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September 2025

9/3/2025

September 7:
Who I Want to Be I Am
Rev. Drew Frantz
This is the fourth and final sermon in a series inspired by the lyrics of India.Arie Simpson: What I seek I have / What I want to know I understand / All I wish I could I can / Who I want to be I am. Each line of the song lands as an affirmation: of having, of knowing, of doing…and ultimately of being. There is no greater achievement in life than being truly at home in one’s identity and person-hood. For many of us this is elusive, as we must do the work of transcending the false or incomplete versions of ourself that we have embodied. May every person find comfort and confidence in being exactly who they are.

Order of Service
Announcements
Sermon

September 14:
All Are Called to Serve: Honoring Rev. Brigitte Bechtold
Rev. Drew Frantz
Brigitte Bechtold was a longstanding member of this Fellowship before discerning the call to ministry. In recent years she completed her seminary training, became ordained as a UU minister, and now serves the Beacon UU Congregation in Troy, Michigan. Today she returns to UUFCM where we honor her journey and reflect on the ways that each of us is called to serve humanity and goodness.

Announcements
Sermon

September 21:
Truth-telling and the Eternal Child: Education is Sacred
Rev. Drew Frantz
The classroom is a sacred space in two ways. First, it is a place where truth is told, discovered, and refined in the dynamic interplay of students and teachers. Second, the classroom represents a place of safety for the child–the actual children in the classroom, and the child within every human being, the archetype of innocence and wonder. These things we celebrate today.

September 28:
Wise hope never dies
Guy Newland
The news is so relentlessly discouraging; when it seems things could get no worse, they get worse. How can we find hope and inspiration? UUFCM has––in its history, values, and community––the resources for wise hope, a hope reaches beyond the horizons of our imagination.

Announcements
Sermon

August 2025

7/29/2025

August 3: Summer Worship Series
Reflection by Bob Busch
Welcome to summer! Summer worship will be different and somewhat shorter; we will still have a hymn, chalice lighting and extinguishing, sharing of joys and sorrows, and an offertory but no Story for All Ages, the children going directly with the child care workers at 10:30. Each Sunday a different member of the congregation will briefly reflect on one of the following prompts:

How are you coping with national/world events?
What is your perspective with what is happening in the world and what does it mean to you?

Then we will open up discussion in response to their reflection. We hope you will join us each Sunday for our summer worship series, which runs through August 3.

August 10, 2025 What I Seek I Have
Rev. Drew Frantz

It is common for many of us to think in terms of what we don’t have—perpetuating a mindset of lacking. What if, instead, we adopt an attitude of abundance? A spiritually healthy path is appreciating what we have instead of chasing after more. The message that we need more to be happy is all around us in this culture; let’s listen for the message that says we are enough and we have enough.

Order of Service
Announcements
Sermon

August 17, 2025 What I Want to Know I Understand
Rev. Drew Frantz

This is the second in a four-part worship series that started with “what I seek I have.” Building on the theme of having enough, what does it mean to know enough? Surely gaining more and more knowledge is a life-long pursuit that all of us participate in. Intellectual knowledge, however, has its limitations. To be well-rounded and to live our fullest lives, we need to pay attention to the world of emotion and spirit as well.

Order of Service
Announcements
Sermon

August 24, 2025 Water Ingathering
Rev. Drew Frantz

Welcome back! The Water Ingathering is a ritual of welcome, return, and community that marks the beginning of the Fellowship’s year as summer turns towards autumn. Everyone is invited to bring water from a place that’s special to you – either at home or far away – and we pour our water into a common bowl. All are welcome. Bring your water if you can; you can also participate in the ritual using a pitcher of water provided. Following this special and uniquely Unitarian Universalist service we will take a photo of the whole congregation on the front steps.

Order of Service
Announcements
Sermon

August 31, 2025 All I Wish I Could I Can
Rev. Drew Frantz
There is so much that we want to set right, in the public world and in our personal lives–if only we had more power. Rather than feeling powerless, let us remember the wisdom of the serenity prayer: that we should change what we can and accept what we cannot. And, let us remember that (in the words of Marianne Williamson) we are powerful beyond measure. May we find our true power and dare to do all that we can do.

Order of Service
Announcements
Sermon

July 2025: Summer Worship Series

6/29/2025

July 6: Summer Worship Series
Reflection by Carol Rard
Welcome to summer! Summer worship will be different and somewhat shorter; we will still have a hymn, chalice lighting and extinguishing, sharing of joys and sorrows, and an offertory but no Story for All Ages, the children going directly with the child care workers at 10:30. Each Sunday a different member of the congregation will briefly reflect on one of the following prompts:

How are you coping with national/world events?
What is your perspective with what is happening in the world and what does it mean to you?

Then we will open up discussion in response to their reflection. We hope you will join us each Sunday for our summer worship series, which runs through August 3.

July 13: Summer Worship Series
Reflection by Katie Zapoluch
Welcome to summer! Summer worship will be different and somewhat shorter; we will still have a hymn, chalice lighting and extinguishing, sharing of joys and sorrows, and an offertory but no Story for All Ages, the children going directly with the child care workers at 10:30. Each Sunday a different member of the congregation will briefly reflect on one of the following prompts:

How are you coping with national/world events?
What is your perspective with what is happening in the world and what does it mean to you?

Then we will open up discussion in response to their reflection. We hope you will join us each Sunday for our summer worship series, which runs through August 3.

July 20: Summer Worship Series
Reflection by Kirsten King
Welcome to summer! Summer worship will be different and somewhat shorter; we will still have a hymn, chalice lighting and extinguishing, sharing of joys and sorrows, and an offertory but no Story for All Ages, the children going directly with the child care workers at 10:30. Each Sunday a different member of the congregation will briefly reflect on one of the following prompts:

How are you coping with national/world events?
What is your perspective with what is happening in the world and what does it mean to you?

Then we will open up discussion in response to their reflection. We hope you will join us each Sunday for our summer worship series, which runs through August 3.

July 27: Summer Worship Series
Reflection by Jacq Roberge
Welcome to summer! Summer worship will be different and somewhat shorter; we will still have a hymn, chalice lighting and extinguishing, sharing of joys and sorrows, and an offertory but no Story for All Ages, the children going directly with the child care workers at 10:30. Each Sunday a different member of the congregation will briefly reflect on one of the following prompts:

How are you coping with national/world events?
What is your perspective with what is happening in the world and what does it mean to you?

Then we will open up discussion in response to their reflection. We hope you will join us each Sunday for our summer worship series, which runs through August 3.

June 2025: The Practice of Freedom

5/27/2025

June 1: Pride
Rev. Drew Frantz
June is Pride Month when we celebrate the diversity of gender and sexuality in our human community–and advocate for equality and inclusion. These stances are central to Unitarian Universalism, and much needed in the current environment of threat and exclusion. The morning message will include reflections on the UUA Common Read for 2024-25: Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families.

June 8: Schooling & Graduation
Rev. Drew Frantz
The end of the school year is one milestone marking the beginning of summer. This Sunday we honor people in the Fellowship who have recently graduated. We also reflect on the terrible history of the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School, and on the current trends in public education, asking: what values inform the schooling that we offer children in our society?

June 15: Flower Communion
Rev. Drew Frantz
The special ritual of Flower Communion is celebrated by Unitarian Universalists everywhere. All are invited to bring a flower to the service if you can (we will have extras to share). Each person places a flower in the common vase to represent what you bring to the congregation; at the end, each person takes home a different flower to represent what you receive from the congregation. Please join us!

June 22: General Assembly
Rev. Drew Frantz
Virtual at 11:00am. UUFCM will be closed.
Embrace the electrifying spirit of the year's largest UU gathering, where we come together in unity for an awe-inspiring Sunday worship celebration like no other! It's a vibrant, communal worship experience that promises to uplift your soul and ignite your passion. Don't miss out on this extraordinary gathering of hearts and minds! The Office of the President, Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, is thrilled to announce that Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk will lead the 2025 GA Sunday Service. More information: https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2025/sunday-worship
Link to Livestream: https://youtu.be/kIzcKbW0GT4

June 29: Summer Worship Series
Kelly Green
Welcome to summer! Summer worship will be different and somewhat shorter; we will still have a hymn, chalice lighting and extinguishing, sharing of joys and sorrows, and an offertory but no Story for All Ages, the children going directly with the child care workers at 10:30. Each Sunday a different member of the congregation will briefly reflect on one of the following prompts:

How are you coping with national/world events?
What is your perspective with what is happening in the world and what does it mean to you?

Then we will open up discussion in response to their reflection. We hope you will join us each Sunday for our summer worship series, which runs through August 3.

Order of Service
Announcements
Service Video

May 2025: The Practice of Imagination

5/1/2025

May 4: "The Poor You Will Always Have With You" Why?
Norma Bailey
Nelson Mandela stated: "Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." Joyce Henricks will comment on these ideas, one from the Bible and one from Nelson Mandela, and explore how we can respond.

May 11: The Divine Feminine
Rev. Drew Frantz
In honor of Mother’s Day we consider the female archetype of the Mother alongside other female archetypes such as the Maiden and the Crone–all aspects of the divine feminine. Who provides you with the nurturing and protective energy of the Mother? How do you provide nurturing and protection to yourself and others?

May 18: Imagination (Annual Meeting)
Rev. Drew Frantz
The importance of imagination goes far beyond fantasy stories and children’s tales. When we find our situation to be far from how we want it to be, imagination is necessary to move forward. This is true for our personal lives and for our society. The Fellowship’s annual business meeting follows the service this Sunday–another opportunity to imagine the community we want and to take steps toward that goal.

May 25: Building Your Own Theology
Guy Newland
What do you believe about God? About right and wrong? About the meaning and purpose of life? We wrestled with these questions and more during the “Building Your Own Theology” class led by Jim Dealing and Rev. Drew. Participants were encouraged to write a credo statement as a final project, and three of these will be shared from the pulpit this Sunday.

April 2025: The Practice of Joy

4/3/2025

April 6: The Practice of Joy
Rev. Drew Frantz
Joy is an important part of human life, allowing us to survive and thrive–and giving meaning and purpose to our days. At times Joy arrives unbidden and unexpected, but we can also increase our joy by seeking it and making time for it.

April 13: Joy in Times of Crisis
Rev. Drew Frantz
The nation and the world are in a moment of economic, political and social crisis. The attacks on institutions and people are overwhelming in their speed and brazen-ness. Acting on our values of love, justice and equity, we are called to resist authoritarianism and to protect ourselves and others. And a necessary, if surprising, component of that resistance is Joy. Joy connects us and reminds us of what we’re fighting for. Let’s support one another and share both our outrage and our Joy.

April 20: Springtime Joy (Easter Sunday)
Rev. Drew Frantz
On Easter Sunday we acknowledge the wisdom, courage, and love represented by teacher and prophet Jesus of Nazareth. As a secular holiday, we can embrace Easter as a day of life returning in the form of warmer weather and longer days. Joy has many sources, and the joy of nature in the springtime is one of the most enduring.

April 27: Earth-Centered Religion
Rev. Drew Frantz
A core piece of Unitarian Universalism is connection with our natural environment. Yet in many ways, we are a religion of thinking and ideas, and of human relationships. Other religious traditions are more earth-centered and less intellectual. What are you looking for in religion–connection to God and heaven? Being grounded in the cycles of nature? This Sunday we explore how our tradition fits in the context of earth-centered religions."

March 2025: The Practice of Trust

3/1/2025

March 2: Trusting Yourself by the Rev. Dr. Sandra Fees
Norma Bailey & Laura McBride
The Rev. Dr. Fees contends that the belief that you can be okay no matter what is the very essence of trusting yourself. What is the nature of the trust she is describing? Does trusting yourself come naturally? Can it be cultivated in our lives? Join us to explore these questions.

Order of Service
Announcements

March 9: Lessons in Grief
Rev. Drew Frantz
Loss is part of any human life: loss of loved ones, including pets; but also loss of a job, a relationship, an opportunity or ability. To grieve these losses takes open-ness, commitment, and support. Rev. Drew will reflect on his loss of two parents in the past year, and on the other losses we are dealing with collectively and individually. On another note, this week’s service will include a ceremony to welcome new members who are signing the book and becoming part of the congregation officially.

March 16: Generosity
Rev. Drew Frantz
One of our core Unitarian Universalist values is Generosity. To be generous is a deeply spiritual practice, because it demands that we recognize one another’s humanity. As our values state, “Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.” We all are both givers and receivers at times in our lives; today we celebrate the spirit of giving within our Fellowship and between our Fellowship and the wider world.

March 23: How to Fight Loneliness
Stacey Pattison
Half of Americans told investigators they were lonely––and that was before the pandemic engrained even deeper habits of isolation. We are more and more alone––and it is killing us. The Surgeon General reports that social disconnection damages our health as much fifteen cigarettes per day. What steps can we take to help?

March 30: Radical Love
Norma Bailey
Rev. Drew occasionally uses the phrase “radical love” in his worship services. Several
members of the Adult Religious Education discussed this at a recent meeting and
suggested the topic for a worship service. How do we understand this phrase? What
does it mean in terms of how we respond as individuals, as Unitarian Universalists, as
citizens in this 2025 environment? Sierra Burke, Matt Collins, Jim Dealing and Jodi
Fisher will share their thoughts for our consideration.

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September 2025

August 2025

July 2025: Summer Worship Series

June 2025: The Practice of Freedom

May 2025: The Practice of Imagination

April 2025: The Practice of Joy

March 2025: The Practice of Trust

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