eNews 2/12/2026

2/12/2026

eNews for Thursday, February 12, 2026

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, February 15, to worship with Rev. Drew on “Good News." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"This has been true for a long time: bad news gets and holds our attention more than good news–meaning that good news gets less coverage. Today it feels more important than ever to seek and share good news, to pay attention and to lift it up. Join us this Sunday for a service dedicated to good news, from the Buddhist monks on a peace march to DC; to the resistance singers in Minneapolis; and more. It’s time to feel good!"

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

February 15: Good News
February 22: Songs of Protest

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: “Bad Bunny Halftime Show”

I watched the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday featuring Bad Bunny, and I found it authentic, cinematic, and meaningful. I also think it is a milestone in American culture.

A Puerto Rican artist, Bad Bunny is one of the most successful musicians in the world. Because he is a Spanish-language rapper, I had not heard of him and his music until now…that is, until the controversy. The political and cultural right in the U.S. decried the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for this show, one of the most watched events in our culture. They said it was “un-American” to have someone singing in Spanish at the Super Bowl, and tried to promote an alternative show with MAGA-friendly artists. That effort failed spectacularly with an embarrassingly low viewership.

In today’s ultra-divided America, I have noticed that people on the left and the right can see the exact same thing and come away with different conclusions. In the case of the Bad Bunny show, the reactions that people have seems to reflect the cultural and political divide. More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am This Tuesday
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Sundays at 6:30pm This Sunday
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm This Monday
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Returning April 14
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated

All members and friends are welcome to attend our UUFCM Board meeting as well as the various team meetings that occur monthly. If you are interested in attending any specific team meeting, please contact the team leader for information.

Team Meetings

Youth RE Team Meeting - Sunday Feb 15 at 3:30
Worship Team Meeting - Thursday Feb 19 at 4:30

Fellowship News

Special Plate Collection This Sunday February 15 – MUUSJN

On Sunday, February 16, a special plate collection will be taken to support the work of MUUSJN, the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network. MUUSJN is a very active state-wide network of the 24 Unitarian Universalist congregations and allies in Michigan who work together to prevent harm, protect rights and safeguard our democracy. Its mission is to foster the worth and dignity of people by promoting social justice and community service. When you donate, you spread your small donation well beyond our UUFCM walls. You can donate online to the Social Justice Special Plate Collections Fund at our website or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with MUUSJN in the memo.

Sleepy Time Yoga + Sound Bath by Victoria - Sunday, February 15

Join Kelly Lawson and Victoria Sladek for an evening of Yoga Nidra and Sound Bath 6:30-7:30 pm in the UU sanctuary. Bring a yoga mat, blankets, pillows, or anything to get cozy. The evening is donation-based, and all donations will go to the homeless shelter (ICRH).

The evening will begin with gentle movement before finding rest in Savasana (final resting pose) for a guided meditation. During the meditation, relax deeper with Victoria’s singing bowls!

Game Night - Monday, February 16 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, February 17 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.

Provide a cake or pie!

Joyce Henricks is in charge of our Justice Desserts Walk at the Community Justice Party on Saturday, February 21. If you are willing and able to provide a cake or pie – home-made or store-bought – please let her know right away ([email protected] or text at 9890-400-9743).

Community Justice Party Next Saturday!

Be sure to attend our fifth bi-annual Community Justice Party this Saturday, February 21, 7-9 pm. There will be a program in the sanctuary of music, skits, poetry, and a “Guess the Activist” contest highlighting several social justice issues, and then we will meet in the Fellowship Hall for light refreshments and a rousing Justice Desserts Walk! $5 suggested donation with donations going to Indivisible Central Michigan. Bring family and friends!

Celebration of Life for Tom Moffit

The Celebration of Life for Tom Moffit will be held Saturday, March 14 at 11:00 am at the Immanuel Lutheran Church at 320 S. Bradley in Mt. Pleasant. Visitation at 10:00am and luncheon at 12:00pm. Here is the link to his obituary. https://www.clarkfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/Thompson-Carson-Moffit?obId=46956154

Did you get your end-of-year statement on February 2?

On February 2, our treasurer, David Allan, sent out end-of-year statements for 2025 for tax purposes via email. If you did not receive a statement, please contact David at [email protected].

"If you made a contribution of record in 2025 (meaning that your name was attached to your contribution), then a statement of your total contribution in 2025 was emailed to you on February 2, 2026. If you did not see your email, please check your spam folder for an email with the subject line "UUFCM Record of Contributions 2025." To avoid emails being filtered into the spam folder, please add "[email protected]" to your contacts or accepted email senders list."
—Dave Allan, Treasurer

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.
Read more here.

Actions You Can Take Today!

Sign up for our Social Justice Interest Survey if you haven’t already – to receive alerts about petitions to sign, members of Congress to call or email, both federal and state.
Sign up for Dial for Democracy. Receive email alerts when it's time to call your lawmakers on legislation or decisions that impact Michigan's democracy. See Community News for how to join.
Put these people into your phone contacts and make at least one phone call or text every day. They keep track of how many calls/messages they receive.
- Senator Gary Peters (202-224-6221)
- Senator Elissa Slotkin (202-224-4822)
- US House Representative John Moolenaar (202-225-3561)
- Michigan Senator Roger Hauck (517-373-1760)
- Michigan State House Representative Jerry Neyer (517-373-2646)

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

When we decide to cancel or postpone a UUFCM event due to weather--as we did due to last Sunday's snowstorm--we use a cell phone app called Remind to make these announcements. In the case of Sunday morning worship, we make our decision by 8:30 am.

Downloading the Remind app to your phone and signing up just takes a few minutes. Stay informed and prepared this winter! View our full cancellation policy along with instructions for signing up on the Remind app here.

Although the Remind app is the best way to stay informed, we also try to send an email and post an announcement on the website and social media.

Community News

ICE Out for Love: Community Safety & Rapid Response Training

Saturday Feb. 14, 1:00-300 - VIRTUALLY AT UUFCM SANCTUARY

Please join us for this training that is sponsored by the UU Fellowship of Midland. The details are below.

If you want to join us in the UUFCM sanctuary, please let Drew or Norma know that you are coming. If you wish to attend on your own, please use the link below to register.

UU Fellowship of Midland, in partnership with Saginaw Bay Rapid Response, is hosting ICE Out for Love, a Community Safety & Rapid Response Training on Saturday, February 14, from 1:00–3:00 PM. This multiplatform event will be offered both in person and virtually, making it accessible to a wide range of participants.

This training is designed to help community members respond with care, preparedness, and solidarity during a time of rapid change. Participants will learn how to identify ICE activity, what information to safely share with tip lines, how to recognize danger spots, and how to use the SALUTE framework for observation and reporting. The training will also cover ongoing updates, mutual aid strategies, and ways to support families with practical needs such as transportation, childcare, and other forms of assistance.

Equally important, the session will emphasize self-care and burnout prevention, recognizing that sustained community care requires tending to ourselves as well as one another.

Reservations are required, and seats are limited. The event location will be shared upon registration. Register here:
https://form.jotform.com/260255457887167

Indivisible Central Michigan Food Drive

February 14th - Indivisible Central Michigan (ICM) will conduct a drive-by food drive Saturday in Mt. Pleasant from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to restock local food pantries, helping to fight hunger in our community. The collection takes place on ICM’s protest line on Mission and Broadway streets as part of the group’s Love Your Community rally.

Mount Pleasant Pride Center Hosts Pal-entine's Day:

We are proud to host our 2nd annual

Pal-entine's Day

social!!! This Saturday February 14th. With a double feature bake sale and celebration! Come buy some baked goods from 1pm-4pm, and come back for our party from 5pm-8pm! Location: 201 S University Ave Suite 106

Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List!

Activists across the political spectrum can all agree that picking up the phone and calling your elected officials is the most effective way to make your voice heard. In fact, many elected officials and their staff members have stated that a phone call from a constituent holds more weight than an email, tweet, or a fax.

By joining VNP's "Dial for Democracy" list, you will receive exclusive alerts when it's time to call your lawmakers on legislation or decisions that impact Michigan's democracy. These alerts will contain info and tips to help you have an easy and productive call to your local lawmaker!

If you aren't receiving exclusive Dial for Democracy alerts yet, sign up here. You'll receive alerts when critical legislation is introduced along with your state legislators' contact information and a script to use during your call.

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Indivisible Central Michigan plans on continuing their weekly Saturday protests at the usual location (corner of Mission and Broadway). The time is 11:00-1:00. In case of extreme weather, a cancellation email will be sent out by 10:00. Email [email protected] to get on the email list.

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

For your convenience, you can make a donation electronically with the button below. Please consider the option of offsetting the cost to the Fellowship for providing the convenience of making an online donation.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2025-2026
President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected])
President-Elect: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; newla1g [email protected])
Treasurer: David Allan (989.941.7349; [email protected])
Secretary: Jennifer Davis (989.280.7010; [email protected])
Trustee: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; [email protected])
Trustee: Jennifer Prout (989.400.3130; [email protected])
Trustee: Matt Collins (616-617-2274; colli2mr@gmail.com)

Team and Committee Leaders

Adult Religious Education Team - Joyce Henricks
Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey
Caring Team - Laura McBride
Communications Coordinating Team Annie Peters
Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Laura McBride
Membership - Laura McBride
Welcome & Hospitality - Gisela Moffit
Social Fun - Jen Prout
Social Justice Coordinating Team - Norma Bailey
Worship Team - Drew Frantz
Youth Religious Education (RE) Team - Norma Bailey

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

Copyright © 2025 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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eNews February 5, 2026

2/5/2026

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, February 5, 2026

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, February 8, to worship with Rev. Drew on “Imbolc." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"Long before Groundhog Day and the Super Bowl, the beginning of February was the time of the ancient pagan holiday of Imbolc. Marking the halfway point from the winter solstice to the spring equinox, Imbolc represents the hope and promise of new life. With all the chaos of human society today, recognizing the predictable progress of the natural world may be grounding for us."

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

February 8: Imbolc

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "Front Line Resistance"

I want to lift up two of my colleagues today for their courageous protest against authoritarianism. First, I honor the Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt, the president of the UU Association—our national leader. Last Thursday she was part of a group of dozens of clergy who were arrested at the United States capitol. She was protesting the proposed funding of the Department of Homeland Security—including ICE—which is responsible for the surge of violent police in Minneapolis and other cities. “There is no moral justification for voting for a budget that will put more resources toward the violation and dehumanization of our neighbors,” she said. “As religious leaders, we have an ethical obligation to show up and say that this will not be done in our name.” More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm - This Friday
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Sundays at 6:30pm
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Returning April 14
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated

Team Meetings

Board Meeting - Sunday Feb 8 at 1:00
Social Justice Team Meeting - Monday Feb 9 at 6:30
Worship Team Meeting - Thursday Feb 19 at 4:30

Fellowship News

Actions You Can Take Today!

Sign up for our Social Justice Interest Survey if you haven’t already – to receive alerts about petitions to sign, members of Congress to call or email, both federal and state.
Sign up for Dial for Democracy. Receive email alerts when it's time to call your lawmakers on legislation or decisions that impact Michigan's democracy. See Community News for how to join.
Put these people into your phone contacts and make at least one phone call or text every day. They keep track of how many calls/messages they receive.
- Senator Gary Peters (202-224-6221)
- Senator Elissa Slotkin (202-224-4822)
- US House Representative John Moolenaar (202-225-3561)
- Michigan Senator Roger Hauck (517-373-1760)
- Michigan State House Representative Jerry Neyer (517-373-2646)

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Interested in Serving on the Board of Trustees?

There are four positions open on the Board of Trustees for the upcoming 2026-2027 UUFCM year. If you are interested in serving, please contact Board President Norma Bailey ([email protected] or 989-560-3952) or Nominating Chair Guy Newland ([email protected] or 989-944-0534).

President-elect – two-year term
Treasurer – two-year term
Two-Year Trustee
One-Year Trustee

Community Justice Party on February 21

You are all invited to our fifth bi-annual Community Justice Party on Saturday, February 21, 7-9 pm. There will be a program in the sanctuary of music, skits, poetry, and a “Guess the Activist” contest highlighting several social justice issues, and then we will meet in the Fellowship Hall for light refreshments and a rousing cake walk! $5 suggested donation with donations going to Indivisible Central Michigan. Children are free but let Norma Bailey know (989-560-3952 or [email protected]) so childcare can be provided. This was a highlight event in 2024, so be sure to have it on your calendar! Bring family and friends!

Community News

Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List!

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

eNews January 29, 2026

1/29/2026

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, January 29, 2026

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, February 1, to worship with Laura McBride on “Resiliency Practices" by Rev. Dr. Sandra Fees. The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

“The great theologian Howard Thurman says, “[Resilience] is to watch a gathering darkness until all light is swallowed up completely without the power to interfere or bring a halt. Then in that darkness, to continue one’s journey with one’s footsteps guided by the illumination of remembered radiance.” Resilience has to do with staying the course in the midst of pain guided by a “remembered radiance.” It has to do with remembering what was good and beautiful, and holding that memory in the heart while moving forward into the future…”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

February 1: Resiliency Practices

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "Albuquerque Alleluia"

As I write this, I am at the Institute for the Learning Ministry, a conference for UU faith leaders (ministers, religious education professionals or music directors) held once every three to four years. Travelling here yesterday, I met Rachel at the airport in Grand Rapids—she’s the minister of People’s Church in Kalamazoo; connecting in Denver we joined several more colleagues on the last leg of the journey to Albuquerque. Hundreds of us gathered last night, with more arriving today; many of my colleagues are from Minneapolis and many more were there for the massive and successful resistance actions just a few days ago.

At the worship service this morning the song leader said that in the Christian tradition, there is a special word that signifies the good news contained in the gospel: Alleluia. And that we in Unitarian Universalism have our own good news to proclaim: that all are loved and holy, with inherent worth and dignity that no one can take away; and that we have the power—collectively--to create more love, kindness and justice in this world. He then taught us his version of Alleluia. As he continued to speak, he would periodically stop and we all would sing Alleluia as a refrain. More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Sundays at 6:30pm
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Returning April 14
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated

Team Meetings

Building Team Meeting: Monday February 2 at 5:30pm

Fellowship News

A Path to Membership - This Saturday!

A Path to Membership class will be held on Saturday, January 31st from 1-4pm. Please contact Laura for further information.

Her info is: 989.772.5512 or [email protected].

Infant Pantry - Sunday, February 1

Donations for the Infant Pantry are collected on the first Sunday of each month. You can donate online to the Monthly Donations for Infant Pantry on our website, or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with Infant Pantry in the memo.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

CUUPs Imbolc Ritual - Sunday, February 1

Imbolc is a Celtic pagan festival celebrated around February 1st, marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, symbolizing the first stirrings of spring, rebirth, and purification. We will hold the ritual promptly at 6pm.

Annette Pratt
George Lentz
David Allan
Katie Zapoluch
Lonna Bear
Kris Los
Laura McBride
Glenn Lewandos

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

Any changes in your life?

We are in the process of updating our Directory which will be printed in early February. It is very important that you let us know if there are any changes you need to make so that we are current. Have you moved, gotten a new phone number, changed your email address, changed your name or had a baby? Please check the online Directory to see if your current entry is ok or needs to be updated. If you don't remember the password, contact Gisela ([email protected]). Deadline: Extended to Saturday, January 31st. Thank you!

Care Request Form for UUFCM Community

The UUFCM Caring Team supports members and friends of the congregation in practical ways such as offering rides to medical appointments, meals for those temporarily unable to cook for themselves, and help with moving. Our ability to help, of course, is limited to the capacity of our volunteers. To facilitate delivery of these helping services, you are invited to fill out this online form on behalf of yourself or others if you want to request such assistance. Cynthia Damer coordinates this effort; others members of the Caring Team are Phoenix Thompson, Lou Ann Ashley, Laura McBride, Victoria Sladek, and Rev. Drew Frantz. Click HERE.

Actions You Can Take Today!

Sign up for our Social Justice Interest Survey if you haven’t already – to receive alerts about petitions to sign, members of Congress to call or email, both federal and state.
Sign up for Dial for Democracy. Receive email alerts when it's time to call your lawmakers on legislation or decisions that impact Michigan's democracy. See Community News for how to join.
Put these people into your phone contacts and make at least one phone call or text every day. They keep track of how many calls/messages they receive.
- Senator Gary Peters (202-224-6221)
- Senator Elissa Slotkin (202-224-4822)
- US House Representative John Moolenaar (202-225-3561)
- Michigan Senator Roger Hauck (517-373-1760)
- Michigan State House Representative Jerry Neyer (517-373-2646)

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Community Justice Party on February 21

Community News

Film Screening and Discussion - Friday January 30th

Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List!

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

eNews January 22, 2026

1/22/2026

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, January 22, 2026

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, January 25, to worship with Rev. Drew on “Trauma and Resilience." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

Humans experience trauma in many forms and at many levels. A classic book in this field is “What Happened to You?” by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey. While the book focuses on family trauma, the lessons on how we survive and heal from trauma are applicable to other types of trauma as well. These lessons may give us hope as we navigate our own traumas–in the personal sphere and the public sphere.

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

January 25: Trauma and Resilience

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "“Discernment and Action”

Last Friday (January 16) a call went out, seen in my social media and my email in-box: clergy are called to come to Minneapolis for a day of action and protest this Friday (January 23). The organizers explicitly linked this call to Martin Luther King, saying: MLK called ministers to Selma. We are calling you to Minneapolis.

Ministers use the word “discernment” to mean figuring out something important within ourselves. We speak of “discerning a call to ministry,” for instance. This situation required deep discernment for me. Although I knew this was exactly the kind of action that I have always seen as central to my work as a minister, there were a lot of reasons NOT to go: a long journey on a few days notice, in the middle of a regular work week when I have obligations here; the uncertainty of what the action and its effectiveness might be; and the real danger of arrest, injury, or mistreatment by the ICE agents. More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Sundays at 6:30pm
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm This Saturday!
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Returning April 14
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated - This Sunday

Team Meetings

Worship Team Meeting: Thursday, January 22 at 4:30pm

Communications Team Meeting: Friday January 23 at 5:30pm

Adult RE Team Meeting: Monday, January 26 at 7:00pm

Fellowship News

Annual All-Congregation Retreat:

“Feeling Connected in the Struggle”

THIS Saturday, January 24, 2026

8:45 coffee
9:00 – 12:00 retreat
12:00 – 1:00 luncheon

Please join us for the annual UUFCM retreat, a chance for the whole congregation to reflect and connect. Our intention this year is to balance social connection and bonding with reflection on what is happening in the world and how it affects us.

Movie Night - "Possession"

Two modern day literature critics strangers to each other are researching different Victorian poets. Each discovers their respective poets exchanged love letters exposing an illicit affair. What happens next? Join us at the Fellowship Hall January 24th at 7:00 to find out.

Any changes in your life?

We are in the process of updating our Directory which will be printed in early February. It is very important that you let us know if there are any changes you need to make so that we are current. Have you moved, gotten a new phone number, changed your email address, changed your name or had a baby? Please check the online Directory to see if your current entry is ok or needs to be updated. If you don't remember the password, contact Gisela (link). Deadline: Wednesday, January 28. Thank you!

A Path to Membership

A Path to Membership class will be held on Saturday, January 31st from 1-4pm. Please contact Laura for further information.

Her info is: 989.772.5512 or [email protected].

Actions You Can Take Today!

Sign up for our Social Justice Interest Survey if you haven’t already – to receive alerts about petitions to sign, members of Congress to call or email, both federal and state.
Sign up for Dial for Democracy. Receive email alerts when it's time to call your lawmakers on legislation or decisions that impact Michigan's democracy. See Community News for how to join.
Put these people into your phone contacts and make at least one phone call or text every day. They keep track of how many calls/messages they receive.
- Senator Gary Peters (202-224-6221)
- Senator Elissa Slotkin (202-224-4822)
- US House Representative John Moolenaar (202-225-3561)
- Michigan Senator Roger Hauck (517-373-1760)
- Michigan State House Representative Jerry Neyer (517-373-2646)

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Save the Date for our Community Justice Party on February 21

Community News

Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List!

Film Screening and Discussion

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

eNews January 15, 2026

1/15/2026

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, January 15, 2026

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, January 18, to worship with Rev. Drew on “Martin Luther King." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"Unitarian Universalists follow the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in envisioning a ‘beloved community’ where love unites and frees us. On this day every year we celebrate the life and work of Dr. King and re-dedicate ourselves to the version of the American dream he articulated. This year, the holiday comes as protests and violence dominate our national attention, begging the questions: How does this moment compare to the civil rights movement led by Dr. King? What lessons and inspiration can we take from Dr. King to help us today?”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

January 18: Martin Luther King

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "Renee Nicole Good"

The death of Renee Good this week, shot at the wheel of her own car by an ICE agent, feels like a turning point in the story of our country. It represents a whole new level of violence on the part of government agents, and a new level of danger for protesters and bystanders. This event certainly calls for protest and outrage and mourning—which is what we did on Saturday at the weekly Indivisible protest. In addition to marching with our signs as usual, we had a ceremonial coffin for Renee Good with flowers and candles. It gave us an outlet for our rage and grief. More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am This Tuesday
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Mondays at 6pm - THIS MONTH SUNDAY JANUARY 18 at 6:30pm
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm - This Monday
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Returning April 14
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated

Team Meetings

Youth RE Team Meeting: January 18 at 3:30pm
Worship Team Meeting: January 22 at 4:30pm

Fellowship News

Special Offering Collection – January 18

This Sunday a collection will be taken to supplement the minister’s discretionary fund which is used to respond to requests from people in the community who might need gas money, money to pay an electric bill, a night in a hotel, etc. You can donate online to this fund at our website or checks can be made out to UUFCM with “Discretionary Fund” indicated in the memo line, and sent to UUFCM Treasurer, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48804-0041.

Sleepy Time Yoga + Sound Bath by Victoria - Sunday, January 18

Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March - This Monday, January 19

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace March will be held on Monday, January 19, and it will be great for us to have a large number of UUs marching behind our UUFCM banner! The march starts at 3:00pm at the Bovee University Center Rotunda and ends up at the downtown center. We will meet in front of the Art Gallery (next door to the University Center, near the corner of Preston and Franklin) at 2:50pm to line up behind our banner. Dress warm and come join us!

Game Night - Monday, January 19 at 7:00pm

The Crafty U’s - Tuesday, January 20th 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.

A Path to Membership

A Path to Membership class will be held on Saturday, January 31st from 1-4pm. Please contact Laura for further information.

Her info is: 989.772.5512 or [email protected].

Annual All-Congregation Retreat:

“Feeling Connected in the Struggle”

Saturday, January 24, 2026

8:45 coffee
9:00 – 12:00 retreat
12:00 – 1:00 luncheon

Please join us for the annual UUFCM retreat, a chance for the whole congregation to reflect and connect. Our intention this year is to balance social connection and bonding with reflection on what is happening in the world and how it affects us.

Movie Night - "Possession"

Two modern day literature critics strangers to each other are researching different Victorian poets. Each discovers their respective poets exchanged love letters exposing an illicit affair. What happens next? Join us at the Fellowship Hall January 24th at 7:00 to find out.

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Save the Date for our Community Justice Party on February 21

Community News

Let Voters Vote!

LWVMI is hosting a panel discussion on January 21 at 7pm via Zoom to advocate for and educate the public about LET VOTERS VOTE! Why Proposed Documentary Proof of Citizenship is Needless Voter Suppression.

Hear experts address:

Security and Integrity of Voting
Unnecessary Red Tape of documentary proof of citizenship
Impact on Voters in Michigan and across the US

Our panelists include:

Christopher Thomas, former Michigan Director of Elections, who will focus on the Michigan perspective on citizen voting.
Melanie Macey, Policy and Government Affairs Director at Promote the Vote, who will focus on ballot proposals in Michigan that would require documentary proof of citizenship.
Valencia Richardson, Voting Rights attorney at the Campaign Legal Center, who will focus on the federal SAVE Act and the federal perspective.

All are welcome.

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

eNews January 8 2026

1/8/2026

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, January 11, to worship with Norma Bailey and Rev. Drew on “Hope, JOY and Resistance." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"Given everything that is unfolding in the United States and in the world, how do we find and hold on to hope and joy in our lives? We explored this question in our January 4 service, and this Sunday, January 11, through words and music, we will explore how we can use hope and joy to help us resist the negative impact in our lives?”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

January 11: Hope, JOY and Resistance
January 18: Martin Luther King

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "Venezuela"

With the rest of the world, I woke up Saturday to the news about the US military invading Venezuela to capture their president. Our national leadership at the UUA soon released a statement which reads (in part):

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) condemns the Trump Administration’s military strikes overnight against the country of Venezuela, done with the express purpose of capturing its president, Nicolás Maduro, and seizing control of the country in violation of international laws…Unitarian Universalists (UUs) believe that these actions violate our shared religious values – particularly of interdependence and pluralism – and principles, which UUs affirm for themselves and for society. In a Statement of Conscience passed in 2010, “Creating Peace,” UUs proclaimed that “all people share a moral responsibility to create peace.” More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Mondays at 6pm - THIS MONTH SUNDAY JANUARY 18 at 6:30pm
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm
Soul Matters Discussion Group - next meeting to be announced
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated

Team Meetings

Board Meeting: January 11 at 1:00
SJCT Meeting: January 12 at 6:30

Fellowship News

Egan Daugherty
Janis Shinn
Mel Bailey
Zachary Morgan
Monica Jean
Jim Moreno
Stacey Pattison
Doris Hall
Jennifer Davis

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

Dawn Daniel’s Address

For those of you wishing to send a card of condolence about the passing of her mother to Dawn Daniels, our minister prior to Rev. Drew, her address is 313 N. State St., Alma, MI 48801.

A Path to Membership

A Path to Membership class is being planned for a Saturday afternoon in January. If you want to learn about the benefits of membership, ways to become involved through interest groups and teams, understand how to locate information on the website, and meet other newer friends to UUFCM, this is a great opportunity! The session will be held either January 17th or 31st at 1:00 pm for a couple of hours hosted by Rev. Drew and Laura McBride. Please contact Laura by 1/11/2026 with your date preference. Her info is: 989.772.5512 or [email protected].

Give to CMU Public Media, Help the UUFCM!

We are once again collecting for CMU Public Media. In the late fall, we pool our resources together in order to purchase airtime on CMU Public Radio. Depending on the amount gathered, we get 1-2 ads per week for a good part of the year. Please make your check to “UUFCM,” include in the memo line “for CMU Public Media” and give it to Mary Alsager at church by January 11. If you have any questions, contact Mary Alsager at 989-330-2226. A single check for the total collected will be sent to CMU Public Media. Thank you in advance for contributing to this worthy effort – you are appreciated!

Sleepy Time Yoga + Sound Bath by Victoria - Sunday, January 18

Annual All-Congregation Retreat:

Care Request Form for UUFCM Community

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Save the Date for our Community Justice Party on February 21

You are all invited to our fifth bi-annual Community Justice Party on Saturday, February 21, 7-9 pm. There will be a program in the sanctuary of music, skits, poetry, and a “Guess the Activist” contest highlighting several social justice issues, and then we will meet in the Fellowship Hall for light refreshments and a rousing cake walk! If you have a song or reading or anything else that you would like to contribute to the program, contact any member of the Social Justice Coordinating Team – Norma Bailey, Joyce Henricks, Kelly Lawson, Gisela Moffit, Lou Ann Ashley, Jim Moreno, or Katie Zapoluch. This was a highlight event in 2024, so be sure to have it on your calendar!

Community News

Save the Date! - January 19

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace March will be held on Monday, January 19 at 3:00pm. Let’s get a large number of us to march together behind our UUFCM banner! Put the date on your calendar if you can!

Let Voters Vote!

Hear experts address:

Security and Integrity of Voting
Unnecessary Red Tape of documentary proof of citizenship
Impact on Voters in Michigan and across the US

Our panelists include:

Christopher Thomas, former Michigan Director of Elections, who will focus on the Michigan perspective on citizen voting.
Melanie Macey, Policy and Government Affairs Director at Promote the Vote, who will focus on ballot proposals in Michigan that would require documentary proof of citizenship.
Valencia Richardson, Voting Rights attorney at the Campaign Legal Center, who will focus on the federal SAVE Act and the federal perspective.

All are welcome.

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

eNews December 27, 2025

12/26/2025

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, December 28 and January 4, to worship with Norma Bailey on “Hope, JOY and Resistance." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"Given everything that is unfolding in the United States and in the world, how do we find and hold on to hope and joy in our lives? As well, how do we use hope and joy to help us resist the negative impact in our lives? In these services, we will explore a response to these questions through words and music."

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

December 28: Hope, JOY and Resistance
January 4: Hope, JOY and Resistance

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "Merry Christmas"

Although I have learned to appreciate many winter holidays through the UU faith, Christmas is the holiday I grew up with, and still holds a central place in my family life. In the past week I’ve enjoyed Christmas shopping; I’ve baked two batches of Christmas cookies and a double recipe of Christmas Tree Bread; and I have lit a delightful rainbow Christmas tree in the living room of my home. I’ve dusted off my book of Christmas carols and sung my favorites. And the best part is coming up: a week off and a gathering with family, exchanging gifts and playing games with my kids. More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Mondays at 6pm
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm - resuming in January
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm
Soul Matters Discussion Group - next meeting to be announced
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated - This Sunday

Team Meetings

Building Team Meeting: January 5 at 5:30

Fellowship News

Holiday Vacation Schedule

eNews, minister, and administrative assistant on winter break

This will be the last eNews until the new year: the next edition will be published Thursday January 8. Other scheduling announcements…

Rev. Drew (minister) will be on vacation from Dec. 25 until Jan. 4. However, you may contact him by cell phone with any urgent business.
Amy Hayden (administrator) will be on vacation from Dec. 29-Jan. 4.
Sunday worship: no change! 10:30 on Zoom and in person, led by Norma Bailey Dec. 28 and Jan. 4
Wednesday choir rehearsal: cancelled Dec. 24 and Dec. 31
Wednesday morning discussion: cancelled Dec. 24; meeting at regular time Dec. 31

There will be a Welcome to UU class offered on Sunday, December 28th 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 [email protected]
All are welcome!

Pot Luck

Suggestions for Bylaws Changes - Due January 1

Any individual UUFCM members who wish to propose changes to the bylaws for consideration at the annual meeting in May may submit written suggestions to Board president Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected]) by January 1, 2026.

Give to CMU Public Media, Help the UUFCM!

Infant Pantry - January 4th

Annual All-Congregation Retreat:

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Choosing Where to Give: End-of-Year Donations 2025

What can each of us do in response to the injustices that the Trump administration is perpetrating? Your Social Justice Coordinating Team would like to suggest that your donations in the holiday and end-of-year giving season this year support the efforts of state and national organizations which are responding to the many challenges that we are facing.

As a result of the administration’s actions, many of the organizations working for justice will continue to need additional support to combat the efforts that have been made to undo some of the protections that have been in place for many years.

If you are interested in supporting any of these organizations, a list from your Social Justice Coordinating Team of organizations that support justice can be found here.

Path to Membership - Coming in January

A Path to Membership opportunity will be held in January on a Saturday afternoon; more to come in a few weeks. If you are interested in learning more about how UUFCM is organized, volunteer opportunities, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more, please contact Laura McBride or Rev. Drew Frantz.

Contacts:

Laura McBride 989.772.5512 [email protected]
Rev. Drew 440.935.0129 [email protected]

Save the Date for our Community Justice Party on February 21

You are all invited to our fifth bi-annual Community Justice Party on Saturday, February 21, 7-9 pm. There will be a program in the sanctuary of music, skits, poetry, and a “Guess the Activist” contest highlighting several social justice issues, and then we will meet in the Fellowship Hall for light refreshments and a rousing cake walk! If you have a song or reading or anything else that you would like to contribute to the program, contact any member of the Social Justice Coordinating Team – Norma Bailey, Joyce Henricks, Kelly Lawson, Gisela Moffit, Lou Ann Ashley, Jim Moreno, or Katie Zapoluch. This was a highlight event in 2024, so be sure to have it on your calendar!

Community News

Feed the Need

Our local food pantries are navigating an unexpected challenge: eggs and bread. These most basic staples have become difficult to source through their usual channels. United Way has a Feed the Need fund program that is raising money to cover the cost of eggs and bread until the pantries can regain a reliable supply. If you wish to support this ongoing effort, you can donate directly through United Way’s Feed the Need fund by using the QR code in the flyer or on the poster in the Fellowship Hall, or you can send money directly to the United Way Isabella Office at 524 E. Mosher Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858. Flyer!

Save the Date! - January 19

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace March will be held on Monday, January 19. Let’s get a large number of us to march together behind our UUFCM banner! Put the date on your calendar if you can!

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

eNews December 18, 2025

12/18/2025

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, December 18, 2025

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, December 21, to worship with Rev. Drew on "Ritual and Tradition." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"We use rituals in many contexts, including in our religious gatherings. Many of us have traditions connected with the winter holidays. What is the role of ritual and tradition for us, individually and collectively? When do they help us to make meaning…and when is it good to abandon long-practiced rituals and to break tradition?"

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

December 21: Ritual and Tradition
December 24: 7:00pm - Christmas Eve Service
December 28: Hope, JOY and Resistance
January 4: Hope, JOY and Resistance

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "Lighting the Menorah"

In one of my first year seminary classes, the professor gave us this advice: take a minute to check the news on Sunday morning before going to lead worship, lest you be surprised by some major world event. Last Sunday I checked NPR before breakfast, and the shocking news about the mass shooting at a Hannukah celebration in Australia left me weeping in the winter morning, overwhelmed by the tragedy--and feeling strangely connected in spirit to those at Bondi Beach because I was preparing to lead a Hannukah celebration myself.

As I said on Sunday morning, this anti-Semitic terrorism is surely intended to make Jews (and their allies) around the world afraid—afraid to gather for Hannukah services and parties, afraid to be visible in their faith. And the response to that terrorism must be defiant joy. More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Mondays at 6pm
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm - resuming in January
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm
Soul Matters Discussion Group - next meeting to be announced
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated -

Team Meetings

Worship Team Meeting: Thursday December 18th at 4:30pm

Fellowship News

Special Plate Collection - THIS Sunday, December 21

This Sunday, a collection will be taken to support the CCN Food Pantry as the need for food continues to be great for some of our neighbors in our community You can put a donation into the passed plate on Sunday, donate online to the Social Justice Special Plate Collections Fund at our website, or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with CCN Food Pantry in the memo.

CUUPs Yule Ritual - Sunday, December 21

Yule, the winter solstice, is a time of great symbolism and power. It marks the return of the sun, when the days finally begin to get a little longer. It’s also a time to celebrate with family and friends and share the spirit of giving. We will hold the ritual promptly at 6pm.

Suggestions for Bylaws Changes - Due January 1

Give to CMU Public Media, Help the UUFCM!

Save the Date: Saturday, January 24 - UUFCM Retreat

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Choosing Where to Give: End-of-Year Donations 2025

Path to Membership - Coming in January

Save the Date for our Community Justice Party on February 21

You are all invited to our fifth bi-annual Community Justice Party on Saturday, February 21, 7-9 pm. There will be a program in the sanctuary of music, skits, poetry, and a “Guess the Activist” contest highlighting several social justice issues, and then we will meet in the Fellowship Hall for light refreshments and a rousing cake walk! If you have a song or reading or anything else that you would like to contribute to the program, contact any member of the Social Justice Coordinating Team – Norma Bailey, Joyce Henricks, Kelly Lawson, Gisela Moffit, Lou Ann Ashley, Jim Moreno, or Katie Zapoluch. This was a highlight event in 2024, so be sure to have it on your calendar!

Community News

Feed the Need

Save the Date! - January 19

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

eNews December 11, 2025

12/11/2025

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, December 11, 2025

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, December 14, to worship with Rev. Drew on "A UU Hanukkah." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"'Anticipating the first night of Hanukkah, this Sunday morning we will light a menorah in our sanctuary and reflect on this Jewish holiday. Our Unitarian Universalist way of engaging with religious holidays is to be respectful of tradition; to give the widest possible interpretation of the meanings of the holiday; and to connect it to our UU values. Hanukkah connects us all–Jew and gentile–to hope, justice and interdependence."

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

December 13: Saturday at 4:00pm - Blue Holidays
December 14: A UU Hanukkah
December 21: Ritual and Tradition
December 24: 7:00pm - Christmas Eve Service

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "Human Rights Day"

I learned that December 10 is Human Rights Day as proclaimed by the United Nations. Their theme for 2025 is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials.” and on their website I found the following:

Human rights are POSITIVE
They not only protect, they also bring joy, happiness and safety into daily life. Human rights are lived realities. They are in the food we eat, the air we breathe, the words we speak, the opportunities we pursue or the protections that keep us safe.
Human rights are ESSENTIAL
They are the essentials we all share, the common ground that unites us across differences of race, gender, belief, or background. In a world of uncertainty, human rights remain our everyday constants. When everything feels unstable, your right to safety, to speak freely and to participate in decisions that affect us, become the bedrock of our lives.
Human rights are ATTAINABLE
They begin with us, with the small, everyday choices we make from treating others with respect, speaking up against unfairness, and listening to those whose voices are often ignored. Everyday choices and voices matter more than you may realize; they build a culture of dignity and fairness around us. But human rights also depend on collective action, when communities, movements, and nations come together to demand justice and equality. More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am This Tuesday
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Mondays at 6pm - resuming in January
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm This Monday
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm - resuming in January
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm
Soul Matters Discussion Group - next meeting to be announced
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated -

Team Meetings

Board Meeting: Sunday, December 14 at 1pm
Worship Team Meeting: Thursday, December 18 at 4:30pm

Fellowship News

December 13, 2025 (Saturday at 4:00)

Special Worship Service: "Blue Holidays"

The winter holiday season is supposed to be fun–but what if you’re not feeling that way? The expectation to be joyful can be stressful in itself, while family gatherings can also bring up challenges and traumas large and small. Please join us for a special service that allows time to acknowledge the difficult feelings that are present in the holiday season. You may find serenity and acceptance here; you may find comfort in the companionship of others. All are welcome.

Game Night - Monday, December 15 at 7:00pm

The Crafty U’s - Tuesday, December 16 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.

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Choosing Where to Give: End-of-Year Donations 2025

Drop Off Free Calendars

Do you have extra 2026 calendars? Your Social Justice Coordinating Team (SJCT) will collect them to distribute to the residents of local nursing homes for the new year! You can drop them off in the box located by the nursery.

Care Request Form for UUFCM Community

Path to Membership - Coming in January

Give to CMU Public Media, Help the UUFCM!

Save the Date for our Community Justice Party on February 21

You are all invited to our fifth bi-annual Community Justice Party on Saturday, February 21, 7-9 pm. There will be a program in the sanctuary of music, skits, poetry, and a “Guess the Activist” contest highlighting several social justice issues, and then we will meet in the Fellowship Hall for light refreshments and a rousing cake walk! If you have a song or reading or anything else that you would like to contribute to the program, contact any member of the Social Justice Coordinating Team – Norma Bailey, Joyce Henricks, Kelly Lawson, Gisela Moffit, Lou Ann Ashley, Jim Moreno, or Katie Zapoluch. This was a highlight event in 2024, so be sure to have it on your calendar!

Community News

Feed the Need

Volunteers and Items Needed for Christmas Outreach

Christmas Outreach, an effort to coordinate the community for Christmas giving, is in need of financial support and gently used items to serve the 2787 individuals, 828 households, and 1220 children registered this year, about a 43% increase in numbers this year. There are multiple ways to help:

Financial:  Mail checks to Christmas Outreach of Isabella County, PO Box 1227, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804.

Donations:  Any gently used coats, snow pants, boots, linens, hats, gloves, scarves, children’s books in good shape, large deodorant, and full-size toothpaste.  Drop off donation at Morey Courts, December 10 and 11 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm

Volunteer:  Need to escort and to help people take the items they have received to their cars.  Volunteers are especially needed Friday, December 12 in the afternoon and Saturday, December 13 between 12:00pm and 4:00pm.

To sign up HERE!

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

eNews: December 4th

12/4/2025

View this email in your browser

eNews for Thursday, December 4, 2025

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, December 7, to worship with Rev. Drew on "Choosing Hope." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"'Choosing Hope' is our worship theme for the month of December. Let’s help one another find hope in our personal lives, through the yearly challenge of a dark winter time and the individual challenges we face. And let’s remember that hope–like gratitude–is more of a practice than a feeling. How can we choose hope, and support each other in doing so?"

Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#
Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services

December 7: Choosing Hope
December 13: Saturday at 4:00pm - Blue Holidays

In Case You Missed It...

Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.

In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.

Minister’s Column: "Don Julin Trio"

A couple of weeks ago we had a special performance in our sanctuary, organized by Bob Busch for the purpose of bringing joy and music into the UUFCM building. Mission accomplished!

Don Julin was the band leader: an accomplished mandolin performer, composer and arranger. He assembled a trio for this concert and a few others across Michigan and Ohio. Along with a small and enthusiastic crowd, I was engaged with every song from start to finish. The trio traded riffs and solos fluidly, adding beauty and musicianship to the jazzy bluegrass repertoire they shared with us. Don narrated the performance with stories of being a travelling musician and with insights into the songs they were playing. All three musicians (mandolin, bass, and guitar) were masters of their craft, and the rapport among them was easy and solid. More...

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm - This Friday!
Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Mondays at 6pm - resuming in January
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm - resuming in January
Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm - This Tuesday!
Soul Matters Discussion Group - next meeting to be announced
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated -

Team Meetings

Social Justice Team Meeting: Monday, December 8 at 6:30pm

Fellowship News

Infant Pantry Special Collection

Voter Education Event -TODAY!

The Mt. Pleasant Area League of Women Voters and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan (UUFCM) are co-sponsoring a voter education event on Thursday, December 4, at 6:30 pm in our UUFCM building. The program will be presented in the sanctuary, and there will be refreshments and conversation in the Fellowship Hall afterwards. Inviting you to come and bring friends!

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Thank YOU Alert for the UUFCM Harvest Feast Potluck!!!

Many friends and members chipped in food, money, set up, clean up, and advice! Big thanks go out to:

Tasty food and beverages by: Victoria, Phoenix & Co., Phil, Dave, Cynthia, Carmen & Roger, Kelly G., Gisela, Cathryn, Helenan, LouAnn, Annie, James, Joyce, and Laura.

Financial support: Lonna, Gisela, LouAnn, Norma, Dave, and Laura.

Set up & clean up: Jen, Joe, Phoenix, Luna, Carmen, Roger, Cathryn, Joyce, James, Dave, and Laura.

Advice gurus: Cynthia, Rev. Drew, Victoria, and Dave.

The event was a fun meal with lots of variations, planning, and visiting. 21 of us enjoyed the meal. It was nice to be with friends!

With much appreciation,

Laura and Dave

December 13, 2025 (Saturday at 4:00)

Special Worship Service: "Blue Holidays"

Choosing Where to Give: End-of-Year Donations 2025

Drop Off Free Calendars

Policy Regarding Safer Inclusion of Potential Sex Offenders

On November 9, the UUFCM Board of Trustees approved a revised Policy Regarding Sexual Misconduct that had been approved at the May 10 Board meeting. After the old policy was shared with the congregation, there were concerns raised by a number of congregants that the original policy was more concerned with the welcome to a sex offender than with the safety of the members of the congregation. The concerns were shared at a Listening Circle on September 30 and in communication with members of the Safer Congregation Committee.

Based on that feedback, the Safer Congregation Committee revised the original policy and recommended it to the Board, which subsequently approved the revised policy. The Policy Regarding Safer Inclusion of Potential Sex Offenders is linked HERE. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact any member of the Safer Congregation Committee: Rev. Drew Frantz, Mel Bailey, Norma Bailey, Sierra Burke, Kirsten King, Guy Newland, and Katie Zapoluch.

Care Request Form for UUFCM Community

Path to Membership - Coming in January

Community News

Volunteers and Items Needed for Christmas Outreach

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Got News?

The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to [email protected].

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text: 440-935-0129
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

Team and Committee Leaders

We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world.

<<Previous

eNews 2/12/2026

eNews for Thursday, February 12, 2026

Worship Matters

Upcoming Services

In Case You Missed It...

Minister’s Column: “Bad Bunny Halftime Show”

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Team Meetings

Youth RE Team Meeting - Sunday Feb 15 at 3:30 Worship Team Meeting - Thursday Feb 19 at 4:30

Fellowship News

Special Plate Collection This Sunday February 15 – MUUSJN

Sleepy Time Yoga + Sound Bath by Victoria - Sunday, February 15

Game Night - Monday, February 16 at 7:00pm

The Crafty U’s - Tuesday, February 17 at 10:30am

Provide a cake or pie!

Community Justice Party Next Saturday!

Did you get your end-of-year statement on February 2?

Scam Alert

Actions You Can Take Today!

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Community News

ICE Out for Love: Community Safety & Rapid Response Training

Saturday Feb. 14, 1:00-300 - VIRTUALLY AT UUFCM SANCTUARY

Indivisible Central Michigan Food Drive

Mount Pleasant Pride Center Hosts Pal-entine's Day:

Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List!

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

Got News?

Drew’s Contact Information

Team and Committee Leaders

eNews February 5, 2026

eNews for Thursday, February 5, 2026

Worship Matters

Upcoming Services

In Case You Missed It...

Minister’s Column: "Front Line Resistance"

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Team Meetings

Board Meeting - Sunday Feb 8 at 1:00 Social Justice Team Meeting - Monday Feb 9 at 6:30 Worship Team Meeting - Thursday Feb 19 at 4:30

Fellowship News

Actions You Can Take Today!

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Community Justice Party on February 21

Community News

Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List!

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

Got News?

Drew’s Contact Information

Team and Committee Leaders

eNews January 29, 2026

eNews for Thursday, January 29, 2026

Worship Matters

Upcoming Services

In Case You Missed It...

Minister’s Column: "Albuquerque Alleluia"

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Team Meetings

Building Team Meeting: Monday February 2 at 5:30pm

Fellowship News

A Path to Membership - This Saturday!

Infant Pantry - Sunday, February 1

CUUPs Imbolc Ritual - Sunday, February 1

Any changes in your life?

Care Request Form for UUFCM Community

Actions You Can Take Today!

Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations

Community Justice Party on February 21

Community News

Film Screening and Discussion - Friday January 30th

Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List!

Indivisible Protests Continue!

Facts on Petitions

Youth RE Team Meeting - Sunday Feb 15 at 3:30
Worship Team Meeting - Thursday Feb 19 at 4:30

Board Meeting - Sunday Feb 8 at 1:00
Social Justice Team Meeting - Monday Feb 9 at 6:30
Worship Team Meeting - Thursday Feb 19 at 4:30