A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Join us for worship and religious education at 9:15 and 11:00am on Sunday Morning!
The UCE office will be closed on Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Holly Near in Concert at UCE -  Hosted by WomanSpirit 2018 -  Saturday, February 3, 2018 -  7:30pm
Tickets are $26.50 and available on the UCE website - ucevanston.org 
Click the Tickets/Giving tab at the top right on the home page
January 12, 2018
Sunday, January 14
"Whose Are We?" 
9:15 and 11:00am
On Martin Luther King's birthday we consider what calls us to the work of justice. Who claims our hearts? Who owns our intentions? Rev. Bret Lortie speaking. This is a worship service for all ages.

Childcare for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is available from 9:00-12:30.

Journeys 2 Justice - 12:30pm
Join us for an interactive hour that will inspire and empower you to do the work of justice. At these gatherings, we explore the challenges and opportunities of transformative justice and equity making. This is a great opportunity for those new to the congregation to find ways to get involved and for those who have been engaged in the work to process your experiences.

Crackerbarrel - 9:30am
"The Seraj Library Project - Palestine"
The Seraj Library Project has been creating children's libraries on the West Bank of Palestine for the past ten years and just completed its eighth in the town of Jiftlek, just north of Jericho in the Jordan River Valley.  As these libraries have matured, they have become centers for civic engagement in a country that lives under military occupation.   The story of how Seraj came into being provides a window into Palestinian life and an opportunity to explore the challenges Palestinians face as they reknit their culture and rebuild a civic society.   Galen Burghardt is a member of their board.  Discussion Leader: Galen Burghardt  (more information on the Seraj Library Project is available at  https://www.serajlibraries.org )
 
Join us to Stand in support of Black Lives Matter
12:10pm-12:30pm
You are invited to stand on Ridge Avenue between 12:10pm and 12:30pm to support the Black Lives Matter movement.  Signs and buttons are available for purchase at the back of the sanctuary. Signs and song lyrics will be provided for use.  Sponsored by the REAL team.

The Chris Isely Cancer Support Group -  9:30am
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. 
Rev. Eileen Wiviott
Intention and the Sanctuary Resolution Team

Now that we have voted as a congregation to adopt the Evanston Sanctuary Community Resolution, what's next? We have been gathering names of those interested in helping with this effort and a team will be meeting on Saturday, January 20 th at 10 a.m. to determine and plan the steps we can take toward fulfilling our statement of intent. This month's Soul Matters theme is Intention and so it is fitting to practice turning our intentions into actions. Click here to read more.
Sunday, January 21, 9:30am
"Artificial Intelligence"
Discussion Leader:  Jeremy Paradoe and Scot Campbell

Sunday, January 28, 9:30am
"Simplicity"
Discussion Leader: Dick Whitaker

Sunday, February 4, 9:30am
"Haidt - Conservative and Liberal Morality Revisited"
Discussion Leader: Jack Cooksey

Click here for more information about these topics.
Empty Bowls - What You Need to Know
Sunday, February 11, 12:00pm emptybowls
What? "Fill Your Bowl and Warm Their Hearts" Fundraiser
Who? Co-sponsored by the Food and Shelter Team and the Rainbow Alliance. Beautiful, handmade pottery bowls donated by our very creative members and friends
When? Sunday, Feb.11 after the 11am service. *NOTE THIS IS NOT SUPERBOWL SUNDAY
Where? UCE
Why? We have food insecure people in our community. Donations will help provide food for Interfaith Action Produce Mobile, Hillside Food Pantry, and the Youth Empowerment Performance Project (LGBTQ youth)
How? How can you help? Use the links to volunteer for food and/or helping. Everyone is invited to share in a delicious lunch of soups, chilis, bread and extras.

Special Guest - "THE BREAD MAN" will be there!

Post your Reviews of UCE on Social Media socialmedia
Whatever app you use, post a review of your experience at UCE. We hope you find meaning, joy and healthy challenge in our community. And we hope that others who would benefit from a community like ours will find us. If you want to share the impact that our congregation has had on your life, consider writing a quick, positive review of our church on Facebook, Yelp, Google maps, Twitter, Instagram or whatever apps you use.
Reviving a tradition started by artist and UCE member Rosemary Zwick, The Rosemary Zwick Night of the Arts this year is Saturday, February 10 from 6-9pm. The cost is $5.00 per person, or $15.00 per family. The sanctuary will be filled with people of all ages enjoying a variety of art projects. Some projects will be individual for taking home, and some will be group projects for display. Make a valentine for your honey, enjoy music and noshes, and ward off the winter blahs. It may be cold outside, but we'll keep it warm and cozy inside making art. If you are interested in doing a project, helping or attending, contact Johna Van Dyke  or Will Van Dyke.
Held on Sunday, January 14th, at 2:00pm at Alice Millar Chapel, this service will be co-sponsored by several faith communities, including Second Baptist and the Unitarian Church of Evanston.  Our own Reverend Bret Lortie will be a part of the service, and we encourage UCE members and friends to attend and be a part of this community event celebrating the legacy of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.   Look for inspiration and a real sense of community at the famous and beautiful chapel on Northwestern's campus - at the corner of Sheridan Road and Chicago Avenue.  Sit side by side with people from many different faith communities bringing their concerns for a better world to this service.  
Are you interested in going to the UUA General Assembly next summer in Kansas City (June 20 through 24) but are not sure you'd be able to afford it?  UCE offers up to three $800 stipends to encourage attending GA, and maybe you can apply for one!  You can learn more about GA at https://www.uua.org/ga .   Applications for the stipend are available at http://ucevanston.org/denominational-affairs and on the Denominational Affairs bulletin board between Rooms 1 and 2 in the main hall off the lobby.  The deadline for completed applications is February 15, 2018.
Please join Community Renewal Society for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Faith in Action, Monday Jan. 15, 8:30-12:00.  The event includes celebration, testimony (on issues such as youth, housing, jobs and violence prevention), accountability session with Chicago public officials, and a Governor's Candidate Forum. There is an optional lunch at MacArthur's Restaurant afterwards.  RSVP to  Becky Goldberg  or  Dale Griffin  so we can plan seating and transportation.

As part of the event the Community Renewal Society will host a Governor's Candidate Forum, giving CRS congregations and community members an opportunity to hear where each candidate stands on the most important issues facing our community.  All 5 Democratic candidates for Governor will attend (Biss, Pritzker, Kennedy, Daiber and Hardiman) and also one Republican candidate (Ives).  Gov. Rauner also has been invited.
As you may have heard, UCE and Women in Religion are hosting the Women's Spirit Weekend on February 2-3, 2018. It's a weekend to celebrate the feminine spirit with a variety of activities and seminars. It will culminate with a concert on Saturday night with Holly Near.  

We are looking for people to help support our efforts to raise funds for the church through the traditional Friday Night Soup Dinner.  We need to serve a lot of people a lot of soup and could use your help.  I've got the recipes and I'm hoping you can help make a batch or two to donate to our Friday night efforts.  We are also looking for extra help in the kitchen to prepare and serve both Friday night and Saturday lunches.  Please contact Liz Goodwin  with your willingness to help out!  Many hands make light work and we love many hands helping out!  Thank you in advance for your consideration.  
We will discuss The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan. The book is available in several formats. You can find it at the Book H at UCE, public libraries, and online.  The book gives us a new way of looking at history and shows how the fate of the West has always been inextricably linked to the East. It was on the Silk Roads that East and West first encountered each other through trade and conquest, leading to the spread of ideas, cultures, and religions. We need to understand this history in order to understand what is currently at stake for the cities and nations built on these trade routes.  All are welcome to attend.
The New Year is upon us, and it is time to make your New Year's resolutions.  One resolution that we can help  you with is to compost your food waste to demonstrate your caring for our green planet.  Join with other church members this year in using the church's composting service for a small annual contribution of $60 per person (up to a $180 maximum per household). You may have noticed the two green containers at the southeast corner of our church parking lot.  They are there for your use once you have committed to this service.

If you are interested in joining this movement for 2018, fill out this form and submit it to the church office (by mail or in person) and we will sign you up.  And for an additional $10, we will provide you with your very own kitchen counter composting bucket.  (Plastic bags are not acceptable containers because they are not compostable.)  If you have any questions about this program, please contact Compost Program Coordinator John LaPlante.
Presented by the REAL (Racial Equity) Team and OPAL (Organization for Positive Action and Leadership)

Save the date(s) for some enlightening videos and discussion. On January 16 and 23 we'll view some short films that provide new insight into where we've been and where can we go. These will include archival footage of an intense 1960's march in Cicero, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's marvelous "Danger of the Single Story," a Jay Smooth (hip-hopper) lesson on maintaining equity hygiene (you don't just brush your teeth once and they're done for life), and some other short and well-worth-it videos. On January 30 we'll watch the recently released "I Am Not Your Negro," with James Baldwin. If you haven't seen this before (or even if you have) it is an experience you will not regret.  FREE POPCORN! Click here to sign up.
We're talking about the Evanston Emergency Overnight Shelter, sponsored by Interfaith Action. We are participants at UCE and will host people during the weeks of Feb. 25, Mar. 4, and Mar. 18, providing the night time temperature will be 15 degrees or lower. 
 
I was curious, myself, so I took a short training in the Fall. Volunteers are needed for three time frames: set up 8-9:30pm; overnight 9:30pm-7am; cleanup 6-7am. I didn't intend to ever do the overnight shift, but when extreme temperatures were sustained during the holiday period, I decided I'd give it a try. Click here to read more.
Tearing Down Walls - Building Up - Connections, Community and Solidarity - A UU Justice Event

Join us at Countryside Church UU in Palatine - Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24. Register at UUPMI.org. Click here for more information.
The song, "I Am Willing," written by Holly Near, is the theme of Womanspirit this year at the Unitarian Church of Evanston on Feb 2-4, 2018. In the world we are living in, we need to renew our hope and strengthen ourselves within a community of kindred spirits. Holly's activism, music and very life inspire and model what we need to be nourished and emboldened.

Holly Near will be giving the plenary talk and running a workshop on Saturday morning. She will give a concert at UCE on Saturday evening - concert is open to all, even if they do not attend Womanspirit.

For more information and to register please go to: http://www.womenandreligion.org/,  or see Martha Holman, Amy Grabowski, Maggie Wilson for more information!  
Scientists Who Changed Our World
Tuesdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27, 2018
Facilitated by Jerry Stone & Dan Solomon

We Can Work It Out: Dealing with Conflict Constructively - Individually and in Groups
Tuesdays, March 6 and 13, 2018
Facilitated by members of the Congregational Relations Team

Daring Democracy in Today's Political Environment
Tuesdays, March 20, 27, April 3, 2018
Facilitated by Tom Ticknor

Paganism
Tuesdays, April 10, 17, 24, 2018 
Facilitated by Taryn Nelson Seawright and ministerial intern Susan Frances

Simplicity
Tuesdays, May 8, 15, 22, 2018
Facilitated by Dick Whitaker

Hannah Arendt and the Banality of Evil
Tuesdays, May 29, June 5, 12, 2018
Facilitated by Julia Takarada and Dan Solomon

If you are in a caregiving role of any sort, we invite you to drop in at the next Caregiver Support Group. We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:30pm at UCE. Questions?  Contact Joyce Lofstrom  or Renee Hoff . 
UCE Board of Trustees meeting is held the third Wednesday of each month in Room 3. All members are welcome. 
Upcoming UCE Events

Tuesdays, Jan. 16, 23, 30, 7-9 pm Inquiry into Racial Equity History, Courage and What Can We Do

Tuesday, January 23, 5:00pm
Recently Retired (but never retiring!) Women

Saturday, February 3, 7:30pm
Holly Near Concert

Tuesdays, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27, 7-9pm
Scientists Who Changed Our World

Saturday, February 10, 6:00pm
Night of the Arts

Sunday, February 11, 12:00pm
Empty Bowls

Tuesdays, March 6 and 13, 7-9pm
We Can Work It Out: Dealing with Conflict Constructively

Tuesdays, March 20, 27, April 3, 7-9pm
Daring Democracy in Today's Political Environment

Tuesdays, April 10, 17, 24, 7-9pm
Paganism

Tuesdays, May 8, 15, 22, 7-9pm
Simplicity

Tuesdays, May 29, June 5, 12, 7-9pm
Hannah Arendt and the Banality of Evil

Thursday Nights, 7pm
UCE Addictions and Recovery Group

Sunday Mornings, 9:00am & Wednesday Mornings, 9:30am
Yoga
Community Involvement
Click each event for more information.

Monday, January 29, 7:00pm
Workshop: Defending Immigrant Rights - Beth Emet Synagogue

YWCA Let's Talk at Lunch
Third Thursday of the Month 
Our Giving House


This month we are collecting cans of tuna, salmon, and chicken for Connections for the Homeless. 

The Endowment Committee will sponsor with matching donations. Please place all donations in the little pink house just inside the west entrance.  Thank you for your continuing generosity!
Interfaith MLK Service
Sunday, January 14, 2pm at Alice Millar Chapel 

UCE Food With Spirit Group

Do you have a complicated relationship with food? Join us on Thursday, January 25 and Feb. 8 and 22 at UCE at 5:30pm (every other Thursday) to discuss nutrition, eating patterns, emotional triggers, recipes, or whatever comes up among the group members.  We have read a couple of helpful books together recently. Talk to Peggy Boccard  or Julia Takarada  if you want to know more. All are welcome.
Upcoming Membership Classes

Intro to Unitarian Universalism 
Sunday, January 28
12:30 - 2:00 pm
An overview of our faith, led by Rev. Bret Lortie 

Orientation Toward Membership 
Saturday, January 13
9am - noon
Even if you didn't sign up but would like to attend, please join us. This is a meaningful and engaging way to learn about what it means to be a member and how to become more deeply involved in the life of the congregation. Led by Assistant Minister, Rev. Eileen Wiviott. 

Sign up at the guest table in the lobby or email Rev. Eileen Wiviott at  ewiviott@ucevanston.org. Childcare available upon request for both of these classes.
Things to Know About our Community

Interested in knowing more about UCE? How to submit something to Joys and Sorrows? How to get a nametag, or a rainbow or pronoun sticker for your nametag? Interested in bringing flowers and lighting the chalice on a Sunday? Click here for more information about our community!
Yoga at UCE


Join us every Sunday at 8:15am and every Wednesday at 9:30am.

Yoga at UCE is designed to reduce stress, bring relaxation, increase range of motion, and find balance - restorative yoga. If you never have done yoga before, this is your opportunity. Drop in, wear comfortable clothing for stretching, and try it. Yoga is learned by doing. Community yoga mats provided if needed.

Add Your Photo to the Photo Member Directory

Remember that there is a directory of members that includes photos on our website. This is a password protected document. Contact the office if you don't know the password. If you would like to add your photo to the directory, or update your photo, please send  a photo to  Carli Magel , or let her know you'd like your picture taken on Sunday morning. 
UCE Facebook Groups
Did you know that, in addition to the UCE Facebook Page, there are three UCE groups that members can join - the UCE Member to Member Group, the UCE Children and Youth Religious Education Group and the UCE Social Action Group?  

These are closed groups that allow members to post directly to each other. If you have an event you want members to know about, or have a cause you hope to bring attention to, in addition to the newsletter and order of service, you can post to the Facebook Group. Click the links above or search for the groups by name when you are on Facebook and ask to join.
Connecting UU: a path to belonging at UCE

45 minute discussions; Sundays at 10:15 in Room 12
These sessions are open to all,
no matter where you are on the journey. 
Childcare available. No need to sign up in advance.

Connecting UU 
classes will resume after the new year, on January 7th with Spiritual Practices


UU Principles  - Understanding the seven principles, an enlightening discussion led by members of the New Member Committee.

UU Sources -  A discussion of the six sources from which we draw wisdom and spiritual nourishment.

Spiritual Journeys (4 parts) - take any one or all of them in any order. Explore your religious and spiritual background, where you come from, what you want to cherish and what you want to release, and how you practice your spirituality.

How to Get Involved  - Learn how to become more engaged in the life of the church, find groups and activities of interest, discover the way things get done, answer your questions about belonging in our community.

UCE History and Tour - Learn more about the history, architecture and art of our building through a guided tour led by one of our long-term members. Tour begins at the back of the sanctuary near the large mural.
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

Rev. Eileen Wiviott has office hours most Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and  Thursdays, and often evening meetings on those days. Mondays are sabbatical days and Fridays she works from home. Please contact her via email at ewiviott@ucevanston.org , or via phone at (847) 864-1330 x111 (office), or (224) 565-3952 (cell).
Opportunities
 for Spiritual Practice

| 847-864-1330 | uce@ucevanston.org | http://www.ucevanston.org
1330 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201