COVID Protocol: Our Covid-19 protocols have been adjusted, we are now in Green. Masking is recommended. Please visit our website here for more details.

Create Your Own Path / Rev. Emily Gage

High School Bridging

May Theme: Path of Creativity

Live Stream Worship at 10am / Recorded Viewing Available at Noon

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday’s chalice table flowers are given by the Van Note family in honor of Joan Van Note. She was a long time member of UTUUC, active in the choir, a docent for UTRF,

and founded Purple Sages. This year is the 100th anniversary of her birth on

March 16, 1923.  

OFFERING : 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 – serving young moms and their children experiencing poverty and homelessness. New Moms provides housing, job training, parenting education, doula support and much more – providing comprehensive support services to strengthen families and communities in Chicago and the Near West suburbs. Learn more here. May what you give bring you joy. 



You may donate by placing cash or check in one of the circulating baskets during the service OR:

• by sending a check to the Unity Temple office (875 Lake St., Oak Park, 60301) with org name on memo line, 
• by texting 73256 with the message UTUUC and select “Offering,” 
• by using the camera on your phone to scan the QR code on the screen during the Offertory. 
• You can also give at the UTUUC website. 

Sunday Worship Service

In-person and online options for worship are now offered. COVID Protocol: Our Covid-19 protocols have been adjusted, we are now in Green. Please visit our website here for more details.You can access the live stream on YouTube at 10am here.

Community Hour 

Following the Sunday morning service join us at Community Hour for refreshments and fellowship in Unity House.

Call for Cookies 

Our cookie supply is running low. Donations are now being gratefully accepted. If you would like to donate a package or two of cookies, please drop them off in the kitchen on Sunday mornings. Note: NO NUTS. Also, gluten free cookies are much appreciated too. Thank you!

Reflecting with the Board Monday, May 15 at 7pm

The Board of Trustees wants to stay connected with you. We are offering an opportunity to share what we have been doing, to listen to your questions and concerns, and to invite you to join us as we continue to reflect on our Unity Temple community. The Zoom link can be found here. Meeting ID: 922 5527 0787 / Passcode: 196921

Baby and Child Dedication on June 4th! In Unitarian Universalism, we celebrate babies and young children in a shared blessing and dedication ceremony during a Sunday morning worship service. We have not been able to do this since December of 2019, so it will be an especially happy occasion! If you are a member of Unity Temple, and wish to have your child(ren) dedicated on Sunday, June 4 (or have questions about this), please reach out to Rev. Emily Gage egage@unitytemple.org by May 22. 

Food & Fellowship 

Monthly "Brown-Bag Lunch with the Minister(s)" will take place on May 18, the third Thursday of the month from 11:30am - 12:30pm. These new opportunities to connect will be in person at 1019 South Blvd. This will be the Rev. Dawn's last lunch session, you don't want to miss it! AND, don't forget to bring your lunch!

Save the Date for Celebration Sunday, May 21! Please bring a flower or two to share for our annual flower communion. Volunteers will be recognized for their fine work and dedication in many areas of congregational life and we will welcome new members! So much to celebrate!

Brave Conversations Did you know? Chicago has the third largest urban population of Native Peoples in the country? Interested in learning about the history of those who lived in this region? What is the meaning of this history for us today? After a study led by their Ministry of Missions, The First Congregational Church of LaGrange voted to formally acknowledge that their church “sits on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral homelands of Native peoples. “ 

Please join in this month’s virtual Brave Conversation, hosted by members of UTUUC’s Anti-Oppression Anti-Racism Committee, and the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale Racial Equity Team (UCH is currently displaying the “First People of Illinois” exhibit on loan from the First Congregational Church of LaGrange.)

Date/Time: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 7pm—8:30pm 

Video: The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

Zoom link can be found here. Meeting ID: 981 4074 2710 / Passcode: 589921

Learn more here.

Gale House Garden Support Are you interested in getting your hands in some soil and supporting our community? We invite you to sign up to help support the Gale House Gardens. The gardens will need to be weeded, watered, harvested and maintained throughout the summer months. If you are interested in providing care for the gardens, please schedule yourself here for a week that works best for you and your family. If you have questions or ideas to share about the gardens, send an email to Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org.

Our Immigration Justice team asks for your help to support people seeking asylum. Join us to support a new house of hospitality, Amate House, in Little Village for our new neighbors who are seeking asylum and need a temporary place to live. Shop for bedding, towels, and other urgently needed items here.

Support Pen Pal Recently Released from Prison

One of our prison pen pals, Matt, was released in February in Peoria after serving 5 years of a 24-year sentence for a crime he did not commit. He finally won his appeal—but came out of prison with a one-ride bus ticket, and more than $1400 owed in court fees. His pen pal, Unity Temple member, Barbara Moline, has been providing support. Matt and his new girlfriend, Crystal, (also recently released from prison) are in the process of getting jobs, and moving into rental housing. We have set-up a registry of needed items. To donate, please visit the registry here. Questions? Contact: restorativejustice@unitytemple.org.

LGBTQ+, Gender & Reproductive Justice Thanks to the 25 people who attended our April meeting with OPALGA+ and members from neighboring congregations! Join our next meeting on Monday, May 22, 7pm (in-person at the Unity Temple Community Center, 1019 South Blvd., Oak Park, or via Zoom) for a Rapid Response Training, including communications, best practices for attending rallies and marches, and introduction to safety marshal basics. Betty Alzamora will lead this training. Register for the training here. Register for the Zoom link here.  Questions? Contact: LGBTQGenderReproductive@unitytemple.org.

Faith in Action Newsletter To learn more about living our mission through our Faith in Action Network, check out the latest newsletter here. You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter here. Questions? Contact Rev. Colleen, Assistant Minister for Faith in Action FaithinAction@unitytemple.org.

UUANI Action of the Week Each week our Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of IL (UUANI) offers a call to action. Sign-up to receive these simple and impactful actions direct to your in-box here.

UTUUC Cares For those of us who are facing life challenges, help is available. The Caring Committee arranges for meals and other practical assistance for those in need of help due to illness and other life limitations. They can be reached at caring@unitytemple.org.  And if you would like a compassionate ear when facing troubling circumstances, trained, commissioned members of the Spiritual Care Team are available to meet with you. When shadows fall on the path of life, you need not walk alone. The team can be reached at spiritualcare@unitytemple.org.

Do you consider yourself part of the queer UTUUC community? If so, please join us on the evening of Thursday, May 18, from 7 to 8:30pm. It is our monthly Rainbow 

Connections meeting. (Allies are welcome, on occasion, by invitation only.) This month's topic is "Sliding Doors". We will be meeting in person at 1019 South Blvd, Oak Park as well as on Zoom. Hope to see you soon! Zoom link can be found here.

Heart-Centered Communication Workshop Have you ever wished you could reach a deeper level of authenticity in conversations with people? Have you wanted a chance to connect more meaningfully with others in the congregation but haven't been able to join a regularly scheduled group? Using the framework of Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication, we will be practicing heart-centered dialogues that nurture authentic showing up for ourselves and each other. Emma Farrell will lead the first of a series of Workshops offered by the Spiritual Care Team. The workshop will take place after service in Gale House from 12pm – 1:30pm on May 28. For questions or to RSVP (recommended, but not required), please email spiritualcare@unitytemple.org. 

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. 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

Tuesday Evening Mindful Reflection Community 

meets virtually and in person in Unity House at Unity Temple. Meeting opens at 7pm EST for camaraderie, the program starts promptly at 7:20pm. Vaccinations are encouraged, masks are optional. 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.

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Rev. Roger Bertschausen as our next Senior Minister, starting in early August. His ministry with us will be developmental - meaning he will be here for a limited duration (typically four to seven years). Feel free to find Matt Bruce, Aimee Conrad, Ed McDevitt or Sandy Meyer at coffee hour, or email us at dmsearch@unitytemple.org with questions. You can learn more about Rev. Roger here.

UTUUC Office Hours The office/community center located at 1019 South Blvd is open Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm. If you are looking for access to the office outside of these hours, reach out to staff associated with your needs to make arrangements. For Administration, contact Brian Franklin at bfranklin@unitytemple.org, Director of Religious Education and Membership contact Val Ridenour at vridenour@unitytemple.org, and Music Ministry, contact Marty Swisher at mswisher@unitytemple.org. 

Chalice Table Reservations We welcome floral arrangements or other decorations such as objects from nature or spiritual symbols to be included on our Chalice Table during worship on Sunday mornings. Please refrain from political/campaign related objects as they will be removed. To reserve a date, please fill out this form. Thank you for contributing to our worship experience. For assistance contact flowers@unitytemple.org.

Guidelines for submissions to the eBeacon newsletter can be found here.

Calendar Reservations Do you need to reserve space in one of our three buildings for a meeting, activity or event? You may make a reservation request by clicking here.

Congregational Life Table Reservation Would you like to reserve a table to promote congregational happenings during Community Hour in Unity House? Hosting a table is a great way to make sure congregants know how to participate in events, activities, and service opportunities. To reserve space contact 

vridenour@unitytemple.org.

We Celebrate Our Differences :: The beloved community includes people with diverse life experiences. Here at Unity Temple we call people to live out the values of our faith: interdependence, pluralism, justice, equity, generosity and transformation. 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