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Growing Together: The Power of Deep Roots
June 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Joyce Palmer It’s easy to feel like we’re supposed to handle everything on our own these days. But real well-being isn’t a solo sport. This Sunday, we’ll look at why being part of a community matters so much for our health and happiness. What happens when we simply show up for each other and walk together through life’s ups and downs? Come look at how we help each other truly thrive. During the service, we’ll also share a quick look back at some moments from our community life together this past year.
We will share the plate with Farmers Rising At Farmers Rising, we lift up the people doing local and regenerative farming. We are at the forefront of farmer training and public education, and we are actively building a vibrant, creative community centered around local food. We offer a variety of educational opportunities at our two main program locations in Rockford and Caledonia, Illinois, as well as throughout the region.
Through our programs, we support farmers in launching and growing local, sustainable farms by providing both production and financial management training. We work to advance food sovereignty by expanding access to land and locally grown food. And we empower individuals to make food choices that positively impact personal, community, and environmental health. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Debra Johnson (Jun 23), Evelyn Prange (Jun 23), Harrison Powell (Jun 23), Sarah Greer (Jun 23), Hailey Powell (Jun 24), Henry Fellars (Jun 25), Kha Nguyen (Jun 25), Vincent Appino (Jun 25), Lindsay Trank (Jun 26), Rachel Keyes (Jun 26), Marilyn Paladino (Jun 27), Jamie Gaffke (Jun 28), Maddie Allen (Jun 28), Spencer Musser (Jun 28), Geraldine Carter (Jun 29), Jamie Johannsen (Jun 29), Gabriella Prange (Jun 30), Harrison Prange (Jun 30), & Lillie Christensen (Jun 30)!
The office will be closed today, June 23, and June 29th – July 3rd
Submissions for June 30th Kairos are due June 26th
A few weeks ago we voted in our Search Committee that will “bring us home” through the search process. Or, rather, they’ll bring a new settled minister to their new home in Rockford next spring. There is a lot of forming happening this summer, which mainly takes the form of preparation for and engagement during a UUA transitions search committee retreat. At that retreat a Search Committee Chair will be elected and team roles will be assigned. Here is a proposed month-by-month schedule gleaned from the UUA Search Handbook–and an incredible graphic (below) created by Billie Calahan, one of your search committee members. (Claude drew the one above.) In case you’re interested in following along, there’s nothing secret about the Search Handbook: https://www.uua.org/careers/ministers/transitions/search-types/search-handbook
July-August
Search team retreat and planning
September-November
Congregational survey, small group meetings, and “Break Barriers, Build Beliefs” workshop
December
Congregational profile published
January
Ministers apply
February-March
Search team reviews applications, conducts first and second interviews as well as reference checks, and makes an offer in late March to a prospective candidate.
Late April
Candidating week with a vote to call, and preparation for an August arrival of our new minister.
The Sex and Gender Justice Team will meet this Sunday in the Youth Room after church.
NVC practice this Wednesday, June 24, has been canceled.
The UU Fourth Sunday Book Discussion Group meets at noon on the fourth Sunday of every month (Suprise!) in the church library.
Next discussion is June 28th.
This month, we will be reading “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson
Admission if Free
Membership is Free No strings are attached
Sunday Morning Meditation 9:15 am
We meet on Sunday morning to meditate and center ourselves for the day. You are welcome to join us each Sunday morning.
Community Events
Vision:
A loving, spiritual congregation that lives our values through belonging, reason, and action.
Mission:
Like the nature that surrounds us, we evolve as a habitat for spiritual development.
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 Board of Trustees:
President: Wendy Bennett
Vice President: Diane Kuehl
Clerk: Scott Garwick
Treasurer: Bob Spelman
Trustees: Kendra Asbury, Clark Logemann, Neita Webster
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
