Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, July 4 at 11:15 am
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The Game of Life
Since ancient human history, board games have been a way of entertaining ourselves and bringing people together. From chess to "Monopoly," these games are not only rich with strategy and memories - but also lessons for how to be in community during difficult times. Join guest preacher Rev. Monica Kling-Garcia as they share the wisdom and lessons found in these games, and what we can learn from them about what it can mean to be a covenantal community.
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From Sandra Robinson, Executive Operations Director |
Hello my friends,
We are all looking forward to the return to the building in September. The Capital Campaign Implementation Committee (CCIC) project managers continue to meet each week, zoom in between and sometimes meet at the building in order to get the space in order by the fall.
Room two is on the edge of completion. New furniture arrived and carpet is in the process of being ordered. Beautiful new intimate ceiling...
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Hats Off to Robb Geiger and Barb Butz! |
Our Hats are off...again...to Robb Geiger and Barb Butz this week. We've thanked them both before for the many ways they help out around the church, especially in the building and on the grounds. But this week, they really went above and beyond. Rev. Eileen came to church on Tuesday and found one of the trees on the south side of the building bent all the way over, almost laying down in the yard. It wasn't broken or cracked, just laying lazily down, and very much in the way of our plans for Wednesday evenings on the lawn. In Sandra's absence, Eileen contacted Barb to get her referral for a tree specialist. However, by the end of the day, Robb and Barb were here, saws in hand, cutting the top of the tree off, which allowed the narrow trunk to spring back up and saved us considerable cost. Thanks Robb and Barb for always being at the ready to tend, adjust, maintain, dig, plant, repair, and do all manner of things around UCE. |
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Application Deadline extended to July 31st for the
2021-2022 Shared Plate Program
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The Social Justice Council invites you to submit nominees for the 2021-2022 Shared Plate Program. Each year, UCE’s Shared Plate Program donates half of the Sunday offering received to 13 organizations in support of their social justice efforts. The deadline for submitting a Nomination Form is July 31, 2021.
Organizations may be nominated by a UCE member or staff. For 2021-2022, in light of the reality of our present crises, in order to be eligible for the Shared Plate Program an organization must address systemic racism and/or the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color and the poor.
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Chalice Lighters Needed - If you would like to light the UCE chalice OR record you and your family lighting a chalice at home to be used in the Sunday service, please send an email to Rev. Eileen.
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Donations for RefugeeOne need to be dropped off by July 9th. More info below.
Upcoming Worship Planning Playdate is July 10 at 9:30 am. More info below.
Application Deadline for 2021-2022 Shared Plate Program Nominations is July 31.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Sunday, July 4
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Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 9:30 am via Zoom - Email Renee Hoff for details.
Monday, July 5
- UCE Office/Building Closed for Holiday
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Addictions and Recovery Group at 7 pm via Zoom. Click here to join.
Tuesday, July 6
Wednesday, July 7
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Virtual Yoga at 9:30 am via 8x8. Click here to join.
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Wednesday on the Lawn at 5:30-7:30 pm. More info below.
Thursday, July 8
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Virtual Meditation at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Andrea DeMers for the link.
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Congregational Connections |
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Wednesdays on the Lawn - Begins this Wednesday, July 7 |
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5 Star Gatherings: Food, Faith, Family, Fun, Fellowship! Join the Faith Formation Force EACH Wednesday in July from 5:30-7:30 pm for these ALL AGES in-person gatherings outside at UCE.
5:30 – 6:15 gather on the church lawn for a picnic. Picnic is flexible timing or optional.
6:15 - 6:30 opening song and chalice lighting
6:30 – 7:15 fiercely faithful family friendly activity
7:15 – 7:30 closing circle and song
This Wednesday we will enjoy making music together - singing (with masks), drumming, playing and making instruments. Feel free to bring your own instruments!
Bring your own picnic (food, beverages, chairs, blankets and mask). Masks are required when not eating or drinking. Join in music, worship and learning for people of all ages. Tell your friends and neighbors. All are welcome! Stay tuned for more information.
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Wednesday 5:30 Zoom Gatherings - on hold for July |
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Please join us for Wednesdays on the Lawn in July from 5:30-7:30 (see more details above) and so our weekly Zoom All-Church gatherings will be on hold for this month.
Regular attenders and staff are talking about what will happen after that. We may shift to twice a month - the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays for example, with Rev. Eileen and Rev. Susan alternating the facilitation or, if the group wants to continue meeting every week, congregants can take the lead on the alternating weeks. If you have strong feelings about the Wednesday evening Zoom gatherings, please let us know what you'd like to see happen with this important connection for many through the pandemic. Email Rev. Eileen at ewiviott@ucevanston.org.
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Worship Planning Play Date - July 10 |
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Our next Worship Planning Play Date we be live and IN PERSON! On Saturday, July 10th from 9:30 am to noon. If you are interested in creating and participating in worship, join us in the UCE sanctuary to plan the worship services September through November. We will also review elements of worship and train (or re-train) worship associates, as well as ‘metaphorage’ for words, music, visuals and ritual elements to weave into Sunday morning services. Please register if you are interested or contact Rev. Eileen with questions.
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Endowment Grants Approved |
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The Endowment Committee recommended, and the Board approved the following grants for FY21-22, in their respective June meetings: |
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Banner for the lobby showing the 8 Principles $950
Hybrid worship/conferencing equipment $18,600
Interfaith Action support for blankets, laundry, hospitality center $15,000
Family Focus scholarships $6,650
Leadership development scholarship $900
Storyteller for intergenerational worship $1,800
Choir section leads $9,000
Total $52,900
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COVID Vaccination Opportunity at Ebenezer AME Church |
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Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston is partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health to host a COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on July 17 and August 7. You can pre-register at the link below or Walk-ins will be welcome at 12:45 pm on the clinic dates. Ages 12+ are welcome.
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Celebration of Life for Michael Wynne |
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Janelle Brittain is inviting the UCE congregation to the Celebration of Life Memorial of her beloved husband Michael Wynne on July 17th at 3:00 pm at her home. If you’d like the details, please email her at janellebri@aol.com. |
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July 3 is the Last Drop Off Day for Much Needed Toothpaste, Dishwashing Liquid, and Sponges |
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Interfaith Action of Evanston operates a monthly Produce Mobile, year-round, providing free groceries and toiletries to around 250 families.
For the July 13th Produce Mobile, they are in need of the following items:
- Toothpaste
- Dishwashing liquid
- Sponges
Please limit your generosity to the items requested.
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Volunteer Opportunities to Assist Refugees through
RefugeeOne or FORA
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Who are able to act as interpreters for refugees. The most common languages are Arabic, Farsi, Kiswahili, Burmese, Rohingya, and French. If you are able to assist, please contact Shubira Bocko, at sbocko@refugeeone.org.
- Refugee One is holding a drive for new gym shoes and backpacks for kids as part of their Back-to-School effort. The Immigrant Solidarity Team is organizing a donation effort to help these families get ready for school in the fall.
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The deadline for all shoe donations is July 9th as all the shoes will be delivered the next day to the RefugeeOne. Email Jeanne Kerl and deliver them to her house (address in REALM) or she may be able to pick them up, if you can't.
Please indicate on this form what you are willing to purchase so we can keep track.
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Help RefugeeOne collect backpacks with school supplies for kids for the fall term. Follow the link below for a list of what the backpacks should contain. If you can donate a few backpacks please contact Lee Bannor or Michelle Novak and we will arrange pick-ups or you can drop them off at UCE, Mondays, Wednesday, or Fridays between 9 am - Noon. Please get your backpacks or items dropped off or picked up by July 9th.
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This Summer with Faith Formation! |
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This week, we take a short break for the July 4th holiday weekend. We’ll return to our Soulful Home packet next week. In the meantime, you can still check out the whole packet here.
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Wednesdays on the Lawn Begins this Week!
Our first gathering will feature a sing-along and drumming. You can also make some shakers and add a bit more percussion to our singing!
- 5:30 – 6:15 gather on the church lawn for a picnic. Picnic is flexible timing or optional.
- 6:15 - 6:30 opening song and chalice lighting
- 6:30 – 7:15 fiercely faithful family friendly activity
- 7:15 – 7:30 closing circle and song
Bring your own picnic (food, beverages, chairs, blankets, and mask). Masks are required when not eating or drinking. Join in music, worship and learning for people of all ages. Tell your friends and neighbors. All are welcome! Stay tuned for more information.
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On July 16 at 7:30 pm on Zoom, the UCE Fiction Book Group will discuss Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys.
This is the 2020 Pulitzer choice for Fiction and truly in keeping with Pulitzer’s mission, as The Nickel Boys dramatizes another strand of American life. Black boys Elwood Curtis and Turner are unfairly consigned to a juvenile detention center in Florida, the Nickel Academy. Optimist Curtis and pessimist Turner navigate the perilous life of being “Nickel Boys." Based on the real story for a “reform school” that neither reformed nor schooled thousands of American children for 111 years. A hard but ultimately redemptive reading.
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The nonfiction book group won't be meeting in July or August to discuss books but we look forward to selecting books for the coming year at our Zoom meeting at 2 pm on August 22nd.
We're hoping that everyone who has a nonfiction book they recommend and, perhaps, would like to discuss with others at UCE, will add the title to this google document. We're hoping that this document will encourage UCErs to share their love of books by recommending titles. The nonfiction book group will consider all titles added to this google doc and we hope that many people who submit titles will join us at the August 22nd meeting and then continue with us throughout the church year.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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