Start by Starting
June 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
When we consider how we might renew our lives, sometimes we get stuck with all the options, steps, advice, and worry. Do we have all we need? How will it go? What do I do? A teacher gave my son this advice when he was struggling to start a paper: start by starting. We’ll consider how to begin when you’re not sure where you’re going.
We will share the plate with Natural Land Institute
For 65 years, the Natural Land Institute has helped residents of northern Illinois conserve the land they cherish. We are one of the oldest private conservation groups in the Midwest.
We are a member supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving land and natural diversity for future generations. Since 1958, NLI has protected, managed, and restored more than 18,000 acres throughout Illinois and southern Wisconsin. These include prairies, forests, wetlands, and river corridors. Click Here to Donate
Volunteers for Sunday, June 16
Thank you Caring Team for volunteering for hospitality this Sunday!
Ushers: Dick Lake & Myrna Lake
Coffee Hour: Lia Gima & We Need 1 More Volunteer Contact Rev. Joyce to sign up at assistminister@uurockford.org
Happy Birthday to: Diane Kuehl (Jun 12), Fred Rogers (Jun 13), Glenda Shaver (Jun 13), Victoria Powell (Jun 14), Blakely Asbury (Jun 15), Deb Bridges (Jun 15), James Maier (Jun 15), Mary Runestad (Jun 15), Carolyn Bailey (Jun 17), & Ranay Ivan (Jun 17)!
Matthew’s Memo
Jun 11, 2024
What a delight Sunday was! At the worship service, we welcomed 9 new members to the church. In case you weren’t there, that was Phil and Terry Curtin, Ashley and Ray Baert, Jade Rose DePauw, Carrie Meyer and Ernie Carlson, Noah Hanson, and Lee Johnson-Doyle. (It’s pretty wonderful to see your own kid decide to join the church). Be sure to welcome all of these folks to our church!
We also dedicated five children, committing ourselves to their spiritual well-being and growth. That was Kullen Cravens, Lucille Beneditz, Tommy and Alice Conrad, and Izzy Baert. Congratulations!
Then at the annual meeting, we elected officers and approved the allocations and budget. The Board offered a special thank you to Tim Anderson on his 20 years of service, and outgoing leaders were thanked. Rev. Joyce presented the Connolly Award for Social Justice to Kathie Mattison and Gloria Perez, in honor of their great work as co-leaders of the Racial and Economic Justice Team. We recognized those who have been members for 25 and 50 years. (25 Years: Ann Pellman, Randy Pellman, Rhonda Best; 50 years: Brenda Ray, Miranda Best, David Lantz, Judy Johnson, Nancy Holstrum). We remembered those who had died in the last year. That included Lola Gustafson, Gus Gustafson, Sally Walker, Louise Mayhall, Jan Scott, and Marge Elliot. May their memories be blessings. Then we presented the UU of the Year award to Teresa Palmeno in honor of her dedicated work on our hospitality, membership, and worship teams and for her genuine welcome and enthusiasm about our church and inviting people. When it comes to inviting people to our church and making folks feel welcome, I hope we all embody Teresa’s skill and commitment to this ministry!
Things will slow down quite a bit now. Tim will be off for the summer; I’m glad that Jesse Parker and Lisa Redd will be returning to most of the music for the summer. I’ll be preaching about ½ the summer, in between family trips. Rev. Joyce will preach twice, and we’ll be blessed to have one of our Affiliated Ministers, the Rev. Linda Slabon and her wife, Toni Tollerud, leading one service, and our former intern, Rev. David Kraemer, leading another. Soul Matters groups will do social gatherings, and Wonderful Wednesdays will pause until September. RE will include a lot of fun all-ages activities, outside if the weather permits.
All this does not mean that the spiritual life ceases for the summer! I hope you will come to worship and engage in your journey. It does mean that the staff and leaders take a little breather. It is a good time to give thanks for the world we share, focus on quality over quantity, and slow down to appreciate the moment.
In faith,
Matthew
Office Manager Autumn Powell will be out of the office Monday, June 17 – 24. Kairos submissions for the June 18 Kairos are due this Friday, June 14.
It’s not too late!
Thank you to all who have already made their pledge for the coming year. We have had a wonderful campaign, with so much support for our shared ministry. If you haven’t told us about your gift yet, you can do that now by clicking on this link: https://uurockford.churchcenter.com/people/forms/706108
We want everyone to participate, so if you are a member or active friend of the church, please do so today!
Thank you.
New Database Update
We are moving to a new database at church, and need your help. Please go to uurockford.churchcenter.com and sign in. (It’s easy!) Update your information and look out for emails to fill in info and add yourself to the directory. You can also scan this QR code:
Do it today!
Supporting WNIJ-FM
I admit, I’m an NPR junkie. If you have your preset on 89.5 and listen to “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” you’re probably already donating to this station. But your dollars can go even farther if you donate to them through this church. One hundred percent of the dollars donated specifically to WNIJ on our website will go to WNIJ over time as we fund spot announcements of our Rockford congregation. It’s still a donation for IRS purposes, but to the church, and it supports our “addiction,” as well.
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot
Sunday Morning Meditation
Led by Mario Caputo
Meets 1st and 3rd Sundays starting June 2
Enjoy group meditation from 9:15 to 9:45, before the Sunday Service! Yogic meditation helps to strengthen and integrate body, mind and soul while bringing a sense of calmness, well-being, and ever deepening self-realization to the devoted practitioner.
Explore a low-impact energizing yoga, scientific healing affirmations and guided breathwork meditation in a small group setting led by Mario Caputo. Mario began studying meditation 28 years ago and has practiced twice a day for the past decade.” We will meet in the Library, possibly outside when the weather is nice.
ER815 Film Discussion
Friday June 14, 2024 6:00-9:00 p.m.
We will watch Native American Religion in Prison: Great Spirit within the Hole: Native American spirituality was once against the law in the US. Some have reconnected with their religion and spirituality.
Join us at the Baha’i Center 1650 N Alpine: Lower level in Highcrest Shopping Center.
We will show the film at The Baha’i Center in person with a facilitated discussion after the showing of the film.
The film discussions are presented in partnership with The Baha’i Community of the Rockford Area and Rockford Public Library.
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.
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
Our Vision: A loving congregation that connects with ourselves, one another, and the larger community.
Our Mission: We care for ourselves, each other, and our neighbors while taking risks acting for justice. We are continuously building an inclusive, empowered, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, multicultural congregation. Our connections foster radical love for ourselves and others.
The Board of Trustees:
President: Spitty Tata
Clerk: Kim Lowman Vollmer
Vice-President: Matt Menze
Treasurer: Steve Blomgren
Trustees: Clark Logemann, Sarah Greer, & Rebecca Beneditz
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
