Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole | |
Sunday Service December 17th at 10:30am | |
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Celebrating Mystery and Wonder - Our Annual Christmas Pageant
In honoring our Christian heritage, we celebrate the Christmas season by retelling the story of Jesus’ birth in an interactive and music-filled worship service. Kathy Underwood leads and Rev. Eileen will be the Worship Associate. Chester, Beck, Kiley Korey, Bruce Lorie, and Jenn Wisegarver will lead our hymns.
Children and youth will remain in worship.
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Faith Formation Hour this Sunday
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Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15a-11:45am
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Chalice Children, Heads, Hearts, and Hands, and Youth Group will resume on January 14th. Families can join worship services celebrating the mystery and magic of the holiday season.
Families can explore our new theme, The Gift of Mystery, 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!
Parents can register their children/youth for the Faith Formation Program here.
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Join Us Christmas Eve:
10:30 a.m. Service - we dedicate children to our Beloved Community and dedicate ourselves as a community to their care and spiritual well-being.
7:00 p.m. Service - our annual tradition of lessons, carols and candlelight.
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Season's Greetings from Susan Frances | |
Season’s Greetings!
My wife and I have been spending many of our evenings the last two weeks listening to good music (some holiday favorites, but often just music we enjoy), basking in the glow of our first set of indoor holiday lights, which we strung across our mantel and through the hanging evergreen wreath (Mickey gifted me LED lights that are a mirror image of the ones that were on my family Christmas tree as a child), and writing holiday cards to friends and family.
This year I am feeling festive – embodying the cheerful and jovially celebratory definition of that word – in a way that I have not in many winters. I am someone who enjoys the winter holidays. The gatherings of people, the special music and ritual, the taste of roasted chestnuts, the smell of fresh pine, and the focus on generosity of spirit and care for one another – this all makes me happy. But I have to admit that the last 5 winters have been hard. Mickey and I spent from December 2018 through December 2019 dealing with Mickey’s stage 3 cancer diagnosis (they are 4 years cancer free now!) and then rolled into the pandemic lockdown of 2020, another shutdown at UCE due to caring for our community during the pandemic in December 2021, and then last year was spent readjusting to being in-person again.
But this year, I find that I am not only enjoying the trappings of the holidays, but that my spirit is uplifted - I have a smile on my face and holiday songs in my head. My whole being has the emotional and physical energy to breathe (I restarted my morning meditation practice) and bounce (or leap, see the staff holiday greeting next week). I know we all go through cycles of energy and emotion in our lives and that the pandemic has shortened or elongated these cycles for many of us. My invitation to you this year is to take some time to notice how you are feeling and to embrace it (and maybe give yourself a hug while you’re at it). To celebrate or mourn, to sing or to cry, to do something to honor the state of your whole being in this moment in time.
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Our hats are off to all the volunteers who made the Mitten Tree a success! A huge thank you to Alice Swan for taking on the organizing of this year’s Mitten Tree, our annual holiday giving program. Thank you to Sheila Holder, Carol Nielsen, Ellie Feddersen, and Maggie Weiss for assisting with all the details and extras that are part of this holiday endeavor.
This year’s Mitten Tree would not have been successful without the 65 individuals and families who shopped for gifts and the 12 people who helped chase down, wrap, and deliver those gifts for Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, Lydia Home, Connections for the Homeless, Building Peaceful Bridges.
Thank you, Alice, Sheila, Carol, Ellie, Maggie, and all our volunteers for your generosity and for making time to spread some holiday joy!
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PLEASE NOTE: Requests to have articles in the newsletter should be sent to newsletter@ucevanston.org by noon on WEDNESDAY. | |
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UCE continues to host the overnight emergency shelter in partnership with Interfaith Action of Evanston, from Sunday, December 3 until early Sunday morning December 24th. Guests will be in rooms 2 and 3 from 9pm to 7am each night during that period of time and cots will stay in place during the day - so rooms 2 & 3 will not be available in December.
This is an important ministry of care and justice that UCE is grateful to be a part of, as Interfaith Action of Evanston organizes and staffs. To volunteer while the shelter is at UCE, CLICK HERE!
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This Week's Events & Links | |
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Friday, December 15th:
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Fiction Book Club, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom
Saturday, December 16th:
- Worship Planning Team, 9:30-11am, Rm 6
- Virtual pilates, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
- Beginners Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, in the Sanctuary
- Intermediate Tai Chi, 11am -12pm, in the Sanctuary
- Immigrant Solidarity Team, 4-5pm, via Zoom
Sunday, December 17th:
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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
- TransParentsy Group, 12:30-2pm, Rm 6
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Non-Fiction Book Club, 2:00pm, via Zoom
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Monday, December 18th:
- Food With Spirit Group, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
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Addictions & Recovery Group, 7-9pm, via Zoom
Tuesday, December 19th:
- Peg Heads, 6:30-9:30pm, in the Sanctuary
- Caregiver Support Group, 7:00-8:30pm, via Zoom
- First Women's Circle, 7:00-8:30pm, via Zoom
Wednesday, December 20th:
- Yoga via 8x8 Zoom, 9:30-10:30am
- Social Justice Council, 7:00-8:30pm, via Zoom
Thursday, December 21st:
- Mediation Group, 5:30-7pm, via Zoom
- Board of Trustees Meeting, 7-8:45pm, Room 6
- Choir Rehearsal, 7-9pm, in the Sanctuary
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Sandra Robinson, on behalf of the Integrated Stewardship Council, asks that you watch for your pledge statement which will arrive Friday via email. Pledge statements help us keep you up to date on your pledge balance and your payment ensure that we can successfully run keep our projected income on target for the fiscal year. Thank you.
We also ask that you nominate two members-at-large to serve on the ISC. These would be members who have an interest in financial aspects of UCE and are available to meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
We are also seeking a replacement ISC Secretary to replace Susan Carlton, effective July 1, the beginning of our new fiscal year. Please email Sandra, if you are interested or know of others who may be.
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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 | |
Dedication of our Nursery and Accessible Bathroom | |
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Dedication Day!
Last Sunday, we dedicated the renovated bathrooms and Room 11 nursery with a toilet-paper cutting ceremony. Many hands went into these projects. Thank you Sandra Robinson, Michael Skilton, Janelle Brittain, Gillian Lawrence, Dan Lawrence, Robb Geiger, and Norell Liddell, for taking the iniative and making it possible.
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2024 UUA General Assembly Is Entirely Online! | |
GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION OPENS IN DECEMBER!
General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. Please join us online Wednesday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23, 2024 for this 4-day immersive experience where we participate in inspirational worship services and informative workshops, reconvene with friends and colleagues, and explore our virtual exhibit hall. GA is an unforgettable experience for the thousands of UUs who participate. You’ll leave with renewed energy and innovative ideas to share with UCE and community-at-large!
Registration opens in December, just about a week away! To see all about this coming GA and access the Registration page go to:
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Final Proposed Revision to Article II
The final version of the proposed revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws is now available! The deadline for submitting an amendment is 11:59 p.m. ET on February 1, 2024.
All qualified amendments will be considered at 2024 General Assembly. Click below to learn more, and to sign up for future newsletters directly from the UUA GA.
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TransParentsy Group - Sun Dec 17th from 12:30-2pm in Room 6
Parents and grandparents who have trans children of any age in their lives are welcome to share experiences and resources in a safe space.
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Do you want to make an impact on the 2024 election?
One way you can make an impact is by making sure that voters in Wisconsin are registered to vote.
Join UUtheVote at UCE for a voter registration training hour. The date is Sunday January 7, 2023, from 12:00-1:00pm. The training will be in-person and by zoom.
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Our trainer is Laura Kushner, an Evanston activist, who works with the Milwaukee Voter Project. From February through October, you will be offered lots of clear opportunities for reaching out to voters in Wisconsin - both in person or by phone. You do not have to be a Wisconsin citizen to help register voters. This training will give you options for future engagement.
We will provide snacks to get you through a fast paced hour and give you answers to all your questions. Register ahead so we can welcome you and make the training efficient. Contact Carolyn Laughlin through the Realm Membership Directory or at admin@ucevanston.org if you have any questions.
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Write a letter to Someone Incarcerated this Holiday Season | |
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Prison life, particularly during the holidays, is isolating, acutely lonely, and deeply depressing, especially for folks who have lost touch with family or loved ones. You could make a significant difference in someone's life this holiday season.
Become a prison pen pal—sending letters, cards, and e-messages to someone in prison. Studies show that an incarcerated person with connections to the outside world (such as a pen pal), will be 6 times less likely to reoffend within their first year of release. Please contact Rev. Allison Farnum, Director of UU Prison Ministry of Illinois, at uupmi.info@gmail.com to learn more.
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Blood Drive in January!
UCE will host a blood drive January 13th from 10am - 4pm. The drive has been organized by the Evanston Running Club, and other area athletic groups.
Please register HERE, ahead of time,
if you wish to donate.
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Winter Solstice occurs when Earth's axis tilts away from the sun, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. | |
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December 15, 6:45pm-9pm,
an in-person event at
Country Side Church Unitarian Universalist
1025 N Smith Street
Pallatine,IL 60067
Join us for a unique and heartwarming celebration of Yule, open to all ages this year! Experience a transformative evening where meditation meets community joy. Download a flier and invite your family & friends.
Suggested Donation: Sliding entrance fee – $10-$20 per adult or $20 per family. Pay more or less based on your means. Cash and electronic donations are welcome at the door.
Fulll information on timed events,
CLICK HERE.
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Wednesday, December 20 at 6pm, via Zoom
Join UUMFE the evening BEFORE the Winter Solstice for music, reflection, meditation, and spiritual grounding.
On this longest night, we will be featuring the work of the Energy Democracy Project and sharing a portion of our offering with them. Let’s work for light for all on the longest night of the year. Our service is part of the larger arc of Clean Energy as a Human Right being led by Side with Love.
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Full information on speakers and music CLICK HERE.
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If you would like to become a sponsor of this event CLICK HERE.
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CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO READ MORE: | |
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UCE Non-Fiction Book Group
In December we will discuss the movie Dark Waters instead of a book. In this 2019 film based on a true story exposed by the New York Times, an attorney uncovers the truth about a major corporation's connection to mysterious deaths. Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway star in the movie.
The video recording is available in DVD format from public libraries. It is also on Amazon for a $3.97 rental fee or with an Amazon Prime membership. You can also access it with a Netflix, Apple TV, Google Play, or YouTube subscription.
Zoom discussion Sunday, December 17th at 2 p.m.
using our recurring Zoom link.
1/28/24:
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond.
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UCE Fiction Book Group
The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading Good Night, Irene, by Luis Alberto Urrea.
In 1943, Irene Woodward and Dorothy Dunne signed up to be "Donut Dollies,” a wing of the Red Cross driving trucks equipped to make donuts and coffee into the chaos that is WWII. Their charge is to comfort American soldiers with a taste of home and a sympathetic ear. They do much more than that and return home heroes.
Zoom discussion Friday,
December 15, at 7pm
Click here to join Zoom
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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