Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, January 31 at 11:15 am
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Now, More Than Ever
led by Lea Morris
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Now, More Than Ever, it is imperative that we create not with knee-jerk emotional reactions based on past experience and expectations, but with care and intention. Within our imaginations, we bear the divine seeds of potential, change, creation. So, what now?
This is LEA. “A great voice singing great songs.” That is the simplest way to introduce you to LEA’s music. While she often draws comparisons to other female phenoms like Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell and Ani DiFranco, LEA’s sound seamlessly blends gospel, jazz, country and R&B into her own style - SoulFolk...
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From Kathy Underwood,
Director of Lifespan Religious Education
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A huge “thank you” to those who participated in the recent REvisioning gatherings. Rev. Karen, Rev. Eileen, and I were blessed to witness the honesty, hopes, and dreams that were shared. There is a great desire to create innovative ways for people to connect within and across generations in all aspects of congregational life... |
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Hats Off to the Ministerial Search Committee! |
Our Hats are Off to the incredible, indispensable, indominable Ministerial Search Committee – chaired by Susan Carlton and including Tom Hempfling, Sandy McNabb, Emily Eckwahl-Sanna, Steve Serikaku, Jordan Strueber, and Alice Swan. Your efforts over the almost two years have been thorough, thoughtful, and inclusive. You have held the process with intention and integrity. You have responded with care to challenges, questions, doubts, and worries. You have admitted mistakes and demonstrated apology with a commitment to repair and accountability. We are grateful as a congregation for your hard work and your dedication, knowing that you have contributed to the health and thriving of our congregation into the future. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Susan, Sandy, Tom, Jordan, Emily, Steve, and Alice.
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UCE Building Availability - The UCE building and grounds are available on a limited basis to small gatherings. Please read UCE's Reopening Guidelines before contacting staff about availability.
Chalice Lighters Needed - Looking for chalice lighters for Sunday service! If you would like to light the UCE chalice OR record you and your family lighting a chalice at home to be used in the Sunday service, please send an email to Rev. Eileen. We'll find a time to meet in the sanctuary or I'll talk you through recording and submitting your own video.
Financial Update - A Budget Town Hall Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 10 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, February 14 at 12:30 pm after the worship service. Read more here.
Endowment Deadline: Feb 1 - Deadline for Endowment applications is coming up quickly. Read more here.
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Process Buddhism: Zen Style series - Tuesdays, February 9, 16, 23 at 7 pm via Zoom. More info in "Lifespan Religious Education."
Worship Planning Playdate - Saturday, February 13 at 10 am - More info below.
Next Board of Trustees meeting is February 18 at 7 pm. Email admin@ucevanston.org if you would like to join.
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Team 8th leads Forum - Sunday, February 21 at 10 am - Come learn and discuss the newly proposed 8th Principle.
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Beyond Channing, Parker, and Francis David? with Rev. Connie Simon - February 21st 12:30-2 pm and February 25th 7-8:30 pm. More info below.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Friday, January 29
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Rainbow Alliance Valentine's Day Card Making Night at 7pm - More info below in "Community Opportunities."
Saturday, January 30
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UU Men's Virtual Retreat at 10 am. More info below in "Community Opportunities."
Sunday, January 31
Tuesday, February 2
Wednesday, February 3
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All Church Zoom gathering at 5:30 pm - Look for the link in our Wednesday e-mails. If you need online Zoom support before the All Church gathering begins, join us at 5:20 pm.
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Dr. Ezike with IL Department of Public Health Virtual Townhall on COVID-19 Vaccine, 6:30-7 pm. Click here to join the Zoom Townhall.
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Thursday, February 4
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Rainbow Alliance Meeting at 7 pm - More info below in "Social Justice Opportunities."
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Rainbow Alliance
Valentine's Day Card Making Night
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You're invited to virtually join Rainbow Alliance on January 29 at 7 pm to make Valentines Day cards. You provide your own craft supplies and creativity while we craft some cards for some sweeties together over Zoom. Email Jordan (jordan.strueber@gmail.com) or Lizzy (eapowers1019@gmail.com) to be added to the invite list.
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UU Annual Men's Retreat Online |
The 36th Annual UU Men's Retreat, will take place on Saturday, January 30 at 10 am. This two hour online retreat is an opportunity for men to connect with their self and others...
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Worship Planning Playdate
February 13 at 10 am - YOU are invited!
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Have you wanted to participate in planning worship but didn’t know how to get involved? Do you have ideas for music, visual arts, ritual, story, or videos that could make our services more meaningful and engaging for people of all ages? You are invited to join the ministers and program staff who plan weekly services for a fun workshop on Saturday, February 13 at 10 am via Zoom...
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Workshop: Beyond Channing, Parker, and Francis David? with Rev. Connie Simon |
Rev. Connie Simon, warm, approachable, and knowledgeable, shared her insights about Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist history from an anti-oppressive lens with the Midwest Leadership school this past fall. She will be preaching for us on February 21st, followed by a 2-part workshop on February 21st, 12:30-2pm and February 25th, 7-8:30 pm, that we hope the whole congregation will take part in. Please mark your calendars!
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Lifespan Religious Education |
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VirtUUal RE and Ways to Connect |
REvisioning Our Multigenerational RE Program Update - See more in Kathy’s column.
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Mystery Match is Here! - What’s Mystery Match? This program takes interested adults and matches them with a young person anonymously. During the week of February 6-13, adults send a card or two to their Mystery Match with some clues to their identity. The young people love to get snail mail, and they love guessing games! Then after the worship service on February 14, we will have a Meet Your Match virtual celebration where the young people will guess who their match is and meet you. This is a fun and easy way to get to know our young people! Sign up at the buttons below or email Kathy at kunderwood@ucevanston.org by Wednesday, February 3!
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Pre/K Kids and Families - POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – January’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.
Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.
High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. Look for an email with details.
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UCE Forum Discussion - Sunday, February 7th at 10 am |
This Land is Your Land: But is it really?
Leaders: Jim Kepler
Can anyone actually possess land? If so, how far down and how far up? We’ll talk about how and when our culture’s principles of land ownership evolved, how they differ from other people’s concepts, and to what extent land stewardship and ownership/control may be at odds.
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Current and Upcoming Adult Religious Education |
Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison - Tuesdays, February 2; March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.
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Process Buddhism: Zen Style (Part of the “Visions of God” series.)
Sponsored by UCE and the Cobb Institute for Community and Practice - Tuesdays, February 9, 16, 23 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Dr. Jay McDaniel, Cobb Institute
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Lila, homeless and alone after years of roaming the countryside, steps inside a small-town Iowa church — the only available shelter from the rain — and ignites a romance and a debate that will reshape her life.
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The nonfiction book group will hold its next Zoom meeting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 28th. We will discuss How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Kendi uses his own experiences as well as history, science and ethics to support his main thesis that simply not being racist isn't enough. We must actively choose to be "antiracist," and work to undo structural racism in order to build an equitable society.
Everyone is invited to join our discussion of this timely book. Look for a Zoom link in the February 26th newsletter.
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Social Justice Opportunities |
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Our Neighbors Without a Home
Still Need Lunches!
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Many thanks to all of you who made bag lunches and delivered them to one of Evanston’s three locations for Connections for the Homeless. We are resuming our program on February 1 and have secured a grant which will allow us to contribute 600 more lunches!
We are encouraging people who have not done this before, to give it a try. Join the 25 folks who packed lunches last year and see how easy it is to make a contribution that is hugely appreciated...
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Rainbow Alliance Meets February 4 - All are invited! |
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Earth Day 2021 Planning
Join the Next Green Team Meeting Feb 6
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As we gear up for Earth Day 2021, the UCE Green Team is taking time to celebrate our accomplishments and set new goals. You are invited to help plan Earth Day 2021 and provide input on those new goals. Last April, we were able to pivot and provide a youth led, citywide virtual Earth Day with the Evanston Mayor and many others participating. What will UCE’s Earth Day 2021 look like? Join the Green Team’s next meeting on February 6, 2020, from 1-2 pm. Email Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances@ucevanston.org for the Zoom link.
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Thank you for reading this week's newsletter!
Welcome to the new in-progress design. If you would like to send feedback or thoughts, please respond to this email or send a message to Jessica Meis, Communications Coordinator at admin@ucevanston.org.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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