Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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In-Person & Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, July 17th at 10:15 am
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Some, if not all
with Rev. Jon Coffee
The year was 2022. They answered the phone call from Planned Parenthood where they had volunteered. They were being asked to staff the phone line. “I can do some of the hours, but not all.” He woke up in his grief. He stared at the toaster waffles he had made. “I can eat some of them but not all.” There are days when “some” is good enough. The fear of “all” can’t stop us from doing what “some” we can. In this service, we will explore how to know the “some” we can do even when we feel like we can’t do “all.”
Rev. Jon Coffee is a UU minister in Knoxville, TN, where he lives with his husband, Keith. Jon is a community minister affiliated with Tennessee valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Jon graduated from Meadville Lombard in 2017 with a Master of Divinity degree. He became a staff member at Meadville Lombard Theological School during his final year of the MDiv program. In his role as Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Student Services, he forges relationships with Meadville students, past (alumni), present (current students), and future (prospective students).
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Please join us after the service this Sunday for
Kinship Time in the back of the Sanctuary!
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Goodbye for Now
from Jessica Meis, Communications Coordinator
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Hi UCE,
Most of you hopefully read Sandra's column last week announcing my resignation from UCE. I have been attending graduate school at Columbia College Chicago since the Fall of 2021 and I've learned a lot. This program has also opened up some amazing opportunities for my future career, so it is time to say goodbye to you all for now.
What will I be doing? Along with continuing my program at Columbia, there are two opportunities that start at the end of this month/beginning of August. First, I was offered to lead a hospitality team at Lollapalooza, the music festival in Chicago. This will be a great opportunity to serve in a leadership role and help put on a fun event for music lovers. Second, I will be serving as the Collections Assistant at the Museum of Contemporary Photography (MOCP) at Columbia starting in August. With an undergraduate degree in Art History and Latin American Studies, I have always wanted to work in a museum where I can help reshape the traditional Eurocentric narrative around art and culture to be more inclusive and reflective of our communities. This is my next step towards that goal and I'm excited to see where it will lead after I finish graduate school. If you see me at Lollapalooza or the MOCP, don't hesitate to say "Hello!"...
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On behalf of the staff, I want to add how grateful we are to Jessica for her time with us and how much we will miss her. She started in her position in September 2019, at a time of great transition in the congregation, and she provided steadiness, dependability, and wisdom through the challenges of the pandemic. She helped tremendously with the pledge drive and contributed great creativity, organization, thoughtfulness, and kindness throughout her work with us.
We are so happy that Jessica will be able to move forward toward her career goals, even if it means she has to move on from UCE. Please join me in sharing your thanks and well wishes to Jessica when you have a chance.
With appreciation,
Rev. Eileen
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New Sunday Schedule beginning in September |
After gathering feedback from the congregation and considering options, the staff, ministers, and lay leaders have responded with some adjustments to the Sunday morning schedule. These changes will begin on Sunday, September 4, 2022. We hope this will be a positive change and relatively easy to acclimate to. Here are the highlights:
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The Worship Service for all ages will shift to 10:30 am rather than 10:15 am. Nursery care provided.
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Children and youth faith formation time will be from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.
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Adult faith formation time will be before the Worship Service, from 9:30 – 10:30 am. This will be a time for groups such as cancer support, new member classes, pre-service choir rehearsal, and possibly Forum to meet. Nursery care will be provided.
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A full hour of Kinship Time after the Worship Service will be from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, when we can enjoy each other’s company. We will continue to have all ages potlucks, social justice activities, and treasured traditions like Ornament Sunday each month. Nursery care until 12:00 pm.
As with most things in the pandemic, we are leaning into new ways of being, finding our way forward, and embracing experimentation. We hope you will lean with us with open minds and hearts, and continue to provide us with feedback with love and in covenant. We also hope you will say yes to volunteering in the ways that you can. We will especially ask you to consider saying yes to leading faith formation for children and youth and to join in our shared endeavor of radical hospitality and welcoming. If you have questions, concerns, or want to volunteer, please contact Rev. Eileen, Rev. Susan, or Kathy Underwood, our Director of Lifespan Faith Formation.
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Hats Off to Carolyn Laughlin! |
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Our hats are off to Carolyn Laughlin. Carolyn makes leading look effortless. She is heading up the Get Out the Vote postcard and letter writing program for our UU the Vote initiative, in addition to her own volunteer work registering voters in Wisconsin. With clear instructions and easy access to materials, over 75 UCE members and friends are actively engaged in writing letters and postcards to encourage and provide information to voters primarily in states with voter suppression laws. Carolyn’s dedication to staying connected and keeping people engaged will lead us through the many months ahead as we move through the remaining primaries in other states and the general election in November.
As part of her leadership with the Membership Engagement Task Force, Carolyn is the chair of our Leadership Development Working Group. We will soon be hearing more from this working group, which has spent the last year putting together resources and strategies for how to help our teams with individual skill development, succession planning, and team growth.
Carolyn also finds time to relax and engage with her Proximity Partners group, the Non-fiction Book Group, and our summer Tuesday night concert meet-ups. Carolyn brings this valuing of engaged relationship with her on Sunday mornings. Whether she is volunteering as one of our Greeters or just attending the service, Carolyn makes new and returning attendees feel welcome and connected.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your commitment to creating a better society and your care in making UCE a place where visitors and leaders are supported and appreciated!
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UCE Building Availability -
The UCE Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10am-5pm
If you have music to share in worship, we would love to add your to our list. We are looking for either live or recorded performances for Sunday mornings to enhance our worship. Reach out to Rev. Eileen or Vickie Hellyer.
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Jo Jones Memorial is on Thursday, July 21 at 2 pm.
Jerry Galich's Memorial is on Saturday, July 23 at 11 am.
The Next UU Concert Meetup is on Tuesday, July 26 at 7 pm at Larimer Park. More info below.
The Next Worship Planning Playdate is July 30th from 10 am - Noon in Room 3. More info and registration link below.
Transgender Inclusion in Congregations begins Wednesday, October 5. More info below.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Friday, July 15
Saturday, July 16
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Virtual Pilates at 9:30 am on Zoom. Email Janelle Brittain to join.
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Tai Chi at 9:45 am and 11 am in Room 3.
Sunday, July 17
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Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 8:45 am in Room 6 & via Zoom. Contact Renee Hoff for the Zoom link.
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All-Ages Worship Service at 10:15 am - Sanctuary & Youtube. Click here to join.
- Kinship Time after the service in the back of the sanctuary
Monday, July 18
Tuesday, July 19
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Wednesday, July 20
Thursday, July 21
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Jo Jones Memorial at 2 pm in the UCE Sanctuary & on livestream. Click here to join.
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Meditation Group at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Lisa Solomon for the link.
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Board of Trustees meeting at 7 pm on Zoom. Email the Office for the link.
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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!
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Congregational Connections |
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New Sanctuary Hearing Loop is Finally Ready |
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The Capital Campaign Implementation Committee is pleased to announce that our Sanctuary Loop was completed this week.
Jon Siegel will make an announcement at this Sunday's service on July 17. He will be available at the table where we currently provide the hearing devices to instruct users how to use their hearing aids with the new system.
The loop system allows the user of a T-coil enabled hearing aid to essentially plug in to the signal directly from the microphone(s) that feed into the sound system. It’s better than a simple amplifier because it takes advantage of all the signal processing that the hearing aid does, matching the needs of each person, determined by the audiologist who adjusts the hearing aid. Room noise and reverberation are greatly reduced.
If you have a t-coil hearing aid, read your instructions on how to turn them on so that your hearing aid interacts with the loop. Instructions will be available on July 17th as well.
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Commission Studying UU Principles and Sources Extends Feedback Deadline to July 18th |
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After such wonderful feedback from the sessions at the 2022 General Assembly (GA), the Commission studying Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association Bylaws, which will rewrite our Principles and Sources, has extended its deadline for individual feedback to July 18th.
If you did not attend GA, you may view all the public videos from GA online. The Article II presentations can be found within the following General Sessions under the On-Demand Video section:
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Introduction to the work, Purpose, and Freedom of Belief in General Session II (beginning with Dan McKanan’s theological framing at 20:35, followed by a presentation at 32:30).
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Values and Covenant in General Session III (beginning at 24:15, followed by Dr. Elías Ortega’s theological framing at 1:29:20).
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Inclusion and Inspirations in General Session IV (beginning at 33:00, followed by Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt’s theological framing at 1:20:34).
Record your thoughts, comments, questions, and ideas via the GA 2022 – Feedback for Article II Study Commission hub at padlet.com/a2sc/ga22.
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Upcoming Memorial Services for
Jo Jones and Jerry Galich at UCE
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UCE Members and Friends are invited to join with family to honor the lives of two of our members who have recently died. These services will be held in the UCE sanctuary and livestreamed at the links below.
Thursday, July 21st at 2 pm - Jo Jones Celebration of Life
Saturday, July 23rd at 11 am - Jerry Galich Celebration of Life
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Rest & Resistance: A Book Release and Abortion Access Fundraiser |
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Poet Atena O. Danner invites the UCE congregation and friends to her book release on Wednesday, July 20 at 7 pm at her home church, Second Unitarian Church of Chicago.
When abortion rights are under attack, what do we do? READ POEMS! FIGHT BACK!!! Please join Surviving the Mic for a celebration of poetry and resistance against heteropatriarchal control of our bodies! Atena O. Danner will read poems from her newly released collection “Incantations for Rest: Poems, Meditations and Other Magic.“ Book release reception to follow. Donate to Midwest Access Coalition and receive a copy of ‘Incantations for Rest’ while supplies last.
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Next Worship Planning Playdate - July 30 |
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Our next Worship Planning Playdate is coming up July 30th from 10 am - Noon in Room 3. All are welcome if you are interested in helping to shape the upcoming worship services. Let us know if you are interested in joining by registering below.
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What's Happening in Faith Formation? |
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This Sunday -
All ages are invited to remain in the worship service. Nursery care (ages 0-3) during worship in room 11 from 10:15 - 11:30 am.
And families can explore our June's theme of Celebrating Blessings in their own timeframe in the Soulful Home packet.
And Looking Ahead...
The Family Ministry Team is making summer plans!
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Penny Park Picnic – August 7 at Noon
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Wednesdays on the Lawn returns! Mark your calendars for the following dates:
- July 20 – Indoor/Outdoor Games – bring a family favorite – 5:30 for picnicking, 6:30 program
- August 3 – Dance Party - 5:30 for picnicking, 6:30 program
- August 17 – Back-to-School Bonfire – 6:30-8pm - please note the later starting time
- August 31 – Movie on the Lawn - 6:30 for picnicking, 7:15-ish showtime
Only Two More Concert Meetups!
Join a group of UUs at Evanston-area outdoor free concerts. We are arranging a point person for each of the following concerts, and ways of identifying them, such as a flag or balloon. Meet any time after 6p. Concerts start at 7p. Some events have food vendors. Check out the entire series here. It’s a great way for proximity partners to gather too!
- July 26 at Larimer Park (Near UCE, Crain & Oak) - Marcy Hicks is the point person
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August 9 at Mason Park (Near ETHS, Church & Florence) - if you can be a point person for this last concert, email Kathy Underwood.
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The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading Grey Bees by Ukrianian novelist Andrey Kurkov, translated by Boris Dralyuk. Join us for the book discussion on TODAY, Friday, July 15 at 7pm by ZOOM.
Sergey Sergeyich, a beekeeper, and his friend Pashka are the last residents of a small village in the grey zone between Ukraine and Russia during the 2014 war. The two curmudgeons spar with good nature through the winter, then Sergey decides that when spring comes, his bees will need meadows to source pollen, so he must pack them up and travel through Ukraine west to more peaceful climes. In his travels, Sergey encounters combatants and civilians on both sides of the battle lines and must armor himself in his strong moral compass in order to maintain equilibrium. Kurkov is hailed variously as “a post-soviet Kafka,” “a kind of Ukrainian Kurt Vonnegut ,” “carrying top notes of Beckett and Pinter,” “a modern-day Odysseus.”
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The nonfiction book group will not meet in July.
We invite people to read nonfiction books over the summer and attend our Zoom meeting at 2 pm on Sunday, August 28 when participants will recommend and decide on books our group will read and discuss in the coming months.
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Transgender Inclusion in Congregations |
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Transgender Inclusion in Congregations is a 6-part series created by the Transforming Hearts Collective, featuring instructors Rev. Mykal Slack & Zr. Alex Kapitan and presented by Rev. Eileen, Christine Peters, and Carla Williams. This course is for anyone (ages 12 and up) who wants to contribute to building Beloved Community and help UCE become fully inclusive and actively affirming.
Over six sessions we will deeply explore the intersection of trans identity, spirituality and faith community in order to gain grounding, context and skills to transform ourselves and our congregation. The course meets people where they are and will move us toward welcoming, relationship-building, and skills-building. Each session will include a webinar video, individual and group reflection, and discussion on topics ranging from what does Beloved Community really mean; the ways trans folks have been and remain marginalized; and ways our congregation can more fully celebrate and nurture the spirits of all people.
Wednesdays October 5th – November 9th from 7-8:30 pm on Zoom. For your benefit and the benefit of all participants, the expectation is that you attend all sessions. However, we understand that schedules can be challenging and unexpected conflicts occur. Please register for this event so we can plan and send you required materials.
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It's Time for Springfield to Step Up! |
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In the wake of the horrific mass shooting in Highland Park, many of us are asking the same question: WHAT CAN WE DO?
The UCE Legislative Advocacy Team urges all of us to demand that Illinois have a special legislative session dedicated to gun violence prevention in Illinois. Specifically, we believe the legislature should immediately consider:
- a ban on assault-type weapons
- a ban on large capacity magazines
- mandatory fingerprinting to get a FOID card
While Congress recently enacted some meaningful but modest gun violence prevention legislation, our influence as citizens is strongest at the state level, so that is where we should focus our efforts in this time of crisis.
Please call and email the leaders listed below, as well as your own state representative and senator, and demand a special legislative session to address the plague of gun violence in Illinois.
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Governor Pritzker - Click here to send an email or call (312) 814-2121 or (312) 814-2122
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Senate President Don Harmon - Click here to send an email or call (708) 848-2002
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Speaker Chris Welch: Click here to send an email or call (708) 450-1000
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Find your senator and representatives here.
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REAL Team Shares an Exciting Community Opportunity |
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On July 16th, the Black Business Consortium of Evanston hosts a tour of Black-owned businesses in Evanston, and a Black Business Marketplace and Expo at James Park. There will be two bus tours and lots of businesses at the Expo. For details see the Black Business Consortium website.
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This July - Help UCE with Plastic Free EcoChallenge |
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Each action you take during July earns our team points. You can do as much or as little as you are comfortable with. Young people can join on their own and update their dashboard, just like older adults. This competition is a game that educates and challenges us. Our Green Team will check our team's progress during the month of July to see how we are performing in comparison to other faith communities in and around the Northshore.
This EcoChallenge is sponsored by the Coalition of North American Aquariums and Zoos. Have fun and clean up our oceans!
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Sack Lunches at Connections for the Homeless
Pick up Sites Still Needed
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Connections for the Homeless has an urgent need for sack lunches to be provided at its three pick-up locations. Food insecurity is ever present in our community and making lunches is one way we can help!
Please note the different delivery instructions for different locations. If you have any questions about how to sign up on the Connections calendar, please contact Sheila Holder through REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org. Sheila also has packets of mayo and mustard to include in your prepared lunches.
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UUtheVote 2022: We're Doing It! |
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We are already at 15% of our 40,000 Points of Love goal and it’s four months until the general election. If you have made any point of contact to encourage another person to vote, if you have registered voters or handed out voter information, if you have talked with someone about your values and how they influence your voting decisions, please let us know by emailing Shirley Adams through Realm or at admin@ucevanston.org. Each conversation or action is a Point of Love.
Here are some of our successes and words of encouragement:
“Good morning! Are you registered to vote at your current address? Let me check for you!” Thus began my experience with 40 prospective voters during a day in a Milwaukee DMV office. All are now guaranteed ready to vote without a hassle on Election Day and will have their voices heard. I had a great day! I also realized that, by way of my conversations with these voters, several hundred folks in and out all day were reminded of the importance, value, and impact of voting. I’m going back again next week, for a double shift! ~ Carolyn
Everywhere I turn is an invitation to write postcards to get out the vote. My favorite postcard party will be at the local wine cafe in Evanston. Organize something in your backyard like The Village People Proximity Partners is doing. Let's make writing postcards a social event and invite our friends to help. ~ Shirley
I have worked in every election since 1968. I've canvassed door to door and made thousands of phone calls. One of my pet peeves is that the turnout drops off significantly in the off-year election. Accordingly, I'm going to be making trips to Wisconsin to register voters and making phone calls into Wisconsin to turn out voters for the November election. I'm so pleased that UU the Vote is on the case! ~ Lee
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Reproductive Justice Action of Immediate Witness |
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One of the Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW) passed at the UUA General Assembly last week was “We Do Not Consent: Rejecting Legal Challenges to Abortion.” This AIW is a clear statement that our Unitarian Universalist faith affirms that our bodies are sacred, that we are each endowed with the twin gifts of agency and conscience, and that each of us should have the power to decide what does and doesn’t happen to our bodies at every moment of our lives because consent and self-determination are holy.
The AIW also points out how the change in law will cause greater hardship for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), people of low financial resources, those with disabilities, and those in the LGBTQAI+ communities, who are most harmed by legal and systemic barriers to comprehensive reproductive health care. This AIW calls upon us to act individually and collectively to organize, advocate, witness, support, educate and fundraise.
Here are some of the many ways to live into this AIW and our UU values:
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Sign Petition to Support Local Housing Program |
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Please consider signing a petition to support the purchase of the Margarita Inn by Connections for the Homeless in order to operate their Bridge Housing program. Throughout the pandemic, Connections heroically stepped up to provide shelter for more than 300 people experiencing homelessness. Since 2020, 184 homeless individuals have been served at the Margarita Inn, including men, women, and children. Currently, 86% are Evanston residents. We believe all our neighbors deserve a safe, stable place to call home. The services provided by Connections for the Homeless at the Margarita Inn create the path to stable housing and a brighter future.
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Save the Date - Interfaith Action of Evanston's
Vision Keeper's Dinner
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Sunday, September 18 at 5:30 pm
DoubleTree, Versailles Room
Tickets: $75
Join the IAE Board in honoring members of our faith communities who exemplify the IAE vision of interfaith social action and dialogue. Tickets include a donation to support IAE's direct services to homeless and hungry people in Evanston.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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