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Sunday, March 26
Worship Service - 9:15 and 11:00am
"Our Selves, Our World, Our Stories"
We can keep on having half-conversations about who's right and who's wrong and further feed the brokenness that threatens to tear us apart. Or we can see each other as part of a larger We-a We that is broken, but a We that is in this brokenness together. Rev. Scott Aaseng speaking.
Religious Education
This Sunday our preschool, kindergarten-first-second grade, and third-fourth-fifth grade classes will meet from 9:15-10:30 and 11:00-12:15. All begin in the sanctuary for the first part of the worship service before going to classes.
Starting time for the sixth-seventh-eighth grade class to watch this week's movie is 9:45am. Senior high meets at 11:00am.
Childcare for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is available from 9:00-12:30.
Crackerbarrel - 9:30am
"Let's Compromise!"
OK, but how? How have you compromised? What is your strategy for doing so? On what issues would you not comprise: moral, religion, political. Discussion Leader: John Tobin Click here for upcoming topics.
Join us to stand in support of Black Lives Matter
12:10pm-12:30pm
You are invited to stand on Ridge Avenue between 12:10pm and 12:30pm to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Signs and buttons are available for purchase at the back of the sanctuary. Signs and song lyrics will be provided for use.
Sponsored by the REAL team.
The Chris Isely Cancer Support Group -
9:15am
The group is open to anyone facing cancer, either personally or through a family member or friend. This lay-led group is a safe place for sharing and hope. Interested participants are encouraged to drop in any time. Questions? Contact Renee Hoff or Brian Meister.
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The Board members of UCE are delighted to welcome so many new members to our congregation over the last year or two. From our own experience, we know that it can be difficult to figure out how to meet a wider circle of people and fit into such a large congregation. The New Member Team works hard to help new folks, but we thought we'd also do our part by sharing this:
1) Sign up to volunteer at a Soup Kitchen (email Marilyn Wroblewski.
) These happen Spring, Summer, & Fall.
2) Volunteer to work at the Rummage Sale. Lots of love goes into putting this together and it's a huge effort and a big boost for the UCE budget.
Email Maggie Wilson
Even one shift of a few hours helps them out!
3) Share a meal with folks from the Rainbow Alliance, Saturday, April 8 at the Celtic Knot, 12:00 pm (Please rsvp to Jeanne Kerl
)
4) Stick around for coffee & bagels and sit by someone new.
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The Rummage Sale is Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7.
1. Days to bring my things?
Sunday, April 30, 2-8pm; Monday-Tuesday, 9-8pm
2. Big furniture pieces?
Pick ups:
Saturday, April 29/Sunday, April 30. Must schedule with
Kay Gibbs-Novy
3. Things NOT acceptable?
Mattresses, helmets, car seats, monitors, large appliances, broken non-working items. Note: Only flat screen TVs accepted - other TVs not acceptable.
4. Clothing?
Any and all - clean, no holes, rips or stains. Bring on hangers.
5. When should I help?
Any day, any time! Lunch provided (Monday-Thursday).
After 6 hours of help, you will be eligible for presale purchases.
6. When/What is the presale?
Thursday. Workers buy early, slight increase in prices.
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On Easter Sunday, April 16, children in Preschool through Fifth Grade are invited to participate in a "canned goods hunt" at 10:30 am (between the 9:15 and 11:00 religious education sessions). Children will hunt for the hidden cans and then trade in the cans they find for a small bag of toys and treats. Our senior high youth will organize the event and assist children in the cooperative "hunt."
Please bring in your donations of canned goods by Sunday, April 9 and place them in the labeled bin in the lobby. After the "hunt," the canned goods will be donated to Hillside Food Pantry.
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Easter Brunch
Sunday, April 16, 12:15pm 
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Homemade breakfast casseroles and pastries, baked ham, and accompaniments will be provided on Easter Sunday by our Journeys students and mentors as a fundraiser for their Boston trip. Help them get to Boston (and back) and enjoy a festive brunch following the 11:00 service and religious education session!
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UCE/Countryside Church UU Camping Trip August 11-13, 2017
Kettle Moraine State Forest, South Unit, Dousman, WI
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Please make your reservations soon for another fun church camping trip. This is a very informal trip, with time together or apart, as you wish. We have a potluck on Saturday night, and lots of opportunities to hike, swim, boat, visit small towns nearby, and have campfires. It is a great opportunity to get to know other UCE and Countryside members better.
Please complete the form and turn in by March 31.
Payment of $55.65 is required. The $55.65 covers 2 nights of camping ($23/night) as well as the $9.65 reservation fee. Upon arrival, there is a $22 vehicle sticker fee as well.
Reservations can be limited and are offered on a first come-first served. All checks must be made payable to: Unitarian Church of Evanston. Please write "Camping Trip" in the memo. Drop off the form with payment in the "camping folder" in the church office.
Contact John Bolling or Dale Griffin for information.
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Women Making Change
Saturday, March 25, 6pm at UCE
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The REAL team invites you to an event on March 25, 6:00-8:30 at UCE that will provide food for thought and spirit, as well as sustenance. We are lifting up the stories of black women in Evanston, famous and ordinary, that can help us understand what we can do now to help make a better history for tomorrow. Dinner will include conversation with black and white neighbors and is part of the program.
Click here for more information and to register
.
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After our delicious potluck, Kate Poole will encourage us to read aloud from summaries about women who were "audacious" and who went "above and beyond" to help make Evanston the wonderful place that it is. What can we learn from them, for our lives today? This will be a wonderful ending to Women's History Month! All women in this category are warmly encouraged to attend. For more information, feel free to contact Margie Rogasner.
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Let us come together in song, dance and peace. Celebrate the season of spring and take peaceful steps upon the greening earth.
DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE bring people together in joyous and meditative dance circles. The dances are easy to learn and open to all. We join our voices in singing sacred phrases from many spiritual traditions while moving rhythmically to simple circle dances and walking meditations. We use breath to cultivate body awareness to free the voice and deepen in silence. You are invited to come sing, chant, walk and dance for peace. Bring a friend along.
Dress comfortably. Contact Donna Schiller for more information.
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Billionaire cabinet? Tax cuts for the rich?
Come join us on the next Wednesday, March 29, to discuss and strategize around the problems of money in politics. This topic (and the problems due to the "Corruption of Democracy") are the subject of the newest UUA study/action issue. We can make a difference if we work together to change the political climate.
Activist Jack Altschuler will be speaking on "Citizen's United and Efforts to Curb Corporations' Influence in American Politics." Jack has spoken at Move to Amend and political action meetings throughout the Midwest. He speaks eloquently about what citizens can do to solve this problem. Please join us as we develop our own action plan.
This workshop is sponsored by P&J's Inequality task force. Speak to Jane Bannor, jbannor@sbcglobal.net, if you have any questions.
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If you play a folk type musical instrument (or anything else that would blend with guitars and banjos), please bring it. Or just come and sing along!
We supply words (and chords if needed).
There are still LOTS of Irish songs we didn't get to last month: let's do some more this time! All are welcome!
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Do you have a task around your home that you need help with?
Hire a team of UCE Journeys students to get a lot done in a little time! As a fundraiser for their Boston trip they will be available for hire to help with household tasks such as yard work, garage cleanup, or getting "rummage" together for the upcoming sale. Hourly rate for a team of three youth and an adult supervisor is $50.00 (minimum two hours), with Saturday mornings or afternoons and Sunday afternoons available in April. Please contact
Valerie Curtis
with a description of what you need done and an estimate of how long it will take. We can then get a crew together and schedule a time.
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Update on Atheism
Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18 & 25, 7:00pm
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We'll consider each of the four "angry atheists" from 10 years ago (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens, and Harris) when they first became well-known. Where are they and their arguments now? We will review their initial statements, the criticisms, the rebuttals, and some more recent writings. Did the angry atheists spark a new consideration of atheism, agnosticism, and naturalism? We'll look at famous atheists in history and their contributions to the current debate, as well as some recent studies on the sociology of belief. Suggested reading: Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion (2006); Sam Harris The End of Faith (2004); Greg Epstein Good Without God (2009). Facilitated by Dick Whitaker. Click here to register.
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2017 Soup Kitchens
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UCE hosts soup kitchens when our neighbor Beth Emet is celebrating the Jewish holidays. We have added two dates this year to assist Second Baptist Church. March your calendars for the following dates: Wednesdays - April 12, September 20, 27, October 4 and October 11 at UCE and Mondays - August 14 and August 21 at Second Baptist Church. Click here to sign up. For questions, contact
Winnie Stevenson or
Marilyn Wroblewski.
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Covenant Group Sunday
Sunday, April 2
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If you are wondering about covenant groups and want to learn more, stop by the information tables on Sunday April 2 to talk with covenant group facilitators and members about their experiences. A covenant group could be a part of your monthly spiritual practice. Contact Eileen Wiviott
for more information.
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Reinventing Philanthropy: A Framework for More Effective Giving
Wednesday, April 5, 7:00pm at UCE
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Most of us want to make a difference, and we donate our time and money to causes we deem worthy. Americans give over $350 billion to charity every year. Unfortunately, our best intentions often lead to ineffective outcomes. How can we maximize the positive impact of our resources? Eric Friedman, author of the book Reinventing Philanthropy: A Framework for More Effective Giving, challenges common views about charitable giving and offers practical strategies, including the best ways to identify high performance nonprofits and the most important criteria for selecting causes to support. Contact Jordan Skowronski for more information.
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Rainbow Alliance Lunch
Saturday, April 8, 12:00pm at the Celtic Knot
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The Rainbow Alliance invites you to share a meal with them on Saturday, April 8 at the Celtic Knot (626 Church, Evanston) at 12:00pm. This is a purely social event. We welcome all UCE folks to come and imbibe with us. Please RSVP to
figkerl@gmail.com so that we can make an accurate reservation.
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We are caught between Postmodernism and the legacy of the Enlightenment. This conflict affects how we think of science, other cultures and even liberal religion. The class shows how we got here and suggests that we need more reason, not less. Recommended: The Enlightenment: A Very Short Introduction and Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction. Facilitated by Rev. Jerome Stone, UCE's Affiliated Community Minister. A former United Church of Christ pastor and philosophy teacher, Jerry is the author of A Minimalist Vision of Transcendence and Religious Naturalism Today.
Click here for information about upcoming Adult Religious Education programs sponsored by the Learning Associates.
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Upcoming UCE Events
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Saturday, March 25, 6:00pm
Women Making Change
Sunday, March 26, 12:30pm
One Book, One Church
Tuesday, March 28, 5:00pm
Recently Retired (But not retiring!) Women
Wednesday, March 29, 7pm
The Impact of Money on Our Political System
Wednesday, March 29, 7pm
Sing Thing
Sunday, April 2
Covenant Group Sunday
Sunday, April 2, 1:00pm
Dances of Universal Peace
Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18 and 25, 7:00pm
Update on Atheism
Wednesday, April 5, 7:00pm
Reinventing Philanthropy: A Framework for More Effective Giving
Sunday, April 9, 12:30pm
Town Hall Meeting
Sunday, April 16, 10:30am
Hunting for Canned Goods
Sunday, April 16, 12:15pm
Easter Brunch
Friday, May 6 and Sat. May 7
Rummage Sale
Thursday Nights, 5:30pm
Meditation Group
Thursday Nights, 7pm
UCE Addictions and Recovery Group
Sunday Mornings, 8:15am & Wednesday Mornings, 9:30am
Yoga
Saturdays at 10:00am
Open Drumming Circles
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Save the Date!
Town Hall Meeting
Sunday, April 9, 12:30pm
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One Book, One Church
Sunday, March 26, 12:30pm
Citizen: An American Lyric
by Claudia Rankin "throws a Molotov cocktail at the notion that a reduction of injustice is the same as freedom." (NY Times) This book length poem about race and the imagination is the chosen book for our coming discussions. Called one of the best books of the year, you will not want to miss the discussion on March 26 - 12:30pm. You can find the book at Book H.
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Fiction Book Group
Members and guests are invited to read and discuss
The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild.
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UU Identity Discussions
Continued learning opportunities offered monthly by the New Member Committee; open to all who want to better understand what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist, no matter where you are on the membership journey:
Principles and Sources Class
1st Sundays 10:15 - 11am
Whether you are new to Unitarian Universalism or you would like to better understand the seven principles and six sources of our faith, join us for this rich 45-minute discussion led by members of the New Member Committee. We
'
ll use thought provoking metaphors to dive deeper into the foundations of being a UU.
Next Principles & Sources Class: April 2 between services.
Spiritual Journeys -
a 3-part conversation
2nd, 3rd, 4th Sundays
at 10:15-11am
We'll explore our religious and spiritual backgrounds, where we come from, what we want to cherish and what we want to release as we continue our journeys. This is a conversation open to all no matter where you are on the path - exploring membership, new members and long-term members alike. You can participate in any one or all three in any order.
Next Spiritual Journeys Sessions: 3/26.
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Yoga at UCE
Join us every Sunday at 8:15am and every Wednesday at 9:30am.
Yoga at UCE is designed to reduce stress, bring relaxation, increase range of motion, and find balance - restorative yoga. If you never have done yoga before, this is your opportunity. Drop in, wear comfortable clothing for stretching, and try it. Yoga is learned by doing. Community yoga mats provided if needed.
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Hands on Habitat Restoration with the Evanston Interreligious Sustainability Circle
Harms Woods Forest Preserve
Sunday May 7, 2017 1pm - 4pm
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Opportunities
for Spiritual Practice
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Upcoming Membership Classes
For those who are thinking about becoming a member of the church.
Intro to Unitarian Universalism
Sunday, May 21,
12:30 - 2pm
Led by Rev. Bret Lortie, we'll look at our history, our principles, the sources of our faith, and the meaning of covenant. (This is the first step in the membership process.)
Orientation Toward Membership
Sat. March 25, 9am - 12pm
Led by Rev. Connie Grant, Membership Director Eileen Wiviott, and members of the New Member Committee. An interactive class exploring our spiritual journeys, the diversity of our beliefs, and what it means to be a member of this congregation. (This is the second step in the membership process.)
Sign up at the Guest & Member Table in the lobby or email
Eileen Wiviott. There will be childcare available upon request in advance for both of these classes.
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Quick Links
(protected documents)
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Ministers' Schedules
Rev. Bret Lortie
is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and by appointment. Monday is sabbath and Friday devoted to writing. To send a message or read Rev. Bret's blog, visit
www.liberalfaith.org
.
Rev. Connie Grant is generally in the office during the day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and often has evening meetings on those days. She takes Mondays off and works at home on Fridays. Please email or call Connie for an appointment.
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