Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole

Sunday Service July 12th at 10:30am

We Need A Third Place

The dust is still settling from this year's General Assembly. Every few years, the Assembly considers its bylaws and this year, they accepted a bylaw revision that changes how we articulate our faith's values. This process offers us an opportunity to think a little bit about the role of the church as a Third Place, a place separate from work and school, and the connections we make there. We will touch on the theology of Love at the Center, especially as how it relates to pastoral care. Maybe we will find that in moving Love to the Center, we are actually reaching back to our roots in the 1630s. Rev. Elizabeth Harding, our Affiliated Community Minister, is our worship leader this Sunday, and Barbara Mesle is our Worship Associate.

Children and Youth will go to their faith formation programs after

Joys & Sorrows.

Shared Offering - Restore Justice Illinois

Join the Services Livestream

Guest Preachers in July

Rev. Eileen will be taking Sundays off for the month of July and away on vacation from July 9-15th. We'll have the pleasure of guest preachers:

July 14th: Rev. Elizabeth Harding (she/her) - our Affiliated Community Minister and a UU hospice chaplain
July 21st: Rev. Charley Earp (he/him) - a 2018 graduate of Meadville Lombard seminary and was co-ordained by the Unitarian Church of Quincy IL and The Peoples Church of Chicago, currently completing a chaplain residency in Naperville
July 28th: Rev. Gianni Fogliano (they/them) - the Manager and Strategist for Equity, Belonging, and Change from the Office of the UUA President

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday

Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15am-11:45am.

BlUUey (pre/K-6th) - Room 3 – We will watch the episode, “Circus”, play some games, and talk about one of our new UU values, Justice. Parents should pick up their youngster(s) at noon.

Picnics in the Park – July 21 at Penny Park, 12-1p. Bring a picnic or snack and meet up with other UCE families!

Families can explore our theme, The Gift of Renewal, at home and in their own timeframe with the Soulful Home packet. Send pictures to Kathy of your family as you explore the many ideas here!

See our “living” calendar of programs and events here.

Parents can register their children/youth for the Faith Formation Program here.

Greetings from Kathy Underwood, DLFF

Woo-hoo to Our New Values!

In my last newsletter article, I wrote about the slightly critical responses to my introduction of Jetpig and J. Piglet in anticipation of the vote taking place at General Assembly to accept the proposed new values – and now it is official – we have accepted the new values!

As I was writing this, I came across this cartoon on the UU Hysterical Society Facebook page and thought it was good timing. Except for us, it is every 15 years!

Our hats are off to Janelle Brittain, Neil Koreman, Eric (Erchis), Alison Issen, Maggie Wilson and Roger Young who worked VERY hard digging, shoveling, wheel barrowing, raking, laying sod, and sweating on a hot humid afternoon - to remove the berm from the South Lawn. Three-year-old Arusule was also very helpful!

This Week's Events & Links

Friday, July 12th

Dance Lessons, 3:30-4:30pm, Rm 3

Saturday, July 13th:

Virtual Pilates, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom

No Tai Chi this week.

Sunday, July 14th:

Chris Isely Cancer Support Group, 9am-10:30am, in-person Rm 6 and via Zoom Link.

Worship Service, 10:30am-11:30am, in the Sanctuary. Kinship 11:30am-12:30pm.

Monday, July 15th:

No events scheduled.

Tuesday, July 16th:

Congregational Life & FF Council, 1-2pm, via Zoom

Peg Heads, 6:30-9:30pm, Rm 3

Caregiver Support Team, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom

First Women's Circle, 7-8pm, via Zoom

Wednesday, July 17th:

Yoga, 9:30-10:30am, via NEW ONLINE LINK

Please be aware the Staff has a meeting 11-12:30pm every Wednesday.

Pastoral Care Mtg, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Thursday July 18th:

Meditation Group, 5:30-7pm, via Zoom

Board of Trustees, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Download UCE Zoom Backgrounds

Check out the UCE Calendar for more events!

Congregational News

Room Request Form

Congregational Connections

The Chicago Disability Pride Parade

Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 11:00 am. The route starts at 401 S Plymouth Court. Goes 1/2 block west on Van Buren before going North on Dearborn. The route goes down Dearborn until it arrives at Daley Plaza for the post-parade festivities.

The overall mission of the Disability Pride Parade is to change the way people think about and define disability; to break down the internalized shame among people with disabilities; and to promote the belief in society that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity that people living with disabilities can take pride in.

Lifespan Faith Formation

Family Friday Nature Hike – August 16 at 6:30pm at

Emily Oaks Nature Center. CLICK HERE for more info!

All ages are invited to meet in front of the nature center at 6:30p for a nature hike and to hang out at the playground. There are picnic tables for those who wish to come early and enjoy a picnic supper before the hike.

Social Justice

The UUtheVote Team has set geographic targets for our next wave, beginning in early-mid July. Watch for our summer blast!

Want to place an early order for yourself or a friend? Visit the back of the sanctuary after each Sunday service OR reach out to Greg Grabowski.

NOTE: Postcard stamp prices will increase to $.56 as of JULY 14th.

Stock up now, while they are still $.53!

Join the UUtheVote Team - Want to join us as the election heats up? We’re fun, energetic, and we’d love to have you! Email or call Carolyn Laughlin through the REALM Membership Directory.

UCE Book Clubs

UCE Non-Fiction Book Group

The nonfiction book group will meet virtually on Zoom at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 28th using our recurring link to discuss an opinion piece by columnist David Brooks which appeared in the New York Times on August 10, 2023. In his article entitled "Hey America, Grow Up!", Brooks traces the decline of the American psyche since cultural changes that began after World War II. He says that therapy emphasized people's sense of self-worth and sometimes people depended on others to validate their own self-esteem. As time went on, we were in the middle of a mental health crisis, with rising depression and suicide rates.

To learn what David Brooks believes about how people build secure identities, read his article.

Zoom discussion on Sunday, July 28th at 2pm, using our recurring ZOOM link.

UCE Fiction Book Group

The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading a classic this month:

James, by Percival Everett.

This is the story of Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of the slave Jim, who, like Huck, is escaping an abusive situation. In their runaway journey, the Black James (his mother called him James, not Jim) has a completely different experience from Huck, as an untethered Negro loose in the South. James in Everett’s novel is a more realistic picture of what being a Black man in the pre-civil war south was like. Still the same humor and nonsense of Huckleberry Finn, but with a definite bite.

Friday, July 19, at 7-8pm, using our recurring ZOOM link.

Celebration of Life

On Saturday, July 20, at 1 pm,

we will gather to celebrate the life of our beloved Joan Taylor.

Two Margarets (Shaklee and Talmage) are arranging hospitality. If you would like to take on a small role or bring a favorite food for the buffet, click HERE and signup! Or, email Margaret Shaklee.