Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
~ Winston Churchill
Please join us this Sunday for a service titled “On Spiritual Courage” with worship leader Ricky Courlander.
“Sometimes standing against evil is more important than defeating it.” ~ N. D. Wilson
Upcoming Services
January 15: “Martin Luther King Sunday” - with worship leader Norma Bailey.
January 22: “Lessons from the Cowardly Lion”
January 29: “The Calling Greater Than Fear”
Minister on Holiday
Dawn will be out of town visiting family in Lakeland, Florida the first two weeks of January - she will fly home on January 17 and return to work on Wednesday the 18th. She is available by cell phone in case of emergency, but all other requests for assistance should be directed to our Caring Team Co-Coordinator, Gisela Moffit.
First Friday Potluck - January 6
Join us for our January First Friday communal nosh! We will also be celebrating the January birthdays of Janis Shinn, Liz Dealing, Mel Bailey, Stacey Pattison, Doris Hall, and Dawn Daniels. The potluck begins at 6:30 p.m. - helping hands are welcome at 6:15 p.m. to assist with set-up preparations.
Infant Pantry Collection - This Sunday
Donations for the Infant Pantry are collected on the first Sunday of each month - however, this month we will make the collection on Sunday, January 8. Most needed items are things for baby care - diapers (especially sizes 5 and 6), creams, shampoos,and lotions. Baby food and formula are not needed a this time. If you want to donate money, then the check should be made out to CCN (Community Compassionate Network) with memo “Infant Pantry.” Please contact Tom Moffit (moffi1tc@cmich.edu or 772-1602) with any questions.
RE News - Mandatory Parent Meeting January 8
In the New Year our younger students will be partaking in Our Whole Lives, which is a comprehensive lifespan sexuality curriculum. Laura McBride will be teaching Kindergarten and First graders this wonderful curriculum, which several members of our youth group have gone through before. The mandatory parents meeting will be on Sunday, January 8th, following service. If you have have questions, please contact me at vanar1ae@cmich.edu.
Social Justice Movie Night - January 12, at 7:00 pm
As preparation for our all-congregation retreat on gender identity and transgender issues, your Social Justice Coordinating Team invites you to a movie night on Thursday, January 12, at 7:00 at the UU Center. We will be showing TransAmerica with Felicity Huffman. Please join us.
Path to Membership Workshop - Saturday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m.
This workshop is designed for those who are ready to make the membership commitment to UUFCM. In this interactive session we explore the deeper meanings and expectations of membership and shared ministry; it is a three-hour session. Please contact Gisela Moffit (989-772-1602; gbmoffit@gmail.com) if you would like to participate in this workshop.
Next Welcome to UU Orientation Session – January 22
This class is geared to newcomers, visitors, and those seeking to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and this UU fellowship. Welcome to UU classes are offered every month on the fourth Sunday at 12:15 p.m. Sessions run approximately ninety minutes.
UUFCM All-Congregation Retreat
Saturday, January 28, 2017 from 9-4 p.m.
Every year we have an all-congregational retreat in which we explore together a theme or question pertinent to all of us. This year we will meet to deepen our understanding of gender identity and learn how to better support the issues facing people who are transgender. This is a renewal and extension of our Welcoming Congregation initiative and designation that we earned in 2011. We are very fortunate to have with us Kathleen Campisano, the Faith and States Organizing Manager of the National LGBTQ Task Force, who will lead us in a number of exercises and discussions. Be sure to put this important retreat on your calendar right now so you won’t miss it. Child care will be provided; please contact Norma Bailey (989-560-3952 or baile1nj@cmich.edu) to arrange this or with any questions you might have.
Isabella County Restoration House (ICRH) News
The remaining dates for our partnering with St. John's for the Restoration House are the weeks of March 5 and April 2. The shelter program has begun and we are again hosting the Welcome/Intake center. If you are interested in volunteering for the Intake Center, or for helping out with other churches, please contact Joyce Henricks (989-773-4709 or joyce.henricks@cmich.edu).
Friend in Need
Our former RE director…and current RE volunteer teacher, Roze Bentley, has been diagnosed with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder that has her in constant pain…and her insurance offers no coverage for the treatment she needs. Roze has started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise the necessary funds – she is halfway to her goal! Please chip in if you’re able.
Mindfulness in Parking Requested
Let us be mindful to leave the parking spaces directly across from our Wisconsin entrance open for our friends who have mobility issues. Thank you for your consideration.
• • • Community News • • •
MLK Week of Events at CMU - January 16-20
Join the CMU community in celebrating and honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with these special presentations and activities. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.
~ Aristotle
In case of inclement weather, a decision to cancel the service will be made by 9 a.m. An announcement will be posted on Facebook as well as sent directly via email. Those who are not online will be phoned. If you have questions, call Laura McBride (989-772-5512). 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 2016-2017
President: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; lmcbride010@gmail.com)
Past-President: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; ampratt@cybersingerscafe.com)
President Elect: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu )
Treasurer: Chris Bailey (989.775.8257; baile1c@cmich.edu)
Co-Treasurer: Ricky Courlander (989.772.4457; magicwalnut@charter.net)
Secretary: Vicki Chessin (989.560.4614; vechessin@gmail.com)
Trustee: Scott Daigle (989.506.5750; sndaigle@gmail.com)
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; janis_shinn@yahoo.com)
Trustee: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; becht1bh@cmich.edu)