know if you have any questions at Dddeane847@gmail.com .

Abortion Remains Legal in Illinois

No one should be confused – abortion remains available and legal in Illinois. Illinois has strong legislative protections for people who are pregnant. Know your rights to abortion access.

Our Unitarian Universalist faith supports Reproductive Justice and affirms that our bodies are sacred, that we are each endowed with the twin gifts of agency and conscience, and that each of us should have the power to decide what does and doesn’t happen to our bodies at every moment of our lives because consent and self-determination are holy.

To get engaged with how our congregation is supporting abortion access, contact Jean Butzen through Realm or at admin@ucevanston.org.

Abortion Access Fundraising

The UCE Abortion Access Team is seeking individuals to host informational and fundraising meetings to benefit the Chicago Abortion Fund, which provides support for people facing barriers to accessing abortion care. Hosts invite congregants and friends to either a Zoom or in-person gathering during April, May, or June. The Abortion Access Team will provide the invitation, a facilitator, and a script for the meeting. Thank you for taking action to reclaim abortion access! Please contact Jean Butzen or Jon Siegel through REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org to learn more.

Giving House Continues...

May is Canned Fish & Meat month

We are accepting donations of canned meat & fish in the giving house for the month of May.

The Giving house is a small wooden "house" that is located in the front lobby. We are partnering with a new free food supplier for the food insecure.

Clarence Weaver and his wife Beverly in March 2020 responded to the covid crisis by setting up a nonprofit organization and using 

their storefront (C&W Market & Ice Cream) to distribute free foods to those in need.

They provide fresh meat, vegetables and fruit along with nonperishable food items to seniors, District 65 families and those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. They serve almost 50 people every other Saturday morning. They are continuing this service to our community

Since they have plenty of storage, we can support their generous work by providing nonperishable items. We will be collecting one type of non-perishable food each month. 

 C&W Market & Ice Cream is a Black owned business on the corner of Dodge and Church. This is a prime location for food distribution.  You can also support this business by buying Ice Cream and/or other sundries there. Thanks for your donation.