Here’s what’s coming up in our congregational life—opportunities to connect, learn, and participate in the weeks ahead

Sunday Service

July 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. 

Deepening Gratitude

Galen Guengerich, a UU minister and theologian, argues that gratitude is the Unitarian Universalist spiritual practice. How does gratitude show up in your life? What are the connections between Unitarian Universalist values and gratitude as a practice? Gratitude moves our hearts and minds, encouraging us to be aware of our connections to the interdependent web. Rev. Elizabeth Harding is our preacher, Ally Hunter our Worship Associate, and Gregory Shifrin is on the piano.



Rev. Elizabeth Harding serves as UUCE’s Affiliated Community Minister. She grew up at Second Unitarian Church of Chicago. She graduated from the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice in 2005 and then from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2006. Elizabeth was ordained in 2007 by Second Unitarian Church of Chicago and received full fellowship from the UUA in 2017. Elizabeth has served 4 churches as their affiliated community minister and is excited to join UCE’s vibrant community. She has served in ministry as a hospital chaplain, hospice chaplain, bereavement social worker, and most recently, as 2U’s acting minister for religious education.

This Sunday…

Children and youth will go to their faith formation program after joys and sorrows.



Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15a-12p. 

Phineas and Ferb Phartsy Fun

Today we watch the episode, Day of Living Gelatin,

and create our own sculptures from Jell-O.

by Carol Emory

Hello! I’m a newly elected Trustee. I attended my first UUA General Assembly the week of June 14, serving as a delegate. I was impressed with the time and thoughtfulness that went into the agenda, and the passion of our fellow UUs for social justice work. 

On the Agenda were Actions of Immediate Witness, statements about a significant issue in the world that need immediate engagement and action from UUs.  Delegates were given an opportunity to discuss each Action.  

One Action was added at the last minute, “All Eyes on Delaney Hall”.  It was a suggestion for UUs to protest at Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in New Jersey to stand in solidarity with those who were on a hunger strike to protest the inhumane conditions. However, the mass protest ask of UUs was to occur in 5 days, leaving little time for organizers to prepare. The action was clearly heartfelt. And so was the discussion. Many voted “pro”, were ready to take action. Surprisingly, those who have been at Delaney Hall during the immediate crisis were "against" the resolution due to logistical and planning concerns.

The Delany Hall Action was voted down. The next day, delegates were greeted by an email with a Responsive Resolution. It declared “We affirm that the greatest midwife of justice is relationship.”  Reminding us that we should always center the impacted, it called on UUs to show up at Delaney Hall on July 13, giving the organizers time to adequately prepare.

The Resolution passed. It was a great example of democracy in action. I highly recommend attending the UUA General Assembly as a delegate in the future if you can!

Our hats are off to Lizzy Powers and Jordan Strueber for their many years of leadership of our Rainbow Alliance. This summer, they have concluded their leadership roles and we are grateful for all of their time and energy shared with us. Lizzy and Jordan shepherded the Rainbow Alliance through the pandemic lockdown, providing connection in a time of uncertainty. They have been instrumental in solidifying our now annual traditions of holding a Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil each November and celebrating Pride each June with a worship service. They are creative and imaginative, constantly finding or creating new music, new words, and new ways to affirm and celebrate each person’s unique multi-faceted identity within UUCE. They are fierce advocates for legal rights and cultural recognition of the LGBTQ+ communities within our society. Thank you, Lizzy and Jordan, for your insights, your guidance, and your care.

Our Rainbow Alliance is our LGBTQ+/straight alliance. We welcome Alison Brill and Olga Chwa as our new coordinators and collaborators in leadership with the Rainbow Alliance.

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Friday, July 10th:

• UUCE Movie Night, 7:30-9:30pm, Room 6

Saturday, July 11th:

• Virtual Pilates, 9:30am, via Zoom

Sunday, July 12th:

• Chris Isley Cancer Support Group, 9-10:15am, Room 6 & Zoom
• Worship Service, 10:30-11:30am, Sanctuary
• Kinship Time, 11:30am-12:30pm, Back of the Sanctuary
• CAF Care Packages, 12-1:30pm, Room 3

Monday, July 13th:

• UUCE Addictions and Recovery, 6:45-7:45am, via Zoom

Tuesday, July 14th:

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

Wednesday, July 15th:

• Yoga, 9:30-10:30am, via Google Meet
• Integrated Stewardship Council, 5-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Pastoral Care Meeting, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Thursday, July 16th:

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

Rev. Eileen Wiviott is on sabbatical July - August 2026.

Light the Chalice and Bring the Chancel Flowers for our Sunday Morning Worship Service

Would you, your family, or your group enjoy bringing flowers for the chancel and then lighting and extinguishing the chalice during a Sunday morning worship service?

We’re in need of volunteers throughout July, August, and September. You may now sign up online by clicking this link, going to the Sunday that you would like to volunteer, and selecting the Flowers/Chalice spot. You may add a Comment indicating that you are bringing the flowers in honor of, in memory of, or in recognition of someone or something. You may also email Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances@ucevanston.org for assistance getting signed up on the Sunday morning schedule.

UUCE Camping October 16-18

Those interested in camping this fall are invited to give their feedback on which campground to go to. You can find a short survey here.

Movie Night at UUCE!

Consider relaxing and enjoying some snacks while watching this weeks movie night at UUCE in Room 6 on Friday 7/10 at 7:30 pm! This month Carlos will be presenting My Cousin Vinny for your viewing pleasure. The run time is 2 Hours, rated R, and is a hilarious movie from 1992 starring Joe Pesci.

The Work of LOVE!

You are all invited! Join us on Sunday July 12th to create 200 care packages and notes for abortion care clients of Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF). The UUCE Abortion Access Team is holding its fourth event - this time creating 200 care packages instead of the usual 100. So we need as many helpers as possible. Enjoy a cup of coffee after service and then join us at 12:00 noon in Room 3. You can pack one or more care packages and/or write some sweet supportive notes to go with the packages. This is some of the work of LOVE! And there will be refreshments in Room 3 to keep our energy high.  

The UUCE Fiction Book Group is reading The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (May 2026). Artie Dam spends his days teaching history to eleventh graders, expanding their young minds, correcting their casual cruelties, and lending a kind word to those who need it most. And then, one day, Artie learns that life has been keeping a secret from him, one that threatens to upend his entire world. Once he learns it, he is forced to chart a new course, to reconsider the relationships he holds most dear—and to make peace with the mysteries at the heart of our existence.

Meeting Friday, July 17, at 7p.m. by ZOOM

Future reads:

August 21: "Taiwan Travelogue" by Shuang-Zi Yang, translated by Lin King (2024). International Booker Prize for 2026, National Book award for translated literature, highest prize in Taiwan. A young Japanese novelist comes to Taiwan to experience “real” island life. A friendship develops between her and her Taiwanese interpreter that is tested by separation.

September 18: "Whistler" by Ann Patchett (June 2026). Daphne Fuller accidentally encounters Eddie, a man who was briefly her stepfather when she was ten. The two rekindle their friendship, looking back over the choices they made and choices made for them, and working forward ultimately toward Eddie’s end of life. And yes, there is a horse named Whistler.

Play Mini Golf with the Rainbow Alliance!

Join the Rainbow Alliance for Mini Golf at Skokie Sports Park! Let's hang out, get to know one another, and play some mini golf! All UUCE members and friends are warmly welcome. Bring your friends, family, and plus ones.

Date and time: Saturday, July 18th, at 7pm

Location: Skokie Sports Park, 3459 Oakton St, Skokie

Cost: $10 per person for adults and $8 for kids. If we get a group of 15 or more, we get a discount of $6 per person.

Please RSVP to Alison at alison.t.brill at gmail dot com. We'd love to see you there!

The Nonfiction Book Group will discuss A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson on Sunday, July 26th. Join us at 2 p.m. using our recurring Zoom link. The book has been described by many readers as hilarious. Bryson describes his travels as a neophyte hiker learning hard lessons about self-reliance.  The Appalachian Trail is clearly portrayed as a magnificent place.

Readers can choose to experience the beauty and the humor in print, audio or cinematic format. A 2015 movie starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte is available through the public library.

Family-Friendly Friendship Meals 

There are two family-friendly events coming up:

Concert at Millenium Park on 07/23 – sign up here

Backyard Chillin' and Grillin' Barbeque on 08/29 for children 6 and up  - sign up here

Social Action Project for National Underwear Day!

We’re joining Connections for the Homeless in collecting new, 

adult underwear this summer.

Drop off packaged underwear in the marked bin in the lobby.

Those interested are invited to help sort donations on August 8, 9-11a

Sign up here to claim a spot!

UUCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights



The Young Adult Group at UUCE 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.

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 something else) are shared equally between our operating budget and the current Shared Offering Program recipient.

This Sunday's offering will be shared with Zacharias Center, which works to mobilize the community toward ending systemic sexual violence while amplifying the voice of survivors through trauma-informed care, advocacy, and prevention education.

Wisconsin Voter Registration Training

Get trained to register voters in Wisconsin. Once trained, you will be invited to go to one of several Milwaukee DMVs to register voters as they wait for services.

All trainings are held via zoom and the next training dates are:



• Tuesday, July 14 - 1:00PM
• Wednesday, July 29 - 7:00PM

The training is one hour and presented by the Milwaukee Voter Project. For more information, please contact Laura Kushner with the Milwaukee Voter Project at laurakushnerx2 at gmail dot com or Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances at ucevanston dot org. 

Shared Offering Program Nominations Open

Nominations for the 2026-2027 Shared Offering Program are now being accepted by the Social Justice Council. To nominate an organization, click here for the Shared Offering Program nomination Google Form. The deadline to submit nominations is July 14, 2026.

The UUCE Shared Offering Program divides the undesignated funds we receive each Sunday equally between the congregation’s operating fund and an organization selected by the Social Justice Council. Click here for the Selection Process Description that the Social Justice Council uses to review nominations. If you have any questions about the Shared Offering Program, please contact Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

LOVE RESISTS

ONGOING UU CONNECTIONS

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330