A Singing Meditation: Welcoming Healing Through Sound and Silence September 24, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.Onlineand in-person
Amanda M. Thomas – Mezzo soprano is a retired UU music director and a member of Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Oak Park, Illinois. She has been an active UU for 23 years, and has served on the Board of Trustees for the Association of UU Music Ministries and on the UUA’s Music Leadership Certification Committee. She has led workshops and music at the UUA General Assembly as a soloist, choir member, worship leader, and choir director for Ministry Days, and for The Service of The Living Tradition. Amanda is now serving as a Troubadour and offering services as a freelance soloist, music/choir consultant, choral conductor, workshop facilitator, worship leader, vocal instructor and respite music director. She enjoys the monumental task of creating ways to inspire and feed the souls of all individuals through music. Amanda believes we can each find our own joy through music, as we navigate our musical path to our free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
Volunteers for Sunday, September 24
Greeters: We Need 2 Volunteers
Guest Table: We Need 2 Volunteers
Ushers: We Need 2 Volunteers
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. Spitty and others are happy to help you become familiar with how to handle this easy job. Sign Up Here
Happy Birthday to: Ernie Stephens (09/19), Rhonda Best (09/19), Gary Huckstep (09/19), Judith Boone (09/20), Sally Trefz (09/23), DeAngelo White (09/23), Avery Bumber (09/24), Bill Stanton (09/24), Maverick Ticknor (09/25), Janice Scott (09/25), Leah Krippner (09/25), Kathryn Heyer (09/26), & Kathryn Haun (09/26)!
Matthew’s Memo
Memo Sept 19 2023
It’s fall! Or it will be on Saturday, anyway. There is a lovely crisp in the air and the early trees are beginning to show their true colors. School is well underway now, and a few folks have even put up 20-ft tall skeletons in advance of Halloween. To each their own.
I’m very excited about our Auction on Saturday, from 5-7pm. You all did a wonderful job donating items! There are apartments in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Naples for overnight stays. There is artwork and clothing. There are a ton of dinners, parties, and events – which are a great way for you to get to know other church folks! There is the regular “stump the preacher” and parking spot. There are consultations and experts providing service on gardening, writing, and small appliance repair. So bring an appetizer to share, your calendar, and your favorite payment method and plan to come on Saturday. There is a link the catalog later in this Kairos. See you then!
In faith,
Matthew
Like many of you, I know folks who are getting COVID right now. Though their cases are not serious, the risk of long-term covid and to people with compromised immune systems is serious. You can help prevent this for yourself and for others by getting vaccinated with the most recent booster. I just made my appointment for this week — Walgreens had many options (and I’ll get the flu shot at the same time). If you are eligible I encourage you to get vaccinated – Matthew
We would like to remind members of the following
Please bring an appetizer to share if you plan to attend!
Please drop off your donation items this week (the office is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday – Friday) final drop-off time will be Friday at 4 p.m.
If you are planning to volunteer: (1) Setup help Saturday, 3 p.m. (2) Cleanup, 7:00 p.m.
Silent Auction bidding will be open Saturday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. You can bid online at the catalog or from the app (android app or Apple app). Make sure to register as a bidder online in advance at this link! Even if you can’t attend, you can still bid from anywhere in the world! We will be available to help anyone with technical difficulties.
Bring cash for raffle tickets and donations to our bar!
Many of our members are loyal listeners and even supporters of WNIJ, our local public radio station. But did you know that you can both support WNIJ and support our church congregation at the same time?
Many years ago, Rev. Weissbard encouraged donations from our members, earmarked for WNIU (back before WNIJ) that were donated to the station to provide spots during the broadcast day announcing the UU Church of Rockford. These spots might provide the first notice of our liberal congregation to prospective members. Several of our neighboring congregations followed suit. Now you hear announcements from the Rockton, Elgin, DeKalb and even Stockton congregations.
Any money you earmark to WNIJ, either on-line or by the note line on your check, will all go to the station—not just 80% as with share-the-plate donations. And the donation is still fully tax deductible. The church doesn’t fund these WNIJ donations—only the money donated specifically for this purpose by our members.
Why not get 2 donations for the price of one: one to the church and one to WNIJ?
Submitted by Teresa Wilmot
The parent orientation for Our Whole Lives (grades 7-12) will be held in the Commons (downstairs) from 11:30 – 12:00 on Sunday, September 24. Please reach out to Lindsay Trank, Director of Religious Education, at reuurockford@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Multicultural Ministries
Anti-Racist Cookbook Workshop
Saturday, September 30 at 9am – 11:00am
Join members of the Multicultural Ministries group to learn about steps everyone can take to become more aware of the definitions and tools to use in everyday life to increase awareness and develop tools to have cross-racial discussions. The resources and conversations will help to address the question, “What can we do and how can we do it?”
Reading the book is helpful, though not required. You can buy one for $5.00 online.
It Takes All of Us Activity Fair Sunday, October 1
It Takes All of Us pulling together to make church and community happen at UU Church Rockford. Come learn about teams, groups, events, and volunteer opportunities.
Come make a difference!
Beginners Guide to the Prison Industrial Complex
Saturday, October 14 10 – 2pm
In person and Online Feeling helpless in the face of the racial and economic injustice in our society?
Join the UU Prison Ministry of IL to explore injustices of the prison system and learn what we can do to change it. This workshop is intended to challenge participants towards growth & inspire ongoing work and action. Workshop held at UU Church Rockford.
Let’s talk about sex!!! (It’s not just for teenagers.) The Unitarian Universalist Association has developed a stellar comprehensive sex education curriculum known as Our Whole Lives. As the title suggests, it is not a one-and-done, but rather a topic to be revisited as we grow and mature. Join us this fall as Wendy Bennett and Leah Krippner facilitate an adult exploration of sexuality in the 21st century. Anyone 18 and up is welcome to join.
Wendy and Leah are trained OWL facilitators and have been teaching OWL for nearly 20 years.
Sessions will be held once a month. Come and join us for an intro session either on Wednesday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m. (Bring a dinner!) or on Sunday, October 22 at 11:30 a.m. (Pack a lunch for this one!) At this opening session, we will decide on dates for the other sessions as well as topics to be discussed. Please contact the church office to sign up for one of these two initial sessions. Let them know if you will need assistance with childcare. Questions? Email Wendy or Leah.
Parents’ Night Out
October 19 5:30 – 8:00.
Registration link coming soon!
Rockford Promise Scholar
The church funds the Martha Daniels Rockford Promise Scholarship yearly. Member Steven Hall has spent the last year mentoring Juan Pina as part of the program. Juan was born in the United States but returned to Mexico with his family at age 7. At 15 years he was sent to Rockford to live with his Aunt and Uncle. He attended and graduated from Jefferson High School and subsequently was awarded a Rockford Promise Scholarship. He expects to finish his program by December 2024.
Hello, my name is Juan Pina and I’m the church’s current Rockford Promise Scholar. I’m the kid who ran into tons of luck to have the support from this church and the people behind it. I’m currently attending class at Rock Valley College concentrating in Aviation Maintenance.
I would like to say a big thank you to Mr. Hall for all his support, help, and kindness. He has guided me and offered me a hand every time I tell him I’m going through rough times and I’m 100% sure that this is the culture of the church. Currently, I have a full-time job at Bergstrom, Inc. thanks to him.
I hope every good action gets paid back to all of you in your daily life with the ones you love. From myself, I expect the best and I will make all your help and support worth it, to show my gratitude.
Once again thanks to all of you. My soul and mind are at peace knowing that I have a mentor and an organization to push me and give me good advice throughout this journey.
Thank you,
Juan
A few weeks ago, we had a panel at The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL on how Rockford is doing in welcoming immigrants and refugees to our community. It was a good conversation and we learned a lot – including the gaps for emergency housing. A beautiful family from the Congo, where war and violence make it unsafe to live, came to the event. They need housing. The Rockford Refugee Support Program has arranged a place to stay. The adults want to work, and will as soon as their employment is authorized. But we need the community to fill the gap. Won’t you help? Share this and give if you can. https://gofund.me/4a306114
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.
Rare Earth Food Collectiveis an online farmers’ market featuring local food and products. We help producers work together to meet the growing demand for local, sustainable food in Winnebago, Boone, and McHenry Counties. Instead of you driving all over the countryside to buy from different farms, we collaborate to bring the food to you. You can choose home delivery or a nearby pickup location. We deliver orders every Tuesday, year-round. There is no minimum order, and no requirement to order every week. Ordering from REFC helps to build and support our local food community, preserve our agricultural land for future use, and reduce our carbon footprint. It also provides you with fresh food that tastes delicious and is good for you.
For members who already attend UU regularly, we will be there on Tuesdays in Deale Hall to pack our orders for distribution – meaning you could place an order for Tuesday pick up right at the Church!
The next pick-up will be on September 26, 2:30 – 3:00. This time period may be adjusted.
The buying window on the website will go live with products (for shopping) from Saturday at Noon, until Monday at Noon, but you can sign up as a customer at any time!
We look forward to serving you!
Rockford UU Lunch Group
After coffee hour/meetings on Sundays, a group gathers for lunch at various locations. It’s usually Bob Babcock and Doug Rix, often with Sue and Scott Garwick. It’s a time to get to know each other deeper and form a better community. Tap any of us any Sunday and see what we’re doing if you’d like to join us. PLAN ON IT!!! Or Call Bob at 630.417.0042
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
Whoever you are, we welcome you.
Wherever you come from, we welcome you.
Whomever you love, we welcome you.
Repeat 3 times.
On last time, repeat last line 3x.
Community Events
The Board of Trustees:
President: Spitty Tata
Clerk: Kim Lowman Vollmer
Vice-President: Matt Menze
Treasurer: Steve Blomgren
Trustees: Clark Logemann, Sarah Greer, & Rebecca Beneditz
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL | 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 | 815-398-6322 | uurockford.org |
