A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Join us for worship and religious education at 9:15 and 11:00am on Sunday Morning!
December 8, 2017
Sunday, December 10
Worship Service -  9:15 and 11:00am
"Tending the Flame - Long Term Member Recognition and Volunteer Appreciation"
In this service we will honor those who have tended the flame of our Beloved Community age after age and we keep the flame burning bright with appreciation for the loving dedication of so many volunteers. Plus the General Assembly chalice will be with us as we celebrate Chalica! Rev. Wiviott leading.

Religious Education
This Sunday    our preschool, kindergarten-first-second grade, and third-fourth-fifth grade classes will meet from 9:15-10:30 and 11:00-12:15 Children will start in the sanctuary for the first part of the worship service before going to classes. The sixth-seventh-eighth grade and senior high youth group meet from 11:00-12:15. Childcare for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is available from 9:00-12:30.

Connecting UU: A Path to Belonging at UCE
10:15am in Room 12
These sessions are open to all, no matter where you are on the journey. Click here for more information on Connecting UU. 

Ornament Sunday
All are invited to attend and participate in Ornament Sunday on December 10 after the service. There will be a variety of stations for crafting of ornaments -- to take home and to trim our UCE Christmas tree! The Mitten Tree folks will also host wrapping for Mitten Tree gifts. If you're joining us, please bring a dish to share for the potluck between the service and the start of ornament crafting. Come and be part of the holiday bustle!

Ocean of Devotion Gong Meditation with 
Preston Klik
Sunday, December 10, 1:15pm at UCE
Donations accepted

Crackerbarrel - 9:30am
"Sexual Harassment"
#MeToo spread rapidly on social media in October 2017 to denounce sexual assault and harassment in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein. Why is this being taken seriously now, when previously men like Clarence Thomas and Bill Clinton suffered few consequences? What has changed - alpha male behavior, women's role in the world, or something else? By the time we meet we will know what happened to Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race. Discussion leader Brenda Cooksey Russell.
 
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. Bret Lortie
Evanston4All = Evanston for All!

I want to tell you about Evanston's Sanctuary Resolution that we will vote on next Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Last year, after the presidential election, interfaith clergy in Evanston gathered for our monthly luncheon. For years we have talked about how to work together for the common good. The election hit us, as a group, hard. We knew there was hard work ahead. 

We asked, "What can we do?" So the Evanston interfaith community "gathered on the side of love" at Fountain Square to commit ourselves to action-to side with, as the Hebrew Scriptures teach, the "orphan, widow, and stranger." In the Bible, the idea of stranger specifically includes the immigrant, the stranger to your land who brings both discomfort and gifts. Click here to read more.
Sunday, December 17, 9:15 and 11:00am
"Participatory Pageant for All"
We'll enact the Christmas story and reflect on its meaning. Have you always wanted to be a star? Or maybe an angel, a wise person, or a shepherd? This is your chance! No advance preparation is required: costumes, props, and stage directions will be provided on the spot. A worship service for all ages.

Sunday, December 24, 9:15 and 11:00am
Special returning guest preacher and musician (you've heard him at General Assembly!) Matt Meyer will lead a Christmas Eve morning worship with song and poetry. 

Sunday, December 24, 5:00pm
"Lessons and Carols, UU-Style"
An untraditional service, crafted with families in mind, of Lessons & Carols with traditional texts set against modern poetry and prose. The trombone choir will play a brass prelude beginning at 4:45.

Sunday, December 24, 9:00pm
"For the Time Being," a service of Lessons and Carols based on W. H. Auden's famous Christmas poem.
A dramatic reading of W. H. Auden's For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio in the form of colorful monologues spoken by the traditional characters in the Christmas story. Widely viewed as one of Auden's greatest works in which he reconsiders the idea of faith in modern times, the poem recasts the story as relevant to finding hope in the dark days of the ancient world, and ours. The choir sings at the 9pm service.

Sunday, December 31, 9:15 and 11:00am
"Compassion Leads the Way"
As you journey into the New Year, let compassion lead your way. Our service will engage in meditative ways to create and grow compassion for ourselves, our neighbors, and our world. Susan Frances, Ministerial Intern leading.
Evanston Faith and community leaders have proposed a resolution to build solidarity and unity in response to the Trump administration's actions and intent to increase deportations, end DACA, ban immigrants from certain countries, and put many families at risk. Our congregation is being asked, along with other Evanston faith communities, to sign onto this resolution and commit to actions that promote welcome, inclusion and safety for those at risk. The congregational vote on this resolution will be Sunday, December 17th, at 10 a.m. (voting members were sent an electronic notification of that meeting on Monday 10/30). We will have an abbreviated worship service at 9:15 that morning, ending at 9:50, with the congregational meeting and then the Pageant at 11 a.m. Here is a link to the updated resolution.
Alice Swan
Even though the UCE annual meeting and election is six months away, your Nominating and Recruiting (N&R) Committee is already hard at work. Per UCE bylaws, N&R is responsible for identifying candidates for positions that are elected by the church membership. Those positions are the Board of Trustees (3 new members annually), the Endowment Committee (1 trustee annually) and N&R (3 new members annually). UCE bylaws can be found here . Click here to read more.
There are two Christmas Eve. services planned: 5:00 and 9:00 pm on Dec. 24th. Volunteers are needed at both services to pass the collection baskets (4 people), hand out hymnals (2 people) and count the collection (2 people). Please let Rev. Eileen know as soon as possible that you can help!
You may have heard about the practice of one-on-ones many of our members engage in. These are intentional and personal conversations about what matters most to us, so that we may find ways of working together. Starting on January 7th, we will have a table once a month on Sundays in the back of the sanctuary by the coffee urns. Meet here to be paired with someone for a one on one conversation. For more information and to ask questions, contact Rev. Eileen.
News from Our Syrian Refugee Family -- syrianrefugee Holiday Baklava Is Available Again This Year!
Khaled Haj Khalaf will again be offering home-made baklava this year.  Give Baklava as a gift or for your own holiday party!  To order, please contact Jane Kenamore,  Each order contains 25 pieces for $17, payable at the time of the order.  I will also be at church after the 11am service this Sunday, December 10 to take orders.  Please bring a check or exact change, if possible. Your order will be delivered to the church on December 17, or you can pick it up at the Haj Khalafs in Skokie. 

Thanks to UCE, the family is adjusting to American life.  The younger generation is becoming fluent in English.  Uday (16) attends Niles West High School; Aya (19) works full time at Bret Anthony packing food for Marianos and Whole Foods; and Mohammad (23) drives for Lyft. They are all so appreciative of all we have done to help them over the past year and a half.  Thanks for your support for the Baklava effort!
Continues Tuesdays: Dec 12, Dec 19
7:00 - 9:00pm
In this four-part series Rev. Bret Lortie and Dr. Mary Shelden will lead us through a broad overview of the Bible suitable for UU study: 
  • how the Bible is organized;
  • how the collection of books that comprise the Bible came to be chosen;
  • different approaches to studying the text;
  • what archaeology has to tell us about the text and its stories.
Whether we understand the Bible as a sacred scripture or simply a cultural record, these sessions should help participants begin to come to terms with ways to approach this ancient text and gauge its significance for our own lives.
 
Required texts: 
  • Bible (your chosen version); 
  • What Is The Bible, Rev. Anne Robertson, Massachusetts Bible Society, 2012
    ISBN 978-0-9907212-0-8
Wednesday, December 13, 7- 9pm
We will begin our discussions of Sam Harris who is arguably the most outspoken of the angry atheists.  His seminal work, published in 2004, is "The End of Faith." Suggested reading is a 5 page summary which can be accessed by going to Wikipedia and entering the title of the book.  We are looking forward to our meeting, and should have more attendees from the Meetup website with us.  Many are atheists and are pleased that we are having a discussion of atheism in a church.  
Join us for Yoga on Sunday evenings! Jessica Tomell-Presto and Doug Erickson will offer yoga on Sunday evening from 6:30-7:30pm on Sunday,  December 17 in Room 2 at UCE. Yoga is great for increasing flexibility, providing stress relief, and offering time for reflection. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica.
The nonfiction book group will meet at 12:30 p.m. on December 31st to discuss one of this year's UUA Common Reads, books that UUs around the country are reading and discussing.  Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity and Power in Ministry, edited by Mitra Rahnema, centers the stories, analyses, and insights of Unitarian Universalist religious professionals of color as they explore how racial identity is made both visible and invisible in our communities. This book encourages UUs to examine,  explore, and act to dismantle white supremacy culture in our association, in our congregations and groups, and in ourselves.  The book is available at the Book H as well as in paper and electronic format on Amazon.com. 
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 .
Upcoming UCE Events

Tuesdays, December  12, 19, 7:00pm
What Is the Bible?

Sunday, December 10, 1:15pm
Ocean of Devotion Gong Meditation

Tuesday, December 19, 5:00pm
Recently Retired (but never retiring!) Women

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.

YWCA Let's Talk at Lunch
Third Thursday of the Month 
Tickets are on sale for the 

Woman Spirit Holly Near Concert

Saturday, February 4, 2018.
 
Click here to purchase tickets.

Tickets are $26.00 

Free Performance

Mordine & Company Dance Theater

Saturday, December 9, 7:30pm 
at UCE

for more information.
Upcoming Membership Classes

Intro to Unitarian Universalism 
Sunday, December 17
12:30 - 2:00 pm
An overview of our faith, led by Rev. Bret Lortie 

Orientation Toward Membership 
Saturday, January 13
9am - noon
Led by Assistant Minister, Rev. Eileen Wiviott. An interactive class exploring what it means to be a member of this congregation.

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.

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.
Opportunities
 for Spiritual Practice

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).
UCE Board of Trustees meeting is held the third Wednesday of each month in Room 3. All members are welcome. 
| 847-864-1330 | uce@ucevanston.org | http://www.ucevanston.org
1330 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201