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In-Person & Virtual Worship Service

this Sunday, August 13th at 10:30 am

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday!

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

Wisdom Tales & Wild Games (pre-6th) – we return on August 20 when we will be “visiting” Australia. Our last summer gathering will be on the 27th for Sundae Sunday – yes, that means ice cream!

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

Our Last Summer Concert Meetup on

August 16 for Good Clean Fun at Skokie on the Green – 7p

Motown, Disco, Golden Oldies, 80s New Wave, Pop, 90s, Swing, Jazz, a sprinkle of country, and of course, today’s top hits. Kathy Underwood is our point person, so look for her there!

Greetings from your Executive Operations Director,

Sandra Robinson

We are all adjusting to my new 30 hour per week schedule. Adam and I have been working together since July 1 to train on Buildings and Grounds. He worked closely with me to learn the process of seeking bids and implementing a major project. You can see the result in our new parking lot refinishing. Adam is working with Robb Geiger, Buildings and Grounds Co-Lead on several projects as we launch the new fiscal year.  

He is also now on the Emissions Control Team and will be meeting with the Buildings and Grounds Team. He will be getting the parking lot sewer drains replaced and roof repairs done on the sanctuary roof. Adam will be reporting to the Board each month on what he is working on. It is a pleasure to be his mentor and pass on the multiple daily, weekly and long-term projects to keep the buildings and grounds in good order.  

Two weeks ago, Eileen and I delved into a search for our new Communications Coordinator. The job was posted on Indeed and a request to members to forward names of people they know who might be interested in and qualified for this position. More than 90 people submitted applications, including several resumes received from member recommendations. As resumes came in, we sorted through each one to determine if they had the appropriate skills and matched our requirements. For those who did we arranged a phone call or set up an in-person interview. Eileen and I conducted many interviews and are now in the final stages of the selection process.  

Capital Campaign projects are winding down. I am still participating on the CCIC and finishing two of the remaining projects I am involved in. What an important and satisfying experience it has been to work on the Sanctuary Cooling, Greenwood sidewalk, Parking Lot Reconstruction, Drain Sewers Replacement, Lobby and Wing Refurbishment, and Lower Level Accessible and Inclusive Washrooms. We started shortly after the pandemic closure and worked through until these many projects were completed. The Chairs team is about to complete their work having ordered chairs after a long process. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the Capital Campaign and to everyone who, in some way, volunteered to assist on projects. These improvements will maintain the integrity of the buildings and grounds for the next several years.  

Rentals have been slowly increasing over the past few months. We enjoyed the wedding of Craig Sieben who grew up in this church. We have had several memorials and most recently added Evanston Symphony Orchestra to our list of renters. Udumbara Buddhist Sangha is with us still after many years, as is North Shore Chamber Orchestra and North Shore Weavers.  Shorefront Legacy will hold their gala here in October. You can see a video of the Skunkwerk's event from last year's rental on our rentals page. The Skunkwerk’s event has young people from the south, west, and north sides of Chicago join in a dance competition. They will return in November and December for rehearsals and a performance. Take a look at that exciting video to get a better sense of how we use our space and with whom we share our values. 

Hats Off to The Chairs Team

Our Hats are Off to the Capital Campaign team that has spent the last 3+ years exploring options for our new sanctuary chairs. Janelle Brittain, Capital Campaign Implementation Committee Chair, Kristin Larsen, and Carla Williams have all been working behind the scenes to talk with venders, bring in sample chairs, gather input and feedback from members and consider all the factors that make this a difficult and important decision. Thank you, Janelle, Carla, and Kristin, for the time, care and thoughtfulness each of you, and all of you together, put forth to make this an inclusive process, to hear people's opinions, and to make a sound decision. We look forward to sitting in our new beautiful, comfortable and sturdy seats.

Feedback Results in New Chair Decisions

Thank you to all of the people who tried out the sample chairs during two rounds of feedback times (each 3 weeks long). We all looked at different options for wood/ergonomic, firm/soft cushions, light/dark upholstery and frames and different weights of chair. The feedback showed that the congregants really preferred the wood chairs and specifically the two with the curved back & seat (Plylok), and the folding chair (Plyfold).We asked for further feedback from two of our members who are design artists (Johna VanDyke and Gay Riseborough) regarding what upholstery color to choose.

Based on everyone’s input, the Sanctuary Chairs Team has ordered:

150 Plylok armless chairs, 20” wide, upholstered seat & back

100 Plylok chairs with arms, 24” wide, upholstered seat & back

50 Plyfold chairs 21” wide, upholstered seat & back

The chairs have pecan-stained wood that matches our chancel, soft cushioning and a teal color for the extra durable upholstery. We will probably find out next week about when they will arrive, but it will most likely take at least 2 months to make them. This is very exciting and will bring a new energy to our sanctuary, plus comfort and safety. Thank you all once again for your input.

Low Cost Tickets Available for 2023

Parliament of World Religions

This year the 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions (PoWR) is being held in Chicago at McCormick Place from August 14-18!  

PoWR is the convening of thousands of faith, spiritual, and civic organizers addressing the threat of autocracy, the backsliding of democracies, the rise of nationalism, the climate emergency, and the humanitarian crises and wars around the world. 

Anita Orlikoff from First Unitarian Church Chicago has extra Group Early Bird rate tickets still available for $189. Please feel free to text her if you are interested at 312-391-6792 and let her know you are from the Unitarian Church of Evanston. If the cost is still out of range, please contact her anyway and she’ll work something out with you. 

A concert to honor Gay Menges, Jon's mom, on August 20th. This is a free concert but if you're able to make a contribution of $10-$20, it would be greatly appreciated.

Service of Remembrance August 27 - 9:00 a.m. 

The Chris Isely Cancer Support Group will again host the annual Service of Remembrance on Sunday, 8/27/23, at 9:00 a.m. This service honors the loved ones we’ve lost for any reason, whether within our church family or in our personal lives. Rev. Eileen and members of the group will lead the brief ceremony. 

Anyone who wishes to honor the memory of a loved one, regardless of when they died, is invited to attend. The service will take place outside on the south lawn of the church. (In the event of rain, the service will move inside, to the rear of the sanctuary.) The community is invited to join us.

The nonfiction book group will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 27th via Zoom to select the books we will discuss in the coming months. Everyone is welcome to join us. Contact Jackie Seaman through the Realm Membership Directory if you have questions. Click here to join Zoom meeting,  us02web.zoom.us/j/83139239641?pwd=Q2hjZnNCWlZoV2dXclI2WmJMMklBQT09#success

The Barbie-UU Connection

You may have heard the raves about the new Barbie movie. You may have seen posts on UCE Facebook pages about the UU connection too: director Greta Gerwig grew up at the UU Society of Sacramento, CA! You can learn more about how her UU faith factors into her efforts in film in this 2013 UU World article and this one from 2017. And here’s a link to some fun Barbie activity pages, just as an extra perk!

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday:

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

Looking Ahead… 

Celebrate Summer – before it ends! 

Join the Family Ministry Team on September 3 for an afternoon full of sunshine, waves, and friendship at Lighthouse Beach. 

In the Neighborhood… 

The Center on Halsted’s QFam Family Museum Trip to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - August 19 @ 10am 

QFAM is open to LGBTQ+ families with children ages 0-11. During the visit our group will experience a special butterfly release! 

Pre-registration is required, and we still have a few tickets available! Sign up at: tinyurl.com/QFamAug23. Email Eli with questions: ECooperNelson@centeronhalsted.org 

Volunteer Celebration and Orientation – September 17,  

12 -1:15p 

Curious about Faith Formation for Children and Youth this year? Whether you plan to volunteer or just want more information before helping, come to a little gathering to learn more about what, how, and why we do what we do. Here is a short video to watch at your convenience about the basics of our Faith Formation program. Sign up here to join the celebration so we can plan for food and childcare. 

UCE launched our postcard campaign to the state of Virginia last Sunday, and YOU picked up 1,400 cards! Thanks to your commitment. Virginia registered voters aligned with our UU values will be far more likely to have their voices heard in their critical November House and Senate elections.

We're restocking! More postcards will be distributed after the worship service on August 13 and 20. Mail dates are Sept 8-Oct 25, giving us plenty of time to make a huge impact. Thank you for living our values out in the world!

Questions? Contact Greg Grabowski through the REALM Membership Directory or at admin@ucevanston.org.

UCE Local Response Network Joins

Social Justice Council!

What does that mean for a team to join the UCE Social Justice Council (SJC)? 

The UCE Local Response Network (LRN) is a communication system designed to enable the UCE community to take immediate, short-term action on social justice issues. LRN members are members and friends of UCE who may or may not serve on other social justice teams. Members receive periodic “alerts” about rallies, protests, meetings, and other events which require folks to show up, participate, and live their values, without a long-term commitment.

Serving on the Social Justice Council (SJC), the LRN representative will learn about “action” opportunities across all of our social justice areas and bring those opportunities to LRN members. The LRN rep will also encourage social justice teams to consider new short-term action opportunities to share with the broader congregation. Importantly, the LRN representative is in a unique position to identify opportunities that may “fall between the cracks” - not clearly in the domain of a single team - and foster collaboration on these events. In short, having a seat at the council table will expand the ways in which LRN members engage with issues which reflect UU values!

Carolyn Laughlin will be our first LRN representative sitting on SJC. If you would like to get involved with LRN, please contact her through the Realm Membership Directory or at admin@ucevanston.org. 

Support Refugee One Back to School Drive

The UCE Immigrant Solidarity Team encourages members to support the Refugee One Back to School Drive through their Amazon wishlist this year. Last year we supplied them with 13 backpacks full of school supplies! This year it is even easier!

From the Refugee One website:

Summer just started, but we're thinking ahead! Help us equip refugee youth with backpacks and school supplies. There are 400+ students in our Youth Program, and dozens more arriving in the coming months.

Order items direct to RefugeeOne's office via their Amazon Wishlist (Back to School)

Interested in donating other items?

Check here

Thank you to everyone at UCE who worked with the Legislative Action Team and UU Prison Ministry Team to encourage our state legislators to pass the Pretrial Fairness Act, also known as the SAFE-T Act!

After the law’s constitutionality was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court on July 18, 2023, in a 5-2 ruling, the portion of the Pretrial Fairness Act ending cash bail will take effect on September 18, 2023.

The Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice [insert link under IL network for pretrial justice - https://endmoneybond.org/illinois-network-for-pretrial-justice/ has put out a call for community court watching across the state to monitor the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act during pretrial hearings in September and October.

Volunteers must be able to attend one training virtually and take at least two in-person shifts (each lasting between 2-5 hours) observing pretrial hearings in the county where they were trained.

Beloved Conversations Registration Open

Through August 31st

The REAL Team highly recommends that anyone who has not taken the online version of Beloved Conversations [insert link under “Beloved Conversations” - https://www.meadville.edu/fahs-collaborative/beloved-conversations/within-phase/ sign up for a “Beloved Conversations: Within Course for BIPOC+” or a “Beloved Conversations: Within Course for White People."

Register Here

The Beloved Conversations in-person curriculum has evolved to be a three-part online curriculum divided into the Within Phase, the Among Phase, and the Beyond Phase. If you took the original in-person curriculum, the new online Beloved Conversations: Within is a restyled individual curriculum that will bring you something new and connect you with individuals across the country.

If Beloved Conversations is new to you, it is a program that “focuses on the internal work that each of us needs to do as we engage in deeper personal understanding, explorations of race and racism, extracting our souls and spirits from white supremacy culture, and work for racial justice.”

UCE has scholarships available for the Beloved Conversations: Within registration fee. Please complete an application here.

or contact or contact Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

The Giving House food donations are simplified! 

You can bring any of the following: pasta, rice, beans, cereal, soups, and/or canned fish or meat.

Now you don’t have to remember which item to bring for which month. We will accept any of these items any month any time. The Giving house is the wooden box/house in the lobby. It opens from the roof. Please place items in here any time during the week or on Sunday.

We are partnering with C&W Market & Ice Cream to distribute free foods to those in need.