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Sunday, April 16
Worship Service - 9:15 and 11:00am
"Transformation in Our Times"
Rev. Bret will address the racial divisions of our times, even within our faith movement, as an opportunity for the kind of creative transformation we believe possible in the world.
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.
Then, children in kindergarten and older are invited to participate in Easter-related activities during class time this week. During the 9:15 session activities will be in Room 5, and during the 11:00 session activities will be in Room 3.
Senior high meets at 11:00am. Childcare for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is available from 9:00-12:30.
Hunting for Canned Goods - 10:20am
On Easter Sunday, children in Preschool through Fifth Grade are invited to participate in a "canned goods hunt" at 10:20 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."
Easter Brunch - 12:00pm
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!
$8 per person for adults; $5 for children age 11 and under; max $25 per family.
Crackerbarrel - 9:30am
"Why Facts Don't Change Our Minds"
Elizabeth Colbert's New Yorker article tries to explain why people are often totally irrational (that includes you, not just the other guy) and once formed, why impressions are remarkably perseverant. Facts are facts but are selected to fit into one's preferred narrative, not dispassionate truth. The article takes an evolutionary perspective and suggests that reason evolved to help humans cooperate in large groups, not to enable us to solve abstract, logical problems that we often confront in a modern society. What is the best way for us to incorporate our rational knowledge of our own irrationality into human institutions? Discussion Leader: Suzanne Hess & Scot Campbell. 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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Sunday, April 23, 9:30am
"Accessibility and Hearing at UCE"
Discussion Leader: Jim Kepler
Sunday, April 30 - 9:30
"Identical Twin Studies"
Discussion Leaders: Scot Campbell & Gordon Mallet
Sunday, May 6 - 9:30am
"Rules"
Discussion Leader: Robb Geiger
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Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6
Volunteers needed!
We need volunteers Sunday, April 30 after church from 12:30pm-3:00pm and 3:00pm-6:00pm, Monday and Tuesday, 9:00am-8:00pm, Wednesday 9:00am-5:00pm. Generally, jobs are setting-up, organizing, and sorting.
We also need volunteers to cook for noon meals M-F for workers and to make home baked goods for sale on Friday and Saturday.
Another important need is people to work during the sale - Friday, May 5 9:00am-5:00pm and Saturday, May 6 9:00am-12:00pm. We also need desk attendants M-Th 9:00am-9:00pm.
Please help make our rummage sale a success!
ATTENTION BAKERS! We're looking for tasty treats to sell at the Cafe. Some items that sell well are: bars, cookies, breakfast & savory breads, muffins, cupcakes, rice crispy treats, gluten-free and vegan items, and savory snacks.
Items can be dropped off in the kitchen on Thursday evening before the sale or at the Cafe early Fri/Sat morning. Please label item with your name and "CAFE". Thank you.
For more information, contact Donna Schiller or Sheila Holder Many thanks for supporting Cafe Rummage!
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Rummage Sale Donation Instructions 
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DONATIONS will be accepted on Sunday, April 30, from 2:00- 6:00 pm, Monday, May 1, 9:00 am - 8:00 pm and Tuesday, May 2, 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
ALL donations must be in good condition and in working order.
Please hang all adult clothes, except blue jeans, shorts and lingerie. We can give you wire hangers if you need them.
We CANNOT accept large appliances, mattresses, sofa beds, children's car seats, medicine, household or garden chemicals, or live plants.
FURNITURE AND LARGE ITEM PICK UP
Need help transporting furniture? Contact Kay Gibbs-Novy - (847) 328-9184 or kgibbsnovy@sbcglobal.net by April 19 to request assistance. On April 29 and 30, UCE will pick up furniture for people who cannot otherwise get these items to UCE. Large items include things like furniture and bikes. Space on the truck is limited, so we cannot pick up boxes or other small items.
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Re-Visioning our Work for Justice Workshop Saturday, April 15, 9am-noon
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Rev. Scott Aaseng, our interim Faith in Action Minister, will present a workshop on "Re-Visioning our Work for Justice." This will include clarifying goals based on congregational success stories, exploring various forms of social action and strategies for impact, and using criteria for focusing moving forward.
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Radical Hospitality Workshop 101
Saturday, April 22, 9:00am to 1:00pm
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The workshop was developed by the UU Prison Ministry of Illinois to give individuals and congregations some of the tools they need to successfully undertake the work of being a Radically Welcoming Congregation.
The workshop will examine the ways that the prison industrial complex is more than just prisons and jails. There will be an opportunity to explore transformative justice and the relationship between UU theology and the criminal legal system. The four-hour experiential training incorporates the voices of formerly incarcerated people and gives attendees a background in why we are called as UUs to do this work.
For more information on the Radical Hospitality workshop and to register to attend the April 22 event please visit
www.uupmi.org
or contact Dale Griffin.
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 Join us for the UCE Spring Coffee House! Free will offering accepted. Snacks and beverages provided. Come for music, poetry, story telling, and a great time!
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UCE members and staff will be participating in the Friday night worship service at our upcoming Regional Assembly in Oak Brook IL on April 28. Vickie Hellyer will lead our choir during the service. Rev. Bret will also have a part in the service; and Rev. Scott Aaseng will be installed as the director of UUANI, with Rev. Alan Taylor leading the installation. After the worship service, we will hear all 3 of the UUA presidential candidates talk about their visions for the UUA. There are 12 or us already registered for this weekend event now. You can still register. Click here for details about the event.
Contact Lee Bannor or Shirley Adams or Peggy Boccard if you have questions.
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If you are in a caregiving role of any sort, we invite you to drop in at the next Caregiver Support Group. In April, we meet on April 25 from 7-8:30pm. If you have questions, please contact Renee Hoff
or Joyce Lofstrom.
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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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News from the Green Team
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Two important marches are occurring in the month of April, the March for Science and the People's Climate March. The main marches will be in D.C. with satellite marches around the country.
Let's get a group from UCE to attend the Chicago marches and make our voices heard!
The march touts the importance and value of science and research. Participants will gather at 10 a.m. on S. Columbus Drive and the march begins at 11 a.m. The march will head toward Museum Campus where there will be a science expo from noon to 3 p.m. Details on the expo are forthcoming.
If you are interested in attending the March for Science as a UCE group, please contact Heather Brown
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Update on Atheism
Continues Tuesdays, April 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 and Bill Irons. Click here to register.
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Caregivers' Journey
Tuesdays, May 9, 16 & 23, 7:00pm
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Energy Management for Caregivers: Being a caregiver is a deeply stressful and meaningful experience. In our first session, we will explore questions about stress, energy management, and ways the caregiver can use mindfulness techniques to help them help themselves-and then become more comfortable caregiving as a result.
Conversations with our Loved Ones: In our second session, we will help the caregiver think through different situations and levels of care, navigate your loved ones' wishes for their own care, and have difficult conversations with them about advance directives.
Making Meaning: In our third session, we will explore questions of meaning and purpose-how do our Unitarian Universalist values help shape our understanding of caregiving as an important part of our beliefs and values?
Facilitated by Rev. Elizabeth Harding, A.M., M.Div., LSW. Elizabeth grew up Unitarian Universalist and is a bereavement counselor with JourneyCare, the state's largest nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider. She is an affiliated community minister with the Second Unitarian Church of Chicago.
Click here to register, or sign up on the Religious Education bulletin board.
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Quick Links
(protected documents)
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Upcoming UCE Events
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Saturday, April 15, 9:00am
Re-visioning our Work for Justice Workshop
Sunday, April 16, 10:20am
Hunting for Canned Goods
Sunday, April 16, 12:15pm
Easter Brunch
Tuesdays, April 18 and 25, 7:00pm
Update on Atheism
Saturday, April 22, 9:00am
Radical Hospitality Workshop 101
Sunday, April 23, 12:15pm
Veggie Lunch
Saturday, April 29, 7:30pm
Spring Coffee House
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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Veggie Lunch Sponsored by the Green Team
Please join us on Sunday April 23 for a Green Team-sponsored, organic and meat-free luncheon to celebrate Earth Day and our green accomplishments at UCE.
Lunch will be in room 3 immediately after the second service, and we will have informational tables from local energy consumer and climate advocacy groups.
A donation of $7 per person or $15 per family is requested. For questions or if you would like to volunteer to donate a food item, contact
Heather Brown.
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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: 4/16, 4/23.
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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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UCE Rental
North Shore Choral Society Presents
Saturday, April 22, 7pm at UCE
Come watch UCE members Robb Geiger,
Lynn Kendall, Jane Kenamore, Andy Fisher, and Inge Kistler in this concert.
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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
Sat. May 6,
10:00 - 11:30am
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. May 13, 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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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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