Standard message and data rates may apply. You have the right to OPT-OUT receiving messages at any time. TO OPT-OUT, reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us.
Discerning the Call
October 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person Rev. Allison Farnum
This Sunday, take time to discern where Life is calling you and how our movements together create strength that serves the community.
We will Share the Plate with Family Peace Center VISION: The family peace center envisions a thriving community where all people have hope and are safe and free from violence.
MISSION: Led by the voices of survivors, we will build a safe, thriving community for all by creating pathways to self-empowerment to adult and child survivors of domestic and sexual violence through integrated, long term services provided with kindness, dignity and inclusivity, while driving transformation through education and community collaboration.
Volunteers for Sunday, October 20 Thank you to the Caring Team for volunteering for hospitality this Sunday!
Contact Rev. Joyce to sign up at assistminister@uurockford.org
Happy Birthday to: Connor Rose Johnson (Oct 15), Tom Walsh (Oct 18), Benjamin Granados (Oct 19), Gary Lawrence (Oct 20), Dorota B Smith (Oct 22), Finn Davis (Oct 22), & Jennifer Riley (Oct 22)!
Tom Hunter died on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Please keep Carole in your thoughts and prayers. The memorial service will be on Saturday, October 26th at 2:00 p.m.
You may need to register yourself to gain access.
When you register, you will get an Access code. You will need this to actively use the web-site on a phone, or tablet.
Calling all Kid Artists!!!
Fall Art Show for Kids and Teens
The Caring Team is calling on all kid and teen artists to submit artwork to hang in our church gallery. We are celebrating the season and the contributions of our children.
We request one two-dimensional piece of artwork for each child/youth. Please include the name and age of each artist.
Submission deadline is Sunday, October 20th.
Service Reflection and Discussion
Sunday, October 20, 2024, 11:30AM, in the Library
The topic on Sunday is: “Discerning The Call”
All are welcome to attend!
Wonderful Wednesday
October 16th at 6pm
PLEASE NOTE CORRECT LOCATION: We are meeting in the Church Library
The Sex and Gender Justice Team is hosting Wonderful Wednesday on October 16th. We are showing the documentary We Live Here: The Midwest which profiles LGBTQ+ families who hope to stay in communities they love and where they often have established deep connections. The film captures a crucial time where anti-queer legislation and sentiment is rapidly multiplying across the country, and the values of all midwestern families are put to the ultimate test.
Following the showing of the documentary, we will have the opportunity to hear stories of ‘coming out’ from members of the community.
Oct 17, 2024 5:30–8 pm
Bring your children to church for snacks, playing, and fun while you have some time for yourself.
Be green this Halloween with Nettle Compost! Drop off your pumpkin or stay to smash it and add it to the compost. Have some treats and learn more about composting with them and their big plans for the land. This free event will be held on Sunday , Nov. 3 from 1-3pm at 730 Lincoln Park Blvd, Rockford IL. Please RSVP here!
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 17th through Monday, October 21st. 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.
Register here to get the connection information to phone bank.
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 20th Getting Connected-Rev. Joyce
October 27th Living Our Values-Lindsay & Gloria
November 3rd Our Story –Rev. Matthew
Hope to see you!
Video session takes about 30 minutes to complete.
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 UU Library has added this book to our collection: In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens by Alice Walker
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
Summit: Action on Food Insecurity …Building A Bigger Table
Date: Thursday, October 17
Time: 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Location: Riverfront Museum Park, Kresge Hall, 711 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103
Cost: FREE
Introduction to the Prison Industrial Complex
…and how to change it.Saturday October 19, 2024 10 am – 2 pm
Countryside UU Church, Atherton Hall & on zoom
Register here, and make sure you tell us your favorite snack!
✨Early Bird Tickets Now Available! ✨
Join us for an unforgettable night at The LIAM Foundation’s Gayla Fundraiser on November 9th! 🎉 Secure your spot with early bird pricing of just $80 per ticket (limited time only)!
Get your tickets before prices go up! Support our mission to uplift and empower the LGBTQ+ community in Rockford.
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 |
