Worship for this Sunday - January 17, 2021
Live Streaming at 10am
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Wings of Imagination / Rev. Emily Gage
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January Theme: Imagination
Live Stream Worship at 10am
Recorded Viewing Available at Noon
Live stream link can be found here.
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OFFERTORY :: Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois
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 UUANI. UUANI supports Unitarian Universalists coming together to work for justice, beloved community, and a healthy planet – putting our deepest values into effective action.
To contribute to Unity Temple’s Sunday collection, please text 73256 with the message UTUUC $____ (dollar sign followed by your donation amount), and select “Offering”. You may also give at the UTUUC website, by using the camera on your phone to scan the QR code on the screen during the Offertory or by sending a check, payable to Unity Temple, noting UUANI on the memo line, to 875 Lake St., Oak Park, 60301, and we will send a collective check on your behalf. Thank you for your generous support!
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Worship Service :: will be at 10am on YouTube Live. You can access it here.
Coffee Hour :: Immediately following the service (around 10:45am) the Virtual Coffee Hour will be on Zoom. Go to Zoom Password: 875875 Or access directly here.
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Reflecting with the Board Sunday, January 17 at 1pm & Monday, January 18 at 7pm :: Happy New Year! The Board of Trustees wants to stay connected with you. We are again offering two opportunities to share what we have been doing, to listen to your questions and concerns, and to invite you to join with us as we continue to reflect on our current Unity Temple community. Please join us. Access Zoom link for both sessions here.
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Coffee Hour Courtesies :: Coffee Hour is a time for old and new friendships to be enjoyed. In the spirit of community, and in honor of our 1st Principle that upholds the inherent worth and dignity of every person, we ask everyone to be mindful of the brief time we have together during breakout sessions. Please remember these courtesies to ensure everyone a meaningful and fun experience.
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Unity Temple BIPOC FRIENDS Gathering :: What are your imaginings, your dreams, your resolutions for our lives in the New Year? As I celebrated Kwanzaa recently for the first time, the principles Nia (Purpose) and Kujchagulia (Self-determination) inspired me to craft a new identity: to stop looking outward for gratification and self-realization – and to start looking within; to hold on a little longer. Please join me and our BIPOC friends in a Zoom gathering of New Beginnings and Resolutions on Sunday, January 17 at 12pm. Please email bipocfriends@unitytemple.org to join our email list and get the Zoom link. See you then! – Lecretia Williams
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Unity Temple Faith In Action Network
Spiritually Grounded / Deeply Relational / Strategically Effective
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Transformative Justice
Last Sunday we launched our quarterly Faith in Action focus on Transformative Justice, with many opportunities for continued learning and action. Please complete this form to let us know how you’d like to get involved. We will be in touch with you soon!
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Prison Industrial Complex 101 :: Join us for this two-part online workshop on January 16 & January 23 from 10–11:30am. We will learn to:
- Examine the prison industrial complex root: its reach, impact & our ability to transform it.
- Connect UU values to the work to divest from prisons and police and invest in building new systems of safety, healing, and accountability.
- Build connections with organizations engaged in prisoner solidarity and restorative justice.
- Learn about the UU Prison Ministry and how we can support this work.
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Save the Date!
January 25, 7pm
Community of Congregations Annual Gathering–Responding to the Housing Crisis
We will be joined by Natalie Moore, WBEZ reporter and author of The South Side along with representatives from Housing Forward, Oak Park Regional housing Center and the Leaders Network. Zoom information available soon.
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Plastic Lid Recycling :: Plastic lid recycling is back! Mann elementary school (921 N. Kenilworth, Oak Park) is collecting lids for a new bench. Lids should be clean and dry and dropped off in the school vestibule from 8am-3pm weekdays beginning January 11. Milk, flip-top, deodorant, and medication bottle caps with the cardboard removed are all needed! More information here. Questions? Contact: ecojustice@unitytemple.org
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Unity Temple members and friends participate in Pretrial Fairness Advocacy Day, February 2020. |
Thank you!
Thank you to all who helped live our values of justice, equity and compassion by joining with our partners CRS, UUPMI, and UUANI these past five years to advocate for criminal justice reform. On Wednesday the Pretrial Fairness Act to end the use of money bond passed the IL House and Senate, and is expected to be signed by the Governor.
Every year, more than 250,000 people are incarcerated in IL county jails, and 90% of them are locked up while awaiting trial. For decades, wealth-based pretrial incarceration has destabilized communities across Illinois. The passage of this bill helps bend the arc toward justice. Our work continues - to get involved please contact restorativejustice@unitytemple.org
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Virtual Faith in Action Assembly with the Community Renewal Society :: Register for any or all of these on line meetings here. Monday, January 18, 2021–9am till 5pm. Save the date and reserve your spot for these virtual events!
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Announcing Sunday Collections 2021
Thank you to all who voted for our Sunday collection recipients at the congregational annual meeting. The votes have been tallied, and we are pleased to announce the list of organizations that will receive collections in 2021. You can access the list here.
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Our shared mission is a powerful gift, especially during these times of uncertainty and unrest. As we breathe life into it, our mission takes on the shape and color of a world we only dared to dream about five years ago. |
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It inspires us to embrace values of connection, transformation, justice and acceptance that underpin our response to the urgent needs of humanity and the earth. |
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It energizes us to transform ourselves, our congregation and our world by welcoming all, inspiring compassion, nurturing wonder and serving community.
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It comforts us to know we are joined together in spirit on this journey toward a future we promised to build. |
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A future in which we…create a culture of radical hospitality and relationships with people across boundaries of race, class and other identities that divide us…cultivate caring communities, bear witness to love and pain and respond, individually and collectively, with acts of compassion…nurture and celebrate a sense of wonder and create opportunities for spiritual deepening, questioning and growth…act in partnership for justice and live our faith in service.
Even virtually - especially virtually - our shared mission brings and keeps us together. It is the greater whole.
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Welcoming All “Coffee Table” Zoom Event
Sunday January 31 at 11:15am, in lieu of Coffee Hour
At 10am Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, author of After the Good News: Progressive Faith Beyond Optimism, will preach the Sunday service, adapting themes from her book to the Unity Temple context. Ladd is a dynamic speaker. Check out her remarks at the 2016 GA (from 1:12:00 to 1:40:00) on the UUA website here.
At 11:15 Rev. Alan Taylor, Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, mandi huizenga, Tina Lewis, and the Welcoming All team and facilitators will host a 90-minute all-congregational event intended to help us live into our mission of Welcoming All, using Ladd’s sermon as the basis for guided small and large group discussions. No sign-up is required to attend.
In case you want to read the book, After the Good News can be shipped to you from The Book Table here or Amazon here or alternatively, 3 loaner copies are available for pickup at the UT Community Center at 1019 South Blvd. If time is tight, you are welcome to read the following short summary of “top quotes” from After the Good News; go here. We ask everyone to please attend this important event!
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The Welcoming All Team is excited to offer an opportunity to expand our exploration of Welcoming All through a reading group examining issues of justice. Join us on Monday, January 18 at 6:30pm and Sunday, January 24 at 2pm for our January discussion of the book, Recovering the Sacred: The Power of Naming and Claiming by Winona LaDuke. Discussion will be led by Unity Temple's ministerial intern, mandi huizenga. Sign up here or email unityreads@unitytemple.org.
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Let the Games Begin!
Friday, February 5th at 7pm
Get ready to put your game face on for a fun evening of virtual trivia games with fellow Unity Temple people of all ages. Have questions, please send an email to connections@Unitytemple.org
Who: All Ages are welcome!
What: Virtual Trivia Game Night
When: Friday, February 5th at 7pm
Why: Because it will will give us a chance to connect and have fun together!
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Knitwits :: Calling all knitters to knit mittens for Hepzibah, baby blankets for the Linus project or any knitting project that spreads goodwill and warmth. We can choose a group focus or each participant can choose their own while spending a little virtual time together. Let's gather on zoom the first and third Thursday mornings 10am to 11:15am and continuing through the winter months. Looking forward to sharing ideas Contact Barbara Boockmeier at knitters@unitytemple.org for the zoom link.
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All UTUUC BGLQT+s, please join us for a Rainbow Connection meeting on Wednesday, January 20 from 7-8:30pm. Due to the recent national and political unrest and the 20th being the inauguration, we are postponing viewing Karen Osborne's movie to February. We will use the time, instead, to support one another through these challenging times and discuss current events. We would love for you to come–a new group for a new year! Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 970 4355 4768 Password: 315690. One tap mobile
+13126266799,,97043554768#,,1#,315690# US
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UU Men's Retreat Event :: Featuring presentations on "Connecting and Coping in Covid Times" and "Altars and How they can Bring Meaningfulness to Life". Discussion groups to follow. All men welcome. Takes place virtually on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 10 am. To register contact Mark Johansen at mensretreat@unitytemple.org
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Virtual Women’s Retreat–Keep the Weekend Open! :: Sacred Cycles of a Woman’s Life, February 26th–28th
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Featuring keynote speaker Nancy Vedder-Shults to speak on Creativity at Life’s Turning Points. Followed by workshops, music, and connection. It’s meaningful to us, our beloved retreat experience, continue during this time. Registration is open now. To sign up go here.
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Sharing, Mondays at Noon Need a lunchtime boost in your day? Every Monday at Noon Jeanette Mancusi invites you to take a break in your workday and briefly share something good that has happened to you recently. We hope you can join us! Click here to join the call. Questions may be sent to tlewis@unitytemple.org. Join Zoom Meeting https://uuma.zoom.us/j/98514736011 Meeting ID: 985 1473 601
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Visitor Form
If you would like to be contacted about how to get involved with our community, please take a moment to fill out this form.
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What is Coffee Hour?
It is a time to connect with old friends and make new friends following worship service on Sunday mornings. Attendees socialize in small groups of 6-8 during breakout sessions. We hope you will join us!
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Invitation To Get Involved
We are so glad you have found us and invite you to begin a process of getting to know one another with hopes that you will be inspired to become part of our vibrant community. Contact tlewis@unitytemple.org for Zoom access to the following sessions.
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Newcomer Orientation
Sunday, 1/17/21 from 11-12pm OR
Monday, 1/18/21 from 7-8 pm
Each month we offer an orientation to familiarize participants with the fundamentals of Unitarian Universalism, and an overview of our mission and programs.
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Pathway to Membership
Sunday, 1/24/21 11–12pm OR Monday, 1/25/21 to 7–8
We want you to know how we learn and grow, create community, care for one another, governor and financially support ourselves, and have fun! Join this monthly class to experience a deep dive into UTUUC.
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Becoming a Member
We recommend attending our orientation, meeting our ministers, and learning about how we work by attending our interactive informational sessions. Upon completion we invite you to sign The Membership Book and fill out an Enrollment Kit. If for some reason, you are unable to attend our sessions, please contact Tina Lewis, Director of Membership & Engagement to discuss alternative arrangements.
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This monthly offering provides an opportunity to get to know our ministers in a small group setting, share your story and ask questions about Unitarian Universalism and our congregation. |
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Meet the Ministers
Rev. Alan Taylor
TBD
Rev. Emily Gage
Sunday, 2/7 from 11-12pm and
Wednesday, 2/10 from 7-8pm
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Religious Literacy Class for All Ages
This class will provide people of all ages with an overview of a variety of religious beliefs, practices and rights. This class will meet each Sunday, beginning on January 24th, 2021 at 7pm, and will run for 10 consecutive weeks. Each week a new religious topic will be explored and discussed. Attending all of the classes is not required but encouraged. You can register for the class and receive updates by emailing vridenour@unitytemple.org
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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. The Zoom link for the daily mindful reflection is listed below. This Zoom platform does not allow the use of phone numbers to provide dial-in access on this platform. Zoom information:
Time: Every Day (including weekends) at 08:30am Central Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 373 008 242 Password: 4IFrYx
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Religious Education is Up and Running and We are Virtual this Year! Our dedicated volunteers are working to connect with our young UU's by offering class rituals and connection activities each Sunday. If you are looking for more information about how to join a class or you are interested in becoming a class leader, please send an email to either Rev. Emily Gage egage@unitytemple.org or Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org
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You should not need to enter these numbers, but just in case, here they are: Meeting ID: 829 387 209 Password: 887083 Other way to join:
One tap mobile +13126266799,,829387209# US
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Meeting ID: 895 0302 7611 Password: 062305
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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!
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Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
NOTE: As of March 13, 2020 we are temporarily suspending in person AA meetings. Questions about AA? Please contact Ron at winder.upper@hotmail.com. This link will take you to a list of suspended / relocated AA meetings in Chicagoland.
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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
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