Streaming Worship
Every Sunday, we livestream our service at facebook.com/uurockford and YouTube. Those who are not Facebook users can watch via the Facebook plugin below- simply refresh the page shortly after 10AM on Sunday!
Previous sermons are also available in a podcast format on iTunes and Podbean.
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The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL
The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL is a liberal spiritual community in Northern Illinois. Check us out at www.uurockford.org.
Our long-time minister is following a new path, so![]()
We are now a church in Transition. It’s A time of change, which, let’s face it, can be a little scary.![]()
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When Matthew told the Board he was taking a position with the MidAmerica region, we took a collective deep breath and forged ahead.![]()
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We followed the steps prescribed to find an Interim Minister who had the skill, experience, and insight to guide us through this liminal space between settled ministers. I want to give my personal thanks to everyone, staff, church leaders, members, and others in the UUA who helped us understand what we needed to do to achieve a successful transition. The Transition Team, which included me, Matt Menze, Dian Kuehl, Kendra Asbury, and Steve Lewis, believes we have succeeded.![]()
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Friends, Meet Bret Lortie!![]()
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Bret is a seasoned UU minister with an impressive array of talents. A 2007 graduate of Meadville Lombard, he was a member of Unity Temple in Oak Park for many years, where he was A volunteer with youth and social justice teams. Before seminary, he was a journalist —the managing editor of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists—the folks with the doomsday clock! He is a person of sharp intellect, with a strong desire to serve. His long list of interests and abilities includes work on justice and anti racism, an advanced degree in cross-cultural studies, trauma care, and pastoral counseling. He also has a keen interest in church governance. And oh, by the way, he plays the trombone!![]()
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Currently, Bret lives with his wife, Cindy, in Madison, WI. His son and grandkids live there too. After seminary, he served churches in San Antonio, TX, and Evanston, IL. And in 2018, he seized his chance to accept a challenge. He became an Air Force chaplain, where he continued to enhance his cross-cultural understanding, his pastoral counseling skills, and his interest in other faith traditions. He told us he wanted to give something back, especially to the Underserved, LGBTQ, and interfaith service members.![]()
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While serving in Japan in 2022, he contracted what became long COVID. He was forced to leave the military because of this serious medical condition. But Bret is one determined guy. He has continued expanding his skills and abilities—he’s currently working on a post-graduate program in Spiritual Direction at Loyola University. I think he’s looking forward to deploying his new tool kit right here in our church.![]()
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Bret describes himself as a collaborative leader. He sees the connections between belief systems. He has respect for our UU humanist roots. Yet he is affiliated with both UUChristian and Buddhist groups. He labels himself as a nontheist, a free thinker, and a realist. He says that instead of fighting the paradox, he values the struggle—the rational search for meaning.![]()
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If you look up some of his old sermons on YouTube, you will see that his sermons and other offerings will be challenging and interesting. You could describe him as an intellectual. I would describe him as a warm, deeply thoughtful person who is excited to be our Interim Minister.![]()
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Feel free to ask the Board and Transition Team for the specifics of how and when we will be seeing Bret in Rockford. Believe me, the Transition Team has learned a lot these last 2 months and is happy to share what we learned. WE are a church in transition!![]()
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As we send Matthew out into his next best life, let us honor what he has taught us. Let’s work together to begin again in love and hope. Together, let’s welcome Rev. Bret Lortie into our church family as he takes up his next challenge right here with us in September.![]()
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Submitted by Wendy Bennett, Board President
Hiring!!![]()
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Do you LOVE to cross stuff off your to-do-list and be useful? Looking for part-time daytime work? The UU Church RFD needs an admin assistant to GSD for our Religious Eduction Director and Assistant Minister. Link on how to apply, pay, hours, duties in first comment. Open until filled so act fast. Share!
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