Standard message and data rates may apply. You have the right to OPT-OUT receiving messages at any time. TO OPT-OUT, reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us.
How Unitarian Universalism Has Changed My Life
August 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Bret Lortie A few years ago I was asked to speak at one of our UU Summer Conferences on the topic of “How Unitarian Universalism has changed my life.” Revisiting this reflection, I realized that much has stayed the same since then, and much has changed. It’s an apt question to revisit from time to time, and it begs the question of all of us: “How has Unitarian Universalist changed your life?”
We will Share the Plate with the Rockford Public Schools Families in Transition (FIT) Program
We are collecting funds to support the Rockford Public Schools Families in Transition (FIT) Program. This crucial initiative provides direct support, educational stability, and essential supplies to students and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability in our local community.
Your generous contributions help ensure these students have the resources, basic necessities, and encouragement they need to stay focused on their education during challenging times. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Ray Baert (Aug 12), Ross Ticknor (Aug 13), Susan Erbe (Aug 13), Judy Johnson (Aug 14), Thomas Brace (Aug 16), Phil Curtin (Aug 17), & Regina Brenmark-French (Aug 17)!
Carrie Humus here with a reminder! As much as we would all like to preserve the environment, please make a note of the fact that plastic-coated paper plates are NOT, repeat NOT, compostable, so please do not place them in the green containers in Deale Hall. You don’t want polyethylene microplastic particles to contaminate the end product of our compost program, now do you? I didn’t think so.
Sincerely, Carrie, your UU Partner in making the world a better place.
Diane Nilan National Activist, Author, Filmmaker Sunday, August 16th;11:30
are honored to welcome Diane Nilan, a renowned author, documentary filmmaker, and passionate advocate for families and children experiencing homelessness. We hope you will join us!
About Diane:
Decades of Service: Diane spent over 15 years directing homeless shelters in Illinois (including Hesed House and Daybreak Shelter) before founding HEAR US Inc., a national non-profit dedicated to giving a voice to unhoused families.
Life on the Road: In 2005, Diane sold her home, bought an RV, and traveled over 400,000 miles across 49 states to document the hidden realities of family homelessness in small towns, suburbs, and cities.
Legislative Impact: She played a pivotal role in passing landmark legislation, including the Illinois Education of Homeless Children Act and provisions in the federal McKinney-Vento Act, ensuring children experiencing homelessness have the right to remain in their schools and access higher education without barriers.
Author & Filmmaker: She has produced award-winning documentaries (such as My Own Four Walls) and authored several books, including her memoir Dismazed and Driven: My Look at Family Homelessness in America.
The UU Fourth Sunday Book Discussion Group meets at noon on the fourth Sunday of every month (Suprise!) in the church library.
The next meeting will be August 23 at noon.
This month, we will be reading the second half of “Basic Teachings of the Buddha” by Glenn Wallis
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
Two Events to Check out in Midtown Rockford on 815 Day
Explore one of Rockford’s most diverse neighborhoods on the 815 Day Foodie Lover’s Neighborhood Walk.
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Check-in begins at 11:15 AM)
Starting Location: Siam Grocery Store, 806 Broadway, Rockford, IL 61104
Cost: Free with advance registration (limited to the first 20 participants)
Led by Alderman Jamie Salgado and Samantha Bentley, Executive Director of the Broadway Corridor Business Association, this guided walking tour showcases the unique restaurants, markets, and cultural gems of the Broadway Corridor while highlighting the area’s ongoing revitalization. The experience concludes with a light lunch at the final stop.
The walk takes place rain or shine. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Each participant will receive a goodie bag and recipes to take home.
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 |
Register here:
