Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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In-Person & Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, May 1st at 10:15 am
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Building Upon Braveness
This year has been a journey full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and having to re-chart our course more than once. We have envisioned what a multigenerational community looks and feels like and began building it by being brave and experimenting with new ways of doing things. Today, we celebrate the beauty of what we have built and look towards ways to build upon our braveness. Kathy Underwood leads the service with Rev. Eileen as worship associate.
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Faith Formation Hour for All Ages (11:35 am-12:30 pm) Following Kinship Time in the back of the sanctuary (11:15-11:35 am) |
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Listening Circle on Faith Formation: More info below. – Sanctuary
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Forum: REAL Team and 8th Principle Team: Are you ready to vote on our Reparations Resolution? Hear Team 8th present and host a conversation about the resolution we will vote on at our congregational meeting in May. Be prepared to vote! Come ask your questions and share your thoughts about UCE support of reparations locally and nationally, and about pre-approved statements of advocacy against racism and for racial healing. – Room 6 and on Zoom. Click here to join.
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Junior and Senior High School Youth Group (7th-12th grades) – Room 13
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Storytelling for Heads, Hearts, and Hands (1st-6th grades) with Olivia Behr – Room 3
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Pre-K – Room 9
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Nursery (ages 0-3) – Room 11
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From Kathy Underwood, Director of Lifespan Faith Formation |
Life is awakening in the earth and at UCE! It has been a joyous month, with many activities happening and I wanted to share some of it with you.
Our first Rosemary Zwick Afternoon of the Arts event was a “rebirth” of the former Night of the Arts and was a wonderful time to be creative and get to know people better. Families appreciated the earlier time so that younger children could participate. About 45 people engaged in a wide variety of art activities to feed the soul.
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Emma's Revolution Concert at UCE - THIS Saturday, April 30 |
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UCE is excited to host Emma's Revolution CD Release Concert In-Person & Livestreamed on Saturday April 30th at 7pm! Tickets can be purchased on their website.This is a special evening of music and an important fundraiser for UCE. Please plan to join us.
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Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)
responds to the war in Ukraine
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The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee responds to the war in Ukraine and demands an end to the bloodshed. Follow the link below to their response and for ways to help the Ukrainian people. |
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2022 UCE Rummage Sale Update |
The UCE Rummage Sale is just around the corner and the planning volunteers would like to highlight some important information and helpful tips:
Volunteering:
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In keeping with this year’s theme of “share the work,” we still need volunteers! Sign up if you haven’t: Volunteer Signup Form. Once signed up, you’ll be contacted to choose a slot during the following timeframes. Even if you can only give a couple of hours, we need you!
- 9a-8p, Monday, 5/16/22
- 9a-8p, Tuesday, 5/17/22
- 9a-8p, Wednesday, 5/18/22
- 9-Noon on Thursday, 5/19/22
- Volunteers are asked to bring their own meals, but beverages will be available.
- Volunteers who work at least six hours will qualify for the presale which will takes place 10a-6p on Thursday, 5/19/22. Presale items may be purchased at 25% above price; items must be removed from the church before the public sale begins the next day.
Donations:
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Consider your fellow volunteers and get your items to the church on the following two dates only. No donation drop-off on Tuesday 5/17, please!
- Sunday, 5/15, 3p-7p.
- Monday, 5/16, 9a-8p.
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Remember that donated clothing must be on hangers which are available at the church (in bins across from the lobby restrooms or at Sunday’s Rummage Info Table.)
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As you are gathering items, refer to the Donation Tip Sheet to make sure the items fit into this year’s venue. If you have a question about a certain item, reach out to the department contact person noted on the tip sheet.
- You will be asked to deliver donations to the respective departments, so it will help immensely if you pre-sort before dropping off.
Publicity:
- A Rummage Sale Info table will be set up at the back of the church for the next three Sundays. Stop by with questions, to volunteer, or to pick up hangers, flyers, tip sheets, and yard signs.
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Encourage friends to both donate items (share the Donation Tip Sheet) and attend the sale (share the Flyer).
- Post to your friends and family on social media!
Thank you for volunteering and donating!
Mark your calendar and spread the word of the Sale Dates:
Friday, 5/20/22, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, 5/21/22, 9am – 1pm
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Hats Off to Kristin Lems and Lucinda Lodder Lindstrom! |
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After two years of virtual only Earth Day events, this year Kristin and Lucinda produced a multi-platform event. In-person presenters included members of Lucinda’s Shedd Aquarium Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center (CELC) team, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, and State Representative Robyn Gabel. Live music was performed by Kristin. Virtual pieces included District 65 grade school students performing original poetry and a reading of The Lorax, as well as performances of the songs Air So Sweet and Rainbow by HARMONIA, an Evanston Township High School music group. It was truly an Evanston-wide community event!
Thank you, Kristin and Lucinda, for your dedicated commitment to community building to address the vital environmental issues of our time.
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UCE Building Availability -
The UCE Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10am-5pm
If you have music to share in worship, we would love to add your to our list. We are looking for either live or recorded performances for Sunday mornings to enhance our worship. Reach out to Rev. Eileen or Vickie Hellyer.
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Wednesday Zoom Gatherings Continue on 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 5:30 pm via Zoom.
Plant Swap is Saturday, May 14 from 2-5 pm in the UCE Parking Lot!
UCE Annual Meeting is May 15! Please plan to attend in-person or on Zoom immediately following the service.
UCE's Rummage Sale is May 20-21! More info below!
May 29 - All Church Ice Cream Social during Faith Formation Hour
June 5 - All Church Picnic during Faith Formation Hour
June 11 - Congregational Calendaring Event at 10:30 am - Noon. More info below.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Saturday, April 30
- UUA Regional Assembly is today!
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Virtual Pilates at 9:30 am on Zoom. Email Janelle Brittain to join.
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Emma's Revolution CD Release Concert - Sanctuary and Private Livestream. Buy your tickets here.
Sunday, April 30
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Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 8:45 am in Room 6 and via Zoom. Contact Renee Hoff for the Zoom link.
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Worship Service at 10:15 am - Sanctuary & Youtube. Click here to join.
- Kinship Time at 11:15-11:35 am - back of the sanctuary
- Faith Formation Hour this Sunday:
- Listening Circle on Faith Formation – Sanctuary
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Forum: REAL Team and 8th Principle Team – Room 6 and on Zoom. Click here to join.
- Junior and Senior High School Youth Group (7th-12th grades) – Rm 13
- Storytelling for Heads, Hearts, and Hands (1st-6th grades) with Olivia Behr – Rm 3
- Pre-K – Rm 9
- Nursery - Room 11
Monday, May 2
Tuesday, May 3
Wednesday, May 4
Thursday, May 5
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Meditation Group at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Lisa Solomon for the link.
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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!
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Congregational Connections |
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Submit Your Survey Input on Revisions
to UU Principles and Sources by April 30th
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The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has commissioned a study of Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Article II is comprised of our Principles and Purposes and is the foundation for the work of our Unitarian Universalist (UU) movement. It encompasses the covenant to which all of our UU congregations and UU covenanted communities pledge themselves when they become members of our UUA. |
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13 States Participate in Regional Assembly.
Can You Name Them?
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The MidAmerica Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association includes nearly 200 UU congregations and lIke UUA, provides numerous services and support to UU congregations. These services include relationship building, leadership development, faith formation, cultural competence, and support for dismantling systemic white supremacy culture, as well as coaching in stewardship and conflict transformation.
Regional Assembly is MidAmerica’s annual gathering and will happen virtually on April 30. The keynote speaker is CB Beal - if you have participated in the Beloved Conversations program in the last few years, you know CB! In addition to the keynote, we will hold worship, the Annual Business Meeting, and there will also be time for break out rooms for connection and conversation.
Looking to connect with other UCE members attending Regional Assembly? Send an email to a member of the Denominational Affairs Committee: Shirley Adams, Lee Bannor, Peggy Boccard, Melanie Kitchner, Cheryl Mounts, Betty Walker or Carla Williams.
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DRUUMM Worship Service for ALL on May 4th |
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You Can Count On This
Rev. Tyler Coles, Guest Preacher
Dr. Zanaida Robles, Musical Artist
Faith can be both a guiding light and sustaining force throughout the course of one’s life. Yet in a world that is all too cruel and harsh, faith can be twisted, becoming instead a tool that fosters both isolation and a sense of underwhelm. What do we do when this happens for us as Unitarian Universalists? Come, let us gather in the fortifying spirit of love made known in community as we re-member ourselves, for ourselves, in the presence of all that we choose to name as Holy. RSVP at this link by May 3rd.
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1st Endowment Fund application deadline is May 31, just a month away.
Check the Endowment webpage for information on writing and submitting an application for the 2022-23 fiscal year, beginning July 1.
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Save the date for the return of our Annual Church Picnic |
June 5th after the worship service.
We’ll delight in our tradition of the flower communion and then enjoy a potluck meal (remember potlucks!!) out on the lawn, weather permitting. Bring a salad, side, or dessert. Rev. Eileen will supply the burgers (meat & veggie) and hot dogs.
**If you have a weber grill at home and you're willing to bring it to church for that day, please contact Rev. Eileen.
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2022/2023 Congregational Calendaring Event
June 11th, from 10:30 to Noon, in room 6 & on Zoom
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Board members, event/team leaders, committee/program chairs, and interested members, bring your date books and your dreams about meaningful and engaging events for the coming church year. We'll map out the calendar together.
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Come to General Assembly 2022!! |
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Friends, now is your opportunity to join thousands of other UUs at the annual General Assembly! The steps are easy. For information about GA, go here. At that GA website you’ll find links to everything you’d want to know. But for what you need right now:
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2) Sign up for Housing. If you’d like to take advantage of the special offers assigned to UUA GA participants, go to the sign-up page to select your hotel and room.
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Call for UCE Delegates to the UUA General Assembly |
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Now is your opportunity to join thousands of UUs, both in-person or virtually, at the 2022 UUA General Assembly (GA). UCE is looking for members interested in serving as delegates. Whether attending in-person or virtually your participation supports your personal development and our congregation’s growth and development, which in turn supports our mission to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole.
Delegates are asked to commitment to the following:
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Study: https://www.uua.org/ga/congregations/delegates
- Read and review the proposed issues for the assembly
- Attend Preparing for General Assembly workshop(s) about planned issues to discuss and understand the congregation’s response/concerns
- Attend plenary sessions (business meetings) at assembly and vote as appropriate
- Contribute to a consolidated report back to the Board and congregation after the assembly (major vote results, new resolutions, significant theme messages)
Funds Available for Delegates and Non-Delegates Attending General Assembly
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Come to UCE Gardening Day - May 7th! |
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Commune with Mother Nature in our 11 gardens around our church. We’ll be doing Spring Cleaning by raking and picking up debris, planting annuals in the Peace Garden and weeding, setting our gardens up for a beautiful Summer.
It is from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm on May 7th and there will be cookies! Bring your own garden gloves. We’d appreciate it if you could sign-up here so we know how many are coming. Children are welcome if supervised by an adult.
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Saturday May 14, 2-5 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!
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Help Grow Food for the Hungry |
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Volunteers needed for planting session at the UCE Cahill Food Pantry Garden May 14th, 10 am - 12 pm
Join an intergenerational social justice effort in the garden! Last year UCE gardening at John J. Cahill, Inc. (on Church St.) resulted in almost 300 pounds of produce donations to Edible Evanston (for Harvest Pantry and Hillside Pantry). Be a part of the experience this season starting with a planting session Saturday May 14, 10 am - 12 pm. Young gardeners with adult supervision also welcome. Help later in the season with cultivating, weeding and harvesting is also needed. Please contact Dale Griffin or Barbara Butz to register or express interest for later. Thanks!
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What's Happening in Faith Formation? |
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Faith Formation Hour this Sunday at 11:35 am…
- Nursery (ages 0-3) in room 11 from 10am-12:30pm
- Pre/K in room 9
- Heads, Hearts, and Hands (1st-6th grades) with storyteller Olivia Behr in room 3
- Youth Group (7th-12th grades) in room 13
And families can explore our theme of Nurturing Beauty in their own timeframe in the Soulful Home packet.
Teens and Adults – Are you interested in doing occasional childcare for UCE events in the future? Contact Kathy for details!
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Faith Formation Listening Circles in May |
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Rev. Eileen and Kathy Underwood want to hear from you! As we near the end of this experimental church year, we want to hear what your experience with faith formation hour has been for you and how we can make it better for next year. Please join us for one of these gatherings:
- May 1 at 11:35 am at UCE
- May 4 at 7 pm on Zoom
- May 10 at 7 pm on Zoom
- May 14 at 10 am at UCE
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The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading Persuasion, by Jane Austen and meeting on Zoom on Friday, May 20 at 7 pm.
Anne Elliott, perhaps Austen’s most engaging and complex heroine, negotiates troubled waters of engagement and marriage with characteristic Austen grace and humor. Reading a classic now and then is good for the soul!
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Join the nonfiction book group on Zoom at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 22nd to discuss Heather McGhee’s book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.
The author traveled across the country and heard the stories of how racism hurts all types of people in many different ways when they buy into the zero-sum paradigm that progress for some of us must come at the expense of others. She also found proof of what she calls the Solidarity Dividend: the benefits gained when people come together across race to accomplish what they can’t do on their own. One reviewer calls the book “an absolute anti-racist must read!
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CLIMATE CHANGE & JUSTICE UPDATE: Evanston City Council Approves Climate Emergency Resolution |
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The Evanston City Council on Monday night unanimously approved a resolution declaring a climate emergency as well as an immediate mobilization effort to restore climate stability.
In adopting the resolution, Evanston joins more than 2,000 jurisdictions representing 1 billion people worldwide that have formally declared a climate emergency, renewing the City’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience with a focus on community partnerships. The resolution calls for the City Council to adopt implementation of the City’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) as a City Council goal, further committing to regularly reviewing the Climate Action and Resilience Plan’s progress, and revising targets to reflect the most recent science, data and best practices.
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Letters which include handwritten messages can boost voter turnout by as much as 3.4 percentage points, and are among the most effective ways we can help get out the vote.
Pick up Letters In-Person on Sundays, May 1 or 8
UCE is partnering with Vote Forward, a non-partisan nonprofit organization, to encourage voter turnout in November. Their mission is to empower grassroots volunteers to encourage their fellow citizens in underrepresented communities to vote. Vote Forward facilitates communication between Americans to help strengthen our democracy. Pick up a packet of letters at the UUtheVote program table on Sunday after the worship service on May 1st or 8th, or contact Carolyn Laughlin via REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org for letters or more information.
National Letter Writing Zoom Party on Monday, May 9
Join the UUA UUtheVote’s first National Day of Action! We’ll be joined by special guests from our partners at Vote Forward. Don’t miss the party! Join us on May 9th at 5:30 pm CT! Click here to sign up. Make sure to let Carolyn Laughlin know how many letters you send and we’ll count them toward our 40,000 Points of Love!
Thank you for living out your values in the world!
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UU Prison Ministry Pen Pal Workshop - May 1 |
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Join the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) Ambassador Program of Illinois on Sunday, May 1, from 2 - 4 pm via Zoom for a workshop on being a pen pal with someone who is in prison or jail.
Learn what it's like to correspond with someone in prison or jail — the rewards & the pitfalls. The CLF has over 30 incarcerated persons waiting to be matched!
Pre-registration required to receive Zoom link. RSVP to prisonpenpals@unitytemple.org with your name, email address, congregation affiliation, and any questions. Upon confirmation, a short video prerequisite and the Zoom link will be sent to you.
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Thank you from Interfaith Action SNAPGap Team! |
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Thanks to you, Interfaith Action of Evanston (IAE) served 245 households in April with approximately 980 bars of soap (four each); about 290 tubes of toothpaste; and likely 600 toothbrushes. Another 245 packages of Earth Breeze laundry sheets were added to the bag.
As you may recall, Interfaith Action operates the Producemobile once a month to distribute food to Evanston families experiencing food insecurity. IAE's SNAPGap program piggybacks on this distribution system, collecting items that most of us consider necessary but are not eligible for purchase with federal benefits. Items to be collected for the May 10 distribution date are razors, shaving cream, and deodorant. If you purchase these items locally for donation, you can drop them off at the following:
Date: Saturday, May 7
Time: 10 am - Noon
Address: First United Methodist Church - 516 Church St. Evanston, IL
The other option is to purchase the items online. If you purchase items online, please have them delivered to the address listed above.
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UUANI & CAUUC Vote Love Joint Conference on May 14 |
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This year, as we live into the impact of the 2020 census results, we will be called upon to vote for most of our elected officials. Imagine being able to show up with the power of knowing your vote supports your core values. Voting our values is a critical way to advocate in our communities. Knowing how our values inform what and who we vote for is a critical step to ensuring we live in communities working toward a just and equitable world.
This time together will be filled with gathering inspiration, practical learning, and application of several key skills related to getting out the vote. Rev. Susan Frances is one of the presenters. Register here. We hope you will join us!
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Volunteer Opportunities and Information on
Connections for the Homeless Youth Program
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In January, UCE’s Endowment sent $23,000 to support Connections expanded youth program. We are invited to tour “Our House" - the home for young people served through Connections supportive youth program. UCE is one of many partners working with Connections to prevent and end youth homelessness. Connections can host a group of 5-7 people for a tour of Our House (housing program for young people ages 18-to-24) and a meet & greet with the youth programs staff. UCE congregants have been invited to tour on Tuesday, May 17th at 11 am.
We also can help do a Spring clean-up at Our House on Saturday, May 14 at 10am: 5-8 people needed to clean the outside grounds at Our House, part of our housing programs for young people ages 18-24 based in Evanston. Connections will provide the supplies, and volunteers will freshen the front and back yards to get ready for summer.
If you have questions send an email to Carol Nielsen through REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org.
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Harms Woods Outing May 22, 1 pm - 4 pm |
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Come celebrate spring with a habitat restoration outing at beautiful Harms Woods in Glenview! We will be removing invasive plants to allow more space and sunlight for our beautiful native trees. This outing is suitable for anyone 12 and older (youth must be accompanied by a responsible adult) and everyone works at their own pace. The woods are beautiful, the wildflowers will be out and you will be doing extremely important work in restoring vital habitat to support our native birds and insects. |
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Join the UCE Team in the Race Against Hate on June 19 |
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The Race Against Hate will be held on June 19, and UCE will again be a part of it. Some of us run, some walk, some roll! However you roll, please be a part of our Race Against Hate by joining the UCE REAL Team 2022. If you can’t be with us in the Race, but want to join in spirit, support the team through your donation. Dana Deane is coordinating the UCE REAL Team 2022. Please contact Dana through REALM or at ucerealteam@gmail.com if you have any questions.
In 1999, Ricky Byrdsong was murdered by a self-proclaimed white supremacist. Byrdsong was a Skokie resident and the first African-American coach of the Northwestern University men’s basketball team. He was also the father of 3 young children, 2 of whom were with him near their home when he was shot...
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New Fundraising Effort for Afghan Family |
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The Immigrant Solidarity Team is so grateful for all donations to the Bakeer family last fall and winter. We were able to pay their rent through July and buy clothing as well with our fundraising and the generous support of an Endowment grant.
Now we are shifting our attention to an Afghan family. We are not naming them because of privacy concerns. The young woman who heads up this family is in her 20s and her husband is still in Afghanistan, unable to come to the U.S. for now. One of our volunteers, when making a visit to the apartment building of the Bakeer family (Syrian) was approached by this young mother—she asked “could you please help me too?” She was provided an apartment and some basics by the resettlement agency, but they are very strapped right now and she had no sponsoring family to help her learn the ways things operate in our society.
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Taproot: A National UU BIPOC Space |
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The work of spiritual community is complicated in the 21st century. From busy schedules to the ever-pressing tension brought on by systemic injustice, the need for faithful leadership that is grounded and resilient is imperative. This is all the more true for leaders within our congregations who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC). BIPoC Leaders rooted in Unitarian Universalist congregations are invited to take part in a monthly virtual gathering as we explore these pillars in creating means by which to ground ourselves in resilient communities of care:
- Rest & Renewal
- Analysis Building
- Leadership Development
Date & Time: May 12, 2022 at 7 pm CST
This space is explicitly for people identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC).
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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