A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Join us for worship and religious education!  Services and Religious Education Classes take place on Sunday morning at 9:15 and 11:00am
May 26, 2017
Sunday, May 28
Worship Service  -  9:15 and 11:00am
 
"... And I Thank You"
 
In his final day in the pulpit as the Ministerial Intern, Kevin DeBeck reflects on the lessons he's learned in his time at UCE.

Religious Education
This week our "Monarch" (pre-school), "Dolphin" (kindergarten-first-second grade), "Bluegills" (third-fourth-fifth grade) classes will meet from 9:15-10:30 and 11:00-12:15 for a special group activity.  Many of our "Popcorn" class members who are participating in the Journeys coming-of-age program will be in Boston, and those who are in town are welcome to participate in the activity.  All begin in the sanctuary for the first part of the worship service before going to Room 3 this week.  The Senior High Youth Group will lead the children's activity at both 9:15 and 11:00. Childcare for infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers is available from 9:00-12:30.

Journeys to Justice - 12:30pm
Concerned about what's happening in the world but don't know how to get involved? Come to the next Journeys to Justice session. We'll look at a Beloved Community paradigm as a framework for UU social justice work, and talk about ways to put that into action. Representatives of UCE social justice teams will share what they're doing. Newcomers and longtime members alike are welcome. Contact Faith in Action Minister Scott Aaseng  for more info.

Crackerbarrel - 9:30am
"Input for the search committee for the Director of Religious Education"  
Rachelle L. Brooks would like to gather the feedback of crackerbarrel attendees to learn about their priorities for the hire. We will engage in a discussion about adult religious education and other ways in which the new DRE might serve adult members. What we learn in the discussion will then be used to gather and compile the feedback prior to reviewing any applications for the position. Discussion Leader: Rachelle L. Brooks

Dick Whitaker will do a short presentation and answer questions about the lower level lift before the discussion of the search for the Director of Religious Education.

Note - Non-Fiction Book Group scheduled for 12:30pm on Sunday, May 28 has been rescheduled, date TBA.
 
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.
Join in celebrating at the Annual Church Picnic Potluck Sunday, June 11 at 11am. (We move to one service at 10am that Sunday.) Please bring a dish to share - a salad, side, or dessert - as we celebrate the end of the church year, and say goodbye to Rev. Connie. The meat and meatless options will be provided. Please sign up to help set up, clean up or grill here
The search committee charged with hiring a Director of Religious Education (DRE) consists of seven members: Bret Lortie and Ann Gadzikowski (co-chairs), Rachelle Brooks, Sandy McNabb, George Monical, Winnie Stevenson, and Jessica Tomell-Presto. This DRE role a new position at UCE, in some ways similar to the position of Congregational Life Minister held by Connie Grant, but different in other ways. For example, the DRE is a staff position, reporting directly to the Senior Minister, not the Board of Trustees. The DRE will not deliver pastoral care and other duties typically performed by a called minister. The primary responsibility and focus of the DRE is to develop and manage the religious education programming for children, youth, and adults.  Click here to read more.
Come join in the fun and celebration as we say goodbye to Connie on Saturday, June 10, 5:00-8:00pm. Let the office know if you're planning to attend (847-864-1330) or RSVP at this Evite link:  http://evite.me/aHxXhuyP8h
 
For details contact Jessica Tomell-Presto.
We are gathering to celebrate the ordination of Eileen Wiviott on Sunday, June 4 at 4 pm.  It will be a grand event and we need to gather our resources to make it happen - folks to help with the service, to help with the reception afterwards, and to bring tasty treats for the reception.   If you would like to volunteer to help, please sign up here. Many hands will make this happen!

Eileen's ordination, bring a flower  - please bring a flower (or more) from your garden if you are able and planning to come to Eileen Wiviott's ordination on June 4 at 4pm. We will celebrate flower communion in this service as well.
UCE staff and the Accessibility and Inclusion team have been working with an architect on plans for a lower level lift. After considering many possibilities, we have agreed on three options: 

F)  A Limited Use/ Limited Access lift (LULA) accessed thru the glass-block wall near the Sanctuary. $138,869.

G)  A LULA with access thru the Annex wall at the base of the interior ramp.  $156,924.

H)  A Vertical Platform Lift (VPL) also with access thru the Annex wall.  $124,050

Each of these options is explained in a display in UCE's lobby.  Green and blue tape will be placed on the lobby floor to trace the routes of these options -- blue for option F and green for options G and H.  The A&I Team is seeking your pledge to pay for one of these. Currently $127,000 has been pledged.

If you would like to contribute, please click here . Also, pledge cards will be available at the display, or download a form to mail in by clicking here . For more detailed information click here  
The Leadership Development Team recently sent out a survey to about 25% of our members, those who lead or have led teams or projects at UCE.  Our goal was to learn the greatest challenges of our leaders so that we can provide resources to help them do their jobs.  We were pleased that more than 75% responded.  Click to take a look at the survey.
 
By far, the most often expressed needs were to help identify and engage team members and to find new leaders to take over leadership roles.  We will provide more detailed survey results later.       
 
John Quincy Adams said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."  So, we could all be leaders!  And we probably are in large and small ways.  We just need to link up with the UCE teams that align with our passions.  Connect with Eileen Wiviott to get plugged in.  There's no better place "to nurture our human spirit and our community for a world made whole" than volunteering at UCE.  
 
Leadership Development Team:  Shirley Adams, Janelle Brittain, Penny Doyle, John LaPlante, Ann Peterson, Margaret Schatz, Eileen Wiviott   
Books First is an organization that collect books, Pre-K through eighth grade, for Chicago public schools that don't have libraries. Please bring any books that you are donating to the tables at the back of the sanctuary on June 4 and June 11. We will be accepting books after each service. Thank you for your contribution.  
Rev. Scott Aaseng has helped UCE to be more effective in our social justice organizing. One of the many great things is the UU Advocacy Network of Illinois Action of the Week. This a well-curated list of easy actions for almost anyone to take, including letters to legislators on key issues that you may or may not be aware of. If you'd like a way to keep learning and acting on your values, Here's a link to sign up for the UUANI Actions of the Week. 
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.) All are welcome!
Join us for Dances of Universal Peace after the church picnic! We will be celebrating summer solstice. 

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.
Did you say "Lake Geneva" Fall Retreat?  Yes, I did! We're going back to George Williams College this year.  
 
The facility has been extensively refurbished, and we've got many of our favorite places, Lakefront 8, Mable Cratty Hall and several rooms in Winston Paul.  Our meals will be served in the Chapin Dining Hall, with seating in the Executive Dining room.
 
The prices this year are somewhat higher than they have been in the past few years, this is for the entire weekend and includes all meals and activities.  The charge for the whole weekend for a double room will be $320 per person and for a single room will be $405 per person. Click here to read more.
Potluck begins at 5:30, meeting begins at 6:30. Bring your suggestions, complaints, affirmations.....and a dish to share! Everyone is invited no matter how large or small a part you played.
We invite you to submit nominations for UCE's shared offering recipients for the 2017-18  year starting in September. At the August meeting of the Social Justice Council, charitable 501c(3) organizations with which our members have a relationship and that align with our UU values will be chosen from the nominees. Please submit a Nomination Form to Eileen Wiviott by July 31. The form must be submitted electronically as we have to make packets of the nomination forms for the Social Justice Council's consideration. You do not have to make a PDF document. 

The form is in Word and can be easily completed and attached to an email. Please be aware that there are additional responsibilities for nominees this year. They are outlined on the Nomination Form. If you have questions, please contact Eileen Wiviott. Click here for the form.
At June's General Assembly in New Orleans, delegates will make final modifications and vote on the proposed Statement of Conscience on Escalating Inequality.  Our congregation reviewed the first draft of this statement earlier this year. And based on our comments and comments from across the country, major revisions have been made to it.    The statement will become official policy of the UUA if it is adopted in June by a two-thirds vote.   You can see the current draft of the statement at:  Escalating Inequality

Join the Rainbow Alliance for a night of Bingo Fun hosted by the campy Miss Foozie. A $20 ticket gets you dinner, drinks, and bingo cards. This is a fundraiser for the Transformative Justice Law Project, folks who provide legal aid and resources to low-income and street-based transgender and gender non-conforming people as well as folks coming out of the prison system.  

Buy a ticket or RSVP at the table in the back of the sanctuary or RSVP at http://bit.ly/BINGOrainbow .  

For 21 & up, childcare will be provided.
Only about a month remains to sign up for the annual Fathers Day Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate, which honors the beloved Northwestern University men's basketball coach who was murdered by a white supremacist. 

All proceeds from the Race Against Hate benefit YWCA Evanston/North Shore, in particular its racial justice programming and violence prevention education for young people. For information about YWCA Evanston/North Shore and its programs, you can visit www.ywca.org/evanston. There, you can register to run or walk (be sure to specify the UCE team) or to donate or volunteer before or during the event. 

If you can't run or walk, talk with Martha Holman about volunteering at the UCE tent. See you all on June 18!
If you have an idea for an Adult Religious Education class or workshop that you'd like to present in the upcoming church year, please contact one of the the Learning Associates  - Bill Irons, Dick Whitaker, Dan Solomon, Tom Ticknor or Julia TakaradaIn your proposal, please include: presenter(s) name(s) and brief bio(s); a catchy title; and a description of your proposed topic (and why it's relevant).  Also, please let one of the Learning Associates know if you are interested in being part of the team to help plan and implement adult religious education programming.
Standdown is a VA sponsored event that provides fresh clothing hot meals, medical attention, counseling and comfort for the many indigent and homeless Vets. It is an easy way to honor the sacrifices and service Vets have made for our country. Summer Standdown is at General Jones Armory, 5200 Cottage Grove. For carpooling from UCE,  contact Gary Zacny.
 
Volunteers are always needed to organize and distribute clothing as well as visit with the Vets.
Upcoming UCE Events

Friday, May 26, 4:00pm
Garden Swap


Sunday, May 28, 12:30pm
Journeys to Justice


Tuesdays, May 30, June 6, 13 and 20, 7:00pm
Black America Since MLK - And I Still Rise


Wednesday, May 31, 7:00pm
Sing Thing


Saturday, June 3, 6:30pm
Bingo Night Sponsored by Rainbow Alliance


Tuesday, June 6, 5:30pm
Rummage Sale Wrap Up/Potluck


Sunday, June 11, 11am
Church Picnic/Potluck


Sunday, June 11, 1:00pm
Dances of Universal Peace


Sept. 22 - Sept. 24
Lake Geneva Fall Retreat


Thursday Nights, 7pm
UCE Addictions and Recovery Group


Sunday Mornings, 8:15am & Wednesday Mornings, 9:30am
Yoga


Saturdays at 10:00am
Open Drumming Circles

Community Involvement
Click each event for more information.

YWCA Let's Talk at Lunch
Third Thursday of the Month
 
Garden Swap

Friday, May 26, 4-7pm

Join us in the UCE parking lot. Bring something to share, leave with something you want to grow.

UCE Facebook Groups
Did you know that, in addition to the UCE Facebook Page, there are two UCE groups that members can join - the UCE Member to Member 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 above or search for the groups by name when you are on Facebook and ask to join.
Black America Since MLK 
And I Still Rise

Tuesdays, May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 7-9pm


Each evening will cover a separate time span in American history over the past several decades. Each segment reminds us of the particular struggles that have shaped our current reality. Much of this we never learned, or remember very differently. Join us for the film, a discussion, and free popcorn!
 
Click here for more information .
DRE Search Committee Survey

All are invited to participate in an online survey regarding the hiring of a UCE Director of Religious Education. To share your opinions and ideas please click here.

For more information about the DRE search, please contact Ann Gadzikowski.
 UCE Food with Spirit Group

Thursdays, June 1, 15 and 29
5:30pm at UCE

Do you have a complicated relationship with food? Join us  to discuss nutrition, eating patterns, emotional triggers, recipes, or whatever comes up among the group members.

We have read a couple of helpful books together recently. Talk to Noel Yovovich or Shirley Adams if you want to know more. All are welcome.
Our Giving House


The giving house is collecting  canned Tuna, Salmon and Chicken for the month of May. 
 
Sponsor is Walowitz Covenant Circle.
UU Identity Discussions

Ongoing learning opportunities offered by the New Member Committee, open to all, no matter where you are on the journey. Childcare available.

Spiritual Journeys - 
a 3-part conversation
2nd, 3rd, 4th Sundays 
at 10:15-11am 
Explore your religious and spiritual background, where you come from, what you want to cherish and what you want to release. You can participate in any one or all three in any order.  Next Spiritual Journeys Session: May 28  @ 10:15am
Upcoming Membership Classes
2 Step Path to Membership

For those who are thinking about becoming a member of the church.

Intro to Unitarian Universalism 
Sunday, June 4, 12:30 - 2:00pm 
An overview of our faith led by Rev. Bret Lortie. 

Orientation Toward Membership 
Next session TBD in the early fall
Led by Membership Director, Eileen Wiviott.  An interactive class exploring what it means to be a member of this congregation. 

Sign up at the Guest & Member Table in the lobby or email  Eileen Wiviott. Childcare available upon request in advance for both of these classes. 
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.

Opportunities
 for Spiritual Practice

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.
cgrant@ucevanston.org. (847) 864-1330 ext. 103 (office); (847) 840-8542 (cell).
| 847-864-1330 | uce@ucevanston.org | http://www.ucevanston.org
1330 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201