Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, August 22 at 11:15 am
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Living Our Mission Through the Arts: Music
Nurturing the Human Spirit and Making the World Whole Through the Arts: living our mission through the arts. The creative endeavor is more than the fluff of life. It is essential to our humanity to create, express, and process our struggles through the arts. This August, we will explore five modes of artistic and creative expression and their centrality in making meaning in our lives. Music is a powerful force for bringing people together, transforming us and inspiring us to change our world. Worship participants include: Annette Wallace, Joe Romeo, Vickie Hellyer, Jo Lynn Cotton, Robb Geiger, Lynn Kendall, William Phillips.
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UCE Ingathering - September 12 |
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Join the UCE Ingathering on Sunday, September 12th at 10:15 am in person and through the YouTube livestream. Masks are required (ages 2 and up) inside the building. Look out for a letter in the mail with details about our return to the building.
Bring water from your summer adventures (near or far) to the service, whichever way you participate. We will use the gathered waters from our annual water communion to bless the grounds after the service.
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From Sandra Robinson, Executive Operations Director |
Greetings,
There’s lots of excitement building around opening our doors to our beloved congregation on September 12. At the same time, there is much to be done in the building. We are considering every option to ensure that everyone’s comfort and safety is a priority as we re-enter. I’m in touch with Administrators and Executive Directors through the AUUA (Administrators) and have shared with them steps we are taking and I’m hearing from them about what they are doing. This is a useful exchange and lends support and guidance throughout the UU community...
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Participate in the Family Engagement Survey |
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Parents, please fill out this short survey regarding your family’s participation at UCE this fall. This is to guide us in planning for our new Faith Formation Hour this fall. And you can do it in about 3 minutes!
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"When We Return, We Will All Be Newcomers"
~ Nathan Kirkpatrick
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Welcome to Multigenerational Sundays at UCE!
Beginning September 12th All Ages Worship at 10:15 followed by All Ages Faith Formation at 11:30. Activities will vary week to week and be offered in dual formats (in-person and on-line) as much as possible. You may see the outline for the weekly schedule here. Please watch this video for more information and look to the website and future newsletters for more details.
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Hats Off to Karen Courtright! |
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Hats Off to Karen Courtright for her service as one of the co-coordinators of UCE’s Caring Team. This summer our community has had babies born, loved ones die, and surgeries proceed, and Karen has coordinated the delivery of meals to many in our congregation experiencing these circumstances. Karen is also the behind-the-scenes caretaker of the REAL Team’s community-wide email list, which has included making time to send out information on short notice when local events require a response. She was also our trusted money wrangler at this year’s Parking Lot Pop-Up Sale and has handled rummage sale money for years.
Thank you, Karen, for connecting and caring for our community!
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Chalice Lighters Needed - 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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UCE hosts COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on Tuesday, August 24 (First Dose) and September 14 (Second Dose) from 2-6 pm. More info below.
Wednesday Zoom Gatherings Continue on September 8 at 5:30 pm via Zoom.
Intro to Tai Chi is on August 28 at 11 am in the UCE Sanctuary. More info below.
Service of Remembrance is on August 29 at 9 am on the UCE South Lawn. More info below.
Registration for Beloved Conversations is open through August 31. More info below.
Faith, Justice and Reparations in Evanston Virtual Workshop is September 19, 26, and October 3. More info below.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Friday, August 20
Saturday, August 21
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Immigrant Solidarity Team at 4 pm via Zoom. Email Lee Bannor for the link.
Sunday, August 22
Monday, August 23
Tuesday, August 24
Wednesday, August 25
Thursday, August 26
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Virtual Meditation at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Lisa Solomon for the link.
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Hello from the edge of a blank canvas that will soon fill with color, energy, music, and purpose. We return with eager caution to our brick and mortar home to celebrate familiar creases in the eyes of our masked smiles, and to smash one another in (consensual) hugs.
This is my first year on the UCE board. What a privilege. What a learning curve! There’s a lot of Big Stuff in here/out there. But it’s no bigger than our own small efforts. As I heard long ago: “do your best work and be kind.”...
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Congregational Connections |
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Join us in Creating Opportunities for
Richer Engagement in the UCE Community
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After almost 18 months of virtual gathering we will all be newcomers when we return to our building in September 2021. We will be starting anew, learning how to be together again – to connect in new and different ways, embracing our mission and working to build an even stronger, more vibrant community to “nurture the human spirit for a world made whole”.
The Membership Engagement Task Force has been meeting since February to learn more about what we do well in welcoming and engaging members and where we could improve our efforts to facilitate meaningful and satisfying participation in the life of UCE...
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Share Your Interests & Skills on Realm |
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Did you know that you can share your unique skills and interests with UCE leadership through your Realm profile? UCE ministers, staff, and leaders can use this info to help connect you to volunteer opportunities, leadership roles within our community, and even new groups that may fit your interest. Login to your profile today and let us know your special talents so we can help you be better engaged at UCE. |
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UCE Hosts Vaccination Clinic - August 24, September 14 |
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UCE Hosts Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic: August 24, 2-6 pm and September 14, 2-6 pm - We are hosting a Vaccination Clinic with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Register at the link below or Walk in on the day of.
- Ages 12+ are welcome
- No insurance needed
- 2 dose and 1 dose vaccines will be available
Please share about this opportunity with everyone you know! This will be a quick and easy way to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 Virus.
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Covid-19 Vaccinations for Homebound Residents - The City of Chicago is working to integrate mobile home health care vaccination services to reach home-bound individuals who are unable to go to the City’s COVID-19 vaccination sites to get the vaccine. To be eligible for this program you must live in the City of Chicago and be a senior OR a person with a disability who requires in-home assistance, have to use adaptive equipment (like a ventilator, crutches, a walker, a wheelchair, etc.) or accessible transportation to leave home, and leaving home is not an option for you because doing so requires considerable and taxing effort. If any of these apply to you, you may sign up for an in-home vaccination using this link. |
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Wednesday 5:30 Zoom Gatherings - Continue August 25 |
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Our weekly Zoom All-Church gatherings have resumed in August twice a month. The 2nd Wednesdays of the month going forward, will be led by Rev. Eileen. Fourth Wednesdays of the month, beginning with August 25th, will be led by Rev. Susan.
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Try out Tai Chi at UCE - August 28 |
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Tai Chi is coming to UCE. UCE member Renee Gatsis has played Tai Chi for 40 years and taught it for over 20. She credits Tai Chi in large part for her equanimity and good health.
Renee will teach the Sun-style tai chi form adapted and popularized by Dr. Paul Lam. This meditation in motion is a gentle exercise with graceful, flowing movement performed at a slow tempo. The Sun style is a simple, upright form ideal for people of all ages. In fact, Renee has taught this form to teens as well as elders.
Regular Tai Chi practice yields many benefits including, but not limited to:
improved concentration, relaxation, balance, flexibility, fitness, immunity, pain relief and quality of life.
Classes start Saturday, September 11, from 11:00-noon, in the sanctuary.
Want to learn more? Please register below for the information/demonstration session on Saturday, August 28, from 11:00-11:45, in the sanctuary. Interested, but can’t make the info/demo? That's ok. Fill out the registration form and we'll add you to the email list.
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Service of Remembrance - August 29 - 9 am |
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For the sixth year in a row, the Chris Isely Cancer Support Group will host a Service of Remembrance to honor loved ones we have lost to cancer or from any cause, whether in our church or in our personal lives. The service will take place outside next to the Rain Garden (south lawn of the church.) Rev. Eileen and members of the group will lead the brief ceremony, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 29, 2021. Anyone who wishes to honor the memory of a loved one, regardless of when that loss occurred, is invited to attend. Masks will be required. (In the event of rain, the service will be postponed to Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.)
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Registration for Beloved Conversations
Open through August 31
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The REAL Team highly recommends that anyone who has not taken the online version of Beloved Conversations sign up for "Beloved Conversations: Within". 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. If you have not taken any form of Beloved Conversations, now is a good time to take the Within Phase curriculum, because the next phase, Beloved Conversations: Among, is a congregation wide curriculum that the REAL Team is exploring.
UCE has scholarships available for the Beloved Conversations: Within registration fee. Please contact Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances@ucevanston.org.
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After Labor day (September 6), UCE staff will be available for limited office hours:
Tuesday through Friday
10 am - 5 pm
Please note most staff will continue a hybrid work schedule, where they may be working from home throughout the week. If you would like to meet with a particular minister or staff member, you are encouraged to email or call to set up an appointment.
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Grief Group Resumes Monday, September 13 |
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If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, a decline in health or other difficult life transition you are welcome to join this grief group. We will meet on Zoom beginning Monday, September 13 from 6:30 to 7:45 pm every other Monday through December. Please email Ellen Rieger at ellenerieger@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.
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UUA GA 2022 in Portland? But what is the theme? |
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It's time to plan for next year's General Assembly and one of us could create the theme!
The UUA is asking members to suggest themes for the 2022 GA in Portland OR. We have so many creative folks at UCE, it could easily be one of us who wins this contest! Submit your entry by September 13!
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Installation of UCE Senior Minister,
Rev. Eileen Wiviott
Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 3 pm
Service will be in the UCE Sanctuary and live streamed on the UCE Youtube channel. More details coming soon.
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This Summer with Faith Formation! |
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Parent/Volunteer Conversation - Based on the feedback from the Family Engagement Survey so far, there is a need to get more information out to you so that you can make the decision on how your family participates this year at UCE. You are invited to one of two virtual gatherings for this purpose:
Monday, August 30 from 7-8 pm OR
Thursday, September 2 from 7-8 pm
Come hear about the format for Sundays at UCE for worship and the faith formation hour. Bring your questions and share your ideas! Those who are considering whether to volunteer this year are invited too!
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Registration for Faith Formation begins! This year more than ever, it is important that parents register their young people, so that we can plan according to current guidelines. Please complete the form here for all young people, 0-18 years old.
Family Engagement Survey – Parents, please fill out this short survey regarding your family’s participation at UCE this fall. It should take 5 minutes or less!
Worship and Faith Formation this Fall - If you haven’t seen the video about our worship and faith formation format for this fall yet, check it out here. And if you missed Kathy’s article about this you can find it here.
Playscape Steppingstone Event – September 25 and October 2 - Families are invited to help make steppingstones. For more details and to register, click here.
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College-bound youth and young adults! A network to connect with UUs wherever you are! Join Rev. Byron Tyler Coles & Rev. Stevie K Carmody Eama for an information session about the recently launched Bridging Youth Hospitality Network!
- Wednesday, August 18th, 5pm ET
- Thursday, September 2nd, 5pm ET
- Thursday, October 7th, 7pm ET
Check the links below for Zoom registration and more information. Spread the survey to recently bridged youth and the communities that want to welcome them!
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UCE Fiction Book Group meets TODAY, Friday August 20 at 7 pm by ZOOM to discuss Circe by Madeline Miller.
"A bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story," this #1 New York Times bestseller is "both epic and intimate in its scope, recasting the most infamous female figure from the Odyssey as a hero in her own right" (Alexandra Alter, The New York Times).
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The nonfiction book group won't be meeting in August to discuss books but we look forward to selecting books for the coming year at our Zoom meeting at 2 pm on August 22nd.
We're hoping that everyone who has a nonfiction book they recommend and, perhaps, would like to discuss with others at UCE, will add the title to this google document. We're hoping that this document will encourage UCErs to share their love of books by recommending titles. The nonfiction book group will consider all titles added to this google doc and we hope that many people who submit titles will join us at the August 22nd meeting and then continue with us throughout the church year.
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REAL Team Meets Next on August 24 |
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All are welcome to join us for our next REAL Team meeting - TUESDAY, August 24, 2021, 7:00pm - 8:30pm. Zoom link is below. We will be starting a discussion on characteristics of white supremacy culture, as shared by Tema Okun, et.all.
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Faith, Justice and Reparations in Evanston,
September 19, 26, and October 3
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Register today to attend a three-part workshop on Faith, Justice and Reparations in Evanston. Sessions will take place on Sunday afternoons from 4 to 5:30 on September 19, 26, and October 3, via Zoom. We will explore what “reparation” means, how Evanston’s history of exclusion and discrimination calls for repair, what is happening with our current Reparations programs — and consider how we, as people of faith, are called to act at this significant moment in history.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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