Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole

Sunday Service June 9th at 10:30am

Gender is a Spectrum

Join The Gender Unicorn, Shirley Adams, Forrest Marie Peters Linsell, Christine Peters, Lizzy Powers, Peter Silverman, Jordan Strueber, Grey Wiviott, and Carol Young, along with Rev. Susan Frances and Gregory Shifrin for our annual Rainbow Alliance service. We will explore the power of pronouns, experience a guided meditation exploring gender as a spectrum, and enjoy lots of music. You are invited to wear your favorite color or a rainbow of colors for this joyful gender expansive service!

Children in pre/k through grade 6 will go to their Faith Formation

group in Room 3 after joys and sorrows.

Shared Offering - FORA

Join the Services Livestream

Faith Formation Hour this Sunday

Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15a-1:30pm.
BlUUey starts! Our summer program for children (preschool-6^th grade) is based on the animated show, Bluey. We’ll be exploring our UU values as we see Bluey learning them along the way.

Beach Day – 12:30-3:30p at Lighthouse Beach

Bring a picnic lunch and grab your towel for an afternoon of sun and sand! Beach passes are required and can be purchased online at the Yodel Portal or in-person at the Dempster St. Beach Office or Clark St. Beach Office. Evanstonians can purchase guest passes for $5.

Faith Formation Feedback – parents, volunteers, and young people are invited to share their thoughts on our program in this short form.

Families can explore our theme, The Gift of Pluralism, 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 Sandra Robinson

Friday, May 31, 2024 is a night I will always remember. I was surrounded by my family, friends, staff, and so many of you, the congregation We gathered in our beautiful sanctuary to say goodbye. Many of my art buds and longtime good friends were here. While it was bittersweet knowing I would not be lighting candles with you on Sunday morning for a while, it was a perfect honoring. I felt as though tiny particles of joy were raining upon and around me.

Renee Gatsis, Gay Riseborough, Elizabeth Kennedy, Tory Bassani and Maggie Wilson, thank you for coordinating this most perfect event. To all of you UCE artists who brought your work to honor my love for the arts and to express the talent of so many at UCE. Every piece was wonderful and graced the sanctuary with such beauty. Several pieces of my ceramic art was included with many other UCE artists: Renee Gatsis, Maggie Wilson, Suzanne Lis Daley, Kathy Talmage, Sydney Francolino, Robb Geiger, Eileen Wiviott, Claudia Dancing, Nancy Katz, Catherine Deamant, Forrest Marie Linsell, Lucy Elam, Margaret Schatz, Carol Nielsen, Jean Durkin, Jan Augustyn, Jean Butzen, Bill Hartgering, Craig Jobson, Peggy Boccard, Patrecia Lenore, Andrew Fisher, Carol Johnson, Sarah Kaiser-Amaral, Barbara Seyfried, Kristin Larsen, William Irons, Liz Kennedy, Sue WIell, and Maggie Weiss.

Thank you Kevin Barrow, JoLynn Cotton, Robb Geiger, Gregory Shifrin for the lovely music throughout the evening. How lucky UCE is to have so many talented musicians and vocalists.

I appreciate all of you who served food, worked in the kitchen, tended the bar, shopped, donated food – whatever you did to make the night special, thank you. Gratitude to many who brought or sent cards, and amazing, thoughtful gifts. My heart is overflowing.

Our hats are off to the planners and implementers of Sandra Robinson’s farewell party: Renée Gatsis, Elizabeth Kennedy, Tory Bassani, Maggie Wilson; as well as to the quilters of her beautiful quilt: Kathy Talmage, Chris Allender, Margaret Schatz, Karen Courtright, Tory Bassani, and Gleycy Lavanholi; also to Gay Riseborough, Will VanDyke, and Johna VanDyke for displaying their art in the lobby and everyone who added their artwork to the fantastic art show; and to the countless people who brought food, set up, bar tended, and cleaned up. It was a fitting and fantastic tribute to Sandra as she departs on the next chapter of her life after retirement. We will miss you!

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?

You may now sign up online by clicking on this link, going to the Sunday that you would like to volunteer, and then selecting the Flowers/Chalice role. 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 always email Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org or Rev. Eileen at ewiviott@ucevanston.org.

This Week's Events & Links

Friday, June 7th

Memorial for Judy Widen, 11am-1pm, Sanctuary
Congregational Connections & New Member Team, 12-1pm, via Zoom

Saturday, June 8th:

Virtual Pilates, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
Calendar Planning Event, 9:30-11am, via Zoom
Beginner Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, Rm 3
Intermediate Tai Chi, 11am-12pm, Rm 3

Sunday, June 9th:

Chris Isely Cancer Support Group, 9am-10:30am, in-person Rm 6 and via Zoom Link.
Worship Service, 10:30am-11:30am, Sanctuary & on YouTube
New Member Orientation, 11:45-1:15pm, Rm 6
Preparing for UUA Vote on Article 2, 12-1:30pm, Rm 3
Harms Woods Workday, 1-4pm, Harms Woods

Download UCE Zoom Backgrounds

Monday, June 10th:

Addictions and Recovery, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Tuesday, June 11th:

Denominational Affairs, 12-1:30pm, via Zoom
Women's Circle of Friends, 1-2:30pm, via Zoom
Emissions Reduction Task Force, 2:30-3:30pm, via Zoom
Legislative Action Team, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom

Wednesday, June 12th:

Yoga, 9:30-10:30am, via NEW ONLINE LINK
Please be aware we have an all Staff Meeting every Wed from 11-12:30pm

Thursday June 13th:

Evanston Near South Proximity Group, 1-2pm via Zoom
Meditation Group, 5:30-7pm, via Zoom
Integrated Stewardship Council, 6-7:30pm, via Zoom

Check out the UCE Calendar for more events!

Congregational News

If you're viewing the newsletter in your email inbox, click on "View entire message" at the bottom of the email to read the full newsletter!

Room Request Form

PLEASE NOTE: Newsletter submissions should be sent to Newsletter@ucevanston.org by noon on Wednesday.

Congregational Connections

HARMS WOODS WORK DAY!

Join us THIS Sunday, June 9th for an afternoon in beautiful Harms Woods, led by the very knowledgeable long-time stewards, John and Jane Balaban. We will be doing the critical work of removing invasive plants that crowd out native plants needed by birds and insects.

It’s enjoyable and rewarding, and is appropriate for all ages, including young people (should be 12 or older and youth must be accompanied by an adult) and senior citizens. We each work at our own pace, but the ground can be uneven and muddy. Dress for the weather and possible muddy conditions and bring your own water bottle. Bring gardening gloves if desired (although gloves and other equipment will be provided). For more information or to reserve a spot: contact Susan at Susan.L.Comstock at gmail dot com or Dale at dalecgriffin at comcast dot net.

From Alicia and Tom Hempfling:

Join us for an afternoon of song and friendship as the Rogers Park Singers serenade you with a collection of

our favorite choral pieces. Special guest Will Crutcher will also lead Planet Love in a few numbers.

Saturday, June 15th, 1:00 PM in Room 3. This will be a free family-friendly concert.

The RPS is a program of the New Rhythm Arts Collaborative, a 501(c)(3)

charitable organization.

UUA General Assembly

Sunday, June 23^rd Worship Service at 10:30am will be a pre-recorded showing of the UUA General Assembly service, led by Rev. Molly Housh Gordon, of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, MO:

https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2024/sunday-worship

You can join us at UCE at 10:30 am to watch the service in community, or livestream it from home at the above link at 12pm CST.

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.

Lifespan Faith Formation

Beyond Our Walls…

For parents and educators: United Church of Christ and the UUA are hosting a webinar, OWL Taking Flight: Raising Kids Beyond the Binary, June 5, 11a-Noon. For details and to register, go to https://www.ucc.org/event/owl-webinar/.

Staying Engaged With Israel and Gaza

For the Buried and the Unearthed: A UU Vigil for Gaza

Sunday, June 9

7:00 pm CT, 8:00 pm ET; 45-minute program

RSVP: Online by Zoom

Gather in response to Rafah, in solidarity for a vigil hosted by DRUUMM (the Diverse & Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministry), Church of Larger Fellowship (CLF), and the UUs for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME). Organizers deeply honor the worth and dignity of all Palestinians and all Israelis.

This vigil, open to all, is to honor the spiritual work toward ending the violence. The event will center the voices of those most affected and organizers ask attendees to hold this with intention.
Organizers aim to be present with one another and deepen attention for the crises in Gaza as Unitarian Universalists, and are mindful of the deep and complex roots in the minds and hearts of Westerners.
The event will call for a permanent ceasefire and end to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, a release of all hostages/prisoners, humanitarian aid, and an accountability process that is not rooted in revenge.

Now that the UCE resolution calling for an end to the violence has passed, how will we stay engaged?

As we strive to stay in covenantal conversation and engagement with each other and our interfaith partners about the violence in Israel and Gaza, you are invited to send Rev. Susan (sfrances@ucevanston.org) information for this section of the newsletter. Please send details or flyers about local events, opportunities for learning, or statements from the wider UU movement. We hope to continue to illuminate the many nuances of this situation and form coalitions across a variety of perspectives, while upholding the humanity of all.

Social Justice

Postcarding

Postcarding continues!

We’re racing to finish our current cards and hit our JULY 1 mail deadline. Almost there!

Your UUtheVote core team (Shirley Adams, Greg Grabowski, Lee and Jane Bannor, Carol Mergl and Carolyn Laughlin) is evaluating states for our next wave, beginning in early July. Watch for our summer blast!

Want to join us as the election heats up? We’re fun, energetic, and we’d love to have you! Email or call Carolyn (carolynblaughlin at gmail.com or through the REALM Membership Directory).

NOTE: Stamp price increase is coming! Up to $.56 from current $.53 as of JULY 14. Stock up now!

Milwaukee Voter Registration Project is currently on hold. We’ll be back, and we appreciate the 50 UCE members and friends who are trained up and ready to go!

Join the UCE Team in the YWCA Race Against Hate

Some of us run, some walk, some roll! How ever you roll, please be a part of our Race Against Hate by joining the UCE REAL Team on June 16, 2024.

If you can’t be with us in the Race, but want to join in spirit, support the team through your donation. Be sure to apply your donation to the UCE REAL Team.

DONATE HERE.

More information on the race can be found at: Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate. Questions? Contact Dana Deane.

SAVE THESE DATES!

June 9th Evanston Pride Candle Lighting Ceremony at 7:00 pm in St. Paul Park, 760 Chicago Ave, Evanston
Queer Market - July 11. get some shopping in and support queer makers!
Pride Community Picnic - July 27th. Ridgeville Park, 11am - 3pm.

We will update you with more information as the dates approach!

UCE Book Clubs

UCE Non-Fiction Book Group

The nonfiction book group will not meet during the month of May because of several important Sunday afternoon events: e.g., the annual meeting and the ice cream/frozen yogurt social with Second Baptist Church.

We 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:

Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo.

We will meet virtually on Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 21st using our recurring link to discuss. Short-listed for the Booker Prize is Bulawayo’s tale of Zimbabwe under siege by its citizens. A satire told in the vein of Animal Farm: We follow a nation of animals as they try to define true liberation when their oppressive leader Old Horse is pulled down.

Friday, June 21, at 7-8pm, using our recurring ZOOM link.

July 19:

Percival Everett, James. The story of Huck’s slave companion Jim that was never told in Huckleberry Finn. Perhaps the story of slavery in America that Mark Twain would have told if his publishers had let him.