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.

NOTE: Our offices will be closed between from December 26 through December 30, 2022.

We will re-open on January 2, 2023.

Waiting / Rev. Dawn Cooley

Unity Temple Bell Choir Performing

December Theme: Wonder

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

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday’s chalice table flowers will be given by the Flower Committee in gratitude for all those who help add beauty to the sanctuary by donating flowers.

OFFERING : Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit Beyond Hunger (formerly named the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry) – providing nutritious food, classes, health screenings, and much more to residents of 13 zip codes. Learn more here.



You may donate by placing cash or check in one of the circulating baskets during the service, sending a check to the Unity Temple office (875 Lake St., Oak Park, 60301) with (name of organization) on the memo line, by texting 73256 with the message UTUUC $____ (dollar sign followed by your donation amount) and select “Offering,” by using the camera on your phone to scan the QR code on the screen during the Offertory or you can give at the UTUUC website. Whatever modality you choose, may what you give bring you joy.

Virtual Annual Meeting If you are a member in good standing and would like to attend our Annual Meeting, you must register, and you still have time! Use this link to register by Saturday, December 10, at 12pm.

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 for Community Hour for refreshments and fellowship in Unity House and on the patios as weather permits.

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.

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!

Back By Popular Demand: The Christmas Eve Pageant! Our 3pm Christmas Eve Worship For All Ages will include our beloved pageant (back after a two year hiatus) which is a retelling of the Christmas story. The worship service will be open to all and also be live-streamed. 

There are various speaking roles and non-speaking roles included in the pageant. There will be a variety of Friendly Beasts, Angels and wranglers of all.

Our rehearsal and soup potluck supper will be on Friday, December 23 from 5-7pm inside Unity Temple. Please contact Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org to indicate your interest in participation! 

New Year's Eve Sangha Join our annual NYE sangha which will be held on Saturday, December 31 from 5–7pm. Still plenty of time to attend other parties! Both in person at Unity House in Unity Temple, 875 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301 and on Zoom. Zoom room opens at 5pm. We start at 5:20pm and end the program at 7pm. Join Terry as he shares the dharma talk "Road Map To Living a Skillful and Flourishing Life". Please join us for this wonderful way to start the NewYear! Contact 

mindful@unitytemple.org.

Blue Christmas Day Service 10am Sunday, December 25



A “Blue Christmas” service provides a quiet and contemplative worship service as an alternative to the more traditional gatherings. This is in honor of those who are experiencing grief and struggling with loss and those for whom Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas Eve Services

Saturday, December 24

3pm Christmas Pageant and

Worship for All Ages

6pm Choir & Candlelight Service

Services will be both in-person and live streamed. 

Many thanks to the 10 members of our Restorative Justice team, who were among the 25 UU's across the state, and more than 400 people in Springfield advocating for justice, equity and compassion by protecting Pretrial Fairness. 

Peace Vigil & Service of Remembrance

Join us Wednesday, December 14, 6-7pm for a Peace Vigil and Service of Remembrance: 10 Years since Sandy Hook, hosted at Unity Temple. You can also join us via livestream on the Unity Temple YouTube channel. This vigil is being planned by the UTUUC Gun Violence Prevention group, in partnership with Moms Demand Action and other local organizations. Please share this flyer with your friends and join us in the sanctuary or via livestream. Questions? Contact: gunviolenceprevention@unitytemple.org.



Meals Needed 

Meals are needed for Housing Forward's Interim Housing program. Learn more here and sign-up to provide an individually-wrapped meal. Thank you for your generous support! Questions?

housingforward@unitytemple.org.

Pretrial Fairness Act Protected Many thanks to all who helped organize, write letters, make calls, and advocate in Springfield with our partners the past few years to support Pretrial Fairness! Thank you! To get involved with upcoming actions contact restorativejustice@unitytemple.org.

Join UU the Vote on Friday, December 16, 3– 4:30pm CST to celebrate our accomplishments in this election cycle, share uplifting stories, and bid farewell to our UU the Vote Campaign Manager, JaZahn Hicks. Thanks to all who helped with letter and postcard writing, text and phone banking! Register here.

Faith in Action Newsletter

To learn more about living our mission and values through our Faith in Action Network, sign-up for our monthly newsletter here and watch our impact statement here. Questions? 

Contact Rev. Colleen, Assistant Minister for Faith in Action cvahey@unitytemple.org.

A Celebration of Life for Rachel Williams, who passed away on November 3, 2022 will be held at Unity Temple on Saturday, December 10, at 1pm. The service will be live streamed and the link can be found here.

Winter Pathway to Membership Schedule

Our membership classes will resume in January. Participants learn about the congregation’s history and how we work today. It is a wonderful way to get to know a small group of people and decide how you can become part of our collective future. Groups meet at our community center located at 1019 South Blvd on Sundays from 1:30-3:30pm. Childcare is available upon request. In addition, on-line accommodations can be made. The winter schedule is January 15 & 22, February 12 & 19, and March 12 & 19. To register contact tlewis@unitytemple.org. 

Men's Retreat 2023

Mark your calendars for the weekend of January 27th–29th, 2023 at the Cabrini Center. Our theme this year will be "Turning Points of Our Lives". Contact mensretreat@unitytemple.org.

Rainbow Connection Meeting Do you consider yourself part of the queer UTUUC community? If so, please join us on the evening of Thursday, December 15, 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 taken from the Soul Connections 

packet: "Change". 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.

Congregational Life Table Reservation As the weather changes and we move our Community Hour back indoors, tables may now be requested to promote congregational happenings. 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 tlewis@unitytemple.org.

Are you looking for more ways to meet people in the congregation? Each month we hold 2 social hours and hope you can attend! Please join us at Unity Temple from 1-2 pm on the first Sunday of every month and/or at the Unity Temple Community Center located at 1019 South Blvd on the third Thursday of every month from 6:30-7:30pm. Light refreshments will be provided. Register in advance here. Walk-ins are also welcome!

Movies with Meaning offers the congregation an example of each month’s ministry theme through the familiar, friendly and popular medium of cinema sharing the experience in community. For our December theme Wonder, Movies with Meaning is showing In & Of Itself a movie which explores aspects of identity, isolation, and our own desperate drive to figure out who we are as individuals. Click here to view the official movie trailer. Join us Friday night, December 16, gathering at 6:30pm with movie at 7 at the Unity Temple Community Center, 1019 South Boulevard. All are welcome at this gratis event! For more information, contact adultre@unitytemple.org.

The Mindful Reflection 

community meets every TUESDAY evening virtually and in person in Unity House at Unity Temple. Meeting opens at 6:45pm for camaraderie, the program starts promptly at 7:20pm. Vaccinations are encouraged, masks are mandatory. 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.

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

Food & Fellowship Monthly "Brown-Bag Lunch with the Minister(s)" meets on the third Thursday of the month 11:30am–12:30pm. These new opportunities to connect will be in person at 1019 South Blvd in the odd months and will switch to virtual meetings in the even months via Zoom. Next one is scheduled for Thursday, December 15 via Zoom!

Sermon Writing Seminar (facilitated by Jay Cohen) Unity Temple will be offering more lay-led Sunday services in 2023 and we are looking for people who are interested in participating. Shared Pulpit is a UU curriculum that prepares lay people in all aspects of creating worship, with an emphasis on writing effective sermons. This seminar will be facilitated by Jay Cohen, one of our worship associates and a previous participant of Shared Pulpit. The seminar is limited to 6 participants and we will offer gentle feedback to each other as writings are shared. There are 8 sessions that will meet every other Monday evening from January 9 to April 10. You can see the seminar description and full calendar of sessions here. If you are interested in participating, you can find the registration form here.

“Tis the Season” to Donate! The 2023 UTUU Auction is still looking for donations. If you are interested in donating but want some ideas, here you go!

• Guitar & Piano Lessons – we have a number of young aspiring musicians who want to learn how to play guitar or piano or other instruments. You may spark the love of music in a budding artist!
• Provide music for a dinner party, friends get together, etc. This is gift that many will enjoy!
• Host a dinner party or game night. Extravagant or simple, these donations are aways fun and garner a lot of bidding where all ages can enjoy!
• Share your love of nature. Host a group to go on a hike in the forest preserve, birdwatching, identifying plants, and more while sharing the love of the outdoors.

Need more ideas? Just talk to one of the Auction Team at coffee hour to discover your special gift to the church & the church family. This is a great way to support the church with your talents while creating opportunities for diverse groups to get together & form a stronger community.

Auction bidding begins February 16, 2023. We hope to have something for everyone! Stay tune for more information & updates! Scan this QR code to sign up or see one of our auction team members during coffee hour!

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