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Sunday, May 22
Worship Service - 9:15 and 11:00am
How to be a blessing: some everyday practices of attention and intentionality. Rev. Connie Grant speaking
Children's Religious Education - 9:15 and 11:00am
Preschool, kindergarten-first grade, second-third-fourth grade, and fifth-sixth grade classes meet from 9:15-10:30 and 11:00-12:15. The seventh-eighth grade class and the senior high youth group meet at 11:00. All will begin in the sanctuary for the first part of the worship service before going to classes. Childcare for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is available from 9:00-12:30.
Non Fiction Book Group - 12:30pm
Non fiction Book Group is discussing Family Properties: How the Struggle Over Race and Real Estate Transformed Chicago and Urban America. Join the nonfiction book group to discuss native Chicagoan Beryl Satter's book about race and real estate in Lawndale in the years after World War II. Learn about redlining, contract buying, and slum landlords and the crusade launched against the profiteers by attorney Mark Satter and community activists.
Crackerbarrel - 9:30am
"Sex Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery"
Sex trafficking is modern day slavery. Did you know: that between 16 and 24,000 girls, boys and women are trafficked in the Chicagoland area, each serving up to 40 customers per day? The Jewish Coalition Against Sex Trafficking Chicago (JCAST), founded in 2014, raises awareness and advocates for policies supporting vulnerable youth and survivors. Donna Fishman serves as Co-Chair for JCAST and Chair of the Illinois State Policy Advocacy Network for the National Council of Jewish Women. Discussion Leader: Donna Fishman. Website: http://www.jcastchicago.org/
The Chris Isely Cancer Support Group
This Sunday at 9:15am
The group is open to anyone facing cancer, either personally or through a family member or friend. This lay-led group is a safe place for sharing and hope. Interested participants are encouraged to drop in any time. Questions? Contact Renee Hoff or Brian Meister.
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From the
Congregational Life Minister - Religious Education and Pastoral Care
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This is a vision for our religious education program that restructures our curriculum in ways that are holistic, multigenerational, and multidimensional. In this vision, participants--learners and teachers
all--will be engaged and enthusiastic about exploring ideas, developing relationships, and putting values into action.
What if we restructure our religious education curriculum to focus on broad themes rooted in the principles and sources of our Unitarian Universalist faith, across ages and grade levels? What if we broadly and deeply explore, over the course of the next year, what it means to respect, revere, and participate in the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part? Click here to read more.
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Breaking the Chains of Racism: Freeing Ourselves to Be the Beloved Community Wednesday, May 25, 6:00-9pm
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Join us for the final REAL workshop of the year! Expect a shift in understanding and a move toward action, both individually and communally.
EXPECT TRANSFORMATION.
ACCEPT NOTHING LESS.
BE THERE!
Everyone welcome - Newcomers or oldtimers!
Snacks will be provided starting at 6pm. For further information, contact Martha Holman.
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Secretary to the Board of Trustees
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The UCE Board of Trustees is seeking applicants for position of Secretary to the Board. Jim Clark is stepping down from his position as Secretary to the Board of Trustees in June, after six years of excellent service.
The Board is seeking a volunteer to take up this important role. The primary duties of the position are taking detailed minutes at all monthly Board meetings and preparing them for circulation to core church leaders.
We are seeking an individual with some office experience, flexibility, basic familiarity with a range of UCE activities and governance practices, good work relationships, and able to serve the Board with discretion. Proficiency with Microsoft Word or an equivalent software product is essential. Applicants for the volunteer position: Send an email to the Board President, expressing why they are interested in serving the church in this important role and describing pertinent prior experience. Brian Nielsen
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Reparations Study Advocacy
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At our Annual Congregational Meeting on May 15, more than 97 percent of members present voted to approve a resolution expressing support for HR 40: "The Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act," introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative John Conyers, Jr. This position will be communicated to our legislators, public officials, and media outlets. Letters have already been sent to Representative Conyers and Representative Jan Schakowsky (click here for letter to Rep. Schakowsky). We will also advocate within the UUA and with other area religious institutions. A small group is being formed to implement our advocacy of this legislation and its rationale, including ways to facilitate UCE members who wish to individually express their support.
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News from CRS, UUANI, UU Prison Ministry - advocacy successes and challenges Submitted by Dale Griffin
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Community Renewal Society (CRS) has focused this year on job opportunities for people with records, police accountability, and adequate support for education and social services, all as moral issues, and many UCE members have been active participants. These issues are receiving more attention lately. Some progress is happening and more is yet to come. WBEZ had a story this week about how a third of all jobs in Illinois require some kind of license to perform them, and how that can be a lifetime barrier for people with records, unless laws are changed. CRS has four bills that on this that have made it through committees and in one case further. They may be passed this month! Click here to read more.
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Girls' Night Out - Last Chance! Don't Miss This, Ladies!
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A few open spaces remain for Girls' Night Out. Friday, June 3, on church east lawn at 6:30pm (new time).
Delicious dinner, great desserts, lovely conversation and good old fashioned fun at a time-honored event. Call 847-736-8322 to reserve a spot now!
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Restoration Last Sunday
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Several UCE members joined in the twice yearly forest restoration project of the Evanston Interreligious Sustainability Circle last Sunday. UCE has been a big part of this over the years, and the forest preserve is more natural and beautiful as a result. It is a nice (usually!) afternoon in the woods, with fresh air and exercise. As one participant said, "How often do you get to go into the forest preserve, cut down stuff and burn it in a bonfire?" (We only do this to invasive buckthorn and other non-native species, all under the supervision of trained and certified forest preserve stewards Jane and John Balaban). Thanks participants. Questions? Contact Dale Griffin at DaleCGriffin@comcast.net.
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Recently Retired (But Never Retiring) Women
Tuesday, May 24, 5:00pm
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After our wonderful Potluck (at our new start time), please come to follow up on our beginning discussion of "What Do We Want and How Do We Want to Get There?" This relates to both our group and ourselves! Please come with ideas for the summer and for next year. Please come even if you don't have ideas for the summer or next year, but DO want to participate! For more information, feel free to contact Margie Rogasner.
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Being Mortal
Concludes Tuesday, May 24
7:00 - 9:00pm
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Join us to gain new insights into such important current issues as quality of life, crucial conversations, advance directives, hospice care, and elective dying as we explore the book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End (Metropolitan Books, 2014), available at the Book H.Author Atul Gawande, a practicing surgeon, turns his attention to age and infirmity, and how 'the medicalization of death' is failing us. Noting the difficulties that doctors and relatives have with end of life issues, Gawande argues that survival should not be the main concern, but rather well-being. In a war you cannot win "You don't want a general who fights to the point of total annihilation," he suggests. "You don't want Custer. You want Robert E. Lee who knows how to fight for territory that can be won and how to surrender when it can't." Facilitated by Cathy Deamant, Carol Nielsen, and Dick Whitaker.
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Upcoming Membership Classes
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Intro to Unitarian Universalism
Sunday, June 5, 12:30 - 2pm
Led by Rev. Bret Lortie, we'll look at our history, our principles, the sources of our faith, and the meaning of covenant. This is the first step in the membership process.
Orientation Toward Membership
Saturday, June 11, 9am - noon
Led by Rev. Connie Grant, Membership Director, Eileen Wiviott, and members of the New Member Committee. An interactive class exploring our spiritual journeys, the diversity of our beliefs, and what it means to be a member of this congregation. This is the second step in the membership process.
Sign up at the Guest & Member Table in the lobby or email Eileen Wiviott at ewiviott@hotmail.com. There will be childcare available upon request for both of these classes. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need childcare.
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Upcoming UCE Events
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Click each event for more information.
Saturday, May 21, 7:30pm
Howard Levy's Musical Worlds
Tuesday, May 24, 5:00pm
Recently Retired (But Never Retiring) Women
Tuesday, May 24, 7pm
Being Mortal
Wednesday, May 25, 6pm
Breaking the Chains of Racism
Wednesday, May 25, 7pm
Sing Thing
Friday, May 27, 4pm
Garden Swap
Sunday, June 5, 12:30pm
Intro to UU
Saturday, June 11, 9am
Orientation Towards Membership
Sunday, June 12, 11am
UCE All Church Potluck Picnic
Monday, June 20, 6:30pm
Ecstatic Dance
Thursday Nights, 5:30pm
Meditation Group
Thursday Nights, 7pm
UCE Addictions Ministry Group
Sunday Mornings, 8:15am & Wednesday Mornings, 9:30am
Yoga
Saturdays at 10:00am
Open Drumming Circles
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Sing Thing
Wednesday, May 25, 7:00pm
All are welcome! If you play a folk type musical instrument, or anything else that would blend with guitars and banjos, please bring it. Or just come and sing along!
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Garden Swap
Friday, May 27, 4-7pm
Plants, Seedlings, Divisions. Garden items: books, tools, crafts, pots, recipes. Come with something you have to share, leave with something you want to grow.
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All Church Potluck Picnic
Sunday, June 12, 11:00am
Celebrate the coming of summer with UCE's all church potluck picnic after the service on Sunday, June 12. Meat and meatless options will be provided. Please bring a dish to share for 10-12 people. If you are willing and able to help with set up, serving, or cleaning up, please contact Eileen Wiviott at ewiviott@hotmail.com. This is a time for us to gather as a community, enjoy each other and thank each other for a wonderful year. Don't miss it!
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Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate
Sunday, June 19
The 17th Annual Race Against Hate will take place Sunday, June 19 at Floyd Long Field Park in Evanston starting at 7:30am. This family-friendly event, which features a 5K, 10K, walk, and youth mile, draws thousands of people from all over Chicagoland to honor the legacy of Ricky Byrdsong and promote awareness and activism to eliminate racism. Proceeds support YWCA Evanston/North Shore programming in our communities, especially in the areas of racial justice and violence prevention. Learn more and register at www.ywca.org/RAH2016. Be sure to join the UCE Black Lives Matter team!
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Opportunities
for Spiritual Practice
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Ministers' Schedules
Rev. Bret Lortie is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and by appointment. Monday is sabbath and Friday devoted to writing. To send a message or read Rev. Bret's blog, visit www.liberalfaith.org.
Rev. Connie Grant is generally in the office during the day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and often has evening meetings on those days. She takes Mondays off and works at home on Fridays. Please email or call Connie for an appointment.
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