Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole | |
Sunday Service June 30th at 10:30am | |
|
Appreciate Pay Attention to the Little Miracles
Joe Romeo, a participant in the Deepening Our Spiritual Journeys class this past fall, shares his journey and some of the lessons he’s learned along the way. Rev. Eileen will be the Worship Associate; Kevin Barrow, clarinet, and Gregory Shiffrin, piano, provide music.
Children and Youth will go to their Faith Formation program
after joys and sorrows.
| | | |
Faith Formation Hour this Sunday | |
-
Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15am-11:45am.
-
BlUUey (pre/K-6th) in room 3 – We will watch the episode, “Bike”, play some games, and talk about perseverance and one of our new UU values, Transformation. Parents should pick up their youngster(s) at noon.
-
Families are invited to gather this Sunday immediately following the service on the South lawn (next to the ramp). We will be discussing what to do with the space in the alcove, the Children's area.
Faith Formation Feedback – parents, volunteers, and young people are invited to share their thoughts on our program in this short form.
Picnics in the Park – Next Sunday, July 7 at Penny Park, 12-1pm. Bring a picnic or snack and meet up with other UCE families!
Families can explore our theme, The Gift of Renewal, at home and in their own timeframe with the Soulful Home packet. Send pictures to Kathy of your family as you explore the many ideas here!
See our “living” calendar of programs and events here.
Parents can register their children/youth for the Faith Formation Program here.
| | |
Greetings from Rev. Eileen Wiviott | |
|
An Interfaith Statement of Collective Repentance and Repair
At the conclusion of Pride Month, I am filled with gratitude and also a little weariness. I am grateful for our UU faith, for solidarity and courage to stay in the hard conversations, and for the opportunity to expand joy together. The month started with the inaugural, and hopefully first annual, Evanston Interfaith Family Pride Event in Raymond Park on June 2nd and it concluded with our annual UUA General Assembly, all virtual this year, and some difficult but important discussions.
This year's General Assembly was probably the most consequential of the last 40 years, in the sense that we have completed the process of re-articulating our organizational documents and our stated values and purposes. This fundamental and foundational work has been five years in the making (at least) and I am pleased with the result. The Denominational Affairs Team and I will be processing and reporting back more thoroughly on all that took place and what comes next, but I will share with you here that the experience was...a lot. Some of the discussions were quite painful to listen to - lots of misinformation and fear based reactions. Change is hard. But we carry on and now the work of learning, growing, and living into our newly stated values as a faith begins. I'm so excited to do that with all of you.
| |
Our hats are off to Carla Williams, who just stepped off the Board of Trustees after 3 years of faithful service, two of those years as the president. Carla went above and beyond in her role, in many ways. She co-led the pledge drive this past year, initiated generative stewardship conversations, and purchased books and engaged in the Mistakes and Miracles monthly discussions about continuing to shape our congregation into a multicultural, antiracist Beloved Community. The year before, she led while Rev. Eileen was on sabbatical and we had two part-time sabbatical ministers covering worship and pastoral care. Both years, she was the Board liaison to the fledgling Emissions Reduction Task Force and the Anti-Oppression Task Force. Carla will remain an active member of the Anti-Oppression Task Force and has already volunteered to be the co-lead of next year's pledge drive. Thank you for your dedication to our congregation. We're so grateful for your ongoing involvement!
| | |
This Week's Events & Links | |
|
Friday, June 28th
Saturday, June 29th:
- Virtual Pilates, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
- Beginner Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, Rm 8
- Intermediate Tai Chi, 11am-12pm, Rm 8
- REAL Team Planning - Group Retreat, 10am-12pm, Rm 13
Sunday, June 30th:
-
Chris Isely Cancer Support Group, 9am-10:30am, in-person Rm 6 and via Zoom Link.
- Worship Service, 10:30am-11:30am, in the Sanctuary. Kinship 11:30am-12:30pm.
Monday, July 1st:
- Addictions and Recovery, 7-9pm, via Zoom
| |  |
|
Tuesday, July 2nd:
- Membership Team Meeting, 12:30-1:30pm, Rm 13
- Rainbow Alliance, 6-7pm, via Zoom
- Caregiver Support Group, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom
- Family Ministry Team, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom
- First Women's Circle, 7-8pm, via Zoom
Wednesday, July 3rd:
- Executive Meeting, 3:15pm, via Zoom
- Music Team Mtg, 4-5pm, via Zoom
- Endowment Committee Mtg, 5:30-7:30pm, via Zoom
Thursday July 4th:
- Meditation Group, 5:30-7pm, via Zoom
| | |
Congregational Connections | |
|
REAL Lending Library
The REAL Lending Library has had an active patronage over the past year. In addition to many people checking out books, many people have donated books. With a surplus of duplicate copies, the REAL Lending Library is giving out FREE books THIS SUNDAY during Kinship Time!
Stop by their Program Table after the service to ask Jackie and Joan your questions about the Lending Library or to get a free book.
| | | |
|
LAST CHANCE! The Fair Trade Cart Will Be Closed
during the months of July and August, so only a few more Sundays to stock up. An ordering error brought us too many boxes of oatmeal chocolate chip cookie mix, so we’re cutting the price. Stop by this Sunday and take home a box or two for $5 each; that’s $2 off the regular price!
When we get back in September, we’ll need more help. We have two teams of two people working on alternate Sundays, and with one of us leaving, we need at least one more person, and preferably two or more, to keep going. It’s not a big time commitment for a big annual donation to struggling neighbors. Contact Marcy Hicks, or admin@ucevanston.org for more information about volunteering.
| | | |
Shared Offering Program Nominations Due June 30, 2024
Each year the Social Justice Council selects 13 organizations to receive half of our collection from our Sunday worship service. The time is now to nominate a non-profit organization to be part of the 2024-25 Shared Offering Program. Contact Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org if you have any questions.
Click Here to Submit Nomination.
| | | |
|
Young Adult Gathering
June 30th at 12:30
Bagel Art in Evanston
Join UCE young adults and Rev. Eileen at Bagel Art in Evanston after the worship service Sunday, June 30th. We will talk about a plan for spiritual deepening for young adults within our faith community and how we can shape that together.
Please let Kiley Korey [kileyekorey at gmail dot com] know if you plan to attend or have any questions.
| | | |
|
"I Can't Dance"
Did you miss the chance to buy a space in Shirley Adam's "I Can't Dance" Dance Class at last year's auction? There are 6 spaces available. Just in time to have your moves ready for the 8/2 Blues Dance at UCE.
In 3 one-hour classes, you will begin to move with the rhythm of music, connect to a partner and move to slow and faster tempos. Shirley's gender inclusive teaching uses simple dances to help you become comfortable as a leader or a responder. Her specialty is creating brave space for you to uncover the dancer in you. Merengue is the first dance for class one, then the four count hustle (yep, Saturday Night Fever favorites) then in class three, we will waltz. Families are welcome! Or bring your dance partner! The first class is the only one you cannot skip - 3:30 Friday, July 12, then continue the next Friday at 3:30 July 19 and the third class is Friday July 26th, but one hour earlier: 2:30pm
CLICK HERE to purchase a space at $65 a flat fee for yourself, or yourself and a partner, or yourself and your family.
| | | |
|
LOOKING FOR YOUR IDEAS!
Is your family exploring something new this summer in the area? Or going to a family-favorite place/event?
Email Kathy about them so we can let others know – maybe even have a UU meet-up!
| | | |
The next Interfaith Action SNAPGap collection will be deodorant, razors, and shaving cream.
These will be distributed at the IAE Produce Mobile on July 9th at Robert Crown Community Center. You may purchase items online and locally. We do not have a faith community coordinator this month, but items can be delivered or dropped off any time at:
Interfaith Action of Evanston
c/o Melissa Appelt
900 Hunter Road
Glenview, IL 60025
Interfaith Action thanks you for your generosity and participation, and the 275 households that benefit are deeply grateful.
| | | |
|
Volunteer with the Welcoming Congregation Renewal Working Group
A Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation is a congregation that has intentionally spent time engaging in programming, worship services, and education to make their congregation a safe place for the LGBTQIA+ communities. UCE was certified as a Welcoming Congregation in 1997. The original Welcoming Congregation process focused on addressing homophobia in ourselves and our congregation. The UUA has updated this process with its Welcoming Congregation Renewal program to include addressing transphobia as well as homophobia. Members of our Rainbow Alliance have formed a working group to complete this Welcoming Congregation Renewal process.
This process involves the entire congregation and members with LGBTQIA+ identities and all allies are invited to join the Working Group. If you would like to be engaged with this process, please contact Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org by July 7, 2024.
To learn more about Welcoming Congregations, please check out the UUA website - or our UCE Rainbow Alliance webpage.
| | | |
|
Postcarding continues! Fabulous UCE members picked up another 220 cards Sunday and cleared all inventory to hit our JULY 1 mail deadline. You ROCK!
The UUtheVote Team has set geographic targets for our next wave, beginning in early-mid July. Watch for our summer blast!
Want to place an early order for yourself or a friend? Visit the back of the sanctuary after each Sunday service OR reach out to Greg Grabowski.
NOTE: Postcard stamp prices will increase to $.56 as of JULY 14th.
Stock up now, while they are still $.53!
Milwaukee Voter Registration Project
Huge thanks for you who have driven to MiIwaukee for this work. The opportunity continues at the Chase (Monday-Friday) and Mill Rd (Saturday only) DMV offices. The Chase population is largely Hispanic, some are undocumented and unable to register. Speaking a bit of Spanish is helpful. If you are trained, you can continue to participate through SignUp, here.
Join the UUtheVote Team
Want to join us as the election heats up? We’re fun, energetic, and we’d love to have you! Email or call Carolyn Laughlin or through the REALM Membership Directory.
| | | |
|
UCE Non-Fiction Book Group
The nonfiction book group will meet virtually on Zoom at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 30th using our recurring link to discuss Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under Color of Law by Richard Rothstein and Leah Rothstein.
Our group previously read Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. In their book Just Action, the authors offer programs that activists and their supporters can undertake in their communities to address historic inequities. They show how community groups can press firms that imposed segregation to take responsibility for reversing the harm.
Zoom discussion on Sunday, June 30th at 2pm, using our recurring ZOOM link.
| | |
|
UCE Fiction Book Group
The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading a classic this month:
James, by Percival Everett.
This is the story of Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of the slave Jim, who, like Huck, is escaping an abusive situation. In their runaway journey, the Black James (his mother called him James, not Jim) has a completely different experience from Huck, as an untethered Negro loose in the South. James in Everett’s novel is a more realistic picture of what being a Black man in the pre-civil war south was like. Still the same humor and nonsense of Huckleberry Finn, but with a definite bite.
Friday, July 19, at 7-8pm, using our recurring ZOOM link.
| | |
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO READ MORE: | |
|
Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
| | | | |
