For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my heart
each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile.
~ Elie Wiesel
Due to the unreasonable amount of snow, we are canceling - stay warm and safe!
Welcome New Members! This past Sunday we welcomed five new members into our Fellowship - Tamatha Gaumnitz, Ethan Kolek, Leslie Hildebrandt, Terrie Robbie, and George Lentz. Congratulations all! We're delighted to have you with us. | |
Join us in worship this Sunday, February 28, as we enter a month-long sojourn with themes of gratitude, generosity, and service in support of our annual stewardship pledge drive. Our minister’s message for the morning is titled “The Grateful Heart.”
“Gratitude is not about the things you do or do not receive. It is about a relationship. We are here on earth, at least partially, to practice empathy, to honor honest work and to ceaselessly embody that central Universalist principle, the dignity and worth of all human beings. This practice of radical equality is measured by the respect with which you treat others, and by the kindness in your heart. And then comes the leap. When you become the giver of kindness you are more likely to become aware of the kindness flowing towards you.”
~ Barbara Merritt
Looking ahead…
March 6: “The Community of Our Lives”
March 13: “The Light of Faith” - Bring a Friend Sunday!
March 20: “Celebration Sunday – Heeding the Call”
March 27: “The Seed of Transformation”
Welcome UU Class - February 28 at 12:00 p.m.
We will be offering a Welcome UU class this Sunday, February 28 after the service at 12:00 p.m. This class is for newcomers to Unitarian Universalism as well as those who have been around for a while who want to learn more about this faith, and is also the first step on the “pathway to membership” in this community. It will be led by our minister, Dawn Daniels.
First Friday Potluck - March 4 at 6:30 p.m.
The First Friday potluck for March is coming up! The hosts this month are Alicia Genia and George Lentz. The theme for the evening will be St. Patricks day fare or whatever sounds good! Your dish should serve 6-10 persons. If you are interested in attending, please contact your hosts (Alicia - 289-0652 or agenia1@midmich.edu; George - 248-346-4039 or geolentz@gmail.com) to add your dish to the list.
Water Collection for Flint
RE will be collecting gallon jugs of water for the citizens of Flint. The jugs will be transported to a dispersal site in Flint. We will be accepting donations through Sunday, March 6th. Please contact Roze Bentley at (989) 400-7674 with any questions.
UUFCM Common Read – Book II Discussion Groups Scheduled
We have scheduled two discussion group opportunities for our second UUFCM Common Read this year - Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow. Discussion groups will be held on Sunday, March 6 and Sunday, March 13 - both sessions will be held at 12:00 p.m. following morning worship. These discussions are open to all. Invite family and friends to join in...there’s still time to read the book...we even have a few copies available for purchase at the fellowship. Cost: $16 per copy.
“Once in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see the world and helps to fuel a nationwide social movement. The New Jim Crow is such a book. Praised by Harvard Law professor Lani Guinier as "brave and bold," this book directly challenges the notion that the election of Barack Obama signals a new era of colorblindness. With dazzling candor, legal scholar Michelle Alexander argues that "we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it." By targeting black men through the War on Drugs and decimating communities of color, the U.S. criminal justice system functions as a contemporary system of racial control—relegating millions to a permanent second-class status—even as it formally adheres to the principle of colorblindness. In the words of Benjamin Todd Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, this book is a “call to action.”
Restoration House News
Volunteers are still needed. If you are willing to serve as an intake volunteer from 4:15 to 6:00 any day of the weeks ahead (until the program ends on April 6), please contact Joyce Henricks at 773-4709, or joyce.henricks@cmich.edu. Thank you!
UU Cabaret Be sure to check out some of the snapshots from the fun kickoff for our Stewardship Drive. Thanks to all who came! |
Are You Going to Miss the Pool?
If you are interested in having a community pool in Mt. Pleasant, please consider filling out this short survey. This information is vital to the progression of creating and building a facility with the best interests of the community in mind.
Black History Month at CMU
Here is a listing of events for this month! There are several events still to come - right through to February 29.
The Inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Symposium
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 from 8:15-noon at Bovee UC Rotunda, CMU
This ½ day symposium will provide an opportunity to engage the CMU community about diversity and inclusion. All faculty, administrators, students, and community members are welcome to participate. It will include a keynote speaker, breakout sessions and lunch. The theme for the first ODE symposium is “Diversity & Inclusion Matters: What Lies Ahead?” The program is designed to increase awareness, enhance knowledge, and build skills on best practices in learning and working environments. This experience will definitely have a lasting impact on all participants as all participants will be encouraged to take what they learn to enhance the campus community.
Space is limited - if registration is closed, maximum capacity has been reached.
Speak Up Speak Out
Picking Your Candidates: Political Primaries 2016
Monday, February 29 from 7-9pm at the Park Library Auditorium at CMU
The CMU Student Forums
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
~ Albert Schweitzer
In case of inclement weather, a decision to cancel the service will be made by 9 a.m. An announcement will be posted on our web site (uufcm.org) and on Facebook as well as sent directly via email. Those who are not online will be phoned. If you have questions, call Annette Pratt (989-400-0173). We hope we won't have to resort to this very often, but we live in Michigan after all, so we need to be prepared!
Got News?
The deadline for submissions to the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly e-News is
Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Please send all submissions to admin@uufcm.org.
UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2015-2016
President: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; ampratt@cybersingerscafe.com)
President Elect/Past-President: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; lmcbride010@gmail.com)
Treasurer: David Macleod (989.772.0595; macle1d@cmich.edu)
Secretary: Vicki Chessin (989.463.3076; vechessin@aol.com)
Trustee: Scott Daigle (989.506.5750; sndaigle@gmail.com)
Trustee: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; cprard@gmail.com)
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; janis_shinn@yahoo.com)