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Bodily Wisdom | Rev. Emily Gage

March Theme: Paying Attention

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday's flowers are dedicated to the men’s group that includes Gil Herman, Terry Kinsey, Bob O’Connor, Duane Dowell, John Frye and many others celebrating 45 years of connecting together. To reserve flowers for the Chalice Table email flowers@unitytemple.org.

OFFERING : Pink Haven Coalition

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 Pink Haven Coalition. Pink Haven is a coalition of trans organizers, mutual-aid groups, progressive faith organizations (including the UUA and UU Service Committee), queer associations, and individual justice-lovers. In response to the increasingly hostile legislative environment in the United States, Pink Haven Coalition creates networks of safety and direct support for trans beloveds and their families who need to relocate, access healthcare across state lines, or stay as safe as possible where they are. Pink Haven knows that liberation is a group project and that no one is free until everyone is free. They - and we - proclaim that trans lives are sacred. Pink Haven’s work centers trans lives and experiences, particularly the lives and experiences of BIPOC trans and gender expansive people. See pinkhaven.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 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.

Harpe Diem to Play at this Sunday's Service Harpe Diem began playing together in 2001 under the direction of Lisa Boggess , a professional harpist in the Western Chicago suburbs. Members include Linda Fisher, Gail Johnson and Sue Wohld. They have performed at various venues, including art galleries, area churches, weddings and charitable events. They play a variety of music including religious, taize, celtic, classical and contemporary.

Hands for Justice Activity This Sunday, March 22 From the tiniest palm to the oldest hand members can make your mark of justice on a large piece of canvas that will be used for RESIST actions. This gathering will be held in Unity House after each service and guided by artist, Alex Brightbill. Expect lots of color and fun. The hand paint will wash off! We promise. 

Defending Trans Lives and Democracy "There is no way to save democracy without standing up for trans rights," Imara Jones says, "it literally is an impossibility." Join Rev. Emily Gage and Lynn Griffith for a facilitated exploration and discussion on trans rights, trans lives, and the politics around it all. The goal is to deepen our understanding of the issues, equip ourselves for the battles happening now, and understand what is at stake. We'll be using Imara Jones' Ware Lecture of 2025 as our guide. Jones is an expert in the intersection of anti-trans politics, religion, and anti-authoritarianism. Workshop takes place this Sunday, March 22, from 1-3pm at 1019 South Boulevard. Registration encouraged but not required at lifelonglearning@unitytemple.org. Jones' lecture can be found at here.

Fourth Sunday Virtual Prison Docuseries Sponsored by the UU Prison Ministry of IL and the Prison Ministry of Unity Temple. Each month you are invited to watch on your own time a selected documentary, centered on criminal justice and prison issues, and then join a virtual group via Zoom for discussion from 3 to 4:30pm on the fourth Sunday of the month. The March Film is In Their Hands, a documentary created by Chicago filmmaker Dan Protess. Formerly available on PBS & Apple, it can now be rented for $4.99 from Amazon Prime. Join the Zoom discussion this Sunday, March 22, at 3pm, led by Deborah Niemann. Email: prisonministry@unitytemple.org to obtain the Zoom link.

Content Caution for March 29 Sermon Rev. Roger's sermon Out of the Shadows will focus on suicide awareness and prevention. Too often, stigma keeps suicide awareness and prevention in the shadows. Talking more openly about suicide which impacts so many families and communities in the United States sabotages awareness and prevention--including talking about it in worship. Members of our Spiritual Care Team will be available during and after the service to provide a listening presence to anyone who desires it.

The 55orBetter Craft Group will meet on Thursday, April 2 from 10–11:30am at 1019 South Blvd. Bring your own project to work on. It's a great time to be with others while doing your own work. Our next Social will be on Tuesday, April 14 from 10–11:30am also at 1019 South Blvd. We’d love to have you join us for any of our events!

You are welcome on Friday, March 27 at 7pm for a special program in the sanctuary, When the World Breaks Our Heart: Lighting the Way Together offered by the Spiritual Care Team. We will gather to hold both heartbreak and hope. Join us for a reflective service of music, readings and a candlelight ritual as we remember that even in uncertain times, we walk in solidarity. 

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.

No Kings Rally Saturday | March 28 Put your UU values into the public square and join other Unity Temple members for the upcoming No Kings Rally. For more information on the event see the poster at the RESIST table at Community Hour this Sunday, March 22.

• Rev. Roger will lead a group to the Chicago Rally leaving from 1019 South Boulevard at 12 noon. For more information ask for "Chicago Rally Info" at resist@unitytemple.org.
• Rev. Emily will lead the Oak Park group. For more information ask for "Oak Park Rally info" at resist@unitytemple.org.
• For general information go to: resist@unitytemple.org.
• To find a Rally closest to you go here.

Fighting Hunger One Step At a Time Unity Temple is participating in the Annual Crop Hunger Walk, on Sunday, May 3. The walk is a community-based fund-raising event held in cities across the U.S. The walk was created to support the mission of Church World Services (CWS) to transform communities around the globe by responding to hunger, poverty, displacement and Disasters. We are looking for walkers to join our UT team! If interested, please RSVP to Marsha Borders, team leader at cropwalk@unitytemple.org by Monday, March 30.

Blood Drive On Saturday, March 21,the LGBTQ+, Gender & Reproductive Justice team is sponsoring their biannual blood drive. It was started to commemorate the discriminatory guidelines for giving blood that were changed in May of 2023 allowing gay men to donate. Please sign up here and simply scan the QR code to donate blood. Help us reach our goal of 40 donors! The blood drive will be held at our Community Center located at 1019 South Blvd., Oak Park. Questions contact Terry Kinsey at

LGBTQGenderorgReproductive@unitytemple.org.

Immigration Justice The greatest need for our immigrant neighbors right now is accompaniment. This means working with a team to assist an immigrant family living on their own OR accompanying them to court for their asylum appearances. Spanish language skills are appreciated but not absolutely necessary. If this is something you’d be interested in please let us know and we’ll put you in touch with the right people! Reach out to immigrationjustice@unitytemple.org.

Clinic Escorts Needed Our partner agency Illinois Choice Action Team (ICAT) seeks reproductive/abortion care clinic escorts to join their team. Chicagoland escorting is an ongoing need due to the anti-choice protesters continued harassment of folks seeking safe, legal healthcare. If you have questions or would like to be connected to ICAT for training, please email 

LGBTQ+GenderReproductive@unitytemple.org.

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.

Join us for the launch of UU the Vote 2026: Ignite Solidarity, Reimagine Democracy–an expanded program to meet this moment and the next on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 8pm–9:30pm ET.

Our faith calls us to build a movement beyond voter turnout. It calls us to strengthen relationships, shared leadership, and durable infrastructure that build and sustain democracy. Learn more and register here.

Help Every Voter Access Their Right to Vote  

Join us in Unity House during both coffee hours as we prepare letters that provide important voter ID information for voters in Arizona. This task is easy and requires minimal messaging/writing. We will be sending material from VoteRiders, a nonpartisan organization committed to protecting our freedom to vote. NOTE: Each letter will require a first-class letter stamp. If you join us, please bring stamps. Thank you!

Learn how to help voters obtain ID’s they need. VoteRiders is seeking dedicated virtual and in-person volunteers to provide free voter ID assistance to eligible voters in key communities where VoteRiders has staff on the ground including Houston (TX), Columbus (GA), Pittsburgh (PA), Orlando (FL) and Charlotte (NC), Milwaukee (WI), and Atlanta (GA). Information about virtual training is here.

Become a Voter ID helpline volunteer, responding to voters who have requested assistance from VoteRiders. Find out more at this link.

Questions? Contact votelove@unitytemple.org.

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.

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.

Last week, the music program hosted the UT Vocal Music Scholarship Competition where area high school students competed for funds to support their private voice study. Members Brooke McMillan, Geoffery Roupas and Jane Wood were volunteers that registered, escorted singers to warm-up rooms and ushered into the performance space. Pianist and vocal coach, Myron Silberstein provided piano accompaniment. Here, Music Director, Marty Swisher works with scholarship recipient, Oliver Schnizlein. Soprano Audrey Tromp also came away with a winning scholarship. Wnners will perform for worship services on April 12.

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.