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Nothing to Fix: Disability Justice is Love
November 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Bret Lortie
Disabled bodies are not problems to solve. Not projects. Not prayer requests. Drawing on Amy Kenny’s My Body Is Not a Prayer Request, we’ll explore how ableism quietly shapes even our most welcoming communities, and what it might mean to stop fixing and start belonging. Together. Fully. As we are.
Last Sunday we raised $429.04 for Midwest Reroductive Health
We will share the plate with Sustain Rockford
Sustain Rockford’s main vision is to be a community organization that educates and advocates for practices and policies that protect our community’s land, air, and water to benefit all. We work to accomplish this by close collaboration with those citizens, organizations, businesses, and governmental bodies that have a heart for our community and its ongoing sustainability and resilience. Sustainability is not just about air, water, and clean energy. It is also about social equity, economic stability, equal opportunities, and health. We often talk about the triple bottom line – people, planet, and profit. True sustainability must include all three.
Songwriters make language choices based on their understanding of the world and those who live in it. They write what makes sense to them. To express their vision of inclusiveness, songwriters Jonas Myrin and Idina Menzel chose to say, “At this table, we’re all sons and daughters.” Of course, our vision of inclusiveness transcends that sort of binary. So, as you listen to the anthem this Sunday, we invite you to hear those words in a way that resonates with your understanding of who we are as a human family.
Hello RE Parents!
This is a quick note to let you know that our office manager, Autumn Powell, and her mom, Krysta Wasilewski, have lovingly prepared some potion kits for the children and youth at the church as a fun addition to the season. Kits will be available for children and youth in Deale Hall. You are welcome to pick one up and take it home.
The Search Committee understands that this process asks a lot both of our team and of the church community at large, and with that there can come some fatigue and overwhelm. But because the news of Rev. Joyce’s departure came after the survey was completed, we want to make sure we have an updated understanding of what the congregation needs as we move forward. Below are the questions for the small groups and focus groups:
When our new minister has been with us for a year, how will we know “Yes, this feels right—this is working” or “Something’s not working here—this feels off somehow”?
What is most precious to you about our community and about Sunday service?
How will the new minister continue Rev. Joyce’s work of nurturing a support network within our church community?
For Focus Groups:
If you are a __________, we want to hear from you. What should our new minister know about how best to serve your needs?
If you have thoughts on these questions that you would like to share, sign up for a small group or focus group (links to sign up will be at the end of this announcement). If you are having trouble with the sign-up process or have questions, please talk to any of the Search Team members and we will help you out. If another meeting doesn’t work with your schedule but you have something to say, we understand that too! You can talk to a member of the Search Team or put your thoughts in the form below:
Thank you all for your participation in the search process!
– Submitted by Rebecca Beneditz, Search Committee Communications Coordinator(rebecca.beneditz@gmail.com if you have questions!)
Call for Donations
Our annual church auction is coming up on Saturday, December 12 and we need to fill the catalog!
Host a dinner, teach a class, offer a service, put together a basket, bake something delicious – we encourage you to get creative.
You can submit your donation directly on the website by clicking the link below: 2026 UU Auction Donation Form
If you are new to the church and want to know more about how the auction works or need if you need help submitting your donation, please reach out to Spitty Tata or Kendra Asbury. Thank you for your generosity!
9:30 am-2:30 pm in the Sanctuary
Doors Open at 9:00 am
Light Pastries and Coffee will be available before the workshop in Deale Hall.
We will break for lunch from 11:30 am-12:30 pm.
A variety of soups and bread/crackers will be available for lunch in Deale Hall.
Childcare is available!
This workshop is designed to help our congregation prepare for our ministerial search by examining conscious and unconscious biases around race/ethnicity, gender/gender identity, visible/invisible disabilities, health concerns, and sexual orientation. Our facilitator has asked members of our congregation to answer some questions ahead of the workshop so that he can better prepare for the needs of our specific congregation.
The questions can be found at the following link:
About our B4 Facilitator:
Rev. Eric Kaminetzky (he/him) grew up in Unitarian Universalism. He’s an experienced Lay Leader and Parish Minister, now serving as the Interim Settled Ministries Director for the Unitarian Universalist Association. Eric leads the B4 workshop for congregations in transition. Rev. Kaminetzky will also be preaching for us on Sunday in support of and as an extension of the work we will be doing together during our B4 weekend!
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 |
