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Now What?
November 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson What might it mean now to be faithful to our values of love and justice? And how might we, now, cast our lot with those who reconstitute the world?
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
Volunteers for Sunday, November 10 Thank you to the Racial and Economic Justice team for volunteering for hospitality this Sunday!
Coffee Hosts: Spitty Tata & Phil Hjemboe
Contact Rev. Joyce to sign up at assistminister@uurockford.org
Happy Birthday to: Crista Swanlund (Nov 05), Alvaro Carrillo (Nov 06), Barbara Kroeger (Nov 07), Will Boelcke (Nov 07), Cynthia Simmons (Nov 08), Kien Oehlke (Nov 10), Fred Stellema (Nov 11), Ivy Gunnell (Nov 11), Kelsey Oehlke (Nov 12), & Matthew Fields Huckstep (Nov 12)!
Thanks to all who searched for my missing rain jacket. I’ve given it up for lost. Its “closet mates” will hold a private service in memory of this wonderful garment.
Submitted by Gaen McClendon
Matthew’s Memo
Nov 5, 2024
Well, here we are. As I’ve been saying: breath, beloveds.
We don’t know what will happen today. It is possible that we will know, one way or the other, who the next President of the United State will be before you go to sleep tonight. More likely, it will be tomorrow or the next day, as votes are counted.
What are our core values this week?
First, participation. If you haven’t voted yet, do so right now. Polls are open until 7pm. And you can register on the spot if you are not registered. Look online for your polling place. We encourage everyone to participate and make their voice heard. And elections should be free and fair – without intimidation or misinformation. Share accurate information with others.
Second, patience. Let folks count the votes. Because we believe that everyone’s vote counts, all votes should be counted. If there are shennaigans about this, expect UUs to speak up nationally about the importance of counting every vote, regardless of the outcome.
Third, peace. We want de-escalation, peaceful and respectful conversation. No one will get all that they want this election – between presidential, Senate, House, local, and ballot issues, some will go the way you want and some will not. Yet we all must live together. Now is a time to say “let us work on living together in peace.” To respect the dignity of all and one another.
Fourth, mercy. Be full of grace and mercy for yourself. Especially if you are feeling anxious, I encourage you to be gentle with yourself. Take a walk. Play. Work out. Cook. Do something healthy and life-giving. Turn off the feed for a while, the world will go on. Be gentle. For some, the anxiety you may have been holding for years will release – or grow. Be kind to, and aware of, your body. Be kind to one another.
Breath, beloveds.
I will see you Wednesday at 6pm at the church, or Sunday at 10. We’ll talk about what’s next.
In faith,
Matthew
Board Recap
The board heard and auction report and made plans for its donations. They discussed the staffing situation for Woodsong and Religious Education given the departure of the RE Assistant / Woodsong Co-Director Lauren Smith. We discussed the nominating panel’s work and how to move forward with a task force of board and panel members. We discussed how to support the work of the change team and the schedule for hearing from them.
Wonderful Wednesday
Now What?
6:00 p.m. at the church
We will think together about what is next. Join Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson and guests
Post-election gatherings for UUs
DRUUMM Election Evening Gathering Space [BIPOC only] 7pm Central Tuesday November 5
A space of support and spiritual care for BIPOC UUs on the evening of Election Day.
Forward Together with UUtheVote: After Election Day 7pm Central Wednesday November 6
A time for spiritual tending, regional connections, and holding space for emotional responses.
Forward Together with UUtheVote: Meaning Making & Immediate Action 7pm Central TBD – The day after the election is called
A focus on immediate action steps, regional assessments, and spiritual nourishment.
UUANI Statewide Post-Election Gathering 6:45pm Tuesday November 19
We will celebrate what we’ve done, debrief the results, and pivot to our ongoing Democracy work in Illinois.
Join the RE Team and others as we help turn back the clock on the UU kitchen! We all appreciate the treats and coffee that come from the kitchen each Sunday, so let’s show our love by helping tidy, deep clean, and reorganize this much loved space. For this event, let’s throw out the phrase “too many cooks in the kitchen” in favor of “many hands make light work”! We’ll provide the guidance and supplies necessary for the task at hand so you can just come for community, camaraderie, and cleaning.
All ages welcome! Bring the whole family and a willingness to pitch in. When all the work is done, be sure to stick around for the cookie decorating party starting at 3pm!
All Ages Cookie Decorating Party!
Saturday, November 16th, 3-5pm
Come for an afternoon of fun at an all ages cookie decorating party in Deale Hall! Cookies and frosting will be provided. Please bring sprinkles, other cookie decorations, and containers to bring cookies home if you have them; however, you are not required to bring anything to attend. All are welcome! If you have extra time before the party starts, consider arriving early to pitch in at the RE Kitchen Cleanup starting at 1pm. Hope to see you there!
Join us in Deale Hall at 6pm on November 20th for the Eco Justice Team’s Wonderful Wednesday! In keeping with the November theme of Repair, we will have Ann Wasser from Severson Dells on hand to share more information about their Elliot Golf Course Rehabilitation project. We will also hear about local watershed restoration work from Rebecca Olson of Olson Ecological Solutions and Eric Tison and Estelle Adiaba from the Region 1 Planning Council. We encourage you to arrive at 5:45pm if you would like to grab some locally sourced snacks before the presentations begin. Q&A to follow. All are welcome!
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.
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.
Our UU Library has added this book to our collection: Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by Bell Hooks
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
Tickets now $100
The church has 4 complimentary tickets to offer to people who would like to attend and are challenged by the cost. Call the church office if interested. Get your tickets Support our mission to uplift and empower the LGBTQ+ community in Rockford.
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 |
