Worship for this Sunday - August 9, 2020
Live Streaming at 10am
A Broader Interdependence
Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons

From Chicago to Los Angeles, to the Philippines and Burundi, our Unitarian Universalist ministries have a long history in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. They live and have lived our shared values of religious freedom and social justice. Their origin stories however are often denigrated and disregarded by the powers in our wider UU world. Who are some of these communities? Why and how were they accepted or rejected? What does their legacy mean for the future of our faith? How can we live into a broader, more faithful interdependence?

The Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons (he/him pronouns) is a biracial Asian-American (Chinese and Czech) organizer and minister based in Antipolo City, The Philippines. With a background serving youth and young adult ministry in the UUA, and leading APANO, an Asian and Pacific Islander community based organization, Joseph’s current calling is in cultivating a new cohousing, chapel and retreat space in Southeast Asia through the Center for Organizing, Renewal and Leadership.
 
A second generation UU, Joseph’s theology is grounded in mutuality, liberation and the unknown. Joseph is the past president of DRUUMM, and working on a doctor of ministry with the Pacific School of Religion. He and his partner Aimee co-parent their three children, and stay engaged with the UU Church of the Philippines and the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
August Theme: Possibility
Live Stream Worship at 10am
Recorded Viewing Available at Noon

Live stream link can be found here.
OFFERTORY :: Green Community Connections
Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday's collection will benefit Green Community Connections, a community-based organization founded in the Oak Park and River Forest area that works collaboratively to build a resilient, environmentally sustainable community locally, and to be an environmental leader in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Learn more here.

To contribute to Unity Temple’s Sunday collection, please text 73256 with the message UTUUC $____ (dollar sign followed by your donation amount), and select "Offering". You may also give at the UTUUC website, or send a check, payable to Unity Temple, noting Green Community Connections on the memo line, to 875 Lake St., Oak Park, 60301, and we will send a collective check on your behalf. Thank you for your generous support!

NOTE: In your browser window, make sure you click "see full message "to view this publication in its entirety
Our Worship Service will be at 10am on YouTube Live. You can access it here

Immediately following the service (around 10:45am) the Virtual Coffee Hour will be on Zoom. Go to Zoom Meeting ID: 975 4577 9365 8775 Password: 875875
Or access directly here.
UTUUC Creative Writers Group Bring a sample of your writing (fiction, nonfiction, or poetry) to share or simply bring yourself. All are welcome. We meet from 3:30-5:30pm. If you are already on our email mailing list, we will send the Zoom link (meeting ID and password) for the meeting. If not, send an email to 
[email protected] to get the coordinates.
Newcomers Welcome!
While we may not be able to meet in person on Sunday mornings, we are still able to meet! If you are new to our community, please drop by the Newcomer Welcome on Zoom before service from 9:30–10am on Sundays. We look forward to meeting you and introducing you to more information about our community. Contact Tina Lewis at [email protected] with questions. We hope you will join us! Zoom Meeting ID: 842 6357 2497. Password 943449 or access directly here.
 
Newcomer Form
If you would like to be contacted about how to get involved with our community please take a moment to fill out this form or contact Tina Lewis at [email protected].
Why Should I Attend Coffee Hour?
To connect! In this time of being away from Unity Temple and physical distancing, Coffee Hour is a way to reconnect with old friends and make new friends. This week, we break into small groups of 4-6 at the beginning of Coffee Hour for social time. Conversation prompts will be provided for groups who choose to use them. Following two breakout sessions of 15 minutes, we will return to the large group for closing comments. We hope you will join us!

I enjoy coffee hour because I am able to meet and speak to people in the congregation I would not normally have met nor spoken to had we been meeting at Unity Temple. I enjoy speaking to and connecting with others about their lives during this pandemic crises, their families, their children, their grandchildren, and especially sharing both their joys and their sorrows at this critical time. –Bob Innocenzi
Join us each week as we present online programming of engaging songs, story readings, and short activities that will instill our fine young people's spiritual growth, serving as an opportunity to connect and practice our principles. Besides the weekly video portions that will be available on the UTUUC youtube channel, we will keep our parents/ caregivers informed of "Live" events during service times that will take place throughout the summer. Meanwhile, if you have any questions or great thoughts, please contact [email protected]

Summer RE Session 10: Each of us is capable of showing one another love and understanding. Our compassion towards others and dedication to calling out injustices and siding with love make our congregation community and our human family stronger. This week, we are reminded that we have the power and responsibility to reach out in love at every opportunity. Summer RE Playlist!   
Summer RE Session 11:  
Summer Friendship: In this generous world, love will come our way now and then. Yet if we do not plant the love that we have in the firm soil of living relationship, we may be in danger of supposing that it will grow on its own, without our nurture or our small acts of concern. Therefore, let us tend to our small plots, that this harvest may flourish enough to share not only with our neighbors, but with our enemies as well. Join us in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world. Summer RE Playlist!  
Unity Temple Faith In Action Network
Spiritually Grounded / Deeply Relational / Strategically Effective

Let us raise our collective voice for justice and compassion! Please complete these calls to action (page 1), and as you are able, support an organization living our values (page 2). 
Safe, Fair & Free Elections Tell Congress to Pass Vote by Mail and Protect Democracy during this pandemic. Sign the petition from UU-the-Vote here.
UU Prison Ministry Pen Pals :: UU Prison Ministry of IL works with the Church of the Larger Fellowship-Worthy Now Ambassador program to support individuals and congregations interested in a ministry with prisoners. There are many people living in prison awaiting a match with a pen pal. If you are interested in learning more visit here. Contact: [email protected]
Faith in Action Newsletter 
Sign-up here to receive our Faith in Action newsletter with calls to action for justice and compassion. 
Get Out the Vote in Wisconsin & Michigan! Join us in #LivingOurValues with our 5th UU principle–valuing the democratic process! Our Vote Love team is partnering with Indivisible Chicago on a non-partisan postcard writing campaign to get out the vote. Instructions are provided. To request a bundle of 100 postcards to pick-up in Oak Park, please sign-up here
Please select "Unity Temple Vote Love" in the "How did you hear about the campaign" field. We ask that you try to finish all your postcards by early September. When your postcards are complete, please contact our new email, [email protected] and we will pick up your completed and stamped postcards.  
 
So far we have 67 members writing 9860 postcards! Let's keep multiplying this great effort! Questions? Contact: [email protected]
UUANI Action of the Week
Every year, Illinois incarcerates over a quarter of a million people who are awaiting trial. Most are jailed simply because they can't afford to pay a money bond. The time to end money bond is now! Join the Coalition to End Money Bond on
Thursday August 20 at 6pm 
for a Pretrial Fairness Act Teach-in and learn how you can join the movement to end pretrial incarceration that disfavors people without resources. Register here! Allied with the Coalition to End Money Bond and The Community Renewal Society
Questions, comments, suggestions?

Questions, comments, suggestions? Contact us.
Canned Goods Needed :: Beyond Hunger (formerly the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry) is in urgent need of the following canned goods:
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Canned Soups
  • Canned Meat Meals-such as ravioli
  • Canned Meat-such as tuna
Please bring items to Beyond Hunger at First United Church of Oak Park - 848 Lake Street in Oak Park. Please go to the rear entrance in the parking lot off of Kenilworth and look for the drop-off window. Donation drop off hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday–10am till 4pm. *Please do not drop off donations on Wednesdays as we reserve this day to serve clients. Thank you for your generous support! Questions? Contact Barbara: [email protected]
August 18 :: Save the Date! Fair Tax – Why Does this Matter? Join the UU Advocacy Network of IL for a virtual presentation on the IL Fair Tax with Senator Daniel Biss. We will also explore how to communicate about the Fair Tax based on our values. 7pm via Zoom. More information and registration here. Questions? [email protected]
Weekly Choral Warm-up and Singing Sessions! Unity Temple Choral Session will be held each Wednesday evenings, 7-7:30pm. Music director, Marty Swisher will lead participants in vocal warm-ups to maintain vocal health and agility. In addition, a song will be taught. Some weeks special guests including other musical faith leaders, composers and songleaders will join us to share songs. Join us! 

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 895 0302 7611
Password: 062305
sharing, Mondays at Noon :: Need a lunchtime boost in your day? Every Monday at Noon Jen Marling and Tina Lewis invite you to take a break in your workday and briefly share something good that has happened to you recently. We hope you can join us! Click here to join the call. Questions may be sent to [email protected].

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 985 1473 6011
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,98514736011# US (Chicago)
Daily Mindful Reflection Community 30 minute meeting, 7 days a week! Starts at 8:25am and ends at 9am every day, seven days a week. This will be different from our regular Tuesday night meeting. The daily meditation will include opening words, 20 minutes of mindful reflection, and closing words. 

All are welcome! You are welcome to attend regularly or sporadically. The Zoom link for the daily mindful reflection is listed below. Zoom does not allow the use of the phone numbers to provide dial-in access on this platform. Note: We use a different Zoom link on the 1st Saturday of each month. See below. Questions contact [email protected].

Zoom information:
Topic: Daily Mindful Reflection
Time: Every Day (including weekends) at 08:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Best Way to Join:
Meeting ID: 373 008 242
Password: 4IFrYx

First Saturday of every month Daily Mindful Reflection Zoom Link:
ID: 529 444 050
Password:740573
+13126266799
Then enter meeting ID and password

Men's Retreat Cancelled
It is with regret that the Retreat Committee cancels the Men’s Retreat scheduled for January 2021. 
Our mission of “Men Connecting” has not changed. The committee is exploring avenues of internet connectivity in order to conduct meaningful online events in the future. 
Hopefully, by January of 2022 we can convene a Retreat. In the meantime, keep connected as best you can and know that we will meet again.
Friday Night Co-ed Softball is On! We need both male and female players for this coming season. We welcome all, regardless of athletic ability, and will coach and encourage you. It's about fun and recreation. The Park District of Oak Park requires masks in the dugout and social distancing on the field. Contact [email protected]

August 7: Away Game at Spoilers
7:30pm arrival time / Location: Ridgeland Common East Diamond (415 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302) 

August 7: Home Game at Parks and Wrecks
8:30pm arrival time / Location: Ridgeland Common East Diamond (415 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302) 
Austin Community Food Pantry
Third Unitarian Church, in collaboration with several Austin organizations, is offering a new weekly outdoor food pantry to support neighbors in need. Financial and food donations are welcome. Volunteers must sign-up in advance and are required to follow safety precautions. Please complete the form here if you'd like to volunteer or donate. Non-perishable food donations may be dropped off at the church, 301 N. Mayfield, on Sundays, 9:30-11:30am, or contact us to arrange pick-up. A list of requested items is here. Surplus vegetables from your garden are also welcome! 
Contact [email protected]. Thank you!
 
Third Unitarian Church
Community Pantry
Saturdays 10am-Noon
301 N. Mayfield Ave, Chicago (near Lake & Austin)

August 30 :: Jenny's Annual Bar B Que–Virtually Save the date for this is a Women's Connection Event! Bring your drink, your food, your dog or just yourself to celebrate a New Year. Catch-up, unwind, laugh, connect amongst friends. We will gather beginning at 7pm. Stay tuned for zoom information closer to event. [email protected]

August 11 :: Mindful Reflection Online Community Tuesday Evenings Zoom meeting room opens at 6:45pm Program starts at 7:10pm. You Are Welcome Here! We will follow our usual format with 20 minutes of Mindful Reflection followed by a dharma talk and discussion. Questions email [email protected]

Click here or use this link:
You should not need to enter these numbers, but just in case, here they are: Meeting ID: 829 387 209 Password: 887083
Other way to join:
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,829387209# US (Chicago)

NEW! As we continue to find new ways to join together in community: live streaming worship service, online Mindful Reflection gatherings, daily stories and activities for all ages on our YouTube channel, children and family check in, virtual dinner parties and so much more, we have launched two additional ways for our community to continue to financially support UTUUC. Details can be found here. If you have questions reach out to [email protected]

Administrative Office
Administrative offices will be closed temporarily. Staff is working remotely as much as possible. If you need to reach us, please email and we will respond as quickly as possibly. You can reach the ministers here. Staff can be reached here.
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
NOTE: As of March 13, 2020 we are temporarily suspending in person AA meetings. This link will take you to a list of suspended/relocated AA meetings in Chicagoland. 

There is an AA meeting every Sunday in Gale House at 7pm entitled "Let's Talk About It-Atheists, Agnostics, Anyone" (QuadA). It is for anyone with a desire to stop drinking, regardless of religious beliefs. The first Sunday of each month is an "open" meeting, open to anyone, particularly those who are unsure about going to AA and just wish to listen, or people who are concerned about someone else. Come talk, or just listen. What we say here, stays here. Questions about AA contact Ron [email protected].
Planned Giving offers a variety of meaningful ways to support our congregation through charitable gifts and can be made by anybody – young and old, working or retired. These gifts are made today, but they support the future needs of your congregation and Unitarian Universalism. You can obtain more information about planned gifts by contacting the Planned Giving Team at [email protected]