Reverence: People and Practice
October 24, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.Onlineand In-Person Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson What are the practices which cultivate the quality of reverence in our lives? How might we learn to grow in depth and understanding? Rev. Matthew will share some spiritual practices that promote reverence in our lives and the world, so you can see what might work for you.
Volunteers for Sunday Morning October 24 R.E. K and Under: Cindy Schwartz & Jessica Hodierne
R.E. Grade 1 and Over: Jack Rosemore & Lindsay Trank
Ushers: We Need 2
Greeters: We Need 2
Guest Table: We Need 2
Thank you to those of you who have volunteered already! Here is the google doc where you can sign up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_Ch323vqDurrzCrpFpCL-E__qBszopnimyHZ00w3zzM/edit?usp=sharing
Or just email me at office@uurockford.org and let me know and I’ll put you in the system for that day.
Thank you!
Happy Birthday to: Jennifer Riley (10/22), Francie Barnes (10/24), Wendy Bennett (10/26), & Diana Creer-Berti (10/26)!
Please keep Evelyn Johnson’s family in your thoughts and prayers. Evelyn Johnson died October 14, 2021, at age 98. There will be no service as per her wishes.
Members and friends of the church who live at Wesley Willows are invited to join others and Rev. Matthew on the 4th Tuesday of most months. Our next meeting will be on October 26th at 9 am. We will meet in the fellowship hall at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
We will Share the Plate with Sierra Club The Sierra Club is the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. We amplify the power of our millions of members and supporters to defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. Help the Sierra Club keep fighting for Earth’s natural resources. Click Here to Donate
Matthew’s Memo
Last week, I mentioned that we were thinking about making some changes to the way we deliver news in the church. You’ll start to see some of those changes this week, as we work to provide you with a variety of ways to get the information you want and need.
One change is that we are adding an option to get the church news by text. If you want to do this, and didn’t respond to the text we sent (or didn’t get it), use this form: uurockford.breezechms.com/form/58c804. You’ll get about 3 texts a week.
Also expect us to use more links in the Kairos to columns and other news, which we’ll post to our Medium.com page. This will give you the option to read more and read what you want while keeping this newsletter shorter. Put please do read these columns! They’re often great. You should also see a few more submissions from other staff members – not weekly, but occasionally as needed.
We’ll also be trying to up our game on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. But this is a work in progress, and while we’ll devote some energy there it isn’t our main focus.
The best way you can help us is to share content! Read something you like? Share it. Share the video of the Sunday worship. Tell your friends and family. We hear all the time now when we ask “how did you hear about us?”, the answer is “a friend of mine shared something on social media.” So please do!
In faith,
Matthew
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.
Submitted by David Black 815-871-8991
Newcomers Touchstone Group
Join us for a Newcomer’s Touchstone Group to explore religious and spiritual themes on a deeper level. We will reflect on readings and participate in thoughtful discussion while getting to know others better.
The Newcomer’s Touchstone Group is a great way to experience small group ministry at Unitarian Universalist Church Rockford.
Newcomers are friends and new members who would like to join a group of others
who are new to UU Church Rockford. Rev. Joyce and two members will lead the group for the first 6 weeks. We will determine a date and time based on the availability of those interested.
The group is starting the week of October 24.
If you are interested, please email Rev. Joyce at assistminister@uurockford.org or sign up at the Guest Table on Sunday.
October 20th at 7pm: You are invited to a Zoom chat with Kathie Mattison, a member of our church, and her colleague, Barb Ferry as they discuss their new book, The Gifts of Eating – A Workbook for Your Journey. They will explore the Physical, Emotional, Creative, and Spiritual Gifts of eating and food. Barb and Kathie are Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, both retired. https://outskirtspress.com/thegiftsofeatingaworkbookforyourjourneyZoom Link https://zoom.us/j/96619804699
November 3rd, 5:30pm at the Family Peace Center at 315 N Main Street, Rockford. Join us for a tour and brief presentation regarding the work of the Family Peace Center as we learn about the Center’s mission to contribute to a thriving community by caring for victims of domestic violence and working to prevent violence. If you would like to meet at the church and carpool together, contact Rev. Joyce at assistminister@uurockford.org
November 17th at 7 pm. Join Ashraf Amaya, former professional basketball player, trainer, and youth mentor for a conversation about reducing youth violence through mentorship. Mr. Amaya will speak about the ways he has worked with youth from a faith and sports perspective and invite dialogue about the ways our theological perspective can inform your justice work. The plan is to meet at the church.
Social Justice Updates
The Board of Trustees:
President: Amanda Tapfield
Clerk: Bob Spelman
Vice-President: Judy Gustafson
Treasurer: Teresa Wilmot
Trustees: Khanh Oehlke, Sarah Greer, Jami Edmonds
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
