Finding the Holy Within / Pauline Nijander
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Pauline Nijander is a fourth year student at the Drew Theological School in Madison, NJ, where she is studying for the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Pauline has been a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton since 2013, where she has served in various leadership roles, including the ministerial intern in the 2019-2020 academic year, and now, as the Seminarian. As a proud transwoman and lesbian, Pauline speaks often to different community and student groups about her perspective and life in hopes of educating people through honest and engaging conversation about trans* life and issues. For this work, she was awarded the 2017 Triad House LGBTQ+ Champion Award from LifeTies. Along with her wife, Michelle, and their sweet pitbull, Ingrid, Pauline resides in Ewing, NJ. |
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July and August Theme: Journey
Live Stream Worship at 10am / Recorded Viewing Available at Noon
Live stream link can be found here.
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OFFERTORY :: New Moms
Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit New Moms, an organization serving young moms and their children experiencing poverty and homelessness in Chicago and the near west suburbs. New Moms provides housing, job training, parenting education, doula support and much more. Thank you for your generous support as we surround young families with comprehensive support services to strengthen families and communities. Learn more here.
To contribute to Unity Temple’s Sunday collection, please text 73256 with the message UTUUC $____ (dollar sign followed by your donation amount), and select “Offering”. You may also give at the UTUUC website, by using the camera on your phone to scan the QR code on the screen during the Offertory or by sending a check, payable to Unity Temple, noting New Moms on the memo line, to 875 Lake St., Oak Park, 60301, and we will send a collective check on your behalf. Thank you for your generous support!
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Welcome to UTUUC
If you would like to learn more about how our congregation works and how you can become involved, please contact Tina Lewis, Director of Membership & Engagement to set up a conversation. She looks forward to meeting you! tlewis@unitytemple.org
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UTUUC Phones We have purchased a new phone system. For the time being, if you need to get a hold of anyone on staff, please send them an email while we wait for installation. Thank you.
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Worship Service :: will be at 10am on YouTube Live. You can access it here.
Coffee Hour :: Immediately following the service (around 10:45am) the Virtual Coffee Hour will be on Zoom. Go to Zoom Meeting ID: 999 2797 5277 Password: 875875 Or access directly here.
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Coffee Hour Courtesies Coffee Hour is a time for old and new friendships to be enjoyed. In the spirit of community, and in honor of our 1st Principle that upholds the inherent worth and dignity of every person, we ask everyone to be mindful of the brief time we have together during breakout sessions.
Please remember these courtesies to ensure everyone a meaningful and fun experience.
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Good News! Live Streaming Sunday services could be a reality as soon as August 29 with YOUR help. If you would like more information about how you can be a part of the new AV Team contact jparks@unitytemple.org. This crucial need is time-sensitive, so please reach out today. Thanks!
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Marsha Borders, Glenn Brewer, Vera Dowell, Fran Knechel and Ian Morrison are the new Transition Team that has been appointed by the Board and represents both the breadth and depth of UTUUC experience. They will be assisting our Interim Senior Minister, the Rev. Dawn Cooley during the next two years. Right now, they are focusing on connecting Rev. Dawn with staff and lay leadership in the congregation, and learning together what it means to be on this team! Watch this space for more details as the transition continues transition@unitytemple.org. Welcome Rev. Cooley!
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The Community Transformation Team (CTT) continues to work on a comprehensive phased opening policy taking into account the guidelines and rules of the Center for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Village of Oak Park and the congregation’s guiding principles. Illinois is currently in Phase 5. The CTT has completed version 2.0 of the Phased Re-Opening Plan for in-person events at Unity Temple which can be found here. The CTT will continue to keep everyone updated in regards to the decisions made and the guidelines that we as a congregation will need to follow within our unique building settings. You can also check the Unity Temple website under the Phased Re-Opening tab for more information. Questions and comments can be directed to ctt@unitytemple.org.
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The Unity Temple Choir Begins Rehearsals on August 18th!
The Unity Temple Choir will resume rehearsals on Wednesday, August 18 at 7pm. We will meet in Unity House until 9pm.
- Singers will be required to be vaccinated in order to rehearse in Unity Temple.
- Choir members will rehearse in masks.
- Choir will not be performing in-person for services until we are confident that we pose no threat to unvaccinated children or our most vulnerable members present as this is our primary concern at this time.
- Choir will relocate to outdoor or online rehearsals if the efficacy of the vaccines for the developing variants pose increase risk to our vaccinated singers.
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Sacred Wanderings Live and In Person at Thatcher Woods this Saturday, August 7 from 8:30-10:30am (First Saturdays)!! Join Terry and Jay as we intentionally practice connecting with nature and surrounding ourselves with the energy of the natural world. Forest bathing is not taking a leisurely walk in the woods to enjoy the scenery. There's a specific intention in the practice to connect with the natural world and to gain benefit and energy from it. In other words, you are bathing in the energy of the trees, leaves, sky, and earth. Meditation and mindfulness assists in securing this intention. There will be silence and discussion.
The group will meet no matter what the weather conditions so come prepared. Please bring a lawn chair you can carry to sit on as well as a cup for tea for the discussion at the end, if you desire. Tea will be provided. Mosquito netting, hand sanitizer and masks will be provided. Those with physical challenges are easily accommodated. If you have any questions please email mindful@unitytemple.org.
We will gather at 8030 Chicago Ave., just west of Thatcher Ave., north Pavilion, Maywood, IL.
Watch for Sacred Wandering signs.
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Unity Temple Summer RE Theme of "Grow Together" We offer online programming to fuel our fine young people's spiritual growth and to serve as an opportunity to connect and practice our principles together. We hope you will join Activities for All Ages via zoom every Sunday at 9:30am. If you have any questions or thoughts to share, please contact summer_re@unitytemple.org
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Daily Mindful Reflection Community 30 minute meeting, 7 days a week! Starts at 8:25am and ends at 9am every day, seven days a week. This will be different from our regular Tuesday night meeting. The daily meditation will include opening words, 20 minutes of mindful reflection, and closing words.
All are welcome! You are welcome to attend regularly or sporadically.
Time: Every Day (including weekends) at 08:30am Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting here. ID: 373 008 242 / Passcode: 4IFrYx
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,373008242#,,,,*940220#1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 373 008 242 / Passcode: 940220
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Religious Education Registration 2021/2022 is Open! Each year, we ask our families to re-register their children for our religious education programming. It ensures we have the most up to date information about our young people, helps us with planning, and gives us an ongoing communication loop. Along with information, we ask for a registration fee of $50 per child (for pledging members and friends) and $100 per child (for non-pledging members or friends). These fees help support elements of our program. Scholarships are granted by request to Emily Gage egage@unitytemple.org or Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org. Please register your child/children for Religious Education using this link.
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Mindful Reflection Online Community Tuesday Evenings Zoom meeting room opens at 6:45pm, program starts at 7:10pm. You Are Welcome Here! We will follow our usual format with 20 minutes of Mindful Reflection followed by a dharma talk and discussion. Questions email mindful@unitytemple.org.
ID: 373 008 242 / Passcode: 4IFrYx
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,373008242#,,,,*940220#1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 373 008 242 / Passcode: 940220
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Unity Temple Faith In Action Network
Spiritually Grounded / Deeply Relational / Strategically Effective
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Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit New Moms, an organization serving young moms and their children experiencing poverty and homelessness in Chicago and the near west suburbs. New Moms provides housing, job training, parenting education, doula support and much more. Thank you for your generous support as we surround young families with comprehensive support services to strengthen families and communities. Learn more here.
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Communities, Not Cages! The U.S. operates the world's largest immigration detention system with a network of over 200 detention centers across the country. UU Service Committee (UUSC) members have been working to shut down ICE detention centers since the U.S. government expanded the use of family detention in 2014. As part of the Communities Not Cages advocacy coalition we have identified 10 facilities to shut down in the next year. Detention abolition is possible. Our partners on the ground are developing community-based alternatives to immigration detention. We’ve already seen counties in MA and GA end contracts with ICE. Join us by sending a message to President Biden today: Terminate federal contracts with detention facilities that are keeping families confined in prison-like conditions just for seeking safety and a better life. To learn more, contact: immigration@unitytemple.org
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Side with Love Action Center
The UUA is now organizing work for justice and liberation under the same call to Side with Love - including the four intersectional areas of:
- Climate Justice
- Decriminalization, Ending Deportation & Detention
- Democracy & Voting Rights
- LGBTQ+ and Gender Justice
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Plastic Bag Recycling!
Did you know "stretchy" plastic like plastic shopping bags, dry-cleaning bags, bread bags, ziploc and produce bags aren't usually recyclable in your bins at home? We're collecting these items that would usually go to a landfill (or to Jewel) to be turned into a recycled plastic bench! The bench will be donated to Third Unitarian Church in Austin.
Watch this short video, and see what can be recycled here. Place all plastics into (preferably) one or more plastic bags and drop-off in the bin on the front porch of Gale House (124 N. Kenilworth) behind Unity Temple.
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Climate & Equity - Time for Action! It’s been two months since Illinois legislators left Springfield without passing a climate and equity bill, and the cost of doing nothing is colossal. Without passing Clean Energy legislation, thousands of union workers and solar installers will lose their jobs. Without setting a clear closure date for toxic fossil fuel plants, our communities will continue breathing dangerously unhealthy air, and BIPOC communities won’t have access to the clean energy economy.
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Film Festival – August 12-21
Join Community Renewal Society for the free (in)Justice for All film series. Learn more and order tickets here. Donations are welcome.
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Thank You! Chicago Passes Transformative Legislation!
We ask you to take a moment today on behalf of the communities that have been most impacted by policing. Call or email your alderperson to either thank them for their vote or share your disappointment if they did not vote in support of this transformational legislation. We need to remind our alderpersons why this ordinance is necessary. After years of organizing and calls to action, Chicago now has the most democratic and progressive system of civilian oversight of the police in the country.
Community Renewal Society applauds the work of our leaders and volunteers, as well as the leaders and volunteers from 100+ organizations across Chicago. We met with residents, directly impacted survivors of police brutality and their families, the Chicago Police Department and alderpersons, and worked with two Mayoral administrations to create the ordinance that was approved on July 22 - this is what Beloved Community looks like! Please support our continued work in the area of police accountability and stay tuned for next steps.
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Rainbow Connections New Meeting Day and Time! Do you consider yourself part of the queer UTUUC community? If so, please join us on the evening of Thursday, August 19, from 7-8:30pm. **Please note the new day; we now meet on the third Thursday of the month!** It is our monthly Rainbow Connections meeting. (Allies are welcome, on occasion, by invitation only.) This month's virtual meeting topic is "Journey". If you are a first-timer, feel free to log on at 6:45 for a one-on-one chat to get to know you a bit. Hope to see you soon! Zoom link can be found here.
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Welcome to UTUUC
If you would like to learn more about how our congregation works and how you can become involved, please contact Tina Lewis, Director of Membership & Engagement to set up a conversation. She looks forward to meeting you! tlewis@unitytemple.org
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2021 Auction Was a Success!! Bidding for the 2021 UTUUC Auction came to a close a little after midnight on July 25, 2021. We brought in a little over $19,000 toward UTUUC's 2021 operating budget!
As fun as it was, the best is yet to come–you get to actually enjoy connecting / re-connecting with fellow congregants in whatever events/items you won! Instructions for those who bid, won and would like to settle their bill can be found here. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us at auction@unitytemple.org
We hope you had fun and are looking forward to more in the weeks and months to come. Many thanks to all the donors and all who bid on the 2021 Auction!
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Through Our Differences, We Are One :: The beloved community includes people of all political parties. Here at Unity Temple we call people to live out our faith but this does not mean we share the same political or partisan perspective. May we remind one another to honor our own life experience in the development of our unique perspective while honoring that of others. The core of being a religious liberal is remaining open to and respectful of a pluralism of theological positions and political stances. As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large while also knowing that endorsements or support of particular candidates cannot be part of our congregational process.
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Planned Giving offers a variety of meaningful ways to support our congregation through charitable gifts and can be made by anybody – young and old, working or retired. These gifts are made today, but they support the future needs of your congregation and Unitarian Universalism. You can obtain more information about planned gifts by contacting the Planned Giving Team at plannedgiving@unitytemple.org
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Support Our Work : As we continue to find new ways to join together in virtual community we have launched additional portals to financially support UTUUC. Details can be found here. If you have questions please reach out to office@unitytemple.org. Thank you!
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