Matthew’s Memo
January 14, 2025
 
Last Friday, the Supreme Court heard the petition by TikTok and some creators to pause or stop the bill that would require that company to divest its American operation.  The analysis of the hearing indicated that based on their questions, the justices are unlikely to intervene.  If the law goes into effect on Sunday, the App would disappear from App stores and although current users could continue to use it, it would stop being updated.  An American buyer may emerge, or Congress might change the law.  We’ll see. 
 
Though I don’t really create videos, I do watch them – the algorithm has learned that I like interior design, certain comics, current events, biblical scholarship, quiz shows, and such things.  I’m often entertained, sometimes I learn things, and I also spend more time on there than I should. 
 
Meanwhile, UU ministers are having conversations about Facebook.  Facebook, as a company, has taken a right turn in advance of the new administration – donating the inauguration, ending fact-checking, and ending its internal DEI policies (as have many companies).  Yet, groups on Facebook are a primary place where we connect with each other to support and advise.  We continue to find it necessary to promote events and reach people. We’re wondering if we should move our minister’s conversations to Discord or some other platform – but we are not all very tech-savvy, so we’ll see. 
 
I have left Twitter / “X” for BlueSky, and that is an easy choice without much complication.  That’s where I get my news and information – by following reporters and reading the articles they post. 
 
Some of you may not have any of these, while others may have very different media platforms. 
 
What I’m trying to do is think about which platforms I want to use for what purpose, and to be intentional about my choices.  Regardless of where we land on these questions, I think the central thing is purposefulness – that we take charge of how we want to behave on these platforms, and how we want to use these tools.  We should recognize the costs and the gains – because both are real – and have nuanced and wise conversations with each other about how we want to be.  And how we want to be online should be guided by the same values that we want to live IRL (in real life). 
 
No easy answers here, but that’s how I’m trying to approach these questions. 
 
In faith,
Matthew

Sabbatical Part 2 guide
 
Here is important information about the Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson’s upcoming Sabbatical (part 2 of this year’s 4-month sabbatical – he took 6 weeks in the fall and will be taking 10 weeks from Jan 23^rd to April 7^th). 
 
Sabbatical is a time of renewal and refresh for a minister.  Matthew takes short sabbaticals – 3 or 4 months every 4 or 5 years – to refresh, grow his skills, and renew his spirit.  Sabbaticals are also a vital time for the church to grow its leadership and capacity and move toward a more shared ministry, which is a central goal of our post-covid life together.  So embrace this time of creativity and possibility!
 
Authority in Matthew’s absence is shared by many other staff and leaders. 
 
Governance – Board President, Matt Menze or Vice President, Wendy Bennett.
Finance – Finance Chair Steve Lewis
Personnel – Matt M and Steve L
Worship – Rev. Joyce and Tim Anderson, with our sabbatical preachers Rev. Allison and Rev. Bowie.
Pastoral Care and Rites of Passage – Rev. Joyce
Day-to-Day management – Office Manager Autumn Powell.  Autumn is who you go to if you don’t know where to go – she’ll direct you. 
Faith in Action – the Faith in Action Team leaders; Rev. Scott Aaseng with UUANI and Rev. Violet Johnicker with RUM, as well as Rev. Joyce and Rev. Marlene Walker with the Rockton UU congregation, can provide clergy support and connection. 
 
The Worship Schedule is as follows:
26: Rev. Allison — the Great Story
Feb 2: Putting the I in DEI with Keith Barns
Feb 9: Rev. Allison. – a mission/vision/goals workshop follows.
Feb 16: Rev. Bowie
Feb 23: Rev. Allison
March 2: Youth-led Led Worship Service
March 9: Rev. Allison a mission/ vision/ goals workshop follows.
March 16: Rev. Joyce
March 23: Rev. Bowie
March 30: Rev. Allison
April 6: Rev. Allison
April 13: Rev. Dr. Matthew returns. 
 
We’ll be making plans for a Stewardship campaign that will run quickly after I return. 
 
What will I be doing?  Reading, writing, some teaching.  I’ll be reading about and revising my doctoral project on UU Homiletic Theology, teaching a class on worship, and reading some other materials on clergy life today.  I’ll be in town for some of the time and with family and friends at other times.  I’m looking forward to this vital time to work my mind in different ways. 

Matthew’s Camino
Tuesday, Jan 14^th, 6:30pm
 
ON ZOOM ONLY:
Topic: Camino Presentation
Time: Jan 14, 2025 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85338187403
Meeting ID: 853 3818 7403
 
I will share about my experience doing the Camino de Santiago in the fall of 2024.  I walked about 560 miles on the “French Route” in this ancient pilgrimage.  I’ll share pictures, talk about the journey – both the practical aspects and the spiritual power.  Love to have you join us. 

Child Dedication

We are pleased to announce that the Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford will hold a Child Dedication during worship on Sunday, January 19, 2025.  The dedication will be a simple ritual in which the congregation commits to the spiritual welfare and development of the child and their family.  Though the ritual is not a baptism, some similar symbolism will be incorporated into the ceremony.  Children of any age that have not previously been dedicated are welcome to participate in the ritual.  Children who participate are welcome to have their parents and siblings as well as one or two sponsors join them at the front of the sanctuary during the dedication.  If you would like to participate in the Child Dedication, please e-mail Lindsay Trank at reuurockford@gmail.com by Wednesday, January 15.  We hope you will join us for this special occasion!

UU COMMON READ:  Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families.  Join the Sex & Gender Justice Team in reading and discussing this beautiful and positive book.  Stop by our table at Coffee Hour, where a copy will be on display and you can pre-order yours before January 13. It is also available through uuabookstore.org or on Kindle. The book discussion is planned for the last week in February.

Save the Date:  Our Wonderful Wednesday on January 29 at 6:00 pm will be a Drag Queen Story Time for the whole family in the church library!  Details to come.

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
Upcoming dates January 16th and February 6th 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.

Co-leaders Sarah Greer and Hailey Powell

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 23, Wednesday, 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  |