COVID Protocol: Our Covid-19 protocols have been adjusted, we are now in Blue. In respect and care for the vulnerable, masking is required in our facilities despite changing external guidelines. Please visit our website here for more details.
Saying Goodbye
mandi huizenga, Ministerial Intern
Please join us to say goodbye and show our appreciation for mandi huzienga, Intern Minister at a special celebration during Community Hour after service in Unity House.
May Theme: Nurturing Beauty
Live Stream Worship at 10am / Recorded Viewing Available at Noon
Live stream link can be found here.
OFFERING : NAMI
Unity Temple Gives. Each week, we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Metro-Suburban. Through advocacy, education, and support, NAMI helps improve the quality of life for individuals and families affected by mental illness. Learn more here.

You may donate by placing cash or check in one of 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. 
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 Blue. In respect and care for the vulnerable, masking is required (2yrs and up) in our facilities despite changing external guidelines. Please visit our website here for more details.You can access the live stream on YouTube at 10am here.
Save the Date! Our annual Flower Communion and Volunteer Appreciation service will take place on May 22. Attendees are welcome to bring a flower or two to share! We hope you are able to join us!
Community Hour
Following the Sunday morning service, join our in-person Community Hour for cookies, coffee and conversation in Unity House. If you are joining us from home, the on-line Community Hour will be on Zoom following the service. Go to Zoom Meeting ID: 999 2797 5277 Password: 875875 Or access directly here.
BIPOC Friends May Meeting If you identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color, please join us at our monthly meeting 11:30am–1pm via Zoom on Sunday, May 15. We gather to create connections and learn about resources and news of our communities. If you would like to be on the BIPOC Friends email list and to receive a Zoom link to the meeting, please contact 
bipocfriends@unitytemple.org. Celebrate Asian American Pacific Heritage Month! 
Reflecting With the Board, Monday, May 12 at 7pm
The Board of Trustees wants to stay connected with you. We are again 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. Zoom link can be found here. 
Meeting ID: 838 6603 4326 / Passcode: Unity
Stewardship Committee
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, Rich Pokorny, Erik Wise and Jane Wood at nominations@unitytemple.org.
Unity Temple Auction Needs Your Help! Now that things are opening up again, it's time for another Unity Temple Auction. Our auction raises significant funds, but even more importantly now, brings us together. We need to reconnect at dinners, outings, music events, get-a-ways and everything else donors can offer. But we need some leaders to organize the auction. Please contact Rich Pokorny at 2022auction@unitytemple.org if you can help.
Engaging Our History The transition team will be hosting the last timeline workshop on Sunday, May 15, you can sign up here. At this workshop, you will have a chance to learn from and respond to the timeline of the last 60 years of UTUUC history. Please click here if you would like to submit moments in our congregation's history to be included on the timeline. Questions? Contact the transition team of Marsha Borders, Glenn Brewer, Vera Dowell, Fran Knechel and Ian Morrison at transition@unitytemple.org.
Last Sunday we celebrated the bridging of five of our graduating high school seniors: Ellie Andries, Alain Cawley, Aiden Davies, LiZhong Dubreil and Ben O'Connor. The service was created by the whole youth group. Our seniors cross over the bridge into young adulthood, and autographed our bridge. 

Unity Temple Faith In Action Network
Spiritually Grounded / Deeply Relational / Strategically Effective
OFFERING : NAMI
This Sunday’s collection will benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Metro-Suburban. Through advocacy, education, and support, NAMI helps improve the quality of life for individuals and families affected by mental illness. Learn more here.

Thanks to the 40 people who joined last Saturday's Faith in Action Day and 4-Year Anniversary of Sacred Wanderings. The camaraderie and food was wonderful, and thanks to all who helped with the litter clean-up of Thatcher Woods, too!
UUANI Vote Love Spring Conference Join UU's from across Illinois! Get inspired for our shared work to live our values and learn key skills related to getting out the vote. Join us for our first phone bank to Wisconsin at 1pm. Learn much more and register here. Contact: votelove@unitytemple.org.
Baby Registry The Immigration Justice Team has partnered with Al Otro Lado and UUSC in sponsoring a family recently reunited in the US. One of the family members recently had her first baby! We invite UT and community members in welcoming Baby with a helping hand for her Mom, by selecting any of the items as a donation in this Target Baby Registry. Your generosity is deeply appreciated! Questions? Contact: immigration@unitytemple.org 
Roe v. Wade Response
Thanks to all who have reached out since the leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion. 
Members of our reproductive justice team are meeting with local partners and will continue to keep you posted on upcoming actions. Join us for a rally this Saturday, May 14, 9:30am at Union Park. Questions, or for possible meet-up at the rally, contact: reproductive@unitytemple.org  
Faith in Action Newsletter We’ve launched a renewed Faith in Action newsletter filled with impactful actions. Check out the new edition here. If you didn’t receive this monthly newsletter and would like to, please subscribe here. Questions? Contact Rev. Colleen at cvahey@unitytemple.org.

Summer RE will begin on Sunday, June 5! Join us for summer religious education programming where children will engage in activities for all ages. This summer, we will be using the Gale House Gardens to further our connection to nature and education. If you have any questions or ideas to share or are looking for ways to support the Summer RE program, please contact summer_re@unitytemple.org.
BIG NEWS! Starting Tuesday, May 17, 2022 the Mindful Reflection Community will meet virtually and in person at Unity House. Meeting opens at 6:45pm, 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.
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
Do You Consider Yourself Part of the Queer UTUUC Community? If so, please join us on the evening of Thursday, May 19, from 7–8:30pm. It is our monthly Rainbow Connections meeting. (Allies are welcome, on occasion, by invitation only.) This month Rev. Colleen Vahey will be facilitating. We will be discussing a new Rainbow Connections Faith in Action Team. 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 (not required). Hope to see you soon! Zoom link can be found here.
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. Next meeting date is May 25. Questions can be directed to recovery@unitytemple.org.
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. Register now!
 
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.
Day In Our Village Assistance Needed! We are looking to have more volunteers supporting Unity Temple at our Day In Our Village booth on Sunday, June 5. We welcome assistance from people of all ages and abilities. Please take a look at this sign-up genius to find a time to support this fun event in our community. You can learn more about this Oak Park event here. Questions & ideas can be sent via email to Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org.
The 2022 Spring / Summer Adult Softball League 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. You can find a link to the schedule here. For information on how to sign up contact sports@unitytemple.org. NOTE: The team is looking for a manager. Please reach out if interested.
Becoming a Member
For more information about how to become a member of Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Contact 
The UUA wants your input! Thank you to everyone who has engaged in conversations about the 8th principle. (If you missed “Digging into the 8th Principle” worship service on February 13, you can find it here.) 
 
Many of you are seeking an opportunity for deeper exploration of the seven current UU Principles. Our Adult RE committee is working on this–stay tuned! Additionally, you have asked about the process that Unitarian Universalists use to identify, establish, and re-visit our purpose and principles. The UUA has created an Article II Study Commission for the purpose of looking at the language of ALL of the principles. The entire Charge to the Commission is linked here. 

To date 157 UU congregations and organizations have adopted the 8th Principle. 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.
 
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!