Matthew’s Memo
 
At the General Assembly this weekend, the delegates voted 80% in favor of adopting the revised “Article 2” of the Bylaws.  This is the article that contained the statement of purposes from 1961 (which is on a poster outside my office) and then Principles and Purposes from 1984 (which is on a poster in the office lobby area near the elevator).  The new version restates our core commitments, methods, and values.  Many of the beautiful phrases of the older documents are included but structured in new ways. 
 
Some of the big changes include saying that “love is at the center of our faith.”  We name love as the core way in which we encounter the Holy, structure our values, and try to live our lives.  Six additional values surround love – you can remember them with the helpful and adorable mnemonic “JET PIG” – Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence, and Generosity.  Yes, RE teams are already getting stuffed animal pigs and attaching a jet pack as a teaching tool. 

In addition, the new statement replaces a long list of sources of our faith with a more inclusive statement about inspirations.  While continuing to name “direct experience” as a primary source, we also turn to “secular, scientific, and sacred understandings” with respect and openness to grow and learn in our religious lives. 
 
You can read all about the process and new statement at uuworld.org.  And you’ll see a lot more of this graphic, which illustrates the “love is at the center of our values” concept. 
 

 
We’ll be slowly updating our website and materials to reflect this new articulation. I think it’s a powerful and useful tool in introducing folks to our faith and practice.  And when they are available, we’ll need to get a new poster. 
 
In faith,
Matthew

Non-Violent Communication
The Non-Violent Communication practice group will meet from 6:00 to 7:30 pm on Wednesday, June 26, in the Library. NVC seeks to improve the quality of our interactions by framing them in terms of feelings, needs and requests. Not surprisingly, this takes practice!

We have had a of interest in these sessions and have many new participants, so this month we will reintroduce the basic principles of NVC. Then we will practice applying them in real-life situations.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lia Gima or Ellyn Ahmer.

UU the Vote:  We Can Make a Difference!
 
The problem with this year’s election is indifference and cynicism.  But if we sit back and watch, the result will be earth shaking.  We need to become energized to shake others out of their frustration into action:  VOTING!
 
During the GA Worship Service on Sunday, the presentation by Side with Love included a summary of the results to date of their UU the Vote program.  To see this segment, go to:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_DtE10HNp4  
 
This is the worship service.  Start at 1:12:10 to view the UU the Vote segment, 4:44 minutes long.
 
While Illinois isn’t a critical contest for the 2024 election, our northern neighbor, Wisconsin, is.  UUANI, our Illinois activist organization, is partnering with WUUSAN, Wisconsin Unitarian Universalist State Action Network to register marginalized voters and encourage voting based on our values, not on partisan politics.
 
Side with Love encourages individual congregations, like ours, to become a “Good Trouble Congregation.”
 
“Good Trouble Congregations are congregations that answer that call to organize their communities and engage in the multiple and necessary tactics that will help us win big for our communities in 2024. Let’s all do our part to build a multi-racial democracy by becoming a Good Trouble Congregation.”
 
The criteria to meet “Good Trouble” designation is meeting 4 of 10 quantifiable goals, evidencing participation by various percentages of the membership.  Our congregation would need to involve at least 60 of our members in actions to support our values in the preparation for the November election.
 
Will we accept this challenge to act on our newly revised values?  Are you willing to stretch your comfort zone to make a difference in the coming election?  Which values motivate you to talk with strangers and find shared goals?
 
Join me as I organize our congregation for action that makes an impact.  Email me at teresa.wilmot@gmail.com.  Add your name to our list of active volunteers.  Learn how to listen and connect to strangers to get out the vote.
 
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot

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 1^st and 3^rd Sundays 

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.

Wesley Willows Group
The Wesley Willows group will meet the following days and times this coming year in the reflection room at the Town Center.

August 22nd, Thursday, at 9 am
November 18th, Monday, at 3 pm
Jan. 22nd, Wednesday, at 9 am
April 24, Thursday, at 10 am

Getting to Know UU Sessions

Sessions are designed for newcomers to learn about our church and meet other newcomers. We meet in the Sanctuary from 11:15 – 11:45. If you are curious about and considering membership, this is a great place to start.

Sunday, June 30 Our Story with Rev Matthew
Sunday, July 21 Getting Connected with Rev Joyce

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.

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