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 Thursday and Friday, November 24-25 in observance of Thanksgiving.

Culture Shock / Chuck Ruth, Shared Pulpit Participant

Chuck joined UTUUC in 1987 and later joined other UU churches before returning to UTUUC in 2010. As part of our congregation, Chuck facilitated Beloved Conversations, Soul Connections, and Conscious Aging groups. He is also a Board Member of Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois (UUANI) and active with Community Renewal Society (CRS), Restore Justice, and the Backyard Caucus of Elmhurst. Today's sermon was developed while participating in UTUUC’s Shared Pulpit Seminar.

November Theme: Change

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 : UTUUC Abundance Fund

Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit UTUUC Abundance Fund– providing financial assistance to members of our congregation and the wider community who are in financial distress. Thank you for your generous support!

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.

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.

Information Tables Are Back! 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.

Donate Now to the UTUUC 2023 Auction! Are you ready to get reacquainted with church members & friends? Donating to the 2023 Auction is a great start. Hosting a dinner party is a popular auction item that gets a small group together in an intimate setting for an extended time. And we all have to eat!

Hosting an event at your home or local park is another fun thing to do. Be creative, consider hosting a multi-generational event, you get the picture.



Thinking out-of-the-box creates excitement and fun for everyone – you included. It’s time to get reacquainted & creating new memories & new friendships

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

Please save the date for our virtual Annual Meeting on Sunday, December 11 at 1pm. Also, mark your calendar for a pre-meeting workshop. Worshops will be offered on Monday, November 28 at 7pm via Zoom, and Sunday, December 4, in person after service. Both sessions offer the same content. Details and registration information to follow soon.

Celebration Sunday

Save the Date! On Sunday, December 4 we will be celebrating new members in a special ceremony during service. Please join us for celebratory treats at the Community Hour following service. We hope you can attend!

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.

(below) Third Thursday Brown Bag Lunch with Rev. Dawn! A good time was had by all.

(below) The UTUUC congregation shared their gratitudes, during the worship service on Sunday, November 20. Stop by the Community Center at 1019 South Blvd to read the ways our community expressed gratitude.

Our Annual Fund Drive reached 70% of our goal so far: $683,197 towards the goal of $930,000. Thanks to all of you who sent in your pledges. We still need to hear from those of you who have not pledged yet. Our Annual Meeting is coming up on

Sunday, December 11.

We hope you will all send in your pledges as soon as possible so that we have solid results for budget planning prior to our Annual Meeting. This will also save the time of volunteers who need to make follow up calls and emails to those who have not yet pledged. Thanks for your generosity to our community. Your generosity supports our mission through our wonderful programs including worship services, religious education for our kids, our music program, pastoral care, faith in action outreach and so much more.

• Fill out your pledge form and mail into the office as soon as you can.
• You can pledge on our website here.

Questions? Reach out to AnnualFundDrive@unitytemple.org.

All Ages White Elephant Gift Exchange Please join us on Friday, December 9 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Unity Temple Community Center located at 1019 South Blvd. All ages are welcome. Pizza provided. BYOB. Bring a wrapped gift valued at $10 or under to participate. Leave with something you never knew you wanted. Funny? Weird? Nice? Your call. RSVP to whiteelephant@unitytemple.org. 

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. We will meet IN PERSON wearing masks at Gale House on Monday, November 28 at 7pm. Gale house is immediately south of Unity Temple on Kenilworth in Oak Park. If you would like to join the in-person meeting through Zoom, please contact myhat@unitytemple.org by so a team member can arrange the Zoom and send the links to you.

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!

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.

Religious Education is Happening! Have you Registered? Each year, we ask our families to register and 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 Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org. Please register your child/children for Religious Education using this link.

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

Last week, 10 members from Unity Temple and Third Unitarian, along with 13 other UU’s from around the state, were among the more than 400 people in Springfield advocating for justice, equity and compassion by protecting Pretrial Fairness. We made our voices heard, but our work is not yet done. On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice will return to the capitol for the end of the Veto Session. We plan to meet with more legislators and let them know that we are committed to implementing a Pretrial Fairness Act that ends money bail and reduces pretrial jailing. If interested in going on November 30, contact: restorativejustice@unitytemple.org for more information and the registration link.

Prison Pen Pal Card Writing Event Help send holiday cards to our Church of the Larger Fellowship pen pals who are in prison.

This is a very lonely season for inside folks, and we hope to shower them with cards. Join us Sunday, December 4, 12-2pm at Gale House. We will supply cards, or you may bring your own. (No glitter, white envelopes required). Postage stamps gratefully accepted. RSVP: prisonpenpals@unitytemple.org.

Holiday Food & Gift Basket Join the Community of Congregations for the Holiday Food & Gift Basket program - supporting members of our local community who need assistance this holiday season. Please consider being a sponsor to purchase gifts, based on the need/wish lists provided. Sponsors wrap the gifts, and drop them off the week of December 5 at United Lutheran Church in Oak Park. To become a sponsor please email hfgbholidays@gmail.com. To volunteer to help deliver gifts in early December please sign up here. Thank you!

Fund Peace Chicagoans: Take Action with Live Free to Establish the Office of Gun Violence Prevention! Fill out this form and share it on social media to ask your alderperson to #FundPeaceChicago. To join our new gun violence prevention group, organizing with local partners on gun violence prevention efforts, contact: gunviolenceprevention@unitytemple.org.

Thanks to all who are writing letters, phone-banking and text-banking with UU the Vote partners to reach voters in Georgia. Here are all the ways to help get out the vote. Remember letters should be mailed by November 29. Questions? Contact: votelove@unitytemple.org.

Considering an EV? While electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular in Illinois, we know people have questions! Join the Chicago Area Clean Cities (CACC) coalition and ComEd for "Navigating the Journey to EV," - a free, virtual event designed to share important tips as you consider a new or used EV, including available rebates and tax credits. 

When: Thursday, December 1, 6-7pm

Can't attend live? Still register and CACC will send you a link to the recording afterwards. Register here. Questions? Contact: ecojustice@unitytemple.org.

Meals & Holiday Gifts 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!

You are also invited to support the families that Housing Forward serves by providing holiday gifts. Please complete this form to sponsor a family and provide gifts. Gifts are due by noon on Friday, December 9 to the Housing Forward Maywood office, 1851 S. 9th Ave., Maywood, IL  60153. Additional instructions will be included in your confirmation letter.  Contact: housingforward@unitytemple.org.

Faith in Action Newsletter

Our monthly Faith in Action newsletter is filled with impactful actions! See our latest newsletter here. If you’re not receiving these emails, please subscribe here. Questions? Contact Rev. Colleen, Assistant Minister for Faith in Action - cvahey@unitytemple.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