Sunday Service

November 16, 2025 at 10:30 am 

Gift Card Collection during Annual Bread Communion

For our Bread Communion on November 23, 2025, we are asking you to bring a gift card along with your loaf of bread. Gift cards will be donated to these two local organizations:

Gift cards in the amount of $75 from Visa, MasterCard, Valli, Jewel, and Aldi

will be donated to the Community Cares Collaborative, which helped organize

the massive food drive at ETHS and is now working with District 65 and 202 social

workers to supplement the approximately 3,000 families who receive free and

reduced lunches and are in need of food support right now.  

All other gift cards of any kind and in any amount will be donated to Interfaith

Action of Evanston to be distributed through their Hospitality Center run out of St.

Mark’s Episcopal Church from 7-11 am, Monday – Friday.

We Did It!

The Serendipity Fundraiser Team is delighted to announce that our Serendipity Fundraiser has officially met its goal of $28,000! This incredible achievement was only possible because of you—your creativity, generosity, and countless hours of love poured into auction donations, event hosting, volunteer work, and spirited bidding. Together, we didn’t just meet a number—we strengthened our connections, had a lot of fun, and celebrated the many gifts of this community. If you placed a winning bid, you can pick up your auction items at the tables in the sanctuary right after the service. With full hearts and deep gratitude—thank you for making Serendipity shine! If you have not already, stop by the UCE office to collect the items you won. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to the Serendipity Team at auction@ucevanston.org

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

This Sunday…

Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 8:45a-12:15p. 

Chalice Children (Pre/K/1st) in room 9 – Our children will explore feelings by hearing the story Mrs. Biddlebox and drawing pictures.

Hearts, and Hands (2nd-5th) in room 8 – Our young people will explore what Bread Communion is and why we have one in Gratitude Means Sharing..



Youth Group (6th+) in room 10 – Our youth will explore what communion is from a UU perspective in CommUUnion.

Faith Formation Registration

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

Create Your UU Elevator Speech – November 18 at 7p – Youth and Adults

Have you ever been caught tongue-tied when asked about Unitarian Universalism? Then this program is for you! Create Your UU Elevator Speech guides participants through developing an elevator speech about their UU faith. It is called an “elevator speech” because, on an elevator ride when someone asks you “what is Unitarian Universalism?” you only have a short time to make a meaningful statement. Register here.

Hello everyone! November is a time of change as fall becomes winter and we trade our summer shorts in for cozy slippers, sweaters, and mugs of hot chocolate.

Last year the Board of Trustees hosted four amazing listening sessions we titled, “Big Questions” to discuss the future of our congregation. Many of you joined those conversations. Thank you so much for your wisdom and perspectives. The Board loved hearing the hopes and dreams that people have for our congregation. One key theme that came up in every conversation we hosted: the desire to change our name. 

People felt it was time to change our name for two main reasons. The first was wanting to recognize that we are a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). As the UCE history buffs know, we moved into our current building in 1958 as the Unitarian Church of Evanston. Then in 1961, the merger with the Unitarian Universalist Association took place. This means that for 67 years our name has neglected to accurately reflect the Universalist part of our heritage. 

Our hats are off to this year’s Serendipity Auction Volunteers! Many thanks for a job well done to our amazing leader, Chris Allender, who also made all the chili and cornbread for our luncheon! Thank you to our Planning Committee, Mike Takada, Sydney Francolino, Mary Beth Roth, and Carla Williams.

We appreciate the volunteers who made our Serendipity Auction Luncheon a wonderful community event, including kitchen coordinators, Chris Yoo and Kathy Talmage; kitchen attendants, Bex Blackmore, Janelle Brittain, and Kaz Ayukawa; table and chairs set-up crew, Meredith Haydon, Dana Deane, Laura Etchen, Toni Rey, and the many spontaneous volunteers; and the clean-up crew, Ellie Feddersen, Kathy Monk, Elizabeth Kennedy, and Michael Skilton.

We are grateful for the volunteers who helped with the auction itself. The viewing set-up crew: Beverly Sosa, Jan Augustyn, Mike Dickenson, and Marilyn Wroblewski; our bidding buddies, Jane Hampson and Kera Beskin; our pack-up crew, Christine Peters, Cindy Sammons, Lina, Hilko, and Steve Serikaku; and our volunteers who bundled and handed out items to auction winners, Sarah Vanderwicken, Kristin Larsen, Craig Spidle, Barb Badr, Carolyn Laughlin, Dana Deane, Dave Schroeder, and Marcy Hicks.

Finally, this fundraiser would not have been the success it was without the 20 members who volunteered financial donations and the 100+ members and friends who donated items or events. Well done one and all!

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Friday, November 14th:

• Movie Night, 7-9pm, Room 6

Saturday, November 15th:

• Virtual Pilates, 9:30am, via Zoom
• Worship Planning Team, 9:30-11am, Room 6 and Zoom
• Beginner Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, Room 3
• UCE Prison Ministry, 10:30-11:30am, via Zoom
• Intermediate Tai Chi, 11-12pm, Room 3
• Journey Toward Membership, 1-2:30pm, Room 12
• Immigrant Solidarity Team, 4-5pm, via Zoom

Sunday, November 16th:

• Chris Isley Cancer Support Group, 9-10:15am, Room 6 & Zoom
• Worship Service, 10:30-11:30am, Sanctuary
• UCE Pagan Collective Monthly Meeting, 12-1:30pm, Room 13
• Young Adult Group Soulful Sunday, 12:15-1pm, Room 12
• Sine Nomine Covenant Group, 12:15-2pm, Offsite or Zoom
• Transparentsy Group, 12:30-2pm, Room 2
• Dance the Stress Out Sunglasses Dance Party, 12:30-1:30pm, Room 3

Monday, November 17th:

• UCE Addictions and Recovery, 6:45-7:45pm, via Zoom
• Durkin Covenant Group, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Tuesday, November 18th:

• Legislative Action Team, 4:30-5:30pm, via Zoom
• Peg Heads, 6:30-9:30pm, Room 6
• Caregiver Support Group, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom
• UU Elevator Speech, 7-8:30pm, Room 3 and Zoom
• First Women's Circle, 7-8pm, Online

Wednesday, November 19th:

• Yoga Online, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
• Integrated Stewardship Council, 5-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Hope Covenant Group, 7-9pm, Room 2
• Pastoral Care Meeting, 7-9pm, via Zoom
• Congregational Life & FF Council, 7-8pm, via Zoom

Thursday, November 20th:

• Beacons of Light Gatherings, 4-4:30pm
• Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), 5:30-6:30pm, Sanctuary
• Meditation Group, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Choir Rehearsal, 7-8:45pm, Sanctuary
• Board of Trustees Meeting, 7-9pm, Room 6 and Zoom

UCE Cares

UCE is a congregation of mutual care and support in service of our overall mission to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole. In these difficult and overwhelming times, we’re all struggling in different ways to take care of ourselves and each other. The Congregational Care and Support Teams are here to help.

The Caring Team provides practical care like meals and rides during health challenges or other family transitions.

The Pastoral Care Team works with the ministers to provide spiritual accompaniment for members of the congregation struggling with loneliness, grief, anxiety and other concerns. We don’t provide therapy but a thoughtful listening partner.

If you’re struggling financially or need short term help with a bill or payment, please reach out to one of the ministers to access our pastoral care funds.



If you know of someone who might need care, if you need care yourself, or if you would like to offer care to others, please visit our Congregational Care Page

New Volunteer Opportunities Cart

Our new Volunteer Opportunities Cart lives in the sanctuary by the Welcome Table (with the red table cloth) on Sunday mornings and by the Lending Libraries (near the sanctuary stairs) during the week. Check out the labels on each drawer to discover time limited volunteer opportunities from various UCE committees, teams, and groups. Open the drawers to find a half sheet with further details, including the contact information of who to reach out to with questions.

If you have ideas about using the cart to find volunteer opportunities or leaving information about an opportunity, please contact Rev. Susan.

Hello movie lovers! The Young Adult Group is sponsoring a Friday Movie Night at UCE on 11/14/2025 from 7:30 PM – 9 PM to watch “Napoleon Dynamite.” This is a rated PG quirky "classic" comedy film with a run time of 1 Hour 22 min. Please be prepared to have a good time and bring comfortable attire to watch the film. There will be popcorn and drinks provided.

Protest AT&T's contract with ICE,

Sunday, 11/16 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM

UCE’s Catalyst for Democracy team, in collaboration with UUA Side with Love and UUANI offer a special focus for non-cooperation: STOP AT&T's COLLABORATION WITH ICE. UU congregations are anchoring "site visits" at AT&T stores across the state on Sunday, 11/16/25. The immediate goal is to get AT&T to end its multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with ICE, which is using AT&T's communications systems and equipment to target, detain and disappear our neighbors.

Please join us at the AT&T Evanston center at 1620 Chicago Avenue from 1:30-2:30 PM. We’ll have info at the program table after our service.  

 Attend A Journey Toward Membership Class

Are you a new or long-time visitor? Are you interested in committing to our UCE community as a member? Are you not sure, but would like some more information? Our Journey Toward Membership class covers UU history and values, what is means to be part of a covenantal faith tradition, and the rewards and responsibilities of being a member of UCE.

Join Rev. Susan and the Membership Team at one of our Journey Toward Membership classes. The class is 90-minutes and you only need to attend it once before joining. The next class date is:



• Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:00-10:20 am, Room 12, child care provided. Click here to register. 

If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

The next meeting of the UCE Fiction Book Group

is Friday, November 21st, using our Recurring Zoom link

The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading "American Pastoral" by Philip Roth. Pulitzer Prize Winner 1998. Philip Roth shows us ourselves like no other.

Swede Lvov lives the American Dream until his daughter is lured into the radical left terrorism of the late 1960’s and brings it all down. What is the American Dream and how do we manage (or not) to include everyone in it?

Next read: Kiran Desai, "The Inheritance of Loss," December 18.

The Nonfiction book group will meet online at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, using our recurring Zoom link.

Join us to discuss The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoe Schlanger. Washington Post staff writer Zoe Schlanger provides an overview of sometimes controversial plant research and challenges readers to rethink the role of plants and expand their appreciation for plants’ essential role in the great web of existence.

On Dec. 28th we’ll discuss On Looking: A Walker’s Guide to the Art of Observation by Alexandra Horowitz.

Celebration of Life for Irene Adler

Saturday, November 22, at 1:30pm, we will celebrate the life of our much beloved Irene Adler. Two Margarets (Shaklee & Talmage) are organizing hospitality. If it would please you to take on a small role or bring a favorite food to honor Irene click HERE, make your selection and click SignUP!

If you want to opt out of the technology, email or call Margaret Shaklee with your offer to help.

Many thanks!

MITTEN TREE 2025

Mitten Tree gift sign-up is up and running (HERE). It may seem too early to be thinking about the holidays, but gifts are due back at UCE for sorting and wrapping by SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30th, so don’t delay in signing up! Don’t want to shop? You can donate money and the mitten tree elves will shop for you–you may Zelle or Venmo Jenny Walsh, jmw99free at gmail dot com or 847-309-3648, or write a check to UCE with Mitten Tree in the memo.

Sign up to help with organizing/shopping/wrapping HERE. 

This longstanding tradition is a beautiful snapshot of our community’s shared values and a privilege to help organize. Read on below about where your gifts will go this year, AND MAY WHAT YOU GIVE BRING YOU JOY!

Come Join the UCE Spanish Club

¡Hola amigos y amigas! A group of us is starting up a Spanish club where we can practice and learn Spanish in a fun and welcoming learning environment. Please join Carlos Waldron and Doug Erickson as they will be hosting a video conference every Tuesday evening from 6:30 – 7:30PM going through Spanish mentoring website and through the “Spanish the easy way” textbook. We welcome all curious learners through this journey :)

Atiende Spanish mentoring video conferencing link

2nd Annual UCE Camping Trip!

Next summer may seem like a long time away, but we are starting to gauge interest in our second camping trip and want your input. Please fill out this brief survey (by Nov. 24) sharing your opinions and needs.

Claim your Lost & Found Items by November 23



As winter approaches, it is time to empty out the Lost & Found drawer and make room for more. Any items not claimed by November 30th will be donated.

The Lost & Found drawer and hanging items are located in the lobby across from the bathrooms. Small items, such as keys and jewelry, are kept in a box in the office.

Please look for your lost items on Sunday morning or when the office is open from 10 am - 4 pm Tuesday through Friday.

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 Restore Justice Foundation, whose mission is to make Illinois a safer and more compassionate state by replacing the ineffective, extreme sentencing policies of the past with evidence-based laws that allow families and communities to heal. 

Ornament Sunday - December 7

during Kinship Time

Join the fun for this UCE tradition!

You can make a variety of holiday ornaments for your tree or the UCE tree.

And if you’d like to help staff a table, you can see some ideas or suggest your own on the sign up here.

OWL Orientation for Parents of 7th-9th Graders

Learn about this popular sex-ed program on

December 7, 2-3:30p.

Friends are able to participate as long as a parent attends this meeting.

Family Fall Feedback – December 14 at 12:15p

Based on our gathering with Rev. Eileen recently, we now invite parents/families to help us prioritize the many ideas that were shared. Childcare available.

If you’d like to add your thoughts, please respond to this short survey.

UCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights

Our next gathering is Friday, November 21st



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.

Christmas is Coming!

We have three fun events next month!

Cocoa, Carols, and Community – December 5, 6-8p

We’ll wrap gifts for the mitten tree and then enjoy hot cocoa and sing carols.

 Ornament Sunday – December 7 during Kinship Time

Make several holiday ornaments. Sign up here to staff a craft table or to help set up or bring treats.



Christmas Pageant – December 21 during worship

You can claim a role by signing up here or simply show up before worship to claim one not yet taken.

Come be a Beacon of Light!

With the time change, we have changed the time for our gatherings at the corner of Dempster & Ridge every Thursday to be from 4:00-4:30 pm starting November 6.

Inspired by Beacons of Light, bring a colorful sign with a positive message visioning a future shaped by love and justice (sign inspiration here)or include The Beacon’s QR code to spread the light even further. You may join the Beacons of Light WhatsApp group by filling out their form.

Whether we’re three people or 100, we continue to provide a source of hope and solidarity for the participants, those driving by, and our neighbors. All are welcome!

ONGOING UU CONNECTIONS

Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330