The UU Church-Rockford, IL

Surrender: Paganism
February 24, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
Intern Minister Christe Lunsford
Recognizing that paganism is an umbrella identity for a lot of complex faith practices, it is the wheel of the year ever turning that informs pagans and provides the opportunity to surrender again and again. It's the circle of life, in constant motion where pagans search for truth and meaning. Where is your place on the path unwinding? 

Buddhism
February 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
The Buddha famously taught about the dangers of attachment, and the spiritual necessity of letting go. But what exactly did him mean by non-attachment? What would it mean to move past the clichés about the Buddha’s teachings and actually look at this idea closely? It isn’t quite what you might think.

Bright Shining as the Sun
January 27, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
A celebration of hope, beauty, and the grace of beginning again. Our journey through grace has travelled from intention, to pain, to justice, and will conclude with joy. Appropriately, we’ll also celebrate some of the poetry of Mary Oliver.  Don’t miss it. 

Lead Me Home
January 20, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
Reflections on the connection between grace, justice and freedom. How might  we move together to the world we dream of.

Wretch Like Me
January 13, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
We continue our month of “amazing grace” by reflecting on that state of “needing grace.” What do Unitarian Universalists think of “sin” anyway, if we think of it at all? When we are down for the count, and feeling wretched, how do we find a way forward? How might these moments be invitations to spiritual growth?

Dream of Peace
December 2, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson

We sing of peace in this season, but violence rages – in Yemen, in Honduras, and in the neighborhoods of our very city. How can our dream of peace become real? How, as Dr. King said, can we make peace “not the destination, but the way”?

Bread
November 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.
Intern Minister Christe Lunsford
Bread, a predominant food in a large part of the world and yet culturally it is widely different. From one barker to the next, there is no two loaves of bread that will look or taste the same. As a form of kitchen witchery, bread is often thought to be imbued with magic. 
What magic do we perform when we make bread and what magic happens when we share the bounty with each other?

Sweet Potatoes
November 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
There’s a through line between sustainability, freedom, and gratitude. We’ll explore the connections between liberation theology, local agriculture, and ecology through the most pleasant of tubers: the sweet potato. We’ll also give some thought to the work of peace on this veterans day, and reflect on what’s next after the election. See you in church.

Pumpkin Pie
November 4, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson
We'll explore the topic of gratitude by reflecting on the most iconic act of thanksgiving: being gathered around a table (for pie!). What does the simple and essential practice of sharing a meal tell us about what it means to be human and to be connected.