Sunday Service

January 11, 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 “surprises” and will hear the story Caps for Sale and make sticker dot collages. 

Hearts, and Hands (2nd-5th) in room 8 – Our young people will get reacquainted after our winter break by playing some games as they connect to our theme in Unexpected Resistance.

Youth Group (6th+) in room 10 – Our youth will play some games and then plan for upcoming events, such as the Youth Group Lock-In on January 24-25 (see details below).

Faith Formation Registration

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

Save these dates!

Family Friday – Ice Skating and Gathering

TONIGHT, 6:30-8:30p at Robert Crown

Join us for skating and community!

Details about tickets here and general info here.

Those who prefer not to skate can gather in the lobby for snacks and games.

Join us on Zoom January 12 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.

Join us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/520586461667097

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

New Year Changes

The ringing in of a new year lends itself to reflection and setting intentions as we embark on our journey in life. Our Fire Communion ritual offers a way to do so in community with others. While I missed this at UCE, I was able to participate at my home congregation, the Elgin UU Church, and I must say I struggled with it.

Their ritual has two parts to it: the first is to think of the things you wish to be rid of, the things that have not served you well in the past year, and then write them on flash paper and burn it. The second part is to then think of something that you wish to invite into your life, something that you need to help you be more authentic and a better person, and then think of a word or two that can be your mantra for the year. And this is the part I struggled with – what do I want to invite into my life this year? The possibilities are endless! How do I choose just one?

Our hats are off to the volunteers who helped us participate in a short-term Pop-up Soup Kitchen with Interfaith Action of Evanston (IAE). A special thank you to Carol Nielsen for coordinating with IAE and for organizing the food and volunteers at UCE. Thank you to Lynn Kendall, Dana Deane, Benn Greenspan, Julie Lamberti, Christine Peters, Janelle Brittain, and Ellie Feddersen, who showed up to package and distribute meals provided by Soul and Smoke on December 19th. Thank you t​​o Martha Holman, Jeanne Kerl, Ellen Adelman, Patricia Lenore, and Maggie Wilson who volunteered for the January 2nd date before IAE moved it to Robert Crown. Thank you to Maggie Weiss, Toni Rey, and Sheila Holder for helping discern how we could participate in this program that was generated with short notice. We are grateful that all of you were able to come together quickly to support IAE and the food scarcity in our community.

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Friday, January 9th:

• Endowment Grant Committee, 10:45-12:15pm, Room 3 and Zoom
• Family Friday, 6-8pm, Robert Crown Skating Rink
• Young Adult Covenant Group, 7-9pm, Room 12

Saturday, January 10th:

• Virtual Pilates, 9:30am, via Zoom
• ACLU Know Your Healthcare Rights, 1-3pm, Room 3 and Zoom

Sunday, January 11th:

• Loftstrom Covenant Group, 8:45-10:15pm, via Zoom
• Chris Isley Cancer Support Group, 9-10:15am, Room 6 & Zoom
• UCE Choir Rehearsal, 9-10:10am, Sanctuary
• Green Team Meeting, 9:15-10:15am, Room 3
• Worship Service, 10:30-11:30am, Sanctuary
• Kinship Time, 11:30-12:30pm, Back of the Sanctuary
• Connections That Matter, 12-1:30pm, Room 3 and Zoom
• Carlton/Schroeder Covenant Group, 12-2pm, Room 2
• Young Adult Group Soulful Sunday, 12:15-1pm, Room 12
• The Play's The Thing, 12-2:30pm, Room 6

Monday, January 12th:

• UCE Addictions and Recovery, 6:45-7:45pm, via Zoom

Tuesday, January 13th:

• UU Network Team, 11-12pm, via Zoom
• Women's Circle of Friends Covenant Group, 1-2:30pm, via Zoom
• Emissions Reduction Task Force, 2:30-3:30pm, via Zoom

Wednesday, January 14th:

• Yoga Online, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
• Staff Meeting, 11-12:30pm, Room 2
• Integrated Stewardship Council, 5-6:30pm, via Zoom
• UU History, 7-8:30pm, Room 3
• THAT Covenant Group, 7-9pm, Room 3

Thursday, January 15th:

• Beacons of Light, 4-4:30pm, Dempster and Ridge
• Meditation Group, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Choir Rehearsal, 7-9pm, Sanctuary
• Board of Trustees Meeting, 7-9pm, via Zoom

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.

The Earth Needs Friends in 2026!

The UCE Green Team welcomes you to the January second Sunday gathering in Room 2 and on Zoom: Sunday January 11, 9:15am. Help us consider a name change, celebrate our new Green Sanctuary reporting and plan for a leadership development session next month. There is a role for you here. Join Green Team on REALM to get the zoom link or contact Shirley Adams. Or come in person!

 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 offered once a month. If you decide you are interested in joining UCE as a member, you will need to have attended this class before signing our Membership Book.

 The next class dates are:

• Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:30-8:00 pm, via Zoom. Click here to register. 
• Saturday, February 21, 2026, 1:00-2:30 pm, Room 12, no child care available. Click here to register. 
• Sunday, March 1, 2026, 9:00-10:20 am, Room 12, child care provided. Click here to register.

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

Help with your New Year's Resolution

Have you resolved to do something more in 2026? For example, to make your voice louder on those issues that keep you up at night? The Catalyst team will be in the back of the sanctuary to sign you up with organizations that will amplify your voice. Get on the lists for simple direct actions you can take to be a stronger advocate for the people and the issues that matter to you.

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.

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

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 7, 14, 21, 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

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.

Heidi Dalenberg, as Director of the ACLU Institutional Reform Project, will address questions submitted by registering as per the flyer. Please contact Catalyst team member Mary Dudek at mdudekpa at gmail dot com for more specific information about the program.

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:

Tarot 101, Jan 13th – explore symbolism and intuition

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