Sunday Service

June 22, 2025 at 10:00am 

Ministers’ time away: Rev. Eileen will be away from June 16 - July 1 and Rev. Susan will be away from June 24 - July 7. While they are both away (the 24th - the 1st). Rev. Elizabeth Harding will cover any pastoral emergencies. You can reach her at eharding@ucevanston.org

Children and youth will remain in the worship service

Livestream Worship from General Assembly at 10-11:30a!

All ages will remain in the worship service.

Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 – 9:45a-12:15p

Summer Artsy Fun returns June 29! Those 3 years and older are invited to join us in room for some art fun!. Parents of those younger than 3rd grade, please sign your child(ren) in and then pick them up at noon.

Be sure to check out the new Soulful Home packet on our summer’s theme of Freedom. 

  You can see what’s coming up on our evolving calendar here.

UPDATE FROM REV. SUSAN FRANCES

Hi Friends,

I had a wonderful time at the UCE campout on June 6-8. Over 50 UCE folks from preschoolers to elders participated, some staying in a tent at the campground and some staying at the hotel adjacent to the state park. There were group activities as well as free time. You can see in the photo that I’m enjoying some free time in the hammock that Mickey and I set up at our campsite. The flag over the hammock was made by a friend to mark the entry to the outdoor chapel for our wedding many years ago. On the Saturday afternoon of the campout, Rev. Eileen and I drove back into the city for a Serendipity Auction event, the Ministers’ Progressive Lunch. As we progressed through the lunch, folks at two of the three tables asked me about my call, so that is something I have been thinking about the last two weeks, in addition to the national and world events unfolding around us.

Our Hats are off to Jim Strickler, Steve Serikaku, Angelina Burnette, Jackie Seaman, and Sarah Vanderwicken with our UU Prison Ministry Team for making time this week to sort through the remaining books in our Book H Bookstore to make a donation to the Chicago Books to Women in Prison program. There are guidelines for what books will be accepted, so they spent time looking through the books and discussing content. Much appreciation to Angelina for delivering the many bags of books to the drop off location in Ravenswood. Thank you for living into our value of generosity through this donation.

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Friday, June 20th:

• Fiction Book Group, 7-8:30pm via Zoom
• Young Adult Group, 7:30-9pm, Rooms 3

Saturday, June 21st:

• Beginning Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, Sanctuary
• Gardening Day, 10am-2pm, South Lawn and all gardens
• UCE Prison Ministry, 10:30-11:30am, via Zoom
• Intermediate Tai Chi, 11-12pm, Sanctuary
• Immigrant Solidarity Team, 4-5pm, via Zoom

Sunday, June 22nd:

• Chris Isely Cancer Support Group, 9am-10:15am, in-person Rm 6 and via Zoom
• General Assembly Worship, 10:00am - 11:30 am, Sanctuary
• Masked Kinship Time, 11:30-12:30pm, Back of Sanctuary
• Young Adult Soulful Sunday, 12-1pm, Room 6
• Evanston Garden Walk - Parking Lot in Use,12:00-5pm

Monday, June 23rd:

• UCE Addictions and Recovery, 6:45-7:45pm, via Zoom

Tuesday, June 24th:

• Retired Women's' Group, 5-7pm, Room 3
• Leadership Development Team Meeting, 6-7pm, via Zoom

Wednesday, June 25th:

• Yoga Online, 9:30am, via Zoom
• Hope Covenant Group, 7-9pm, Room 2
• REAL Team, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom

Thursday, June 26th:

• Evanston Near South Proximity Group, 1-2pm, via Zoom
• Meditation Group, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Beacon of Light Gathering, 7-7:30pm, Dempster and Ridge
• Anti-Oppression Task Force Meeting, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom

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 a pledge or something else) are shared equally between our operating budget and the current Shared Offering Recipient.

This Sunday's offering will be shared with the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism or BLUU. BLUU is committed to expanding the power and capacity of Black UUs within Unitarian Universalism; providing support, information, and resources for Black Unitarian Universalists; and justice-making and liberation for Black people through our faith.

Come be a Beacon of Light!

Inspired by the Beacons of Light movement shared in Rev Eileen's May 11th sermon, we're joining a growing chorus of resistance, hope, and solidarity right here in Evanston.

Starting Thursday, June 5, and continuing every Thursday from 7:00-7:30 PM through at least the end of August, the interfaith clergy invite the community to gather in solidarity at one of these locations in Evanston (there will be people gathering at all 3 locations each Thursday):

• Dempster & Ridge
• Chicago & Main
• Central & Central Park



All are welcome. Bring a colorful sign with a positive message of solidarity and hope (sign inspiration here), or include The Beacon’s QR code to spread the light even further.

Bring your voice, your guitar, your ukulele—let’s sing, witness, and imagine together a world shaped by love and justice. Whether we’re three people or 100, we are part of something bigger. Come be a light!

UCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights

Our next gathering is Friday, June 20th



The Young Adult Group at UCE 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 at ucevanston dot org) with any questions.

Alabama Living Legacy Pilgrimage

Join Rev. Eileen and Rev. Susan on September 24-28, 2025, for a Living Legacy tour through Alabama curated by the Living Legacy Project [LLP). We choose this tour because LLP was founded by UUs. During the course of the tour, we will be provided with details about our Unitarian Universalist connection with the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. Folks who have indicated an interest were emailed earlier this week. If you would like to participate and did not receive an email about the tour, please email Rev. Susan. July 24, 2025 is the deadline to complete the two-step registration process:

1. Pre-register with the Living Legacy Project, who is the tour guide.
2. Register and make a non-refundable deposit of $600 with Educational Travel Adventures, who handles the transportation, lodging and meal logistics.

Expanding our Sunday Morning Kitchen Staff

Barbara Badr has joined our Sunday Morning Kitchen Staff! Kathy Talmage will continue to provide her excellent service in the kitchen every other Sunday, and, as of July 6th, Barbara will be our Kitchen Staff on alternate Sundays. Jeanie McCullough continues to be our Kitchen Staff substitute. Please stop by the kitchen to say thank you to Kathy, Jeanie, or Barbara for all the hard work required on a Sunday morning to bring us coffee, snacks, and potluck wrangling.

Retired (But Never Retiring!) Women

Next meeting, June 24, 5-7, Room 3

Please attend our next (and final 'til the fall) meeting and discussion! UCE's own Author Lynn Sloan will be talking about Books--both writing them and reading them! This will happen after our yummy potluck and before we have our "yearly" book exchange--Beach books are always a great way to spend the summer! So come with your book/s to give, your stomachs to fill and your words to talk!

Are You Friendly?

If your answer is "Yes, generally" and you attend Sunday services from time to time, you are a qualified UCE Hospitality Greeter! Why join this fabulous team? Meet new people, connect the names and faces, provide a warm welcome to all who enter to strengthen our sense of community! The "job" is quite flexible in terms of time commitment - only sign up when it works for you. We can ALWAYS use more friendly, helpful spirits in these positions. Reach out to Carolynblaughlin at gmail dot com to sign up or learn more. Thank you!

Shared Offering Program Nominations Open

Nominations for the 2025-2026 Shared Offering Program are now being accepted by the Social Justice Council until July 26, 2025. If you have any questions about this Program, please contact Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

Picnics in the Park - next gathering will be July 6th!

Weather-permitting, families of all ages (not just littles!) are invited to meet up at 

Penny Park after worship on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

Come to Gardening Day, Saturday June 21st



The Garden Team has already been busy this Spring planting the East Rain Garden. Now that June is here, it is time to work on other gardens doing trimming (for those who love to snip and chop) and weeding (for those who like to get their hands in Mother Earth). And we are preparing to re-create the South Rain Garden. We will be digging through that garden to loosen the dirt and get rid of any remaining weeds…all in preparation for planting flowers, grasses and evergreens later. We’ll meet at the south lawn. Join anytime between 10:00-2:00. Snacks will be provided, but bring your own water. Your Garden Team Co-Chairs, Janelle and Neil, will be there to greet you.

The next meeting of the UCE Fiction Book Group

is Friday, June 20th, 7-8pm using our Recurring Zoom link

The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading Bear by Julia Phillips

Sisters living in the wilds of Washington State respond differently when a bear adopts their encampment. A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us—and within us—"Bear" is a propulsive, mythical, richly imagined novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers in America.

We’ll also choose new books for summer reading.

The next meeting of the UCE Nonfiction Book Group will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday June 29th, on Zoom using our recurring Zoom link.

We will discuss The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We Can Take It Back by Madiba K. Dennie.

Originalism holds that if it’s not in the Constitution as the Founders wrote it, then it’s irrelevant. Dennie advocates for “inclusive constitutionalism”, arguing that the law evolves and is not frozen in time and inalterable.

On July 27th our group will discuss Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck.

• Everyone is welcome to join us.

Beach Day

The Family Ministry Team invites all ages to a beach day at Lighthouse Beach on July 20 from 12-3p. Rain date is scheduled for August 10.

ONGOING UU CONNECTIONS

UUA General Assembly 2025: What You Need to Know!

• Your UCE delegates are prepped and ready! Delegates have been discussing business items including Congregational Study Action Issues and Action of Immediate Witness statements to be voted on during the June 18-22 Assembly.

• Congregational Study Action Issues (CSAI) are issues selected by UU member congregations for three years of study, reflection and action. CSAIs provide member congregations of the Association with an opportunity to mobilize energy, ideas and resources around a common issue. The end result will be a deeper understanding of our religious position on the issue, a clear statement of Association policy as expressed in a Statement of Conscience, and a greater capacity for congregations to take effective action.

• Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) are statements about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU member congregations and groups.

• Delegates attending in-person include Shirley Adams, Kera Beskin, Elaine Siegel and Steve Serikaku. Attending virtually are Peggy Boccard, Cheryl Mounts, and Carla Williams. UCE ministerial staff attending include Rev Eileen and Dr. Emma (in-person) and Rev Susan Frances (virtually). Many thanks to these individuals for their commitment to our UU polity!



• Delegates will be available to discuss General Assembly at the Delegate Program Table during kinship time this month and in July.

MUUSA 2025 – July 6–12 at Trout Lodge

Join fellow Unitarian Universalists for a week of community, reflection, and fun at the Midwest UU Summer Assembly (MUUSA), held July 6–12, 2025, at Trout Lodge in Potosi, Missouri. This intergenerational retreat offers age-specific programs for children, youth, and adults, along with workshops, worship, and recreational activities in a beautiful lakeside setting. This year’s theme speaker is Rev. Sunshine Wolfe. Scholarships are available to help make camp accessible to all. For more information and to register, visit muusa.org.

UUA QUUest Camps:

Immerse Youth in UU Values & Earth Justice at UUA QUUest Camps!

This summer, Camp Blue Boat (Idaho) and QUUest Mountain West (Wyoming) will provide transformative week-long experiences for UU middle and high school youth. In partnership with the UU College of Social Justice, we’re integrating justice work, including environmental stewardship, into daily camp life. From worship under the stars to hands-on activities that connect spiritual practice and Earth care, youth will spend the week immersed in what it means to live their UU values in harmony with the planet. Registration is now open for current 5th-12th graders. Learn more and support this vital ministry at uua.org/pwrcamp.

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Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330