Happy New Year, Friends!

I hope this first Kairos of 2026 finds you well and happy. 

What a year 2025 was in the life of our beloved church community!  And here’s the Good News.  We are a thriving spiritual community who works to feed one another and the hungry, engage with our larger community and the World to solve difficult problems, and love one another in the process. Thank you for bringing your UU selves to all this work.

But what is next for us?  We are still in that liminal ‘transition’ space.  You may have seen the history story board in the social hall.  I urge you to read it and add to it.  This is important work for us right now.  Learning from each other about our past will help us discover things we didn’t know.   Who were we?  What has shaped us?  How have our geography, church building, and ministerial choices shaped who we are now?  What about our past struggles?  Are these truths part of our weakness or our strength? 

Rev. David Augsburger suggests that every church has their rules, roles, rituals and roots.  These together create our church culture.  During this interim period we get to pause and take a look at these things and ask whether the current church culture will work well in the future. 

Our job, along with Rev. Bret,  is to analyze, evaluate, mentor and generally equip this congregation with the tools necessary to move into our future with a well equipped tool box!  Taking time to do this assessment now will help us identify what we want and need to make our future one of continuing growth, love, and action. Then calling the right settled minister for our church community should be clear.

Please keep asking questions about what is next.  But don’t just ask the minister.  Look at our history, our identity.  Then, ask yourself.  Please share your answers!

Don’t miss the activities fair being helped on January 25.  There are many excellent ways to get involved in the work both inside and outside our church community.  And, read the Kairos to stay up to date.

Much love and many blessings,
Wendy Bennett
President

Many hands make light work – and we could use some more hands! 
In order to keep the pantry stocked consistently, we need volunteers to take bags of items from the pantry table and use them to stock the pantry. There is a printed calendar above the pantry table in Deale Hall where you can sign up for the days that work best for you. You don’t need to do a long term commitment or the same days every week/month – every little bit helps and you can fit it to your schedule. If you have any questions, see Dawn Nimmo or Rebecca Beneditz.

UU 20/30s Group
Join Us Sunday, January 18, at 11:30 a.m. in the Youth Room

UU2030 is a small group for adults in their 20s and 30s who are looking for 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, and board game nights.

We hope to see you!

Co-leaders Sara and Hailey

Sustain Rockford invites the community to its 10th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 5:15–7:30 p.m. at The Standard (214 E. State St., Rockford). Enjoy hors d’oeuvres (with a cash bar) and help celebrate a decade of local environmental progress; the program begins at 6:00 p.m. The evening includes remarks from Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and Winnebago County Board Chair Joe Chiarelli, emceed by Paul Logli, plus recognition of local Sustainability Heroes.

Free and open to the public; advance registration required.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustain-rockford-10th-anniversary-celebration-tickets-1975194260203
More info: www.sustainrockford.org

• Our deep roots connect us to a wealth of resources that nourish our growth as a beacon for justice, inclusion, and liberation, especially anti-racism and gender and sexuality justice. 
• Our listening cultivates diverse and multicultural relationships that bridge divisions, strengthen our communities, heal hearts, and foster safety for all. 
• Our awareness of our interdependence inspires us to protect the shared environment and natural world in which we live.

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