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Accidental Davening
October 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Online and in-person
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
Our Auction sermon winner selected the essay “Accidental Davening” by Oliver Sacks, a neurologist, for me to preach on. This fascinating story leads us to a reflection on the connection between music, the body, the mind, and the activity of prayer. How can the rhythms of music and prayer help us find ourselves when we might otherwise be lost?
We will Share the Plate with Equality Illinois
MISSION
Equality Illinois builds a better Illinois by advancing equal treatment and full acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.
VISION
Equality Illinois envisions a fair and unified Illinois where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and where all people live freely regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or gender expression.
Happy Birthday to: Kathy Jones (10/18), James Rentz (10/18), Tom Walsh (10/18), Jennifer Riley (10/22), Dorota Gibala (10/22), & Francie Barnes (10/24)!
Volunteers for Sunday, October 23
Ushers: Rebecca Beneditz & Art Beneditz
Greeters: We Need 2 Volunteers
Guest Table: Rev. Joyce Palmer & We Need 1 More
Coffee Hosts: We Need 2 Volunteers
Please note that if you volunteer for coffee host you will need to clean up afterward and run the cups through the sanitizer. Reminder to coffee hour hosts: please make sure the heater is off and the machine master switch is off when you leave. Thank you!
Last week, I attended our annual Central Midwest Unitarian Universalist Minister’s Chapter meeting. For decades, the group met at the Sienna Center in Racine, Wisconsin, but we have now moved our meeting to Stronghold Retreat Center in Oregon, IL. Very convenient for me!
It was wonderful to see colleagues – old friends and new folks – together again. We chatted about our lives and ministries. We also had a very full program with a leader from the Inter-National Indigenous Initiative for Transformative Collaboration. We discussed the way that systems of domination and colonization can be resisted and transformed through the making of agreements. Many participants found the program useful; some of it was ground I’d already covered but there were some good insights and ideas.
One of the joys of my work is the invitation – indeed the requirement – to keep learning at all times. These workshops, retreats, and study sessions are vital to bring me – and thus you – new ideas and possibilities.
If you are interested in learning more about some of the things that we discussed last week, you might take a look at the following books:
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
We also discussed The Doctrine of Discovery, and you can find out a lot more about that here: https://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/racial-justice/dod. Unitarian Universalists voted 10 years ago to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery – and it is worth your time to discover why we did so.
In faith,
Matthew
Photos of the Week!
Taco Potluck event on Saturday evening. We had a great time with 40+ members and friends of all ages. Thank you to the event planners, thanks to all who attended and brought food. Everything was delicious!
Photo submitted by Kim Vollmer
Caring Team
Jack and Diana Berti Need Our Support
The Bertis’ 41st anniversary is coming up on Oct. 24 and Diana’s birthday is Oct. 26. Meanwhile, Diana has been hospitalized in Sterling for several days. This is a great time to reach out with cards and notes to these UU friends.
Please send greetings to them at:
Winning Wheels
701 E 3rd St.
Prophetstown, IL 61277
Thank you from the Caring Team.
Soul Matters Groups
Soul Matters group are a small group of members and friends who listen deeply to one another to help each person connect to their lives, inner wisdom, and one another.
We have Openings in the following groups:
Wonderful Wednesday Anatomy of Transition Wednesday, October 19, 6pm in the Library and Online
When facing significant change, fear can sometimes make it more difficult. Transitions often require courage to override our fear. Join Rev Joyce for a conversation on the various types of transitions and how we can celebrate the journey.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86460304384?pwd=eWhSQms4YTlaMG52R25kb21OTWkzQT09
The fall scene currently hanging in the front of the Sanctuary is the work of a local artist: Margo Shryack-Pagh. The medium is batik. The artist characterizes the creation as a “Trickster Triptych.” Triptych refers to the three panels. The “trickster” is a coyote that is not depicted, but is the cause of the one panel being fertile and the other barren.
The artwork is a gift from the Eliseo family in memory of Delores Eliseo.
UUA Common Read Discussion Wednesday, October 26 7pm Online
Discuss Part II: Visions of Safety in Defund Fear by Zach Norris
We will discuss the practice of criminalizing children, define crime and harm and move toward finding better ways to ensure our safety. You are welcome to attend even if you haven’t read the book.
Join the discussion using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83902434764?pwd=eVZHTTRRcS82Y29mR3F2U0RaWW11UT09
Make your NPR Donation thru the Church
It’s that time of the year. Every 20 minutes, WNIJ has 10 minutes of fundraising announcements. Drives me crazy.
If you are reminded to donate to WNIJ, and plan to mail them a check, STOP.
Instead, write a check to the church. In the check memo line, note WNIJ – NPR. Here’s why you might consider making your donation this way. The church will gather up your individual donation checks, and write a larger check in the church’s name to WNIJ. In return for the church donation, WNIJ will air some of those public service announcements publicizing our church.
Did you ever wonder how our church gets those PSA announcements onto the air?
To those who like to sew and would like to make a 12 1/2 inch quilt block for comfort quilts for church members who are being treated for cancer. Sometimes they spend long periods undergoing medical treatment. The comfort quilt reminds them of the love and care coming from their quilt. Contact Sandi Campbell if you are willing to help make comfort quilts. Let’s spread more comfort and love. Sandi 815-997-6891.
WINNEBAGO COUNTY RESOURCES
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
Memorial Patio Update
As part of the work to rebuild the Memorial Patio we would like to encourage members who want to order a memorial brick for a loved one who has died to submit a form with the information needed for inscription. We realize that there have been a number of deaths since bricks were last ordered and we would like to catch up as much as we can during this rebuilding phase. Please note that there is no need to do new forms for anyone who already has a brick in the current patio.
Forms are available from the church office or you may click the button below to print out the form at home. They should be submitted to the office. Our current policy is that bricks are engraved at no cost for members of the church. The engraving fee is $50/brick for non-member children, parents, spouses and life partners of members and $130 for former members and friends of the church. Payment should be made to the office.
If you have any questions about the orders or the patio please contact Pat Lewis at pryanlewis@gmail.com.
Eliminate Racism 815 Book Discussion
Thursday, October 27, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
Join us by zoom for a discussion of The Vanishing Half by Brett Bennett: Identical twin sisters grow up in a southern Black town. Years later, one sister lives with her Black daughter in the same southern town & the other secretly passes for white. Separated by so many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined.
Please read the book on your own and we will discuss it. Join the Zoom Meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81211275487 Book discussions are presented in partnership with Rockford Public Library.
Community Events
The Board of Trustees:
President: Judy Gustafson
Clerk: Bob Spelman
Vice-President: Spitty Tata
Treasurer: Steve Blomgren
Trustees: Shoko Chien, Sarah Greer, Jami Edmonds
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
