Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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In-Person and Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, November 28 at 10:15 am
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Holding History: The Liberatory Ministry of Joshua Young (winner of the 2016 UU History Convocation sermon prize)
by Rev. Karen G. Johnston
Joshua Young was a Unitarian minister who, with his wife, was a conductor on the Underground Railroad and through serendipity, conducted the funeral of radical abolitionist John Brown. Young’s ministry preached what we today would call “collective liberation;” his story is one that inspires.
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Please join us for this Sunday’s Faith Formation Hour
(11:35-12:30): Spiritual Practices for All Ages
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Please join us for one of these activities:
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Hanukkah – Rm 6 & on Zoom. Click here to join on Zoom.
- Meditation on Compassion – Rm 12
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Chair Yoga – Rm 3 & on Zoom: Yoga is a practice/doing. Yoga at UCE is intended to be relaxing and soothing with stretches, range of motion accommodations, and some breathing exercises. Every Wednesday from 9:30-10:30 am Doug Erickson or Jessica Tomell-Presto lead an online Yoga session. If you are new to yoga or in need of a gentle yoga practice, come join us! Click here to join on Zoom.
- Nursery – 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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Holiday Happenings are Here!
From Kathy Underwood, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
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The winter holiday season is about to begin, and there are many ways you and your family can engage and connect at UCE, both in-person and virtually. There is something for everyone in the coming weeks during Faith Formation Hour and beyond. Please know that it is perfectly fine if you can’t participate – this really isn’t meant to make anyone feel guilty! Just know that you are warmly welcomed to partake in whatever works for you and your family, and whatever will help brighten your spirit this holiday season. Here’s a synopsis of what is coming up:
This Sunday, our Faith Formation Hour focuses on spiritual practices – just what you need as we head into the holidays!
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Join an Ends Conversation! |
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- 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
PLEASE NOTE: If you have previously registered, but need to sign up for more than one time, please go through and update your registration. The settings have changed and you may now register for more than one conversation.
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A huge thank you from the entire auction team to all our Serendipity Auction bidders this year. Thanks to you (and all our amazing and creative donors), we exceeded our auction goal, grossing over $30,000!! About 100 people attended our closing celebration and enjoyed entertainment in the form of music and quizzes while making last minute bids on favorite items and purchasing tickets for 5 fabulous raffle items! Many thanks to Christine Allender for the past auctions photo slideshow, Kristin Lems and Steve Courtright for premiering Kristin’s “We Need a Vaccine” song and to Lizzy Powers and the Serendipity Singers for a super fun, serendipity auction version of “Let It Go”!
Just a few items are left in the catalog, including a few seats at some great and affordable virtual entertainment--Jim Strickler's Civil War Reparations talk, Kristin Lems' concert, a Virtual Karaoke night, Ben Butler a Play by Richard Strand, and an Evening Square Dance. Take a look here. All are now set as "Buy It Now", so items are first come, first served. If you are not registered, use your email in the church directory to do so or email us at auction@ucevanston.org for help. And if you haven't collected your boodle yet, please come during church office hours, Tues-Fri from 10 am-5 pm to pick up your items.
Thoughts about how to make the auction better, or interested in being a volunteer for next year? We would love to hear from you at auction@ucevanston.org.
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Hats Off to the Amazing Serendipity Auction Team! |
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UCE Ministers & Staff are sending warm thank yous to Cathy Deamant, Susan Comstock, Jenny Walsh, Carla Williams, and Meredith Haydon, as well as, Janelle Brittain and Jon Siegel, the Masters of Ceremony extraordinaire.
Thank you to all who sang, wrote music, wrapped auction wins and distributed them on Sunday morning, and all of you who gave donations. Not only did we exceed our financial goal, the team also created a day and evening of community and exceptional fun for all ages. Thank you each and everyone.
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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.
UCE hosts the Overnight Shelter on November 28-December 18. Learn about volunteering with Interfaith Action of Evanston below.
Upcoming ENDS Statements Conversations:
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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
Ornament Sunday is Sunday, December 5 during Faith Formation Hour.
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This Week's Events & Links |
UCE Office CLOSED on Friday, November 26. |
Sunday, November 28
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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.
- Kinship Time at 11:15-11:35 am - back of the Sanctuary
- Faith Formation Hour: Spiritual Practices for All Ages at 11:35 am-12:30 pm.
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Hanukkah - Rm 6 & on Zoom. Click here to join.
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Chair Yoga - Rm 3 & on Zoom. Click here to join.
- More events above.
Monday, November 29
Tuesday, November 30
Wednesday, December 1
Thursday, December 2
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Meditation Group at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Lisa Solomon for the link.
- Choir Rehearsal at 7 pm in the Sanctuary & on Zoom.
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Special Board of Trustees Meeting - December 15 |
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The Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting to consider the Endowment applications which were submitted this fall. The meeting will be held via Zoom at 7 pm on December 15. Applicants should receive a note from the Board and Endowment Committee regarding the time, if you wish to make a brief statement to the Board.
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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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Looking Ahead - December Holiday Events at UCE |
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Happy Everything! Mitten Tree is BACK with some “fleece linings” of lessons learned and skills gained courtesy of our mostly contactless efforts last year.
This winter holiday tradition of gift giving is a wonderful way to connect with organizations and neighbors outside the walls of UCE.
Beginning this weekend, you will have the opportunity to sign up (HERE) to fulfill gift requests. This year we are leaning into our SHARED MINISTRY all around. There will be opportunities for everyone to lend a hand and fill a mitten that speaks to them.
This longstanding tradition is an overwhelmingly 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!
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The Nominating and Recruitment Committee (N&R) is beginning to identify potential candidates for future positions, such as the Board of Trustees, Endowment Committee, and our own N&R Committee.
Please help us! We may not know what skills and experience you have that would make you a perfect fit for one of the positions. You may know someone who would step up if asked. We especially want to encourage folks who have not previously served on these committees to consider this opportunity to support the church.
Please fill out this Google form if you would like to nominate someone or volunteer yourself. Also feel free to reach out to Janice Milanovich (through Realm). See the website for more information.
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What's Happening in Faith Formation? |
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Faith Formation Hour this week
- 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 with Gillian Lawrence and Norell Liddell.
- Faith Formation Hour begins at 11:35 am as follows:
- All ages are invited to join in a Hanukkah event in room 6. Come learn about the holiday, share stories and traditions, play games, hum songs, and have fun!
- Meditation for Compassion - Bob Mesle will share his spiritual practice in room 12
- Chair Yoga - Doug Erickson will lead this program in room 3
Ornament Sunday - December 5! A fun tradition for all ages! Come make an ornament for your tree at home and at UCE. Do you have a simple ornament craft you could share? Sign up for a table here!
Christmas Pageant - December 19 during All-Ages worship – Another traditional favorite! Sign up here to guarantee your role and costume!
Chalica starts December 6! Learn about this UU holiday with this booklet that your family can use.
November’s New Soul Matters Theme – Holding History! 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.
Registration for Faith Formation continues! 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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Towards an Understanding of Toni Morrison's A Mercy - Tuesdays, November 30 at 7-8:45 pm | All sessions will be via Zoom | This two-part program is facilitated by Barbara Mesle.
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The UCE Fiction Book Group is reading A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet on Friday, December 17 at 7 pm on Zoom.
Naomi Klein in This Changes Everything talks about the many ways we avoid engaging with the impending climate crisis — or acknowledge then look away again — thus making us complicit in inevitable apocalypse through our inaction. So give the children the stage to figure out how to move forward. Mining a book of Bible stories for children for metaphors and narratives of climate apocalypse. Years ago, William Golding's Lord of the Flies engaged children to help us see what the world is coming to politically. So renown environmentalist Lydia Millet lets the children puzzle out the climate crisis.
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The nonfiction book group will meet via Zoom at 2 pm on Sunday, December 19th to discuss The Darkness Divine: A Loving Challenge to my Faith by UU minister Kristen L. Harper.
The author addresses how a culture of white supremacy is reinforced in damaging but unexamined ways in our faith communities and invites readers to de-center whiteness and stretch their understanding and imagination to radically transform perceptions of blackness. Everyone is welcome to join us.
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From the Immigrant Solidarity Team |
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On October 27, the Immigrations Solidarity Team showed the film La Bestia, a documentary following a number of Latin American migrants who try to reach the United States by riding Mexico’s railroads, followed by a panel of Oscar Chacon of Alianza Americas and Charlotte Jones-Carrol, chair of Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice.
Current US immigration policy toward Latin American immigrants, essentially unchanged since the 1940s, creates roadblocks to that immigration, but migrants continue to find ways around the roadblocks. Oscar argued that our best approach is to try to address the intolerable circumstances in the home countries, which are the root of the migration...
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In November we are collecting deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes for Interfaith Action's SnapGap at the Produce Mobile.
As usual, your donations may be deposited in the little house just inside the UCE entrance. Thank you so much for your generosity!
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Volunteer with the Overnight Shelter |
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Cold weather is here now and the Overnight Emergency Shelter providing a warm space to sleep, needs volunteers. The link below will take you to a Google doc where you can choose the times you want to help our homeless neighbors. In order to protect the safety of our guests, staff, and volunteers, all staff and volunteers must show evidence of being vaccinated against Covid, wear a mask and maintain a safe distance. Please bring a copy of your vaccination card the first time you come to the center to volunteer.
This year 9 congregations are hosting. You can volunteer at any congregation and please note that UCE is hosting from Nov 28 - Dec 18. There are always staff on-site to give you support and direction. For more information you can call or text Toni Rey.
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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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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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