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There is a Field April 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.Onlineand in-person
Rev. Pamela Rumancik Farm fields, force fields, quantum fields, battlefields – there are myriad organizations of the spaces we inhabit. Bayo Akomolafe suggests that both whiteness and blackness may be energetic fields shaping our experience and perspective in life. Can we shift perspective to see the fields in which we exist? Can we explore others, or simply begin to see things previously hidden? Rumi tells us; “Beyond right doing and wrong doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” What might be possible in that space?
Bio The Rev Pamela Rumancik is poet, native plant enthusiast and lifelong seeker who recently retired from serving the Unitarian Church in Hinsdale. Her spiritual roots reach back to Catholicism, and she is an initiate into the Sufi tradition. These deep liturgical origins inform her love of the arts as a vehicle for experiencing the Holy. Pam’s deepest commitments are to remembering the divine in each being and finding ways to open conversation with folks who see the world differently. Originally from Lorain, Ohio and she is the mother of three grown children and the wife of Rev Karen Mooney. Pam and Karen live in Bull Valley, Il share their home with two goldendoodles named Parker & Ruthie and spend a lot of time out in the garden.
We will share the plate with Get Connected 815 Our mission is to help (High-Risk) Re-entry individuals impacted by incarceration ENTER into the community successfully and self-sustainably. Here at Get Connected, we respond to various needs within the High-Risk Re-entry population. Risks are assessed utilizing a Risk, Needs, & Responsivity Assessment Model. The latter model is utilized in evidence based practices and programming. Reducing Violence & creating awareness of resources to eliminate real-life barriers due to former incarceration is an important Get Connected Vision. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Wanda Hoover (04/18), Hollis Hanson (04/21), Sandy Perpignani (04/21), Scott Garwick (04/22), Pat Littlejohn (04/25), & Robin Gausebeck (04/25)!
Chandra Pellman is teaching Irish dance lessons from 6 PM to 7 PM at the Nordlof Center in Rockford on Wednesdays for the next 4 weeks. If anyone would like to try it out, the first lesson is free. Ages are 4 on up, and adults are welcome too. Just show up to see how much fun Irish dance can be!
Chantal Pellman is graduating from the University of Whitewater Wisconsin on May 13, with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. She is waiting to hear about being accepted to one of two Master’s degree programs in GIS (A GIS degree program prepares students to pursue careers that involve geospatial design and geography. As technology advances, this degree can be beneficial in various positions that use GIS software and applications, and GIS is an essential aspect of navigation, travel, and land development.) in Denver, Colorado this fall. She is also receiving a geology award.
Submitted by Ann Pellman
Volunteers for Sunday, April 23
Greeters: We Need 2 Volunteers
Guest Table: We Need 2 Volunteers
Ushers: Barb Wilson & Pam Wilson
Coffee Hosts: We Need 2 Volunteers Please note that if you volunteer for coffee host you will need to clean up afterward and run the cups through the sanitizer. Spitty and others are happy to help you become familiar with how to handle this easy job. Sign Up Here
Thank you to all of you who have already turned in your commitments to support the church in the coming fiscal year. If you haven’t done so yet, please fill it out today:https://uurockford.breezechms.com/form/20b2b47025.
Matthew’s Memo
April 18 2023
I file my taxes as soon as I have everything each year, but I know that some folks filed yesterday, on the last regular day to do so. So I thought this would be a good time to tell you about some of the quirky things about churches, ministers, and taxes. Because quirky it is!
The first thing to know is that congregations are automatically considered non-profits under federal law, and don’t need to file for recognition by the IRS. However, many grants required you to have filed for recognition. Having the IRS certifies your 501c3 status does require you to fill out additional forms. We have not filed for this certification, and a review a few years ago indicated we didn’t really need to. But we are recognized by Illinois as a non-profit corporation. This means, like all other non-profits (both secular and religious) that we don’t pay property or sales taxes. We don’t make income, of course – that’s what non-profit means. We have some reserves, but we spend what we take in. Of course, you, the donors, pay all these kinds of taxes on your own property, income, and purchases.
Of course, all our employees pay income tax on their income. And we do pay the employer portion of FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax as part of the payroll. For non-ordained staff, this works the way it does for anyone else: the church pays 7.65% and the employee has 7.65% deducted from their paycheck, along with their income tax withholding.
But for ordained staff (me and Rev. Joyce), it’s super weird. To maintain equity with denominations that provide parsonages to their clergy, Congress many years ago passed a law that allows congregations to designate part of a minister’s salary as “housing allowance.” This housing portion is not subject to income tax. However, clergy is considered self-employed for purposes of Social Security and Medicare Tax (FICA) – but not by the IRS for income tax! So we pay 15.3% of our income into FICA. Like almost all congregations, you pay us 7.65% “in lieu of FICA” to account for this.
The other great thing that you do is that you’ve set up what’s called a “Section 125 Plan.” This allows the employee portion of our health and dental premiums to be paid with pre-tax dollars, saving us a little money each year. If you don’t have this at your work, ask for it – it’s easy to set up.
Speaking of health insurance, it is worth knowing that the church will spend about $30,000 to provide health insurance to me, Lindsay, and Lauren next year (Tim, Autumn, and Rev. Joyce are covered by their other employment or spouses). Lindsay, Lauren, and I will pay almost $16,000 total for the employee portion of those premiums. Which is to say, single-payer health insurance would be great for small businesses and non-profits too!
If you found all this interesting, talk to Steve Lewis or Autumn about joining the finance team.
In faith,
Matthew
P.S. Mark your calendars. On April 30th, we will have a special celebration of the 15th anniversary of our ministry together. This will be the regular 10 am service.
Our Caring Team is a support network within UU Church Rockford that seeks to provide compassionate and caring assistance to members on an as-needed basis. Here are just a couple of the many ways we can connect volunteers to members who have a specific need:
We organize the preparation and delivery of meals and the completion of errands for members following surgery or during an illness.
We set up rides for members of our community to attend worship services and go to medical appointments.
You can contact Rev. Joyce f you need assistance or know someone who needs support in one of these or other ways.
We would love for you to join our Caring Team. If you are able to help by preparing a meal, dropping off carry-out, running an errand, providing a ride, or something else along these lines for one of our members, feel free to reach out to Rev. Joyce at revjoycepalmer@yahoo.com The strength of our community is reflected in the ways we support each other and our aim is to continue to grow this important ministry!
WINNEBAGO COUNTY RESOURCES
List of resources that may be helpful to you or someone you know.
VICTIM/SURVIVOR SERVICES
Family Peace Center – 1-779-348-7600
Remedies Renewing Lives – 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-815-962-6102
OLDER ADULT SERVICES
Catholic Charities Long Term Care Ombudsman Program – 1-815-316-0040 or 1-800-369-0895
Mercyhealth at Home/Older Adult Services – 1-815-971-3502
Lifescape Community Services – 1-815-963-1609 or 1-800-779-1189
SERVICES/ADVOCACY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Center for Sight and Hearing – 1-815-332-6800 P
RAMP – 1-815-968-7467
The ARC – 1-815-965-3455
Book Discussion Note the Date Change
for this month only!
We hope you will attend the Critical Race Theory program at Rock Valley College on April 27th.
Wednesday April 26, 2023 6:00 p.m.
Join us by zoom for a discussion of Defund Fear: Safety Without Policing, Prisons, and Punishment by Zach Norris. He invites us to challenge the failed experiment of the current punitive carceral state. He talks of civic engagement, violence prevention, juvenile justice with a goal of shifting economic resources away from prisons and punishment and towards economic opportunity.
A special invite from Shiraz Tata who will be there most of the day this Saturday to engage with children who may like a different activity while adults enjoy the music and many eco-friendly artists and creations at Inscape Collective! Children may very well enjoy the family friendly music there too!!
Urinetown the Musical Sunday, April 30 at 2pm
Buy your $5.00 ticket while they last!
Join us for an afternoon at the Rockford University Maddox Theatre to experience Urinetown. Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards, Urinetown is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics and musical theatre itself! Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective on one of America’s greatest art forms.
We have 10 tickets available for the Sunday matinee. After the show join members and friends of the church for refreshments at church. See Rev Joyce for tickets.
Exploring the Labyrinth – May 6, 2023; 9:30 am – 12:00 pm – Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI 53545
Led by the Rev. Suzelle Lynch – $10 – $15: Register here: https://rotarybotanicalgardens.org/event/exploring-the-labyrinth/ The labyrinth is a symbol both ancient and modern that anyone can use for meditation, problem-solving, or relaxation. Unlike mazes, labyrinths have no wrong turns. In a labyrinth, a single path leads us through a series of turns until we arrive in a centering place.
Life-size, walkable labyrinths have been present in different cultures around the world for thousands of years, and are available today in public parks, gardens, schools and community centers.
In this workshop, we will learn the benefits of using a labyrinth, explore labyrinth history, learn to draw a simple labyrinth and, in honor of World Labyrinth Day, we’ll walk the lovely labyrinth located at Rotary Gardens. We’ll also learn how to find more local labyrinths for future exploration.
Our workshop leader, Suzelle Lynch, is a UU minister and Janesville resident. She was trained in labyrinth facilitation by Veriditas, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring transformation and renewal through the labyrinth experience. Suzelle is also a member of the world-wide Labyrinth Society, and has 20 years of experience leading labyrinth workshops and walks.
The Board of Trustees:
President: Judy Gustafson
Clerk: Bob Spelman
Vice-President: Spitty Tata
Treasurer: Steve Blomgren
Trustees: Sarah Greer, Jami Edmonds, & Rebecca Beneditz
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
