Standard message and data rates may apply. You have the right to OPT-OUT receiving messages at any time. TO OPT-OUT, reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us.
Circle Round
October 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person Rev. Allison Farnum
Join Rev Allison Farnum and UUPMI Consultant and Activist Monica Cosby as we explore deep listening through the lens of restorative justice. We will learn about the deeper, more holistic framework that is transformative justice, participating in systemic repair of the world.
We will Share the Plate with LIAM Foundation To encourage, assist, heal and empower our LGBTQIA+ community through respect, advocacy, and passionate hearts to promote thriving in society. Click Here to Donate
Volunteers for Sunday, October 6
Thank you to the Board and Finance Team for volunteering for hospitality this Sunday!
Contact Rev. Joyce to sign up at assistminister@uurockford.org
Happy Birthday to: Jonathon Michalek (Oct 01), Ann Bowling (Oct 02), Myrna Lake (Oct 02), Ellowyn Asbury (Oct 04), Khanh Oehlke (Oct 04), Audrey Hart (Oct 06), Avery Lindstrom (Oct 07), Eileen Kegel (Oct 07), Terry Curtin (Oct 07), & Toni Tollerud (Oct 08)!
LOST JACKET
Within the last few weeks, a medium blue men’s ORVIS brand rain jacket may have decided to go home with someone other than me.
If found please return it to church and/or contact Gaen McClendon at
815.222.3515
A friend of the church Carole Hurd died on September 11, 2024. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.
Tom Hunter died on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Please keep Carole in your thoughts and prayers.
Feel free to stop by to donate/ take/ exchange adult and/or children’s books
If you have books you would like to donate, please contact Katy Conrad for pickup. conradkathren@gmail.com or talk to her at church.
*This library has been started in honor of Carol McKnight-Foster
Save the Date – Nov. 2
Deadline for Donations is Oct.15
There is a really nice list of donations already. Add yours to it.
The link is https://auctria.events/Joyin2024 You may need to register yourself to gain access. When you register, you will get an Access code. You will need this to actively use the web-site on a phone, or tablet.
Please call the office if you have a need for pastoral care. Rev. Joyce will be away from October 4th – October 14th. The Caring Team and Chair, Rich McKnight are ready and able to assist you.
UU the Vote: Post Carding to Rock County, Wisconsin!
To date, we have completed 449 cards during 22 person/hours. Only 651 to go! This week we are meeting in the library at these times:
Tuesday, 10/1 11 am to 12 pm
Wednesday, 10/2 2 pm to 3 pm
Thursday, 10/3 5:30 to 6:30 pm (just before Unicantors’ rehearsal)
Friday, 10/4 11 am to 12 pm
You don’t have to be a member of the UU the Vote Team to participate. Check your calendar and show up!
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot
Wonderful Wednesday: Deep Listening through Non-Violent Communication
Wednesday, October 2
6:00 pm in the Library
In difficult interactions with people, deep listening lets us hear the universal human needs that are hidden behind bitter or aggressive words. Non-Violent Communication, developed in the 1960’s and 1970’s by Marshall Rosenberg, gives us the tools to do just that. Join us for an evening of discovery, empathy, and some fun games using our Grok card decks!
Getting to Know UU Sessions
Join us for our welcome program designed to provide newcomers with the opportunity to learn about the congregation and how to get connected. We hope you will find this community to be a religious home.
There are 4 sessions, the first is a series of videos and the other three are in person on Sundays in the Sanctuary from 11:15 – 11:45. You can complete the sessions at any time. Sessions will repeat monthly.
*Watch 4 Introduction Videos Prior to In-Person Sessions*
October 13th Living Our Values Lindsay Trank and Gloria Perez
October 20th Getting Connected Rev Joyce
October 27th Our Story Rev Matthew
Hope to see you!
Video session takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Wonderful Wednesday: Deep Listening – Coming Out Stories
The Listening Room at 201 7th Street
National Coming Out Day is October 11. The Sex & Gender Justice Team invites you to share any parts of your LGBTQIA+ coming out journey you would like to, in a covenanted, confidential, and loving circle. We started out calling this a “panel discussion,” but really, our intention is less presentation and more organic sharing, listening and healing. Your story will be received with reverence and held with tender care. It may encourage others in the circle to share their stories as well. Looking for 6-7 people, youth included, who identify as Trans, non-binary, LGB or ? who have stories that are asking to be told. Contact Lia Gima, 414-915-3426 (text or call) or barbandlia@earthlink.net.
Supporting WNIJ-FM
I admit, I’m an NPR junkie. If you have your preset on 89.5 and listen to
“Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” you’re probably already donating to this
station. But your dollars can go even farther if you donate to them through this church.
One hundred percent of the dollars donated specifically to WNIJ on our website will go
to WNIJ over time as we fund spot announcements of our Rockford congregation. It’s
still a donation for IRS purposes, but to the church, and it supports our “addiction,” as
well.
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot
Free COVID Tests
Starting Sept. 26, each household is eligible to request four tests at COVIDTests.gov that will be shipped directly to their residence. Public health officials confirmed that these tests are capable of detecting the latest coronavirus variants circulating and causing infections.
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
Volunteer Escort Training
Saturday, September 28th
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockford has always supported our mission of reproductive freedom and access for all. Reverend Matthew Johnson has graciously served on our Board of Directors. Your congregation and staff have made us feel welcome and supported our mission to bring comprehensive abortion services to Rockford. Even after Wisconsin regained abortion rights, we maintained our mission-to bring high-quality abortion care to our northern Illinois facility.
We are very excited to announce that we will SOON be opening the Midwest Reproductive Health clinic at 4236 Maray Drive in Rockford. Our Board of Directors, our clinical staff and myself, have worked long and hard to open our clinic in Rockford. We believe that women and pregnant folks deserve safe, professional and high-quality abortion care. We are committed to and fully engaged with the Rockford community.
I hope that some of you may want to channel your advocacy to being an on-site volunteer. A wonderful way to be involved with the reproductive freedom cause is to be a Volunteer Escort. Our responsibility and commitment as volunteers will be to guide patients into our parking area, welcome them, and help them arrive safely at our clinic lobby.
We are working closely with Benita Ulisano of the Clinic Vest Project. Escorts will ensure that patients are given the physical and emotional support they need to get into the safety of our clinic. Anyone who is interested in serving as a volunteer escort, please get in touch with me. We are conducting an on-site training at our clinic on Maray Drive on Saturday September 28. Email Jeanne@rockfordfamilyplanning.orgWe would love for any of you fearless warriors to join us. At present, we do not have sufficient volunteers to provide this important service.
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: The Earthly Frame by David Sehat
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
Join us for an unforgettable night at The LIAM Foundation’s Gayla Fundraiser on November 9th! 🎉 Secure your spot with early bird pricing of just $80 per ticket (limited time only)!
Get your tickets before prices go up! 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 |
