Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, January 23rd at 10:15 am
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Living Our Unitarian Universalism in the World
Our faith in each other, our commitment to recognizing the worth and dignity, as well as the interconnection of all emerges in many ways beyond the walls of our church and outside of the time we are together on Sunday mornings. Together we recognize and inspire one another to more fully and creatively live our UU values. Rev. Eileen Wiviott leads worship with Worship Associate, Joe Romeo.
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Faith Formation Hour & Other Events Following Kinship Time |
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The Way Forward
From Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Senior Minister
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We are an inclusive and welcoming community seeking truth in love and striving to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole.” These words, spoken each Sunday at the start of our worship service, may pass in one ear and out the other, but they are said with intention and for a reason. These words express our aspiration as a whole community to make real the promise of radical welcome, inclusivity, and accessibility for all who would find a spiritual home among us.
And so, to the question I’ve been asked, “why aren’t we asking for vaccine cards at the door?” I have a clear answer. I, like most of you, am grateful for the incredible effectiveness of the vaccines that mitigate serious symptoms, hospitalizations, and deaths and I support the vaccine requirements put in place by local businesses. As Unitarian Universalists, who include reason and science among our sacred sources of wisdom, we are unapologetically a pro-vaccination community. As grateful as we are for the vaccines, we now know that they don’t prevent infection from the Omicron variant, though they do still reduce symptoms, hospitalizations, and deaths, especially for those who are fully boosted...
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Hats Off to Marilyn Wroblewski! |
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Our hats are off to Marilyn Wroblewski. She serves energetically as the co-Chair of the Soup Kitchen Team, is an active member of Food and Shelter Team, serves on the Committee on Ministry For Rev. Susan Frances, and also is part of the New Member Team providing new ideas for connecting and regularly reaching out to visitors and new members.
In addition, she has worked tirelessly with the Refugee Families UCE has sponsored. She helped the members of the Haj Khalaf Family who came in 2019 and now is assisting with the transition of more members of the same family and their children. AND just last week, she took another refugee under her wing who just happens to live in the same building as the family we sponsored. A woman with two children approached Marilyn asking if she could help her too. Along with Carol Nielsen she is working to get this new family reunited with the husband/father who was detained at the last minute when they were being evacuated from Afghanistan.
Marilyn, you are an inspiration to us all in the many ways you live our shared UU values. Thank you for all you do to make the world a more loving and compassionate place.
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UCE Building Availability -
The UCE Office will have reduced office hours for the month of January. If you have a need to access the building during what would be normal office hours (10 am - 5 pm Tue-Fri), we encourage you to make an appointment with a staff member or call the office. Ministers and staff are still available via email.
If you have music to share in worship, we would love to add your to our list. We are looking for either live or recorded performances for Sunday mornings to enhance our worship. Reach out to Rev. Eileen or Vickie Hellyer.
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Wednesday Zoom Gatherings Continue on 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 5:30 pm via Zoom.
The next Journey Toward Membership class begins on February 1 & 2. More info below.
The Alternative Relationship and Family Structure Inclusivity Forum is February 2 at 6-8 pm. More info below.
Google Drive Training on February 8 at 2 pm. More info below.
The next Intro to Unitarian Universalism class is February 27. More info below.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Friday, January 21
Saturday, January 22
Sunday, January 23
Monday, January 24
Tuesday, January 25
Wednesday, January 26
Thursday, January 27
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Meditation Group at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Lisa Solomon for the link.
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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!
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Congregational Connections |
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The UUA Compass Conference Summary |
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The UUA Compass conference held on-line in early December gave about 200 UUs nationwide the chance to reflect on their values and beliefs. The event opened with statements from four non-UUs: from a public health expert, from two members of the Rising Appalachia musical group, and from a self-described “queer black trouble-maker”. They spoke about what religion and faith means to them and their interactions with UU activities and individuals.
A panel of UUs responded to what they’d just heard. The group consisted of young adult UUs, a religious educator and clergy members. But perhaps the heart of the conference was the chance for UUs from across the country to share their personal beliefs and reactions to the speakers. Opening with affinity groupings, the chats interspersed throughout the conference moved on to give small groups of attendees the chance to share ideas and experiences from their congregations...
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Join the King Arts PTA on the MLK Dream Drive! |
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The Dream Drive is a guided audio tour and car parade through Evanston exploring the history and relevance of various locations to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. The audio tour is narrated by King Arts students and faculty.
Date: January 22, 2022
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Joseph E. Hill (JEH) Center parking lot, 1500 McDaniel Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
The event kicks off in the JEH parking lot with car decorating and other activities. The car parade will begin at 1:00 PM. Dream Drive is free and open to the public. Register in advance to receive the audio podcast download and the corresponding map by email the day before the Dream Drive.
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What do yUU Believe? A credo class
for youth and adults together on Zoom
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How do you talk about what you believe and how does what you believe show up in the way you live your life? How do you articulate what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist? In these four sessions, designed for youth and adults (age 12 and up) Kathy Underwood and Rev. Eileen Wiviott will accompany you on the journey toward understanding and articulating your beliefs and how they align with our UU faith.
- January 25th 7pm - 8:30pm
- February 1st 7pm - 8:30pm
- February 8th 7pm - 8:30pm
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Pathway to Membership Classes |
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Would you like to learn more about Unitarian Universalist history? Introduction to Unitarian Universalism is a single session class that will be offered in-person on Sunday, February 27 at 2-3:30 pm.
Would you like to learn more about becoming a member of UCE? Journey Toward Membership is a 2-part class that will be offered virtually on Wednesdays, February 2 and 9 at 6:30-8 pm and in-person on Tuesdays, March 1 and 8 at 6:30-8 pm.
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Weekend Meditation Retreat with Beverly Unitarian Church |
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The Beverly Unitarian Church meditation group is offering a weekend meditation retreat January 28-30, 2022, at a retreat center in Frankfort, Il. The topic is "Love and Meditation: Mindful Relationships." |
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Google Drive Training - February 8 at 2 pm |
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Join Adam Gough and Jessica Meis for an intro to Google Drive! We'll work together on some basic skills on how to use Google Drive successfully to communicate and share files with your group. Come learn more about Google docs, sheets, slides, and more! |
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The Nominating and Recruitment Committee (N&R) is beginning to identify potential candidates for future positions, such as the Board of Trustees, Endowment Committee, and our own N&R Committee.
Please help us! We may not know what skills and experience you have that would make you a perfect fit for one of the positions. You may know someone who would step up if asked. We especially want to encourage folks who have not previously served on these committees to consider this opportunity to support the church.
Please fill out this Google form if you would like to nominate someone or volunteer yourself. Also feel free to reach out to Janice Milanovich (through Realm). See the website for more information.
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What's Happening in Faith Formation? |
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Faith Formation Hour this Sunday...
...and beyond!
What Do yUU Believe? A credo class for youth and adults together. How do you talk about what you believe and how does what you believe show up in the way you live your life? How do you articulate what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist? More info above!
January 30: Spiritual Practices at 11:35 am – Join any of these virtual offerings!
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Imbolc Ritual - Join Taryn Seawright on Zoom for a virtual ritual and discussion celebrating Imbolc ("In the belly"), a Celtic Pagan celebration of hope for Spring.
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Meditation and Mindfulness – Ellie Feddersen and Diane Markel will lead this program. Join in here.
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Prayer for UUs with Rev. Eileen
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Tai Chi with Renee Gatsis
February 6: New date for sledding at Lovelace Park at 1 pm if there is snow. All ages are invited! An email will go out that Sunday at 11:45 am with an update to those who register here, and will be posted on the UCE Facebook pages.
Do you have an idea for a new program? Is there a group you would like to form? Simply fill out a Group or Program Proposal Form and a staff member will get in touch with you!
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The UCE Fiction Book Group meets next THIS Friday, January 21, at 7pm to discuss The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner.
“Sweet, smart escapism,” according to People magazine. Perfect for the holidays!
Just after WWII, in a small English village of Chawton a group of like-minded wildly diverse people gather to preserve the legacy of their most famous past resident, Jane Austen (Chawton was the final home of Austen).
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The UCE Nonfiction Book Group meets next on Sunday, January 23, at 2 pm. We'll discuss The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again by Robert D. Putnam.
In this book, political scientist Robert Putnam describes the pattern in American history which he calls “I-we-I” when the individualism of the Gilded Age moved to the community mindedness of the Progressive Era and then back to the individualism of current times when everyone is on their own. Everyone is welcome to attend!
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REAL Team History Program |
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The REAL History team presents episodes of the series Amend from Netflix, on continuing January 26 through February 2. Amend tells the story of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. From its origins in the heart and mind of Frederick Douglass to the political wrangling needed to get ratification to the attempts to nullify it over the years and the struggle to make this country live up to its stated ideals. This series tells unfinished story of this life-changing, controversial addition to the Constitution. The REAL team will show episodes 1, 2, 3, and 6 - - the ones that involve race and ethnicity.
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Alternative Relationship and Family Structure Inclusivity Forum
February 2, 2022 from 6-8 pm
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The Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) is hosting an Inclusivity Forum focusing on the experiences of UUs in alternative relationships and family structures, including ethnically non-monogamous relationships, polyamorous relationships with or without children, families where parents are no longer romantic partners but continue to co-parent, platonic families, and others who do relationships and family a bit differently. The discussion will focus on how UU groups and congregations can become more inclusive.
This is a free event. Registration required. Facilitators will share materials with registrants in advance. The CUC's Responsibility Covenant will be used to promote safety for all in attendance by helping those with relative privilege to keep personal discomfort in check without projecting. A caucus group will be available for those in alternative relationships and families should they prefer to discuss together.
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Help keep people facing homelessness warm |
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The Rainbow Alliance has teamed up with the Giving House to collect winter hats, gloves, and hand warmers for Connections for the Homeless. Connections serves people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity on the north shore of Chicago. The hats and gloves can be either new or gently used. They can be for men, women, or children. Hand warmers are very much appreciated as well. Given that we are not having services in the building, here’s how we are doing this:
- Buy your item(s) and bring them to the parking lot of UCE on Sunday, February 20th from 12-3pm (assuming that the building is still not open at that point). Someone will be there collecting the items.
- Buy your item/s and if the church opens, just bring your items to UCE and deposit them in the Giving House wooden house in the lobby.
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If you are busy but still want to give. Please venmo a donation to @Jeanne-Kerl. We will use that money to buy hats/gloves/hand warmers from a place like Family Tree Resale or from a clearance sale.
- If you want to order something online and have it delivered directly. Just have it delivered to Connections for the Homeless, 2121 Dewey, Evanston IL 60201. We will alert them that some members may be sending items to them.
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If you live near Skokie, you can drop off item/s at Jeanne Kerl’s house. Please email her to let her know you are coming.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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