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Generating Hope
August 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Pip Paris
This experiential worship service is an experiential exploration of ways to generate hope through imagination and creativity, and includes a meditation and creative project. In the sanctuary, art supplies will be provided; if you are at home, you might want to prepare drawing or collage supplies, or a pen and paper will also do quite well.
We will Share the Plate with the Rockford Area Art Council The Rockford Area Arts Council was established in 1969 as a four-county umbrella arts organization. The Arts Council provides Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, and DeKalb Counties with organizational resources, collective advocacy efforts, and critical arts and cultural resources for our communities, with a special focus on our disadvantaged and underserved populations. The Arts Council exists to support, promote, and develop access to the arts for everyone. We achieve this goal by funding artists and arts organizations that oversee programs for under-served communities; supporting arts education and programming; developing collaborative relationships with the City of Rockford, the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Transform Rockford, R1 Regional Planning Council, the Rockford Park District and Rockford Public Library, regional school districts—both public and private; overseeing events that showcase local talent; and advocating for the arts at the local, state, and federal level. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Eugene Duncanson (Aug 27), Lorna Tapfield (Aug 28), Sandee Poznan (Aug 28), Thom Miles (Aug 28), Lynn Liston (Aug 29), Mike Stopka (Aug 29), Barb Giolitto (Sep 01), & Charlotte Fellars (Sep 01)!
The NVC Practice Group meets Wednesday, 8/26, from 6:00 to 7:30 in the youth room.
Join us for Safety Sunday
Aug 30th at 11:15
There will be an informational presentation. The topics are: Safety on Sundays, Vandalism, & Protesters.
You will also have the opportunity to submit any Safety questions or concerns for the team to answer at our November Safety Sunday.
Q&A, if time allows, should last about 15 minutes.
Save the Date!
Hello folks, our Annual Church Auction will be held on the evening of December 12th. Since it is close to the holidays, we wanted you to place an early block on your calendars. Feel free to share the date with friends and family. Your guests are welcome! If you’d like to volunteer to help with the auction, please contact Kendra Asbury or Spitty Tata. We will be thrilled to get your help!
Greetings from your Search Committee!
As we transition from summer into fall, things will start to ramp up for our Search. While the Search Committee is here to lead the efforts, our success as a congregation relies on enthusiastic participation from all of you!
The first of several opportunities you will have to let your voice be heard is through our Congregational Assessment, which is an online survey that will be sent out in September. Please keep an eye out in the Kairos and other communications for the link and fill out the survey. We are hoping for robust participation from our church community – we are all in this together!
To try to keep everyone in the loop, we will also be adding some more information to the bulletin board in Deale Hall, to the slideshow during service, and in the Kairos about what else to expect this fall as the Search work continues.
Submitted by Rebecca Beneditz (Search Committee Communications Coordinator)
Women’s Interfaith Potluck
August 31, at 6:00 p.m.
All women are invited to attend the upcoming Women’s Interfaith Potluck. It will start at 6:00 p.m. Please bring a dish to pass. Plates, silverware, and beverages will be provided, but you are always welcome to bring your own plate and silverware if you wish.
The August meeting will be held at the Lakewood Hills Shelter House, 4188 Lakeside Drive, Rockford. Rev. Joyce Palmer will speak about Nonviolent Communication, developed by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg. This is a practical communication tool designed to help us connect across differences.
Please join us. For more information, contact Neita Webster at 815-541-3508 or Rev. Joyce.
Bring a Friend First Sundays Sunday, September 6th
Who is one person in your life who could use a little extra hope, community, or encouragement right now? Starting next month, we are launching Bring a Friend First Sundays, a simple, dedicated chance to share what you love about this community with the people you care about most. Growth happens when we open our doors wider, and it starts with a simple invite. Start thinking about who you will bring, and let’s make the first Sunday of next month even more joyous.
Companion Listener Training Wednesday, September 9th 6:00 pm Library
Looking for a Way to Connect? Become a Companion. Deep listening is one of the greatest gifts we can offer one another. We are launching our new Traveler & Companion program to bring warm, friendly visits to members of our community, and we need you.
Please join us for an informational training on Wednesday, September 9th at 6:00 pm. We will walk through the program framework, share practical conversation starters, and explain how we will connect Companions with Travelers for monthly or bi-monthly visits. If you enjoy good conversation and quiet presence, we hope you will join us.
Backpack Blessing
We will be offering a backpack blessing during the service on Sunday, September 13. Children and youth are invited to bring their backpacks to church with them and participate in the ritual of wishing them well as they begin a new school year. We hope you’ll join us!
*Please note this will be an all-ages service, so children and youth will remain in the sanctuary for the entire service. Ms. Liz will be in the nursery as usual for children of any age at any point in the service.
Getting to Know UU-Path to Membership Sunday, September 20th at 11:15 Sanctuary
Are you interested in membership at UU Church Rockford? Join us for our next Getting to Know UU program to learn about our theology, religious education, and how to get connected to our small groups. We will meet for about an hour. Our gathering includes a tour of the building. No need to register, just show up. Questions? See Rev. Joyce.
Thank you, Dave Schubert & Architectural Metals, for all your hard work getting our fire safety ladders installed in the church basement.
The UU Fourth Sunday Book Discussion Group meets at noon on the fourth Sunday of every month (Surprise!) in the church library.
The next meeting will be September 27 at noon.
This month, we will be reading “The Fountains of Paradise” by Arthur C. Clarke
Admission if Free
Membership is Free No strings are attached
The Sex & Gender Justice Teams’ next meeting will be on September 27 in the youth room.
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
SAVE the DATE:
Eliminate Racism 815’s Next Quarterly Meeting/Potluck is at Pilgrim Baptist Church: Wednesday, Aug 26, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Eliminate Racism 815 is a growing group of community members in the Rockford, Illinois area dedicated to eliminating racism and becoming a community where everyone feels valued.
They have a number of teams: Education, Health, All Faiths, Criminal Justice, & Relationships
ALL are welcome to find out more about what each team has been doing at this potluck gathering. We have church members who are part of at least 3 of these teams!
Shiraz Tata says, “If you enjoyed the Sound Bath experience facilitated by Sarah at our church, here’s another opportunity to enjoy a similar experience hosted by her at Inscape Collective this Thursday.”
Two great events are coming up, and I often see some UU members. I would put the Family one in as soon as it fills up. You could wait on the second one. I have some pictures that came with the info. Use or not. Whatever works.
Nachusa Grasslands Family Experience 2075 Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, IL 61031-4,000 acres of restored prairie with bison September 13, 8:45-1 Families and children 6 and up. Adults stay with children
Collect seeds, bison tour, learn about prairies and more
Dress for weather: long pants, socks, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, & hat
Bring a water bottle and snack. You will collect seeds, tour bison and more SignUpGenius- use to register in advance (fills quickly) and to cancel https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080945AFA82BAAFB6-65080543-nachusa#/
Nachusa Grasslands Fall Festival, September 19, 10-4
2075 Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, IL. Food Truck and Kettle Korn
Bison tours by wagon, assortment of various types of hikes all day.
Hands on Discovery Tent, Birds of Prey show, music, face painting & more
Dress: long pants, socks, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent hat, water bottle.
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: Diane Kuehl
Vice President: Sandi Campbell
Clerk: Scott Garwick
Treasurer: Teresa Wilmot
Trustees: Kendra Asbury, Neita Webster, Jason Peckels
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
