The Only Way Out is Through
Rev. Dawn Cooley
Featuring the Unity Temple Bells Choir
December Theme: Opening to Joy
Live Stream Worship at 10am / Recorded Viewing Available at Noon
Live stream link can be found here.
OFFERING :: Housing Forward
This Sunday’s collection will benefit Housing Forward – transforming the lives of nearly 15,000 people since 1992, by meeting immediate housing and crisis needs, addressing health and income needs, and supporting housing stability. Learn more here.​

You may donate by placing cash or check in the donation box in the front pew on the main floor, sending a check to the Unity Temple office (to 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.
Sunday Worship Service
At this time, we are limiting capacity inside our sanctuary and requiring weekly reservations for adults and children to attend Sunday morning service at 10am in-person.

We will also be streaming live on YouTube at 10am. You can access it here. 

To sign up for in-person worship, click here. 

There will be an Activity for All Ages happening inside Unity House. Children are welcome to participate in the Activity for All Ages that will be offered during the sermon portion of the worship service or they can stay in the sanctuary with their families. 
Community Hour
Following the Sunday morning service, the Virtual Community Hour will be on Zoom following the service. Go to Zoom Meeting ID: 999 2797 5277 Password: 875875 Or access directly here.
Sunday Morning Parking 
In order to allow quick and efficient accessibility movement between our buildings, we kindly ask people to not use the Gale House parking area on Sunday mornings. We welcome congregants, friends and visitors to utilize the free and accessible street parking spaces along Kenilworth, Lake street, North Blvd and South Blvd. Thank you.
Annual Meeting
Registration is now open for our virtual Annual Meeting to be held on Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 12 noon. You can find the link to register here. 
 
IMPORTANT: In order to ensure the integrity of our voting process, and protect the safety of all participants, members must register in advance for the Annual Meeting. The deadline is Saturday, December 11 at 12 noon.
Collection Plate Voting is Open!!
You do not have to wait until the Annual Meeting to vote for the 2022 Collection Plate Recipients! 
Here's the link, vote now!
Town Hall with Rev. David Pyle 
Our Community Town Hall Meeting with Reverend David Pyle was recorded. The Board will be hosting several watch parties (dates to be determined) for those who were unable to attend. Please email bot@unitytemple.org if you would like to attend a watch party or would like more information.
Yes, Virginia, there will be a Christmas Pageant!
Our 3pm Christmas Eve Worship For All Ages will include our beloved pageant (back after a year hiatus) which is a retelling of the Christmas story. The worship service will be open to all and also be live-streamed. Participants in the pageant must be fully vaccinated. 
 
Various speaking roles include: Mary (1), Joseph (1), Wise Ones (3), Innkeepers (4) Shepherds (3 speaking, unlimited non-speaking) and Angels (who all speak together). 

Other non-speaking roles include Friendly Beasts and wranglers of all. We will need adults to help out with costumes, wrangling, and general chaos management. 
 
One rehearsal on Thursday, December 23 at 5pm that will last about an hour. Please contact Rev. Emily Gage egage@unitytemple.org to indicate your interest in participation! 
Return of Unity Temple Choir Concert
Saturday, December 18 and
Sunday, December 19
Both concerts at 4pm

Tickets can be purchased after Sunday services beginning this week. Tickets can also be purchase online here.
Christmas Eve Services
Friday, December 24, 2021
3pm Christmas Pageant & Worship for All Ages
7pm Candlelight Service

Live Stream on YouTube here.
In-Person Worship Reservations:
3pm Pageant here. 
7pm Candlelight here.
Limited Seating
On Sunday, December 5 during our service we joyfully welcomed the following new members; Matt Brown, Cecille Harris, Anita & David Knechel, Johnny Norton, Sara Samelka and Grace Van Note. Gwen Spragg and Nancy & Rick Van Dyke were unable to attend this special service, but were with us in spirit. Photo credit: Stephen Lee.
Our Goals Are Reached When We Work Together! Thank you to everyone who has already made their 2022 pledge. This years’ pledge goal of $1,206,081 is the projected amount needed to meet our expenses. As of December 9, 2021 we have commitments from 266 households totaling $867,307. For more information, click here to see our current budget and our 2022 projected budget.
.....Our goal is to ensure that our beloved community remains resilient, strong, and connected. We know from previous challenges that goals are reached when we work together! Please take this opportunity to submit your 2022 pledge form as soon as you can. Information can be found by:
  • Review the 2022 campaign information you should have received by mail here, then
  • Fill out your pledge form and mail into the office as soon as you can, or
  • Make your commitment online at https://onrealm.org/unitytemple, or
  • Call the office to pledge over the phone at 708-848-6225 ext. 104
MyHAT Small Support Group Meeting– This group is for people living with mental illness and those who care about them. We practice deep sharing and deep listening. Participation is confidential. We are always open to new participants. For December will we meet the third Monday, December 20. Meeting times in 2022 will return to the fourth Monday of every month. On December 20, we will gather at 7pm IN PERSON at Gale House, the house immediately south of Unity Temple on Kenilworth in Oak Park. Masks are required. If you would like to join the in-person meeting through Zoom, please contact myhat@unitytemple.org by Thursday, December 16 so a team member can arrange the Zoom and send the links to you. If you have questions, contact myhat@unitytemple.org.
Meet & Greet Resumes in January Let's get to know each other! Sunday, January 9, you are invited to a meet and greet social hour. New and established congregants alike are invited to attend. We will meet from 1-2pm in Unity House located at Unity Temple. Walk-ins are welcome, though registration is appreciated. Masks are required. Contact tlewis@unitytemple.org to register.
The Congregational Health and Reconciliation Team, or the CHART Team exists to ensure our congregation maintains a safe and secure atmosphere free of disruptive and threatening behaviors that could harm others’ emotional or physical wellbeing. This team, consisting of Rev. Dawn Cooley, Rev. Emily Gage, Aisha Ellis (Board), Jennifer Evans (mental health professional), and Jay Petersen (Pastoral Associate), meets quarterly,  assessing the wellbeing of our collective community and addressing specific challenges, working toward positive results for our members and friends. To contact this team, email chart@unitytemple.org. 
Rainbow Connection Do you consider yourself part of the queer UTUUC community? If so, please join us Thursday, December 16, from 7–8:30pm. **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 "Joy & Year-End Reflection". 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.
Meet the Ministers 
Once a month following services, one of our ministers will be available for social time after service and they hope you are able to attend. Curious about what called them to ministry? Wondering how they spend their free time and more? Come find out! They want to learn more about you too. Masks are required. Contact tlewis@unitytemple.org to register.
 
Winter Schedule
Sunday, January 9
Sunday, February 13
Sunday, March 13
Pathway to Membership 
Considering becoming a member? Come share your spiritual/religious history, learn about ours, discover how our congregation works today, and how we can be part of each other’s futures. We hope you are able to attend! We will meet at the Unity Temple Community Center located at 1019 South Blvd. Masks are required and space is limited. Contact tlewis@unitytemple.org to register. 
 
Winter Schedule
(Choose one of our two-part series)
Sunday’s, January 16 & 17 from 1-3pm
Sunday’s, February 6 & 13 from 1-3pm
Sunday’s March 13 & 20 from 1-3pm
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 Housing Forward – transforming the lives of nearly 15,000 people since 1992, by meeting immediate housing and crisis needs, addressing health and income needs, and supporting housing stability. Learn more here.​
COMPASS: Navigating the Paths to Liberation Together Join UU’s around the country for a virtual event that includes workshops, networking, worship & more! With so much uncertainty in the world, sometimes it can be hard to find one’s bearings. Join us to find our collective “compass” as we explore interdependence as a path to wholeness. This event is for: lay leaders, religious professionals, adults, youth, members of congregations, and anyone else who is interested in diving into an exploration of interdependence in UU theology and practice. Event takes place on December 11-12, 12pm-3:30pm CST each day; breaks included. Register here! Contact: FaithinAction@unitytemple.org
Introducing the 8th Principle Team To date 124 UU congregations have adopted the 8th Principle, which calls for us to “accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.” Unity Temple has recently formed an 8th Principle Team, whose mission is to provide information and reflective experiences so that people understand what the 8th Principle is all about. We invite you to join the Team by emailing us at 8thPrinciple@unitytemple.org. You can find additional information about the 8th Principle here. Watch for much more information in the months ahead!
Plastic Recycling Update! 
We’ve collected over 500 pounds of stretchy plastic since June! Thanks to all who have participated! Since we have reached our goals, we are closing the plastic bag recycling at Gale House. The last day will be Sunday December 12. After Sunday, please drop off your recycling at the following stores as their plastic goes to Trex to be made into decking, benches and fences: Food 4 Less, Fresh Thyme, Home Depot, Jewel-Osco, Kohl’s, Mariano’s and Meijer. The same rules apply for stretchy plastic only. No food bags of any kind, no hard plastic and no crunchy plastic.
 
We hope this project has helped you think about plastic use while shopping and dining. Please continue to bring your own bags, consider ordering your paper products in plastic free containers and buy in bulk when possible.
 
There is a congregation in Oak Park that is still collecting plastic for a bench. Please contact ecojustice@unitytemple.org for their location and for any other recycling questions. Thank you for your support!
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.
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
RE in the Park Join us Sunday, December 12 at 3pm for some RE family time in the park. We will meet at at Longfellow Park. This a time for families to play and connect with fellow RE families! We hope to see you there. Please remember to wear your mask and be ready to see some friends in-person. Please reach out to Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org with any questions.
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.
UTRF Chamber Holiday Music Concert December 17 at 7pm
Come Ring in the holidays with an IN PERSON concert in the Unity Temple Sanctuary by Cellissimo, the senior performing cello ensemble of the joint programs of the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School. Tickets range from $10 – $20 based on seating assignment. For information on Member, Student and Parent discounts and concert information go here or contact Heidi Ruehle 708.260.6661 or heidi@utrf.org.
The Unity Temple E-Team has completed a comprehensive Covid-19 Phased Re-Opening Guidelines. This document is intended to serve as a guide for Congregational events going forward. The guidelines will be implemented based on the Cook County Risk Metrics determined by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The Unity Temple E-Team has also completed version 3.0 of the congregations Building Use Policy and COVID Protocols for Unity Temple, Gale House and the Community Center for in-person events which can be found here. The COVID Risk category will be updated weekly and can be found on our homepage in the slider bar for easy access. Please reach out if you have any comments or questions eteam@unitytemple.org.
Office Closed: Between Christmas and New Years Day, the staff have been granted time off. (There will not be an eBeacon on December 31. However, Sunday worship will continue as scheduled). Office hours will resume again the week of January 3. Thank you for your understanding and we're wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!
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!