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In-Person & Virtual Worship Service

this Sunday, July 30th at 10:30 am

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday!

Children and youth will remain in the worship service this morning.

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday:

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

Wisdom Tales & Wild Games – will return on August 6 when we’ll be “visiting” South Korea.

Families can explore our summer theme, Delight, at home at their own pace with the Soulful Home packet.

Summertime is Beach time!

Folks from UCE met at Lighthouse Beach last Sunday for an afternoon full of sunshine, waves, and friendship. We had so much fun that we’re doing it again on September 3! Hope you join us then!

Rev. Elizabeth Harding to serve as

UCE’s new Community Minister 

Many of you will remember that Rev. Elizabeth Harding served as our sabbatical coverage minister for pastoral care. The Pastoral Care Team was deeply appreciative of her leadership with them during that time. She brought a breadth of experience, warmth and wisdom to her role. Rev. Elizabeth is a community minister, which means she serves our faith in the community in a number of ways including through chaplaincy and hospice care, rather than as a parish minister. Community Ministers are most often affiliated with a congregation, which provides accountable relationship and institutional support to their ministry. It also allows them to maintain a covenantal relationship with our wider Unitarian Universalist Association and the UU Ministers Association. Rev. Elizabeth approached me to ask if she could be affiliated with UCE and I am pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees voted to approve this request at their last board meeting.  

Rev. Elizabeth will not be called, hired, or paid by UCE. Instead, she will support our mission by volunteering in Faith Formation monthly and provide occasional support to the Pastoral Care Team. She will be a back up for Rev. Susan and I, officiating memorials and weddings when we can’t and for non-members for standard ministerial fees. We are fortunate to have her join our team in this capacity and we look forward to commissioning her in a worship service in September. 

Here is a little more about her: 

Rev. Elizabeth A. Harding, AM, MDiv, LCSW 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. 

Elizabeth Harding is married to Kevin B. O'Reilly, a journalist with the American Medical Association and they have Lucas, 9, and Simon, 4. In her free time, she swims, dances, reads, and generally tries to raise UU feminists who will be a part of the downfall of the heteronormative patriarchy. She is also a Cubs fan, because they are the best teachers of theology, namely, suffering and hope. They live in Skokie. 

Do Not Enter Parking Lot!

On August 2nd & 3rd a sealcoating will be applied to the UCE parking lot, which means it will not be accessible for parking on those days. Please be advised that if you plan to be in the building, you should park on Greenwood and enter the building by using the sidewalk that runs next to the garden and parallel and to the east of the parking lot. Thanks for your understanding as we complete this important maintenance to our lot. 

Hats off to Melanie Kitchner and Sally Parsons

Our hats are off this week to Melanie Kitchner and Sally Parsons for helping out in the office while we are between office staff. Melanie is helping us get the newsletter out on Fridays and Sally is answer phones several mornings a week. Thank you for filling in to get us through and for all the ways you support the staff and our congregation. 

New Sanctuary Chairs Feedback: Round Two

Thanks to the 106 people who provided feedback on the first round of test chairs. We listened to some of you who had further concerns and questions. So, this time we have a variety of wood chairs to compare with the winning ergonomic type chair. We sought to get samples that had colors more along the line of what we might purchase. We are running this feedback period from July 7-23rd. The chairs are sitting at the back of the sanctuary with the feedback forms ready. Please put your completed form in the box. So please take a moment to join the fun of “putting your derriere in the chair” and give us your feedback.

Your feedback is sought on: Comfort, Attractive Design, Color Scheme and Weight

 BLUU HAVENS CHICAGO INVITES YOU TO JOIN US

 for Third Unitarian Church's annual festival of music, food and fellowship!

Razz Fest - July 29, Noon-4pm

Lunch will include delicious corn on the cob and grilled watermelon.

12pm-2pm

COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE 

AND A VISIT FROM THE GLENART FARMS GOATS

2pm-4pm

LARRY TAYLOR BAND WILL BE PERFORMING

There will be informational tables from many of our community partners.

There will also be a book give away and a craft table to create bracelets.

This will be loads of fun and we can't wait to see you there!

Looking forward to sharing this special day with everyone!

What is BLUU Havens? 

The 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions (PoWR) is 2 weeks away, convening thousands of faith, spiritual, and civic organizers addressing the threat of autocracy, the backsliding of democracies, the rise of nationalism, the climate emergency, and the humanitarian crises and wars around the world.

This year PoWR is being held in Chicago at McCormick Place from August 14-18! 

If you are registered to attend and want to connect with other UCE folks who are also attending, email Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

A concert to honor Gay Menges, Jon's mom, on August 20th. This is a free concert but if you're able to make a contribution of $10-$20, it would be greatly appreciated.

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday:

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

The nonfiction book group will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 27th via Zoom to select the books we will discuss in the coming months. Everyone is welcome to join us. Contact Jackie Seaman through the Realm Membership Directory or Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org for the Zoom link.

Summer Concert Meetup August 8 for South Boulevard Band at Harbert Park, Evanston – 7p. From Australia to St. Lucia, they’ve played Broadway musicals, chorale pieces, television scores, theatrical productions, gigs with Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Charo (coochie coochie!) —oh, and of course, rock, jazz and blues. Marcie Hicks is our point person, so look for her there! Our last concert meetup will be August 16 in Skokie, so only two more gatherings

Support Refugee One Back to School Drive

The UCE Immigrant Solidarity Team encourages members to support the Refugee One Back to School Drive through their Amazon wishlist this year. Last year we supplied them with 13 backpacks full of school supplies! This year it is even easier!

From the Refugee One website:

Summer just started, but we're thinking ahead! Help us equip refugee youth with backpacks and school supplies. There are 400+ students in our Youth Program, and dozens more arriving in the coming months.

Order items direct to RefugeeOne's office via their Amazon Wishlist (Back to School), https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/4IZ2XSMLQTOY?ref_=wl_share&viewType=grid

Interested in donating other items?

Check here, https://www.refugeeone.org/donatestuff.html 

Giving House Continues...

For the month of July, we are accepting donations of rice in the Giving House.

The Giving House is a small wooden "house" that is located in the front lobby. We are partnering with C&W Market & Ice Cream to distribute free foods to those in need.