Upcoming: Q and A! September 3, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.Onlineand in-person Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
It’s our semi-regular Q and A service. I will do my best to answer your questions. These services often turn about to be my favorites of the year, and surprisingly deep more often than not. You can send a question in advance to uurockrev@gmail.com or prepare to write it down on Sunday.
We will Share the Plate with Rockford Urban Ministries Who we are: Founded in 1962, RUM (as Rockford Urban Ministries is affectionately known) is the outreach of more than twenty faith communities working together on social justice ministries. In its 60 years RUM has had four clergy directors. Since 1985, lay director Stanley Campbell has had the pleasure of doing the work. Violet Johnicker joined the staff in 2021 and together they work to resource congregations with tools to advocate for justice issues.
What we do:
Listen and respond to the needs of the community
Take risks to advocate for meaningful change and proven policy initiatives, even and especially when they are unpopular Share our views with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels Offer trainings and teach-ins about important issues Partner with community organizations in the Rockford region
Volunteers for Sunday, September 3
Greeters: Neita Webster & We Need 1 More Volunteer
Guest Table: Ann Caskey & We Need 1 More Volunteer
Ushers: We Need 2 Volunteers Coffee Hosts: We Need 2 Volunteers
Please note that if you volunteer for coffee host you will need to clean up afterward and run the cups through the sanitizer. Spitty and others are happy to help you become familiar with how to handle this easy job. Sign Up Here
Happy Birthday to: Lynn Liston (08/29), Lynn Liston (08/29), Sarah Werhane (08/30), Shavonne White (08/30), Charlotte Fellars (09/01), Vada Appelbaum (09/01), Barb Giolitto (09/01), Donna Ducharme (09/03), & Carly Vollmer Asadi (09/05)!
Matthew’s Memo
On Friday evening, I drove into Chicago to attend the memorial service for the Re v. Jim Hobart. Jim and his wife, the Rev. Nan Hobart, retired from their co-ministry in Denver, Colorado, in 2002 and moved to Chicago. Nan took up a job as the director of field education and chaplain at Meadville Lombard Theological School, where I was entering my last year of Seminary. Jim hung around and gave advice and wisdom. When I was spending five years in Colorado, Jim did some interim ministry around Chicago and served temporarily as the District Executive for the IL/WI region. When I came back to Illinois to serve you, Jim was a regular at our collegial gatherings. He was then the wise elder.
Early in my ministry here, Jim pulled me aside at a meeting and told me all the things he knew about my predecessors. He knew a lot – only some of which I knew. It was a gift. There were pitfalls and things in the past that I needed to know about. Jim knew it. He made a gift of that knowledge to me, and it has made our shared ministry stronger.
So I went to the service, to give my love to Nan, and to honor Jim. I saw many of my old classmates who remember well Jim’s passion for our faith and his truth-telling skills. I learned – as we do – things about Jim’s life and ministry I did not know. We are all more than anyone knows about us. He was a mensch. He made mistakes and grew from them. I think his sharing in his elder years was a way of giving forward and was what he has wished for – more advice to avoid the rapids and pitfalls of this work.
I’m so grateful for his ministry and to have known him. And though few of you knew him, you should know that he made our ministry stronger together. You were loved by a man most of you never knew, and that is something to remember and celebrate.
In faith,
Matthew
The UU Church Auction website – Auctria – is now open for donations!
You may now self-post your donations through the link below. Donations will be accepted through Friday, September 1. Click Here to Donate If you have any questions or need assistance in entering your donation, you can reach out to Katie Kerr atk.m.mutert@gmail.com.
We appreciate your support. Your generosity in the auction helps support the continued work of the church. Thank you!
Board Meeting Recap
The Board approved a contract to add the t-coil hearing loop to the choir section. We discussed other possible building improvements that are under consideration. We also prepared for our board retreat.
A Rockford Welcome — How is it? Wonderful Wednesday, Sept 6 at 6 pm
A Rockford Welcome — How is it?
Join a distinguished panel of experts and policymakers to discuss how Rockford and Illinois are doing to welcome people — newcomers, immigrants, refugees, and others — to our community and state. What are we doing well? What can we do better? How can you get involved and how can we join together to make us a place of profound welcome and belonging?
Panelists include IL State Representative Dave Vella (D-68), Community Leader Mustafa Abdul, City of Rockford Human Services Director Anqunette Parham, Dr. Keith Barnes, Vice President of Equity and Inclusion at Rock Valley College, and Dr. Misael Nascimento, Executive Director of Bilingual and Multicultural Services at Rockford Public Schools.
Multicultural Ministries
Anti-Racist Cookbook Workshop
Saturdays, September 9 and 30 at 9am – 11:00am
Join members of the Multicultural Ministries group to learn about steps everyone can take to become more aware of the definitions and tools to use in everyday life to increase awareness and develop tools to have cross-racial discussions. The resource and conversations will help to address the question, “What can we do and how can we do it?”
Reading the book is helpful, though not required. We have a few copies in the office you can borrow, or buy one for $5.00.
Avoiding Scams Wonderful Wednesday, September 13 6 pm
We strive to be open and loving people. There are times when we need to be more aware of people and situations that are dishonest and harmful. Join a representative from Midland Bank to learn about the most common scams and how to avoid them. For yourself and your loved ones.
The Zanzen Meditation group is meeting in the church library every Saturday from 8:00 am to about 10:00 am for silent meditation and friendly discussion. We would like to invite all who are interested to check us out. There is no need to sign up or commit to anything. If you show up and behave we will probably be delighted to have you join us.
Soul MattersThemes begin this month with the theme Welcome
Check your email for a link to the Soul Matters small group packet.
Rare Earth Food Collectiveis an online farmers’ market featuring local food and products. We help producers work together to meet the growing demand for local, sustainable food in Winnebago, Boone, and McHenry Counties. Instead of you driving all over the countryside to buy from different farms, we collaborate to bring the food to you. You can choose home delivery or a nearby pickup location. We deliver orders every Tuesday, year-round. There is no minimum order, and no requirement to order every week. Ordering from REFC helps to build and support our local food community, preserve our agricultural land for future use, and reduce our carbon footprint. It also provides you with fresh food that tastes delicious and is good for you.
For members who already attend UU regularly, we will be there on Tuesdays in Deale Hall to pack our orders for distribution – meaning you could place an order for Tuesday pick up right at the Church!
The next pick-up will be on September 5, 2:30 – 3:00. This time period may be adjusted.
The buying window on the website will go live with products (for shopping) from Saturday at Noon, until Monday at Noon, but you can sign up as a customer at any time!
We look forward to serving you!
Rockford UU Lunch Group
After coffee hour/meetings on Sundays, a group gathers for lunch at various locations. It’s usually Bob Babcock and Doug Rix, often with Sue and Scott Garwick. It’s a time to get to know each other deeper and form a better community. Tap any of us any Sunday and see what we’re doing if you’d like to join us. PLAN ON IT!!! Or Call Bob at 630.417.0042
Book Discussion Wednesday August 31, 2023 6:00 p.m.
Join us by zoom for a discussion of We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez: Poignant novel of desperation, escape, and survival across the US-Mexico border, inspired by current events. Chicago Public Library Best of test of 2020.
Please read the book on your own and we will discuss it.
Book discussions are presented in partnership with Rockford Public Library.
Looking for a copy of one of the books? The Rockford Public Library is pleased to offer the books for our discussion series in multiple formats. In addition to in print, RPL has all but 2 (Intended: A Marriage in Black and White and Restoring the Soul to Education) in the Cloud Library which may be accessed with your RPL card. Titles are available in audio and e-book formats.
Eliminate Racism 815 – Film Discussion
Friday September 8, 2023
6:00 p.m.
We will watch Young Lakota: 1st female president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe defies a proposed South Dakota law criminalizing all abortions by threatening to build a women’s clinic on sovereign territory on the reservation.
Join us at the Baha’i Center 1650 N Alpine: Lower level in Highcrest Shopping Center.
We will show the film at The Baha’i Center in person with a facilitated discussion after the showing of the film.
The film discussions are presented in partnership with The Baha’i Community of the Rockford Area and Rockford Public Library.
WCCC
We are excited to announce that we are bringing Susana Mendoza to Rockford to speak at our annual WCCC Fundraiser. The fundraiser will be at our church. Please join us for an evening of inspiration as we raise funds to support Women’s Reproductive Health Care Access and elect Pro-choice candidates.
Barb Giolitto
WCCC President
WINNEBAGO COUNTY RESOURCES
List of resources that may be helpful to you or someone you know.
VICTIM/SURVIVOR SERVICES
Family Peace Center – 1-779-348-7600
Remedies Renewing Lives – 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-815-962-6102
OLDER ADULT SERVICES
Catholic Charities Long Term Care Ombudsman Program – 1-815-316-0040 or 1-800-369-0895
Mercyhealth at Home/Older Adult Services – 1-815-971-3502
Lifescape Community Services – 1-815-963-1609 or 1-800-779-1189
SERVICES/ADVOCACY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Center for Sight and Hearing – 1-815-332-6800 P
RAMP – 1-815-968-7467
The ARC – 1-815-965-3455
Celebrate International Day of Peace on Thursday, September 21st at Rockford University. At 4 pm Reverend Naomi Tutu, daughter of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, delivers a Peace Day lecture in RU’s Maddox Theater. At 5 pm join Rev. Tutu for a tour and celebration of Roland Poska’s “Declarations of Interdependence – Rockford series” in RU’s Regents Hall.
I am nearing the end of my second terms as a Habitat for Humanity board member. I consider myself as holding down the “Unitarian Board Seat” as the late Roger Oehlke preceded me as a long term board member.
I am inviting you to join me for a truly spectacular evening that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to make a difference, Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and we want you to join us for a gala event. On October 14th, 2023, at the Radisson Hotel in Rockford, we will be hosting our Hard Hats and High Heels Gala to commemorate our 35 years of dedicated service by providing affordable housing and building strong comities.
By attending this event, you will be directly supporting Habitat’s mission of creating safe and affordable homes. So mark your calendars and save the date and sign up as soon as possible Together, let’s celebrate our achievements, create lasting connections, and raise vital funds to continue building homes, communities, and hope.
The Board of Trustees:
President: Spitty Tata
Clerk: Kim Vollmer
Vice-President: Matt Menze
Treasurer: Steve Blomgren
Trustees: Clark Logemann, Sarah Greer, & Rebecca Beneditz
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
