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Simple Church June 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Bret Lortie “Simplify, simplify,” said Henry David Thoreau in Walden. “Our life is frittered away in detail, simplify, simplify.” What would church look like if we aligned our programs to a clear vision, and then focused everything on accomplishing our mission? I suspect it would look similar but simpler, and with a big exception. Instead of hearing “I love coming to this place but I get lost,” we might hear, “I love coming to this place, and we have found a way, together, to help make the world better.”
We will share the plate with our Free Pantry
Believing that, together, we can create something big out of something “little,” The Free Pantry initiative addresses food insecurity while fostering neighborhood engagement within local communities. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Kathleen Welch (Jun 02), Martha Dunegan (Jun 02), Trevor Booth (Jun 02), Arlo Leick (Jun 04), Ryan Hyser (Jun 04), Haven Platcow (Jun 05), Joey Stoyas (Jun 05), Marjorie Christen (Jun 05), Julie Parks (Jun 06), Amy Brandon (Jun 08), Gloria Perez (Jun 08), Li M Blacker (Jun 08), & Roger Poznan (Jun 08)!
The Annual meeting will be on June 7th after service.
Tuesday, June 9, 6:00 pm, in the library. Part 2 of “Disclosure”, a film about Hollywood’s portrayal of Trans people and its impact on the Trans community, followed by discussion. If you’d like to watch part one (the first 50 minutes), it’s on Netflix, however, this is not a requirement. Light refreshments will be served.
Child Dedication
We are pleased to announce that the Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford will hold a Child Dedication during worship on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The dedication will be a simple ritual in which the congregation commits to the spiritual welfare and development of the child and their family. Though the ritual is not a baptism, some similar symbolism will be incorporated into the ceremony. Children of any age that have not previously been dedicated are welcome to participate in the ritual. Children who participate are welcome to have their parents and siblings as well as one or two sponsors join them at the front of the sanctuary during the dedication. If you would like to participate in the Child Dedication, please e-mail Lindsay Trank at reuurockford@gmail.com by Wednesday, June 10. We hope you will join us for this special occasion!
Garden Planting Day Recap
A big thank you to Linda Kimel, Ed Foster, Sandi Campbell, and Barb Basaj for joining me and Marci, Shelley, and Darlene from Spectrum School to plant the garden beds on Saturday. And another big thank you to Dave Schubert for picking up compost for the beds!
If you are interested in volunteering to water and check on the gardens on Fridays in the summer, please reach out to me (Rebecca Beneditz) at
rebecca.beneditz@gmail.com. I’m also happy to share more info about what we planted if you want to chat during coffee hour!
Rockford Pride Parade 2026 is on Saturday, June 6
Here’s what you need to know to participate in the parade this Saturday, June 6
We will meet on Market Street between 3rd and State at 11:00 am. You can park on nearby side streets.
The parade is divided into six zones. We are in the Yellow Zone with the other church groups. When you get to Market Street, look for the Chief Marshal with the pink flag, who will tell you where to line up.
The parade will start at Market Street and State Street and travel west on State across the river, ending at Wyman Street.
At least one vehicle will be parked at the end of the parade, if you need a ride back to your car.
Dress for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes. All the “Side With Love” loaner shirts have been given out except one size small, but you can wear whatever you are comfortable in, the more colorful, sparkly and fabulous the better.
Feel free to call or text Lia at 414-915-3426 with any questions.
Let’s show up for LGBTQIA+ Pride and have fun!
Eco Justice June Event
Planting Day at Wild Roots Nature Center at Prairie’s Edge
Saturday, June 13, 9am-12pm
888 S. Lyford Road
In lieu of a regular Wonderful Wednesday event, the Eco Justice Team has decided to directly support an event of one of our partners, Severson Dells (which is going through a rebranding and will be known as Wild Roots Nature Center going forward). We will be joining the Wild Roots team at Prairie’s Edge (the former Elliot Golf Course) to help plant native plant plugs on the property.
This is an all-ages event, and you do not need to commit to attending for the full morning – if you have something else going on that overlaps the planting window, you are welcome to attend for just part of it. Every little bit helps! Staff at Wild Roots encourage you to wear long pants, closed-toed shoes, and sun protection. Bring a water bottle and a shovel of any size if you have one! Park in the main parking lot by the clubhouse and look for Liz or Caedyn, who will be wearing orange safety vests.
If you would like to participate, please talk to Rebecca Beneditz after service or email her at rebecca.beneditz@gmail.com so she can let the Wild Roots staff know approximately how many people will be in our group for planning purposes. We hope you will join us!
The UU Fourth Sunday Book Discussion Group meets at noon on the fourth Sunday of every month (Suprise!) in the church library.
Next discussion is June 28th.
This month, we will be reading “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson
Admission if Free
Membership is Free No strings are attached
Sunday Morning Meditation 9:15 am
We meet on Sunday morning to meditate and center ourselves for the day. You are welcome to join us each Sunday morning.
Community Events
Vision:
A loving, spiritual congregation that lives our values through belonging, reason, and action.
Mission:
Like the nature that surrounds us, we evolve as a habitat for spiritual development.
Our deep roots connect us to a wealth of resources that nourish our growth as a beacon for justice, inclusion, and liberation, especially anti-racism and gender and sexuality justice.
Our listening cultivates diverse and multicultural relationships that bridge divisions, strengthen our communities, heal hearts, and foster safety for all.
Our awareness of our interdependence inspires us to protect the shared environment and natural world in which we live.
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 |
