The UU Church-Rockford, IL

03/02/2014: A Change is Gonna Come

March 2, 2014

9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.

A Change is Gonna Come

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson-Doyle At the beginning of our month on change, we'll reflect on change in our personal lives. Changes - large and small - are always part of life. How do we navigate the path of change? How do we let go of the past and live for the now, and for tomorrow? What does change feel like, and how can we use the process of change to become our best self?

02/23/2014: What's Your Honor Code?

We conclude our month on honor with a reflection on the creation, interpretation, and application of a personal honor code.  What should be your commitments?  What do you promise and what do you avoid?  How do you decide when the code conflicts, or doesn’t help?  How do you judge right and wrong?  

02/16/2014: The Leaven, Not the Bread

February 16, 2014

9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.

The Leaven, Not The Bread

Ministerial Intern David Kraemer

Today we will consider how we honor our living tradition. What does it mean to honor those who have shaped our faith over centuries? How do we honor our own beliefs? 

02/02/2014 Monks at the Stream

February 2, 2014

9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Monks at the Stream: a Drama

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson-Doyle

An ancient zen parable will be brought to life in this service, as a way to explore in story and song the deep questions of honor, respect, rules, and compassion.  What does honor require of us?  How do we navigate differing values? How do we forgive ourselves when we fail some or all of our expectations of being honorable?  And what is most worthy of honor?

01/26/2014 Where Have All The Feminists Gone?

January 26, 2014

9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Where Have All

the Feminists Gone?

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson-Doyle

Martha Loggeman won the right to pick a sermon topic in the auction and this, her choice, fits right into our Question theme. Feminism asks powerful questions: historically, about who is a citizen and who controls whose body. What are the questions that feminism is asking today?

1/19/2014 A New Definition of Self-Reliance

January 19, 2014

9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.

A New Definition of Self-Reliance

Ministerial Intern, David Kraemer

On this day commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we will reconsider some of our own assumptions and our Unitarian and Universalist legacies in race relations and civil rights.

01/12/2014 The Life of the Mind

January 12, 2013

9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.

The Life of the Mind

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson-Doyle Reflections on philosophy, education, provocation and the power of questions.

01/05/2014 Love the Questions

January 5, 2013 9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m. Love the Questions The Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson-Doyle Our theme for January is "Question."  Of course, Unitarian Universalists love questions!  Think of this service as an invitation to go deeper into the questioning life -- to not just question our assumptions, but to live in the "mystical ambiguity" of this great world.

12/29/2013 Everything is Waiting for You

December 29, 2013

9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Everything is Waiting for You

Ministerial Intern, David Kraemer

As we stand on the brink of a new year, we bring our season of waiting to a close with a ritual of growth and change.

12/15/2013 Waiting on the World to Change?

December 15, 2013

9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Waiting on the World to Change?

Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson-Doyle

When it comes to justice and peace, should it be "slow and steady wins the race" or "the fierce urgency of now"?  Reflections on waiting and working for a better world.