A Promise to Fulfill
Rev. Alan Taylor
June Theme: Play
Live Stream Worship at 10am / Recorded Viewing Available at Noon
Live stream link can be found here.
OFFERTORY :: Oak Park Our Whole Lives
Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit Oak Park Our Whole Lives – providing holistic, comprehensive sexuality education to young people in the Oak Park area, grades K-8. The Oak Park OWL classes provide essential support to young people’s development and their sense of
self-worth. 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 OPOWL 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!
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 Password: 875875 Or access directly here.
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.

Reflecting with the Board Time Change!
The Board of Trustees wants to stay connected with you. We are again offering two opportunities to share what we have been doing, to listen to your questions and concerns, and to invite you to join with us as we continue to reflect on our current Unity Temple community. The first session is this Sunday, June 13 at 2:30pm and then again on Monday, June 14 at 7pm.
Please join us. Zoom link for both sessions can be found here.
Connect | Reconnect :: 2021 UT Auction Coming!!! Connect/Reconnect is our theme. We want to create 100 dinners, 25 events and 12 Get-a-Ways as part of our 2021 Auction. Bidding will take place between July 11–July 25. The Auction Committee needs donors for these events. Get your dinner, event, or get-a-way ideas ready as a link to submit your donations will be sent next week. Donation deadline is June 30. You can reach out to auction@unitytemple.org with questions, suggestions and more.

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce
Reverend Dawn S. Cooley will be joining UTUUC as our Interim Minister on August 1, 2021. We expect Rev. Cooley to be with us for two years. Learn more about Rev. Cooley here.

Welcome, Rev. Dawn Cooley!!
The Community Transformation Team (CTT) is currently working on a comprehensive phased opening policy taking into account the guidelines and rules presented by the Center for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Village of Oak Park. Here is where we are now. 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. Website link can be found here. Questions and comments can be directed to: ctt@unitytemple.org

Fifteen members from Unity Temple and Third Unitarian showed up for the climate justice and equity action in Scoville Park this week. As UU's we value the interdependent web of all life – so we are calling on state legislators, including IL Senate President Don Harmon to pass a comprehensive clean energy bill, and to make sure the Prairie State coal plant – the largest climate polluter in IL and the 7th largest in the country – is shut down before it’s too late for our children and their children. Contact ecojustice@unitytemple.org. 

Unity Temple Faith In Action Network
Spiritually Grounded / Deeply Relational / Strategically Effective

Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit Oak Park Our Whole Lives – providing holistic, comprehensive sexuality education to young people in the Oak Park area, grades K-8. The Oak Park OWL classes provide essential support to young people’s development and their sense of self-worth. Learn more here.  
UUPMI Join the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois in reading Mariame Kaba's newest book We Do This 'Til We Free Us. We will meet two Sunday afternoons per month (next meeting June 20) for community-building, facilitated reflection, and actions. We will work our way through the book, two chapters at a time, and center inside voices with participating prison pen pals. 

Register here for Zoom links. Due to the extended nature of this praxis, we understand that committing to all sessions may not be accessible. We do hope to build relationships with this learning group, so please join us as often as you're able. Questions? Contact: uupmi.info@gmail.com

UU Prison Ministry Pen Pals We encourage you to consider being a pen pal with someone living in prison. There are 3 steps to help you prepare. Visit the UU Prison Ministry of IL website to watch the 40-minute introductory video; read the resources provided; and then submit the request to be matched with a pen pal. Someone from UUPMI will follow-up with you via phone to check-in and confirm your match. To learn much more about how pen pals are supported, please read the great quarterly pen pal newsletter here. Questions? Contact penpals@unitytemple.org
Did you know that helium is a vanishing natural resource? Used for MRIs, cleaning medical instruments and running high tech data centers, helium should not be used in balloons. When it’s gone, it’s gone. In fact, it’s time to rethink decorating with balloons at all. Other options include paper lanterns, pinwheels, cloth banners and the like. They are reusable, in many cases recyclable, and won’t clog our landfills. Thanks for your creativity!
 
If you have a green tip you’d like to share, contact ecojustice@unitytemple.org

Juneteenth Film & Discussion Join CRS and the San Antonio Black International Film Festival in a virtual screening and panel discussion of Crawford:The Man the South Forgot on Thursday, June 17, 7-9pm OR Saturday, June 19, 12pm-3pm. Learn more and register here. 
Food Rescue Team Needs Help The Second Friday Trader Joe's food rescue team is looking for a fourth volunteer. Help your team bring rescued food from Trader Joes to the Beyond Hunger Food Pantry, located at First United Church, on the second (and occasional fifth) Friday of each month at 10 AM. Requires vehicle & ability to lift boxes. To volunteer or for more info, contact Barbara Moline at Foodrescue@unitytemple.org
Treaty People Gathering Last weekend, near the headwaters of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota, more than 2,000 people joined the Treaty People Gathering to #StopLine3, the disastrous Enbridge oil pipeline that is being built through Anishinaabe treaty lands. The gathering was powerful, creative, and joyful-honoring the leadership of Anishinaabe Water Protectors, and bringing together supporters in solidarity from around the globe.
 
Nearly 200 Unitarian Universalists joined the Treaty People Faith Delegation, participating in shared prayer, training, and direct action. Several UUs were among those who put their bodies on the line and were among the 300 Water Protectors who were arrested in the course of the actions.
 
Here’s how to take action today:
  1. Make your donation to the Treaty People Gathering fund, which will be used to pay off the fines incurred by arrestees as a result of the #StopLine3 direct actions.
  2. Fill out this form to help us track Unitarian Universalist contributions.
  3. Learn more about the movement to stop Line 3 and calls to action here.
Explore the Big Unitarian Universalist world at home! General Assembly, the annual continental gathering of Unitarian Universalists, will be taking place entirely online this year from June 23-27. It's a great way to explore and participate in the big UU world without leaving the comfort of your own home. Registration is $200 for an incredible number of events. For more details check out uua.org/ga and watch this video from the Unitarian Universalist Association president, the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. Our congregation will be participating with congregations around the country in shared Sunday morning worship on June 27. (Open to all, not just General Assembly registrants.) Thursday evening (June 24th at 6pm.) Service of the Living Tradition is also available for all to stream. If you have any questions about GA, please contact Rev. Emily Gage egage@unitytemple.org. 
Farewell Events for Rev. Taylor Connect with our building, reflect on your journey, and wish Rev. Alan Taylor well as he departs UTUUC. This time will be used to reconnect with Unity Temple along with a small group of people, reflect on the meaning of participation and have a meaningful goodbye with Rev. Taylor. NOTE: Only people who have signed up using this link will be admitted. Please do not share this invitation with outside parties. Sign up to participate here.

Additional planned farewell events will continue thru the end of June. These allow for more opportunities to connect with Rev. Taylor and your fellow congregants in person. Learn more here.
Farewell Volunteers Needed We are hosting a final farewell event for Rev. Alan Taylor on Sunday, June 27 and need event volunteer support from 8-Noon. To learn more about how you can help, contact tlewis@unitytemple.org.
Sharing, Mondays at Noon is Coming to a Close Get your fix now! This Monday at Noon will be the last week for this program. We hope you can join us! Click here to join the call. Join Zoom Meeting https://uuma.zoom.us/j/98514736011 Meeting ID: 985 1473 601
Slide Rules to Cell Phones How are you mentally navigating life changes? A presentation on NASA inventions; has it improved or complicated our lives? Please join this virtual Men's Retreat Event on Friday, June 11 at 7pm. Contact mensretreat@unitytemple.org with questions.
Do You Consider Yourself Part of the Queer UTUUC Community? If so, please join us on the evening of Wednesday, June 16, from 7 to 8:30pm. It is our monthly Rainbow Connections meeting. (Allies are welcome, on occasion, by invitation only.) This month's virtual meeting topic is "Music and the Passage of Time". 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 on Wednesday! Find the Zoom link here.
Don't Forget to Take the Communications Survey! The survey is an opportunity to share your thoughts on our current communications efforts in a brief, 5-minute survey. Your participation is crucial in helping the Communications Committee determine what is working and what could use some improvement when it comes to emails, social media, the new Unity Temple website and other ways we share news and updates. The survey will close on June 15. Take the survey.
Gale House Garden Flowers! 
Let’s work together to fill and beautify the Gale House Gardens this season! We invite you to bring some flowers to plant in the Gale House Gardens. Please plant only flowers of the annual variety (impatiens, petunias, marigolds, begonias, etc.).If you have questions, or would like to support the Gale House Gardens in another way, email Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org. 
Knitwits Calling all knitters to knit mittens for Hepzibah, baby blankets for the Linus project or any knitting project that spreads goodwill and warmth. We can choose a group focus or each participant can choose their own while spending a little virtual time together. Let's gather on zoom the first and third Thursday mornings 10am to 11:15am. Looking forward to sharing ideas Contact Barbara Boockmeier at knitters@unitytemple.org for the zoom link.
Thursday Midweek Centering In a time of chaos and anxiety, take a pause in your week to center and ground yourself. At 3pm each Thursday, Rev. Alan and our ministerial intern, mandi huizenga will lead a reflection and a deep listening practice so that we may companion each other through this challenging time. Join us on Zoom here. Or email at ataylor@unitytemple.org or 

Invitation To Get Involved
We are so glad you have found us and invite you to begin a process of getting to know one another with hopes that you will be inspired to become part of our vibrant community. Contact tlewis@unitytemple.org for Zoom access to the following sessions. View video invitation here.

Unity Temple Summer RE Goes Virtual With the Theme of "Grow Together" Beginning Sunday, June 13th we will 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 will offer 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
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.
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
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


Unity Temple Choir Will Break for the Summer Beginning June 16, the choir will break for the summer. Contact music director, Marty Swisher to learn more. mswisher@unitytemple.org
Our shared mission is a powerful gift, especially during these times of uncertainty and unrest. As we breathe life into it, our mission takes on the shape and color of a world we only dared to dream about five years ago.
It inspires us to embrace values of connection, transformation, justice and acceptance that underpin our response to the urgent needs of humanity and the earth.
It energizes us to transform ourselves, our congregation and our world by welcoming all, inspiring compassion, nurturing wonder and serving community.
It comforts us to know we are joined together in spirit on this journey toward a future we promised to build.
A future in which we…create a culture of radical hospitality and relationships with people across boundaries of race, class and other identities that divide us…cultivate caring communities, bear witness to love and pain and respond, individually and collectively, with acts of compassion…nurture and celebrate a sense of wonder and create opportunities for spiritual deepening, questioning and growth…act in partnership for justice and live our faith in service.
 
Even virtually - especially virtually - our shared mission brings and keeps us together. It is the greater whole.
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. 
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

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!