Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, April 11 at 11:15 am
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What Will Become of Us
Becoming is a name for a certain kind of change. Can we change and not notice? What is the cost to the human spirit of unclaimed change?
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May the Force Be with Us – the Power of Becoming |
Okay, maybe it’s not quite Star Wars day yet, but we DO have a force among us - the Faith Formation Force!
If you haven’t heard about this yet, it is a group of ten who are exploring with curiosity what faith formation can look and feel like at UCE as one goes through the stages of life. How do we support and encourage each other to “yearn to learn” about our faith as Unitarian Universalist and human beings? What do we need along the way? What are the best and most engaging ways to do this?..
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Hats Off to Carla Williams! |
Our hats are off to Carla Williams for the many ways she says ‘yes’ to shared ministry and building community. Carla leads the Committee on Shared Ministry with skill and grace. She has done tremendous research with the Capital Campaign Implementation Committee on selecting new chairs for the sanctuary. She has joined the Faith Formation Force exploring ways we can build multi-generational learning and connection. She’s also on our Denominational Affairs Team and helped make our auction event in November a huge success. On top of it all, Carla shows up again and again, bringing her whole self - authentic, compassionate, hard-working, and dedicated to justice. Thank you, Carla, for all the ways you nurture the human spirit for a world made whole. |
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Get Your Peter Mayer Concert Tickets Today! |
Peter Mayer, celebrated singer and songwriter, will perform on Saturday, April 24 at 7 pm. Peter's work is known throughout Unitarian Universalist Congregations and one of his best known and beloved songs Blue Boat Home is included in the UU Hymnal.
Our congregation was honored to see Peter perform in our sanctuary last year and are very excited to welcome him back, this time on Zoom. The concert is hosted by the UCE Green Team with proceeds benefitting The Talking Farm. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
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UCE Building Availability - The UCE building and grounds are available on a limited basis to small gatherings. Please read UCE's Reopening Guidelines before contacting staff about availability.
Chalice Lighters Needed - Looking for chalice lighters for Sunday service! If you would like to light the UCE chalice OR record you and your family lighting a chalice at home to be used in the Sunday service, please send an email to Rev. Eileen.
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Annual Meeting Preview Town Halls on April 21 at 6:30 pm and April 25 at 1 pm both via Zoom. More info below.
Evanston Earth Day Celebration - April 22 at 7 pm via Youtube Livestream. More info below.
"UU Justice Revival: Taking a Collective Breath" on Sunday, April 25th at 10 am in place of the 11:15 am service
Limited Plant Swap on Saturday, May 15 at 2-3:30 pm. More detail coming soon.
UCE's First Pop-Up Parking Lot Sale is Saturday, May 22. More info below.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Saturday, April 10
Sunday, April 11
Monday, April 12
Tuesday, April 13
Wednesday, April 14
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Virtual Yoga at 9:30 am via 8x8. Click here to join.
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All Church Zoom gathering at 5:30 pm - Look for the link in Wednesday emails.
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Learn Spanish Group at 6:30 pm via 8x8. Click here to join.
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Reconstruction History Discussion Series with UCE's REAL Team at 7 pm via Zoom. Click here to join.
Thursday, April 15
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Virtual Meditation at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Andrea DeMers for the link.
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Board of Trustees meeting at 7 pm via Zoom. Email the Office for the link.
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Endowment Fund: Deadline for Grant Applications |
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The final deadline for submitting Endowment Fund grant applications during the current church year will be May 31. There is about $10,000-$15,000 available for disbursement from the 2020-21 distribution amount.
Endowment Funds are a significant resource for our community because they can used to support special initiatives that further the mission and work of UCE. For additional information, read What Can Endowment Funds be Used for? at UCE Endowment Fund: Frequently Asked Questions.
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Congregational Connections |
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Upcoming Worship Planning Playdate - April 10 - 10am to Noon
Have you wanted to participate in planning worship but didn’t know how to get involved? Do you have ideas for music, visual arts, ritual, story, or videos that could make our services more meaningful and engaging for people of all ages? You are invited to join the ministers and program staff who plan weekly services for a fun workshop on Zoom. We’ll gather ideas and ‘metaphorage’ around service themes and topics. This is a great chance to dip your toe in – an investment of two hours that could scratch the itch or lead you to further involvement with worship planning because it’s just that much fun!
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April Reflections with the Board |
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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 (the second Sunday of the month) at 10 am before the service. Our next session will be held on April 11th 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 begin discussing Chapter Four, Hospitality and Inclusion. You did not have to attend any of our previous sessions to join us...
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Do you want to learn more about Realm? Join the Basic REALM training on April 12, 2021 at Noon to 1 pm. All skills levels are welcome to join. We will review the basics of Realm from setting up your account, editing your profile, accessing your giving history and more! If you haven't set up your Realm account, you are encouraged to attend and we'll help you get set up.
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Come and Learn about the 8th Principle! |
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Learn about the 8th Principle at the next 8th Principle Town Hall gathering on Sunday, April 11 at 1:15 pm. ALL ARE INVITED!
The final congregation-wide meeting about the 8th Principle will be a Board chat. Please attend the Board Special Edition: Consider the 8th Principle on Friday, April 23, 2021 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. The Board will create space to hear the pros and cons from church members before the congregational meeting regarding the idea of adopting the 8th Principle. Let us know you will be there by registering here.
If you have not yet been part of a group conversation about the 8th Principle and would like to talk with someone from Team 8th one-on-one or if you would like your small group to discuss it in order to understand more about the 8th Principle, please contact Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances@ucevanston.org.
Q&A from the Town Hall meetings: Why isn’t it (the 7 Principles, the BLM sign, all the work I have done or am doing) enough?
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Update from Denominational Affairs |
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General Assembly (GA) is scheduled to be virtual again this year and runs June 23 - 27, 2021. Details at https://www.uua.org/ga. Don't let the registration fee of $200 deter you. There are scholarships available from UCE Endowment and from the UUA as well.
To learn more about (GA) and other denominational activities, you are invited to the monthly meeting of the Denominational Affairs team, on the second Tuesday, April 13 at 11am.
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Annual Meeting Preview - Town Halls April 21 & 25 |
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What will happen at our annual meeting this year? Many wonder what may be on the agenda, so let’s talk about that now. There will be a financial report and a vote on a budget for the new fiscal year starting July, 2021. There will be a slate of candidates for new Board of Trustee members, the name of the proposed new Endowment Trustee, and a slate for new Nominating and Recruiting Committee members. Those are the standard agenda items. There will also be proposed changes to our bylaws.
In addition this year there will be a vote on adopting the 8th principle. The Board will host a Board Special Edition: Consider the 8th Principle on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 6 pm. The Board will create space to hear the pros and cons from church members before the congregational meeting regarding the idea of adopting the 8th Principle.
To find out more about the entire congregation meeting, please read more and plan to attend a congregational conversation at our Town Halls on April 21 at 6:30 pm and April 25 at 11:45 am.
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Healthy Planet, Healthy People - Earth Day 2021 |
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Join us through livestream on YouTube on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, from 7-9 pm, in this city-wide, youth led event, including poetry, music, speakers (including the present and incoming mayors of Evanston) and more!
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Donut miss this Rainbow Alliance Art & Spirituality Afternoon!
Join Art and Spirituality's virtual art hangout, co-led by Rainbow Alliance, on April 24 at 2:30-4 pm. We will be making some donut crafts! Make sure to sign up for this a-glaze-ing art afternoon to receive the Zoom link. Perfect for the hole family.
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"UU Justice Revival: Taking a Collective Breath"
Sunday, April 25th @ 10 am - Instead of UCE Service at 11:15
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Twenty five Unitarian Universalist congregations in IL, the UU Advocacy network and UU Prison ministries are gathering to take a collective breath. As spring waits on the horizon, can we breathe? We can breathe as vaccines become available. We can breathe as we once again gather together. We can breathe into a new administration, breaths of accountability, breaths of attention. We have work to do to create a just world where everyone can find their breath. It is time to breathe. Let us take a collective breath together. |
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UCE's First Ever Pop-Up Parking Lot Sale is Coming Soon!
Join in on the fun May 22, 2021 (rain date May 29) from 10-2 for our first-ever UCE Parking Lot Pop-up Sale. This is an event for the entire family which will be fun and will help UCE make its 2021/22 budget for Rummage Sale. All proceeds from the sale will benefit UCE in lieu of our regular Annual Rummage Sale.
Here's what we need from you. Sign your family and friends up to host a table or volunteer. You can sign up as an individual, a family, two friends, three friends, or your covenant group or any church group you belong to...
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VirtUUal Faith Formation and Ways to Connect |
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8th and 12th Grade Bridging – We will meet on the lawn at UCE at 4 pm on April 25 to record your bridging ceremony – our UU recognition of your next stage of life. All young adults and high school youth are welcome to participate! If you haven’t received an email about this yet, please email Kathy Underwood.
RE Sunday – May 2 – Featuring YOU! We’re taking submissions from families, kids, and youth to contribute to this special worship service. Here are some ways to do so:
- Send pictures of your family or kids doing an activity from the Soul Kits or Soulful Home packet.
- Make a short (1-2 minutes) video of your family about any of the following:
- How you have felt and stayed connected to UCE this past year
- How you have lived out your UU values as a family or individually
- Playing a musical interlude or singing your favorite UU song
- Showing artwork or reading a poem that relates to our UU Principles and values – including the proposed 8th Principle
- Your family lighting a chalice at home
Popcorn Theology Online for 6th-8th Grade Youth - Sunday, April 11 at 1 pm.
Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. See the email with Zoom info.
Pre/K Kids and Families - POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – April’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.
High School Youth – Outdoor meet-up. Look for an email with details.
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UCE Forum Discussion - Sunday, April 11 at 10 am |
Please join Shirley Adams and Michael Drennan for an Earth Day discussion that calls us to act:
"Personal Steps Toward a Better Environment" How you can contribute as an individual, a family, a congregation, a community.
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Current and Upcoming Adult Religious Education |
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Facing Climate Change – Tuesdays, April 13 at 7 pm - Dan Solomon will present on how Religious Naturalism can provide a framework for facing Climate Change.
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UCE Book Groups - Everyone is welcome to join! |
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The Fiction Book Group will meet Friday, April 16 at 7:30 pm. Our selection for April is Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague. Fitting, we know! Winner of the National Book Critics Circle and the Women’s Prize for fiction
A tender and unforgettable re-imagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, and whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays of all time
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The nonfiction group will meet via Zoom at 2 pm on April 25th to discuss Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side by Eve L. Ewing.
The author writes of the impact on communities of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's closing of forty-nine "failing" schools in 2013 and of the resistance of black community members in Bronzeville to what they considered a racist policy that would take away an integral part of their neighborhoods. This book is available from public libraries in paperback, hardcover, and digital audio formats. Link available soon.
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Deepening Our UU Identity
Continues April 28 at 7pm
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What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Without a common creed or theology, what unites us and grounds us? Contrary to the common misunderstanding of our inclusivity, that we are the ones who "can believe whatever we want," Unitarian Universalism is a chosen faith that asks a great deal of those who commit to its aspirations and covenants. In this four-part series, we will explore the religious roots... |
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Celebrate with the Green Team this month! |
Are you feeling a little GREEN this spring? Celebrate with the Green Team this month:
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Walk at Harms Woods, Wednesday, April 21, 12:30 pm;
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UCE Earth Day Celebration on Thursday, April 22, 7 pm;
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Peter Mayer Concert benefiting The Talking Farm on Saturday, April 24;
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Beach Clean ups in Evanston and Chicago, April 17 - April 24;
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City of Evanston Earth Month, all of April;
- Harms Woods Restoration on Saturday May 15 and 2021 Plant Swap, Saturday, May 15, 2 - 3:30 pm in UCE parking lot.
Join the Green Team monthly session on the first Saturday April 3 at 1pm. Click here to join the Green Team Meeting. We could use your help in planning some local hikes, bike rides and hopefully a camping trip! We address environmental issues as well but celebrating the Earth sustaining us through the challenges.
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Reconstruction History Discussion Series
with UCE's REAL Team - Wednesdays at 7 pm
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Please join the REAL History team in watching and discussing the 4-part PBS Series “Reconstruction: America After the Civil War” and then discussing each episode. WTTW (or other PBS station) members can stream each episode, or you can watch them on DVD, then join us for a discussion on Zoom at 8 pm. Or you can join at 7 pm to watch the episode on Zoom and stay on for the discussion. DVDs are available at local public libraries, or you can arrange to borrow one of the 2 UCE copies by contacting Dana Deane. You do not need to attend all four sessions to participate. |
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Next Rainbow Alliance Meeting
Rainbow Alliance Meets on Wed, May 5 - All are Invited! Rainbow Alliance's next planning meeting will be held on May 5 at 7:00 pm. If you are interested in joining, please email Lizzy at eapowers1019@gmail.com or Jordan at jordan.strueber@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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