For best viewing click here to see the entire newsletter

This Week at NSUC

* These events are open to all! Join us!

^ To learn more about participating in these groups/activities, contact Lydia Linendoll.



Sunday, June 8

10 AM - In-person and virtual Worship Service: God's Monsters, Rev. Lucas Hergert, preaching*

10 AM - Worship Live Stream*

     Meeting ID: 825 5440 9840

You can access the Order of Service here.

11 AM - Fellowship Hour*

11:30 AM - LGBTQ+ Action Team & Democracy Action Team Meeting (Bletzer)*

1 PM - Don Holton Memorial Service (Sanctuary + Zoom)*

7 PM - Sunday Night Men's Group (Zoom)^

Monday, June 9

10:30 AM – Monday Morning Meditation (Zoom)*

Tuesday, June 10

6:30 PM - NSUC Music Club (Sanctuary)^

Saturday, June 14

8 AM - NSUC Rummage Sale*

The end of this newsletter is marked by this graphic.

If you do not see this graphic at the apparent end of this message, please click on the link below.

For best viewing click here to see the entire newsletter

First Words - Rev. Lucas

Upcoming Worship Services

June 8: God's Monsters: A look at the terrifying beasts in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, and what they tell us about our deepest fears and hopes.

Rev. Lucas Hergert, preaching

June 15: Passion: Rev. Lucas will explore the question, What is passion, and how do we find it? Also, after the service, we will have a book release party for Rev. Lucas's new book Impassioned: A Guide to Progressive Preaching.

Rev. Lucas Hergert, preaching

June 22: We will stream the General Assembly Worship! Rev. Dr. Nicole C. Kirk (she/her) is the Rev. Dr. J. Frank and Alice Schulman Chair of Unitarian Universalist History at Meadville Lombard Theological School and a historian of American religious history. She has served UU congregations in Ohio and New Jersey and is currently the Program Minister (part-time) at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She joined the Meadville Lombard faculty in 2012 after serving eight years in the parish and earning her Ph.D. at Princeton Theological Seminary. Her research interests include religion, business, mobility, and material culture in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Dr. Kirk’s publications include Wanamaker’s Temple: The Business of Religion in an Iconic Department Store (New York University Press, 2018, 2023) and chapters in several edited volumes.

June 29: Queer Joy: Join us for a Pride service as we hear our members share their experience!

Rev. Lucas Hergert, leading

In case you missed it, here's last week's service:

To submit an item for consideration in future publications, click here.

We kindly ask that all submissions for next week's newsletter be made by next Tuesday. Thank you for your help.

NSUC Pride Party & Celebration!

On Saturday, June 28 at 5:30 pm, join in NSUC’s pride celebration, sponsored by the Caring Team and the LGBTQIA+ Team.

• A rainbow potluck (bring a colorful dish to share)
• A screening of the thought-provoking film, Will and Harper.
• An open discussion period afterward
• Rainbow popcorn & cake
• Did we say CAKE?!
• Gain insight into how to be caring & supportive of LGBTQIA+ people.

Be there on June 28th for a great celebration and a stimulating evening.

Work with our Youth this Summer through our Summer of Sharing!

Do you have a fun activity to share with our youth? Perhaps a special skill you would have learned, or a hobby that brings you joy? We would love for YOU to share your gifts and knowledge with our youth this summer through an interactive activity!

This commitment would be for one Sunday in June, July or August. If you are interested, please email Lydia Linendoll with a brief description of what you will be bringing to share with our youth. NSUC will supply all necessary materials. Thank you for getting involved with our fantastic NSUC youth!

June NSUC Book Club Meeting

In June, the NSUC Book Club will be reading James by Percival Everett, a brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - both harrowing and satirical - told from the enslaved Jim's point of view

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. Brimming with nuanced humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim's agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first-century American literature.

We will meet on Saturday, June 21st, at 10:30 in the Hearth Room. Please join us. All are welcome! If you have any questions, contact Andrea Mills at andreamills912@gmail.com. 

Release Party for Rev. Lucas Hergert's New Book

June 15, 11AM

Celebrate with us! Rev. Lucas will talk about his forthcoming book from Skinner House Books, Impassioned: A Guide to Progressive Preaching. At a time when progressive values are under assault, how do we speak with passion and force to the issues that matter? Cake and sparkling cider will be served!  

Check out this write up of Rev. Lucas's forthcoming book!

Celebration of Life: Don Holton

Service will be streamed HERE

Rummage Sale for Charity - We Need YOU!

- All proceeds (thousands!) go to local non-profits.

- Many of our shoppers are in great need of our superb values and this sale makes their family budget work.

- Fabulous prices & top-quality items, from menswear, women's clothing, jewelry, boutique items, toys, garage & hardware, sports equipment, small furniture, housewares, small appliances, and linens.

- Items individually priced + special bag pricing!

We need you to donate items and volunteer your time. We're particularly in need of volunteers to accept donations, toset up on June 7 & 8, to sort & price items, to help on the June 14 sale day, and to clean up after the sale. Click HERE for the details.

Start your Sunday with the Joy of Movement!

Join us Sundays, June 15, 22, and 29 at 9AM for Joy of Movement. Debbie Wood will lead this 50 minute class, which uses simple dance moves choreographed to upbeat music. We use three dimensional, total body movements to provide range of motion and joint mobility, Other benefits include cardio fitness, strength, and flexibility. Best of all, participants finish the class feeling joyful, relaxed, and energized. Appropriate for all fitness levels. A suggested donation is suggested, which will go to NSUC's Share the Plate recipients. To sign up, click on the link: https://forms.gle/qsaFV7CNstruWPj9A

Want to learn what it takes to be a UU Prison Ministry Pen Pal?

To provide important connections to men and women who cherish them, all that it takes is a small amount of time each month and a curiosity about how we are like and different from those "inside."

Smudging Ceremony

June 28, 2PM

Smoke cleansing rituals, aka smudging or incensing rituals, occur in many traditions and are intended for purification, healing, and inviting in blessings. In response to the tensions in our world and lives, members of NSUC will host a ritual to send away release negativity from our church space and lives and invite in love. All are welcome. Please plan to bring a refreshment for after the ceremony.

UUA General Assembly 2025

Calling all volunteers! This year, as in every year, UU’s from around the country will be gathering. This year’s theme, most appropriately is “Meet the Moment.” The dates are June 18 – 22. Those wishing to participate can do so in person or virtually via Zoom. You can simply participate as an observer or NSUC is able to send up to six official delegates, which empowers the ability to vote on measures. If you are interested in becoming a delegate, please notify Jocelyn. Click on this link to learn more.

Save the Dates: Pilgrimage to the Legacy Museum

October 10-13, 2025

NSUC will partner with First Presbyterian Church in Highland Park to travel to Birmingham Alabama to visit the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. NSUC will also visit the memorial sites to James Reeb and Viola Liuzzo, two Unitarians killed in the struggle for Civil Rights. All members and high school youth are invited to attend. More details will be forthcoming, ask Rev. Lucas if you have questions. 

Hello RE Families!

Here's our schedule for the rest of June:

June 8: No RE

June 15: Lydia - Stained Glass Making

June 22: No RE - GA Live Stream

June 29: RE - TBD

The summer months are here, and I know that means things get busy. I hope you all have many fun adventures planned for these upcoming weeks in the sun.

First, I wanted to share the exciting announcement that we will have Cecilia Naylor joining us to work in the Nursery over the summer! Please check in with her before the service to fill out some quick paperwork if you would like to participate in these services.

For RE, we will be doing what we did last year, inviting the community to work with our kiddos and show them some of their amazing gifts! I will be taking on the first Sunday, showing how to make stained glass. I'm excited to share this skill with our youth and make some fun projects together. I will be preparing some partially-premade things for the kids to have as keepsakes to take home with them.

If you or your family have a fun activity or project to share with our youth, please email me with your proposal! I would love to have you share your talents.

If you have any questions or would like more ideas on how to support further learning at home, please feel free to email me at congregationallife@nsuc.org.

Blessings,

Lydia Linendoll (she/her)

Congregational Life and Educational Coordinator

Your 2024 -2025 Board of Trustees

Joe Small, President

Rob Malench, Vice President

Vicki Jenkins, Treasurer

Glenn Mills, Secretary

Emily Mace, Susan Barker and Christina Fraley, Members at Large

A Message from the Board President - 6/5/25

Every sunset is also a sunrise—it’s all perspective.—Anonymous

As the sun sets on our church year, I look forward with hope and joy to the future. Of course, as Shakespeare said, “The past is prelude.” In the past year the light of NSUC shined bright in these dark times. This light supports and nurtures. It is kindness that seeps into the world bringing sustenance and strength to those in need. 

This year, as president of the Board, it was so inspiring to witness the dynamic energy that permeates our congregation. Ours is a church heavily gifted with strong leaders throughout the entire community. Leaders who have created so many avenues to provide care and comfort to fellow members and connect dedicated individuals to journey out to impact our larger communities. As Hilary Clinton wrote, “It takes a village.”

Before leaving the past, I would be remiss if I didn’t express gratitude for the presence of Stephen Blackwelder in our lives. It was an honor for me to be indulged by Stephen and allowed to sing in the choir for a few years. During that time I witnessed his constant energy and patience, the way he coaxed and prodded us to be better in the most sensitive of manners, his constant humor to lighten long choir practices. Of course, we all got to witness his thoughtful musical selections that always complemented the sermon. He will be missed.

Thank you as well to Vicki Jenkins and Emily Mace for their service on the Board which was invaluable.

Looking forward I see an ever greater need for the light NSUC can generate. We will continue to care for each other and our good works will be needed even more. Regarding the music program, we will be blessed with the torch passed to our good friends Katherine Peterson and Bob Postic. So let us look to the sunrise on the new church year and, ultimately, with hope that our light joins with many others to create a nova of goodness in the world. May it be so!

With every good wish!

Joseph Small

Board of Trustees

President

Upcoming Board Meetings

Board meetings are at 7:00 PM and are open to members.

Our next meeting will be: Wednesday, June 18

BLUU Resources

North Shore Unitarian Church supports Black Lives Matter. For information and resources about Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism, please click here: blacklivesuu.org.

Legislative Advocacy Team Opt-in 

Click here to opt-in to receive notifications from the Legislative Advocacy Team. Emails with

actions you can take will be sent as needed when the Illinois General Assembly is meeting.

Monday Morning Meditation

Mondays, 10:30 AM - 12 PM

The Monday Morning Meditation Group is led by Chuck Hutchcraft, a Zen priest who is a trained mindfulness teacher as well as a licensed clinical social worker. Whether a beginner or experienced, all are welcome to join this group online using the zoom link in the church calendar. We sit together in silence for 30 minutes and then engage in learning more about meditation through information shared by Chuck, discussions of questions posed by members, and individuals voluntarily sharing their meditation journey experiences.

Rev. Lucas' Office Hours



Do you want to chat with Rev. Lucas? Please fill out this form to request a meeting with him.

Staff Office Hours & Contacts

Click here for hours and contacts for our staff.

Dropping by NSUC? Give us a call.

We ask that all members and friends make an appointment with the church office before coming to the church. Please email Jocelyn or call 847-235-1957.

Copy Machine Update

This is a friendly reminder that you should contact Jocelyn if you need to make copies for an NSUC group or program. We ask that you provide one week's notice to coordinate your copy job.

Help Keep Our Church Safe

Please make sure to secure all church doors before leaving the building. This includes pulling doors completely shut and making sure that they latch. Thank you for your continued support in making our church a safe space for all!