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Goosebumps | Rev. Emily Gage

July & August Theme: Possibility

Live Stream Worship at 10am

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday's chalice table flower arrangement consists of wildflowers from Rich Whitney’s yard.

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 be given to the Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois. One easy way you can join in their advocacy efforts and make a difference is by subscribing to UUANI’s Action of the week. Actions of the Week are focused opportunities to take action in support of our Unitarian Universalist values AND the partner organizations representing those who are most impacted.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 Service In-person and online options for worship are now offered. You can access the live stream on YouTube at 10am here.

Community Hour Join us after the livestream Sunday morning service at Community Hour for refreshments and fellowship in Unity House.

Pathway to Membership Our next session will be this Sunday, August 11 from Noon-3:30pm. The Pathway to Membership class provides an opportunity to learn about our mission, programs, operations, volunteer opportunities and more. Questions? Please reach out to Val Ridenour at membership@unitytemple.org.

Write Letters to Voters and Support Democracy this Summer! Join the Democracy in Action / Vote Love team after service in Unity House August 11 & 18 from 11am - 12:30pm to write letters to voters in swing states! The notes are short, and you'll be provided with materials and instructions, though the team welcomes you to bring your own stamps if you can. On Tuesday August 13 you can also join the team for letter writing from 6:30-8pm at 1019. For any questions, to donate stamps or get more involved contact votelove@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!

Homecoming Sunday is August 25 & 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. Can't wait to see you there and then! (The 9am service will be live-streamed and available as a recording afterwards. The 10:45am service will not be recorded.) 

Food & Fellowship 

Monthly "Brown-Bag Lunch with the Minister(s)" will take place on August 15, the third Thursday of the month from 11:30am–12:30pm. These new opportunities to connect will be in person at 1019 South Blvd. AND, don't forget to bring your lunch!

Monthly Board Meeting This Tuesday The Board of Trustees meets in-person each month, at 1019 South Blvd. Meetings begin promptly at 6:30 and run until 8pm. Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month. The agenda for this Tuesday can be found in here.

Rainbow Connections Monthly Meeting Do you consider yourself part of the queer UTUUC community? If so, please join us on Thursday, August 15, from 7–8:30pm for our monthly Rainbow Connections  meeting. (Allies are welcome, on occasion, by invitation only.) We will be meeting at Terry and Jay’s home in Forest Park. Weather permitting, we will gather on their lovely outdoor deck! This month's topic is TBD. We will also have a Zoom option which can be accessed here. For address contact rainbow@unitytemple.org.

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.

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.

Call for Cookies Our cookie supply is running low. Donations are now being gratefully accepted. If you would like to donate a package or two of cookies, please drop them off in the kitchen on Sunday mornings. Note: NO NUTS. Also, gluten free cookies are much appreciated too. Thank you!

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.

The UTUUC All-Congregation Retreat is a great occasion for new or long-term UTUUC members of all ages, whether single, couples, or families to play, talk, relax, and be together in a country setting near the shores of Lake Michigan. Join us Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, October 11-13, at Tower Hill Camp in Sawyer MI.  Registration is available to members using Realm-our online database and directory. Registration includes a $75 Retreat Fee which includes light dinner on Friday (there will be a sign-up to bring extras!), three meals on Saturday, Sunday breakfast, snacks, materials for crafts and sessions, and s’mores around the campfire. On top of the per-person retreat fee, each person/family unit will also have a room fee for the weekend, with many room options available! Questions? Reach out to annualretreat@unitytemple.org.

Mindful Reflection Community Retreat Developing Skills to Flourish as a Human Being is a 3 day retreat that takes place Friday thru Sunday, August 30–September 1, 2024 at the YMCA Camp Duncan, 32405 N. US Highway 12, Ingleside, IL. Join us for a partially silent and community building Buddhist inspired retreat. Arrive Friday night or Saturday morning. Leave Saturday night or Sunday noon. Sliding scale cost from $80-$180. Scholarships available. Learn more here. Register here.

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.

Doug Cotsamire has been a member of Unity Temple for 15 years. He sang his first season with the Unity Temple choir, since retiring from his Rheumatology practice a year ago. His passion is playing the piano. He has been taking classical lessons from Perry Johnson in Oak Park for over 10 years.

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: Earthjustice is an environmental law organization that does amazing work for environmental justice. Their weekly newsletters offer information and chances for advocacy with your elected officials, the EPA and governmental agencies. Sign up at www.earthjustice.org. 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 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.