UU the Vote:  Post Carding Completed!
 
Thanks to many members of our congregation, we completed hand printing 1100 post cards to residents of Rock County, Wisconsin on Friday afternoon.  We will finish stamping them this week and mail them at the Beloit, WI post office.
 
This project took 57 person/hours, 7 meetings within 2 weeks.  Volunteers included members of the UU the Vote Team, but also many other members and friends of our church.  We enjoyed meeting together in community.
 
Members also contributed $685 and 1 sheet of stamps toward the postage cost.
 
We worked with WUUSAN, the Wisconsin state advocacy organization, which managed the UU the Vote campaign in that critical state.  The list from which we worked was generated by Badger Voters, a data base of the Wisconsin Election Commission, and WUUSAN paid the fee for the lists generated for all participating congregations.  They also purchased all the printed cards with lines on the back for our message and the voter’s address.
 
The list was sorted for ethnicities—African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American, but also for all women aged 18 to 34.  Our list included only 1100 names; we didn’t get all the pages that were generated for Rock County.
 
Our messages weren’t all the same.  I provided a few phrases, but writers were encouraged to compose their personal message for “I vote because . . .” reflecting their UU values.
 
WUUSAN has set up a phone bank from Thursday, October 17^th through Monday, October 21^st.  You can work from home.  All you need is a phone and a computer.  The automated system does all the dialing; you wait only a few seconds to be connected to a live person.  They provide a script to get you started.  The goal is to have a real conversation about that person’s values to, hopefully, decide to vote.

Our congregation makes a difference in the Wisconsin election.

Getting to Know UU Sessions
Join us for our welcome program designed to provide newcomers with the opportunity to learn about the congregation and how to get connected. We hope you will find this community to be a religious home.
There are 4 sessions, the first is a series of videos and the other three are in person on Sundays in the Sanctuary from 11:15 – 11:45. You can complete the sessions at any time. Sessions will repeat monthly.
 
*Watch 4 Introduction Videos Prior to In-Person Sessions*
October 13th Living Our Values Lindsay Trank and Gloria Perez
October 20th Getting Connected Rev Joyce
October 27th Our Story Rev Matthew
Hope to see you!
Video session takes about 30 minutes to complete.
 
1. A History of Unitarianism: BaseCamp: 5 Minute History of Unitarianism
  
2. A History of Universalism: BaseCamp: A History of Universalism in 5 Minutes
  
3.   UU theology video by Rev. Matthew Johnson: (12 minutes): UU theology by Matthew Johnson
 
4. After you’ve watched Matthew’s Theology video, watch this video of “Holy Now” by Peter Mayer: Peter Mayer “Holy Now” (with lyrics in captions)
  
Questions, email Rev Joyce at revjoycepalmer@yahoo.com

Wonderful Wednesday: Deep Listening – Coming Out Stories

The Listening Room at 201 7th Street

National Coming Out Day is October 11. The Sex & Gender Justice Team invites you to share any parts of your LGBTQIA+ coming out journey you would like to, in a covenanted, confidential, and loving circle. We started out calling this a “panel discussion,” but really, our intention is less presentation and more organic sharing, listening and healing. Your story will be received with reverence and held with tender care. It may encourage others in the circle to share their stories as well. Looking for 6-7 people, youth included, who identify as Trans, non-binary, LGB or ? who have stories that are asking to be told. Contact Lia Gima, 414-915-3426 (text or call) or barbandlia@earthlink.net. 

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

Free COVID Tests

Starting Sept. 26, each household is eligible to request four tests at COVIDTests.gov that will be shipped directly to their residence. Public health officials confirmed that these tests are capable of detecting the latest coronavirus variants circulating and causing infections.

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.

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.

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  |