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The Levant
July 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Onlineand in-person Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
As the horrible violence against children and other civilians continues in Gaza, and as the overall conflict in the area known as “The Levant” continues on and on, what do our values call us to do and say about this?
We will Share the Plate with World Central Kitchen
WCK is first to the frontlines, providing fresh meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
To Learn more about their work click here. Click Here to Donate
Volunteers for Sunday, July 28 Greeters: 2 Volunteers Needed
Ushers: 2 Volunteers Needed
Hospitality Table: 2 Volunteers Needed
Coffee Hosts: 2 Volunteers Needed Contact Rev. Joyce to sign up at assistminister@uurockford.org
Happy Birthday to: DeLon Fox (Jul 24), Nora Miller (Jul 25), Renee McArdle (Jul 25) Joshua Smith (Jul 26), Susan Tyler (Jul 26), Scott Aaseng (Jul 27), Laura Patterson (Jul 28), Paul Runestad (Jul 28), David Zin (Jul 29), & Shiraz Tata (Jul 29)!
We are excited to announce our Religious Education Assistant Lauren Smith gave birth to Everett Ira Smith, born July 19th weighing 5lb 12 oz.
Congratulations to Sarah Greer and Joey Stoyas who were married at the church on Sunday, July 21!
Phishing
Yet another “Phishing” attempt is underway. Someone creates an email address (this time “pastoronline . . . “) and pretends to be me and asked for gift cards.
1. Always look at the actual address – pastoronline is a pretty obvious scam.
2. I NEVER will ask you for gift cards.
3. Report it as phishing and block the address.
Be careful out there!
In faith,
Matthew
Matthew’s Memo July 23, 2024
It was almost a month ago when I told you, at the Q and A service when you asked, that I thought that President Biden should retire and let Vice President Harris run in the election. Though he wavered and declined publicly, I always felt like he should and would – and that the right day would be the Sunday evening after the Republican National Convention.
I should have gotten a lottery ticket! Though my prediction wasn’t luck – it was a well-educated hunch based on reality. And I admire his decision. It is hard to recognize that you’re not the right person for the next moment, even if you believe (with cause) you were the right person for the last moment.
So now it is Vice President Kamala Harris.
Under rules established by the IRS, I cannot use church resources to support a partisan candidate for office, and I cannot tell you who to vote for. But I can tell you that you should bring your Unitarian Universalist values of inclusion, pluralism, interdependence, equity, generosity, and justice to bear on these questions.
But I do want to write about one particular dynamic. I know many of you will feel nervous, that your neighbors, our country, is too misogynistic or racist to accept a Black and South-Asian Woman as President. You remember well the sexist attacks against Secretary Clinton in 2016. And though you may be delighted at bringing new identities to the highest office, you are concerned others will not go there. This is one reason so many folks supported Biden in 2020 – his identities were safe.
I would ask you, first, to breathe. Don’t let anxiety rule.
Second, remember that the electorate and the world have changed in eight years. There are a lot more Gen Z voters, and they are comfortable with diversity in a profound way.
Third, and most importantly, this is a question of action, not fate. There are 104 days to go. Brittany Packnett Cunningham, a well-known writer and advocate for intersectional racial and gender justice, put it this way:
The question is not “Is America ready to elect a Black woman president?” It’s “how do we get America ready?” Cause there’s no other option. Our words have power. Speak action, not doubt.
This is so important. We can shape the answer to this question. To speak of the Vice President with respect (use her last name, not just her first, for example); to call out public examples of racism and sexism and call in private ones (ask your friends to reconsider their words when necessary, with love), and to be hopeful. Assume we’ll do better. Tell a new story.
What healing would it be if Vice President Harris were treated without disrespect based on race or gender? Or if enough of the nation refused to let those attacks move their votes? It would be a new page indeed.
For those of us who are white and/or male, in particular, we have a special obligation to combat racism and sexism in this moment. I’m ready. I believe we can do it. Let’s go.
In faith,
Matthew
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GARBAGE COLLECTION AFTER FLOODING: As a result of the recent flooding in the city of Rockford, we will allow impacted homes to put flood waste out for collection before normal collection for the weeks of July 15 and July 22, 2024. This waste will be picked up on the same day as garbage collection. Residents should first fill the City-issued 95-gallon garbage carts. Residents may then use standard garbage cans with a capacity of no more than 32-gallons and with secure lids for additional waste. Bulk items such as furniture, carpet and appliances that will not fit in garbage cans or bags may also be placed out for collection with some restrictions as follows:
Building and remodeling materials, televisions/monitors, automobile parts, tires, liquids and hazardous wastes will not be accepted.
Items containing Freon, such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, will be accepted but only if they are certified Freon-free by a licensed refrigeration technician and tagged.
Carpet, plank and sheet flooring should be cut into section no longer than 3 feet long, secured with twine or duct tape, with each section weighing less than 50 pounds.
Televisions and electronics can be taken to Keep Northern Illinois Beautify for disposal. Please see www.knib.org.
Household chemicals, fluorescent light ballasts/bulbs, and other common household chemicals can be taken to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Site. Please see www.rockfordil.gov/492/Household-Hazardous-Waste-Disposal.
Wednesday, July 24th, 6pm Church Library
Practice communication skills for sharing your true self and listening to the heart of others.
The group is open to newcomers and to those with experience in NVC.
Hope to see you there!
Getting to Know UU Sessions
Sessions are designed for newcomers to learn about our church and meet other newcomers. We meet in the Sanctuary from 11:15 – 11:45. If you are curious about and considering membership, this is a great place to start.
August 4th Living our Faith with Lindsay and Gloria
August 11th Getting Connected Rev Joyce
August 18th Our Story with Rev Matthew
UU the Vote: How Soul Matters Prepares Us
UU the Vote encourages “Deep Canvassing.” I’m learning and practicing this communication method this week. But I’ve already had a preview: our Soul Matters small group experience.
Soul Matters uses a two-step communication structure. The first step is one member of the group talking about their experience with the month’s topic. During that time, other members listen only. We concentrate on the speaker, what I call deep listening.
The second step, after all members have shared their experiences, is to reflect on just one of the members’ sharing. I thank that member and then describe an experience of mine that was triggered by that sharing.
Deep Canvassing starts by asking an open-ended question of the prospective voter and then listening deeply to their response. I look for some connection to my experience. When I respond, I am creating a link to that prospective voter. The goal of this communication is relationship, just as with Soul Matters.
Please email me at Teresa.wilmot@gmail.com or corner me after the worship service on Sunday. I can send you an invitation to the UU the Vote Team.
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot
Supporting WNIJ-FM
I admit, I’m an NPR junkie. If you have your preset on 89.5 and listen to “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” you’re probably already donating to this station. But your dollars can go even farther if you donate to them through this church. One hundred percent of the dollars donated specifically to WNIJ on our website will go to WNIJ over time as we fund spot announcements of our Rockford congregation. It’s still a donation for IRS purposes, but to the church, and it supports our “addiction,” as well.
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot
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.
August 22nd, Thursday, at 9 am
November 18th, Monday, at 3 pm
Jan. 22nd, Wednesday, at 9 am
April 24, Thursday, 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.
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
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 Board of Trustees:
President: Matt Menze
Clerk: Kim Lowman Vollmer
Vice-President: Wendy Bennett
Treasurer: Bob Spelman Trustees: Clark Logemann, Rebecca Beneditz, Neita Webster
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
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