Rockford Urban Ministries

06/03/2026

During Pride Month, we're giving thanks for all of the denominations and traditions that celebrate the diversity of creation! Thank you to the United Church of Christ for your witness!

Happy Pride Month from the Open and Affirming Coalition!

We pray that LGBTQ+ people, their families, and all who love them experience a month filled with safety, joy, community, and hope. In a time when LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized communities continue to face attacks, may we refuse to let fear, hatred, or injustice steal our joy.

You are beloved. You belong. Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈

05/31/2026

Please take a quick break from what you're doing right now and make a couple quick calls to tell your legislator, "I support funding the Pretrial Success Act!" This program is changing lives and making our court system more fair - we can't lose it!
Sen. Stadelman: (217) 782-8022
Rep. West: (217) 782-3167
Rep. Vella: (217) 782-0455

🚨Save the Pretrial Success Act🚨

The Pretrial Success Grants Program has been providing essential support for people awaiting trial but new funding is not currently in the state budget. If the General Assembly doesn’t add it to the budget today, this vital program will no longer exist.

Please call your State Senator and State Representative as soon as possible to ask that they continue to fund pretrial success! Find your legislators by visiting bit.ly/LookUpLegislators

Last year, the Illinois legislature funded the creation of the Pretrial Success Grant Program as a pilot program in five counties. The Pretrial Success Grant Program is bolstering the success of people who are released pretrial, thanks to the Pretrial Fairness Act, by expanding access to vital services like transportation and child care so they can attend court and providing resources for mental health, substance use disorder and other needs.

This program needs funding in order to survive. Right now, there is no new funding for the Pretrial Success Act in the budget. The deadline to pass a budget is midnight tonight, so this is our very last chance to convince our legislators to give this program the funding it needs to keep succeeding.

Look up your State Senator and State Representative’s Springfield phone numbers (the number with the 217 area code), and give them a quick call RIGHT NOW to ask that they provide $2.5 million in new funding to keep the Pretrial Success Grants Program going.

Find your legislators by visiting bit.ly/LookUpLegislators

05/26/2026

We're in Springfield today with advocates from across Illinois as part of the RIFL Act Coalition, working to hold fi****ms manufacturers financially accountable for gun violence. Thank you to State Representative Maurice West and State Representative Dave Vella for meeting with us today!

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, we pause to affirm the sanctity of life and remember those whose lives have been lost—in war, in the ravages of conflict, or in the carnage of injustice. We honor their memory with a renewed commitment to peace, righteousness, justice, and love.

We also remember the grief carried by families and communities, trusting in the promise that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). May God’s comfort surround all who mourn, and may His justice awaken in us a deeper resolve to work for a world where peace prevails.

Let us hear the call of the prophet in Isaiah 2:4 anew. Until that day comes, may we be faithful stewards of remembrance, living in ways that honor life by seeking reconciliation, pursuing justice, and walking humbly with our God.

05/24/2026

Hey Rockford, come with us to Springfield on Tuesday! You can be part of life-changing legislation that would make Illinois the first state in the nation to require firearm manufacturers to share the public costs that their products generate with taxpayers — while directly supporting survivors and community violence intervention efforts that are already saving lives across the country.

The free bus trip departs New Zion Baptist Church at 6:45 am and returns at about 6pm. We know it's a lot to take a whole day, but your voice matters and our legislators need to hear from you! Buses from all across the state will bring together hundreds of advocates and we'll be there representing Rockford. Message us here or email [email protected] to sign up!

05/16/2026

It's a beautiful day for our Houses of Worship Tour! The bell choir at Second Congregational UCC/First Presbyterian Church of Rockford has rehearsal now, stop in and enjoy the music!

05/14/2026

05/14/2026