eNews for Thursday, July 2

7/2/2020

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eNews for Thursday, July 2

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom this Sunday, July 5 to worship together with our minister Drew Frantz, who will present “Reach into Community.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.

“Today we are all challenged by the resurging wave of coronavirus infections, and by the surfacing of racial injustice that was invisible to some of us. Join us for a worship service that acknowledges these challenges, and invites us to tap into community for healing, for transformation, and for action.”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday, July 5
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#

Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

If you happen to miss being in worship, the texts to previous sermon messages (and some of the readings as well) can be found in our website sermon archive.

Upcoming Services

July 12: All-Michigan UU Worship Service

Minister's Column

Read the Minister's Column at uufcm.org/andrew-frantz.

Widening the Circle

Access to UUFCM Zoom Services and Events

With all of our Fellowship events on Zoom these days, we want to be sure that all members and friends of UUFCM have access. If you are in need of a device such as a tablet or phone in order to join our events, please let Drew know...and if you have a tablet or phone that you could donate, please let Drew know.

Upcoming Events - with Zoom Links

Click the link to join in!

- Sunday worship
- Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sundays at 12:30pm
- Choir R ehearsal - Sundays at 7pm
- White Fragility Workshop - Mondays at 7pm through July
- UU discussion group - Wednesdays at 10am
- Check-In Circle with Drew - Wednesdays at 4pm
- Coffee with Candi - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 5:30pm.
Contact Candi for information.
- Game Night - Wednesdays at 7pm
- Soulful Sundown - Thursday, July 2 at 7pm
- W omen’s Circle - 4th Thursdays at 7pm
- Coffee House Open Mic - 1st Fridays at 7pm

Event links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Team Meetings - with Zoom Links

Click the link to join in!

Coordinating Team Meeting - Sunday, July 5 at 12pm
Worship Team Meeting - Tuesday, July 7 at 6pm

Meeting links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Soulful Sundown - July 2

Breathing into This Moment

Join us on this first Thursday of the month for an uplifting service of songs, drumming, poetry, and reflection, beginning at 7pm. This month's Soulful Sundown service will emphasize embodying our spirituality through awareness of the breath and the body. All are welcome: all ages, all genders, colors, beliefs. Join us via Zoom!

Coffee House Open Mic - July 3

Bring your favorite beverage and join us for a virtual coffee house on the first Friday of the month at 7:00. We will follow an open mic format: anyone can share some music or poetry. Aim for 5 minutes for your song or poem. Signing up ahead of time is encouraged: contact Drew at minister.uufcm.org or 440-935-0129. Get ready for a groovy time! Join us via Zoom!

Infant Pantry Collection - July 5

We collect donations for the Infant Pantry on the first Sunday of each month. Though the Pantry is currently closed, you can make an online donation on our website. You can also make a check out to CCN (Community Compassion Network) with memo “Infant Pantry,” and send to P.O. Box 237, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48804-0237. Questions? Contact Tom Moffit (989-772-1602; moffi1tc@cmich.edu).

White Fragility Workshop - Beginning Monday, July 6

Adult Religious Education (RE) Class
Carolyn Hancock and Joyce Henricks will facilitate a workshop using the book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo. The goal of this workshop will be to help ourselves as white people understand our identity as white people within a racist system, and to work together to develop white stamina in order to be part of the solution. The group will meet on Mondays via Zoom at 7pm, July 6, 13, 20, and 27. Books can be ordered from Amazon or the UUA Bookstore. Please read the first three chapters before class starts in order to be prepared for our discussion. Join via Zoom!

All-Michigan UU Worship Service - Sunday, July 12

On Sunday, July 12 at 10:30am, we will participate in the all-Michigan UUs worship service in which 17 UU congregations across Michigan will contribute an element to the service.

Here is the invitation from the Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church:

Our beloved community of UU Michiganders and their friends and family will come together in worship on Sunday, July 12th at 10:30 am.

Up to 1000 people may participate via Zoom. The service will also be streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Following the service, there will be a state-wide coffee hour gathering.

Please join us in this precious opportunity like no other to explore hope as we share sacred space across the “Internet of Spirit.”

Drew’s Ordination Ceremony, July 25 at 2pm

In the Unitarian Universalist tradition, only a Unitarian Universalist congregation has the power to ordain a minister. Drew has completed all the requirements to serve as a minister, but has not taken this step until now. Being ordained means that a minister can take the title of Reverend, can perform weddings, and (in our tradition) can wear a stole.

Drew’s home congregation, the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, will officially ordain him and the UU Fellowship of Central Michigan will take part in the ceremony as well. Everyone at the ordination will be asked to articulate three blessings: what is your blessing for Drew in his work as a UU minister; what is your blessing for yourself; and what is your blessing for the whole world? All are welcome for this ceremony of ordination, held virtually on Zoom.

DRE Position Opening Announcement

As many children and families know, this will be Kendra Peffers's final year in the role of Director of Religious Education (DRE) at UUFCM. In preparation for the end of her term in this position (August 31, 2020), we are posting for a replacement to begin in the fall. We want to use this as an opportunity to hear from the members of our congregation to see if there is someone who you believe would be a good fit for this position and to ask for your help in spreading the word. The position's flyer can be viewed here: DRE Flyer. Kendra is also happy to answer any questions related to the position or the RE Program at re.uufcm@gmail.com.

RE News

The RE Program continues to provide religious education over Facebook on the group called UUFCM RE Program (Click here to go to the RE Facebook group). Virtual RE lessons are posted every other week to the Facebook group. Our Kids' Coffee Hour is held every Sunday at 11:45 a.m. over Webex for check-ins, games, and themed activities (click here on Sundays to join the Kids' Coffee Hour; Meeting number: 120 985 4031; Password: RE_Program).

Voting Rights News

Invitation to Join Voting Rights Team

If you would like to get more involved with encouraging voting rights for our congregation and beyond, contact David Wagstaff at 610-220-3359 by phone or text. We could always use more voices and hands.

Support the HEROES Act for Election Assistance

The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act includes $3.6 billion for state and local governments to make their election systems safe for voters and poll workers under pandemic conditions – obtaining supplies and training.

Your Voting Rights committee encourages you to contact your Senators (Stabenow and Peters) asking for their support for the Act.

Requesting Your Absentee Voter Ballot

Given that the absent voter ballots for Michigan have now been printed and have been sent out, we are encouraging you to request your ballot now. If you yet haven’t received an application to request the ballot, you can easily do that yourself at www.Michigan.gov/vote. In fact, you can now apply for it online! As well, when you fill out your request, you can indicate that you would like to receive the ballot for both the August 4 state election and the November 3 general election this year, and/or indicate that you would like to be placed on the permanent list, automatically receiving an application for every election. If you have questions, feel free to contact Norma Bailey or David Wagstaff.

Environmental Issues News

Everything You Need to Recycle in Isabella County

Did you know that Michigan’s residential recycling rate is only 15%? Let’s make recycling more common in our state! This guide was created to help Mt Pleasant residents locate nearby businesses and other sites that accept materials for recycling.

Birthdays in July

Because of Covid-19, we have not been able to get together on the first Friday for our monthly potlucks. Not only do we miss being together and sharing delicious dishes, but we also can’t sing to our birthday celebrants. However, we can individually be thinking of them and sending them a message. Here is the list with dates in parentheses: Guy Newland (4), Terry Tribe (5), Norma Bailey (13), James Hatcher and Sharon Rust (17), and Steve Lifson (25). Wishing them all good health, peace and love for the year to come!

Are You in Need of Assistance?

At this time of social distancing, it is important that we keep in close contact via technology. Drew has encouraged you to reach out to him if you want to talk to him via email or phone/text (minister@uufcm.org; 440.935.0129). Please do so if you need emotional support or to share your concerns. If you are experiencing financial hardship, the minister's discretionary fund may be able to help. Please contact Drew for more information. Assistance from this fund is strictly confidential.

For those of you who are shut in and can’t get groceries or your meds, let Gisela know (gbmoffit@gmail.com; 989.772.1602). We now have 6 volunteers who are willing to pick up your orders for you. Many thanks in advance to those willing to help out.

Volunteers Needed at Clothing, Inc.

Clothing, Inc. is in need of volunteers to sort clothing. They are social distancing and wearing masks as they work. If you are willing to help, go to their website to sign up.

United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund

United Way of Gratiot and Isabella Counties is holding a fundraiser (United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund) to raise $200,000 to help local non-profits respond to the basic necessities that are significant in Isabella County and will continue to be in the coming months due to COVID-19. We are encouraging people to donate directly to the United Way drive or send a check to United Way of Gratiot and Isabella Counties, 524 East Mosher St., Suite 400, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, with “United Way COVID-19 Community Response Fund” in the memo.

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, or via the GivePlus Church App. 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

Take all that you need; give all that you can!

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 admin@uufcm.org.

Drew's Office Hours and Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.

minister@uufcm.org
Phone/text:
440-935-0129

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2020-2021
President: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; president@uufcm.org)
Past-President: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; carol4uufcm@gmail.com)
President Elect: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu)
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; tlrobbie1@gmail.com)
Co-Treasurer: Jen Prout (989.400.3130; poutyprouty66@yahoo.com)
Secretary: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; becht1bh@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Jennifer Davis (989.280.7010; jenmarsh40@gmail.com)
Trustee: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; jones3aj@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Mel Bailey (989.600.6460; babycatching@gmail.com)

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

Copyright © 2020 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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