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The Costs of War
May 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Bret Lortie I put on an Air Force uniform when I was 18 years old to work as an airplane mechanic, took it off and put it on again to play trombone with the Air National Guard, and took it off and put it on yet again as a volunteer search and rescue pilot for Civil Air Patrol. I put it on one last time to serve as an active-duty chaplain where, sitting face-to-face with those coming off and on the front lines of conflict, I bore witness to the moral injury endemic to warfighting. In these times, with this war, under these circumstances, this one’s personal.
We will share the plate with WCCC Scotti’s Fund
Scotti’s Fund gives financial assistance for reproductive care. Click Here to Donate
Happy Birthday to: Corey Hutchins (May 19), Linda L Johnson (May 19), Susan Molyneaux (May 19), Alice Conrad (May 21), David Lantz (May 21), Henry Smith (May 21), Luke Smith (May 21), Thomas Sandquist (May 22), Logan Starling (May 23), Rose Kruchten (May 23), Craig Shaver (May 24), Leo Johnson-Doyle (May 24), Gaen McClendon (May 25), Rev. Linda Slabon (May 26), & Susan Halvorsen (May 26)!
We celebrated Teresa Wilmot this past Sunday, who has retired from the Rockford Symphony Orchestra after playing in the viola section for 51 years!
Who Makes a Difference in Our Community?
The Social Justice Team is seeking nominees for the Connolly Community Service Awards for 2026. A bit of history of the awards and the nomination procedures follows. If you know someone – or a group of people — you think should receive one of these awards, please turn in nominations to the church office.
History: In 1993, the church initiated a community service award to recognize a member of the congregation for significant contributions to the community. The award was named for Dr. Charles Parker Connolly, minister of our congregation from 1913 to 1942, and a recognized community leader.
To date the award has been presented to the following individuals: Walt Lewis, Mary Caskey, Martha Logemann, Pat Tollefsrud, Sandra Locke, David Weissbard, Lynn Liston, Pat Lewis, Jon McGinty, JoAnn Shaheen, Leigh Lakey, Roger Oehlke, Lola Gustafson, Allen Penticoff, Colleen McDonald, Jackie Dehler, Bob Arevalo, Dave Black, Myrna Lake, Dave Lantz, Barb Giolitto, Duane Wilke, Ellyn Ahmer, Dale Dunnigan, Nikki Ticknor, Bob Babcock, Shiraz Tata, Allyson Rosemore & Rebecca Beneditz, Gloria Perez, Kathie Mattison, & Sara Dady.
The awards are presented at the annual meeting of the congregation.
The nominations should include:
A detailed description of volunteer and/or professional involvement and accomplishments, tasks performed, issues addressed, impact on others, and other relevant information.
A signed statement that the nominee is willing to be nominated.
A nomination should include the name of the nominator and is due in the office (Send to Autumn uurockford@gmail.com) by June 2nd. The nominations will be reviewed and a selection made by the Social Justice Team before the annual meeting.
The Sex & Gender Justice Team presents “Disclosure” Part 1: a documentary about Hollywood’s impact on the Trans community and culture. May 20th 6-7:30 pm in the Library. There will be light refreshments and time for questions and discussion.
The Sex & Gender Justice Team will meet this Sunday, May 24, at 11:30 in the sanctuary. All are welcome!
Join Us for Flower Communion!
Sunday, May 24
Celebrate the beauty of community and the blooming season at our Flower Communion service on Sunday, May 24. This beloved Unitarian Universalist tradition is a visual representation of our living tradition where each unique bloom contributes to the collective beauty of the whole.
Please bring a flower (or two!) from your garden or a local store. If you don’t have a flower? We will have plenty of extra blossoms available so that everyone can participate in the exchange.
The Flower Communion was created in 1923 by Norbert Capek, the founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. At a time when rigid rituals felt out of place, Capek wanted a ceremony that celebrated beauty and individual freedom. He invited his congregants to bring a flower to church, where they were joined in a single bouquet and later redistributed symbolizing that just as each flower is distinct, we are all essential parts of a vibrant, diverse community.
We look forward to seeing you and your flowers there!
The Nonviolent Communication Practice Group will meet Wednesday, May 27, at 6:00 in the library.
All Ages Event! Saturday May 30 at 9:00 a.m.
Raised Garden Beds on the Church Grounds!
Join us in collaboration with Spectrum Progressive School as we prep garden beds and plant for another growing season! Dress to get a little messy. We will work for 1-1.5 hours or so, prepping the beds, planting seeds and seedlings, and adding defensive measures to hopefully keep out the deer. Pastries and breakfast snacks will be provided.
If you are interested in helping water the garden this summer, have ideas about how to keep the deer out, are curious about what we will be planting, or would like to sign up to provide some additional fruit/drinks for the planting day, please reach out to Rebecca Beneditz at
The Eco Justice team will meet on May 31st instead of June 7th!
The UU Fourth Sunday Book Discussion Group meets at noon on the fourth Sunday of every month (Suprise!) in the church library.
This month, we will be reading Animal Farm by George Orwell
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 |
