Our Fall Building Clean-up Saturday, October 17, 9-12

Daniel Davis just spent 12 hours scraping, priming and painting our two red doors because his UUFCM church home is important to him!  We invite you to join him and the other members of the Building Team for one, two or three hours to clean up the outside, and perhaps the inside, of our building. Great company and tasty cookies guaranteed!  Please join us!

The Youth RE program is organizing a special activity for Sunday, October 18, to take the children to Papa’s Pumpkin Patch.  The visit includes a hayride, Pumpkin Train rides, play areas, a corn maze, fresh donuts and cider. The Youth RE program will cover the cost for the children.  Please let Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu, 989-560-3952) if you would like your children to attend so that we can finalize the reservation and arrange the time to meet.

Visit the Renovated Jim Crow Museum With Us on Friday, October 16! Ferris State University has renovated/built a new Jim Crow Museum – Witness, Understand, Heal. Years ago, a group of UUFCM people visited the “old” museum, and we would like to organize a group to visit again this year on Friday, October 16 (museum open 2-5 pm). Please contact any member of the Social Justice Coordinating Team (Lou Ann Ashley, Norma Bailey, Mary Fitzgerald, Joyce Henricks, Kirsten King, Kelly Lawson, Gisela Moffit, Jim Moreno, or Katie Zapoluch) to let us know you’d like to join us so we can arrange car-pooling. See website HERE. Plan is to leave from the church for Big Rapids at 1:00 pm.

Children’s Boot Drive

In anticipation of cold weather to come, your Social Justice Coordinating Team (SJCT) is inviting you to participate in a Children’s Boot Drive.  From October 15-November 15, we will be collecting new and gently children’s/Teens’ boots to donate to Clothing, INC. If you would like a member of the SJCT to purchase boots for you, we will be glad to spend your money for this good cause!  A large box with our flyer attached will be in the Fellowship Hall starting October 15.

The Harvest Feast

Nov 8th at the Library Annex.  The feast begins right after service.

Parade Goodie Bag Packing

Sunday, Nov 15 @ 1pm

We are in the holiday parade this year and we need handouts! Join us to put together 200 bags of candy to hand out at the parade. Sign up on the sheet in the Fellowship Hall or email Annie at communications@uufcm.org.

We celebrate the gift of your presence in our congregation. May your next year be filled with wonder, growth, and the deep joy of belonging.

Joyce Henricks
Michelle Gawne
Elaine Emerick

Join us at 6:30 for food and fellowship!

Worship Arts Workshop

Saturday, Oct. 3
9:00 - noon

Please join Rev. Drew and the Worship Team for a workshop focused on leading great worship services.

New people...
Have you ever wanted to do a chalice lighting, reading, children's story, or other parts of the worship service? We are always looking for new collaborators. This workshop explores the different elements of worship and prepares everyone for participating at the level they are comfortable with.

Current worship associates...
If you are already involved in leading worship, this workshop is a great chance to go deeper in your skills and understanding of how to lead worship that is inspiring, welcoming, and moving.

The 2024 documentary Bad River, which chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River (Chippewa) Band's struggle for sovereignty and its fight to protect Lake Superior from the threat of an aging pipeline, will be shown on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 p.m. on the CMU campus in Anspach Hall rooms 161 and 162. Parking is free after 5 p.m. This event, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the CMU Social Sciences Department with support from The Welcome Table, a community-based, multi-faith group that brings people together to learn about and give hope and help to each other.

Movie Night

For September, October and November, the Lord of the Rings trilogy will be showing. The Fellowship of the Ring will be showing this September 26th.

Join us at the Fellowship Hall at 7:00 for fun and popcorn!

Game Night - Monday, September 21 at 7:00pm

We meet on 3rd Mondays from 7-9pm in the UUFCM social hall and have fun with a variety of games decided by consensus. It is a great opportunity to learn new games and meet people with similar interests!

The Crafty U’s - Tuesday, August 18 at 10:30am

Group meets in our fellowship hall on the third Tuesday of the month at 10:30am. It is an informal, drop-in group for anyone working on craft projects, especially fabric arts.

September Birthdays!

Jane Douglas
Kim Joki      
Carol Messick
Gisela Moffit

May your year ahead be filled with joy, wonder, meaningful connections, and many moments of love and peace.

First Fridays Potluck

September 4th at 6:30pm

Join us!

The Crafty U’s - Tuesday, August 18 at 10:30am

Game Night - Monday, August 17 at 7:00pm

We meet on 3rd Mondays from 7-9pm in the UUFCM social hall and have fun with a variety of games decided by consensus. It is a great opportunity to learn new games and meet people with similar interests!

Joyful Noise Choir Resuming!

The Joyful Noise Choir will resume rehearsals on Wednesday, August 12 at 7:00, with the intent to sing on August 16, the first Sunday Drew is back.  All are welcome to join us!  If you are interested, contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu or 989-560-3952) or just show up on the 12th!

Join us for Friday, August 7th at 6:30pm.

Scam Alert

Several congregants have received emails and texts purportedly from UUFCM leadership. If you receive a message that seems suspicious, please remember that we would never solicit money or ask for help in this way, and do not respond to the message.

Happy August Birthdays!

Penny Swart
David Sebren
Liz Dealing
Laurie Meadows
Joyce Riddick
Betty McBride

For the year to come, we wish them much joy, good health for body and mind, and new (ad)ventures. May it be so.

Saturday, July 25th. In this classic western, a young girl seeks retribution for her father's death by enlisting the help of a bounty hunter to bring her father's killer to justice.

Join us at the Fellowship Hall at 7:00 for popcorn and fellowship!.

There will be a Welcome to UU class offered on Sunday, July 26th at noon in the sanctuary. Any interested persons may attend! This is one of two parts to considering becoming a member of UUFCM or at the very least learning more about our fellowship's history and Unitarian Universalism! Please let Laura McBride know if you plan to stay for the 70 minute class.

Her contact information is: 989.772.5512 or lmcbride010@gmail.com 

All are welcome!

On August 9th, Norma Bailey will lead worship in singing our favorite hymns! During this interactive service, friends and members of the congregation will sing favorite hymns chosen by congregants. This will be in lieu of a regular sermon message.

If you would like to choose a hymn to be sung, please contact and send your choice to Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu or 989-560-3952) no later than Sunday, August 2 as songs will need to be selected and organized in the service.

Please join us for our Annual UUFCM picnic!

It will be held at the Rosebush Park pavilion on Sunday August 16th  at 1:00.

We will be grilling burgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and veggie dogs. We'll also have cake, ice tea, lemonade, ice water, and coffee. We'll also provide table service, but feel free to bring your own if you'd like.

There will be sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall for your opportunity to bring a dish to pass or to help with set-up and or clean-up.

Any questions please call or text Jen Prout @ 989-400-3130.
Hope to see you there! In peace and love,

Your social fun team
Jen, Annette, Kelly L, and Darlene

UUFCM Seeking Part-time Religious Educator

$19.20-$21.30 per hour / 4-5 hours per week

We are hiring! Please share the attached job posting HERE with anyone you know who might be interested. We are trying to build our religious education program by hiring an inspiring and dedicated person to lead it. We are offering a competitive wage that will hopefully attract qualified applicants -- and we know that often the best candidates are people that someone in the congregation already knows.

Please direct all applications and inquiries to Rev. Drew.

Celebration of Poetry

On August 2nd , Laura McBride and Stacey Pattison will lead the service in celebration of poetry! During this interactive service, friends and members of the congregation will read a poem to the congregation. This will be in lieu of a regular sermon message. You may share your own poem or that of another poet. It could be silly, poignant, descriptive, or evocative.

If you would like to participate in this poetry service, please contact and send your poem(s) choice to Stacey Pattison (staceyp555@gmail.com or 989.330.1832) no later than Sunday, July 26 th as poems will need to be approved for participation in the service. Please keep your poetry reading no longer than 3 minutes.

Monday, July 20th at 7:00pm - We meet on 3rd Mondays from 7-9pm in the UUFCM social hall and have fun with a variety of games decided by consensus. It is a great opportunity to learn new games and meet people with similar interests!

The Crafty U’s - Tuesday, July 21 at 10:30am

Group meets in our fellowship hall on the third Tuesday of the month at 10:30am. It is an informal, drop-in group for anyone working on craft projects, especially fabric arts.

July 3rd - First Friday Potluck - Join us in the UUFCM fellowship hall for food, conversation, and games! If you are able, please bring a dish to pass!