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 Sunday virtual service will be at 11:15 am
“Love Unfolding” – T.J. Williams-Hauger M.Div
How long must we wait for justice to roll down like waters? How long until we know righteousness like an every-flowing stream? Drawing from the Book of Amos and Psalm 13, this sermon was preached from the Unitarian Church of Evanston pulpit and recorded for the  The Global Interfaith Network for People of All Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions based in Johannesburg, Africa . It was delivered in celebration of global pride and in support of Black Lives Matter. Learn more about the Global Interfaith Network and please like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel on  this page . The queer faith activists of color need the support.

In 2017, TJ earned his Masters of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary in the field of Liberation Theology and Global Justice and is currently in the ordination process with the American Baptist churches. His first national speaking opportunity was in 2008 as a guest speaker at Reverend Al Sharpton’s Reclaim the Dream March. He also worked to organize the National Equality Prayer Service that was held at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Washington DC. In 2014, TJ became a part of the Religion and Foreign Policy Working group at the US State Department sponsored by President Barack Obama and Sectary of State John Kerry. TJ, and his husband, Brad Hauger, were the first gay couple to leagally marry at The Riverside Church in New York City. Brad and TJ continue to work to spread public awareness regarding social justice.

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 recipients are My Block, My Hood, My City   and Bryan Stevenson’s group  Equal Justice Initiative . 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.
Welcome Susan Frances, Congregational Life Director!
From Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Acting Senior Minister
On Monday, August 3rd, we will welcome the very newly (less than 24 hours, to be precise) ordained Rev. Susan Frances, as our part-time Congregational Life Director. As you hopefully know by now, Rev. Karen Mooney is departing UCE as she has decided to focus solely on being the Executive Director of UUANI. We are so grateful to Karen for the time she has been with us. Her wisdom, deep spiritual nature, and powerful ministry has been so very needed at this difficult-to-navigate time and she will be dearly missed. Thank you, Karen, for your ongoing commitment to our faith. 

We recognize that the decision to hire Susan Frances, our former Ministerial Intern, may have seemed swift and somewhat veiled. As we examine our power structures and how they show up in hiring practices, we are mindful of the harm a lack of transparency can cause. However, while we needed to make the decision quickly, please know that it was well-considered. Karen Mooney’s announced departure came just three months after we had concluded a thorough search for the position, in which we considered several strong candidates including Susan. The timing didn’t work for Susan last year, but it does now and having someone with Susan’s skills and well-established relationships is a windfall for the congregation, especially at this complicated time.  ..
Spirit of Life - ALL UCE Virtual Choir
You’ve seen the UCE Choir Virtual Choir Videos. Now it’s your turn!!!

We invite all UCE congregants (wherever you are) to join in creating a Virtual Choir “Spirit of Life” experience! We have often sung this lovely hymn together and, through the magic of technology and Adam’s amazing technological abilities, we’ll be recreating the experience virtually.
 
To record yourself singing “Spirit of Life,” click here :  
Here you will find:
  • “Spirit of Life” sheet music (from the grey hymnal)
  • Gregory’s accompaniment of “Spirit of Life” and videos of 2 choristers singing
  • Directions on how to record a your video 

To upload your video , click here .
 
Recordings need to be uploaded by August 12 th .
 
Have questions? Contact Vickie Hellyer at vhellyer@ucevanston.org or Adam Gough at agough@ucevanston.org
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. 
Virtual Meeting Planning Tips!
Do you need help setting up a virtual event? Have you been hosting a virtual event and want to make the planning and publicity process easier? UCE ministers and staff are here to help! There are several ways you can host an online event for free. If a free meeting won't work for your meeting, consider these steps:
  1. Email the details of your meeting to admin@ucevanston.org so staff can help you set up and publicize your virtual event. Virtual UCE events can be advertised in the weekly newsletter, on the UCE calendar, on the UCE Facebook groups, and sometimes on the UCE homepage.
  2. Work with staff on deciding who would be best to host the meeting. Do you or a member of your group have their own Zoom account? Is someone in your group willing and able to purchase an account? In these times of social distancing, it may be worthwhile to purchase an account for a year and use it for any personal or UCE-related events. Will a minister or staff member attend your meeting? Staff will put you in touch with that staff member to see if they can host your meeting with their Zoom account. If not, we can use another staff member’s Zoom account.
  3. Once the Zoom link is created, consider whether you want to set up a registration for the virtual event. Is there a limit on how many you would like to participate? Do you want a list of participants so you can email them the link before the event?

Don't forget all UCE virtual events can be added to the  UCE calendar . If you are interested in having your virtual events featured on the calendar, please contact the office at 847-864-1330 or email  admin@ucevanston.org . If you want
Hats Off to the Proximity Partner Leaders!
Have you ever said yes because someone you like asked you to do something? Have you ever said yes because you were looking for an adventure? Have you said yes to an idea because it sounded cool? It doesn't matter why you said yes, what matters is that in saying yes you stepped into something gathering the spirit of possibility in the world. We started to form Proximity Partners when the implications of COVID invited us into social distancing. It seemed impossible not to gather somehow. An intrepid team of folx (Susan Carlton, Shirley Adams, Melanie Kitchner and myself began meeting and knoodling to generate groups of people based on a map Adam Grough had made. We asked many many people to initiate a gathering, 27 of you said YES. We trained together, learned about doodle and zoom, had fun discovering different ways that people can get to gather (even now) and the result is that by now most you should have been contacted to join. After 5 months of work, those who said yes to the possibility have set this new idea into motion. HATS OFF to all of you: Shirley Adams, Heather Brown, Susan Carlton, Linda Clark, Ellie Feddersen, Becky Goldberg, Amy Grabowski, Marianne Griebler, Linda Herreid, Marcy Hicks, Sheila Holder, Judy Holman, Melanie Kitchner, Sue Larson, Carolyn Leman, LeeAnn Lodder, Diane Markel, Mary Ellen McGoey, Sandy McNabb, Kathy Monk, Karena Nelson, Toni Rey, Donna Schiller, Lisa Solomon, Sean Talmage, Sarah Vanderwicken, Maggie Weiss, Bridget Wild, Maggie Wilson, and Chris Yoo.

Thank you for saying yes - enjoy the communities you are creating together.
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 the end of TODAY!  

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!  
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. Please register to participate so we can send you a Zoom link. Click the buttons below for the schedule of speakers and topics and the registration link.

Upcoming Session - August 1 at 10-11 am: Acti-V8 Your Brain: Brain Wellness
presenters: Steve Satek, President & Founder, Great Lakes Clinical Trials and Cheryl Butterbach, Registered Dietician, Great Lakes Clinical Trials. Click here to join the Zoom session.
You're Invited to Susan Frances' Online Ordination


You are invited to engage with the online Ordination Ceremony for Susan Frances by:
  • Having a candle to light during the Chalice Lighting.
  • Wearing orange, purple, black, or white.
  • Taking a photo at some point during the ceremony and emailing it to susansordination0802@gmail.com. The photos will only be shared with Susan.
Social Justice & Volunteer Opportunities
Social Justice on the Lawn
Sponsored by UUtheVote - RESCHEDULED TO Sunday, August 2, 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!
REAL Team Food and Supplies Drive
We are so grateful for UCE’s generous donations that have been pouring in! Our recipient group has responded numerous times that they are so thankful for how our congregation is responding to their dire needs. (We are keeping their identity under wraps at this point to protect them, as they have been targeted with looting and death threats).

Want to help?   
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 especially needed. Please check the list and donate as much as you feel comfortable. We need multiples of many items. There are several ways you can help:
  • Using the link above, you can order from Amazon and have your supplies delivered directly to our drop off location (when you check out, the delivery address should say, “Becky Crawford’s Gift Registry”) We have volunteers lined up to drive donations to the needed locations.
  • You can purchase from Amazon or elsewhere, and deliver to the Crawford-Cloonan household directly (email for address). 
  • 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 my house.
Any questions, contact Becky Crawford. Thank you for your support!
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.

  • From Colorlines - #Colorlines Reads: 33 Books for Summer 2020 Escape into fantasy, brush up on history and spark race-focused conversations with these summer reads. Click here to find out more.
  • From Ultra Violet - Watch and share 'Bedlam' on PBS. The documentary Bedlam, which features Black Lives Matter's co-founder Patrisse Cullors and her family, provides compelling stories and data on why we need to divest from prisons and instead invest in education, mental health services, and housing.
  • The General Defense Committee Local 1 in Portland, Oregon, has established a fundraiser to cover bail and other legal expenses for protesters arrested in Portland, Oregon in connection to protests against George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police, along with general police brutality. Click here to give.
  • If you are in need of food, places like Lakeview Pantry are still open for business and safely distributing food. Click here to find out more.
  • From Change.org - A Commemorate George Floyd Stamp Committee started a petition to merge two very important causes — Black Lives Matter and saving the USPS — with the creation of a Black Lives Matter forever stamp. Read, sign, and share the petition here.
  • Black Lives Matter - Help Us Fight Disinformation: We need to see what you see. Black Lives Matter is a central target of disinformation and you are a key line of defense. Report suspicious sites, stories, ads, social accounts, and posts about BLM. Click here to report.
  • From the IL Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) - Ensure that people are taking part in the census. Click here to find more information about the census from ICIRR.

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
White Fragility book group - Tuesdays - 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. 
Summer Opportunities for Youth and Family
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
Gathering on the Lawn – August 30, 1-2:30 pm.  All high school youth are invited for an end-of-summer gathering on the lawn at UCE! More details to come!
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 Zoom. Click here to join the virtual meeting.
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 Aug 1)
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