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Until We Are All Free
June 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Allison Farnum & Keith Talley In challenging times that call us to live out our religious values, join Rev. Allison Farnum and Keith Talley of the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois as we explore how we “get free” from the lens of Unitarian Universalist prisoner solidarity work.
Keith Talley (he/him) is a system-impacted Muslim leader working at the crossroads of reentry, faith, and narrative justice. He serves as Prison Solidarity Specialist with the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of IL, Reentry Program Coordinator at Phalanx Family Services, and Founder & CEO of Revolutionary Reentry Hub. Introduced to UUPMI through the Pen Pal Program while caged, Keith found not a call to conversion, but a deep alignment of values. Today, he works to build bridges between spiritual traditions and to transform how we see and stand with those returning from prison.
Rev. Allison Farnum (she/her/ella) is the Director and Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of IL, and a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. She is dedicated to the vision of collective liberation, one mindful act of care at a time.
We will share the plate with Nature at the Confluence Mission Statement:
Nature At The Confluence creates community connections by providing inviting spaces and engaging programs.
Strategic Goals 2023-2025:
Enhance facilities to provide more self-guided educational opportunities and accessible recreational spaces.
Engage a more diverse spectrum of our community through partnerships and programs.
Build a sustainable organizational structure and funding strategy. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Diane Kuehl (Jun 12), Fred Rogers (Jun 13), Glenda Shaver (Jun 13), Victoria Powell (Jun 14), Blakely Asbury (Jun 15), Deb Bridges (Jun 15), James Maier (Jun 15), & Mary Runestad (Jun 15)!
Tuesday, June 9, 6:00 pm, in the library. Part 2 of “Disclosure”, a film about Hollywood’s portrayal of Trans people and its impact on the Trans community, followed by discussion. If you’d like to watch part one (the first 50 minutes), it’s on Netflix, however, this is not a requirement. Light refreshments will be served.
Pride 2026 Big thank you to everyone who supported, walked or came to watch the Pride Parade!
After the annual meeting, we had the privilege of celebrating Lindsay and Autumn’s 10 years of dedicated service to our church. We are grateful for all they do!
Child Dedication
We are pleased to announce that the Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford will hold a Child Dedication during worship on Sunday, June 14, 2026. 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, June 10. We hope you will join us for this special occasion!
Eco Justice June Event
Planting Day at Wild Roots Nature Center at Prairie’s Edge
Saturday, June 13, 9am-12pm
888 S. Lyford Road
In lieu of a regular Wonderful Wednesday event, the Eco Justice Team has decided to directly support an event of one of our partners, Severson Dells (which is going through a rebranding and will be known as Wild Roots Nature Center going forward). We will be joining the Wild Roots team at Prairie’s Edge (the former Elliot Golf Course) to help plant native plant plugs on the property.
This is an all-ages event, and you do not need to commit to attending for the full morning – if you have something else going on that overlaps the planting window, you are welcome to attend for just part of it. Every little bit helps! Staff at Wild Roots encourage you to wear long pants, closed-toed shoes, and sun protection. Bring a water bottle and a shovel of any size if you have one! Park in the main parking lot by the clubhouse and look for Liz or Caedyn, who will be wearing orange safety vests.
If you would like to participate, please talk to Rebecca Beneditz after service or email her at rebecca.beneditz@gmail.com so she can let the Wild Roots staff know approximately how many people will be in our group for planning purposes. We hope you will join us!
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 |
