Here’s what’s coming up in our congregational life—opportunities to connect, learn, and participate in the weeks ahead

Sunday Service

March 22, 2026 at 11:00 am 

Children and youth will go to their faith formation groups after joys and sorrows.

This Sunday…

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



Chalice Children (Pre/k/1) in room 9 – The children will explore the theme of thinking by hearing the story I Want My Hat Back, and making pastel drawings.

Heads, Hearts, and Hands (2nd-5th) in room 8 – The young people be exploring gender language as it relates to worship by learning about this week’s Holy Troublemaker, Rev. Wil Gafney.

Youth Group (6th-9th) in room 10 – The youth will be exploring the idea of utopia by learning about Universalist Adin Ballou and building their own version of what a utopia would look like in The Possibility of Building a Better World.

 

Faith Formation Registration

Please register your young person, ages 1-18 here.

Family-Friendly Seder

April 3, 5:30p

Join us as we experience the stories, food,

and songs of the Passover. 

Kids will search for the afikomen too.

For more info and to register here

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

By Ally Hunter

The Sacrament of Ploppage 

I wish I’d coined that. I’ve experienced it often, as it’s regularly practiced in this beloved community. 

Writer Anne Lamott used the term in an interview, referring to the gift of finding your people. Those trusted, ineffably anchoring others who can plop down beside you in joy or suffering, in celebration or silence. No judgement, no formality—just loose-limbed, imperfect, open-hearted presence. In coffee shops, kitchens, or sanctuaries.This sacrament also joins us on walks together, a chance meeting in the shaving items aisle, in covenant groups or an auction activity like welding, where Ploppage occurs in protective gear. Just ask Carla. 

When I first joined UCE years ago, I met Alice Swan for a Nominating & Recruiting meeting at her home. She made pies for us! Of course she did. I was dazzled that a mandatory confab had so much humanity and joy baked right in. I was used to meetings in conference rooms with artless bagels and powdered creamer. Dominance and performative purpose. Contracts. Side-eye and shushing. Anti-ploppage.  

I honor Alice for all the creative and welcoming ways she impacted us. Her loss still feels impermissibly unfair.  

A celebration of her life will be held in our sanctuary on Sunday, March 22 at 3:00pm.

Our hats are off to Sheila Holder for providing a quick and competent response to a congregant with an acute health issue during the worship service this past Sunday. Sheila’s many years as a flight attendant prepared her to be a calm and steady presence for all involved. After being taken to the emergency room by ambulance, the congregant has been discharged from the hospital and is home doing well.

Thank you to everyone who walked back to the café area to see what was happening and either assisted in some way or recognized that there were people already assisting and returned to your seat. It is important that we are able to trust each other in these moments and assist when needed and also not have too many people crowding the individual in need. 

This situation provides us with a moment to remind everyone to do two things:

1. If you do not have an emergency contact listed in your Realm profile, please log into your profile and add a name and phone number in the “Emergency Contact (Name & No.)” field. If you need assistance with this, please connect with Adam Gough.
2. If you are someone who has the skills and capacity to be a calm and competent presence during an emergency situation and would like to be added to our "List of Experienced Responders" maintained by our Emergency Preparedness Team, please connect with Adam Gough or find the group in Realm. The list is provided to staff and volunteers at intervals, so there is a common knowledge of who to lean on in such situations. 

We are grateful to have a community that uses its skills and experiences to care for each other!

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Friday, March 20th:

• Young Adult Group, 7-10pm, Rooms 3 and 12
• Fiction Book Group, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom

Saturday, March 21st:

• Virtual Pilates, 9:30am, via Zoom
• Worship Planning Team, 9:30-11am, Room 6 and Zoom
• Beginner Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, Sanctuary
• Intermediate Tai Chi, 11-12pm, Sanctuary
• UCE Prison Ministry, 10:30-11:30am, via Zoom
• Wrap and Roll, 1-3pm, Kitchen and Cafe
• Immigrant Solidarity Team, 4-5pm, via Zoom
• Spring Fling Dance Party, 6-9pm, Rooms 2 and 3

Sunday, March 22nd:

• Chris Isley Cancer Support Group, 9-10:15am, Room 6 & Zoom
• Choir Rehearsal, 9-10:30am, Sanctuary
• Worship Service, 11:00am, Sanctuary
• Kinship Time, 12:30-1:30pm, Back of the Sanctuary
• Alice Swan Memorial, 3-5pm, Sanctuary

Monday, March 23rd:

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

Tuesday, March 24th:

• Retired Women's Group, 5-7pm, Sanctuary Cafe
• Leadership Development Team, 6-7pm, via Zoom
• Meeting Interfaith Neighbors, 7-8:30pm, Room 3

Wednesday, March 25th:

• Yoga Online, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
• Grief Group, 5:30-7pm, Room 3
• Hope Covenant Group, 7-9pm, Room 2
• Social Change Now, 7-8:30pm, Room 6

Thursday, March 26th:

• Creating Posters of Change, 4-5pm, Room 5
• Beacons of Light, 5-5:30pm, Dempster and Ridge
• Meditation Group, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Choir Rehearsal, 7-9pm, Rooms 3 and 6

Celebration of Life for Alice Swan

On Sunday, March 22, at 3pm, we will gather to celebrate the life of our much-loved Alice Swan. If it would please you to help with hospitality or to bring a special treat for the reception buffet, sign up HERE.

Charlie Pekarek's memorial will be Saturday, April 25th at 11 am. Stay tuned for more information soon.

The Retired Women’s monthly meeting is this 4th Tuesday, March 24, 5-7, for a potluck and discussion. This meeting will be in the back of the Sanctuary. Marcy Hicks will be our discussion leader helping us to either get ready for the rummage sale or for moving or for just organizing our “stuff”! Hope to see many of you retired ladies this Tuesday! For more information please contact Margie Rogasner.

The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading "The Correspondent," by Virginia Evans.



Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life written letters to make sense of the world and her place in it -- to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not let her audit a course, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their work, and to one person to whom she writes frequently but does not send the letter. It's that one person from her past who must read that letter and Sybil must find a way to offer forgiveness.

Friday, March 20, at 7-8pm by ZOOM

The Nonfiction book group will not meet in March or April.



We urge our readers to participate in UCE’s programming of the UUA Common Read book Social Change Now by Deepa Iyer.

See the article below about small group discussions of this year’s Common Read in March and April. Four sets of 2 discussions will be offered on different days of the week and at different times of the day. A joint meeting of the four groups will take place on May 9th.

the UUA Common Read: Social Change Now by Deepa Iyer

This three-session program will engage with the UU Common Read of Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection by Deepa Iyer. This workbook-style book delves into a "social change ecosystem." You are invited to explore how to be more authentic, connected, and effective as we pursue transformative justice together.

The first two sessions will be in a small group. The third session will bring the four small groups together in a multi-platform setting (in-person and on zoom) on May 9 from 2:00-3:30 pm.



Click here to register for the Tuesday Group. This small group will meet in-person on March 17 and April 21 from 6:30-8:00 pm with co-facilitators Shirley Adams and Mags Johnston. 

Click here to register for the Wednesday Group. This small group will meet in-person on March 25 and April 8 from 7:00-8:30 pm with co-facilitators Lee Solock and Alison Issen. 

Click here to register for the Thursday Group. This small group will meet in-person on March 19 and April 16 from 1:30-3:00 pm with co-facilitators Sue Larson and Jackie Seaman. 

Click here to register for the Sunday Group. This small group will meet on zoom on March 29 and April 19 from 2:00-3:30 pm with co-facilitators Rev. Susan Frances and Elaine Siegel. 



You may buy a copy of the book at the Catalyst for Democracy’s Program Table in the café area after the service this Sunday, order the book at InSpirit Bookstore, or let Rev. Susan Frances know that you need a donated copy.

How to Apply for an Endowment Grant

Join us for a short Zoom call to learn more about how to apply for an Endowment Grant.

When: Saturday, April 11th at 12:00 pm

Where: on Zoom

Register: Email Shirley Adams (her address is in Realm) and she'll send you the link

Shirley Adams and Jeanne Kerl will share some information about the process, types of grants, and deadlines. Then, we'll answer any questions that you may have. Maybe you're just curious? Join us.

If you can't make the meeting, reach out via email to Shirley or Jeanne with your questions.

UCE is Going Camping!

UCE is going camping May 29-31! Please click on this link to reserve a campsite. The top of the form includes links to reserve a site directly with ExploreMore IL, as well as a link to a table where you can see where other UCE campsites will be. If you have any questions or need help with reserving your site, email Grey Wiviott (greyleewivs at gmail dot com). Happy Camping!

Donation Dates: Sun April 26 – Mon April 27

Setup Dates: Sun April 26 – Thurs April 30

Want to learn more? 

• Visit the rummage sale info table after Sunday services through the end of April. Come learn more about the sale, get your questions answered, and sign up to volunteer. You can also pick up popular rummage-sale materials.  
• Go online and sign up to volunteer or view/print the Rummage Sale Tip Sheet
• Check out the Rummage Sale FAQ page for answers to the most commonly asked questions.

UCE’s rummage sale is a fun, community building event that you won’t want to miss! Join us!

And, as always, you can reach us at rummage@ucevanston.org. 

We love hearing from you!

Ware Lecturer Speaks on the Politics of Mercy

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, who gained national attention when she directly addressed President Donald Trump during a 2025 prayer service and asked him to have mercy on transgender children and immigrant families, will deliver the 2026 Ware Lecture at the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly.  

The 2026 Ware Lecture will take place on Saturday, June 20, at 7 p.m. CDT via livestream from the UUA General Assembly. Contact the UU Network Team through Realm to learn how you can view the Ware Lecture. 

Mark your calendar to speak with members of the UU Network Team about the 2026 General Assembly at the UUNT program table during Kinship Time on May 17th, 24th, and 31st. 

UCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights

Our next gathering is Friday, March 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@ucevanston.org) with any questions.

Breaking the Chain: Transforming the Legacy of Enslavement to Justice and Liberation for All

How did we get here—and what is ours to do now?

Join UCE REAL, the Prison Ministry and Reparations Teams, Living Legacy Pilgrimage participants, and local advocates for a four-part, multi-platform learning and conversation series exploring the systems that connect enslavement, incarceration, and reparative justice.

Together, we will examine:

• the historical roots linking slavery and mass incarceration
• the economic forces that sustain systems of injustice
• the role faith communities can play in accountability, repair, and transformation
• how reparations work is unfolding in Evanston and beyond

• April 22 – The Economics of Maintaining Systems of Injustice
• June 24 – How Faith Communities Can Help Break the Chain
• August 26 – Reparations: In Evanston and Beyond

MEETING MORE INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS

March 24, 7p at UCE and on Zoom



We’ll share our reflections on our learnings and experiences with the International Krishna Society of Consciousness. Then on April 8, we continue this series as we begin exploring the Sikh faith.

Register here to get communications about upcoming dates as they are finalized.

3rd Annual Easter Peeps Show – April 5

Show your creativity, humor, and/or spirit this Easter

by creating a diorama using marshmallow peeps!

Peeps are available to take on the table in the lower level.

And if you’re into Peeps and art, be sure to check out the

Racine Art Museum’s annual Peeps Show!

AI Workshop: Skills for Everyday and Congregational Life

Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00 pm

Room 3 & Zoom

This will be our final session in this series facilitated by Dr. Emma Farrell

Click HERE to register

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 Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois or UUANI. UUANI devises programs to build power among UU congregations in Illinois in order to achieve meaningful, concrete, far-reaching results which put our UU values and principles into action. 

Help Prepare Care Packages for the Chicago Abortion Fund on Sun, March 29



Join us Sunday, March 29 at noon in Room 3 at UCE to help put together care packages for women coming to Chicago for abortion services. We’ll pack the supplies, write brief notes to the recipients, and make sure these young women have some supplies to pamper themselves after leaving the clinic.

Earlier work parties have been a great success. Members of the church Abortion Action Team contacted the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) to find out what’s needed and ordered it. Volunteers helped pack the items and box them up for delivery to the clinic, and then wrote notes of encouragement to those receiving the care packages. Won’t you help us complete this project for a third time?

CAF is the largest funder of abortion services in the country. One in four of the patients travelling out-of-state for care because they have nowhere else to turn, come to Illinois. Last year the CAF help line answered more than 20,000 calls. The group provided both needed services and helped defray travel costs for those whose home states have outlawed abrotions.

Please join us after services on March 29, and help us put together the care packages. Also let us know if you’d like to help contribute to future work parties or to make a donation toward future gift bags.

Wednesday SOUP KITCHEN April 1st

The Spring Wednesday Soup Kitchen at UCE will be only one day this year on APRIL 1st.

We help Beth Emet by covering their soup kitchen during Passover.

Regular volunteers and new folks alike are needed. We would love to have you participate either by bringing food, food preparation, serving food or clean up.

The time commitments vary depending on what task you pick.

You can sign up by clicking HERE

If you have trouble opening the link or have questions, please contact

Ellie Feddersen elliefeddersen at gmail dot com, 847-452-3142

LOVE RESISTS

On March 28th, rise up, take to the streets, and say it loud: no thrones, no crowns, no kings. Join us!



Join us in Evanston! Rally and March, 10:30 pm to 12:00 pm, Dawes Park (Sheridan Road and Lake Avenue). Meet up with Mary Dudek and others from our Catalyst for Democracy Team at 10:15 am at the south end of the lagoon.

Join us in Chicago! Rally and March, 1:30 - 4:30 pm, Butler Field/Grant Park (East Jackson Drive and South Columbus Drive). Meet up with Steve Serikaku and others from our Catalyst for Democracy Team at 1:15 pm at the south lion in front of the Art Institute.

Getting Ready: If you would like to connect with a travel buddy for attending one or both of these rallies, please connect with Sarah Vanderwicken at the Catalyst for Democracy Team’s Program Table this Sunday, where you can also purchase a Side with Love t-shirt.

Make Posters for No Kings Day

You are invited to join our Catalyst for Democracy Team on Thursday, March 26th to make signs for the No Kings rallies scheduled for March 28th. Meet in Room 5 from 4-5 pm to make signs. Materials provided. All ages welcome!

Immediately following the sign making event, you’re invited to try out your sign at the corner of Dempster & Ridge from 5-5:30 pm with our Beacons of Light gathering. 

Contact Rev. Susan Frances with questions or ideas.

ONGOING UU CONNECTIONS

Now that winter is over, it’s time to start making summer plans. Consider including MUUSA in yours this year.

MUUSA is an intergenerational Unitarian Universalist camp held at its new location in Ripon, Wisconsin, bringing together people from across the Midwest. The program includes workshops and activities for adults, along with daytime programming for children.

For more information, visit MUUSA.org.

Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330