If you are having trouble viewing this email you can click to view in your web browser.

Homecoming Sunday | Water Communion

Revs. Roger Bertschausen & Emily Gage

August 25 marks our first Sunday morning with two worship services at 9am and 10:45am! This worship service is also our water celebration service; you are welcome to bring a small vial of water from your travels, literal or metaphorical to symbolize our coming together and celebrating the beginning of our program year. (The 9am service will be live-streamed and available as a recording afterwards. The 10:45am service will not be live-streamed or recorded.) 

July & August Theme: Possibility

Live Stream Worship at 9am | 10:45am service will not be live-streamed or recorded

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday's chalice table flowers are given by Madeleine Van Hecke in memory of Greg Risberg. This year marks the ten year anniversary of Greg’s death in November, 2014.

OFFERING : Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois

Unity Temple Gives. Each week, we split our Sunday collection with an organization that aligns with our values. Each week, Unity Temple splits the offering evenly. One half supports the programs and mission of our congregation. In August the other half will support the UUANI, Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois, which empowers Unitarian Universalists across Illinois to work in partnership with those most impacted by injustice. This August, we are spotlighting intersectional advocacy work. UUANI is providing support to our Vote Love team is supported by UUANI, and you can support election based Vote Love actions, by joining their letter and postcard writing to encourage voter participations. You can sign up and find out more at uuani.org.

You may donate by placing cash or check in one of the circulating baskets during the service OR:

• by sending a check to the Unity Temple office (875 Lake St., Oak Park, 60301) with org name on memo line, 
• by texting 73256 with the message UTUUC and select “Offering,” 
• by using the camera on your phone to scan the QR code on the screen during the Offertory. 
• You can also give at the UTUUC website. 

Sunday Worship Services August 25 marks our move to two worship services; 9am and 10:45am! The 9am service will be live-streamed and available as a recording afterwards. The 10:45am service will not be live-streamed or recorded. You can access the live stream on YouTube at 9am here.

Community Hour Join us after each service at Community Hour for refreshments and fellowship in Unity House.

Annual Women's Connection Barbecue

All women are invited to this year's BBQ, on Sunday August 25 (Homecoming Sunday) at Jenny Earlandson's backyard. Come at 2pm if you would like to attend the planning meeting. We will talk about the Annual Women's Retreat to be held February 21-23 at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien. We will also talk about potlucks and other events to be held throughout the year. You do not have to be on the committee to join the meeting, we would love your ideas.

Food will be served at 3:30pm. The committee will supply brats, burgers and veggie burgers and some drinks. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. You may come to the meeting, barbecue or both! Hope to see you there! womensconnection@unitytemple.org.

Looking to make a real impact in our congregation? The Nominations Committee is seeking passionate members to join the Board of Trustees or a Board Committee! Why get involved?

• Deepen your connections within UTUUC
• Enrich your spiritual journey
• Serve the common good with your skills and time
• Interested?

Learn more and apply by August 31 or email nominations@unitytemple.org. The opportunity is open to all who have been voting members of UTUUC for at least one year. Together, we can shape a vibrant future for our congregation!

The LGBTQ+Gender & Reproductive Justice Team Is Hosting a Movie Screening Join the team for a screening of Grandma to kick off Reproductive Justice month! The movie is simultaneously funny and serious about abortion access. Screening will be followed with a discussion among UT friends new and old. Bring a guest, everyone is welcome. Screening will take place on Friday, September 6 at 7pm at 1019 South Blvd. Please allow 1 week advanced notice to request childcare at LGBTQGenderReproductive@unitytemple.org.

2024-2025 RE Registration is Here! 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 $100 per child. These fees help support all elements of our program. Scholarships are granted by request to Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org.  Please register your child/children for Religious Education on our website by using this link.

Tuesday Evening Mindful Reflection Community We meet virtually and in person in Unity House at Unity Temple. Meeting opens at 7pm CDT for camaraderie. The program starts promptly at 7:20pm and ends at 9pm. Doors will be locked at 7:30pm. 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.

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. 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 8:30am Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting here.

Sacred Wanderings On Saturday, September 7, the Mindful Community will partner with Trailside Museum's Migrating Monarchs Celebration by sponsoring the Xochitl-Quetzal Aztec Dance performers. Location: North Pavilion, Thatcher Woods,  8030 Chicago Ave. River Forest, IL You don't want to miss it! Join us for any of this event. 

Here is the schedule:

8:30-10:45am Sacred Wandering

11am Food Truck and socializing

12pm Monarch Butterfly Festival

12:30pm Aztec Dancers begin

Choir Rehearsals Have Begun! We are excited to announce that Unity Temple Choir rehearsals have resumed. We rehearse Wednesdays from 7-9pm in Unity House. We invite singers with choral experience of all voice types to join us. Our first worship performance will be on September 15. Choir membership is open throughout the year, but this is the most ideal time to get an overview of our upcoming repertoire. Please contact Music Director, Marty Swisher music@unitytemple.org if you have any questions.

The Unity Temple Players express liturgical themes through popular music. The band also anchors UTUUC’s annual Spring Music Festival. Tracing their origin to 1996, the Players’ current core comprises Audrey Gullotto, Doug Cole, Ray Holdsworth, Jim Parks and Larry Pilon. You can catch them playing this Sunday!

Folks have been writing up a storm . . . let’s keep the momentum going! The next sessions will be Tuesday night August 27 and then Sundays after service on September 1, 8 and 15.

Unity Temple Faith In Action Network

Passionate about Democracy? Immigration? Eco Justice? Prison Ministry? LGBTQ+ and Reproductive issues? Whatever you care about, search our Faith in Action calendar to find what’s happening at Unity Temple that fits your interests and your schedule.

UUANI empowers Unitarian Universalists across Illinois to work for spiritually grounded, relationally accountable,  and strategically effective action in solidarity with those most impacted by injustice. We provide leadership training, build congregational capacity and organize statewide advocacy efforts in loving accountability with our partners. Our Actions of the Week make it easy for UUs to make a difference. Together, we seek to bend the arc toward justice. Learn more and get news here.

green tip: Is your garden bursting with produce right now? Instead of hiding zucchini in friend’s cars, donate it to your local food pantry. Beyond Hunger accepts food donations at First United church during the week, except for Wednesday, from 9am to 4pm. If you have a green tip you’d like to share, contact ecojustice@unitytemple.org. You can find a list of green tips here.

Immigration Justice

Helping Our Migrant Neighbors

• To donate, go here. To volunteer, go here.
• Volunteer opportunity on Tuesdays and Thursdays to assist with the following: greeters; toiletries distribution; clothing distribution; play with the children; set-up; clean-up; serve breakfast or provide breakfast foods. 
• Click here for the updated donations flier, to see what types of clothing and supplies are needed. Drop donations off on Mondays 9am – 12pm, at 200 S Oak Park Ave.
• To help sort donations on Mondays sign up here.
• Accompany a migrant family on their journey!  Help them to settle into their new apartment, shop for groceries, learn about transportation/paying bills, etc. It takes a team of people to help a migrant family. You can be part of that team.  Please email immigrantministry@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about joining our group of “Migrant Shepherds!”

UTUUC Cares For those of us who are facing life challenges, help is available. The Caring Committee arranges for meals and other practical assistance for those in need of help due to illness and other life limitations. Reach out to caring@unitytemple.org. And if you would like a compassionate ear when facing troubling circumstances, trained, commissioned members of the Spiritual Care Team are available to meet with you. The team can be reached at spiritualcare@unitytemple.org.

Hospitality Volunteers Needed Are you ready to make a difference and have a blast while doing it? We're on the lookout for more friendly and enthusiastic  volunteers to join our amazing hospitality team. You are invited to sign up to volunteer here. If you have any questions or ideas to share, please send an email 

hospitality@unitytemple.org.

Men's Retreat Virtual Event The Invisible Partners: How the Male and Female in Wach of Us Affects Our Relationships. Facilitated by Illuman. On Saturday, September 14, 2024, 10am–12pm (CDT) via Zoom. Reach out to mensretreat@unitytemple.org to register. Open to all who identify as male. Donation requested.

UTUUC Office Hours Staff are present at 1019 South Blvd from 9am–3pm, Tuesday through Thursday. Otherwise, staff can be reached via email and appointments made for other days/times. Please note, staff in-office hours do not affect congregant access for events.

Chalice Table Reservations We welcome floral arrangements or other decorations such as objects from nature or spiritual symbols to be included on our Chalice Table during worship on Sunday mornings. Please refrain from political/campaign related objects as they will be removed. To reserve a date, please fill out this form. Thank you for contributing to our worship experience. For assistance contact

flowers@unitytemple.org.

Guidelines for submissions to the eBeacon newsletter can be found here.

Congregational Life Table Reservation Would you like to reserve a table to promote congregational happenings during Community Hour in Unity House? Hosting a table is a great way to make sure congregants know how to participate in events, activities, and service opportunities. To reserve space contact vridenour@unitytemple.org.

We Celebrate Our Differences :: The beloved community includes people with diverse life experiences. Here at Unity Temple we call people to live out the values of our faith: interdependence, pluralism, justice, equity, generosity and transformation. 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.

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

Land Acknowledgement of Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation, read here.