Worship for this Sunday–February 7, 2021
Live Streaming at 10am
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Beloved Community: A Compelling Vision
Rev. Alan Taylor
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February Theme: Beloved Community
Live Stream Worship at 10am / Recorded Viewing Available at Noon
Live stream link can be found here.
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OFFERTORY :: PASO – West Suburban Action Project
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!
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 PASO 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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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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Newcomer Orientation
This Sunday from 11-12pm OR
Monday, 2/8 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. Contact Tina Lewis tlewis@unitytemple.org to learn more.
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Meet the Ministers :: 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. Meet with Rev. Emily Gage
this Sunday, 2/7 from 11-12pm or
Wednesday, 2/10 from 7-8pm
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Art Project :: Is it Whistler’s mother or a congregation member? Have some fun and recreate a piece of “art” with objects, people, pets, and props you have at home. Photos of the original and your project will showcased by the end of February 28th in an online “art” show. To submit an art project, send an email to
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The Welcoming All Team in collaboration with our Faith in Action Network, 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, February 15 at 6:30pm or Sunday, February 28 at 2pm for our February discussion of the book, All Alone in the World: Children of the Incarcerated by Nell Bernstein. Discussion will be led by Unity Temple's ministerial intern, mandi huizenga. Sign up here or
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Registration is Open! General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. That remains true even when we cannot gather physically. Last year, GA had more than 4,900 registered attendees participate from remote locations around the world. For more information and to register go here.
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Virtual Women’s Retreat–February
26-28:: Sacred Cycles of a Woman’s Life
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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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Connection / Care CALLERS Needed!
In the spirit of our monthly theme, Beloved Community, check-in calls are being organized by the Care Team thru the month of February and we need volunteers to help! This small gesture could be the bright light someone needs during these dark and cold days of winter. We hope you will join our efforts to stay connected and to continue to support one another with love and kindness. If you would enjoy making calls to fellow members over the next couple of weeks, please contact tlewis@unitytemple.org.
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Let the Games Begin!
Friday, February 5 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
Why: Because it will will give us a chance to connect and have fun together!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 892 8857 5780
Passcode: unity
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Men's Retreat Virtual Event:: Rethinking Buddhist Practice for the Modern Man hosted by Terry Kinsey. Develop an understanding of "3 Marks of Existence" and the "4 Noble Truths'' through practice and discussion in break-out groups taking place on Saturday February 20 at 1pm. To register send name and email address to mensretreat@unitytemple.org. |
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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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. View video invitation here.
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Newcomer Orientation
Sunday, 2/7/21 from 11-12pm OR
Monday, 2/8/21 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, 2/21/21 11–12:30pm OR Monday, 2/22/21 to 7–8:30
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
Sunday, 2/14 from 11-12pm and
Wednesday, 2/17 from 7-8pm
Rev. Emily Gage
Sunday, 2/7 from 11-12pm and
Wednesday, 2/10 from 7-8pm
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Community Conversation with Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd
Following an inspiring sermon on Sunday, January 31 over a hundred members and friends gathered for a community conversation sponsored by the Welcoming All Team about whose imagination creates the reality of Unity Temple. Additional reflections on the experience may be sent to welcomingall@unitytemple.org. Next steps to come, stay tuned for more information.
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Unity Temple Faith In Action Network
Spiritually Grounded / Deeply Relational / Strategically Effective
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Transformative Justice
On January 10 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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The Black Church
Tuesday, February 9, 6-9pm. Join Community Renewal Society and WTTW for THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG, from executive producer, host and writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr. This moving two-part series traces the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America. After the screening, Sylvia Ewing will moderate an online conversation with community leaders, including: Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton (Executive Director, Community Renewal Society) and Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III (Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ). This event is free, but RSVP is required. Link to register.
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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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30 Days of Love :: Join Side with Love for 30 days of learning and action! View the complete list of webinars here. Registration is required. Questions? Contact: FaithinAction@unitytemple.org
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Save the Date! Immigration Justice Update
Thursday, February 25, 7:30-8:30pm
Join the Immigration Justice team for a conversation with Mony Ruiz-Velasco, a member of Unity Temple who is a human rights advocate, immigration lawyer, organizer, and the Associate Director for Network Power at Alianza Americas. Facilitated by Betty Alzamora. Register here.
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Legislative Advocacy Training– Saturday, March 6, 10–11:30am :: The Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois and Unitarian Universalist Prison
Ministry of Illinois invite you to join Director of Restore Justice, Jobi Cates, in a Legislative
Advocacy Training. We will spend time on big picture orientation followed by tips for
strategic organizing and advocacy. Register here.
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UU Advocacy Network of Illinois
Your Illinois legislators passed a sweeping reform of the criminal justice system in HB3653. HB 3653 contains proven approaches to improve police accountability and transparency, while reforming our criminal justice system to promote rehabilitation and reduce over-incarceration, racial disparities, and recidivism. Reforming our bail system will prioritize community safety and increase a focus on rehabilitation in the criminal justice system.
This bill is the latest demonstration of our state government’s multi-year commitment to make communities safer. Provisions of HB3653 will critically protect ALL our people impacted by the criminal justice system, within and without. Now, several of our allies are asking us to join our voices in a push to get Governor Pritzker to sign the bill. He has said he would, but delay only allows nay-sayers more time at the microphone.
Take Action! Allied with Coalition to End Money Bond, UU Prison Ministry of Illinois, and Community Renewal Society. Comments, questions, suggestions? Contact us.
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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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Online Sacred Wanderings February 6 (First Saturdays). We have discontinue our face-to-face meetings until further notice. Join us for forest bathing as well as meditation and mindfulness in the outdoors! For our online meeting you will define outdoors however you want. On a porch, deck, patio, in your yard, walking in a forest preserve with your smartphone or sitting inside looking at a plant, out a window or at a YouTube clip of a nature setting. Join Jay and Terry as we intentionally practice connecting with nature and surrounding ourselves with the energy of the natural world. Forest bathing is not taking a leisurely walk in the woods to enjoy the scenery. There's a specific intention in the practice to connect with the natural world and to gain benefit and energy from it. In other words, you are bathing in the energy of the trees, leaves, sky, and earth. Meditation and mindfulness assists in securing this intention.
We will merge with the online daily Mindful Reflection Community for the first 30 minutes and follow the schedule they usually follow. Then we will follow a modified SacredWandering Schedule.
Meeting opens at 8:25am.
ID: 373 008 242 / Passcode: 4IFrYx
One tap mobile:
+13126266799,,373008242#,,,,*940220#1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 373 008 242 / Passcode: 940220
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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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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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6th Graders Spreading Love for Valentine’s Day :: For this year’s 6th grade RE class, our social justice project is helping Housing Forward in their mission to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. We will collect and donate the things they need such as quarters for laundry & vending machines, toiletry items, and cleaning supplies. Our campaign will run through Valentine’s Day. You can drop off items at Gale House or arrange for pick-up through this Google Form.
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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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Make Plans for Valentine's Day weekend! On Saturday, February 13 at 8pm the UTRF Chamber Music Series will be presenting a VIRTUAL Valentine’s concert featuring three musical duos performing music of romance–recorded in our beloved sanctuary. The event is offered through Zoom and will include an audience Q&A after the concert with some of our artists. Tickets are $20 for general admission per household or $10 for students. For more information go here or contact Heidi Ruehle May (708) 260-6661 or heidi@utrf.org.
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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.
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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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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!
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