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The State of UUism July 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Onlineand in-person Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
Reflections on our faith. Given the most recent General Assembly, and conversations with leaders across our faith, how are we doing? Where are we going? How is our living tradition changing and becoming? And how are we working to shape our fragile and changing world?
We will Share the Plate with Minister’s Discretionary Fund
The Minister’s Discretionary Fund is to help members in times of need and to help with leadership development. Click Here to Donate
Volunteers for Sunday, July 21
Thank you to the Caring Team for volunteering for hospitality this Sunday!
Ushers: Dick & Myrna Lake Contact Rev. Joyce to sign up at assistminister@uurockford.org
Happy Birthday to: Betsy Urbik (Jul 16), Betsy Urbik (Jul 16), Shari Smallwood (Jul 17), Chantal Pellman (Jul 18), Neita Webster (Jul 18), Katie Linderman (Jul 19), Ophelia McClellan (Jul 19), Alex van Est (Jul 20), Edwin Miller (Jul 20), & Diane Meltmar (Jul 22)!
Matthew’s Memo July 16, 2024
I’m back from a week at the Central East Regional Summer Institute – UU Church Camp. My kids and I have been attending since 2015, and love it. This was a particularly good year, both professionally and personally. I return with new ideas and new energy.
As we were driving back and stopped for dinner in Bloomington, IL, I saw the news about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. I grieve for the family of the dad who leaped to protect his family and was killed. When I saw the news, I worried that if the shooter was a liberal or anarchist person, the violence would escalate. But I reminded myself that the shooter was almost surely who the shooter always is when a “shooting” makes the news. A young, isolated white man with a gun fetish.
And of course that was right.
Some have said that maybe this will finally convince the right to support more gun control, but I’m way past that level of naivete. I can only hope that things do not escalate. It is not the folks whose vision of liberation and justice who have the guns.
I unequivocally condemn acts of violence. That includes this shooting, the attacks on other leaders (like Paul Pelosi), the January 6th riot, fire-bombings of abortion clinics and liberal churches, police and gang violence, and dehumanizing rhetoric – no matter whom that is directed at. These things are, unfortunately, deeply American, when you examine our history. But I wish for a better country and a better world. I do not wish to succumb or give up.
Time to take a deep breath. Limit your news intake. Remember the big picture. Focus on local change, on building relationships, and finding joy and hope. Do not let fear or despair win – those are the tools of apathy, and that leads to fascism. Our federalist system means a lot of the work of democracy is local, so give your energy to that.
Trump has now announced J.D. Vance, an avowed Christian Nationalist, as his running mate, and we’re already on a new news cycle.
Slow down. Breath. Do the work, but do it slowly, hopefully, confidently. Find the place that gives you joy and makes the world better and do that. Hold on. Act in love.
In faith,
Matthew
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GARBAGE COLLECTION AFTER FLOODING: As a result of the recent flooding in the city of Rockford, we will allow impacted homes to put flood waste out for collection before normal collection for the weeks of July 15 and July 22, 2024. This waste will be picked up on the same day as garbage collection. Residents should first fill the City-issued 95-gallon garbage carts. Residents may then use standard garbage cans with a capacity of no more than 32-gallons and with secure lids for additional waste. Bulk items such as furniture, carpet and appliances that will not fit in garbage cans or bags may also be placed out for collection with some restrictions as follows:
Building and remodeling materials, televisions/monitors, automobile parts, tires, liquids and hazardous wastes will not be accepted.
Items containing Freon, such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, will be accepted but only if they are certified Freon-free by a licensed refrigeration technician and tagged.
Carpet, plank and sheet flooring should be cut into section no longer than 3 feet long, secured with twine or duct tape, with each section weighing less than 50 pounds.
Televisions and electronics can be taken to Keep Northern Illinois Beautify for disposal. Please see www.knib.org.
Household chemicals, fluorescent light ballasts/bulbs, and other common household chemicals can be taken to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Site. Please see www.rockfordil.gov/492/Household-Hazardous-Waste-Disposal.
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
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 on the 21st.
The Pantry Team could use your help to promote our Pantry Picnics and culminating mural painting event.
Please join us after church on Sunday, July 21st to distribute flyers through the neighborhood and hopefully get some opportunities to extend verbal invitations for our neighbors to join us at our next Pantry Picnic on Saturday July 27th.
Meet at the Church Main Entrance at 11:15 to pair up and get your flyers. Let’s go out to meet our neighbors.
UU the Vote: How Soul Matters Prepares Us
UU the Vote encourages “Deep Canvassing.” I’m learning and practicing this communication method this week. But I’ve already had a preview: our Soul Matters small group experience.
Soul Matters uses a two-step communication structure. The first step is one member of the group talking about their experience with the month’s topic. During that time, other members listen only. We concentrate on the speaker, what I call deep listening.
The second step, after all members have shared their experiences, is to reflect on just one of the members’ sharing. I thank that member and then describe an experience of mine that was triggered by that sharing.
Deep Canvassing starts by asking an open-ended question of the prospective voter and then listening deeply to their response. I look for some connection to my experience. When I respond, I am creating a link to that prospective voter. The goal of this communication is relationship, just as with Soul Matters.
Please email me at Teresa.wilmot@gmail.com or corner me after the worship service on Sunday. I can send you an invitation to the UU the Vote Team.
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot
Wednesday, July 24th, 6pm Church Library
Practice communication skills for sharing your true self and listening to the heart of others.
The group is open to newcomers and to those with experience in NVC.
Hope to see you there!
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
During Sunday’s service, Rev. Linda Slabon explained UUANI,’s (Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois) and its Action of the Week. Below is last week’s Action email. If you would like to receive these weekly action emails, sign up at the “Contact Us” link (after you click “Take Action” and support unhoused persons.)
UUANI Action of the Week:
Protect the Rights of People who are Unhoused
The US Supreme Court recently upheld ordinances in Grants Pass, a southwest Oregon city, that prohibit people who are experiencing homelessness from using blankets, pillows or cardboard boxes for protection while sleeping within the city limits. The court ruled that the ordinance banning camping on public property applied to everyone and does not violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. You can find more information about this ruling here.
This ruling is likely to have an effect well beyond Grants Pass. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 600,000 people were unhoused in the United States on a single night in 2023. In response to the increase in the number of unhoused people, other state and local governments have passed similar bans on “camping” in recent years.
HB5862 would prohibit any Illinois municipality from restricting or punishing an individual for sleeping in public spaces in a nonobstructive manner within a municipality if the municipality’s unhoused population exceeds the number of available beds in shelters within the municipality.
As Unitarian Universalists, we strive to live our values of equity and justice. Make your representative aware of this issue and ask them to sponsor HB5862.
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
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: Matt Menze
Clerk: Kim Lowman Vollmer
Vice-President: Wendy Bennett
Treasurer: Bob Spelman Trustees: Clark Logemann, Rebecca Beneditz, Neita Webster
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
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