Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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In-Person & Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, March 6th at 10:15 am
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The Cycle of Giving and Receiving
Relationships challenge us to bring our full authentic selves and to risk being vulnerable, honest, and accountable in our interactions. They invite us to be open to receiving love and support from another and invite us to determine what we are able to give to the relationship. Being a member of a faith community comes with similar challenges and risks, and similar benefits of care, connection, and belonging. This week we’ll explore how risking to connect your whole self with others in our intentional covenantal community brings us both rewards and responsibilities.
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Faith Formation Hour (11:35 am-12:30 pm) Following Kinship Time in the back of the sanctuary (11:15-11:35 am) |
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"Reparations and UCE" A conversation with Team 8th & Rev. Susan - Sanctuary and Zoom. Click here to join. More info below.
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Forum – General Assembly: A Preview by Denominational Affairs - Room 6 and on Zoom. Click here to join. More info below.
- Junior and Senior High School Youth Group: Planning the Youth Service - Rm 13
- Head, Heart, and Hands (1st-6th grades) - Rm 3
- Pre-K - Rm 9
- Nursery (ages 0-3) - Rm 11
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More info about this Sunday's Faith Formation Activities |
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"Reparations and UCE": What does reparations mean and why is this important to us here at UCE? What can we do to support anti-racist work around legislation at the federal and local levels? Join us to hear how we might reaffirm our support for H.R. 40 - the reparations bill in front of Congress. Let's discuss the connections between our eight principles and reparations. All are welcome.
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Forum Discussion - "Delegates and Democracy - A Delicate Balance!": Did you ever wonder how your voice is shared at the UUA General Assembly? Join the Denominational Affairs Team at This Sunday's Forum for a rollicking and frolicking discussion about UCE's participation in our faith's collective governance experience. Held in June, the UUA General Assembly is a fabulous event with educational, spiritual, community building, and governance sessions. We will share information about UCE's representation and participation in the governance side of GA, including delegate selection, roles and responsibilities. Hope you can join us!
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"Languishing"
from Kathy Underwood,
Director of Lifespan Faith Formation
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You may have seen the article a parent shared on the Family Ministry Facebook page which I then shared on the Member-to-Member page, “The Parents (Who Used to Come to Your Church) Are Not Okay”. Author Lauren Graeber shares her thoughts and feelings as a parent during the pandemic, and uses a word borrowed from another author, Amy Grant, to describe how parents are doing: languishing. She goes on to say, “you’re not functioning at full capacity. Languishing dulls your motivation, disrupts your ability to focus, and triples the odds that you’ll cut back on work.”
I pause here to encourage those of you who don’t have children or youth to continue reading. There is a saying among religious educators, “the congregation is the curriculum.” You are all important to the faith formation and spiritual growth of our parents and young people. And so it is important for the whole congregation to understand how parents are doing, as they are critical members of our community now, and in the future.
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Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)
responds to the war in Ukraine
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The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee responds to the war in Ukraine and demands an end to the bloodshed. Follow the link below to their response and for ways to help the Ukrainian people. |
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UCE Needs Your 2022-2023 Pledge Today! |
The Final Week We are in the homestretch of the official pledge drive. Please submit your pledge by Sunday, March 13. If you have not yet sent in your pledge, you can do it right now, online—the process takes less than two minutes. Please click here to pledge.
Why Is March 13 So Important? The Board needs to know the pledge base so it can make a realistic budget for the coming year. Every pledge matters and every dollar makes UCE’s Whole mission possible.
Pledge Help and Info—For help completing your pledge forms, please leave a phone message at 847-864-1330, ext. 111, or email pledgeinfo@ucevanston.org. A member of our Support Team will contact you.
For additional information, check out the Pledge Drive page (please click here). It includes an FAQ, tips on completing the Google form, guidance on how to set up automatic payments, and more.
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Hats Off to Jay and Norell Liddell! |
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Our hats are off to Jay and Norell Liddell for making our pledge drive kick-off a lively and fun-filled celebration. Your energy and good humor while you seamlessly wove together the tremendous acts and testimonials of the evening, created an inspiring event. In addition, Norell serves on the Family Ministry Team, and your whole family shows up to so many congregational events - worship, faith formation, Halloween campfires, you name it. Like our Covenant of Engagement states, you "say yes when you can," and we are grateful. |
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UCE Building Availability -
The UCE Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10am-5pm
If you have music to share in worship, we would love to add your to our list. We are looking for either live or recorded performances for Sunday mornings to enhance our worship. Reach out to Rev. Eileen or Vickie Hellyer.
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Wednesday Zoom Gatherings Continue on 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 5:30 pm via Zoom.
Submit your pledge form by March 13! More information above.
The Next Realm Training session is on March 15 at 2-3 pm on Zoom. More info below.
BLUU Havens Chicago meets next on Saturday, March 19. More info soon!
UCE Rummage Sale returns in May so save your items! Date to be announced soon! More info below.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Saturday, March 5
Sunday, March 6
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Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 8:45 am - Rm 6/Zoom. Contact Renee Hoff for the Zoom link.
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Worship Service at 10:15 am - Sanctuary and Youtube Click here to join.
- Kinship Time at 11:15-11:35 am in the back of the sanctuary
- Faith Formation Hour at 11:35-12:30 pm
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"Reparations and UCE" Conversation with Team 8th and Rev. Susan - Sanctuary and on Zoom. Click here to join.
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Forum Discussion - Rm 6 and on Zoom. Click here to join.
Monday, March 7
Tuesday, March 8
Wednesday, March 9
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Virtual Yoga at 9:30 am via 8x8. Click here to join.
- Wednesday All-Church Zoom Gathering at 5:30 pm on Zoom.
Thursday, March 10
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Meditation Group at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Lisa Solomon for the link.
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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!
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Congregational Connections |
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Mark your Calendars! Lot's of Fun Coming Up in April |
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- The Next Worship Planning Playdate - Saturday, April 9 at 9 am - Noon
- Rosemary Zwick Afternoon of the Arts - Saturday, April 9 at 3-5 pm
- UCE Earth Day Celebration - Friday, April 22 at 7 pm
- Emma's Revolution Concert - Saturday, April 30 at 7 pm
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Summary of February 17, 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting |
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Significant discussion was directed toward clarifying how the Nominating and Recruiting Committee functions to fill leadership roles in the church.
Also considered were fundraising support of Reparations in Evanston as part of Interfaith Action of Evanston and coordination by IA of social justice efforts by Evanston congregations.
Other issues discussed were the accessibility of the Board itself, better organization of Board documents to insure more efficiency and functionality, participation of one or more Board members in the upcoming YWCA Racial Equity workshop “Power and Privilege for Board Members,” and better tracking of Board goals.
The next Board meeting is on March 17 at 7 pm via Zoom. All are invited.
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Save your items...UCE's rummage sale returns in May! |
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Save your items. . . UCE's rummage sale returns in May. We are not sure just yet exactly what the event will look like, but the team is meeting to finalize plans, choose chairs and decide on the date.
As you clean, clear and organize heading toward spring, keep UCE in your work. We will provide more specifics in the days ahead. Several are wondering if the sale will take place. The answer is YES. Save your goods.
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Next Realm Training Session - March 15 |
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Join Adam Gough and Jessica Meis for a Realm Training on Tuesday, March 15 at 2-3 pm on Zoom. We'll go over how to communicate with your groups and each other in Realm. We'll also explain how to manage and find new groups, so you can learn how to update the "groups" section of your profile. This is a great session for group leaders and those that want to learn more about Realm!
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Widening the Circle of Concern
Reading for March 20, 2022 Faith Formation Hour
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March 20th 11:30-12:30
Come share ways to innovate and take risks as we live into our UU values. Congregants are encouraged to participate in small group discussions of the Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change, Widening the Circle of Concern. This report is a guiding document for UCE’s Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression work.
For our discussion in March, you are encouraged to read the chapter on Innovations and Risk-Taking before March 20th so you are prepared for the conversation. You do not need to have participated in previous conversations to join this one!
These conversations will be taking place in-person and via Zoom. If you hold a marginalized identity and would want an identity-based caucus space to discuss Widening the Circle of Concern, please contact Rev. Eileen Wiviott or Rev. Susan Frances by March 13th, so we can arrange that space.
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Come to General Assembly 2022!! |
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Friends, now is your opportunity to join thousands of other UUs at the annual General Assembly! The steps are easy. For information about GA, go here. At that GA website you’ll find links to everything you’d want to know. But for what you need right now:
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2) If you want to represent UCE as a delegate. You must apply and be accepted by the UCE Board of Trustees. If you are, you will receive your delegate credentials from the UCE office.
3) Sign up for Housing. If you’d like to take advantage of the special offers assigned to UUA GA participants, go to the sign up page to select your hotel and room.
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Funds Available for Attending the 2022 General Assembly |
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UCE’s Committee on Denominational Affairs has received funds to support both in-person and virtual participation for adults and youth in the 2022 UUA General Assembly (GA). The GA is scheduled for June 22-26, 2022 in Portland, OR. Complete the online form or downloaded the fillable pdf and email it to Kathy Underwood, Director of Lifespan Faith Formation at KUnderwood@ucevanston.org.
Involvement in GA will encourage you to explore/expand your capacity for equity, justice and liberation work; provide opportunities to pursue deeper meaning and understanding of UU values; reveal ways to become more involved in UU work; cultivate leadership development within UCE; and build relationships within UCE and the greater UU community. It can be the experience of a lifetime!
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UUA Study of our Principles and Sources Seeks Your Input |
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The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has commissioned a study of Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Article II is comprised of our Principles and Purposes and is the foundation for the work of our Unitarian Universalist (UU) movement. It encompasses the covenant to which all of our UU congregations and UU covenanted communities pledge themselves when they become members of our UUA. |
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What's Happening in Faith Formation? |
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Welcome to our new monthly theme, Renewing Faith! Families can explore this in their own timeframe in the Soulful Home packet.
Faith Formation Hour this Sunday…
All ages are invited to come to join in one of the following activities:
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Pre/K in room 9
- Heads, Hearts, and Hands (1st-6th) in room 3
- Youth Group (7th-12th) in room 13
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Nursery care is available for ages 0-3 from 10 am-12:30 pm
...and beyond!
The Family Ministry Team has a few things in the works, such as geocaching, making bagged lunches for the homeless. Stay tuned for details soon!
March 29 at 7 pm on Zoom: "What are Prisons For?" with Dr. Caleb Smith, Professor of English and American Studies at Yale. He is an expert on the cultural history of discipline and punishment in the United States. Register here.
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Registration Open for this summer's
Chalice Sparx Family Camp & Retreat for UU Families
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Registration for this summer’s Chalice Sparx Family Camp & Retreat for Unitarian Universalist families is now open. Join us July 8-10 in Cassopolis, Michigan for an amazing all-ages experience at lovely Camp Friedenswald in southwestern Michigan -- only 90 miles from Chicago. As an intentional UU covenanted community, we are especially welcoming to Trans children, youth and their families.
We are a non-profit organization run by Unitarian Universalist religious educators, ministers, and lay persons from all over the Midwest.
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UCE Book Groups- February |
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The nonfiction book group will meet via Zoom at 2 pm on Sunday, March 27th to discuss The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto by NY Times opinion columnist Charles M. Blow.
The central question of the book is "What could and should Black people do to acquire and maintain the economic and political power — for the many, not just for the few — that the Great Migration failed to secure?” Join us to consider the author's answer to the question.
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UCE Fiction Book Group will be discussing The Anomaly by Herve LeTellier, translated by Adriana Hunter on Friday, March 18 at 7-8:30 pm on Zoom.
A "best thriller of the year” in the “Twilight” mode, says The New York Times. The central conceit involves 243 people whose plane mysteriously appears four months after it already landed, and the appearance of 243 identical copies raises some interesting issues, including some science fiction tropes. But the plot simply supports a bunch of fascinating characters taking a new look at who they have become. An ingenious, timely variation on the doppelgänger theme.
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Taproot: A National UU BIPOC Space |
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The work of spiritual community is complicated in the 21st century. From busy schedules to the ever-pressing tension brought on by systemic injustice, the need for faithful leadership that is grounded and resilient is imperative. This is all the more true for leaders within our congregations who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC). BIPoC Leaders rooted in Unitarian Universalist congregations are invited to take part in a monthly virtual gathering as we explore these pillars in creating means by which to ground ourselves in resilient communities of care:
- Rest & Renewal
- Analysis Building
- Leadership Development
Dates: March 10, April 14, and May 12, 2022.
Time: 7 PM CT
This space is explicitly for people identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC).
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UU Ministry of Earth - March Events |
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Congregational Climate Convergence: March 22 @ 12-3:30 pm CT
Calling all congregational lay leaders and religious professionals passionate about climate justice! Join Side With Love, Green Sanctuary 2030, and UU Ministry for Earth for a day of community nourishment, resource sharing and skill-building to support your local eco ministries! Register here.
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Ecology as Scripture: March 23 @ 11-2 CT
For Ministers, Seminarians, Religious Educators & Lay Leaders Connect science to spiritual practice and peace education. This workshop is an exploration of climate change and how connecting the climate crisis to religious beliefs, teachings, and practices can inspire local and global actions. Register here.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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