Sunday Service

January 18, 2026 at 10:30 am 

This Sunday…

Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15a-12:15p. 

Chalice Children (Pre/K/1st) in room 9 – Our children explore the topic of “creativity” and will hear the story The Most Magnificent Thing and make their own inventions out of cardboard. 

Hearts, and Hands (2nd-5th) in room 8 – Our young people will honor MLK Day by hearing a story about UU Fannie Barrier Williams, creating a justice mosaic, and playing some games as they connect to our theme in Resisting Racism.

Youth Group (6th+) in room 10 – Our youth will explore Resisting Racism Part 1 by taking a Race Literacy Quiz, playing games, and making justice signs.

Save these dates!

Family Friday – February 6, 6-8p

And join us on Zoom February 9 at 7-8p!

               We’ll share ideas on ways to build connections and community.

You can see what’s coming up on our evolving calendar here.

Faith Formation Registration

Please register your young person, ages 1-18 here.

Youth Lock-In (6th-12th grades)

Saturday, January 24 at 3p- Sunday, January 25 at 8:30a at North Shore Unitarian

We’ll have a taco bar, games, crafts, and a movie! Sign up to help with meals and snacks here, and please complete the permission form by January 18.

Social Action Opportunites for Children and Youth

This MLK Day, let’s stitch for change in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service! Join us at the Evanston Library Main Branch Community Meeting Room on January 19 from 10 AM–12:30 PM or 2 PM–4:30 PM to create reusable sanitary pads for Girls 4 Girls Ghana. More than 20% of girls in Ghana miss class due to a lack of menstrual supplies—every stitch helps a girl stay in school. Here at home, 20% of the pads will remain in Evanston to support patrons experiencing homelessness. To help us make the biggest impact possible, we ask that all participants bring a pack of maxi pads, if possible. No experience? No problem! There’s a role for everyone. Open to grades 3–12 and adults—families, friends, and neighbors are all welcome Register here.

Feed My Starving Children

January 31, 2-3:45p

We have 30 spots reserved to assemble meal packs that get shipped around the world.

This is for people 5+ years old only.

Those interested will meet at Culver’s afterwards to share our experiences.

Sign up here.

742 East Park Ave, Libertyville, IL 60048

Hi, Friends,

I knew this year was going to be difficult, but I did not expect the first thing to be the murder of a rapid responder in her own neighborhood. Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed in Minneapolis by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on January 7, 2026. She was not the first person to suffer this fate. On September 12, 2025, Silverio Villegas González was shot at close range by an ICE agent in Franklin Park during Operation Midway Blitz and over 30 other people have died at the hands of ICE since the current White House administration took office.

I am proud of our congregation for having the capacity and willingness to host the vigil on January 11th organized by Indivisible Evanston to remember these victims and to demand accountability by the agents involved and their superiors. I am also proud of our communities for our continued commitment to meet ICE’s violence with steadfast peaceful, nonviolent protest. 

Keep reaching out to each other. Keep taking breaks from the news. Keep showing up. It is important to take care of yourself in order to stay engaged. We are in this together and together we will make it through this day, this week, this month.

Our hats are off to members of our Support Team and our Catalyst for Democracy Team who volunteered at the vigil organized by Indivisible Evanston on January 11th. Thank you to Forrest Marie Peters Linsell, who arrived early and moved chairs along with the Indivisible Evanston marshals. Thank you to Mary Dudek, Lynn Kendall, Steve Serikaku, Michael Skilton, and Carla Williams for your hospitality in answering questions for the public and assisting the marshals in the lobby and sanctuary. Thank you to Robb Geiger for being our unofficial host in Room 3 that we opened it last minute as a spillover room to show the livestream. Thank you to Carol Mergl and Tom Beck for helping folks be safe along the sanctuary stairs. We’re grateful to Forrest Marie, Mary, Lynn, Steve, Michael, Carla, Robb, Carol, and Tom for their calm presence and attentive care for our community.

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Friday, January 16th:

• Young Adult Group, 7-10pm, Rooms 3 and 12
• Fiction Book Group, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom

Saturday, January 17th:

• Virtual Pilates, 9:30am, via Zoom
• Worship Planning Team, 9:30-11am, Room 6 and Zoom
• UCE Prison Ministry Team, 10:30-11:30am, via Zoom
• LAT & Leadership, 11:30-1pm, Room 6
• Immigrant Solidarity Team, 4-5pm, via Zoom

Sunday, January 18th:

• Chris Isley Cancer Support Group, 9-10:15am, Room 6 & Zoom
• Worship Service, 10:30-11:30am, Sanctuary
• Kinship Time, 11:30-12:30pm, Back of the Sanctuary
• New Member Orientation, 12-1:30pm, Room 3
• UCE Pagan Collective, 12-1:30pm, Room 13
• Young Adult Group Soulful Sunday, 12:15-1pm, Room 12
• TransParentsy Group, 12:30-2pm, Room 2
• Sine Nomine Covenant Group, 12:15-2pm, Offsite or Zoom

Monday, January 19th: MLK Day, UCE Offices Closed

• UCE Addictions and Recovery, 6:45-7:45pm, via Zoom
• Durkin Covenant Group, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Tuesday, January 20th:

• Legislative Action Team, 4:30-5:30pm, via Zoom
• Peg Heads, 6:30-9:30pm, Room 3
• Caregiver Support Group, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom
• UCE Name Change Discussions, 7-8pm, via Zoom
• First Women's Circle, 7-8pm, Online

Wednesday, January 21st:

• Yoga Online, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
• Staff Meeting, 11-12:30pm, Room 2
• Pastoral Care Meeting, 7-9pm, via Zoom
• UU History, 7-9pm, Room 3

Thursday, January 22nd:

• Evanston Near South Proximity Group, 1-2pm, via Zoom
• Beacons of Light, 4-4:30pm, Dempster and Ridge
• Meditation Group, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Choir Rehearsal, 7-8:45pm, Sanctuary

Should We Change the Name of UCE?

In 2025, the Unitarian Church of Evanston Board of Directors held focus group conversations to hear what is important to the Congregation. One key theme that came up in every conversation we hosted was the desire to change our name. What do you think of the change to “Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston”?

We would appreciate hearing from you. Feel free to email or talk with any Board member. Or, better yet, join us at one of the four opportunities for discussion:

Tuesday, January 20, 7-8 pm on Zoom

Monday, January 26, 7-8 on Zoom

Sunday, February 1, 12-1at UCE Room 6

Saturday, February 7, 10-11 on Zoom

Please register to attend one of these sessions.

We will also email out a survey to ensure we get all of your thoughts.

 Attend A Journey Toward Membership Class

Are you interested in a brief survey of UU history and values, learning about what it means to be part of a covenantal faith tradition, or in figuring out how to get more connected at UCE? Join Rev. Susan and the Membership Team at one of our Journey Toward Membership classes. This 90-minute class is for folks interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and UCE as well as folks planning to become a member. If you decide you are interested in becoming a member, you will need to have attended this class before signing our Membership Book. The next class dates are:

• Saturday, February 21, 2026, 1:00-2:30 pm, Room 12, no child care available. Click here to register. 
• Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6:30-8:00 pm, via Zoom. Click here to register.
• Sunday, March 1, 2026, 9:00-10:20 am, Room 12, child care provided. Click here to register.
• Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 6:30-8:00 pm, via Zoom. Click here to register. 

If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading "Heartwood" (April, 2025) by Amity Gaige. In the heart of the Maine woods, an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker goes missing. At the heart of the investigation is Beverly, a Maine state game warden. Meanwhile, Lena, a septuagenarian birdwatcher in a retirement community, becomes an unexpected armchair detective who senses the disappearance is not accidental.

Friday, January 16, 7-8pm by ZOOM

Here's a recurring zoom link for the Fiction Book Group

Future reads:

February 20: "So Far Gone" by Jess Walter

March 20: "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans

The Nonfiction book group will meet online at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 25th, using our recurring Zoom link.

The nonfiction book group will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 25, 2026 to discuss The Quiet Before: On the Unexpected Origins of Radical Ideas by Gal Beckerman. The author looks at the building of social movements from the 1600s to the present and how current technology is undermining them. He posits that the ideas that inspire revolutions have traditionally been conceived in quiet spaces where trailblazers can imagine alternate realities and consider how to achieve their goals before broadcasting those ideas broadly. He states that a world dominated by frenzied social media may impede the gradual spread of desirable social change.

Future reads:

February 22: Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life by Ferris Jabr.

March 22: Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church by Hahrie Han

April 26: Abundance by Ezra Klein

Grief Group (facilitated by Ellen Rieger)

If you have a experienced the loss of a loved, a decline in health, a painful family estrangement or any other significant loss you are invited to join our Grief Group. We will be meeting at the Unitarian Church beginning Wednesday Feb 11 for 6 consecutive sessions ending March 18. The time is 5:30 to 7:00. I will provide a safe nurturing environment so you can talk about whatever your grief experience has been. I will also include an educational component as well as tools to help you navigate your individual grief journey. I am a recently retired psychotherapist with a focus on grief and addictions. Please contact Ellen with any questions or to register for the group at ellenerieger at gmail dot com

This Valentines Day, the whole UCE community is invited to come together for fun, food, and creative expression. All ages are welcome with lots of ways to participate. We’re re-imagining "Night of the Arts" with pizza, singing, dancing, games and kinship. The fun starts at 5:30. Dinner will be available at 6:30 followed by music, singing, and dancing until 8:30. Nursery care will be available during games and artmaking events before and after dinner. Look for the Signup.com QR code on the Hearts & Arts poster at UCE to register. If you are available to help, please use Signup.com. 

Finally, please take the Pizza Poll-ooza Survey to share your input on all things Pizza! 

The Congregational Connections Team is seeking 2 more hosts for the Winter Session Friendship Meals, which will be held March 5th – 15th. We are so grateful to those who have already offered to host!

Contact Mary Bell (marywbell53 at gmail dot com) ASAP if you would enjoy hosting, have questions, or are interested in future hosting. Winter Session hosts must be secured by February 2nd and will have until February 9th to confirm their details (date, time, venue/menu notes).

Hosts generously open their homes for guests to share a potluck brunch, lunch or dinner, or they organize a “split-the-bill” restaurant gathering within a mobility-accessible venue.

Friendship Meals are a great way for members and friends to make and strengthen relationships. Meal attendance sign ups begin 02/13/2026. Stay tuned to attend!!

UU History Program

Whether or not you are new to Unitarian Universalism, you are sure to learn something new from our history.

This 4-part series will cover a wide range within our Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist roots, including the unique history that is UCE.

January 21 and 28 at 7p in Room 3

Facilitated by Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Kathy Underwood, Bob Mesle, and Dan Solomon

Click HERE to register

UCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights

Our next gathering is Friday, January 16th



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 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@ucevanston.org) with any questions.

MEETING MORE INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS

A Faith Formation Series February, March, and April 2026

For UCE Adults and Youth, 14 and up

IF YOU VALUE RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND WANT TO GET TO KNOW SOME OF OUR INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS, this class is for you. We will have a visiting speaker from, and a visit to, three of our faith neighbors, and a concluding discussion of how that faith tradition connects to us as Unitarian Universalists.

On the 2nd Tuesday evening of the month (Feb – Apr), we’ll meet at UCE with a leader from the faith tradition. We will visit their community with varying dates based on their worship/learning schedule. Finally, we’ll return to UCE the 4th Tuesday of the month to discuss what we’ve learned together.

FEBRUARY: UNITED METHODISTS – Rev. Aaron McCleod, 

Lula B. Sherman United Methodist Church

MARCH: HINDUISM/KRISNA – ISKCON Chicago, Rogers Park 

APRIL: SIKH – Shiva Singh Khalsa – Minister of Sikh Dharma, 

Sikh Religious Society in Palatine

Register in Realm

The next workshop on AI, “AI, Earth, and Equity” will be on Tuesday, February 3 in Room 3 and on Zoom at 7pm. You can drop in to any without attending all. Register here.

Our Shared Offering Program

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.

This Sunday's offering will be shared with C&W Market Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the Evanston community by providing essential grocery access to those facing food insecurity and fostering career skills in the food and culinary industry.

Join the Walk for Warmth on January 19

Mark your calendars! Be part of the family-friendly Walk for Warmth on Monday, January 19, 2026 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day of Service. Help Interfaith Action raise awareness of homelessness in our community and raise funds to support Interfaith Action programs including the Overnight Shelter. You may donate and register on this page.

Advanced registration is required. We will gather at 11 AM for a brief program in the in Sanctuary at First United Methodist Church at 516 Church St. The Walk starts after the program. You may select the Walk option that is best for you: 1) the 2-mile walk past faith communities that host the Overnight Shelter, or 2) the around-the-block walk. Or, if you wish, you may attend the program and remain in the church during the Walk. The event concludes by 1 PM. We are grateful for the faith communities that host the Overnight Shelter and for the support of a caring community. Thanks.

To register to walk and to donate, go to the Walk for Warmth 2026 website. There is no charge to register. https://interfaithactionofevanston.networkforgood.com/events/94018-walk-for-warmth-2026

Come be a Beacon of Light!

Join us at the corner of Dempster & Ridge, Chicago & Main, or Central & Lincolnwood on Thursdays from 4:00-4:30 pm to inspire a future grounded in our values. 

Inspired by Beacons of Light, bring a colorful sign with a positive message visioning a future shaped by love and justice (sign inspiration here) or include The Beacon’s QR code to spread the light even further. You may join the Beacons of Light WhatsApp group by filling out their form.

Whether we’re three people or 100, we continue to provide a source of hope and solidarity for the participants, those driving by, and our neighbors. All are welcome!

LOVE RESISTS

Community Support/Mutual Aid

These are a few ways to provide community support and mutual aid to our friends and neighbors. If you have another idea, please email it to Rev. Susan Frances.

Ongoing ways to provide mutual aid -

Donate to the Midwest Immigration Bond Fund, which is using donations to help pay release bonds for the hundreds of people currently detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and associated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Bond amounts for immigration cases range from $1,500 to $50,000 and must be paid in full before release. Release on bond allows people to reunite with family, access legal counsel, and prepare their case from home with safety and dignity—opportunities that are limited or impossible while incarcerated.

Donate to your local food pantry and soup kitchen. In Evanston, these include:

• Fill up the UCE Giving House located in our lobby. We are collecting pasta, rice, grains, beans, cereal, soups, canned fish, and canned meat to donate to C&W Market Foundation in Evanston. 

• Interfaith Action of Evanston (IAE) publishes the schedule of Soup Kitchens, sponsored by them and other nonprofits. We keep hard copies of this schedule, along with the IAE Overnight Shelter in the red folder in the Welcome Center cabinet.

• Support the Evanston Community Fridges. You may contribute funds online or donate food at one of the three locations in Evanston: 1601 Payne Street, 1335 Dodge Avenue, 620 Madison Street. 

Patronize local Mexican, South American, and Latin American restaurants, grocery stores, and street vendors, especially in neighborhoods that are predominately Hispanic and Latinx, in an effort to help those small businesses stay in business when so many of their customers do not feel safe being out and about.

Donate to Evanston Latinos, which is working with local Sanctuary groups to support local families impacted by ICE detentions. When you donate online, write in the memo line either “Sanctuary Evanston” or “Sanctuary Niles Township.”

Carry a whistle as part of local whistle brigades (short rhythm for ICE agent or vehicle sightings; long continuous rhythm when witnessing an abduction in process). Take photos or video of what you are seeing.

When ICE is active in your area, create a plan for transportation for anyone working inside or outside of your home and also plan to be at home to provide emergency inside space for outdoor workers who are tending to your yard, snow removal, painting, or other home improvements. ICE agents, or any other federal, state, or local agent, may not enter your home without a warrant signed by a judge with a valid date, the name of a specific person, and your address on it.

ONGOING UU CONNECTIONS

Second Helping: Auction Events Still on the Table



Good news: a delicious spread of group events is still on the table, and there’s plenty to share. Think of this as your second helping—a chance to savor connection, learning, laughter, and a little fun with this community we love. Whether you’re in the mood for thoughtful conversation, spirited celebration, or something just plain joyful, there’s a seat waiting for you.

Here’s what’s still available:

Karaoke Party, Jan 17th – courage encouraged, talent optional

Jane Austen’s Birthday Party, Jan 31st – wit, charm, and Regency flair

Puzzle Palooza, Feb 1st – teamwork, snacks, and joyful problem-solving

Super Bowl Party, Feb 8th – all the fun, none of the hosting stress

MO Blues Party, Feb 27th – music, mood, and good company

Oh, Hell Card Party, March 7th – friendly competition and laughter

Wrap & Roll – March 21st - hands-on cooking, shared flavors, and joyful collaboration

Spring Fling Dance Party, March 21st – kick up your heels and celebrate

Wine Tasting, April 11th - sip, swirl, and savor

Resisting Authoritarianism Talk, Apr 18th - timely, thoughtful, and grounding

Beer 101, June 6th – learn your lagers from your ales

The Thanksgiving Play, June 12th – laughter guaranteed

GUUrl’s Night Out, June 13th – a night just for fun and connection

Forest Bathing, June 14th – slow down and reconnect with nature

Margarita Garden Party, June 27th – sunshine in a glass

Meditation Coach – tools for calm and clarity

These experiences are meant to be shared—bring a friend, make a new one, or gather a small group and come together. Once the tickets are gone, the table is cleared. Take a second helping and claim your spot today.

We can’t wait to see you there.

Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330