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

Sunday Service

July 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. 

 In The Absence of Clarity

When people in any organization are not given clear, shared, honest answers to the question of what they are trying to accomplish together, they do not operate in a neutral zone. They fill in the center. They fill it with their own histories, their own fears, their own private visions of what the organization should be. And they work from those private understandings, which means a congregation full of people who genuinely share the same values can still be pulling in fundamentally different directions, without anyone having done anything wrong. This is why it is important to create a shared understanding of how to live the mission, because in the absence of clarity, people fill in their own meaning and context. Rev. David Miller, a native Evanstonian, is our preacher. Lynn Kendall serves as Worship Associate and Gregory Shifrin is on the piano. 

Rev. David A. Miller has served the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax as the senior minister since 2015. Before coming to UUCF, Rev. Miller was the settled minister of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Fellowship of San Dieguito in Southern California since 2009. David was raised Jewish in the Skokie/Evanston area. Before he was called to the ministry, David spent more than 25 years in executive management, strategic planning, marketing, business development, and fundraising with private sector and non-profit organizations. He also served Unitarian Universalism as a member of the Standing on the Side of Love National Creative Advisory Team.

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 - 2:15p. 

Phineas and Ferb Phartsy Fun

Today we watch the episode, Nerdy Dancing,

and have our own dance party.

Staff Spotlight on Vickie Doebele by Susan Comstock

Vickie Doebele, our Staff Accountant who is retiring this month, first came to UUCE services the year her older daughter started kindergarten in 2002 and became a member in 2003. Having retired from her career in accounting in the spring of 2017, Vickie volunteered to fill in when we lost our previous accountant. By July, our former Executive Operations Director was so pleased with Vickie’s help she offered her the Staff Accountant position. 

Vickie has enjoyed being our Staff Accountant and helping UUCE run smoothly. But she has done more than just accounting. She answers the phone, speaks with members about issues that may not even be financial, and distributes the mail. Vickie has particularly appreciated meeting more members than she knew from her other UUCE activities, which has expanded her feeling of belonging.  

Favorite times at UUCE: teaching Sunday School for 10 years—especially teaching the Bible and learning cultural Biblical references; the Do It Ourselves Christmas Pageant; the Easter can hunt with the older kids wearing rabbit ears while they hid the cans for the young ones to find; the Rummage Sale (her daughters could buy whatever they wanted EXCEPT stuffed animals); and our various all-congregation lunches. And Vickie very much valued religious education and all the opportunities that R.E. afforded her kids to be integrated into the congregation. Once her children were grown, she started enjoying the various adult faith formation classes offered each year.

Now that Vickie is retiring again, she’s thinking about traveling, spending a bit more time with her kids (Wendy is in the area and Julie is in southeast Michigan), and visiting close relatives she hasn’t seen recently. Vickie has a house in southwest Michigan where she “absolutely” will be spending more time (especially to get some work done!). Also, the idea of just doing nothing sounds great!

Vickie, a million thank you’s for your service, and we look forward to seeing you at UUCE as a regular member!

Our hats are off to Jean Butzen, Will and Johna Van Dyke, and Robb Geiger for helping us sift through the historical blueprints and drawings kept on the second floor. Jean organized the project and led this small team in exuberantly peering through UCE's history to find what we need to keep, what's of historical significance, and what we need to get rid of. Thank you!

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Friday, July 17th:

• NO EVENTS

Saturday, July 18th:

• Virtual Pilates, 9:30am, via Zoom
• Worship Planning Team, 9:30-11am, Room 6 and Zoom
• Beginner Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, Sanctuary
• UUCE Prison Ministry, 10:30-11:30am, via Zoom
• Intermediate Tai Chi, 11am-12pm, Sanctuary
• Immigrant Solidarity Team, 4-5pm, via Zoom

Sunday, July 19th:

• 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
• UCE Pagan Collective Monthly Meeting, 12-1:30pm, Room 13
• TransParentsy Group, 12:30-2pm, Room 2

Monday, July 20th:

• UUCE Addictions and Recovery, 6:45-7:45am, via Zoom
• Durkin Covenant Group, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Tuesday, July 21st:

• Catalyst Leadership Team Meeting, 1-2pm, via Zoom
• Legislative Action Team, 4:30-5:30pm, via Zoom
• Caregiver Support Group, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom
• First Women's Circle, 7-8pm, Online

Wednesday, July 22nd:

• Yoga, 9:30-10:30am, via Google Meet
• Hope Covenant Group, 7-9pm, Room 2

Thursday, July 23rd:

• Evanston Near South Proximity Group, 1-2pm, via Zoom
• Meditation Group, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Beacons of Light, 6-6:30pm, Dempster and Ridge

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.

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.

Michigan VOTES!

Michigan votes in the mid-terms, and we want voters who share UU values to come out in droves!

Indivisible Evanston is sending half a million postcards to Michigan (and North Carolina) on Oct. 21, and you can be part of this impactful work.

Pick up a pack of 25 postcards at the program table any Sunday through September. Start writing the week of July 27th. Not at service? Reach out to Carolyn Laughlin in REALM.

LOVE RESISTS

ONGOING UU CONNECTIONS

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330