COVID Protocol: Our Covid-19 protocols have been adjusted, we are now in Green.  Masking is no longer required in our facilities. Please visit our website here for more details.

Office Hours: If you are planning to come by 1019 (our Unity Temple Community Center) for any reason during the week, please check to make sure a staff person will be here to help you. Contact office@unitytemple.org.

Caretaking, Conserving and Challenging, with a Side of Courage / Rev. Dawn Cooley

October Theme: Courage

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

Live stream link can be found here.

This Sunday's chalice table flowers were given by Norman Coleman in memory of Penny Gillespie, beloved mother-in-law of his oldest daughter, Doris Gillespie.

OFFERING : PASO

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 West Suburban Action Project / Proyecto de Acción de los Suburbios del Oeste (PASO).  PASO combines leadership development, education, and community organizing  to effect powerful change - ordinary people creating extraordinary change. 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.

Sabbatical 

Rev. Emily Gage will be on sabbatical from October 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023. 

• During this time, you may wish to contact Val Ridenour, who will be providing expanded support and direction for many things regarding Faith Development (including Soul Connections) during this time. She can be reached at vridenour@unitytemple.org. 
• Our Religious Education Committee for Children and Youth co-chairs Emily Edlynn and Stephanie Kiesling can be reached at recommittee@unitytemple.org. 
• Our Spiritual Care team, who provide deep listening and compassionate presence, can be reached at spiritualcare@unitytemple.org. 
• For inquiries or services requiring a minister, please contact Rev. Dawn Cooley, interim senior minister, at dcooley@unitytemple.org. 

As of October, UTUUC will move to GREEN on our COVID Phased Reopening Guidelines. 

While masks are no longer required on Sunday morning, they continue to be recommended to prevent the spread of disease (including colds and flu).

Per the current recommendations from the American Choral Directors Association, the Choir will continue to mask while singing. We will continue to monitor the ACDA’s guidelines..

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. With conflicting recommendations, it has been difficult to discern whether to prioritize the value of safety or the value of community. With community transmission decreasing and vaccine availability and efficacy increasing, we believe that we are ready to take this step. Our services will continue to be streamed on our YouTube channel and we invite you to join us in whatever way feels most comfortable to you.

With Love,

The UTUUC E-Team (Rev. Dawn Cooley, Rev. Emily Gage, Charles Lewis, Tina Lewis

Becoming a Member

We are excited to resume our Pathway to Membership sessions this fall and invite you to attend! This two part gathering is designed to help you decide whether or not becoming an active member of our faith community is right for you. You will get to know others in a a small group setting, learn about our congregations history and how things work today, as well as explore ways to be part of our future in meaningful and fun ways. 

Fall Pathway to Membership Schedule

These sessions meet from 1-3pm at the UTUUC Community Center. Childcare is available upon request. Online accommodations can be arranged. Masks are required at this time. To register for one of the two-part sessions listed below, contact tlewis@unitytemple.org. 

October 16 & 23 / November 13 & 20

We will celebrate new members in community at a brief ceremony during Welcome Sunday on December 4. We look forward to your participation!

Planning Meeting for Women's Retreat

All women are invited to attend a planning meeting on October 9th at 1pm at the Unity Temple Community Center located at 1019 South Blvd in Oak Park. Come share ideas for the upcoming Retreat, scheduled for the weekend of February 17-19th, 2023. Rev. Dawn Cooley, our keynote speaker, will be present and would love your input as she designs our keynote presentation. We hope to finalize our theme and discuss workshops, fun activities, and spiritual break out sessions. This will be a hybrid meeting-you may attend in person or on Zoom. To request zoom link:   womensconnection@unitytemple.org.

Sip & Share Your Hospitality & Connections Committee invites you to please join us for an in-person Sip & Share on Thursday, October 20 from 6:30-8pm at the Unity Temple Community Center located at 1019 South Blvd in Oak Park. Bring your own beverage to enjoy and some conversation or topics to share as you casually mingle with other guests. It’s sure to be lively evening!

Movies with Meaning 

tick, tick…Boom!

***PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN DATE AND TIME***

Friday, October 28th Gather at 7pm; Movie at 7:30pm

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 October theme Courage, Movies with Meaning is showing tick, tick…Boom!, a movie about the power of finding your voice and holding on to a dream. Click here to view the official movie trailer.

Join us Friday night, October 28th gathering at 7:00pm with movie at 7:30 at the Unity Temple Community Center, 1019 South Boulevard. All are welcome at this gratis event. For more information send an email to adultre@unitytemple.org

Fall 2022 Soup Drive

Please consider preparing a yummy vegetarian or meat soup to be shared with members of our beloved community in times of need.

Prepare soup and ladle into a gallon size freezer Ziplock and FREEZE FLAT (on a cookie sheet or smaller). Label with:  Type of Soup Vegetarian or Meat, Ingredients (for allergies, amounts not necessary), Prepared by, and Date. Bring your soup donation to Unity Temple on October 23, 30 and place it in the Soup Drive cooler before or after service.  You may also drop it off at 1019 South Blvd between 9am and 12 noon, Monday-Thursday. No later than Thursday, November 10. Thank you.

Call for Cookies

Community Hour on the patios will continue, however, our cookie supply is running low. Donations are now being gratefully accepted. If you would like to donate a package or two of cookies, please drop them off in the kitchen on Sunday mornings. Note: NO NUTS. Also, gluten free cookies are much appreciated too. Thank you!

Help Our Worship Thrive Did you know that “liturgy” means “the work of the people”? Your worship service assistance enriches our Sunday services. Opportunities range from one-time volunteering behind the scenes, to leading in worship, to providing the chalice table flowers. We have multiple trainings coming up in October and beyond. Learn more and sign up here ! 

Job Postings: Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation is hiring! We are looking for a part time Bookkeeper, a part time Office Assistant and a Nursery Supervisor and Childcare Coordinator. Details can be found on our website here. 

Singers Ages 6-10 are Invited to Participate

The 2023 Fall Chalice Singers, the Unity Temple Children's Choir, will begin on Sunday, October 9 and rehearse after Sunday worship from 11:15 to noon each week until performance on November 20. Singers ages 6-10 are invited to participate where the music makes you move and the snacks are fabulous! Music Director, Marty Swisher will lead the troupe! To sign up, email Marty at mswisher@unitytemple.org.

WISE (Women in Song Ensemble) is returning! We will be rehearsing in the sanctuary directly after the service on the following Sundays:

• October 23
• October 30
• November 6 
• And performing at the November 13 service.  

There is no need to be able to read music, or even be an experienced singer. All materials will be provided for you if you come to our rehearsals. Please join us!

Religious Education 

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 Emily Gage egage@unitytemple.org 

or Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org. 

Please register your child/children for Religious Education using this link.

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 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.

Vote Love Democracy Celebration - multi-platform

Join us online or on-site Sunday, October 16, Noon-2pm, for our Vote Love Democracy Celebration! We’ll gather at the UTUUC Community Center or on Zoom where we’ll hear from UU the Vote Campaign Manager JaZahn Hicks, updates from UU congregations across the state and close with an action opportunity. Register here. Questions? Contact: votelove@unitytemple.org

UPLIFT Action Launch Party

Do you believe every body is sacred? Are you interested in organizing on the side of love for LGBTQIA+, gender, and reproductive justice? Join Side With Love for the official launch of our latest organizing campaign, UPLIFT Action! Thursday, October 13th, 7pm (CST)

Register here.  

Community Renewal Society

Join the Community Renewal Society for its 140th Annual Membership Assembly on Thursday, October 20, 6:30-8:00pm. We will affirm the annual Platform for Renewal; elect and welcome new board members; celebrate campaign victories; and make commitments for the coming year. Register here.  Contact: restorativejustice@unitytemple.org

Anti-Oppression Anti-Racism Call to Action

Our congregation is seeking applications for the Anti-Oppression/Anti-Racism Committee. This committee will have the responsibility of guiding the congregation to more authentically and accountably live out its values, covenant, and mission by applying an AO/AR lens to all the ways that we engage with one another and the surrounding community. Members may apply here. 

Deadline for applications: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 (noon)

Community of Congregations Fall Gathering  Join us for a Neighborhood Community Peace Circle on Thursday, October 27, 7 pm, at New Landmark MB Church, 2700 W. Wilcox St., Chicago 60612.  Peace Circles build community, strengthen relationships, and heal spirits. We will gather to learn about important community work, and invite one another into practical action to stem the tide of violence on the Greater West Side.  To RSVP please email oprfcoc@gmail.com.

Faith in Action Newsletter

We invite you to subscribe to our monthly Faith in Action newsletter filled with impactful actions. Please subscribe here. Questions? Contact Rev. Colleen, Assistant Minister for Faith in Action cvahey@unitytemple.org.

Vote Love

In 2020, Unity Temple reached 17,000 voters with postcards and phone banking!  

Here’s what you can do this year:

1. Send letters to disenfranchised voters encouraging people to vote. Contact votelove@unitytemple.org for more information to sign-up to write letters.
2. Phone-bank to reach voters with UU the Vote.
3. Apply to serve as an election judge in Cook County. 
4. Register for a mail-in ballot.  
5. Make a plan to vote early or in-person on November 8.

Questions? Contact: votelove@unitytemple.org

Support Asylum Seekers Our partners at the IL Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights are providing support for the more than 500 people who have arrived in Chicago from Texas. On-site volunteers are needed in Burr Ridge and Countryside from 11:30a-2:30pm and 5-8pm to help serve meals, play with kids, run errands, etc. Spanish-speaking volunteers are preferred. Volunteers are also needed to help sort donations at Casa Michocan, 1638 S. Blue Island. If interested and available, please contact: immigration@unitytemple.org.

Our neighbors at Housing Forward are in need of food for their Interim Housing program.  Please see the open dates and sign-up here to provide a meal.  All meals must be suitable for grab-and-go (individually wrapped).  You may also donate to Housing Forward and designate your donation for “Interim Housing program meals.”  Donations of bottled water are also welcome.  Please drop-off at the center located in the Write Inn, 211 N. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park.  Questions?  Contact Judy: housingforward@unitytemple.org

STAY CONNECTED