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Easter Possibilities
April 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Bret Lortie & Rev. Joyce Palmer
Easter can be complicated for UUs. As an amagam of ancient Earth-centered and Christian practices celebrating rebirth, resurrection, and renewal, it was designed to be a mash-up by the expanding Holy Roman church as it encountered non-Christian cultures. Add in some of the personal and collective religious trauma many of us carry, and it’s … complicated. Yet, as our Soul Matters theme of the month invites, what “possibilities” might Easter still hold for us? Let us explore together through a participatory worship experience that includes a traditional communion, an Earth-centered blessing, or something that just lets you encounter the mystery through silence.
This Sunday, we will have several special “Easter Experiences” as we imagine new possibilities for an age-old observance. After the children are released for the annual Easter Egg hunt, and after Revs. Joyce and Bret share short reflections on Easter, and the congregation will be released to various “contemplation stations” scattered throughout the church. There, you will have opportunities to stop for a body prayer in the library, a meditation on the chancel steps, extra music in the quiet of the sanctuary, or a traditional communion in the Narthex. You may even find a couple of unstaffed “visual prayers” inviting you to stop, reflect, and imagine.
We will share the plate with Welcome with Dignity
The #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign brings together organizations, activists, asylum-seekers, advocates, and our community to transform the way the United States receives and protects people forced to flee their homes to ensure they are treated humanely and fairly. To build a more just and truly humanitarian system we must reject the xenophobia and racism that motivated dangerous policies in the past. Click Here to Donate
Community Passover Seder
Tuesday, April 7th 6pm
Join us at the UU Church for our Community Passover Seder & Potluck on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m. This will be an all-ages evening with food, story, and song. Newcomers are welcome, and families are especially encouraged to attend.
Why Passover in a UU congregation? Our congregation has celebrated Passover for many years.We gather in solidarity with our Jewish community and to honor a powerful story that has shaped generations: the Passover story of people moving from oppression to freedom. At a time when antisemitism is visible and many communities are feeling vulnerable, sharing this tradition is one small way we can practice allyship, deepen relationships, and recommit ourselves to compassion and justice.
Potluck details and cost:
$10 Adults | $5 Youth | Free for children 12 and under
Sign up with Teresa W. on Sunday so we can plan food and seating
Bring a dish to share if you’re able, bring your curiosity, and bring the whole family. We hope you’ll join us for a warm, meaningful evening together.
Sign-up with Teresa W. on Sunday.
We will be livestreaming this event on our Facebook and YouTube. Click below to join.
Guess what? It’s March. As sure as the tulips come up, it is Stewardship Season. You can imagine that the church will start talking about money. The spring season is the time when we start to build our budget for the coming church year, and ask you to fund our ministry, our building, our youth, our reach into the community, and the world.
It’s simple, really, just as we gather together in community on Sunday, just as we gather together in smaller groups for reflection, just as our kids gather together. Just as we gather together on the streets with yellow shirts. ……..We must gather together to make gifts to fund the church. That is how we support our building, our ministers, our programs.
This year, as we move into Year Two of transition, Imagination will be a common theme. You will be asked to imagine how the church might change (or not). Imagine who should minister to us. Imagine how our program might take shape. Imagine how we might impact the world we live in, our work for justice and diversity.
So, each spring, we ask you to make a pledge. A pledge to tell us what you intend to donate to the church for the coming year. So that we can continue the planning for the coming year.
Please imagine how you can support our church financially. It is your own decision. Everyone has a different answer. Everyone’s financial abilities differ.
More simply, use our website. At the very top is a link to a simple online form to fill out. Or, you can scan the QR code below.
If you are of a certain age and must withdraw from your IRA, you can make a tax-free donation. If you need help with this call, Steve Lewis (815-979-5901).
If you just want to verbally make a pledge, please call Autumn (815-398-6322)
Past Sunday Services
Did you know you can watch past Sunday services anytime? We have them on our website under past worship services so you never have to miss a Sunday! Click here to find a service that you haven’t seen yet! You can also always go to our YouTube page.
The Board of Trustees:
President: Wendy Bennett
Vice President: Diane Kuehl
Clerk: Scott Garwick
Treasurer: Bob Spelman
Trustees: Kendra Asbury, Clark Logemann, Neita Webster
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
