Matthew’s Memo
 
Thanks for your enthusiasm about the “History of the church” service on Sunday.  Folks seemed to learn a lot they didn’t know and enjoyed it.  I’m glad we all know more.  If you missed it, I encourage you to watch it. 
 
I did get a few corrections, which is excellent. Our history is a living thing.  Though I tried to correct it on the spot, I wanted to make it clear that it was David Connolly, the son of the Rev. Dr. Charles Parker Connolly, who was the lawyer who fought for the Booker T. Washington Community Center and for fair housing and laws in general. 
 
I also learned from Dan Hotchkiss that the minister referred to in the story about how his father, Del, set a strong boundary against antisemitism was not Jack Mendelsohn as I assumed but David Weissbard.  Which makes more sense on the timing! 
 
I also learned that the church decided to buy the land we are on now not before Alan Deale arrived in 1958, but after. He played a key role in helping the congregation imagine this future, which was not an easy thing. 
 
I hope that you took away from this story that you are part of a long story in this community – one that precedes all of us and will outlast us all.  This is a source of solace and hope to me; that we “drink from wells we did not dig” and also that we plant trees under which others will find shade.  The story goes on. 
 
In faith,
Matthew

Wonderful Wednesday
Write Your Own Obituary
January 8th 6pm

Due to requests we will have a hybrid session-In person at church and on Zoom. Here is the link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85324870286?pwd=YJF3tS7tez5oDaML8Huft4xMqI4waB.1

Join us for an interactive workshop on writing your own obituary.

We will explore conversation prompts to get the ball rolling as well as 
things to include in your obituary.

The objective of the session is to walk away with the first attention grabbing sentence and an outline of your own obituary.

We’ll be offering grade 4-6 Our Whole Lives at our church (Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford) soon.  The parent orientation will be held after service at 11:30 am on Sunday, January 12 in the Commons area downstairs.  OWL sessions will run after service from 11:30 am – 12:15 pm Sunday, January 26 through Sunday, March 16. 

If you are not able to attend the parent orientation, but would like to have your child participate, reach out to Lindsay at reuurockford@gmail.com or
(815)398-6322 ext. 5.

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  |