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Sunday, June 11
Worship Service - 10:00am
"Not the End of the Story"
A favorite story and some parting thoughts. A worship service for all ages. Rev. Connie Grant speaking. The service will also include recognition of religious education teachers and graduates as well as gratitude to Rev. Connie for nine years with our congregation.
Childcare will be available from 9:30-11:30am.
Annual Church Picnic/Potluck - 11:00am
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
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a salad, side, or dessert
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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.
3rd-4th-5th Graders Selling Vegetarian Cookbook
Our Bluegills (3rd-4th-5th grade) class is selling a vegetarian cookbook after the service with favorite family-friendly recipes from the UCE congregation. Only $5 per copy, with profits going to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Our class learned this year about how it takes roughly 12 times the land, water and energy resources to raise one pound of meat protein compared to one pound of soy protein. Mindful of our 7th Principle, we hope this cookbook will encourage us all to cook more yummy vegetarian meals.
Senior High Youth Group Collecting Books for Books First
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 11. Thank you for your contribution.
Dances of Universal Peace - 1:00pm
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.
Join us to stand in support of Black Lives Matter
11:10pm-11:30am
You are invited to stand on Ridge Avenue between 11:10am and 11:30am 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 -
9:00am
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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Rev. Bret Lortie
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"Call the Minister"
In the PBS show
Call the Midwife, it's usually clear when to call the midwife. Nature is pretty good that way. "You'll know when to call," the professionals tell expectant mothers, and they do!
Getting in touch with a minister is very much the same process, when you want us, just call! You'll know when.
Click here to read more.
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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.
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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. We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. June meeting dates are June 13 and June 27 from 7:30-9:00pm at UCE. If you have questions, please contact
Renee Hoff or
Joyce Lofstrom.
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Joys and Sorrows - do you have something you would like to share with the congregation during the joys and sorrows time of our worship service? Please write it in the book (small, black journal) found on the table along the back wall of the sanctuary (to the right as you walk in). Your joy or sorrow will be read by the minister or worship associate and will be included in the following newsletter. There is also a binder of recent joys and sorrows kept at the table for you to see when you are at church.
Nametags - if you are just getting acquainted with us and haven't gotten a nametag yet, please stop by the Guest and Member Services table in the lobby. If you sign our guest registry, you will receive a nametag on the newcomer board. After the service, please drop your nametag back in the basket rather than pinning it back on the board. Thanks and Welcome!
Caring Concerns - are you having surgery or a baby? Would you like a meal as you recuperate? Do you need a ride to an appointment? Let us know. The Caring Program helps us care for each other by providing practical assistance to people in our congregation who are experiencing life changes and challenges. Contact Lois Taft, if you would like to volunteer for the Caring Program or if you have a need that the Caring Program can help you with.
Rainbow Sticker and Gender Pronouns for your nametag. We wear rainbow stickers on our nametags to show support for and alliance with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals in our congregation and beyond our walls. Stop by the Guest and Member Services table and pick one up. Everyone is encouraged to add a purple pronoun tag on your nametag. This is a way to honor each person's individual gender expression. These are found by the nametag board. All are encouraged to participate in celebrating our Welcoming Congregation in this way.
Flowers and Chalice - Do you have a special occasion that you would like to mark or someone you'd like to honor? Consider bringing flowers and lighting our chalice during the worship service. You can sign up on the bulletin board in the lobby, on our website, or by contacting Carli Magel in the church office
[email protected].
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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.
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If you are wondering about covenant groups and want to learn more, stop by the information tables at coffee hour (we have treats!) to talk with covenant group facilitators and members about their experiences. A covenant group could be a part of your monthly spiritual practice. Contact Rev. Eileen Wiviott for more information.
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If you are in your 30's - 50's, with kids or without, join us for a casual gathering, with light refreshments (bring a healthy snack to share if you can) and meaningful conversation. 343 Washington Ave., Wilmette. To RSVP, contact Rev. Eileen Wiviott.
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Don't forget to sign up for the Fall Weekend as soon as possible! We need to submit a count of how many rooms are needed by July 24. You will need to submit a $100 deposit when you sign up with the balance paid no later than August 20 (firm). However, because of the early count needed, if you're not ready to give a deposit, please at least let us know that you are seriously planning to come so we can add you to the count. We have rooms in Lakefront 8 (single queen beds only) and in Winston Paul.
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. Sign up now by emailing
Peggy Boccard, or watch for a display in the back of the Sanctuary on Sundays.
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Non-fiction book group has rescheduled their meeting to Sunday, July 23 at 11:30am.
We will be discussing
The South Side: a Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation
by Natalie Moore.
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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!
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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.
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Black America Since MLK
And I Still Rise
Tuesdays, June 13 and 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
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Pride Brunch
Saturday, June 17, 10am-12pm at UCE
UCE's Rainbow Alliance is hosting the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches Pride Brunch. We will share stories of welcome and justice and participate in a Pride stand on Ridge Ave. RSVP Here by June 14, or contact Chris Allender with any questions.
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UCE Facebook Groups
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.
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UCE Food with Spirit Group
Thursdays, June 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.
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Yoga at UCE
Join us every Sunday at 9:00am 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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We are all Leaders at UCE!
Many of us have been getting more involved in justice work, political activism and community work this year. If you could use some more skills in 'getting stuff done' with other people, consider the Leadership School sponsored by MidAmerica UUA Region. The classes run for a week and this year are held in Iowa. Details at www.mwls.org. Registration deadline is June 15.
Submitted by the Leadership Development Team.
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Opportunities
for Spiritual Practice
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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
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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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Quick Links
(protected documents)
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