Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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In-Person and Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, October 31 at 10:15 am
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An All Souls Halloween
At this time of year, it is said the veil between this and the spirit world is thinnest. We honor All Souls this Halloween, holding the dual companions of life and death, with solemnity and a little bit of silliness. We gather in community to hold our losses and learn from our ancestors with honesty and compassion. We also befriend our fears through fun. Bring your photos of loves ones to place on the altar or send them to Rev. Eileen to share virtually. And if you’d like, those of all ages may wish to wear a costume – ghostly or witchy, creative or kitschy. Rev. Eileen Wiviott leads this service with Worship Associate, Lizzy Powers.
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Please join us for this Sunday’s Faith Formation Hour
(11:30-12:15): Spiritual Practices for All Ages
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Please join us for one of these activities:
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Pagan Samhain Ritual - South Lawn (In the event of inclement weather, we will be in Rm 6. Click here to join on Zoom.) UCE’s Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPs) will conduct an in-person and online ritual to celebrate Samhain, the ancient Celtic new year's holiday from which All Soul's Day originally stemmed. All are welcome to join us as we commemorate the end of the harvest season, celebrate the interconnected web of life, and honor both our ancestors and our recently dead. Please feel free to bring a photo or other token of those you wish to remember, though it is not necessary. We will live-stream the event for those who wish to join from home if the weather is inclement.
- Tai Chi (ages 12 and up) - Sanctuary
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Chair Yoga - Rm 3 or Zoom. Yoga traditions bring awareness to health, breathing in vitality, letting go of tension - tightness. Yoga at UCE is designed to reduce stress, bring relaxation, increase range of motion, and find balance - restorative type yoga. If you have never done yoga before, this is your opportunity. The Sunday's session will be done mostly sitting in chairs, wear comfortable clothing. Click here to join on Zoom.
- Nursery (ages 0-3) - Rm 11
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Important Info for this Sunday's Service |
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Please plan to arrive for worship at UCE no earlier than 9:45 am so Ministers & Staff can adequately prepare for the worship service in the Sanctuary. |
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A Prayer Blessing Extended to Rev. Eileen Wiviott and the Unitarian Church of Evanston on the Occasion of her Installation as Senior Pastor on Saturday, October 23, 2021. |
Loving and Merciful God, we come today in gratitude for this momentous occasion in the life of our dear friend Eileen and in the life of the Unitarian Church of Evanston.
We come in gratitude, first because we are witnesses to what the Psalmist wrote: “This is the Lord’s doing. And it is marvelous in our eyes.” We are grateful for your anointed and appointed, your called and commissioned servant, Eileen.
Our Evanston community bears witness to Eileen’s gifts and contributions, already freely shared and given before this day of sacred consecration. We have seen her work with Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders. We have seen her work as an advocate for social justice and equity for all people.
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Join an Ends Conversation! |
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- November 7th (Sunday) from 1-2 pm on Zoom
- November 10th (Wednesday) from 7-8 pm on Zoom
- November 13th (Saturday) from 9:30-10:30 am in person at UCE
- December 4th (Saturday) from 12-1 pm on Zoom
- January 2nd (Sunday) as part of Faith Formation Hour, 11:30 am-12:30 pm in-person
- January 5th (Wednesday) from 5:30-6:30 pm on Zoom
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Exciting Offerings at the Serendipity Auction
And keep your donations coming...
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This year’s Serendipity Auction is brimming with amazing and creative offerings. Click here to view the Serendipity Auction catalog. Check out the beautiful handmade cards by Kathy Talmage. There are several gift certificates to local minority or woman owned or environmentally focused businesses, theatre tickets, sports teams, art classes, Pilates instruction, dinners and desserts delivered to your door, and that’s just the beginning!
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Hats Off to the Installation Team: Susan Carlton, Vickie Hellyer, Lynn Kendall, Sandra Robinson, Jessica Tomell-Presto, Jenny Walsh, and Bridget Wild! |
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This group of creative folks helped behind the scenes to imagine and plan the service, manage invites, recruit dancers, create music, purchase colorful scarves, make sure there were flowers on the altar, with sparkling beverages and wiener dog cookies for all! It was such a joyous celebration and a beautiful demonstration of our shared ministry. Thank you Installation Team for making it possible.
Additional thanks to:
- Norell and Juliana Liddell, Bridget Wild, Teddy, Kirby, and Ben Kornfeld, Ellie Feddersen, Shirley Adams, Diane Markel for leading us in dancing
- Margaret Shaklee and Kathy Talmage for arranging the flowers
- Kathy Talmage and I believe many others that I'm not even sure of for baking and decorating cookies
- Alice Chrostowski and Trudi Davis for helping in the kitchen
- Karen Courtright, Renée Hoff, Vickie Doebele, Kathy Underwood, Carolyn Laughlin, Cheryl Mounts, Lynn Kendall for handling the offering and overflow rooms
- Liz and Steven Eason for making the place beautiful as always
- Jessica Meis for the order of service
- Adam Gough for doing an incredible job with all technical aspects
- Gregory Shifrin for your stunning piano pieces
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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.
Deadline for Serendipity Auction Donations is November 7! More info above!
ENDS Statements Conversations:
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November 7th (Sunday) from 1-2pm on Zoom
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November 10th (Wednesday) from 7-8pm on Zoom
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November 13th (Saturday) from 9:30-10:30 am in person at UCE
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December 4th (Saturday) from 12-1pm on Zoom
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January 2nd (Sunday) as part of Faith Formation Hour, 11:30-12:30 in person
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January 5th (Wednesday) from 5:30 – 6:30 on Zoom
Chicago Area UU Council hosts their Fall conference on Saturday, November 13 on Zoom. More info below.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Sunday, October 31
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Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 8:45 am in Room 6 and via Zoom. Contact Renee Hoff for the Zoom link.
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Worship Service at 10:15 am in the sanctuary and via Youtube. Nursery/PreK care available for 1-4 year olds. Click here to join.
- Faith Formation Hour at 11:30 am-12:15 pm.
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Pagan Samhain Ritual - Lawn (or Rm 6 & Zoom if inclement weather - Click here to join.)
- Tai Chi (ages 12 and up) - Sanctuary
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Chair Yoga - Rm 3 Click here to join.
- Nursery - Rm 11
- Kinship on the Lawn at 12:30 am.
Monday, November 1
Tuesday, November 2
Wednesday, November 3
Thursday, November 4
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Virtual Meditation at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Lisa Solomon for the link.
- Choir Rehearsal at 7 pm in Room 3 or via Zoom.
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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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The October 21st UCE Board Meeting |
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There was considerable discussion of the first chapters of Unlocking the Power of Covenant, which the BoT is reading and recommends to interested UCE members. We considered such questions as the connections between theology and Widening the Circe of Concern, how social justice relates to our goals, and the importance of taking a fresh look at the UCE Covenant of Engagement and Ends Statements.
The Treasurer reported that we are still tracking closely to budget...
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Widening the Circle of Concern
Reading 2 Chapters for November 21, 2021 Faith Formation Hour
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Wanting to learn what our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is recommending as ways to dismantle white supremacy culture within our governance and leadership structures? Adult 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 November, we will be reading 2 chapters. You are encouraged to read the chapter on Governance and the chapter on Congregations & Communities before November 21st 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 as well as on 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 November 14th so we can arrange that space.
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Journey Toward Membership Class - November 2 & 3 |
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Are you curious about UU History? Are you considering becoming a UCE member? You are invited to join Rev. Susan Frances for the following classes:
- Journey Toward Membership: Part 1, Tuesday, November 2, 2021, 6:30-8:00 pm, in room 6 and via Zoom; and Part 2, Wednesday, November 3, 2021, 6:30-8:00 pm, in room 3 and via Zoom.
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Tai Chi at UCE - New Beginner's Class |
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Tai Chi @ UCE is offering a new 6 weeks beginner’s class on Saturdays. The class will run from November 6 to December 11, from 9:45-10:45 am in the sanctuary when available.
UCE member Renee Gatsis who teaches the class has played Tai Chi for 40 years and taught it for over 20. She credits Tai Chi in large part for her equanimity and good health.
Participants will learn the Sun-style tai chi form adapted and popularized by Dr. Paul Lam. This meditation in motion is a gentle exercise with graceful, flowing movement performed at a slow tempo. The Sun style is a simple, upright form ideal for people of all ages. In fact, Renee has taught this form to teens as well as elders...
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Chicago Area UU Council (CAUUC) Fall Conference |
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The Chicago Area UU Council (CAUUC) Fall Conference will be held on Saturday, November 13 at 9:30 am - Noon and be conducted via Zoom. There is no fee required to participate though donations are welcome and appreciated to help defer the costs of the conference and support the ongoing work of CAUUC.
Topic: There's a strong desire among most of us to reconnect in-person with our church communities, especially if we haven't been able to thus far. Elders and families with young children, in particular, have been isolated throughout the pandemic...
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Endowment Members & Trustees: A Job Descriptions |
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The Endowment Committee is looking for additional members. We meet monthly, the second Monday of the month, and do more work between meetings. Following is a list of Committee responsibilities and desired qualifications. We are especially looking to diversify the group. |
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Member to Member Connection Calls |
As we all are welcomed back into our sanctuary, we are making a round of calls to check in on our members and friends. Please don't be surprised if you hear from a fellow member over the next couple of weeks asking for a 15-20 minute chat. It's a great way to increase our connectivity and we hope you will enjoy the conversation! |
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Thank you from UCE's Fair Trade Team |
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The Fair Trade Team would like to thank all those who attended our Faith Formation hour last Sunday. And a special thanks goes to Sheila and Kara Holder and their friend Jean Currie who provided creative planning and print materials - and the bananas - for the activities. It was fun to see so many enjoying the games and having good discussions while learning about fair trade. Some of our kids and adults especially enjoyed the chocolate milk made from fair trade cocoa
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There are still some damp days ahead of us, and our friends with Connections for the Homeless are still in need of rain ponchos. They can also be an extra layer of protection against wet snows. Thanks as always for your generosity! |
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Carceral Systems and Siding with Love - Nov 4 |
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UU Prison Ministry of Illinois, REAL, and the UCE Prison Ministry team invite you to join us for the last two sessions of Carceral Systems and Siding with Love.
How do we actively side with Love in the face of harmful carceral systems that especially target black and brown people? On November 4 we will discuss the Basics of Restorative Justice. Registration is required, and a short reading or video will be emailed to you one week before the session. This will be the final session of the series.
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Green Team Meeting - Nov 6 |
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Looking for other folks who are passionate about the environment? You will find some of them at the Green Team monthly gathering on the first Saturday. November's meeting is Saturday Nov. 6 at 1 pm. The zoom link is below. We are exploring programs to help UCE and its members make better green choices. Your voice is important and it gets stronger when you join with others.
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Rainbow Alliance Meets on Nov 9 - All are Invited! |
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Donate to Evanston's Reparations Fund! |
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At our Interfaith Reparations workshop we learned about an exciting opportunity to support Evanston’s Reparations program. A group of UCE members has pledged up to $11,000 to match any contributions made to the Evanston Community Foundation’s Reparations Fund. Contributions to the fund will be doubled. To find out more, you can visit the group’s website at Evanstonforever.org...
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Let it go? Nope, it's "Start a bid!" |
Enjoy singing? We're looking for young people and families to help with a parody of “Let It Go” from Frozen for the Serendipity Auction. Your recording will be edited with others to create a whole choir singing. Make it a fun family activity this weekend! You can find instructions here!
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What's Happening in Faith Formation this Fall? |
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Faith Formation Hour this week - Halloween costumes invited!
- Nursery care (0-3) is available in Room 11 from 10 am-12:30 pm.
- At the beginning of the sermon, Heads, Hearts, and Hands (preK-6th) will meet at the back of the sanctuary and go to room 3. Parents can meet younger children after worship at 11:15 am in room 3.
- All ages are encouraged to participate in Faith Formation Hour in the sanctuary from 11:30a-12:30p. Our focus this week is on spiritual practices. You can participate in a Samhain ritual, try chair yoga, or for older kids and adults, there’s tai chi.
- Kinship on the lawn begins at 12:30 pm, weather permitting.
Family Ministry Team – meets November 2 at 7 pm on Zoom. We welcome those who are interested to join us! Email Kathy for Zoom info.
Registration for Faith Formation is here! This year more than ever, it is important that parents register their young people, so that we can plan according to current guidelines. Please complete the form here for all young people, 0-18 years old.
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October’s Soul Matters Theme – Cultivating Relationships! Check out the new Soulful Home packet here! The packet is designed for families to explore the monthly theme at their own pace and interest.
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Politics and the Making of Religious Diversity in the US - Tuesdays November 2, 9, 16 at 7-8:45 pm Session at UCE, conditions permitting | Facilitated by Jason Seawright, Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University
In these sessions, we will explore how politics and religion have interacted throughout US history to shape who counts as “religious;” which kinds of religious groups get access to rights, privileges, and liberties; how our historical memory of American religion has been shaped; and the ways that religion, race, and ethnicity interact in terms of social and political identity today.
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Forum – November 7 at 11:30 am in room 6 or via Zoom during Faith Formation Hour. Day of the Dead: Memento Mori led by Shirley Adams. Day of the Dead and All Souls Day are celebrated by some of us once a year in early November. But what if we tried to remember that death is a part of life every day of the year? Would Monday morning feel more precious or more bleak? What ideas, images, stories sustain you in your effort to live with death's inevitability? Come to our forum in person or online and let's share stories about our own mortality. This session will be offered by Shirley Adams and Janice Widran, a member of our meditation community.
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Towards an Understanding of Toni Morrison's A Mercy - Tuesdays, November 23, 30 at 7-8:45 pm | All sessions will be via Zoom | Facilitated by UCE member Barbara Mesle
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The fiction book group is reading multiple award-winner The Great Believers, by Rebecca Makkai, meeting for discussion on Friday, November 19 at 7 pm.
A sensitive, riveting take on the AIDS epidemic. Two intertwining stories, one set in 1985 in the growing awareness of the epidemic, the other in 2015, take us within and beyond that devastating era in American life.
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The nonfiction group will meet via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 21st to discuss Why We're Polarized by Ezra Klein.
According to the author, Over the past 50 years in America, our partisan identities have merged with our racial, religious, geographic, ideological and cultural identities and are breaking much in our politics and tearing at the bonds that hold this country together. Everyone is welcome to join us. The book is available in various formats at public libraries.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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