Matthew’s Memo 
 
Last week, the Board of Trustees did their annual evaluation of my ministry with you.  Each year I ask the Board to review how well I’m completing the essential functions of this role and to comment on the goals I had for the last year. 
 
We had an excellent conversation about their reviews (and my corresponding self-evaluation).  There was wide agreement on the Board that essential functions such as leading worship, supervising staff, pastoral care, church administration, and work in the community were all being met and done well.  This is gratifying, of course.  The main area that the Board and I all agreed needed attention was engaging lay leadership, sharing our vision more widely in the congregation, and delegating tasks and responsibilities to lay leadership. 
 
I couldn’t agree more. And I can’t do this alone. 
 
This congregation has given more authority to its ministers and staff than most UU congregations, since long before I came to you.  The blessing of this is trust, a lack of micro-management, and a willingness to hear new ideas.  The challenge is consumerism, sitting on the sidelines, and less engagement.  We were making progress in getting a better balance pre-Covid, but Covid wrecked this for us – as it did for almost all volunteer organizations, religious and secular. 
 
The other complication is that the Board and I also agree that we need to engage new leaders – younger, more diverse, and so on.  Exactly the folks who often don’t have the time to do this. 

So what can we do?  We will continue to streamline work where we can to make it easier.  We need to attend to meeting format (zoom, etc.), frequency, and culture to make service welcoming and inclusive.  I’ll offer more support and spiritual backup to new leaders. 

What I need from you is to volunteer.  Leadership is wonderful, and we also just need folks to do simple things.  Each Sunday, we need volunteers for hospitality and for Religious Education.  And we need you to sign up and commit in advance.  There’s a link in this newsletter for the hospitality functions.  You can email Lindsay at reuurockford AT gmail DOT com to find out more about being an RE volunteer and get the packet.  It is hard for us to move to more lay leadership growth when we don’t have these basics set.  Especially if you do NOT have young children, we could really use a few more folks for RE. 

In addition, I’m working on a list of things I can delegate which really don’t belong on a minister’s plate – but they had to be during COVID.  Some of them are around technology – computers, sound, and so forth.  If you have some capacity and strong skills in this area and are willing to help, please let me know. 
 
More to come on this topic over the next year.  I hope you will dive in and join me in making sure this is a shared ministry and not a spectator sport.
 
In faith,
Matthew

Board Update
The Board did the annual senior minister evaluation and focused on our needs as a congregation to engage more lay leadership in the church. We heard the investment panel report, approved a stiped for an OWL teacher, and discussed our goals for the coming year.

Wonderful Wednesday, Oct 4, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Our Stories, Our Heritage: LGBTQ+ Elders
As we plot a future of liberation and equity, learning and loving the stories of those who blazed the trails and forged community is a gift. A group of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Elders will share their stories of coming out, social justice, and love.

Please come, and invite others. Free admission. The event will run approximately 90 minutes including Q&A.

Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford
4848 Turner St, Rockford, IL 61107 

What’s Really in the Bible?
Sunday, 11:45-12:45, Oct. 8, 15, 29, and Nov 5 and 12
No advance sign up required.  Do bring a bible if you have one, but not required.  Any translation is fine. (we will compare).  

You do not need to attend all sessions, but it will be helpful, as they build on each other.  
In the sanctuary.  

We have group openings for new people to join new and existing Soul Matters Groups.

Groups meet at the following times:

Thursdays 2nd and 4th of the month 9:30 – 11:00am
Thursdays 2nd and 4th of the month 4:00 – 5:30pm
Tuesdays 3rd one of the month 6:30 – 8:00pm

If you are interested in a group, please email revjoycepalmer@yahoo.com

WNIJ Fundraiser
 
Many of our members are loyal listeners and even supporters of WNIJ, our local public radio station.  But did you know that you can both support WNIJ and support our church congregation at the same time?
 
Many years ago, Rev. Weissbard encouraged donations from our members, earmarked for WNIU (back before WNIJ) that were donated to the station to provide spots during the broadcast day announcing the UU Church of Rockford.  These spots might provide the first notice of our liberal congregation to prospective members.  Several of our neighboring congregations followed suit.  Now you hear announcements from the Rockton, Elgin, DeKalb and even Stockton congregations.
 
Any money you earmark to WNIJ, either on-line or by the note line on your check, will all go to the station—not just 80% as with share-the-plate donations.  And the donation is still fully tax deductible.   The church doesn’t fund these WNIJ donations—only the money donated specifically for this purpose by our members.
 
Why not get 2 donations for the price of one:  one to the church and one to WNIJ?
 
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot

Beginners Guide to the Prison Industrial Complex
Saturday, October 14 10 – 2pm
In person and Online

Feeling helpless in the face of the racial and economic injustice in our society?

Join the UU Prison Ministry of IL to explore injustices of the prison system and learn what we can do to change it. This workshop is intended to challenge participants towards growth & inspire ongoing work and action. Workshop held at UU Church Rockford.

Please register at: http://www.uupmi.org/pic-registration.html

for Adults

Let’s talk about sex!!! (It’s not just for teenagers.) The Unitarian Universalist Association has developed a stellar comprehensive sex education curriculum known as Our Whole Lives. As the title suggests, it is not a one-and-done, but rather a topic to be revisited as we grow and mature. Join us this fall as Wendy Bennett and Leah Krippner facilitate an adult exploration of sexuality in the 21st century. Anyone 18 and up is welcome to join. 

Wendy and Leah are trained OWL facilitators and have been teaching OWL for nearly 20 years.

Sessions will be held once a month. Come and join us for an intro session either on Wednesday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m. (Bring a dinner!) or on Sunday, October 22 at 11:30 a.m. (Pack a lunch for this one!) At this opening session, we will decide on dates for the other sessions as well as topics to be discussed. Please contact the church office to sign up for one of these two initial sessions. Let them know if you will need assistance with childcare. Questions? Email Wendy or Leah.

The Zanzen Meditation group is meeting in the church library every Saturday from 8:00 am to about 10:00 am for silent meditation and friendly discussion. We would like to invite all who are interested to check us out. There is no need to sign up or commit to anything. If you show up and behave we will probably be delighted to have you join us.

Rare Earth Food Collective is an online farmers’ market featuring local food and products. We help producers work together to meet the growing demand for local, sustainable food in Winnebago, Boone, and McHenry Counties. Instead of you driving all over the countryside to buy from different farms, we collaborate to bring the food to you. You can choose home delivery or a nearby pickup location. We deliver orders every Tuesday, year-round. There is no minimum order, and no requirement to order every week. Ordering from REFC helps to build and support our local food community, preserve our agricultural land for future use, and reduce our carbon footprint. It also provides you with fresh food that tastes delicious and is good for you. 

For members who already attend UU regularly, we will be there on Tuesdays in Deale Hall to pack our orders for distribution – meaning you could place an order for Tuesday pick up right at the Church! 

To register as a customer visit: https://refc.localfoodmarketplace.com/

The next pick-up will be on October 10, 2:30 – 3:00. This time period may be adjusted.

The buying window on the website will go live with products (for shopping) from Saturday at Noon, until Monday at Noon, but you can sign up as a customer at any time!

We look forward to serving you!

The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL  |   4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107   |   815-398-6322    |   uurockford.org  |