Matthew’s Memo December 17, 2024

A few things today. 
 
Please look at the draft mission and vision statement in this Kairos. The team did a lovely job in putting a suggestion together based on the workshop you had last fall.  Do plan to attend the next workshop on Feb. 9^th to continue the process of shaping who we will be and what we will do for the next few years. 
 
Thank you so much to those of you who have come forward to volunteer in Religious Education.  We’ve been making a big push and you are responding.  Thanks to the most recent additions: Art and Rebecca Beneditz, Veronica Soria-Martinez, Bill Schuyler, Peggy Menze, Sandi Campbell, and Rose Kruchten.  They are joining longstanding volunteers Kim Lowman Vollmer, Lisa Schultz Volkman, Katy Conrad, Katy Haun, Spitty Tata, Mario Capito, Katie Linderman as well as our staff and stipend teachers – Rev. Joyce, Aubrey Baker-Clark, Kat Dunn, and Lee Johnson-Doyle.  We are still looking for a few more folks for the 1st-3^rd and 4^th-6^th grade groups, and a third paid person for the K and Under room.  See Lindsay for more details, and thank you. 
 
I can also share that our plea around Woodsong has paid off – we now have three director-qualified people who are willing to sub for Lindsay when she is ill or takes a vacation.  This is a huge sigh of relief.  The board also authorized a significant salary increase for Lindsay to recognize her work and dedication; this is a reallocation of the Woodsong revenue. 
 
Next, I hope you will join us for our holiday services.  This Sunday is our annual no-rehearsal, all-ages, super-fun pageant.  We retell the ancient story in word, song, and action, and reflect on the meaning today.  Don’t miss it. 
 
On Christmas Eve, we hold our traditional candlelight Christmas Eve service.  We will sing classic carols, tell the story, and light candles.  This is also an all-ages service. Everyone is welcome. This is a very special night and I hope you will join us and bring your beloveds.
 
On 12/29, I will lead a fun and creative New Year-themed service. Folks will have a chance to reflect on their hopes and intentions for the year before us. There may be an art project.
 
I will be preaching 1/5, 1/12, and 1/19 and then begin the second half of my sabbatical.  I’ll be doing research, study, and writing (updating my doctoral project on UU Homiletics).  I’ll also be teaching – I’ll be the adjunct instructor for the Worship and Liturgy class at Meadville Lombard Theological School, which I’m very excited about. Rev. Allison Farnum will again be our sabbatical preacher, covering ½ the Sundays, with Rev. Joyce, Rev. Bowie, and a few other guests picking up the rest.  I’ll be back on April 7^th and back in the pulpit on April 13^th to share what I’ve learned.
 
Speaking of what I’ve learned, I’m going to share pictures and stories from the Camino de Santiago on January 14^th, a Tuesday, at 6:30 pm.  This will be an online-only event – I’ll share Zoom later, look for it.  (Online only to accommodate interest from others around the country, and because winter evenings are dicey). 
 
I hope to see you at some of our holiday services!
 
In faith,
Matthew

The Non-Violent Communication Practice Group will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the third Wednesday instead of the fourth Wednesday, which is Christmas Day.

Sex & Gender Justice Team to Facilitate UU Common Read:  Authentic Selves 
To quote uua.org:  The Common Read of Authentic Selves is a sweeping compilation of life stories and portraits of trans and nonbinary people, as well as their partners, parents, children, siblings, and chosen family members. Through interviews and photo portraits, the subjects of Authentic Selves invite readers into their real lives–their revelations, challenges, joys, and networks of support. You will have an opportunity at Coffee Hour on December 15 to page through the book and pre-order it through the church if you are interested.  Copies will be available sometime in January, and the discussion will be held in February.   

Sex & Gender Justice Team meets after church this Sunday, 12/22.

Submitted by Lia Gima

Mission and Vision Update
 
One of our main goals this year is to update our vision, mission, goals, and strategic plan.  It has been many years and the world has changed a few times since then.  We’ve changed to.  What is our work now?  What is the church for?  What difference will we make in the world and in our lives?
 
You kicked off this work with a mission and vision workshop, led by Rev. Allison Farnum, on Sept. 22^nd.  About 20-25 people attended and shared what they valued about the church and their sense of purpose for us.  A writing team, consisting of Teresa Wilmot, Teresa Palmeno, Barb Basaj, Sue Molyneaux, and Gloria Perez, took the notes from that meeting and created a vision and a mission statement.  The Board received that draft at its Dec. 4^th meeting, and made some minor changes. 
 
The vision is a short statement of who we seek to be.  It is almost like a motto.  The mission is a statement of our purpose – why we exist. 
 
Here is the current draft:
 

 
The next step in this process is a workshop on Feb. 9^th after church.  Mark your calendars and plan to attend!  There will be a time for feedback about this vision and mission, and then a turn to begin to articulate our goals or “ends.”  Given this purpose, what will we accomplish in the next 3-5 years?  What difference will we make in the lives of those we serve and in the world?  How we will use our wealth of resources to nourish our community? You will begin to articulate 2-5 major goals.  This will incorporate the insights from the change team, which has focused on our anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multicultural goals. 
 
At the last workshop, on March 9^th after church, you will refine these “ends” and brainstorm tactics and strategies.  Given the goals, what action steps, programs, shifts in culture and policy, and so forth should we make? 
 
In April and May, the staff and lay leaders will refine this plan, select tactics to achieve the goals, identify needed resources, timelines, and accountabilities, and finalize a draft.  You’ll be asked to vote on the mission and vision, and to give your general endorsement to the strategic plan, at the annual meeting on June 8^th, 2025. 

UU 2030 Young Adult Group
Thursday, December 19th, 5:45 – 6:45 pm
Theme: Family, Friends, and Loves

UU2030 is a small group for adults in their 20s and 30s who are looking for a spiritual and religious community, without the dogma and baggage that can come with traditional religion. We can provide that home here!

We are looking to build a faith community and possibly other social events like potlucks, holiday celebrations, boardgame nights. 
We hope to see you!

If you need childcare, please email Rev Joyce at revjoycpalmer@yahoo.com.

Upcoming dates January 16th and February 6th.
Co-leaders Sarah Greer and Hailey Powell

Getting to Know UU Sessions
Join us for our welcome program designed to provide newcomers with the opportunity to learn about the congregation and how to get connected. We hope you will find this community to be a religious home. There are 4 sessions, the first is a series of videos and the other three are in person on Sundays in the Sanctuary from 11:15 – 11:45. You can complete the sessions at any time. Sessions will repeat monthly.
 
*Watch 4 Introduction Videos Prior to In-Person Sessions*
December 22 Getting Connected with Rev Joyce
Hope to see you!
Video session takes about 30 minutes to complete.
 
1. A History of Unitarianism: BaseCamp: 5 Minute History of Unitarianism
  
2. A History of Universalism: BaseCamp: A History of Universalism in 5 Minutes
  
3.   UU theology video by Rev. Matthew Johnson: (12 minutes): UU theology by Matthew Johnson
 
4. After you’ve watched Matthew’s Theology video, watch this video of “Holy Now” by Peter Mayer: Peter Mayer “Holy Now” (with lyrics in captions)
  
Questions, email Rev Joyce at revjoycepalmer@yahoo.com

Church Center Info

Hello,

Our church members have always enjoyed having a church directory. We have a new one to be safer and keep up with technology. This time, YOU have to actually put yourself into the directory, and the staff cannot do that for you. So let me give you some instructions, and maybe you can take a few minutes in the next few days to get yourself put into the directory.

Most of you will use your phone to do this, but you can also do it on the computer.

On your phone go to the App Store or Play Store. Search for CHURCH CENTER

Install it on your phone

You can enable FACE ID-so you don’t have to remember your password, or go the password route

Open CHURCH CENTER

There might be codes, emails and phone number you have to enter-each phone is different.

Click on the circle with your initials

Select – CONTACT & PROFILE

Go in and make any changes to the information
You can even add photo

When done select UPDATE in the upper right-hand corner

When all updated

In the lower right-hand corner select DIRECTORY

SHARE INFO might come up and select it so others see you in the directory.

Every phone is a bit different, so you might have to keep trying and use some guesswork, but this is the general plan.  

After you have done this you should be able to find YOURSELF in the directory.  Select the directory and see.

Some of us will be around at church on Sundays to help, besides me.

You can do this so please give it a try ASAP

let me know how it goes.

Kim Lowman Vollmer
Board Member

Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party,
by Edward Dolnick 
published 2024
284 pg. not counting substantial notes

It is easy and compelling reading. It is about the “discovery” of dinosaurs.
While people had found fossils for centuries, they had no idea what they
were nor gave it much thought.

When some nearly complete sea-creature dinosaurs and a couple of land dinosaurs turned up in England, a few folks began to ponder where they came from. There was nothing living remotely like them.

Over time, debates ensued, usually couched in terms of how/why God had made these creatures but then there were none around. Extinction was not considered a possibility. Most geologists were very conventionally religious as were most of the people of England. To the people of the early 1800s, this revelation of ancient creatures was more of a shock than we’d experience today if a spaceship hovered over Manhattan. It was a threat to religion. But dinosaurs were suddenly a “hot thing.”

The science of paleontology and the word dinosaur was invented during this period, actually before there was the preponderance of actual full dinosaurs we are now familiar with.

So, without telling the entire story. It is a good read about the discovery of dinosaurs and how religion and science were both justified. And still are to this day.

Submitted by Allen Penticoff

Wesley Willows Group
The Wesley Willows group will meet the following days and times this coming year in the reflection room at the Town Center.

Jan. 22nd, Wednesday, at 9 am
April 24, Thursday, at 10 am

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.

Our Vision: A loving congregation that connects with ourselves, one another, and the larger community.  

Our Mission: We care for ourselves, each other, and our neighbors while taking risks acting for justice. We are continuously building an inclusive, empowered, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, multicultural congregation. Our connections foster radical love for ourselves and others.

The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL  |   4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107   |   815-398-6322    |   uurockford.org  |