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Womanism Then and Now
July 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Onlineand in-person Rev. Joyce Palmer
Womanism is a term coined by Alice Walker and embraced by feminist women of color in a variety of fields. Today I will share what I understand womanism to mean and how it’s focus on Black women’s voices and concerns can open our minds and hearts to the beauty of inclusion and the need for retreat.
We will share the plate with Rockford Urban Ministries Mission: To change lives and communities through social action.
What we do: Listen and respond to the needs of the community. Take risks to advocate for meaningful change and proven policy initiatives, even and especially when they are unpopular. Share our views with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. Offer trainings and teach-ins about important issues. Partner with community organizations in the Rockford region Click Here to Donate
Volunteers for Sunday, July 7 Thank you to our Board for volunteering this Sunday!
Contact Rev. Joyce to sign up at assistminister@uurockford.org
Happy Birthday to: Duane Wilke (Jul 02), Pamela Wilson (Jul 02), Steve Lewis (Jul 03), Jim Spelman (Jul 04), Amber Bruns (Jul 05), Tim Rowley (Jul 05), Tommy Conrad (Jul 05), Bob King (Jul 06), Linda Kimel (Jul 07), Gina Pulciani (Jul 08), & Matt Menze (Jul 09)!
Matthew’s Memo
“Home of the free”? Depends on who you mean. After the Supreme Court’s preposterous decision on Monday which dramatically expands the realm of presidential immunity, we cannot say that the court is a legitimate institution. This has been true for quite a while. Their decision, issued Friday, overturning the Chevron precedent, and dramatically reducing the power of regulatory agencies, is part and parcel of this scheme to make government more corrupt and less useful.
The Senate massively overrepresents rural white voters at the expense of everyone else. The House has brought dysfunction to an art form – a tragic comedy.
What shall we do? I was asked this Sunday in our Q&A service, of course. Three things occur to me:
First, shed illusions. The government we have now does not work for the people. The rituals and veneer or respectability are designed to obfuscate and obscure this truth. We must remember this, and do not look for saviors or expect reasonableness here.
Second, vote anyway. Voting is harm reduction and helps to create the conditions under which we organize and live. Certain outcomes are better than others.
Third, get local and get relational. We make community with our neighbors. We build relationships, shape power, and form resilient networks when we connect with each other. We need horizontal relationships with each other, not just vertical ones between individual isolated citizens and far-away power.
There is no utopia and there are no heroes. There’s all of us, doing the best we can to make things a little better, and a little less worse. So get to it.
In faith,
Matthew
The office will be closed on the 4th and 5th of July. Have a safe and happy 4th of July everyone!
Board Update
The new and departing board members met together at Rev. Matthew’s home to wrap up the fiscal year and plan for the next one. We set a tentative date for the board retreat and for board meetings for the coming year. We discussed things that had gone well this year, including caring for each other, Julica’s workshop, and supporting RE. We reviewed Rev. Matthew’s report on the progress toward the strategic plan.
UU the Vote: Deep Canvassing Training
After last week’s debate, the real challenge for activists in this election is to get voters to care enough to go to the polls. Some voters may be fired up to vote for their champion, but many are turned off. Not only is this a problem for the presidential election, but those turned-off voters won’t be voting for Congress representatives and senators, or state governors, or state legislators. Consider what effect this will have on our government.
What kind of communication is the most effective in convincing people to do something? Whether the media is a phone call, a postcard, or a door-to-door contact, the key is to build a relationship with the voter. Just asking if they are registered or if they will vote will not change behavior. A personal connection is required. The prospective voter needs to feel that you care about them, which requires more listening than talking.
This communication is called “Deep Canvassing.” No one is born with this skill; it has to be learned, and, more importantly, practiced. That’s the purpose of an upcoming training by People’s Action, recommended by UUANI as part of its UU the Vote campaign. The cost of this training is time; three 3-hour virtual sessions. The sessions are:
July 16, Tuesday 5 pm to 8 pm central
July 17, Wednesday 5 pm to 8 pm central
July 20, Saturday 11 am to 2 pm central
In order to attend all three sessions, I have to miss a rehearsal, but this election is so critical to me that this training is my priority.
Are you serious about wanting to make a difference in this election? Are you prepared for the fallout if the outcome isn’t what you want? Consider joining our UU the Vote Team. Send me an email at teresa.wilmot@gmail.com and I’ll send you a link to join the team on our Planning Center database.
If you are really motivated, sign up for the virtual Deep Canvass training at:
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 9:15 – 9:45
Join Mario Caputo and a small group for an energizing morning meditation on this Sunday morning. Yogic meditation helps strengthen and integrate body, mind and soul.
Meets in the Library this month July 7th and 21st
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, 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.
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
SOLAR CONFERENCE AND EXPO ADVANCES THE ADOPTION OF SOLAR IN THE ROCKFORD REGION
ROCKFORD, IL-Anyone with an electric bill will want to attend the 2024 SOLAR CONFERENCE & EXPO, July 18th, 8:30 am-4:00 pm, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center, Rockford. The Expo offers inspiration and education to become a more sustainable community. Learn more at
Multiple breakout sessions are geared towards solar for residents, businesses, farms and rural businesses, institutions, nonprofits and churches. Plenary sessions will address: Financial Incentives for Solar in Illinois; Solar for Disadvantaged Communities-the Illinois Solar for all Program; A Holistic Approach-Solar and Resiliency in the Rockford Region.
The conference will feature: presentations by renewable energy subject matter experts; resources for solar financial incentives; valuable industry connections and business expo to talk with solar installers.
The Solar Conference and Expo is a project of Sustain Rockford, a local nonprofit, grassroots organization working collaboratively to help make the Rockford region more sustainable. For more information visit
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 |
