Sunday Service January 26, 2025 at 10:30am 

Social Action Project

February 7, 6:30-8:30pm

All ages are invited to help with our project for a local animal shelter, C.A.R.E.

We’re collecting old t-shirts to make tug toys for dogs. Drop off yours in the labelled bin by the Giving House.

Those participating on 2/7 can bring adult-sized scissors and a snack to share.

Meeting Our Interfaith Neighbors

February 4th at 7pm

We’ll begin exploring the Baháʼí faith with our guest, George Davis.

We will visit the Baháʼí House of Worship on February 11 at 5:30p.

Details will be emailed out to those registered. You can register here to be included on future emails.

You can register here to be included on future emails.

Create Your Own Elevator Speech

High School Youth and Adults

January 29, 7-8:30pm

Have you ever been caught tongue-tied when asked about Unitarian Universalism? Then this program is for you! Create Your Own Elevator Speech guides participants through developing an elevator speech about their UU faith. It is called an “elevator speech” because, on an elevator ride when someone asks you “what is Unitarian Universalism?” you only have a short time to make a meaningful statement. Register here!

UPDATES FROM KATHY UNDERWOOD

Our Parents Are Not Alright



As I write this, it is a little over two weeks since New Year’s, and still a perfect time for reflection and contemplation. What has the past year taught me that will give me insight into the year ahead?

One of my learnings is that families continue to be challenged with finding a balance in their daily lives. Parents are overwhelmed, tired, and more. Even the Surgeon General has issued a report on the mental health and well-being of parents basically saying that parenting is a health hazard. This trend apparently started even before the pandemic. Some might be thinking, “But 2-3 years have passed since then, surely it’s better now?” My observation is, simply, not really...

UCE Solar Panel Presentation - February 1, 2025 at 10am

We will be hosting a solar presentation at 10am before the Dave Woods memorial on February 1st., in person and on Zoom.

• PLEASE NOTE: Newsletter submissions should be sent to Newsletter@ucevanston.org by noon on Wednesdays.

• 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!

Dave Woods Celebration of Life

On Saturday, February 1 at 1 pm, we will celebrate the life of our much beloved Dave Woods. Two Margarets (Shaklee & Talmage) are organizing hospitality. If it would please you to take on a small role or bring a favorite food to honor Dave click HERE, make your selection and click SignUP!

If you want to opt out of the technology, email Margaret Shaklee (mshaklee4417 at gmail dot com) with your offer to help.

The service will also be streamed live HERE.

Many thanks!

THE CARING TEAM NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEERS FOR

MEALS AND RIDES

In case you didn't hear Jean Butzen's moving testimonial in church, she spoke in gratitude about receiving meals at her home after her second hip replacement. Other members have received rides to doctor's appointments and church.

The Caring Team invites you to join the list of folks who can bring meals or provide rides. This does not obligate you to do anything; it just allows you to know when there is a need. 

Please consider letting Ellie Feddersen (elliefeddersen@gmail.com or 847-452-3142) know if you would like to be added to the list. Just let us know if it is for meals or rides or both.

 Winter Friendship Meals Seeking Hosts



The Congregational Connections Team is seeking 1-2 more hosts for the Winter Session Friendship Meals, which will be held March 7th-16th. We are so grateful to those who have already offered to host!

Contact Margaret Koreman (Margaret.Koreman@gmail.com) ASAP if you would enjoy hosting, have questions, or are interested in future hosting. Winter session hosts must be secured by Feb 3rd and will have until Feb 10th to button down 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 2/14/2025. Stay tuned to attend!!

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler with the UCE Board of Trustees

Friday, February 7th, 6-9pm

Let the Good Times Roll during a vibrant night of celebration, hosted by the UCE Board of Trustees! Join us for an evening filled with lively music and savory delights inspired by the spirit of New Orleans. Be serenaded by the upbeat tunes of Mojo49 that will transport you to the lively streets of the French Quarter. Sip on a delightful sparkling punch and savor a delicious Mardi Gras salad, shrimp or veggie étouffée, and a sweet finale of cake and ice cream. Let the good times roll as we come together for a memorable gathering of fun, food, and camaraderie! Childcare will be provided for your convenience. Get your ticket for $60 by clicking here. Contact the Serendipity Fundraising Team at auction@ucevanston.org with any questions.

Empty Bowls SOUPER Sunday & Pledge Drive Kickoff Event on February 9th -

WE NEED YOU! 

Sign up here to set up, clean up, bring food or cook for this event. BRING YOUR APPETITE as we gather in GRATITUDE to help raise funds for three local pantries and kickoff the 2025 Pledge Drive. Your pledge supports our Operating Budget which supports our work as a congregation to live our values and mission. Together we strive to make the world whole. 

In addition to a delicious selection of homemade soup lunch for $10.00 per person ($20 maximum per family) attendees may choose a beautiful handmade bowl from which to eat it, ranging in price from $10-$40 each. Meals are accompanied by fruit, cheese, cookies and fresh baked bread donated & served by David the Bread Guy. If you have handmade bowls to contribute/recycle, they may be dropped off in the UCE office or call Maggie Weiss for pick up: 847-571-1385. 

Let’s gather to create community and experience MORE soup and salad, and MORE Love, Peace, Justice, and Hope! We look forward to seeing you!   

~The UCE Food & Shelter Team and Pledge Drive Team

Retired (but Never Retiring!) Women:

We will be meeting on Tuesday, Jan 28, 5-7pm, in the back of the sanctuary. 

After our wonderful potluck, we will follow Rev. Eileen's sermon of a few weeks ago: 

What do we want to RELEASE? What do we want to EMERGE?

 We will have special paper to write on and we will "ceremonially" RELEASE that which needs to be gone!

 We will also decide on our charitable donation for that meeting.

 Hope to see many of you there!

For more information please contact Margie Rogasner.

UCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights

Our next gathering is February 21st, 7-9pm



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 at ucevanston dot org) with any questions.

Policy Talk by Congresswoman Judy Chu: A Path Forward To Meet the Moment

Join UUSJ via Zoom to hear from Congresswoman Judy Chu, who will advise us in our fight for justice in the federal forum. In the coming season, meeting the moment will require that we both defy autocracy and defend those policies our UU faith values compel us to champion.

Judy Chu is the only UU in Congress and she represents a district in California. You can hear her ideas about A Path Forward by registering here:

https://uusj.salsalabs.org/judychu/index.html

This online event is sponsored by UUs for Social Justice, our national lobbying group.

There are also special elections coming up and UUtheVote will try to find ways for us to help get out the vote.

This past Sunday UU Prison Ministry of IL staffer Keith Talley invited you to become a pen pal.

Prison life is isolating, acutely lonely, and deeply depressing. Many incarcerated persons have lost touch with family or loved ones while they exist in an abusive, neglectful, and punitive system. You can make a significant difference in someone's life by becoming 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 get caught up again in the system within their first year of release. The pen pal relationship is also of benefit to you as you learn and grow. The gift of your correspondence will also provide you an education in the realities of our "criminal injustice" system, beginning with the fact that the USA has the highest per capita incarceration rate in the world.

Please contact the UU Prison Ministry of IL at

uupmi.info@gmail.com to learn more about the UU Pen Pal Program of Illinois. Grateful for your contributions, we provide our "free world" pen pals education, camaraderie, and ongoing support.

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.

The current Shared Offering Recipient is the 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.

Applications for Community Partners Grants Due January 31

Applications for the Endowment Fund Community Partners Grants are due January 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted by a team or group within UCE. If you are involved with an organization which has at least a three-year relationship with UCE, please talk with someone on a social justice team about applying. For information about who to contact or if you have questions, please be in touch with Sandy Danforth, Social Justice Council Community Partners Grants Coordinator, at danforthsc@mac.com.

The next meeting of the UCE Fiction Book Group

is on February 21st by ZOOM, 7-8pm

using our Recurring Zoom link

The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of love and obsession, and our unfinished reckoning with racism. Spanning a century and a half, the story begins with an enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal who forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South, while racism will separate the two as Lexington thrives under Jarret’s care. Brooks is the Pulitzer-prize winning author of such stunning historical fiction as People of the Book, March, Caleb’s Crossing, and Year of Wonders.

ONGOING EVENTS:

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Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330