Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole | |
Sunday Service November 12th at 10:30am | |
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Giving of Ourselves Without Losing Our Selves
Description: In exploring the theme of generosity, the question arose, if it feels good, is it really generous? We say in every service, “may what you give bring you joy.” But do we really believe it? Does true generosity require some sacrifice or can giving of ourselves also feed our spirits? Exploring the expansiveness of generosity and the practice of giving of ourselves without losing who we are or compromising our values.
Children and youth will go to their program after joys and sorrows.
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Faith Formation Hour this Sunday
Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15a-11:45a.
Chalice Children (pre/k) in room 9 – the children will explore Listening to Each Other.
Hearts, and Hands (1st-6th) in room 8 – our young people will continue exploring the idea of extending their generosity beyond those closest to them in Widening Our Love.
Youth Group (7th-12th) – the youth continue their Coming of Age journey with Communities I Belong To.
Families can explore our new theme, The Gift of Generosity, at home and on their own timeframe with the Soulful Home packet.
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Young Adult Chili Supper
November 10th at 7pm – Sanctuary Cafe
Annette Wallace is treating the group with a chili supper, tonight! Come if you can.
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Would you like your child dedicated on Christmas Eve morning? Since Christmas Eve is a Sunday, we will have our usual 10:30 service and would like to offer the opportunity for families to have their children of any age dedicated to the UCE community that morning. Please contact Rev. Eileen as soon as possible if you would like to participate.
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Ornament Sunday ’23 is Coming!
December 3 during Kinship Time
This is a fun way for all ages to get creative by making simple ornaments for home and for the UCE Christmas tree. If you’d like to host a craft or share a craft idea, sign up here.
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Staff Spotlight on Vickie Doebele! | |
We heard from you that you enjoyed our Staff Spotlights over the past year and that some of you missed them since each one ran for only a week. So, we're going to run them again over the next year. Be on the lookout every 5th week of our Staff Spotlight with a brief update from each staff member.
We start with our Staff Accountant, Vickie Doebele, who wants to remind you to identify which fund you are making contributions to, such as capital campaign or shared offering. She notes that another issue is when folks make payments to UCE directly from an investment account and their name isn't on the check. Make your name has been attached to the contribution. Currently, we're trying to solve a mystery of who is making monthly payments from JP Morgan Chase.
Vickie also has another book recommendation "The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted American's Enemies." Fascinating true story that begins in Chicago.
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Monitoring Reports and Other Resources Available for Review
As a congregation, we are guided by our stated and shared values... And each quarter throughout the church year, I work with the Committee on Shared Ministry to write a report to our Board of Trustees on how we are doing with living these values. It is challenging, as you might imagine, to measure our success with quantifiable data, but we strive to gather input from members and teams in the congregation to gain a better understanding of our progress toward these aims.
Those quarterly monitoring reports are not just for the board but for the whole congregation to read and they are accessible to you through a google drive where you can review the past year’s reports as well as those that will be added as they are approved by the Board.
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Our hats are off to Jo Ingle for filling out her skills and interests in her Realm profile and being the winner of our raffle prize: 3 tickets to the Serendipity Auction on November 18th!
At our Engagement Fair this past Sunday, tickets to our raffle were handed out to folks who had completed their skills and interests in their membership profile in Realm. You are invited to follow Jo’s lead and log into Realm to fill in your skills and interests in your profile. Please contact Adam Gough or Rev. Susan if you need help accessing your Realm profile.
We also tip our hats to the leaders and members of the 19 teams and groups who hosted tables at the Engagement Fair. Thank you for all you do to make UCE a vibrant and dynamic community that strives to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole!
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UUA Statement on the Humanitarian Catastrophe
in Gaza and Israel
As your ministers struggle to hold the complexity, sorrow, anger, and fear surrounding the horrific violence and loss of life in Israel and Gaza, we are also struggling to find adequate or useful words. As we continue to be in relationship with our neighbors, to bear witness to the concerns of many of you, and strive to act on our values, this statement from the Unitarian Universalist Association, issued on October 17th offers some helpful context:
https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/catastrophe-gaza-and-israel
Please know that we are here to listen and
companion you through the collective trauma of this time.
Yours in faith and with prayers for peace, Rev. Eileen and Rev. Susan
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Requests to have articles in the newsletter should be sent to newsletter@ucevanston.org by noon on Wednesdays. | |
This Week's Events & Links | |
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Friday, November 10
- Young Adult Chili Dinner,
7-9pm in the Sanctuary Cafe.
Saturday, November 11
- Virtual Pilates at 9:30am via Zoom
- Auction Preview Party! 3-5:30pm, Room 3. Childcare is provided, in Room 11.
Sunday, November 12
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Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 9am in-person Rm 6 and via Zoom. Contact Renee Hoff for the Zoom Link.
- Worship Service at 10:30am in the Sanctuary & on YouTube
- Mistakes & Miracles Book Group, 12:30-1:30pm, in Room 12
Monday, November 13
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UCE Addictions & Recovery at 7pm via Zoom
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Tuesday, November 14
- Denominational Affairs 12-1:30pm, via Zoom
- Women's Circle of Friends, 1-2:30pm, via Zoom
- Emissions Reduction Task Force, 2:30-3:30pm, via Zoom
- Legislative Action Team, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
Wednesday, November 15
- Yoga via 8x8 Zoom, 9:30-10:30am
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Please be aware Staff has a weekly Wednesday Meeting, from 11-12:30pm.
- Membership Engagement Council, 1:30-2:30pm via Zoom
Thursday, November 16
- Meditation Group, 5:30-7pm via Zoom
- Board of Trustees, 7-9pm, via Zoom
- Choir Rehearsal, 7-9pm, Sanctuary, and Zoom.
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LOST & FOUND
FOUND & NEED RETURNED!
Are you missing a scarf? A coffee tumbler? A jacket? With the cooler weather, comes a lot of accessories that get misplaced. Our Lost & Found bin is full.
Please stop by on Sunday to check for any lost items. Anything remaining as of November 26 will be donated.
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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 | |
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Seeking EPT Members
Are you a fan of emergency preparedness? Adam Gough is looking for people to serve on the Emergency Preparedness Team as we enhance emergency plans and procedures for UCE. Contact him at agough@ucevanston.org if you would like to help make our congregation ready for anything!
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Seeking Treasurer for UCE
Our beloved Treasurer Tom Carlton's term is expiring at the end of this church year. We are looking for someone in the congregation who Tom can mentor and who will then become our Treasurer. If you or someone you know is skilled in the area of tracking numbers, analyzing financial data and can prepare reports for the ISC and Board, please contact srobinson@ucevanston.org
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Writers and Designers Needed for the Endowment Committee
Do you have experience writing or designing communications? There is very important work for you to do for the Endowment Fund Communications Team! Whatever time you can contribute, we will put to good use crafting communications to social action partners, donors to the endowment fund, and the congregation informing people about the activities of the Endowment Committee.
To learn more, please contact Jean Butzen: jeanbutzen@gmail.com.
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45th Annual Serendipity Auction Preview Party Saturday November 11th! | |
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Online bidding has opened! This year each item has a buy-it-now price so you will want to bid before your favorite item sells out.
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Remember that the auction closes at 11am Saturday 11/18 before the Celebration Event that evening.
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Come from 5-6:30 for Soul & Smoke dinner, a wine pull, chocolate lottery and your last chance to buy raffle tickets.
- The Serendipity Dance begins at 6:30 and ends at 8:30. Pick up your UCE t-shirts and your auction items before you leave!
READ MORE!
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Deepening the Spiritual Journey
Tuesdays, November 7, 21, and December 5
7-8:30 pm in person at UCE, Room 3
Join Rev. Eileen and Kathy Underwood in an exploration of the pathways we have all traveled in our lives; the pathways of the spirit which have led us to where we are today.
In this three-part workshop, we will reflect on, map out, and share our spiritual journeys, with the hopes that some will consider sharing theirs in worship. This is an extension of the new member journey class, open to members and friends, high schoolers and up, no matter how long you’ve been at UCE.
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Living into Our UU Values. Where are you on the journey?
What is our purpose as a congregation and a faith community? Why is it necessary to evolve our 8 Principles into the proposed Values of generosity, justice, equity, transformation, interdependence, and pluralism? Join members of the Denominational Affairs and ministerial staff for six conversations to explore what it means to center love and live into our UU Values. Sessions 1-5 will be held via Zoom. Session 6 will be held in-person at UCE.
What is generosity and how does generosity help create the Beloved Community? The first session on Generosity and Inspirations will be held November 14th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. ZOOM
Click for Schedule of Sessions and Article 2 Information
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This year, we are hosting the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service at 7:00 pm on November 22, 2023. Our Music Director, Vickie Hellyer, is conducting a combined choir.
We are in need of 6 volunteers to create a smooth and welcoming environment for the service. If you are able to be a greeter, usher, or kitchen attendant, please click into SignUp.com, go to Wed, Nov 22, 2023, and select Greeters, Ushers, or Kitchen Attendants. Coffee and tea will be served after service.
Thank you for making UCE a place where all in our community are welcome!
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Parent’s Perk – November 19th at 9:30am in room 13. Whether you’re a parent or grandparent, you’re invited! Our topic will be “Bringing UUism to the Holidays”. We’ll share ways to connect our faith to the many holidays coming up. Bring your favorite morning beverage and enjoy some sweets and company!
Cocoa, Carols, and Community – December 8 at 6-8pm – all ages are invited to help wrap gifts for the Mitten Tree and to enjoy some hot cocoa and sing holiday songs. Come at any time, and stay as long as you like!
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Christmas Pageant – December 17 during worship. All ages are invited to participate in this annual tradition of re-enacting the birth of Jesus from our UU viewpoint. Costumes provided or bring your own. Plenty of parts to choose from: people and animals! There are non-speaking and speaking parts. Sign up here to claim your favorite! | | | |
Look for this handy QR code, which will be available in the lobby slideshow. | |
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Mitten Tree is READY!
Beginning this weekend, you will have the opportunity to sign up to fulfill gift requests.
Sign up to help with organizing, shopping, wrapping, click VOLUNTEER HERE.
This longstanding tradition is a beautiful snapshot of our community’s shared values and a privilege to help organize.
Read on below about where your gifts will go this year. AND, MAY WHAT YOU GIVE BRING YOU JOY!
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CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO READ MORE: | |
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UCE Non-Fiction Book Group
Participants can choose to listen to this podcast or read the transcript:
The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Love the Free Market by Naomi Oreskes. July 14, 2023 podcast
Naomi Oreskes addresses what she calls a disastrous dogma, the “magic of the marketplace”, a myth created by American big business that has successfully persuaded many people that government regulation “distorts” the market and prevents it from doing its “magic”.
We’ll discuss the podcast but anyone who chooses to read the book is welcome to add to our discussion.
Zoom discussion Sunday, November 19th at 2 pm
Click here to join Zoom
12/17: Dark Waters videorecording. 2020. 127 min.
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UCE Fiction Book Group
We are reading Search by Michelle Huneven. A sharp and funny novel of a congregational search committee (UU), told as a memoir with recipes.
Dana Potowski is a restaurant critic and food writer and a longtime member of a progressive Unitarian Universalist congregation in Southern California. Under pressure to find her next book idea, she’s asked to join the church search committee for a new minister and agrees, resolving to secretly pen a memoir, with recipes, about the experience. That memoir, Search, follows the travails of the committee and their candidates—and becomes its own media sensation.
Zoom discussion Friday,
November 17, at 7pm
Click here to join Zoom
12/15: Good Night, Irene by Lius Alberto Urrea
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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