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.

Love is the Center of Our Faith

Rev. Dawn Cooley

February Theme: Path of Love

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

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday’s chalice table flowers are given by Barb Heskett and are dedicated to love in all its beauty and variety.

OFFERING : Midwest Access Coalition

Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit Midwest Access Coalition. MAC helps people traveling to, from, and within the Midwest access safe, legal abortion services with travel coordination and support, lodging, food, medicine, and emotional support. 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.

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 at Community Hour for refreshments and fellowship in Unity House.

Please join our Meet&Greet gathering on the first Sunday of every month from 11:30-12:30pm. It's a wonderful way for new and established congregants to get to know one another. Refreshments will be served and we will gather in Gale House, the green building next door to Unity Temple. Questions Contact tlewis@unitytemple.org. Hope to see you this Sunday, March 5 at 11:30 in Gale House!

Going, Going, Gone!

The 2023 UTUUC AUCTION bidding begins this Sunday, February 12 at 8am and ends

Sunday, February 26! 105 items that will go fast!

• Auction Help: During the community hour after the service there will be Auction Team members ready to help with questions & bidding if you need it!
• Buy-it-Now: This year many offerings are offered as buy-it-now & once the bid is in, it’s gone! So don’t hesitate!!
• New this year – we have a “scholarship” program where generous donors have contributed money for members who find that they need a little help in paying for items. John Frye is the liaison for this program. You can contact him at auction2023@unitytemple.org. This is a confidential program that you can trust.

UTUUC Office Hours The office/community center located at 1019 South Blvd is open Monday-Friday from 9am-1pm through February, at which time we anticipate expanding hours. If you are looking for access to the office outside of these hours, reach out to program staff associated with your needs to make arrangements. For Membership and Engagement contact Tina Lewis at tlewis@unitytemple.org, Religious Education contact Val Ridenour at vridenour@unitytemple.org, and Music Ministry, contact Marty Swisher at

mswisher@unitytemple.org. 

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.

Calendar Reservations Do you need to reserve space in one of our three buildings for a meeting, activity or event? You may make a reservation request by clicking here.

Congregational Life Table Reservation Would you like to reserve a table to promote congregational happenings during Community Hour in Unity House? 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.

Chalice Singers Are Singing! The 2023 Winter Chalice Singers will rehearse in the sanctuary after Sunday’s worship service. Sunday will be the last chance to join this 5 rehearsal musical journey! Singers 6-11 are invited! Excellent snacks provided! 

Calling all WISE Women—Rehearsal this Sunday, February 12! Women Inspired by Song (WISE) is a unique opportunity for women of all ages in our congregation to sing for Sunday Services. WISE welcomes all women who like to sing. You don't need to know how to read music.

Our Winter WISE Sunday is February 26, 2023. We’re singing stirring, yet easy to learn songs about LOVE. We need your beautiful self and voice! Rehearsal this Sunday (February 12) immediately after service, in the sanctuary, and then again on February 19 (with an alternate weeknight rehearsal for those of you who’ll be at our Women’s Retreat on the 19). You can still join us–Please come! Contact Winter WISE Coordinator, Terri Schultz, at wise@unitytemple.org to sign up and get more information.

Top Row: Kathy Clark, Jane Wood, Linda Mosely,

Tina Lewis, Vanessa Crowder, Jenny Earlandson.

Front Row: Colleen Shaughnessay and Judy Giatto-Grace

When you need a helping hand, the caring committee strives to provide practical short term assistance to congregants who are experiencing pressing needs. Some of our initiatives include: Meal Train or a batch of homemade soup, home/hospital visits, and caring cards. Contact caring@unitytemple.org if you would like some support from the Caring Committee or are interested in helping to provide support to other congregants.

Food & Fellowship

Monthly "Brown-Bag Lunch with the Minister(s)" takes place 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. Bring your lunch to the next one which takes place via Zoom on February 16! Zoom link can be found here.

Spring Pathway to Membership Schedule

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 1:30-4pm. Childcare is available upon request. In addition, on-line accommodations can be made. The spring schedule is March 12 & 19 and April 9 & 16. To register contact tlewis@unitytemple.org

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Rev. Dennis Bushkofsky. Rev. Bushkofsky served United Lutheran Church in Oak Park until May 2022, and played an important role in offering our congregation space to worship during our time of building restoration (2015-2017). He served on the Community of Congregations board for many years and was a great supporter of the annual Holiday Food & Gift Basket program. His caring presence will be missed. A memorial service will be held at United Lutheran, 409 Greenfield Street in Oak Park, on Saturday February 25, at 2pm. We are holding all our friends at United Lutheran in our hearts during this time of loss. Rev. Dennis Bushkofsky, 64 - Oak Park

Beloved Conversations Registration for Within programs for the Spring 2023 Term are open! We are currently building new communities of learners in both of our Gathering Our Selves programs (for Black, Indigenous, People of Color participants) and our Un/Learning for Liberation program (for white participants). Join us for a deep dive into the personal, transformative, spirit-growing work that needs to be done around issues of race, identity, and justice, in relationship with other folks who share some similar experiences!

Registration will run from February 1–28 and the Spring Term will kick off on March 13, 2023. Spring and Fall content is different, so even if you participated in the fall, you can join again for entirely new learning! If you participated in a previous term of BCV: Within, you can save 20% off your registration using coupon code BCVALUMSPRING23.

For more details about Beloved Conversations, our three Within programs, this upcoming Spring Term and to register go here. You can also email JeKaren Olaoya at belovedconversations@meadville.edu 

to request a promotional packet or ask any questions you might have. You can also follow our Beloved Conversations page on Facebook for updates.

Tuesday Evening Mindful Reflection Community 

meets virtually and in person in Unity House at Unity Temple. Meeting opens at 7pm EST for camaraderie, the program starts promptly at 7:20pm. 

Vaccinations are encouraged, masks are optional. 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

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 February theme Love, Movies with Meaning is showing What They Had a portrait of a family at a crossroads. Click here to view the official movie trailer. Join us Friday night, February 17 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 reach out to adultre@unitytemple.org.

Respecting the Journey: Meeting People Where They Are

Our UU faith values remind us that no one is outside the circle of love and that all of us are always learning. Join leaders from the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry on Saturday, February 11, 10am-12pm for a 2-hour workshop about trauma-informed care and skill-building around cultural humility and companioning others (and even our own selves) who have experienced trauma. Location: DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 1828 Old Naperville Rd, Naperville, IL 60563, or attend via zoom. To register, send your name, home congregation, email address, phone number, and whether you will attend via zoom or in person to uupmi.info@gmail.com.

Immigration Justice Join our Immigration Justice team’s first organizing meeting of 2023 on Tuesday, February 28, 6-7pm via Zoom. Meet our new team facilitators, hear about upcoming actions, and help us explore new potential partnerships. A leader from Bethany House of Hospitality will join us. We look forward to re-convening and moving forward with immigration justice! To request the Zoom link, please email immigration@unitytemple.org.

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. Questions? Contact: gunviolenceprevention@unitytemple.org.

Faith in Action Newsletter

To learn more about living our mission through our Faith in Action Network, check out the latest newsletter here. You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter here. Questions? Contact Rev. Colleen, Assistant Minister for Faith in Action cvahey@unitytemple.org.

Stories of Race in Elmhurst Join us and the Racial Equity team at the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale (17 W. Maple St, Hinsdale, IL 60521), on Sunday, February 12, noon for a discussion of the essays shared in the book, Stories of Race in Elmhurst, a project of the Elmhurst anti-racism group, Backyard Caucus. Unity Temple member, Jim Parks, co-edited the book and contributed an essay. Backyard Caucus founders and essay authors, including at least one Unity Temple member, will contribute to this discussion. Learn more here.

Volunteers & Meals Needed On January 4, Housing Forward re-opened an emergency winter overnight shelter for up to 15 individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The shelter is located in the former rectory building of St. Catherine / Lucy, 38 N. Austin Blvd., Oak Park. Volunteers are needed to work with staff to greet clients, help serve meals, site security overnight and clean-up the next morning. There are 3 shifts:

• Evening – 6:30-10:30p (3 volunteers)
• Overnight – 10:30p-5:00a (2 volunteers)
• Morning – 5:00a-7:00a (2 volunteers)  

If interested in volunteering at the shelter or providing a meal for shelter guests, please sign up here. Questions? Please contact cjackson@housingforward.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.

Our monthly Meet & Greet proved to be a lovely morning of community, connection, and good conversation! Let's do it again on March 5! All are welcome.

The Developmental Minister Search is beginning! Four members of the board of trustees - Matt Bruce, Aimee Conrad, Ed McDevitt and Sandy Meyer - are the search team. The team is currently creating a congregational profile application for prospective candidates to review. The team will receive names and records of applicants in mid-March, with matching between congregations and ministers occurring at the end of March. While the timeline is tight, it is important to remember that the candidate pool is a small, curated group of ministers who have specialized skills. The board has received feedback from congregants during this year's Engagement Fair, and at the All-Congregational Retreat, and the search team continues to welcome input. Feel free to reach out to the search team with questions or comments. We can be reached at dmsearch@unitytemple.org.

The Annual Fund Drive Reached 91% of Our Goal As of February 9, 2023 we have a pledge total of $845,247 towards the goal of $924,500. Our goal during this Season of Renewal 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 and have an adaptable community with outstanding leadership.

Rising Stars Valentine's Concert / Saturday, February 11, 7:30 pm 

A diverse and international group of talented musicians share their musical gifts in the Unity Chamber Music Series. They perform a mixture of solos, duos, and chamber music. These budding young artists all love performing and bring dedication, commitment, and passion to the art form. The future of the classical music scene is in excellent hands with this group.

Tickets range from $10 – $20 based on seating assignment. UTRF members receive $5 off their tickets, use code MEMBER. Parents of performers use code PARENT for one free ticket, student tickets are free. Tickets can be purchased here. Questions? Contact Alice Kloska, UTRF Program Manager at alice@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