Sunday Service March 2, 2025 at 10:30am 

UPDATES FROM KATHY UNDERWOOD

I am sitting in my office with the sunlight streaming in as I write. One of my favorite things to do is sit in a sunny window and read while sipping some decadent flavor of tea. Last week when it was below zero, I took my dog for our usual 1.5 mile walk and saw a small flock of robins in a tree. It was then that I knew spring was coming soon. Sure enough, after a couple of colder-than-normal weeks for this time of year, it is a balmy 52 degrees out today! There is hope after all!

Join the Board of Trustees 

to explore BIG QUESTIONS 

for UCE

Join members of the Board of Trustees on Sunday, March 2nd at noon in Room 3 for a 75-minute discussion about some big questions:

* What changes do we need to make so UCE is more accessible?

* How we can foster connections that go beyond our comfort zones at UCE and in the larger community? 

This will be the first of four formal group opportunities to engage in these questions. One additional session will be held in person on April 11th 6:30 -7:45pm. Two sessions will be held on zoom, on March 22nd 10am - 11:15am, and April 22nd 7p-8:15p. Food will be provided at both in-person sessions. 

Register HERE

Our hats are off to the tremendous pledge drive team who have successfully launched our drive to support the operating budget of UCE for 2025-2026. Our theme is "There is More..." -more love, more hope, more justice, more peace, and we're going to keep on until we find it and co-create it.

And there have been so many wonderful people contributing to the success of the drive (we are currently at 81% of our goal - more to go, so please turn in your forms if you haven't). Our gratitude goes to Carla Williams for her marvelous overall leadership of the team, recruiting volunteers, coordinating sub-teams, and creatively and collaboratively visioning the work of stewardship. Thanks to Jim Dibble who was the co-lead for the ambassador sessions we held, which yielded fruitful conversations on what we want UCE to be MORE of in the world.

Thanks to all the creative, dedicated and hardworking leaders who brainstormed messaging, planned the kick off, communicated information, offered support, sent thank you's, and shared testimonials in services: Rob Avery, Kera Beskin, Susan Carlton, Steve Courtright, Josh and Lora Goodrich, Harry Hirsch, Judy Holman, Martha Holman, Ally Hunter, Lois Korda, Kiley Korey, Kristin Larsen, Carolyn Laughlin, Cheryl Mounts, Carol Nielsen, Margaret Schatz, Ned Schaub, Lisa Solomon, Hòa Voscott, Maggie Weiss,,Joyce Lofstrom, Peggy Cloonan,Craig Cotton, Robb Geiger, Lynn Kendal,Tori Bassani, Cindy Dvorak, Mary Dudek, Karen Courtright, Eleanor Boyer, Margie Rogasner, Jinny Niemann, Christine Peters, Elaine Siegel, Mary Bell, Dale Griffin, Janelle Brittain...and all those who reached out to other members to talk about their love and support for UCE.



Thank you for your abundant generosity and care.

How Are We Living Our Visions?

Whether you've been attending UCE for decades or are just discovering this congregation, I hope you are finding a sense of belonging and connection. In these difficult times, many of us are looking for the solace of community. And many of us also hunger for purpose and meaning, which is expressed in our values and our visions for this congregation. Part of my work with the Board of Trustees and the Committee on Shared Ministry is to evaluate how we are living our shared visions. Every quarter I write a report reflecting on that to share with the board and the congregation is invited to read those reports here. If you have any questions about any of these reports, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. ~Rev. Eileen

Seed Planting

March 7th, 6:30-8pm

We’ll be learning about planting seeds to take home and watch grow.

Bring a snack to share.

Planning for End of Life - Better Now Than Never

This series of three programs is for adults of all ages to help prepare for the end of life. We don’t know when our time on earth will end, so why not do what we can now to make it easier for our loved ones?

You can participate in any or all of these sessions facilitated by Alison Issen:

February 26th at 7pm: Up Close and Personal: Growth and Opportunity In Facing Our Mortality

March 5th at 7pm: Putting Your Ducks In a Row

March 19th at 7pm: Harvesting the Wisdom of Your Life: Creating an Ethical Will

Register HERE

• NEW way to submit Newsletter requests! Please use our new Google Form found HERE to submit your articles and images.

• 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!

Meeting Our Interfaith Neighbors

March 4th at 7pm in Room 3 or on Zoom

We’ll begin our exploration of the Episcopal faith with our guest, Fr. Greg Millikan from St. Mark’s.

You can register here to be included on future emails.

Budget Town Halls

We will have two opportunities for the congregation to learn and ask questions about our proposed 2025/2026 annual operating budget: March 9th after worship (12pm) in room 3; and March 12th at 7pm on Zoom.

Help Prepare Care Packages for the Chicago Abortion Fund on Sun, March 16th

Join us Sunday, March 16 at noon in Room 3 at UCE to help put together care packages for patients coming to Chicago for abortion services. We’ll pack the supplies, write brief notes to the recipients, and make sure these patients have some supplies to pamper themselves after leaving the clinic.

Members of the church Abortion Action Team have contacted the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) to find out what’s needed, bought and ordered everything, and are organizing the after-church work party. Won’t you help us complete the project?

CAF is one of the major providers in Illinois of health care to out-of-state patients, who have nowhere else to turn, since their states have outlawed abortion. Last year CAF provided grants of $3,600 on average to more than 375 grantees, so they could travel to Chicago to receive services. It’s help line answered more than 16,000 calls.

If you’d like to come and help us put together the care packages, register HERE. And please also let us know if you’d like to help contribute to future work parties.

We know there are a lot of you out there who love thrifting. If that describes you, please consider being a department lead! We are currently looking for co-leads in the Treasures and Housewares departments. If interested, contact rummage@ucevanston.org to learn more.

In addition, an online signup for an array of volunteer opportunities will be published soon -- watch the newsletter for details. In the meantime, continue to set aside items to donate, being sure to encourage friends and neighbors to do the same! 

Once again, mark your calendars with these key dates:

• Sale Dates: Fri 5/2 – Sat 5/3
• Donation Dates: Sun 4/27 – Mon 4/28
• Setup Dates: Sun 4/27 – Thurs 5/1

Celebration of Life for Marty Flint



Friday, March 7, at 2 pm, we will celebrate the life of our much beloved Marty Flint. Two Margarets (Shaklee & Talmage) are organizing hospitality. If it would please you to take on a small role or bring a favorite food to honor Marty click HERE to SignUP!

If you want to opt out of the technology, email Margaret Shaklee with your offer to help.

Many thanks!

Rhythm for Congregations Masterclass:

A workshop after worship on March 23rd



Whether you are a choir member or a non-chorister who simply who loves making music, join us for an energetic, fully participatory workshop designed to help choirs, and congregations better understand rhythm in the mind, body, and spirit. With Matt’s guidance, we’ll explore the theories and practices of West African, South Indian and European perspectives on rhythm. This is as much rhythm training as you can possibly fit into a 90-minute master class!

Matt Meyer, who’ll be our worship leader that Sunday, is a traveling musician and worship leader for UU congregations. He has a degree in hand drumming from Berklee College of Music, where he focused his studies on Cuban and Brazilian music. He's the drummer in the Sanctuary Boston worship band and has performed with a wide range of musicians and bands, including Ysaye Barnwell (of Sweet Honey in the Rock), Pete Seeger, Emma’s Revolution, Peter Mayer, Jim Scott, Nick Page, The Halalisa Singers, Samba Tremeterra, and Bloco de Afrobrazil.

*It's helpful to have at least some background in music, but anyone who's ever played an instrument at all or sung in any choir, will do fine.

A Chance to Dance!

From the UCE auction, you get the chance to take three beginner dance lessons at UCE. The lessons will help you enjoy partner dancing to a range of music. You can learn or improve your skills at leading and at responding. The classes are scheduled on Thursdays at 2pm: March 6, 15, 22. 

Pay for the lessons by using this link to buy through the auction website. Yes, you can invite friends too. The classes are for beginner but improvers can use the time and the instructor to learn new patterns too.



And Serendipitously, the UCE auction is offering you a Friday evening of dancing to live music on March 28! Buy those tickets at the website and put on some dancing shoes! ~ Shirley Adams

MO Blues Band Dance Party!

Dive into a mesmerizing evening brimming with rhythm and soul, showcasing the incredible Alicia Hempfling and the MO Blues Band at this special celebration! With an impressive ten-year history of enchanting music enthusiasts, this event is set to be truly memorable. Enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages, including wine, beer and non-alcoholic beer. It's an all-ages event, perfect for families, and childcare services are also available. 6-8:30pm Friday, March 28th, $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Link to purchase tickets is here

UCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights

Our next gathering is March 14th, 7-9pm



The Young Adult Group at UCE is a group for young adults (18-35) interested in exploring spiritual deepening in community. We meet on every 3rd Friday from 7-9pm (except for this month) in Room 3 to discuss monthly Soul Matters themes, check in with each other, eat snacks, and play games.

Contact Kiley Korey (kileyekorey at gmail dot com), Kevin Barrow (kbarrow13 at gmail dot com) or Kathy Underwood (kunderwood at ucevanston dot org) with any questions.

Adult Game Night – April 12, 7-10p

Do you have a game that isn’t appropriate to play with kids? 

Or just want to play games with others 18+?

Here’s your chance to have some fun! 

BYOB and a snack to share. Register here by April 6 for childcare.

Get Ready! UUA's General Assembly 2025 is Around the Corner

The 64th UUA General Assembly will be a multi-platform event June 18 - 22 with the main stage at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. If you've never attended GA, make this the year! This five-day event is full of opportunities to share space with other UUs, as we gather to worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy decisions for the Association through a democratic process. Check out program highlights.

Early bird registration pricing is available until March 31. Multiplatform and Single-day In-person registration options are available. Take advantage of UUA's $100 discount for first time attendees. Or tap into the UCE Endowment Grant for GA scholarships or the UUA's financial support opportunities. Visit the UUA website for more GA information.

A number of UCE members are attending in-person. If you are interested in attending in-person or virtually, or want to serve as a UCE delegate, let us know via the GA sign-up form. Or contact a member of the Denominational Affairs Team: Peggy Boccard, Melanie Kitchner, Cheryl Mounts, Carla Williams. Our contact info is in Realm.

Our Shared Offering Program is one of the ways that we live into our mission statement "for a world made whole." Each Sunday, the funds collected during our worship service either via text donations or in the collection bowls (and not otherwise designated for a pledge or something else) are shared equally between our operating budget and the current Shared Offering Recipient.



The current Shared Offering Recipient is the ​Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois, whose mission is to equip UU's in Illinois to ​transform institutions; partnering with and supporting people harmed by the prison industrial complex.

We Want To DO Something!

Many of us are looking for ways to resist the current administration's efforts to dismantle our democracy. One idea: consider signing up with the Side with Love Action Center Weekly Action Updates: https://sidewithlove.org/actioncenter

Each week, there are a range of specific actions in several different areas of concern. Visit the Democracy in Action table after service this Sunday to connect and plan.

Greetings Friends,

Interfaith Action’s SNAPGap is collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste to be distributed at the March 11 Produce Mobile. Any type of toothbrush or toothpaste is welcome. You may purchase items online at at this link. Or drop off locally bought items at First United Methodist Church, 516 Church Street, Evanston. The church office is open from 10am-2pm, Monday through Friday.

Thank you for your participation! These necessities help individuals and families who are struggling to pay the rent, put food on the table, maintain their health, and live in dignity. Your participation and generosity are greatly appreciated by all. 

Finally, you may have heard news about upcoming transitions regarding the Produce Mobile. Please know that the program will continue as always through May. In the meantime, the Interfaith Action Board is researching and deliberating its options for the future. Thanks for your patience.

Warm regards,

SNAPGap Team

Questions? Text or call IAE delegate, Toni Rey

Are you called to bring a loving, UU presence inside your local jail or prison?

Please join the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of IL leaders for an "inside" jail and prison facilitation training, held Saturday, March 8, from 2pm to 5pm in Rm. 3 at the Unitarian Church of Evanston at 1330 Ridge Avenue. 

This small-group style facilitator training will serve as a foundation for going in to facilitate circles in jail or prison. We currently have active ministries in Cook County jail men's and women's sides as well as at Logan Women's prison, with potential expansion to Decatur Women's prison. We will cover skill-building for trauma-informed facilitation, grounding, self-care and cultural humility.

Register here

Please note: you cannot participate in IL Dept of Corrections programming (prison) if you are a pen pal with someone locked up in IDOC.

The next meeting of the UCE Fiction Book Group

is Friday, March 21 by ZOOM, 7-8pm

using our Recurring Zoom link

The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, embarks on a remarkable search for a family secret.

UCE Nonfiction Book Group

The group will meet on Zoom at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 23rd using our recurring ZOOM link.

We will discuss The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society by Joseph Stiglitz. In this book, the Nobel prize winner dissects America’s current economic system and the political ideology that created it. He writes of how ‘free’ and unfettered markets have led to a series of crises: the financial crisis, the opioid crisis, and the crisis of inequality and how a small portion of the population has amassed considerable wealth while wages for most people have stagnated. He says that we need to make changes to accomplish our American ideal of an economic and political system that delivers well-being, opportunity, and meaningful freedoms for all.



ONGOING EVENTS:

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Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330