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In-Person & Virtual Worship Service

this Sunday, January 22nd at 10:30 am

"Save the Date"

Budget Town Hall Meeting, Tuesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. via Zoom

ANTI-OPPRESSION TASK FORCE SUMMIT

If you have not been able to register, you are still welcome to attend the Anti-Oppression Task Force Summit! If you are able to attend in-person, please arrive at UCE at 8:45 am on Saturday, January 21, 2023, and make sure to wear a name tag. If you are able to attend online, please join this Zoom Link at 8:45 am. We'll see you tomorrow!

Lobby Art Opening with Artist, Jevoid Simmons

TONIGHT January 20th at 6-7:30 pm at UCE

Join us in the UCE lobby for a special and important event. Jevoid Simmons will share the story behind the paintings and carvings now gracing our lobby. The work tells the story of Jevoid’s family and the journey from racially segregated Alabama to the North. The paintings show many of the places from that journey and the marvelous carvings depict his large family. For Jevoid it is important for family elders to share their stories, so they are not lost, but are remembered and known by younger generations.

"There's a 25-year span between the first- and last-born child in our family," Simmons says. "The older kids, me included, were told why our family left the south. But the others weren't aware of it." So, Simmons started carving family figures and writing about the family history for his younger siblings and then started writing narratives about the paintings. Simmons, who has lived in Evanston for the past 40 years, is one of seven brothers and nine sisters. He is the fourth boy, and last of his parents' children, to be born in Alabama.

He is a gifted storyteller, and I am sure you will be captivated as he shares his family story with us as depicted in his art.

UCE Forum: Subtleties and Sublimities

Sunday, January 22 from

9:30 – 10:15 am in Room 13

(In-Person Only)

“What’s all this talk about Article 2 and General Assembly?

Led by members of the Denominational Affairs Team

Join us to learn, discuss, and dissect the subtleties (elusive or obscure) and sublimities (extremely good, beautiful, or enjoyable) of Article 2 and General Assembly!

Masks & Boosters

With more people attending on Sunday mornings, please remember that we continue to recommend that you wear a mask inside and make time to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine booster.

Flowers & Chalice

Starting February 5, 2023, we will return to having volunteers bring flowers for the chancel. Whoever brings flowers will also light and extinguish the chalice during our worship service.

If you, your family and friends, or your team or small group would like to bring flowers and tend the chalice on a Sunday morning, please click here and select the Sunday that works for you.

If you have questions or ideas about Sunday mornings, please contact Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

Endowment Task Force Recommendations are Out!

The Endowment Task Force recommendations are out! Click HERE to read them. We look forward to discussing them with you--please mark your calendars to join us at one of two upcoming town halls: Wednesday, January 25th at 7 pm (via Zoom only) or Sunday, January 29th in person after the service. You may also email your comments to Task Force chair Joe Romeo.

And a reminder: the final grant application deadline for this church year (ending June 30) is January 31. Check the Endowment webpage to learn more about how to apply for a grant, or contact us at endowment@ucevanston.org. The next application deadline after January will be May 31, for grants for the 2023-2024 church year.

Our Hats Are Off to Walk for Warmth Volunteers and Walkers

Our Hats are off to the Walk for Warmth volunteers and walkers. Toni Rey and Renée Gatsis promoted the event and made sure folks were registered. About 17 of our members were there, walking as a team to promote awareness and raise funds for our community partner, Interfaith Action of Evanston (IAE) which serves our neighbors who are without adequate housing or access to food. IAE runs the hospitality center every morning, the monthly Producemobile, the overnight shelter November - April, and many of the soup kitchens that happen each week throughout the year.

The walk raised over $26,000 thanks to your efforts. What a joy it is to serve our community together. 

UCE Parents of Trans Kids Group

to begin meeting on January 22nd at 12:30 pm at UCE

Many of us know the joy and pride of having children (of all ages) who identify as trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming. Rev. Eileen will host a monthly gathering for parents, grandparents, or caregivers of people in their lives who are transitioning or have transitioned. This will be a space for connection, support, and holding of complexity and questions. Please let Rev. Eileen know if you plan to join us or if you have questions.

Retired (But Never Retiring!) Women



Tuesday, Jan 24, 5pm, in the back of the sanctuary for a yummy potluck and (equally yummy?) discussion. Our topic is: Intentions for 2023 as relates to retirement? Positives/ negatives from 2022 as relates to retirement. And: would you still retire, knowing what you know now?

Hope to see many of you Tuesday! Margie

Chicago Area UU Council Winter Conference

The Chicago Area UU Council will be holding its in-person and online winter conference on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 9:00am-2:00pm at Countryside Church UU in Palatine.

Rev. Marcus Fogliano, Project Manager to the Office of the President of the UUA, will provide the keynote presentation titled “Finding Our Center – A journey to the central values the Article II Study Commission have presented for our consideration.”

The UUA Article II Study Commission has issued its

Article II Study Report!

Our senior minister, Rev. Eileen Wiviott, and our former Director of Faith Formation, Dr. Mary Lamb Shelden, will also be guest panelists at the conference.

Emissions Reduction Task Force is in Force!

A new group has been convened, and we are raring to go! The Emissions Reduction Task Force’s leadership is comprised of Michael Drennan (liaison from Green Team), David Bates-Jeffreys (liaison from the Board of Trustees), Robb Geiger (liaison from Building & Grounds), Sandra Robinson, and Rev. Susan Frances. We have been given a mandate by the Board to compare our building energy usage and emissions with guidelines set out by the City of Evanston regarding reducing our emissions—of energy usage, water usage, and waste generation. This will get us ready for a cleaner energy future. We are committed to making UCE a leader in Evanston in responding to the climate crisis by going as green as we can.  

We have already started to analyze the energy use of the building, and in the future we will be expanding that analysis to include water usage and waste generation. In a few months, we hope to produce measurable goals for energy usage, and a timeline for reaching a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 through energy efficiency efforts. Watch the newsletter for our public launch—a green party, complete with green tea!

If you want to help on this task force, we would love to have you; contact David Bates-Jefferys or Michael Drennan through Realm or Sandra Robinson at srobinson@ucevanston.org.

Unitarian Men's Retreat Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29, 2023.

Join other UU men to explore Turning Points In Our Lives. Cabrini Retreat Center, 9430 Golf Road, DesPlaines 60016.

Cost of $200 includes private room for two nights, three meals Saturday and breakfast Sunday, plus pizza party on Friday night.

Scholarships available. We welcome all who identify as male. Our goal is to encourage each other to share, learn and support each other in looking into the meaning of our lives. Men from Unity Temple, UU Church of Evanston, and Countryside UU are already participating.

For the flyer, signup sheet and more information,

Contact Mark Johansen - markeric-j@hotmail.com

Spring 2023 Queer Prom Planning Meeting

Would you like to go to an alternative Prom? For some of us, prom was not a safe option during high school. For some of us, prom was a wonderful part of high school. Whatever your past relationship with the Prom, you are invited to help Rainbow Alliance plan an alternative prom for the Spring of 2023. We’ll need teams for music, decorations, food, publicity! It takes a lot to plan a Prom and we’re gathering members of the queer communities and allies to plan a night of fun for the entire UCE community. 

The first Prom Planning Meeting will be on February 7, 2023, from 7:00-8:00 pm. Register here to get the Zoom link. 

If you have questions, please contact Jordan Strueber via REALM or Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org. 

Googling at UCE

On Sunday, February 12th, our very own Adam Gough will be holding Google Docs Training in Room 3 from 12-1pm. Please feel free to drop along!

2023 UUA General Assembly

The 2023 UUA General Assembly will be held in Pittsburgh, PA from June 21 – 25 online and in-person. 

Registration is now open. Click here for details.

The Denominational Affairs Team is asking you to consider being a Delegate to this General Assembly. Delegates will be considering changes to the UUA Bylaws, Article 2, that address racism, non-human life, and the inclusivity of the democratic process in our Principles, Purposes, and Sources. Delegates can attend in-person and virtually.

If you are interested, please contact Peggy Boccard via REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org.

We will continue to provide information via the Newsletter. 

Care for Caregivers - January 24th

Tuesday, Jan 24, 7-8:30 pm. In-person in room 6 + Zoom with Maureen Burns of the HAP Foundation; sponsored by the Pastoral Care Team.

Taking care of a friend or family member is definitely a labor of love. However, caregiving can also be extremely stressful. This presentation will discuss the physical, emotional, and financial stressors that caregivers may face. We will also explore tips and strategies for self-care. Caregivers need to take care of their own well-being in order to be able to care for another person.

Young Adult Virtual Gathering



Young adults (18-35) are gathering on Zoom January 29 at 2pm, for conversation and virtual games. Register HERE to join the fun!

UCE Fiction Book Group: The Years by Annie Ernaux

Join us TONIGHT, January 20th at 7 pm via Zoom to discuss The Years.

Winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize for Literature

The Years is a personal narrative of the period 1941 to 2006 told through the lens of memory, impressions past and present—even projections into the future—photos, books, songs, radio, television and decades of advertising, headlines, contrasted with intimate conflicts and writing notes from 6 decades of diaries.



Though Ernaux had for years been hailed as a beloved, bestselling and award-winning author, The Years is in many ways a departure: both an intimate memoir "written" by entire generations, and a story of generations telling a very personal story.

UCE Non-Fiction Book Group: The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? by Michael J. Sandel

The nonfiction book group will meet this Sunday, January 22, 2023 at 2 p.m. via Zoom to discuss Michael J. Sandel's book The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good?

World-renowned philosopher Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the crises that are upending our world, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalization and rising inequality.

He offers an alternative way of thinking about success--more attentive to the role of luck in human affairs, more conducive to an ethic of humility and solidarity, and more affirming of the dignity of work.

The People of Selma Need Your Help!

On January 12, a Tornado ripped through Selma, Alabama damaging and destroying homes & businesses, and making streets impassable due to fallen trees and downed power lines. The people of Selma are still assessing the destruction but are going to need substantial help to recover from this tragedy. 

• The Edmundite Missions, who have served the Selma poor since 1937, distribute food, shelter, and clothes to those in need. Earlier this week, we took a group of students from Nazareth College to Selma to work with Sister Kathy and Sister Pat as part of a day of service. 

• Ms. Joanne Bland, Founder/COO of Foot Soldiers Park which honors the giants and unsung heroes and sheroes of the Civil Rights Movement and improves the wellbeing of the city’s underserved residents.” 

Please give today if you can to the above organizations, and as we learn more, we will advise you of more opportunities to give based on needs that are identified.

Thank you for your generosity. We know we can count on you as we work together in the struggle for equity and justice!

Reparations Update 

The MLK Service on Sunday 15th, was inspirational and joyful. We were grateful to share the news that the interfaith, collaborative efforts to contribute to the Evanston Reparations Community Fund have resulted in $840,000. Added to designated funds for Historic Black Colleges and Universities and the amount goes up to $942,660. Thanks to all who were able to attend the service and contribute to the fund.  

If you you’d like to watch the service, where the announcement was made, you can do so from Faith Temple’s site HERE by scrolling down to the MLK service or you can watch it on Facebook HERE.

REAL Team Visioning

Join the UCE Racial Equity Action and Leadership (REAL) Team on February 22, 2023, via Zoom from 7:00-8:30 pm to discussion how the REAL Team will be moving forward in light of the information shared during the Anti-Oppression Summit.

Becky Crawford and Cheryl Mounts will be available during the Anti-Oppression Summit to answer questions. Whether or not you are able to attend the Summit this weekend, your input at the February 22nd meeting is vital to determining how our REAL Team will continue its work.

Join the new UCE Local Response Network

I WANT to do more social justice work!! (But, I don’t have the time or I already spend my day engaged or there are too MANY important issues to know where to start or…)

The new UCE Local Response Network could be for you!

The Local Response Network (LRN) enables members of the UCE community to take immediate, short-term action on local social justice issues. 

LRN alerts will be emailed to volunteers inviting you to engage in opportunities across multiple issues affecting our local community. Examples from this past year would have been marching for abortion rights, attending a vigil after the Highland Park shooting, or signing a petition to support the Margarita Inn. There is NO obligation to say “yes” to any particular invitation, and no long-term commitment. Joining LRN offers total flexibility, fits any personal schedule, and enables UCE members to take quick, short-term action on current, critical social justice issues right in our own community. 

Whether you are already a member of a UCE social justice team or not, the Local Response Network may be right for you. Learn more and sign-up at the end of our Anti-Oppression Summit tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 21st) or reach out to Carolyn Laughlin through REALM or Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org .

Citizens Greener Evanston Meeting

Citizen’s Greener Evanston (CGE) is Reconvening on Climate Action & Resilience on Saturday, January 28th, 2023, from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Evanston Lorraine Morton Civic Center 4^th Floor Parasol Room. Please bring your ideas about how we can best coordinate climate action across organizations in Evanston.

Evanston organizations are invited to provide an update on what their organization is working on that is related to climate action. UCE is not planning to provide an update at this meeting. If you are interested in getting involved with CGE and attending what will be quarterly meetings, please contact Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

Giving House Continues... January is RICE month

We are accepting donations of RICE in the giving house for the month of January.

The Giving house is a small wooden "house" that is located in the front lobby. We are partnering with a new free food supplier for the food insecure.

Clarence Weaver and his wife Beverly in March 2020 responded to the covid crisis by setting up a nonprofit organization and using 

their storefront (C&W Market & Ice Cream) to distribute free foods to those in need.

They provide fresh meat, vegetables and fruit along with nonperishable food items to seniors, District 65 families and those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. They serve almost 50 people every other Saturday morning. They are continuing this service to our community

Since they have plenty of storage, we can support their generous work by providing nonperishable items. We will be collecting one type of non-perishable food each month. January is RICE month.

 C&W Market & Ice Cream is a Black owned business on the corner of Dodge and Church. This is a prime location for food distribution.  You can also support this business by buying Ice Cream and/or other sundries there. Thanks for your donation.