10 Big Ideas: Plasticity
January 8, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.Onlineand in-person Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
I continue my series on 10 big ideas that have shaped my thinking in my 15th year with you. Neuro-Plasticity, the idea that the brain can grow, change, adapt, and heal, has profound spiritual implications. It is important for how we think about the early years of our lives, but also for people of all ages. You can train your mind – come learn how.
We will Share the Plate with KFACT KFACT Inc. is a grassroots 501 (c) 3 nonprofit youth development and holistic mentoring organization established to alleviate opportunity gaps among girls living in the Rockford community. KFACT Inc. specializes in providing an array of comprehensive services with one being “holistic mentorship.” KFACT is the only girls holistic mentoring organization in our community and strives to ensure that girls are not continuing the cycle of poverty. Holistic mentoring in the only way to truly alleviate generational poverty and consequently trauma because it requires the entire life of the girl to be part of the plan for her success. KFACT’s unique approach has supported the program’s outcomes – 100% high school graduation rate, 98% of girls attend post-secondary education,and less than 2% of our girls become teen parents. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Miranda Best (01/03) Amanda Tapfield (01/04), Shane Baker (01/05), Claire Rotolo (01/07), Chandra Pellman (01/07), Caralou Erickson (01/08), Barbara Wilson (01/08), Rebecca Quirk (01/08), Annabelle Collins (01/09), Ronda White (01/09), Robin Enders (01/09), & Christina Geiselhart (01/09)!
Volunteers for Sunday, January 8
Ushers: Michael Griffith & We Need 1 More Volunteer
Greeters: We Need 2 Volunteers
Guest Table: Jami Edmonds & Rev. Joyce Palmer
Coffee Hosts: Phil Hjemboe & We Need 1 More Volunteer
Please note that if you volunteer for coffee host you will need to clean up afterward and run the cups through the sanitizer. Reminder to coffee hour hosts: please make sure the heater is off and the machine master switch is off when you leave. Thank you! Sign Up Here
Matthew’s Memo
Jan 3, 2023
Happy New Year! Welcome to ’23. (I am trying, and probably failing, to get us to switch from “2023” to simply “23.” Join me!).
I have moved away from resolutions, which I think are often a setup for failure, to think instead about “nudging habits.” Small changes that we will try to make, and not feel shame when we don’t. For me personally, these nudges include spending less time on my phone and eating less sugar. You can help me with the latter by not bringing me sweets. One thing I have learned and is true for me and most people is that setting up our environment and routine is more important than simple “will-power.” Not having sweet things around, and reorganizing my phone home screen – these things will help me with this “habit nudge.” Are there habits you want to nudge? How can you change your environment to facilitate this?
At the church, 2023 will be a year when we follow through on our strategic plan items and move to build our beloved community. Some of the things I’m really excited about in that regard include:
The Mistakes and Miracles UUA Common Read. We will learn from this great book, and experts from the congregations studied, about how congregations grow their multicultural and anti-racist skills. See the Kairos for details.
Our three issue/action teams: Racial and Economic Justice; Sex and Gender Justice; and Ecojustice all have great things planned, including activities, movies, events, and actions to promote justice.
We will be pushing out a new photo directory. We will use Breeze’s built-in features to do this, so please upload a picture. You can do this at https://uurockford.breezechms.com/r/dashboard. You’ll need to log in – if you have any trouble, ask us. Or, you can simply email Autumn a photo of your family that you like at office@uurockford.org and she can upload it for you. We hope you will use this new directory when it comes out to contact folks in the church you’ve lost touch with since Covid started and reconnect.
We have some great ideas for worship and music, a new Starting Point group coming soon, some interesting Wonderful Wednesday plans, and more. Please connect with something!
Though cases rose in December, we haven’t seen the same spike we saw last winter yet. Almost everyone in the church that I know of has their bivalent booster (get yours if you don’t). I am hopeful that our county will go back to “low” risk and stay there and we’ll feel more confident about programs and activities.
The RE program is planning some great activities and programs. We have a stable core of kids coming again and lead teachers for each group. If you have kids, now is the time to come on back.
See you soon!
In faith,
Matthew
Thank you very much!!
A big thank you to the folks that helped move chairs, haul the old tree out, clean up the 2,875,050 pine tree needles, remove the large wreath, and just help out with any assistance they could provide…. Thanks Very Much!! from Allen, Clark, and Dave, UU Church B&G Committee
UUA Common Read What lessons and inspiration can we find in Mistakes and Miracles to guide our
striving for Beloved Community, today?
Let’s read together the story of congregations who are doing the work of
multiculturalism and antiracism.
Buy your book now and join us for Zoom Discussion Series on 4 Tuesdays.
January 24 at 6:30pm-Rev. Matthew
February 21 at 6:30pm-Rev. Joyce
March 21 at 6:30pm-Rev. Linda Lawrence
April 18 at 6:30 pm-Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones
Starting Point
Join Rev. Joyce, newcomers, friends and members looking to make connections and “dig deeper” into Unitarian Universalism.
Starting Point is a 4-week program, we will meet Sunday afternoons from 11:30 – 1:30 pm.
Session dates January 22, January 29 and February 5, February 12
Sign up at this link:https://uurockford.breezechms.com/form/aa23e8
Explorers on a Spiritual Journey
We are all invited into a spiritual life. But what is a spiritual life? Enter the journey of discovery with Gloria Perez, trained spiritual companion/director.
Group sessions will meet once a month on Zoom beginning Wednesday, January 11th at 6pm.
The New Year is a great time to start or restart a hobby.
Join us for Wonderful Wednesday, January 18, 6pm to share your hobby, and get inspired to start pursuing a hobby.
Revs. Matthew and Joyce will share their hobbies. Learn about theirs and hobbies enjoyed by our members. Hope to see you there!
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
Eliminate Racism 815 Film Discussion
Friday January 13, 2023
6:30 p.m.
We will show the film Dear Future Children.: With global protests on the rise, this film is about the new generation at the heart of this seismic political shift through protests in Chile in Hong Kong and Uganda.
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.
The Board of Trustees:
President: Judy Gustafson
Clerk: Bob Spelman
Vice-President: Spitty Tata
Treasurer: Steve Blomgren
Trustees: Sarah Greer, Jami Edmonds, & Rebecca Beneditz
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
