Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole

Sunday Service February 4th at 10:30am

A World Made Whole Casserole to Nourish Us All

A world made whole, as our mission aspires to, would be one in which justice and equity for all people, everywhere is the rule. It seems a far off and impossible dream but the work of our progressive faith and our congregation is to imagine it. We come together to resist despair and cultivate a sense of the abundant possibilities of a world made whole casserole that would nourish us all. We’ll kick off our annual pledge drive and explore two of the values of the proposed Article II revision. Rev. Eileen leads the service with Board member, Elaine Siegel, as worship associate and Kiley Korey as our hymn leader. Ken Smith will be our guest pianist.

Note: You are invited to bring canned or pre-prepackaged food

into the sanctuary on Sunday, for our time for all ages.

Children will go to their Faith Formation programs after joys and sorrows.

Shared Offering with CRLN

Join the Services Livestream

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday

Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15-11:45am
Chalice Children (pre/k) in room 9 – The children will explore the theme of “Our Beautiful Earth” by learning about stormy weather.
Heads, Hearts, and Hands (1st-6th) in room 8 – The young people will begin looking at our denomination’s proposed changes to Article II in The Gift of Centering Love
Youth Group (7th-12th) in room 13 – the youth will meet on Feb 11th.

Families can explore our new theme, The Gift of Justice and Equity, at home and on their own timeframe with the Soulful Home packet. Send pictures to Kathy Underwood of your family as you explore the many ideas here!

See our “living” calendar of programs and events here.

Parents can register their children/youth for the Faith Formation Program here.

Greetings from Sandra Robinson

This weekend at UCE was a special one for me. The feeling of community at Barbara Young’s memorial and at the Sunday service was rich and meaningful. The true essence of what it is like to truly be there for one another was right before us. The memorial captured the story of Barbara J. Young’s life and her connection with friends and to UCE.

Perhaps that experience deepened my own connection as I make this transition leaving at the end of June after 22 years. The “Reflection” by Lina Hilko touched my heart, as I am sure it did for many in the room. We all come from different places, different spiritual experiences, and some no religious or spiritual background at all. We have all found a path to UCE. Kathy Underwood’s children’s story “The Water Bearer’s Garden” captured my attention. Of course, a story about ceramic pots is ever so appealing, but the leaky pot which caused such grief and guilt for the water bearer proved to be a beautiful blessing as it created a garden over time. Most often, our brokenness and challenges take on a different meaning when we realize that good can come from them.

Our hats are off to Lina Hilko and Margaret Koreman, our organizers of our Friendship Meals. After organizing a round of small group meals with her Proximity Partners group early in 2023, Lina connected with the Congregational Connections Team to organize congregation wide small group meals in November 2023. Now, she is working with Margaret to organize another round of Friendship Meals happening this month. See the article in this newsletter to sign-up.

Friendship Meals is a program that has had several forms over the years. The current iteration has hosts inviting 6-9 people to join them at various locations from home to restaurant and providing an amazing array of food options and accommodations. Some meals are only adults and some are intergenerational. If you would like to be a host in the future, please contact Lina (lhilko at aol dot com).

We are grateful to the hosts of the meals this past fall and this month for helping to build kinship among us! Thank you, Lina and Margaret, for making deeper connections among us possible!

This Week's Events & Links

Friday, Feb 2nd:

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler, 6-9pm, Sanctuary

Saturday, Feb 3rd:

Virtual Pilates, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom

Generous Conversations, 9:30-11am, Rm 3

Prison Ministry Team, 10:30-11:30am, via Zoom

Beginner Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, Sanctuary

Intermediate Tai Chi, 11am - 12pm, Sanctuary

Sunday, Feb 4th:

Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 9am in-person Rm 6 and via Zoom Link.

Worship Service at 10:30am in the Sanctuary & on YouTube

Download UCE Zoom Backgrounds

Monday, Feb 5th:

Addictions and Recovery, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Tuesday, Feb 6th:

Membership Team Meeting, 1:30-2:30pm, Rm 13

Wednesday, Feb 7th:

Yoga, 9:30-10:30am, via 8x8

Please be aware we have an all Staff Meeting every Wed from 11-12:30pm

Generosity Conversations, 7pm, Rm 3

Thursday Feb 8th:

Meditation Group, 5:30-7pm, via Zoom

Integrated Stewardship Council, 6-7:30pm, via Zoom

Check out the UCE Calendar for more events!

Congregational News

Room Request Form

PLEASE NOTE: Newsletter submissions should be sent to Newsletter@ucevanston.org by noon on Wednesday.

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!

Congregational Connections

Board of Trustees’

Covenant of Engagement

At its January meeting the Board of Trustees finalized its new Covenant, which is read aloud at the start of every Board meeting.

Board Covenant:

We are here to support UCE, its mission, and each other.
We seek to align the actions and budget of UCE with its mission and values.
We commit to be here, be prepared, and be present. But we acknowledge we don’t have to be perfect.
We will not agree about everything, and that’s OK. We will state our disagreements openly; we will listen carefully and respectfully; and we will work cooperatively to reach resolution.
We endeavor to make ourselves available to Congregants to ensure their input is considered in Board decisions.
We will respect Board decisions and all the voices and educate the Congregation about Board decisions without undermining the Board.
We assume good intentions.
And in all we do, we intend to risk ourselves for love.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler with the UCE Board of Trustees

Let the Good Times Roll by joining the Board members for a festive night of music and food from the Big Easy. We will enjoy music from Mojo49 which will transport us to the French Quarter. Drinks will include a sparkling punch that will get us into the spirit. Dinner will include a colorful Mardi Gras salad, shrimp or veggie etouffee, and cake and ice cream to fill our souls. Please join us as we head south for a warm night of fun, food and fellowship! Many of you have already purchased tickets during our Serendipity Fundraiser in November, a few tickets are still available. Childcare provided.

Friday, February 2, 2024 from 6:00-9:00 pm at UCE. Tickets are $60, click here to buy your tickets.

Empty Bowls SOUPER Sunday on February 11^th -

WE NEED YOU!

Sign up here to set up, clean up, bring food or cook for this event: https://signup.com/go/LuJMhPi and help raise funds for three local pantries. And BRING YOUR APPETITE! In addition to delicious selection of homemade soup lunch for $6.00 per person ($18 maximum per family.) Attendees may choose a beautiful handmade bowl from which to eat it, ranging in price from $10-$25 each.

Meals are accompanied by fruit, cheese, cookies and fresh baked bread donated & served by Dave the Bread Guy. If you have handmade bowls to contribute/recycle, they may be dropped off in the UCE office or call Maggie Weiss for pick up: 847-571-1385. We look forward to seeing you!

The UCE Food & Shelter Team

Sign-ups are open for the February Friendship Meals! The online sign-up sheet (click here to access) contains meal details so you can browse the choices and select the one that works best for you.

Winter session meals are:

Fri, Feb 9th 6:30pm in-home chicken curry potluck dinner
Sat, Feb 10th 1pm split-the-bill restaurant outing
Sat, Feb 10th 6pm in-home appetizer and dessert potluck
Fri, Feb 16th 6:30pm in-home “flexitarian” potluck dinner
Sat, Feb 17th 6pm in-home potluck chicken dinner
Sat, Feb 17th 6pm in-home potluck chili dinner
Sat, Feb 17th 6pm in-home potluck chicken enchilada dinner
Sun, Feb 18th 5pm in-home vegetarian potluck dinner

Please contact Lina Hiko ASAP if you would enjoy hosting, have questions, or are interested in future hosting. Text or a call Lina at 312-399-1848 or email LHilko at aol dot com.

Save the Date: April 19th

The MidAmerica Region is coming together - both online and at the First Unitarian Society of Madison, WI on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 of 2024 for a multiplatform Regional Assembly!

The Keynote address will be given by the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ. There will be workshops, the Annual Business Meeting of the MidAmerica Region, and opportunities to meet many UU Leaders from across our faith tradition.

For those who are in person, there will even be opportunities to tour this historic church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. But most importantly, it is a time for us to come together as Unitarian Universalists from across the MidAmerica Region. Please join us, online and in-person for our first-ever multi-platform MidAmerica Regional Assembly!

Lifespan Faith Formation

Parent’s Night Out – February 10, 4-7p

The Family Ministry Team is offering this fun time for kids as a part of the auction. Have an early evening to yourself while the kids enjoy stories, games, and crafts with the theme of the Lunar New Year. Details here.

Parent’s Perk – February 11 at 9:30a in room 13

Summer will be here before you know it, and for many families, that means summer camps! Come learn about UU camps and share other camp resources and experiences.

Souper Bowl Sunday – Kinship Time on February 11

Kids can make Valentine cards while enjoying a bowl of soup or chili. See details about this “fun”draiser in the newsletter.

Social Justice & Action

Learning Together: An Interfaith Approach to the War in Gaza

February 17 & 18 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Tickets Available on Eventbrite for $20 (plus fees of about $3)

Tickets at the door are $25 (with no fees)

Discount Code for UCE members and friends as an event sponsor: INTERFAITH

Discounted tickets are $5 (plus fees of about $2)

We Are All Inn - Finally!

Tuesday, February 13, 3pm-6pm

1566 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Join us in celebrating the successful purchase of the Margarita Inn and a new era for Connections for the Homeless! This event will include tours of the Margarita Inn and a short program at 4:30pm featuring the voices of residents, staff, elected officials, and community members.

The Margarita Inn is a hotel-based shelter that is ideal to prepare folks for long-term housing solutions. Read More here.

UCE Book Clubs

UCE Non-Fiction Book Group

South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry.

Winner of the 2022 National Book Award for Nonfiction. In South to America, Imani Perry shows that the meaning of American is inextricably linked with the South, and that our understanding of its history and culture is the key to understanding the nation as a whole. This is the story of a Black woman and native Alabaman returning to the region she has always called home and considering it with fresh eyes. As she travels around the South, the author weaves together stories of immigrant communities, contemporary artists, exploitative opportunists, enslaved peoples, unsung heroes, her own ancestors and her lived experiences. South to America offers an assertion that if we want to build a more humane future for the United States, we must center our concern below the Mason-Dixon Line.

Zoom discussion

Sunday, February 25th at 2 p.m. using our recurring Zoom link

3/24/2024: Hey America, Grow Up! by David Brooks (NYTimes opinion column)

UCE Fiction Book Group

North Woods

by Daniel Mason.

A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries.

Following the cycles of history, nature, and even language, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment, to history, and to one another.

A moving tale of memory and fate from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier.

Zoom discussion, Friday, February 16th at 7pm, using our recurring

ZOOM link.

Upcoming Title:

3/15/24: Paul Harding This Other Eden