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The ‘S’ Words
November 15, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (Online Only at facebook.com/uurockford)
Rev. Dr. Marlene Walker When I was an undergraduate student in religious studies I had a professor who would mark a paper down whenever an “S” word was used. He claimed that words like spirit, spirituality, and sacred have so many different meanings that we often don’t know what we mean by them and wanted us to describe what they meant rather than use the word. What do we, what do you, mean by these words?
Happy Birthday to: Cindy Stear (11/10), Charlotte Thorn (11/10), Kien Oehlke (11/10), Intern Minster Omega Burckhardt (11/10), Fred Stellema (11/11), Matthew Huckstep-Fields (11/12), Susan Caravello (11/15), Sharon Hartung (11/15), Barb Chidley (11/16), Mary Newport (11/16), & Bob Babcock (11/17)!
Request from a church family
Looking for a Covid-prevention-guidelines-compliant person to oversee a capable elementary student’s remote learning program two to three mornings a week (9am-noon) in the family’s home. Salary: $10/hour, negotiable depending on experience.
If you or someone you know might be able to help this family, please contact Kathy Scarpaci of the church’s Caring Team: kscarpaci@yahoo.com or 815-391-4401. Thank you.
Share the Plate with Liam Foundation
“The first LGBTQIA+ Resource Center in Rockford. We’re excited to serve our community by connecting folks to services. We also offer professional development trainings to other organizations to educate them on the unique challenges the community faces.” Click here to donate.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5662364814 Meeting ID: 566 236 4814
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On-Line Auction – Nov 28 – Dec 9
The Auction Catalog will open up in the Auction Website on November 21
Bidding will open up November 28 on the website and close down December 9
This Auction will be similar, but different from past years because of the pandemic. There are fewer social dinners, but more food delivery dinners. There will be fruitcakes and candies and breads and pies. There will be Tarot Card readings, Mindfulness sessions, yoga classes. All on Zoom. How about gift wrapping and shopping services. On-Line Art Fair – Nov 28 – Jan 5
In the Auction Catalog, you will see artwork from 12 different artists. Paintings, jewelry, scarves, woodwork. Have you noticed that art fairs could not happen this year? We are bringing them to you. Artists, whose income has been curtailed are displaying in our catalog. Your purchase will support both the artist and the church. Save your Christmas list until you see this. Awesome. Concert Series – ??? ????
We have two streaming concerts lined up so far. Maybe more. Buy a ticket from the Auction website. Pour some wine, turn on your computer, or stream to TV. The tickets will pay for professional musicians, plus help the church. Donations
There is still limited time to get your donations into the catalog.
Prison Ministry Group
Are you interested in learning more about how to be involved in prison ministry? Facilitated by Ministerial Intern Omega Burckhardt in coordination with the Justice for All team of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockford, this new focus group will partner with UUPMI (Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois) to delve into various ways of learning about and supporting reform of the incarceration system of Illinois. The mission of UUPMI is “We equip UU’s in Illinois to transform institutions and support people harmed by the prison industrial complex.” There are many ways to become involved–becoming penpals with incarcerated individuals, creating support networks for those who are released, working on legislation that supports the eradication of bail bonds, and many more. To learn more, please attend the first meeting of this group on November 15th at 12:30pm (Zoom information below). The Director of UUPMI, the Rev. Allison Farnum, will be joining us to answer questions and provide a framework for next steps.
Topic: Intro to Prison Ministry
Time: Nov 15, 2020 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Parker Palmer is a Quaker writer and activist who has written 9 books including the best-selling, Let Your Life Speak. In Healing the Heart of Democracy; The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit he speaks to us in this hyper-partisan environment, giving hope with a challenge.
“The heart is where we integrate the intellect with the rest of our faculties, such as emotion, imagination, and intuition. It is where we can learn how to “think the world together,” not apart, and find the courage to act on what we know.”
We can make our democracy work, if we hold on to our integrity while speaking truth to power.
“The impulses that make democracy possible and those that threaten it—originate in the heart, with its complex mix of heedless self-interest and yearning for community. From there, these impulses move out into our relations with each other in families, neighborhoods, workplaces, voluntary associations, and the various settings of public life. . . These are the places where we can make a difference, too, once we free ourselves from the illusion that we are at the mercy of forces beyond our control.”
To see Parker Palmer speak about “wisdom of the heart,” check out this video:
Biden has won the election, but there is much work to do. For him to succeed, we must have his back. We need to persist in raising our voices, showing by our actions that democracy is ours to earn.
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot
Chase the Chill
New knitted, crocheted, or sewn scarves, hats, gloves, blankets, to be distributed downtown Rockford and Freeport. For anyone who wants to make and donate your creations, the deadline is November 20th. Call me if you would like me to pick them up or to drop off at my house. Sandee Poznan 815-871-8857
*ZOOM Church Calendar*
Most “all church” events will be 337-267-3668. This is the Personal Meeting
ID for “Thomas Kerr,” our online identity (and the minister from 1870-1900,
who used all the new technology of his time to reach those he
served). Generally, there will be a waiting room and the host will need to
admit you.
– Coffee Hour on Sunday. 337-267-3668. 11:10 am. Chris will
be host.
– Touchstones: contact your touchstones group facilitator for the time
and meeting ID, if you don’t already have it.
– Caring Team Meeting – The Caring Team will meet on Zoom on the second Tuesday in November – 11/10 at 6pm ID 337-267-3668
Want to have a group – a book group, a parent group, a “circle supper”, or
whatever you like? You can create a free Zoom account (40-minute limit,
though often waived by zoom at minute 35). Or, you can use “Thomas Kerr’s”
– just email Autumn atoffice@uurockford.organd she can give you the login
and password.
Donating to NPR
Do you count on Northern Public Radio as a trusted source of news, music, and entertainment? If so, you probably know that the annual pledge drive for the local stations – 89.5 WNIJ/NPR and Classical WNIU 90.5/105.7) – is underway. But did you realize you can contribute to Public Radio and benefit our church at the same time? Here’s how it goes:
Working together, we can pool our tax-deductible donations and enable the church to air underwriting messages (Public Radio’s version of ads) informing the community about our church, its programs, and events. Once you decide on the amount of your gift, write the check to Unitarian Universalist Church, with “NPR” in the memo line. The office will send one big check to Northern Public Radio, and soon listeners throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin will start hearing about Rockford’s UU Church on their favorite radio programs.
The result? Much-needed revenue for the stations and valuable publicity for our church. Questions? Contact the church office.
Literature Link for Nov. 8 sermon after the election
• Dr. Brene Brown is a research professor who has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers. Her podcasts are very popular.
“My thoughts on power and leadership, and a conversation on empathy, unity, and courage with Vice President Joe Biden, the 2020 Democratic Presidential Nominee.” You can listen right here: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-joe-biden-on-empathy-unity-and-courage/
We can pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act for Illinois NOW! As we move away from coal and fracking to clean up the air, we need to put in place opportunities for folks to retool for the new renewable energy industries. This act will greatly strengthen our commitment to our communities impacted by changes in our energy priorities.
Faith in Place is staging a week of action to prod our legislators to take up the CEJA cause in the short session next month. Sign upHERE to join your voice to a Lobby Day THIS THURSDAY at noon. Last year we had 700 folks in person in Springfield — let’s get thousands of folks on the lobby day virtual rally!
Faith in Place has a whole week of activities — Take a look HEREand add your voice to a week-long shout-out for environmental justice for us all and economic justice for our impacted communities.
