A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
The UCE building and grounds are available on a limited basis to small gatherings. Please read UCE's Reopening Guidelines before contacting staff about availability. We will continue to offer ways to connect virtually.
The UCE parking lot will be closed until Sunday, July 19.
The Sunday virtual service will be at 11:15 am
“The Failure of Confessions” –  Rev. Allison Farnum
This Sunday your guest preacher the Rev. Allison Farnum will let you in on a little secret. You ain’t perfect, and neither is she! Join us this Sunday as we put the fun in failure. Our faith tells us life is not a test, instead a process where the Spirit of Love lures us to learning over being learned. Lay the burden of perfection down! Hallelujah! Bring a sharpie and two 8.5” x 11” (ish) pieces of blank paper.

The Rev. Allison Farnum serves as Director of the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois. She recently returned to the Chicago area from over a decade serving her first call as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers, FL. A graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School, she has also served as an Adjunct Consultant for our UUA’s MidAmerica Region. She credits Second Unitarian Church of Chicago for her call to ministry and now serves Rev. Jason Lydon’s ministry as an affiliated community minister. Allison loves all things culinary and is a proud mother of two, and wife to her beloved Andy.

We encourage you to submit your joys and sorrows ahead of time to this online form . We will read aloud in the service, those that are submitted by 11 a.m. on Sunday. If you are unable to access the google form for some reason, you may send an email to Rev. Eileen Wiviott at ewiviott@ucevanston.org , however, it is easier for us to keep track through the google form. We continue to celebrate and mourn together through this important ritual and appreciate your understanding as we explore the various ways to hold what is on your hearts.

This Sunday's shared offering recipient is the Deborah's Place ( Click here to learn more ). Your offering can be given through Text-to-Give, online , or mailed to the office with "Shared Offering" in the memo line.
Other Virtual Gatherings this Sunday
Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 9:30 am via Zoom
Email Renee Hoff at  rdhoff99@yahoo.com  for details.
Virtual Coffee Hour
To join the virtual coffee hour by phone dial +13126266799,,94356542944#,,,,0#,,690720#
Please note this is a new link and dial in number. Links from emails sent in previous weeks will not work for this Sunday's virtual coffee hour.
Important News and Upcoming Events
All Church Zoom gatherings continue on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.
Look for the link in our Wednesday e-mails. If you need online Zoom support before the All Church gathering begins, join us at 5:20 pm.
From Sandra Robinson, Executive Operations Director
Hello everyone. My report will bring you up-to-date on many areas of interest at UCE: Finance, Capital Campaign Projects Progress, Fundraising, COVID 19 Actions & Learnings & Guidelines, and about General Assembly AUUA Days. Click the button to read the full report.

Finance  
It has been a challenging time to navigate these COVID times when financial uncertainty has prevailed. Over the past several months I have prepared financial projections and have worked closely with our Treasurer Susan Comstock and Staff Accountant Vickie Doebele to ensure we are on top of income and expense. The good news is that we ended the fiscal year far better than anticipated. We will close the books with a gain of approximately $5,000. This is due to the generous contributions by congregants, expense control, and a lower than expected attrition rate. Thank you to everyone who paid your pledges and contributed far and above. Your generosity and support of UCE keeps us moving forward during difficult times.  

Our shared offering has been favorable even during summer months when it often declines. Please remember to send your nominations for Shared Offering by July 31 . The Social Justice Council will be voting on these nominations...
Greeting From Susan Frances
Dear UCE:

I am delighted to be reconnecting you with this August.

On August 2nd, I will be ordained in an online ceremony. You are invited to attend and the Zoom link is embedded in the invitation in the UCE e-newsletter. During my ordination, please feel free to join in with one or more of these items:
  • Bring a candle. I am inviting everyone to light a chalice in their home during the chalice lighting.
  • Wear complimentary colors. I'm inviting folks to wear orange, purple, black, and white for the ceremony.
  • Take a photo. Since I love photo albums and we will be in our respective homes, I'm inviting everyone to take a photo at some point during the ceremony and email it to me after the service. My email address is sfrances@ucevanston.org.

I am thrilled to say that on August 3rd I will be rejoining your congregation as your Director of Congregational Life. I know Rev. Karen Mooney has done an excellent job of shaping this position and I look forward to continuing this ministry...
Submit Nominations for Shared Plate Recipients
As you know, half the money collected weekly in our now virtual "collection plate" goes to support an organization that helps UCE meet its social justice mission. These funds often are enough to make a significant difference for the organization. The Social Justice Council (SJC) will again be choosing recipients for that collection. We will choose one recipient per month, plus one for the "fifth Sundays." As in the past, we will select from nominations made by congregants and staff. Nominations must be received by July 31 . 

This year, in light of the reality of our present crises, in order to be eligible for Shared Plate an organization must “address systemic racism and/or the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color and the poor.” As in the past two years, nominations must include evidence that the organization meets at least some of the criteria that the SJC will consider in deciding among nominated organizations.  Click here for a description of the criteria and the process. Nomination forms are now available. Please let us know where this money should go!  
Your financial support is so appreciated!
Please help us ensure your contribution is credited appropriately by indicating on the memo line of your check if it is for 19/20 Pledge, 20/21 Pledge, Shared Offering or a Donation. 
If you are texting to give, please s end a text message to  312-584-9160  with the amount you would like to contribute and  the one word code  for where you would like it to go (e.g., 50 OFFERING ). Valid codes are OFFERING (Shared Offering),   PLEDGE  (Pledge Payment),  CAP  (Capital Campaign), or MUSIC (music fund). If you do not include a code after your donation amount, the system will automatically select PLEDGE. To learn more,  click here . If you experience any issues or would like a one-on-one session to go over Text-to-Give, contact Adam at  agough@ucevanston.org .

During these times when UCE staff are working from home we are trying to make trips to the church and our accounting tasks manageable for our Staff Accountant, Vickie Doebele. We respectfully request when you make a shared offering donation please do not ask for 100% to go to the organization. This truly would be helpful. We appreciate your understanding. 
Hats Off to All of You!
Our hats are off to all of you for continuing to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole from your home!

Your continued support of our mission and virtual stamina is so appreciated. As UCE moved to digital services and gatherings, you were all so patient and adaptable. It was not an easy transition, but we want to applaud all of you for sticking with us and helping one another through this difficult time.

From offering technical support to fellow members to sending cards and. checking in with one another to showing up for social justice and equity, we know you all continue to care even when we can not be together. While our gatherings will continue to be held virtually, we hold you all in our hearts and look forward to the day when we can safely see each other in person.

And, as we watch the many improvements happening inside and outside our building as a result of the Capital Campaign and we realize the financial health of UCE right now, we are grateful to you for your contributions of money and time. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Ann Peterson's Virtual Memorial Service
Ann Peterson's virtual memorial service will take place on Saturday, July 25 at 11 am . The service will be YouTube Livestreamed as our Sunday services are, and we will have a Zoom reception following with a link provided during the service. Save the links to the buttons below to attend these virtual events.
Brain Health & Wellness Virtual Series in August
The Pastoral Care Committee invites all to take part in their new Brain Health and Wellness Series: Aging, Memory, and Care in partnership with the Great Lakes Clinic Trials. This 4-part series will begin August 1 and held via Zoom, featuring various speakers each week. You do not have to attend each part of the series, but all are encouraged to attend. Registration is required. Click the buttons below for the schedule of speakers and topics and the registration link.
You're Invited to Susan Frances' Online Ordination
If you have trouble accessing in the image, click here to go to the virtual ordination.
Social Justice & Volunteer Opportunities
Social Justice on the Lawn
Sponsored by UUtheVote - Sunday, July 26, 5-7pm

Welcome everyone to creating community outdoors! We have lots of justice work ahead. And much to celebrate. This gathering will help sustain us on the journey. We will have postcard packets, Black Lives Matter signs, Dances of Universal Peace and Spiritual Sustenance for the Activist. We will adhere to social distancing guidelines .  

Bring: a chair, mask, insect repellent, water bottle.
Note: There are no bathrooms available. 

Don't forget to sign up for a time slot on the link below. See you there!
Save the Date!
Monday, July 27, at 7:00pm. 
Join the REAL (Racial Equity Action Leadership) Team open meeting.   If you'd like to learn more about who we are and what we do, please join us! Questions, contact Sarah Vanderwicken at vanderesq@mindspring.com .
REAL Team Food and Supplies Drive - OUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW!
The REAL Team has been asked to coordinate some much-needed supplies for some of our community partners who have been most impacted by the pandemic followed by civil unrest.  Here is an Amazon list which includes the items that were asked for and are especially needed. Please check the list and donate as much as you feel comfortable. We need multiples of many items. Since the church parking lot is still not accessible, there are several ways you can get your donations to us. 

  1. Using the link above, you can order from Amazon and have your supplies delivered directly to Becky Crawford (when you check out, the delivery address should say, “Becky Crawford’s Gift Registry”) (sorry it’s weird; could not rename that). We have volunteers lined up to drive donations to the needed locations. 
  2. You can purchase from Amazon or elsewhere, and deliver to the Crawford-Cloonan household directly in South Evanston (private message Becky on Facebook or text 224-304-4735 for address).
  3. If you'd like to donate financially, you can send a check directly to UCE with "south side" in the memo line. Cash donations can be dropped off in an envelope to Becky Crawford's house.

Thank you for your support! 
We plan to continue this drive throughout the summer, so check back often!
Take action today!
There are so many ways you can participate in social action, from showing up, signing on, donating, or committing yourself to learn more.


Act:
  • People across the planet are marching and demanding action to redress the systemic racism Black people have faced in this country since the first slave ships arrived in Virginia in 1619. Sign the petition: Black Americans deserve reparations. Demand Congress commission a reparations study now!
  • Shoppe Black. Due to systemic racism that limits Black people's access to capital and other resources necessary to start a business, they already had the lowest business-ownership rate in the U.S. prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. That number has plummeted--40% since February of this year--decimating jobs and the livelihoods of many Black families. The website Shoppe Black catalogues Black-owned businesses across sectors, including coffee, photography, local businesses, and more. Take a moment to check it out and perhaps find your new favorite store.
  • Call Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron on Breonna Taylor's behalf. It's been more than four months since plainclothes police officers broke into Breonna Taylor's home and shot her to death. Only one of the three police officers at the scene has been fired, and none have been charged with her murder. Make the call to demand justice for Breonna today!
  • Strike for Black Lives July 20th is a day of reckoning. Across the country, workers will rise up to strike for Black lives. Together, we will declare that Black Lives Matter and build a moral fusion movement that fights against the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the way economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism, and brings about a fundamental revolution of values that will transform our society. Click here to register! There are many ways to take part, even if you can’t leave home or strike.

Learn : 

Donate:
  • Donate to the Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC). Trans and non-binary Black people frequently bear the brunt of racist and transphobic police brutality, homelessness, and poverty. In general, people who self-identify as LGBTQ are incarcerated at twice the rate of adults who do not self-identify as LGBTQ. TWOCC fosters a network of trans and non-binary Black and people of color who are artists, healers, entrepreneurs, and creators of healing and restorative justice projects.

Social action continues! Check out the UCE Homepage for more ways you can support our communities. If you have any questions, please reach out to Rev. Karen Mooney at  kmooney@ucevanston.org . Thank you all for continuing to live UCE's mission!
What's Happening in Lifespan Religious Education
Summer Opportunities for Adults
Life Planning Series - Wednesdays - July 22, 29 at 7pm
More details below.

White Fragility book group - Tuesdays - July 21, 28, and August 4 at 7pm  
Sponsored by the REAL team. Join us as we discuss  White Fragility - Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism  by Robin DiAngelo using the UUA discussion guide. Registration is now closed.

Book Discussion - Saturday, August 1st, 10-11:30 am   
What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City  by Mona Hanna-Attisha is about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Please RSVP to Clare Tallon Ruen at  water@greenerevanston.org  for a link to connect to the meeting. 

The Science of Well-Being - continues at 7 pm Tuesday evenings for those enrolled. 
Life Planning Series - Wednesdays in July
Wednesday, July 22—Real Life Organizing
Presenter: Liz Kennedy-Eason
Organizing/decluttering is not a “one size fits all” process. Liz will lead us through examining the different types of clutter and accumulation. She will help us identify our individual style. She will guide us to create a fun, easy and practical way to declutter and organize our home and life through a process created by Cas Aarrssen and Peter Walsch.
Wednesday, July 29—Ethical Wills/Spiritual Memories—Part II

See more details at the button below. Click here to join the Zoom sessions. If you have trouble connecting, please reach out to Kathy Underwood at kunderwood@ucevanston.org.
Summer Opportunities for All Ages
For Families, Children, and Youth
How is your  Summer Bucket List Challenge   going? We are about 5 weeks into the challenge already! Remember to share on social media what you and/or your family are/is doing with the hashtag  #UCEBucketList  so we can see your beautiful faces and efforts! If you’re shy about sharing on social media, then send me a quick email at  kunderwood@ucevanston.org  
For Young People and Families
Be a UCE Pen Pal ! We have about 20 older members who would love to correspond with younger folks this summer, and only 6 young people to do so at this moment. Email Kathy if interested at kunderwood@ucevanston.org . 

Soulful Home: Compassion - Tons of Activities, stories, music, and more to explore on our theme this summer! Click here for ways to connect as a family to our faith!
For High School Youth
Transcend the Binary Camp - July 20-23 f or transgender and gender diverse youth.  The mission   for this camp is to build on the confidence, resiliency, and empowerment of youth in our community through mentorship, skill-building and creative activities. Their programming is crafted and led by trans/gender diverse folks, with support from mental health professionals, wellness clinicians, Camp Talahi staff, and Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center. Learn more and sign up here.
For Middle School Youth
CommUUnity Creek Online Middle School Adventure - Aug 3-7 The Central East Region is creating CommUUnity Creek, an Online Middle School (for youth who graduated from 6, 7 or 8th grades this spring and are entering 7, 8 or 9th grades this fall) Adventure. We’re working with a team of adult and High School guides to create a week packed full of social connections and opportunities to stretch and grow. Our plans are still in the works but things we’re thinking about. . .
  • Fun and Funny challenges to build confidence, learn new things and share skills within their own comfort level
  • “Cabin” Meetings with the same small group all week, lead by Camp Guides
  • Daily interactive themes to get us thinking about the world and our UU values
  • Social stuff like games, open mics, virtual campfire, etc
Parent and Family Resources


Feel free to add new resources that you find! Together, we can nurture the next generations and create an anti-racist society.
Want to take your leadership skills to the next level
with a team of other UCE members?
We have our first registrant for the MidWest Leadership School (MWLS) for 2020! Our region is planning an excellent curriculum and is packaging it into an online opportunity spread over 4 Saturdays starting this fall. They suggest we put together a team of attendees to enhance and strengthen the lessons learned. The training is useful for those who want to become more skilled at leadership roles in the congregation or in the community. The cost may be covered entirely by a grant from the Endowment committee. There is only an adult school this year (18 and over). Check out more details here.
 
Contact Kathy Underwood or Shirley Adams if you want to know more about how this opportunity might work for you this year. 
Welcome to Our Community
Interested in knowing more about UCE? Scroll down for info on ongoing programs and useful information. Can't find your answers here? Click the button below to learn more on our website.
How to get in touch with UCE's Ministers
UCE ministers are available throughout the week by appointment. If you are in need of pastoral care or someone to talk to, please reach out to them by email.
We are here for you.
Rev. Eileen Wiviott - ewiviott@ucevanston.org
Rev. Karen Gustafson - kgustafson@ucevanston.org
Rev. Karen Mooney - kmooney@ucevanston.org
Pathways to Membership
Our next set of membership classes will be coming soon for August or September. If you would like to take part in an upcoming class, p lease email Adam Gough at   agough@ucevanston.org. We're excited to welcome our new members that have recently joined! Click here for more information about membership classes .
Offer to Provide Technical Support
Physical separation is leading many of us to find new ways of forming and maintaining virtual connections through the internet. The UCE staff and Board of Trustees wants to make sure that no one is isolated because they lack access to technology or technical skills.

If you would like assistance please reach out to: 

We will be happy to work with you to make sure that you get the most out of your membership experience using the latest tools.
Opportunities For Virtual Connection
Learn Spanish Group
Mondays at 7 pm
For more information, click here.

UCE Men's Group
1st & 3rd Mondays at 7 pm via conference call.
For more information, click here.

Caregiver Support Group
Tuesdays at 7 pm via Zoom.
E-mail Renee Hoff at  rdhoff99@yahoo.com  or Joyce Lofstrom at  joycelofstrom@gmail.com  for details.

Udumbara Zen Sangha
Tuesday Evenings and Saturday Mornings
For more information email udumbara@udumbarazen.org .

Wednesdays at 9:30 am   (Virtual 8x8 Meeting)
For more information, click here.

Buddhist Meditation 
E-mail Andrea DeMers at ademers99@gmail.com for the link.

UCE Addictions and Recovery
Form more information about the group, click here.

Virtual Art and Spirituality
Every other Saturday at 2:30 pm (next meeting is July 18)
For more information, click here.

Chris Isely Cancer Support Group
Sundays at 9:30 am via Zoom
E-mail Renee Hoff at  rdhoff99@yahoo.com  for details.

Staff are available to help with setting up virtual meetings and getting the word out to the congregation. For more information on how to set up a digital meeting, click the button below. Email Jessica Meis at admin@ucevanston.org to add your event to UCE's calendar and to submit an article about your virtual meeting to the newsletter.
Beware scam e-mails and texts from those
posing as UCE ministers and Staff
Please do not respond to the e-mail or text scam that is going out with Rev. Eileen's or Sandra's names. UCE ministers and Staff will never ask you for money in an e-mail or for you to send gift cards to anyone. Check the e-mail address and phone number it is coming from. If it is not Eileen's or another minister's, it is a scam. Most of you have gotten wise to these scams. They will keep coming nonetheless. Thank you to those who let us know they received this scam.

This is someone who is using Eileen's or Sandra's name with a generated email address and phone number. They haven't hacked their personal accounts. The e-mail addresses Eileen will send messages from will be either  ewiviott@hotmail.com  or  ewiviott@ucevanston.org . The address Sandra will send messages from is srobinson@ucevanston.org. If you are unsure about the number texting you, please call the office.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees meets the third Thursday of every month.
The next virtual meeting is on August 20 at 7:00 pm.

Questions for the board? Email BOT@ucevanston.org.
UCE Facebook Groups
Did you know that, in addition to the  UCE Facebook Page , there are three UCE groups that members can join - the  UCE Member to Member Group , the  UCE Children and Youth Religious Education Group , and the  UCE Social Action Group ?  

These are closed groups that allow members to post directly to each other. If you have an event you want members to know about, or have a cause you hope to bring attention to, in addition to the newsletter and order of service, you can post to the Facebook Group. Click the links below or search for the groups by name when you are on Facebook and ask to join.
Quick Links