Adult Education
RJC Event Night: Ben Austen and Johnnie Veal
May 23, 2023
Ben Austen will use the contents of two of his books: “High-Risers” (available now at The Book Stall) and “Correction” (release date November 7, 2023) in the discussion. Together Ben Austen and Johnnie Veal will discuss Cabrini-Green, mass incarceration, the American prison system, and the possibility of change.
Understanding and Supporting Our Teen's Mental Health
February 27, 2023
Renee Dominguez, PhD, ED of Family Service Center Peggy Kubert, Erika’s Lighthouse Kim Hassenfeld, LCSW, Counseling Center of the North Shore Andy Duran, Chief Executive of LEAD Sarah Russell Hill, Midwest Counseling & Diagnostics The Alison Tobey Smart Memorial Fund hosted a group of teen mental health experts to discuss key challenges facing our youth today, from anxiety and depression to eating disorders and self-harm to alcohol and drug abuse. We are thrilled to bring the expertise of five local experts to provide parents the latest in trends, approaches, and actions you can take to help your teen navigate these difficult times. The experts provided an overview of each challenge—anxiety/depression, trauma/grief/loss, substance abuse, and eating disorders/self-harm—including what to look out for, alternate means of addressing, and where to go for help.
Fireside Chat with Tom Cole and Bill Evertsberg
January 9, 2023 • Thomas A. Cole, William A. Evertsberg
Monday, January 9 at *5 p.m. in the Culbertson Room and https://kuc.org/home/watch/ Bill Evertsberg and long-time Kenilworth Union Church member Tom Cole will engage in a “fireside chat” to discuss Tom’s book Collaborative Crisis Management: Prepare, Execute, Recover, Repeat. The book, written with co-author Paul Verbinnen (a leading crisis communications consultant), was published by the University of Chicago Press in September 2022. Reviewers have called their book “an invaluable resource”, “a master class” and “a classic”. Among the topics to be covered will be how adherence to Christian values help leaders of organizations prepare for and manage crises. *The odd time avoids the NCAA Football Championship at 6:30 p.m. and the Stephen Minister training at 7 p.m. We hope to see you there!
Civil Rights History Presentation
November 17, 2022
Welcome, I’m Dana Connell and together with my wife, Laura Connell we’re the Co-Chairs of the Racial Justice Committee here at Kenilworth Union Church. Before I turn over the mic to Robin Roberts who’s going to lead the program tonight, I wanted to say thank you to several important people from Laura and me. We’d like to start by thanking Bill and Kathy Evertsberg for your great support and participation, this trip wouldn’t have happened without the two of you. Also like to thank Diane Rand who has been on the Racial Justice Committee since we started, just as Bill has been, about two in a half years ago. She raised her hand to help on this trip. Well the size of a trip like this involves multiple airplane seats, a bus, local resources in Alabama, and finding a guide who would be an expert on the Civil Rights Movement. I think you’ll get a sense of this tonight that Diane found all of those. Also thank you to all that are here tonight whether you were on the trip. We really appreciate your support and look forward to sharing what we learned and what we saw.
Prayer in Uncertainty
November 7, 2022
As many of you know, Katie Lancaster spent the last two years studying Prayer in Uncertainty as part of a study grant from the Louisville Institute. Her research brings together the rich narratives of scripture, the long history of Christian poets and mystics, and the expansive field of theopoetics. Her inquiry was prompted by the sudden global uncertainties of pandemic, and asks how the unforeseen uncertainties in our daily and communal lives might give rise to a deep longing for the divine who is at once hidden and revealed. As she studied prayer, she wrote daily devotionals on the topic of prayer, many of which can be found archived by theme: An Alphabet of Prayer; 100 Days of Psalms and Prayers; My Neighbors’ Prayer. This Monday, November 7 at 7 p.m., join friends and neighbors in the Culbertson Room where Katie will share experiences of her project: Prayer on Uncertainty, and how she’s applying the new knowledge to her real-life situations and problems. This program is in-person and livestreamed.
Battalions of Controversies
October 24, 2022
Paraphrasing Hamlet: “When controversies come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” January 6. Uvalde. Highland Park. Dobbs v. Jackson. Gigantic Climate Bills. Parishioners have been seeking guidance from their Kenilworth Union pastors, so we’re going to sponsor four opportunities this fall to hear guidance from the Christian Church and to discuss varying perspectives on these issues with fellow members. Date Battalions of Controversies September 26, 2022 Abortion October 3, 2022 Christian Nationalism October 17, 2022 Guns with Phil Andrew October 24, 2022 Climate Change with King Poor and Katie Nahrwold
Battalions of Controversies, III
October 17, 2022
Paraphrasing Hamlet: “When controversies come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” January 6. Uvalde. Highland Park. Dobbs v. Jackson. Gigantic Climate Bills. Parishioners have been seeking guidance from their Kenilworth Union pastors, so we’re going to sponsor four opportunities this fall to hear guidance from the Christian Church and to discuss varying perspectives on these issues with fellow members. Date Battalions of Controversies September 26, 2022 Abortion October 3, 2022 Christian Nationalism October 17, 2022 Guns with Phil Andrew October 24, 2022 Climate Change with King Poor and Katie Nahrwold
Battalions of Controversies, II
October 3, 2022 • William A. Evertsberg
Paraphrasing Hamlet: “When controversies come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” January 6. Uvalde. Highland Park. Dobbs v. Jackson. Gigantic Climate Bills. Parishioners have been seeking guidance from their Kenilworth Union pastors, so we’re going to sponsor four opportunities this fall to hear guidance from the Christian Church and to discuss varying perspectives on these issues with fellow members. Date Battalions of Controversies September 26, 2022 Abortion October 3, 2022 Christian Nationalism October 17, 2022 Guns October 24, 2022 Climate Change
Battalions of Controversies
September 26, 2022 • William A. Evertsberg
Paraphrasing Hamlet: “When controversies come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” January 6. Uvalde. Highland Park. Dobbs v. Jackson. Gigantic Climate Bills. Parishioners have been seeking guidance from their Kenilworth Union pastors, so we’re going to sponsor four opportunities this fall to hear guidance from the Christian Church and to discuss varying perspectives on these issues with fellow members. Date Battalions of Controversies September 26, 2022 Abortion October 3, 2022 Christian Nationalism October 17, 2022 Guns October 24, 2022 Climate Change
Centennial Scholars: April 25 2022, 7:00 p.m.
April 26, 2022
Livestream: We invite you to attend an Adult Education Program sponsored by our Centennial Scholarship Committee and the Racial Justice Committee on Monday, April 25th at 7:00 in the Culbertson Room. We will feature two Centennial scholars- Nelson Sinchi, a graduate of Catholic Theological Union now working in a hospital chaplain training program; and Rev. Damon Smith, graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary now working as Community Outreach Director for CHANGE Illinois. Both will report on their current ministries and be available for questions. Please join us for this very informative and inspirational program.
Understanding the Crisis in Ukraine
March 15, 2022
In response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Kenilworth Union’s Adult Education committee is offering an event on Monday, March 14 at 7 p.m.: “Understanding the Crisis in Ukraine.” Join us in the Culbertson Room or livestream to hear from three speakers: Kenilworth Union member Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins will share a brief history of Ukraine. A history teacher who studied in Ukraine in college, Jennifer has a vast knowledge of Russia and Ukraine Kateryna Biloshapka, a friend of Jennifer’s, is a Ukrainian student who came here to live in the Chicago area years ago. Kateryna, grateful for the opportunity to speak Monday evening said, “My mother and grandmother are trapped in Nikolaev, Ukraine unable to leave as they are surrounded by Russian troops. My mother wants people to know the horrible things happening in my country.” Church member Hilary Scott, board chair for the UNICEF USA Midwest Region, will present UNICEF’s response to the humanitarian crisis. For those of you looking for ways to support the important humanitarian relief efforts arising from the Ukraine conflict, please consider donating to UNICEF. As you may know, Kenilworth Union Church has a longstanding relationship with UNICEF highlighted last summer in Christine Hides’s July 18 sermon. To donate directly to Kenilworth Union’s UNICEF fundraising page, follow the link below.