The State of the UUA
July 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson My report from General Assembly and the State of the Unitarian Universalist Association in general. What is happening with our wider faith movement? How are we confronting the challenges of our times? What is giving us hope – and what is giving us pause? What can we learn, for our church and for our own lives, about living in the tension between our dreams and our reality?
We will Share the Plate with UUANI
UUANI (Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois) was founded in 2013 and organized to build power among UU congregations in Illinois, in order to put our UU values into meaningful, concrete far-reaching action toward social justice. We work collectively with each other and collaboratively with effective partner organizations to influence the creation of meaningful social change toward justice, beloved community, and a healthy planet.Click here for more information. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Tammy Hoffman (07/19), Edwin Miller (07/20), Alex van Est (07/20) Diane Meltmar (07/22), DeLon Fox (07/24), David Lawson (07/26), Susan Tyler (07/26), Rhonda McAllister (07/26), Joshua Moore (07/26), & Joshua Smith (07/26)!
Volunteers for Sunday, July 24
Ushers: We Need 2 Volunteers
Greeters: We Need 2 Volunteers
Guest Table: We Need 2 Volunteers
Coffee Hosts: We Need 2 Volunteers
Please note that if you volunteer for coffee host you will need to clean up afterward and run the cups through the sanitizer.
Last week, Rose and Leo and I attended the Central East Regional Summer Institute – better known to us as UU Church Camp. They were in the youth program, and spent the week with their friends; I hardly saw them. I was a member of the ministry team and led a few worship services, but I also got to attend workshops on “post-modern lyrical poetry”, the banjo, and cocktail making (UU Church Camp is the best). It was lovely.
I do encourage you to consider attending a UU Church Camp. We travel a long way to CERSI because there isn’t a better option for us, and we’ve gotten to know those folks. But there are closer options:
Midwest UU Summer Assembly is the week of July 4th, near Potosi, MO (South of St. Louis). https://www.muusa.org/.
Caring Team
Our Caring Team continues to provide supportive, loving care through the summer months. If you or a loved one has a care need, please let Rev. Joyce or a member of the Care Team know. We are here for you. Contact Rev. Joyce at revjoycepalmer@yahoo.com
Plans for Adult Programs: Come Help Us Grow!
You are invited to join me and others in planning for Adult Programs for the upcoming Fall and Spring. We are encouraging members and friends with a variety of perspectives and from various traditions to provide input and leadership for our adult programs in accordance with our ends “to equip people to share radical love in their daily lives, and to have authentic conversations”.
We are looking for both ideas and leaders. Do you have a topic or community leader you would like to hear from? Let us know if you are interested in leading a discussion group, either a one time group or a short series. We can provide mentoring if this is new to you, or perhaps pair you up with an experienced facilitator.
If you are interested in meeting to brainstorm future topics or want to lead a group, please let Rev. Joyce know atrevjoycpalmer@yahoo.com
Our Human Library of Greater Rockford will be holding a session from 11 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, July 23rd at the East Branch of the Rockford Public Library on E. State St. Please share widely and encourage your friends and family to enjoy this event.
Book Discussion Thursday July 28, 2022 6:00 p.m.
Join us by zoom for a discussion of Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart by Alicia Garza: This book is About Black Lives Matter and how it started with a “love letter to Black people” on Facebook. Garza had spent the better part of two decades learning and unlearning hard lessons about organizing. She reflects on how making room amongst the woke for those who are still awakening can inspire and activate more people to fight for the world we all deserve.
Please read the book on your own and we will discuss it.
Book discussions are presented in partnership with Rockford Public Library.
Film Discussion
Friday August 12, 2022
6-8:30 p.m.
I Am Not Your Negro: Based on James Baldwin’s uncompleted manuscript of his personal account of the lives & assassination of three of his close friends-Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and MLK & connects the past to the present of Black Lives Matter.
Join Zoom Meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81211275487
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: Shoko Chien, Sarah Greer, Jami Edmonds
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
