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Appreciating Inquiry
March 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Marlene Walker
Appreciative Inquiry is a process of organizational development and change developed by a man named David Cooperider, a Professor at Case Western Reserve Business School in Cleveland, Ohio. The basic idea is that humans—and, importantly, the organizations and systems they create—respond more actively and forcefully to a well-articulated positive vision—identifying what works well and acting on it—than to crisis or criticism or analysis of what’s broken. How can this process help us here at UU Rockford during this time of transition?
Bio: Rev. Dr. Marlene Walker is a recently retired UU minister, having served for 34 years in ministry, 17 of which were as an accredited interim minister. She has serve o n the board of the UU Ministers’ Association and currently serves on the boards of Rockford Urban Ministry and the Mid American Region of the UUA. She lives in Rockton with her wife and their magnificent Shetland Sheepdog, Parker.
We will share the plate with Second First Church Overnight Cafe in Rockford
At the Overnight Cafe, unhoused guests (and others needing warmth) are met with food, clean and warm clothing, and shower and laundry facilities. They spend the night playing cards, watching movies, and talking to others. Guests are treated with respect throughout their stay in an effort to restore their dignity and build rapport. Click Here to Donate
Paying Attention with Listening Circles:
March 1st after the service
On March 1st during the worship service, the Rev. Marlene Walker will address the Soul Matters theme of the month,”Paying Attention.” Using the lens of Appreciative Inquiry, which encourages the practice of active listening, we will start to explore our congregation’s identity as the next phase of our transitional process. At the core of this exploration are your perceptions of this community, your hopes for it, and the ways it impacts your lives.
After church the Transition Team will offer Listening Circles as an opportunity to practice what we’ve just learned. You don’t need to sign up, but if you want to let us know you’re coming, it will help us plan. Just follow this link:
As we continue through our period of transition and transformation, your church leadership wants to listen to the stories and dreams you want to share through a guided discussion.
What does it mean to really listen to another? Passive listening is something we do everyday. Maybe someone is sharing a story and, while they’re speaking, we’re already thinking about an exit, next activity, or our own response. Or maybe we’re running so fast we can’t find space to settle into deep conversations, even when we want.
With active listening we attempt to turn off our own internal conversations to better hear another’s. It’s a mindfulness practice where we watch what our thoughts are doing and, when they drift away from the task at hand (let’s say, listening), we coax them back into focus. Away from us, toward another.
-Rev. Bret
Join Catherine from The Urban Art Studio in Deale Hall as she guides us in a step-by-step painting of spring flowers on an 11×14” canvas. Each canvas costs $20. You will have your choice of colors and what type of flowers you will paint. This is great for all ages and levels of painters. You can sign up after service with Kendra Asbury or via the link below: UU Spring Painting with The Urban Art Studio If you would like to attend but the cost is prohibitive, please contact Rev. Joyce about financial assistance.
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 |
