Radical Hospitality August 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Joyce Palmer Creating a culture of hospitality in the increasingly hostile and isolating world we live in is a radical act. Let’s explore practical steps we can take to open our hearts to welcome the stranger.
We will Share the Plate with Minister’s Discretionary Fund
The Minister’s Discretionary Fund is to help members in times of need and to help with leadership development. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Charles Barnes (08/09), Katherine Larson (08/09), Cindy Fischer (08/10), Casandra Goldsmith (08/10), Darrell Polfliet (08/10), Sara Dorner (08/10), Sabrina Crook (08/12), Susan Erbe (08/13), Ross Ticknor (08/13), Judy Johnson (08/14), & Doris Heibner (08/16)!
Volunteers for Sunday, August 14
Ushers: We Need 2 Volunteers
Greeters: We Need 2 Volunteers
Guest Table: We Need 2 Volunteers
Coffee Hosts: Spitty Tata & Phil Hjemboe
Please note that if you volunteer for coffee host you will need to clean up afterward and run the cups through the sanitizer.
I mentioned this briefly during the Q and A service on Sunday but wanted to take this space to say more about our upcoming move to Soul Matters as our theme-based ministry and small group program.
If you’ve been around for a while, Soul Matters will be familiar to you.
We began using monthly themes in the fall of 2014. That first year, we used our own. In 2015-2017, for two years, we used the Soul Matters materials. Then we switched to Touchstones, which we used for five years. After a close look at the materials and options, we decided to move back to Soul Matters for the coming year.
Touchstones and Soul Matters are very similar – both provide a set of worship, small group, and religious education resources to Unitarian Universalist congregations each month. Each chooses a theme for the month, and that theme is used to connect various parts of congregational life and is an opportunity to go deeper together.
Why did we go back to Soul Matters? Over the last few years, Soul Matters has invested in its Religious Education resources, and they are much stronger now that what Touchstones provides. Soul Matters has a team of people working on these resources (Touchstones is really a solo operation), and there are activity plans for different age groups. That really appealed to us.
Soul Matters has a slightly different approach to small group ministry – though there are questions related to the theme for discussion, there are also a set of activities related to the theme that you can choose from. You do one activity in your life, and then share that with your small group. It’s a way to actually live the theme, not just talk about it.
Because Soul Matters is a larger operation, there are also monthly video calls for ministers, educators, and musicians to brainstorm ideas and share thoughts – I attended the one for September’s theme (Belonging) last week and it was very rich.
If you are interested in joining what we’ll start calling “Soul Matters groups” (formerly Touchstones Groups), please let Rev. Joyce know at assistminister@uurockford.org. Soul Matters also offers a “Starting Point” program that’s great for newcomers to the church, folks who want a jump start back into participation, or for those who want to try out a small group for a few sessions. Look for dates for that in future Kairos’s.
I hope you will give this new program a try – do one of the activities and go deeper into the work. If you’d like to get the activity list, but you are not in a small group, let Autumn know at office@uurockford.org and she will put you on the distribution list for those materials. If you are in a Soul Matters group you’ll get them as part of your monthly packet.
And, if you have children, please bring them! We’ll begin this new program, with rich and engaging sessions, in September. We have group leads for each RE group and wonderful things planned.
I’m looking forward to this new set of offerings, and hope you are too.
In faith,
Matthew
Memorial Patio Update
As part of the work to rebuild the Memorial Patio we would like to encourage members who want to order a memorial brick for a loved one who has died to submit a form with the information needed for inscription. We realize that there have been a number of deaths since bricks were last ordered and we would like to catch up as much as we can during this rebuilding phase. Please note that there is no need to do new forms for anyone who already has a brick in the current patio.
Forms are available from the church office or you may click the button below to print out the form at home. They should be submitted to the office. Our current policy is that bricks are engraved at no cost for members of the church. The engraving fee is $50/brick for non-member children, parents, spouses and life partners of members and $130 for former members and friends of the church. Payment should be made to the office.
If you have any questions about the orders or the patio please contact Pat Lewis at pryanlewis@gmail.com.
Going Solar
On Aug 11 at 6 pm, member Steven Hall will be making a presentation on “going solar” for a Rockford neighborhood association that meets at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 3301 Corbridge Ln, Rockford, IL 61107. The slides/information being presented were produced by the Citizens Utility Board. Steve has had a 4.4 KW roof top system for 6 1/2 years. Our membership is cordially invited to the presentation. Questions? Reach Steve at 815 654-0422
UUA Common Read Members of the Racial and Economic Justice Team invite you to join us in reading (and later discussing) the book Defund Fear: Safety Without Policing, Prisons, and Punishment by Zach Norris (Beacon Press 2021). The cover price is $16.00. Our bulk discount allows us to offer the book to you for only $15.00, including sales taxes and shipping to UU Rockford. Reserve your copy with an email to Li M Blacker:BlackLiM@gmail.com; please put “UUA Rockford – Defund Fear” in the subject line. If you are able and willing, consider paying $16; the extra funds we collect will go toward a copy (or more) for our library, for those who aren’t in a position to purchase the book. Discussion date to be determined.
Some years ago, we established a scholarship fund, through Rockford Promise, with a gift from the estate of Martha Williams. Each year, Rockford Promise identifies one of their Rock Valley College-bound students to receive this scholarship. The 2022 Martha Daniels/Unitarian Universalist Church Scholar at Rock Valley College is Juan Pina. (Photo attached.)
Juan is a first-generation bilingual college student planning on studying Aviation Maintenance Technology at RVC. This is a 2 year FAA-approved degree. He is a dynamic, amiable and resilient young man who has completed much of his high school education with his family far away in Mexico. We cannot wait for you to meet him in person.
Thanks to Steve Hall who has agreed to be Juan’s mentor.
Racial and Economic Justice Team
The Racial and Economic Justice Team.. formerly “Justice For All”..will be meeting this Sunday, August 14, at 11:15 in the library.
We are in the process of forming our team and setting priorities. This meeting is open to all who are interested in engaging in this work.
Our mission is: Addressing racial and economic injustice, and promoting a church, city, and nation characterized by racial and economic justice, belonging, and repair. Issues can include housing, education, food security, criminal justice, jobs, immigration, relationship building and more.
We will combat white supremacy, classism, and other forms of oppression through faithful, prophetic and honest conversation and action. And work with partners, centering those who experience systems of oppression most directly. We will engage members and the church as a whole.
Gloria Perez & Kathie Mattison
WCCC
Thanks to all who helped filled the sanctuary at our last meeting! We had a very positive question and answer segment with the new doctor who is bringing his practice to Rockford from Wisconsin, where abortion,sadly, is no longer legal. Our next meeting will include more speakers giving updates on the Maray St. Clinic, as well as a couple of Pro=Choice political candidates. Please mark your calendar for THURSDAY, AUGUST 11TH; 6:30 at our UU church. And always remember:
DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT!!!
Barb Giolitto
WCCC Pres.
Eliminate Racism
Film Discussion
Friday August 12, 2022
6-8:30 p.m.
I Am Not Your Negro: Based on James Baldwin’s uncompleted manuscript of his personal account of the lives & assassination of three of his close friends-Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and MLK & connects the past to the present of Black Lives Matter.
Join Zoom Meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81211275487
The film discussions are presented in partnership with The Baha’i Community of the Rockford Area and Rockford Public Library.
Community Events
We need your help!
Our store is open on Saturdays from 11:00 – 4:00 pm, and we are in need of more amazing women to sign up to volunteer for these time slots! We rotate our volunteer list based on frequency and availability, ensuring there are two volunteers per Saturday for safety and efficiency.
Roles as a volunteer may include the following:
– Opening/closing the store
– Tending to patrons as they shop, answering questions, providing assistance
– Assisting with inventory of artwork/merchandise
– Leading children’s crafts and activities
– Assisting in programs, musical guests, and events
If you are available and interested in volunteering with us, you can download and fill out the volunteer registration form on our website or email us at inscapecollective@gmail.com.
If you are unavailable but know of someone who may be interested, please forward this information their way!
We appreciate you!
The Board of Trustees:
President: Judy Gustafson
Clerk: Bob Spelman
Vice-President: Spitty Tata
Treasurer: Steve Blomgren
Trustees: Shoko Chien, Sarah Greer, Jami Edmonds
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
