Sunday Service

January 4, 2026 at 10:30 am 

This Sunday…

Childcare (0-3 years) is available in room 11 from 10:15a-12:15p. 

Faith Formation for Children and Youth will resume January 11. 

Faith Formation Registration

Please register your young person, ages 1-18 here.

Save these dates!

Family Friday – Ice Skating and Gathering

January 9, 6:30-8:30p at Robert Crown

Join us for skating and community!

Details about tickets here.

Those who prefer not to skate can gather in the lobby for snacks and games.

Join us on Zoom January 12 at 7-8p!

We’ll share ideas on ways to build connections and community.

You can see what’s coming up on our evolving calendar here.

Join us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/520586461667097

Telling Our Story

Happy New Year, Beloveds!

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” ~ Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” ~George Santayana

“History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” ~ David McCullough

“There is properly no history, only biography.” ~Ralph Waldo Emmerson

These often-heard aphorisms remind us to pay attention to our past so we can move into the future as the people we want to be. Along with some of you, I read Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter most days, and she often draws parallels between the events of the past and the challenges we face today. Her reflections sometimes tell how far things have advanced, and also how none of what we’re experiencing is untethered to the past.

Our hats are off to the hospitality volunteers who created a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our Christmas Eve worship service. Thank you to Carolyn Laughlin, Mike Laughlin, and Sally Parsons for greeting attendees and handing out candles. Thank you to Carla Williams and Ann McCallister for handling our collection for the Pastoral Care Fund. We appreciate your willingness to help make our Christmas Eve service run smoothly and bring your festive cheer!

• To submit Newsletter requests Please use our Google Form found HERE to submit your articles and images. The deadline is Noon on Wednesdays.

• 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!

Friday, January 2nd:

• Young Adult Covenant Group, 7-9pm, Room 12

Saturday, January 3rd:

• Virtual Pilates, 9:30am, via Zoom
• Beginner Tai Chi, 9:45-10:45am, Room 6
• Intermediate Tai Chi, 11-12pm, Room 6

Sunday, January 4th:

• Chris Isley Cancer Support Group, 9-10:15am, Room 6 & Zoom
• Worship Service, 10:30-11:30am, Sanctuary
• Young Adult Group Soulful Sunday, 12:15-1pm, Room 12
• Herried Covenant Group, 3:30-4:30pm, via Zoom
• Nominating Committee Meeting, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom

Monday, January 5th:

• UCE Addictions and Recovery, 6:45-7:45pm, via Zoom
• Bernstein Covenant Group Online, 7-9pm, via Zoom
• Durkin Covenant Group, 7-9pm, via Zoom
• Monday Night Covenant Group, 7-9pm, via Zoom

Tuesday, January 6th:

• Membership Team Meeting, 12:30-1:30pm, via Zoom
• Caregiver Support Group, 7-8:30pm, via Zoom
• First Women's Circle, 7-8pm, via Zoom

Wednesday, January 7th:

• Yoga Online, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
• Executive Committee Meeting, 4-4:45pm, via Zoom
• Endowment Fund Committee Meeting, 4:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Pledge Drive Organizing Team, 5-7pm, via Zoom
• UU History, 7-8:30pm, Room 3
• Congregational Connections Team, 7-8pm, via Zoom

Thursday, January 8th:

• Evanston Near South Proximity Group, 1-2pm, via Zoom
• Meditation Group, 5:30-6:30pm, via Zoom
• Choir Rehearsal, 7-9pm, Sanctuary and Room 6

Should We Change the Name of UCE?

In 2025, the Unitarian Church of Evanston Board of Directors held focus group conversations to hear what is important to the Congregation. One key theme that came up in every conversation we hosted was the desire to change our name. What do you think of the change to “Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston”?

We would appreciate hearing from you. Feel free to email or talk with any Board member. Or, better yet, join us at one of the four opportunities for discussion:

Tuesday, January 20, 7-8 pm on Zoom

Monday, January 26, 7-8 on Zoom

Sunday, February 1, 12-1at UCE Room 6

Saturday, February 7, 10-11 on Zoom

Please register to attend one of these sessions.

We will also email out a survey to ensure we get all of your thoughts.

Light the Chalice and Bring the Chancel Flowers for our Sunday Morning Worship Service

Would you, your family, or your group enjoy bringing flowers for the chancel and then lighting and extinguishing the chalice during a Sunday morning worship service? 

We’re in need of volunteers throughout January, February, and March. You may now sign up online by clicking this link, going to the Sunday that you would like to volunteer, and selecting the Flowers/Chalice spot. You may add a Comment indicating that you are bringing the flowers in honor of, in memory of, or in recognition of someone or something. You may also email Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org or Rev. Eileen at ewiviott@ucevanston.org to get signed up on the Sunday morning schedule.

 Attend A Journey Toward Membership Class

Are you interested in a brief survey of UU history and values, learning about what it means to be part of a covenantal faith tradition, or in figuring out how to get more connected at UCE? Join Rev. Susan and the Membership Team at one of our Journey Toward Membership classes. This 90-minute class is offered once a month. If you decide you are interested in joining UCE as a member, you will need to have attended this class before signing our Membership Book. The next class dates are:

• Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:30-8:00 pm, via Zoom. Click here to register. 
• Saturday, February 21, 2026, 1:00-2:30 pm, Room 12, no child care available. Click here to register. 
• Sunday, March 1, 2026, 9:00-10:20 am, Room 12, child care provided. Click here to register.

If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Susan Frances at sfrances@ucevanston.org.

Atiende Spanish Mentoring

¡Compañeros! Come join Doug Erickson and Carlos Waldron in their Spanish learning journey every Tuesday evening from 6:30 – 7:30PM via videoconference. This time is used to explore the Spanish language through fun activities and helpful practice guides. All levels are welcome! If you wish to join us please use this link.

The Nonfiction book group will meet online at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 25th, using our recurring Zoom link.

The nonfiction book group will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 25, 2026 to discuss The Quiet Before: On the Unexpected Origins of Radical Ideas by Gal Beckerman. The author looks at the building of social movements from the 1600s to the present and how current technology is undermining them. He posits that the ideas that inspire revolutions have traditionally been conceived in quiet spaces where trailblazers can imagine alternate realities and consider how to achieve their goals before broadcasting those ideas broadly. He states that a world dominated by frenzied social media may impede the gradual spread of desirable social change.

Heidi Dalenberg, as Director of the ACLU Institutional Reform Project, will address questions submitted by registering as per the flyer. Please contact Catalyst team member Mary Dudek at mdudekpa at gmail dot com for more specific information about the program.

UCE Young Adult Group

Third Friday Faith Formation & Game Nights

Our next gathering is Friday, January 16th



The Young Adult Group at UCE is a group for young adults (18-35) interested in exploring spiritual deepening in community. We meet on every 3rd Friday from 7-9pm in Room 3 to discuss monthly Soul Matters themes, check in with each other, eat snacks, and play games.

Contact Kiley Korey (kileyekorey at gmail dot com), Kevin Barrow (kbarrow13 at gmail dot com) or Kathy Underwood (kunderwood@ucevanston.org) with any questions.

UU History Program

Whether or not you are new to Unitarian Universalism, you are sure to learn something new from our history.

This 4-part series will cover a wide range within our Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist roots, including the unique history that is UCE.

January 7, 14, 21, 28 at 7p in Room 3

Facilitated by Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Kathy Underwood, Bob Mesle, and Dan Solomon

Click HERE to register

Our Shared Offering Program

Our Shared Offering Program is one of the ways that we live into our mission statement "for a world made whole." Each Sunday, the funds collected during our worship service either via text donations or in the collection bowls (and not otherwise designated for a pledge or something else) are shared equally between our operating budget and the current Shared Offering Recipient.

This Sunday's offering will be shared with C&W Market Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the Evanston community by providing essential grocery access to those facing food insecurity and fostering career skills in the food and culinary industry.

LOVE RESISTS

Community Support/Mutual Aid

These are a few ways to provide community support and mutual aid to our friends and neighbors. If you have another idea, please email it to Rev. Susan Frances.

Ongoing ways to provide mutual aid -

Donate to the Midwest Immigration Bond Fund, which is using donations to help pay release bonds for the hundreds of people currently detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and associated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Bond amounts for immigration cases range from $1,500 to $50,000 and must be paid in full before release. Release on bond allows people to reunite with family, access legal counsel, and prepare their case from home with safety and dignity—opportunities that are limited or impossible while incarcerated.

Donate to your local food pantry and soup kitchen. In Evanston, these include:

• Fill up the UCE Giving House located in our lobby. We are collecting pasta, rice, grains, beans, cereal, soups, canned fish, and canned meat to donate to C&W Market Foundation in Evanston. 

• Interfaith Action of Evanston (IAE) publishes the schedule of Soup Kitchens, sponsored by them and other nonprofits. We keep hard copies of this schedule, along with the IAE Overnight Shelter in the red folder in the Welcome Center cabinet.

• Support the Evanston Community Fridges. You may contribute funds online or donate food at one of the three locations in Evanston: 1601 Payne Street, 1335 Dodge Avenue, 620 Madison Street. 

Patronize local Mexican, South American, and Latin American restaurants, grocery stores, and street vendors, especially in neighborhoods that are predominately Hispanic and Latinx, in an effort to help those small businesses stay in business when so many of their customers do not feel safe being out and about.

Donate to Evanston Latinos, which is working with local Sanctuary groups to support local families impacted by ICE detentions. When you donate online, write in the memo line either “Sanctuary Evanston” or “Sanctuary Niles Township.”

Carry a whistle as part of local whistle brigades (short rhythm for ICE agent or vehicle sightings; long continuous rhythm when witnessing an abduction in process). Take photos or video of what you are seeing.

When ICE is active in your area, create a plan for transportation for anyone working inside or outside of your home and also plan to be at home to provide emergency inside space for outdoor workers who are tending to your yard, snow removal, painting, or other home improvements. ICE agents, or any other federal, state, or local agent, may not enter your home without a warrant signed by a judge with a valid date, the name of a specific person, and your address on it.

ONGOING UU CONNECTIONS

Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1330