Kairos Submission Guidelines
Our goal is to keep our members and friends updated on the latest news and upcoming events.
Each submission needs to include only the most important information describing the event and the action you want people to take. Following these guidelines will make it easier to inform and inspire participation.

1. Each submission needs a graphic
2. Title, date, time and place
3. 2 – 3 sentences describing the event and what impact it will have on participants.
4. Contact information of leaders

*Kairos submissions are due by 5pm on Monday. Send your notices to our Office Manager, Autumn Powell at uurockford@gmail.com.

Thank you for following these guidelines,
Rev. Joyce

Wonderful Wednesday, 3/19/25
For those who were not able to attend, see information below:
To make a donation, provide reliable jobs, mentoring for Immigrants and Asylum Seekers email:  rockfordactionforimmigrants@gmail.com.
See Facebook pages for Welcome with Dignity815 and Rockford Action for Immigrants.
Jose and Haley Galarza have a comprehensive blog about Jose’s journey to become a citizen:  https://lovehopeandborders.com/
– Racial and Economic Justice Team

The NVC Practice Group will meet on Wednesday, February 26, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, in the church library.  

 UU Who’s Who?
                    featuring Spitty Tata (current Nominating Panel member/Past Board President)

Question 1: What do/did  you enjoy about volunteering on the Board/ Nominating Panel?
Answer:  What I like most is getting to know others who I work with on the committees. We have some super stars in this congregation

Question 2: How much time do you spend on Nominating Panel/ Board commitments?
Answer: Most committees and the board are typically 2-3 hours of commitment per month. 

Question 3: What was the first position you volunteered for at the church?
Answer: I started as a Coffee Host. That’s all I could do, given work commitments. I know how much this Church has given me and my family. It was time to give back and get more involved. Then I agreed to being on the board. It gave me a broad overview and an understanding of how much good work the Church does that I knew nothing about.

Please nominate someone to help serve the church at: nominating@uurockford.org
Feel free to reach out with any questions, taking nominations until the end of March. We’ve already started reaching out surveys for some nominees!

JIGSAW PUZZLE EXCHANGE
We are going to start a jigsaw puzzle exchange at the church!  Puzzles around 1000 pieces seem to be the most popular.  Put your first name on the back and the date you complete the puzzle. Please bring it back when you are done and exchange it for another.  It will be fun to see all the names. Look for the puzzle table in Deale Hall.

Submitted by Kim Lowman Vollmer

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.

April 23, Wednesday, at 10 am

RSO Concert on Immigrants
 
Immigrants are front and center in our politics today, and their protection is a key human rights issue of our congregation.  It’s amazing that the concert planned by Rockford Symphony a year ago is so timely.
 
The March 8^th concert at the Coronado incorporates history from Midway Village Museum, stories of Rockford immigrants, and performances by actors from AET, Artists’ Ensemble Theater, in a night of orchestral music.
 
The featured work, Ellis Island:  Dream of America, by Peter Boyer combines music with excerpts of diaries of Americans who arrived through Ellis Island. 
 
The RSO is inviting its audience to submit personal immigration stories, some of which will be selected and acted by Carolyn Cadigan, Stephen F. Vrtol, Marissa Nosi Swanson, Gary Wingert, Betsy Baker, David A. Gingerich and Margaret Raether, all professional actors with AET.
 
For info. and tickets Click Here

Are you called to bring a loving, UU presence inside your local jail or prison?

Please join the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of IL leaders for an “inside” jail and prison facilitation training, held Saturday, March 8, from 2pm to 5pm in Rm. 3 at the Unitarian Church of Evanston at 1330 Ridge Avenue. 

This small-group style facilitator training will serve as a foundation for going in to facilitate circles in jail or prison.  We currently have active ministries in Cook County jail men’s and women’s sides as well as at Logan Women’s prison, with potential expansion to Decatur Women’s prison. We will cover skill-building for trauma-informed facilitation, grounding, self-care and cultural humility. 

Register here: bit.ly/uupmi_inside_ministry

Please note: you cannot participate in IL Dept of Corrections programming (prison) if you are a pen pal with someone locked up in IDOC. Questions? Can’t make the date but still interested? Contact UUPMI here.

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  |