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Coming of Age | Rev. Emily Gage

April Theme: Embracing Possibillity

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday's plant is dedicated by the Eco-Justice team in honor of all plants who know what to do to address climate change. They need our help to do it! To reserve flowers for the Chalice Table email flowers@unitytemple.org.

OFFE RING : Trailside Museum–Forest Preserve of Cook County

Each week, Unity Temple splits the offering evenly. One half supports the programs and mission of our congregation. This week, the other half goes to the Trailside Museum–Forest Preserve of Cook County. Unity Temple’s Mindful Reflection Community holds their monthly Sacred Wanderings gathering in Thatcher Woods in the Forest Preserve. Your donation today will help protect and support the Forest Preserves and the Trailside Museum. It will also support the Museum’s growing efforts to honor Indigenous heritage—by elevating Native American voices, recognizing their ancestral homeland, and applying Indigenous knowledge in the stewardship of these natural spaces.

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 9am and 10:45am

Each week we offer 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 service at Community Hour for refreshments and fellowship in Unity House.

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. Gluten free cookies are much appreciated too.

Pathway to Membership Our next session will be Sunday, April 19 from 12:30–4pm. 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. 

We're looking to hire a part-time bookkeeper (approx 30 hours/month) to help support our financial operations. If you or someone in your network has bookkeeping experience and may be interested, please check out the detailed job description here.

Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm

The annual UTUUC Spring Music Festival showcases the outstanding talent of members and friends of the congregation. Anchored by the Unity Temple Players (our house band), this not-to-be-missed event includes professionals as well as the very best amateur talent of our musical family. Proceeds benefit the UTUUC General Operating Fund which supports programs such as the Vocal Music Scholarship Competition. View one of last year's performances here.

$20 in advance; $25 at the door; $5 children 13 and under. You can purchase tickets online here and in person and after both services. Questions? Contact springmusic@unitytemple.org.

The Crop Hunger Walk Sunday, May 3

We are calling on everyone to support the Crop Hunger Walk and help Unity Temple meet our $1,500 fundraising goal. You can help in one of two ways: by registering to join the team and asking friends to support you with a donation; or by donating to the team and walking if you choose. Rather you give or walk everyone is encouraged to participate in this family friendly event featuring a shortened walk and many activities for the young one. Coming together to support the community is what we UU’s do best! To sign up or donate go here. Questions? Please visit the CROP WALK table during community hour to speak with Marsha Borders, Merritt Kanan or Sandy Meyer. You can also leave us a message at cropwalk@unitytemple.org.

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Join us on Tuesday, April 28 at Noon we will meet at the Unity Temple Community Center 1019 South Blvd. This will be a time for us to eat, drink and visit with friends, old and new. Please bring a dessert to share. We will gather again for fellowship and to celebrate spring. Please RSVP to Val Ridenour vridenour@unitytemple.org. 

The 55orBetter Book Group will meet on Wednesday, April 22  from 10–11:30am also at 1019 South Blvd. We'll discuss Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea. The Hiking Group leaders will decide if there will be a walk this month based on the weather. Stay tuned!  We’d love to have you join us for any of our events!

Our Passover Seder on Saturday, April 11 brought us together in story, ritual, and shared table fellowship. Celebrating traditions from multiple faiths alongside our Unitarian Universalist values deepens understanding and strengthens our community. Thank you to the many volunteers for leading this meaningful experience. 

Unity Temple Justice Network

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

From Kitchen to Capitol: Building Power for the Family Indoor Air Act Join Rev. Brian Sauder and Isioma Odum of Faith in Place/Faith in Place Action Fund for a timely workshop on indoor air quality, citizen science, and the campaign to pass the Family Indoor Air Act in Illinois following the second service on April 26. Grounded in Faith in Place’s own indoor air testing, Stanford research, and advocacy with legislators, this session will explore how faith communities can protect family health while building power for lasting change. Participants will also get a look at Faith in Place’s 2026 strategy, a year centered on storytelling, civic trust and engagement, and a deeper commitment to connecting every program to advocacy. Email EcoJusitce@unitytemple.org for details.

Fourth Sunday Virtual Prison Docuseries, sponsored by the UU Prison Ministry of Illinois and the Prison Ministry of Unity Temple. April : The Alabama Solution (available on HBO): “One of the most shocking, visceral depictions of our carceral state ever put to film” and “a documentary that should outrage the nation.” (LA Times). Discussion date: April 26, 2026, moderated by Pip Paris. To receive reminders and a Zoom link for the discussion group, please send an email with your name; email address to: prisonministry@unitytemple.org. The link will be sent out twice, one week before the scheduled discussion group and again on the actual date.

UUANI Empowers UUs 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.

Your HELP and STAMPS are needed! Please join us at both coffee hours this Sunday, April 19 to prepare letters to Arizona voters providing valuable information about voter IDs. This is a very easy task with minimal messaging/writing. Each letter requires a first-class letter stamp. Thank you for your support and for helping to defray the cost of postage! 

Also, stop by the UU the Vote table to learn about upcoming ways to support voting rights as we prepare for an extremely consequential election this fall. Action is the Antidote to Despair! Join us!

Confronting Criminalization Join Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois leaders and friends for this virtual workshop series! Two Saturdays, April 18 and 25 from 10:30am–noon. Read more here. Register here.

2025-2026 RE Registration

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 using this link.

Classroom Support

Join us in supporting our very dedicated volunteer class leaders on Sunday mornings! No preparation, just presence! Your involvement makes a big difference for the safety of our classes and the experience for our community. This is a direct way for you to engage with our young people. You can sign up here for a Sunday service that works best for your schedule. If you have any questions, email  

recommittee@unitytemple.org.

A couple dozen people marked the 8th anniversary of Sacred Wandering in early April.

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.

Tuesday Evening Mindful Reflection Community We meet virtually and in person at the UTUUC Community Center. Meeting opens at 7pm CT for camaraderie. The program starts promptly at 7:20pm and ends at 9pm. If the front door is locked please ring the doorbell and if it's after 7:20pm please walk around to the back door and knock. We will follow our usual format with an ingathering, 20 minutes of Mindful Reflection followed by a dharma talk and discussion.We always end by 9pm. Questions email mindful@unitytemple.org. 

Join the Zoom meeting here.

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.

Joys & Sorrows Sharing If you’d like to have a joy or sorrow sharing during the worship service, email the Spiritual Care Team at spiritualcare@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. Table Guidelines can be found here. 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.