Can People Change?
January 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.OnlineOnly Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson Sometimes, we see people seem to make major changes in their life. They get out of toxic relationships, get sober, get healthy, or do something else new and different. But often we see people get stuck – and feel like nothing can change. What makes change possible and sustainable? What can we learn from those who do change?
Happy Birthday to: William Carter (01/18), Meka Francis (01/18), Roberta Pietrzyk (01/18), Saundra Berglund (01/20), Eileen Stephens (01/20), Cheryl Delgado (01/20), Xap Esler (01/21), Nicole Ranz (01/23), Larry Swacina (01/24), Thomas Jones (01/24/1963), & Scott Stear (01/24)!
We will Share the Plate with BLUU
Formed in the wake of several conversations among Black UUs at the July 2015 Movement for Black Lives Convening in Cleveland, OH – the BLUU Organizing Collective is committed to to:
Expanding the power & capacity of Black UUs within our faith
Providing support, information & resources for Black Unitarian Universalists.
Justice-making and liberation through our faith Click Here to Donate
Matthew’s Memo January 18, 2022
The Board of Trustees and I are working on reviewing, amending, and revising our mission, vision, ends, and strategy document. Our last version was done in 2017 and we have accomplished much – but not all – of what we set out to do together.
The Board is working through the mission, vision, and ends. What are for? How do we want the world, the church, and the people who are part of the church to be different because of our work? They are tweaking and adjusting the existing ends – no great revolution so far, but more clarity, especially because of the pandemic, about the role the church can play in our lives, and us in the life of the church.
As they work on the ends, I and the staff will work on the strategy to get there. What tactics will we use? What new things should we do, and what things that we already do need to shift, improve, or grow?
A draft of this work will come to you all later for your feedback, but I would love your suggestions now. Is there something you’d love to see us try?
Some buckets of ideas we are working with include:
Inviting people to the spiritual life. What makes you feel invited?
Inspiring and Equipping leaders. What would help you be a leader in the church and the world?
Nurturing each other. How can you be supported by the church?
These are only a few of the areas we are working on, but these are the questions I’d be most curious to hear from you about right now. What do you think?
In faith,
Rev. Matthew
Being An Anti-Racist Church
The Board and leaders of the church are moving towards articulating that being on a continuous journey toward being an “anti-racist and multicultural church” is important to us. What does that mean? Let’s figure that out.
To get us together in this work, we want every member of the congregation to attend one of the four sessions we are offering on “being an anti-racist church.”
Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color are welcome to attend any of these sessions AND/OR to attend a session for BIPOC folks ONLY on Wednesday, Jan 19th, at 5:30pm at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82720790087. co-led by Rev. Matthew and Rev. Joyce.
The other sessions will be led by Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson. All the sessions are identical in content, choose one.
The sessions will be 1 hour. This is a high-level overview. We will work through a list of the characteristics of an anti-racist and multicultural congregation. Please plan to attend one of these sessions.
Eliminate Racism 815 Conversation on Race
Wonderful Wednesday January 19 at 7pm.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/98897064005
Join 2 members of Eliminate Racism 815 for a conversation on race from each person’s perspective. The evening will involve honest conversation between people of diverse backgrounds. Our speakers are Ron Simmons and Dick Rundall. Join us on Zoom.
What is relational organizing, and how do we do it? Even more importantly, why do it? Join Scott Aaseng for an interactive session on how we can grow connections in our congregation, show up powerfully and accountably in our community, and strengthen the movement for justice – by building relationships.
Rev. Scott Aaseng serves as Executive Co-Director of the Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois (UUANI), our statewide UU faith in action network. Scott has served UU congregations around the state, including a brief stint as UU Rockford’s Social Justice Ministry Consultant in 2017-2018. Originally from Minnesota, he has lived on Chicago’s West Side for 25 years.
Eliminate Racism 815 Book Discussion
Thursday January 27, 2022 6:00 p.m.
Join us by zoom for a discussion of 1619 Project-A New Origin Storyby Nikole Hannah-Jones and multiple other contributors.
We will be discussing this book over two months: the preface-page 246 on January 27, 2022 and pages 249-280 on February 24, 2022.
The book reframes our understanding of American history by placing slavery and its continuing legacy at the center of our national narrative.
Please read the book on your own and we will discuss it. Join the Zoom Meeting here:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81211275487 Book discussions are presented in partnership with Rockford Public Library.
Eliminate Racism 815 Education Team
Prairie State Legal Services will speak on school discipline and students’ rights, then answer questions and offer one-on-one meetings for legal advice. All participants who wish to meet with an attorney for legal advice will complete a screening.
January 20, 2020 5PM-6:30PM Pilgrim Baptist Church, 1703 S. Central Ave
Call 815-668-4415 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome
Community Events
Trip to Collette Ireland
Lee County Council on Aging are organizing a trip to Ireland from October 5-12 of this year. The trip is a guided tour through Collette. For more information click here gateway.gocollette.com/link/1083188 Questions please contact April Reed lccoabookkeeper@comcast.net815-288-9236
The Board of Trustees:
President: Amanda Tapfield
Clerk: Bob Spelman
Vice-President: Judy Gustafson
Treasurer: Teresa Wilmot
Trustees: Khanh Oehlke, Sarah Greer, Jami Edmonds
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
