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Our Offices will be closed this Friday in observance of the Independence Day Holiday

These Truths We Hold | Rev. Emily Gage

July Theme: Love

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday's flowers from the Gale House native garden are dedicated to a Happy Birthday America and to freedom of religion. To reserve flowers for the Chalice Table email flowers@unitytemple.org.

OFFERING : The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

Each week, Unity Temple splits the offering evenly. One half supports the programs and mission of our congregation. Gun Violence Prevention is Unity Temple’s Justice Network focus this July. But what can one person do to prevent gun violence? We can support organizations like The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago which will receive half of our offering today. We can also increase support for INVC by telling others about what they do. Their work includes identifying community members who are at highest risk of becoming involved in violence, developing relationships with them, and offering them services like INVC’s workforce development program. Tell a friend that Peacekeepers from INVC monitor hotspots in neighborhoods and use their skills in conflict resolution to prevent violence from erupting and to broker peace agreements. Find out more at nonviolencechicago.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 9am

During the summer we will have only one service at 9am which will be live-streamed. We'll resume two services on Sunday, August 31. 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.

Summer RE 2026 is Here! Experience the joy of coming together as a community, forging meaningful friendships and supporting our community on this transformative voyage. Our Summer RE programming is supported solely by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, email Val Ridenour 

vridenour@unitytemple.org.

Pathway to Membership Our next session will be Sunday, July 12 from 11-2pm. 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.

55orBetter Group will have the July Social on Tuesday, July 14 from 10-11:30am at 1019 South Blvd. It's a chance to catch up with others or meet new people. We’d love to have you join us!

The lock on the Gale House side door is being replaced due to mechanical issues. If you need access to the building, please contact a staff member for the new entry code. As always, please keep the code confidential and do not share it with others. Doing so helps protect the safety of our people and property.

Potluck! Join us after the worship service at 9am on Sunday, July 19 for a Summer Potluck! Bring a dish to share and enjoy good food, warm conversation, and community connection. No nuts, please. All are welcome to celebrate the season together!

Please note that tour hours for the UT Temple building are changing for the summer season. Beginning in late June and continuing through August, tours will be offered Monday–Saturday from 9am–5pm. Previously scheduled Saturday afternoon events will proceed as planned, including the celebrations of life for Mary Morrison (July 11) and Pat Knabe (July 18), as well as UT Players setup on August 29.

As we shared, Unity Temple member Mary Morrison died on March 14, 2026 at the age of 93. A Celebration of Life for Mary will take place on Saturday, July 11 at 3pm.

In addition, Unity Temple member Pat Knabe died on March 6, 2026 just eleven days shy of her 84th birthday after a long battle with cancer. She died in Austin Texas, in hospice care at her daughter's home, though she had been an Oak Park resident for many years. A Celebration of Life for Pat will take place on Saturday, July 18 at 1:30pm. 

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.

Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday by helping increase BIPOC voter turnout in voter suppression states by writing postcards with Reclaim our Vote. Currently we are writing to voters in North Carolina. Join us at the Democracy Porch at Gale House every Sunday from 10:30am till noon beginning this Sunday, July 5. We will provide all postcard writing materials and some light snacks. Please bring a sheet of postcard stamps if possible. Kids are welcomed and can help put stamps on the postcards. Prefer to work independently? Stop by the UU the Vote table during community hour to pick up a batch of 20 cards to write on your own, or to return your finished cards. Contact votelove@unitytemple.org with any questions.

UUPMI Summer Cookout! Join us for community building as we fire up the grill and fuel our work! Kid-friendly on Saturday July 25, 2026 from 12pm-3pm at DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church located at 1828 Old Naperville Rd., Naperville, IL 60563 RSVP here.

What Can One Person Do to Prevent Gun Violence? Join Ed White and Marsha Borders from Unity Temple’s Gun Violence Prevention team in a small group discussion about how to reduce harm caused by firearms.

• When? At 10:30am after service on Sunday and July 12. Choose one of the sessions or participate in both!
• Where? Upper level of Unity House
• What? We’ll focus on opportunities to get involved with one of the many Gun Violence Prevention organizations that work to minimize the impact of gun violence.

All are welcome! Visit the Gun Violence Prevention table during community hour for more details, information on resources, and to sign-up with one of the many Gun Violence Prevention organizations.

Sacred Wandering Change of Date for July!

Sacred Wandering sponsored by the Mindful Reflection Community of Unity Temple will occur on Saturday, July 11 for the month of July due to the 4th of July Holiday. We will meet at 8:30am Chicago time in Thatcher Woods, 8030 Chicago Ave., River Forest, IL, North Pavilion. Look for the signs for Sacred Wandering. We meet no matter the weather conditions so dress appropriately. For additional information about Sacred Wandering click here. 

These events will occur no matter the weather conditions! Dress appropriately. Join Sacred Wandering, the clean-up, or both!

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.

Unity Temple was well represented at this year's Chicago Pride Parade. Unity Temple members Brian Hance, Jason Stegemoller and Mario Gasteum marched with joy and love! 

Our June Summer potluck was filled with fantastic conversation, vibrant community connection, and an incredible spread of homemade dishes. From savory favorites to delightful desserts, it was a truly fun and tasty experience for all. 

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.