COVID Protocol: As we continue to consider the most vulnerable among us, we will require proof of vaccinations in addition to wearing a mask in our facilities. We realize this could be frustrating as mitigations guidelines are changing in the wider community and appreciate adherence to the current Unity Temple adopted measures. In addition, fulfilling this requirement will allow us to do things like begin singing, and eventually resume Community Hour activities following service in Unity House. May our covenantal community continue to hold one another with respect and care. 
Hope with Our Hands
Scott Metzger, Liz Chereskin, Jen Packheiser, Terry Kinsey and
Rev. Colleen Vahey, UTUUC Assistant Minister for Faith in Action
The co-leaders of our Eco-Justice team will share reflections about what gives them hope in these times, with inspiring music by our Unity Temple Choir. To learn more about our Faith in Action Network check out the latest newsletter here. Subscribe to our monthly Faith in Action newsletter here.
April Theme: Awakening
Live Stream Worship at 10am / Recorded Viewing Available at Noon
Live stream link can be found here.
OFFERING : Faith in Place
Unity Temple Gives. Each week, we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit Faith in Place– inspiring people of diverse faiths to care for the Earth through education, connection and advocacy. To learn more about our work for environmental justice contact: ecojustice@unitytemple.org. 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.
Return to In-Person Religious Education
This Sunday, April 3rd @ 10am! We are pleased to announce the return to in-person religious education for all of our young people beginning Sunday, April 3rd. Preschoolers will be in their classroom for the whole service. Children in Kindergarten-5th grades will begin service with their families and go to RE classes after the story for all ages portion of the service. Class leaders will meet their classes in Unity House and walk to their classrooms together. Grades 6th through Youth Group will meet at the Community Center at 1019 South Blvd beginning at 10am and ending at 11am. For those families who would like to continue to participating in religious education via zoom, there will be a weekly activity for all ages via zoom from 9-9:30. Please email Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org or Rev. Emily Gage egage@unitytemple.org with any questions. 
Sunday Worship Service
In-person and online options for worship are now offered. Proof of COVID vaccinations for those who are eligible will be required to attend in-person. (This includes everyone age 5 or older. Vaccines for those younger than 5 are not yet available.) In addition, all those 2 and older must wear a mask covering their nose and mouth. More details can be found on our website here. You can access the live stream on YouTube at 10am here. 
Community Hour is Back!
That's right, there will be coffee and cookies, information tables, and of course time for wonderful conversations in Unity House following service. We look forward to seeing you there! 
UTUUC Name Tags are Back! The name tag board will be back in action this Sunday and will be relocated to Unity House for better lighting and easier access. If you need a new name tag, please add your name to the list at the Welcome Table located in the foyer. We will happily make you a new one! 
Would you like to get to know more people in our congregation? Come to our monthly meet and greet on Sunday, April 3 from 1–2pm in Unity House located across from the sanctuary at Unity Temple. New and established congregants alike are invited to attend. Registration is helpful, though drop-ins are welcome. Contact tlewis@unitytemple.org to register in advance.
Spring is full of new growth and opportunity at UTUUC. Stop by the information tables during Community Hour to talk with someone about how you can be part of all sorts of new volunteer roles that will reconnect you with old friends and introduce you to new ones while strengthening our beloved community. See below for opportunities and contact volunteer@unitytemple.org for more information.
Sign up to volunteer here for the Upcoming Celebration of Life services:

Alice Muciek
Sunday, April 24 at 3pm
 
Mona McNeese
Saturday, May 7 at 10am
Would you like to see our congregation develop a financially secure future? Do you have ideas on how to cultivate support and appreciation for UTUUC through stewardship and generosity? 

UTUUC’s Board of Trustees are seeking volunteers to form a five-member Stewardship Committee, which will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all fundraising activities, resource development, and gift cultivation to further our congregation's mission. Members with experience working on the Annual Auction, Fund Drive and Planned Giving teams are especially welcome. Transform your vision for UTUUC into a reality—VOLUNTEER! For more information, contact the members of the Nominating Committee (Alec Brownlow, Aisha Ellis, Amanda Kaleta-Kott, Jane Wood, Erik Wise) at nominations@unitytemple.org.
Your 2022 Unity Temple Board of Trustees! Still smiling after a board retreat on financials, covenant, mission and goals. 
What Sort of Ministry?April 16, 2022 from 10am till Noon
Please plan to be with us on April 16 (in person is best, but we’ll live-stream it also) in the sanctuary at Unity Temple. We will join in a very important discussion with our Lead for the MidAmerica Region, Rev. David Pyle. Rev. Pyle will outline the paths we could follow at the end of Rev. Dawn’s interim ministry, including bringing on a settled minister or a developmental minister. We seek engaged discussion about our alternatives so would like to have as many members attend as possible. Questions: board@unitytemple.org.

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

This Sunday’s collection will benefit Faith in Place– inspiring people of diverse faiths to care for the Earth through education, connection and advocacy. To learn more about our work for environmental justice contact: 

Our partners at Faith in Place ask us to complete
3 urgent actions!
Illinois’ nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) passed in 2021 and included provisions to transition to 100% renewable energy and create an equitable workforce to transition communities into the new green economy. Now, this historic law is under attack, and we need your help! Some people want to allow fossil fuels to continue to operate beyond their targeted closure dates. Tell your legislators to oppose SB1104 by completing this form!  
The funding for CEJA’s workforce programs is also at risk! Utilities were directed to raise $180 million to fund the equity programs that include workforce training, contractor development, and support for transitioning fossil fuel communities. CEJA requires a two-word edit to assure that the utilities can raise the full $180 million. SB3866 provides this language fix. Tell your legislators to fully fund CEJA’s equity provisions by signing this petition.
Current zoning laws have shaped land-use practices and environmental justice (EJ) communities - often BIPOC and working-class communities - are home to the highest concentrations of air, water and land pollution causing significant health impacts. These cumulative impacts should be considered when issuing air permits to industry, and communities should have a voice in the process! Tell your legislators to vote for the EJ Air Permitting Bill by completing this form. Questions? Contact: ecojustice@unitytemple.org.
Immigrants have a right to legal counsel. SB3144 provides for developing a plan for universal representation for individuals in immigration removal proceedings. It was passed through the Senate in a month, and arrived in the House February 23, with a recommendation DO PASS from the House Immigration and Human Rights Committee. Please TAKE ACTION to urge your representative to vote “yes” on SB3144–providing counsel for ALL our people.
The Trader Joe Food Rescue is in need of a volunteer to join the Fourth Friday Team. We load and bring donations from Trader Joe's to the Beyond Hunger Food Pantry (located at First United Church), beginning at 10 AM on the fourth Friday of each month. Must have vehicle. Contact Barbara Moline at foodrescue@unitytemple.org.
Book Drive Our congregation has been invited by Cathy Blanford of the Hinsdale UU Prison Pen Pal Program to join their book drive supporting the Urbana Champaign Books to Prisoners Project. This is a volunteer organization in which volunteers read letters from incarcerated individuals from prisons throughout Illinois and then select books from a donated collection to fill their requests. Reading has been proven to increase empathy and reduce recidivism among prisoners. In addition to providing books to those seeking them, 50% of the proceeds from the sale of books on this site will be donated to the UC Books to Prisoners Project to help pay for postage and shipping supplies. Details can be found here. Questions can be sent to prisonpenpals@unitytemple.org.
UU the Vote Elections have consequences and as UU’s we are called to advocate for our values. In 2020, UU the Vote reached millions of voters and made a discernible impact in pivotal states like Georgia, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. We hope to surpass that effort in 2022. Join us for the launch of this year’s campaign on Sunday, April 10 at 3pm CT. This 90-minute live webinar will feature UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, our state partners, and our new UU the Vote Campaign Manager. Learn how we’ll be showing up for ballot measures to combat voter suppression, fight for reproductive justice, and resist the criminalization of BIack, Indigenous, and people of color communities. Register here. Questions? Contact: votelove@unitytemple.org. Watch for more information about our statewide launch with UUANI on May 14, and our Unity Temple team efforts beginning later this spring!
Housing Forward has moved the warming shelter site to Grace Episcopal Church, 924 Lake St. We are organizing a team of volunteers to assist some weekday evenings, 6–10:30pm. Volunteers are asked to greet clients and help set-up and clean-up the dining space (meals are already arranged). COVID protocols will be in place and proof of vaccination is required for all volunteers. View this slideshow for a brief orientation. If interested, please contact Judy Gaietto-Grace, our liaison to Housing Forward: housingforward@unitytemple.org
Faith in Action Newsletter We’ve launched a renewed Faith in Action newsletter filled with impactful actions. Check it out here. If you didn’t receive this monthly newsletter and would like to, please subscribe here. Questions? Contact Rev. Colleen at cvahey@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.
Did you miss “Digging into the 8th Principle” worship service on February 13? Perhaps you want to watch it again? If yes, you can find it here. You will be inspired and challenged by the music, stories and reflections. Thank you to all who participated in the post-worship Community Conversation. The 8th Principle team will be reviewing the feedback to determine next steps for the journey. Wondering about opportunities to engage? Please complete the Interest Card here.

To date 150 UU congregations and organizations have adopted the 8th Principle, which calls for us to “accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.” Your 8th Principle team continues to revise the following documents to help you learn more. Please check them out. Contact 8thPrinciple@unitytemple.org if you have questions.
 
Pathways to Recovery at Unity Temple is a safe and confidential space where we will explore UU principles and our congregation’s values of connection, acceptance and transformation to support recovery from addiction. It is a peer-led group that is intended to be a supplement to, not a replacement for, other addiction recovery groups such as AA, SMART Recovery, and Recovery Dharma. We will meet every other Wednesday at in Gale House at 7pm, beginning April 27. Questions can be directed to recovery@unitytemple.org.
Becoming a Member
For more information about how to become a member of Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Contact 
UUA General Assembly 2022
Registration for General Assembly 2022 in-person in Portland, Oregon is now open. Financial support for registration as well as a payment plan is available. General Assembly 2022 will be a multiplatform event, with registration options for in-person and/or virtual participation.
 
The 2022 UUA General Assembly (GA) Housing Reservation System offers attendees premium amenities, discounted rates, and the best networking opportunities. Attendees who book within the UUA housing block will be in the expert hands of Connections Housing, the only official 2022 UUA General Assembly Housing Bureau.
The 2022 Spring / Summer Adult Softball League Begins April 22! This league is for skilled, semi-competitive teams that enjoy the social aspect of the sport. Co-ed 14 inch league ages 18 & up. We are offering mens on Tuesday night and co-ed on Friday night, both nights are one league (recreational / intermediate league), no divisions. 

Cost is $60 per person (sponsorships are available). Jersey cost is $30 per Jersey (custom team jerseys, sponsorships available).
Game times take place on Fridays at 7:15pm / 8:15pm / 9:15pm. 10 game regular season + post-season tournament for those who qualify. All games are played at Ridgeland Common Park. Covid guidelines will adhere to current protocols when the season begins. For information on how to sign up contact sports@unitytemple.org.

Next Practice : Saturday, April 2, 2022 
3–4:30pm / Stevenson Park, 49 Lake St. Oak Park
MidAmerica Regional Assembly 2022
MidAmerica Regional Assembly 2022 is now open for registration! It takes place on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 10am–2pm ET / 9am–1pm CT. The keynote speaker is social justice educator, storyteller and speaker, CB Beal. There will be worship, the annual business meeting, a keynote address and conversation as well as community break out rooms for discussion. There is a sliding scale fee between $25 to $50 and scholarships are available. Learn more and register here.
Spring Music Festival 2022 : The annual Spring Music Festival showcases the outstanding talent of members and friends of the congregation. Anchored by the Unity Temple Players (our house band), this not-to-be-missed event includes professionals as well as the very best amateur talent of our musical family. Proceeds provide scholarships for area high school students who compete for one of three $1,000 awards applied to voice instruction and to benefit the Unity Temple Music Program.
 
Spring Music Festival 2022 will take place at Unity Temple on April 30, 7–9:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Adults: $15 presale / $20 at the door and children (13 and under): $5. Online ticket sales as well as in-person ticket sales after service are open. Invite a friend. It promises to be a most enjoyable evening.

Questions? Please contact: springmusic@unitytemple.org. To purchase tickets and / or make a donation, please click here.
Sacred Wanderings Live and In Person at Thatcher Woods on Saturday, April from 8:30-10:30am. We will gather at 8030 Chicago Ave., just west of Thatcher Ave., north Pavilion, Maywood, IL. Watch for Sacred Wandering signs. Join Kevin, Jay and Terry 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. Face masks and hand sanitizer will be provided. 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. Those with physical challenges are easily accommodated. If you have any questions please email mindful@unitytemple.org.

It is expected all will be vaccinated/boosted. Masks will be optional.
Mindful Reflection Online Community Tuesday Evenings Zoom meeting room opens at 6:45pm, program starts promptly at 7:20pm. 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
The Vintage Home Show
Come to The Vintage Home Show, offered in-person for 2022 on Saturday, April 9 from 1-5pm. You are invited to attend seminars, visit vendor booths and ask experts about your home renovation projects. General Admission tickets are $15. Find information here on the event and ways to participate or contact Alice Kloska at 708.260.6661 or akloska@utrf.org
UTRF Chamber Music Series : Duo Diorama & CSO Players
Unity Chamber Music Series artistic directors Winston Choi and MingHaun Xu of Duo Diorama are joined by Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians John Bruce Yeh, clarinet, and Oto Carillo, horn. They will perform trios by Bartok, Brahms, and Khatchaturian on Friday, April 8 at 7pm. Tickets range from $20 – $30 based on seating. You can find information on Member, Student discounts and concert information here or contact Alice Kloska at 708.260.6661 or akloska@utrf.org.
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!