Sunday, June 20 at 10:15 a.m. via Livestream

Juneteenth recognizes and celebrates African-American freedom, commemorating the historic event on June 19th, 1865, when the news about the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached the enslaved residents of Galveston, Texas. This Juneteenth we will be celebrating the passing of the Eighth Principle at our annual meeting and hearing from local people about how Juneteenth has mattered to them. This service will be collaborative with other Central Illinois UU churches.

Please send your joys or sorrows to joysandsorrows@uucuc.org any time before the Joys and Sorrows portion of the service. They will be read aloud.

Join out online Zoom Fellowship Hour after the service on Sunday (around 11:30a.m.). Come chat with UUCUC members and friends! All are welcome.

If you have missed any of the previous live streamed services, you can view them at our past streamed services page. You can also view previous live streamed services on our YouTube channel.

COVID-19 - Updates & Resources - Includes Latest Updates on Reopening and Off-Campus Meeting Guidelines

Sunday, June 27 at 10:45 a.m. via Livestream

First Universalist has been a model of shared ministry and what it means to put the work of dismantling white supremacy and building anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices at the center of their ministry. They have been on the front lines in support of the Movement for Black Lives in Minneapolis, bringing spiritual care and moral leadership in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by police and the important uprisings for justice that followed. Children and families are a vital part of their ministry, and they have been using creative approaches to engage all ages in worship during the pandemic. Their leadership exemplifies some of the best practices for the creativity, spiritual depth, and moral leadership that is possible when we embrace the work of shared ministry rooted in love and justice. Music will be offered through collaboration with 2021 GA Choir Director Susan Mashiyama, the GA virtual choir, and musicians from First Universalist.

Bookmark our UUCUC Events and UUCUC Calendar webpages for future reference.

New adult religious education offerings for 2021 have been announced in the Adult Religious Education Prospectus earlier this month. It promises to be a fun semester of classes, workshops, discussion and creative learning. The adult religious education committee is working on new programs to be added to this semester’s program. Keep an eye here for updates! Also, updates will be included in the eNews and on the church calendar.

Please consider donating to the Little Free Pantries run by Julie Laut and AJ Herzog, which they have kept active daily since late spring. In order to address increased and unique needs this winter, they have created an Amazon wish list. All items will be delivered to Julie's house and shared between the two pantries. Donations of all items will continue to be accepted as usual at both locations, if you want to bring them in person.

Thank you for your support and generosity ~ Julie and AJ

JOYS AND SORROWS sent to joysandsorrows@uucuc.org last Sunday, June 13.

From the Pitcel Family: Joy as Michelle's MRI showed no new lesions.

From Tanja Hodges: My "Little" nephew got to go to his first dance last night. Grateful for Facebook and sharing memories there.

From Ursulla Idleman: Joy that it is so much easier now than in my past to just be myself and love who I love in public spaces. Gender is fake. Sexuality is a spectrum. It's all gorgeous.

From Jim and Sandy Hannum: We celebrate our son Jeff's birthday today, and our daughter, Christy's, marriage to her wife, Miryam.

From Umeeta Sadarangani: I just heard of the unexpected death of Robert Laible, 55. He was a gifted artist, jeweler, and teacher and beloved husband and father. Robert made the rings for Marilyn’s and my ceremony fifteen years ago; he was on my mind when I heard he’d died at Carle Hospital last Tuesday. Please keep his wife, Denise, and daughter, Hannah, in your hearts.

From Umeeta Sadarangani and Marilyn Ryan: On June 17, we will celebrate 22 years together. June 17 will also be the 15th anniversary of our commitment ceremony in our church sanctuary. Before legal recognition for our relationship, before pride trended on social media (before most social media existed!), this church supported our "act of prophetic defiance"--as we called it that day--and members of our choir sang in our ceremony. We are grateful for this welcoming congregation and for all who have worked for legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Thank you!

From Gail Cohen: Sending healing thoughts and prayers to Katy. Hope your surgery tomorrow goes off without a hitch!

From Sally Fritsche: Healing thoughts for Laura Wetzel, who was briefly admitted to Carle this past week. She is now at home, but is still very much in need of the care and support of her church community.

From David Gross: Friday, June 11, was the 55th wedding anniversary for David and Claudia Gross.

Please send your joys or sorrows to joysandsorrows@uucuc.org any time before the Joys and Sorrows portion of the service. They will be read aloud.

UUCUC Social Action Offering. Each month a selected organization is chosen to receive offerings from our congregation. You may donate to the social action offering for the month in one of the following ways:

During the month of June, we will support the Greater Community AIDS Project. Jerry Carden was the founding chair of GCAP, which later changed it’s name from Gay to Greater as we learned anyone could become infected, not just the gay community. The face of the disease and the needs of those infected have morphed, but the financial assistance is still necessary. Mission and goals: Ascertain and express gay community concerns related to HIV/AIDS; keep ourselves informed to educate persons of ALL orientations about HIV; provide direct support services to Persons With AIDS and their loved ones; collaborate in these tasks with social service agencies and healthcare providers; raise funds (at first with donations and memorials) and later with grant writing.

During the month of May 2021, the Equal Justice Initiative was selected to be the recipient of the shared offering. As of June 16, the UUCUC congregation contributed a total of $3,695!

Dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit our UUCUC Calendar page.

As of March 2020, the UUCUC building closed as a preventative measure to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community. All upcoming scheduled meetings and events at UUCUC listed on the calendar should be considered virtual unless noted otherwise. At this time, we are strongly recommending that no groups meet in person.

Last day for content: Tuesday, June 22 by 5pm at the latest.

Read our policy on publications for details.

Please send your submittals to pubs@uucuc.org and not to the admin email.

Closed until further notice

Need reimbursement for a purchase or two made on behalf of a committee project? Fill out this online reimbursement form, which will go to the DCA, and submit your receipts via email, if applicable.