eNews for Thursday, July 3

7/3/2025

eNews for Thursday, July 3

Welcome to Amy Hayden, our new Administrative Assistant! Amy lives in Indianapolis and is a UU herself. She attended Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Hendricks County in Danville, Indiana for many years and has been their part-time administrator for the past few years. She has two grown children who still live in the Indy area. Amy moved to Indianapolis 25 years ago from Memphis, TN, her home town. She loves hiking, biking, and spending time with friends.

We want to thank Wendy Altmeier for her dedication and service to our congregation for the past two years. You have been very much appreciated, Wendy. Best wishes moving forward!

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, July 6, to worship with Norma Bailey as worship leader and Carol Rard who will present a "Summer Reflection." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"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."

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

July 6 - Summer Worship Series (with Carol Rard)
July 13 - Summer Worship Series (with Katie Zapoluch)
July 20 - Summer Worship Series (with Kirsten King)
July 27 - Summer Worship Series (with Jacq Roberge)
August 3 - Summer Worship Series (with Bob Busch)
August 10 - Resume Regular Worship (with Rev. Drew)

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:

Minister's Column will return in August. Read the previous columns here.

Summer Schedule

Minister’s Time Off

The Summer Worship Series goes from June 29 - August 3, while our minister Rev. Drew is off for the summer. You are still welcome to contact Drew for urgent matters, and he will be available for some scheduled meetings and Fellowship business. As always, texting his cell phone (440-935-0129) is the best way to reach him.

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 - On summer hiatus; resumes August 6
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm * This Friday!
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
UUFCM Women's Circle - On hiatus until further notice
Welcome to UU Orientation - July 20th this month; Sunday at 12:00pm

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
Coordinating Team: Sunday, July 6, at 1:00pm
BuildingTeam: Monday, July 7, at 6 pm

Infant Pantry Collection – THIS Sunday, July 6

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. Questions? Contact Tom Moffit (989-772-1602; [email protected]). Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Wedding Announcement & Celebration - Friday, July 4

Abdou Chalal and David Wagstaff are delighted to announce their upcoming marriage on July 2nd at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan, officiated by Rev. Drew. The couple will exchange their vows and commitment to one another in a small private ceremony in the sanctuary.

While the wedding ceremony itself is private, everyone is warmly invited to the open house and celebration on Thursday, July 4 from 9:00am to 11:00am at: 631 N Rock Lake Dr, Vestaburg, MI (Please stay on Vestaburg Road until you see the mailbox marked 631—Rock Lake Drive is little more than a driveway.) No gifts, please.

An RSVP is appreciated (though not required). Text RSVP to 610-220-3359 if you plan to attend.

First Friday Potluck – Friday, July 4

Please join us in the UUFCM Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm (doors open at 6:15) for food, conversation, and games! Coffee, hot tea, and water will be provided. If you are able, please bring a dish to pass.

New Call to Action

There are two petitions being circulated concerning rules about voting in Michigan, both of which are trying to make it harder for eligible citizens to register to vote, vote at a precinct, and/or vote absentee. In essence, these petitions, if they garner enough signatures, will go on the ballot in the 2026 midterm election requiring people to prove that they are citizens with documents such as birth certificates or passports. Unfortunately, if on the ballot, they will probably pass because many people will not read the complete language but simply vote “yes” because, of course, we want to make sure that only citizens can vote (already a requirement to vote).

The action needed by all of us to keep these two issues off the ballot in November 2026 is to educate everyone we know – family, friends, neighbors – to NOT sign these two petitions. If you are asked to sign a petition having anything to do with voting, we urge you to NOT sign. If you would like to do more, please contact Norma Bailey ([email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) ) who can share more information with you and/or give you “decline to sign” flyers to hand out to people.

Click HERE for flyer.

Call to Action

Urge the Senate: Save Public Media

Public media is facing multiple serious threats. The White House proposed eliminating federal funding in its annual budget request, issued an Executive Order to block support for PBS and NPR, and plans to claw back funding approved by Congress.

Federal funding ensures that local public radio and TV stations can continue to give access to essential educational, local, and cultural programming; trustworthy, in-depth news; and emergency and community-based services.

Our local PBS and NPR affiliate, WCMU Public Media, utilizes four television and eight radio stations to reach over 2 million people across 42 counties within Central and Northern Michigan. Community Service Grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting provide just over 19% of WCMU's annual budget.

The House of Representatives passed the rescissions package, and the vote now goes to the Senate.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Contact your senators and tell them to reject the rescissions package and stop the dismantling of public media!
Gary Peters: 202-224-6221
Elissa Slotkin: 202-224-4822

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

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: Marco Muñoz-Fortino (989-600-6738; [email protected])

Team and Committee Leaders

Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher
Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey
Caring Team - Laura McBride
Communications Coordinating Team
Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit
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 © 2024 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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eNews for Thursday, August 15

8/15/2024

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eNews for Thursday, August 15

Annual UUFCM Picnic - THIS Sunday, August 18

Please join us for the UUFCM Annual Picnic at Isabella Township Park in Rosebush at 1:00pm on Sunday, August 18. Please bring your own table service. Hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie dogs, water, iced tea, and lemonade will be provided.

Sign-up sheets for helping and additional food will be available online (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B48ACA622A6FE3-50293047-uufcm.) We look forward to seeing you there!

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, August 18, to worship with with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "Summer Changes." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.

"This summer has seen historic events in the nation and the world. Within Unitarian Universalism, our General Assembly in June changed the way we express our values. Putting these changes in perspective helps us also to understand what remains the same."

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

August 18: Summer Changes
August 25: Water Ingathering

If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out Sunday Services on our website for sermon video and/or text. 2023 and prior year sermon video and/or text are located under Sermon Archives.

Minister’s Column

On Saturday I was watching the Olympics with my wife and sister-in-law, and I was moved by a race on the track and the story behind it. Often I focus on the athletes from the USA—as does the network covering the games. (An American network whose first audience is American, this makes sense.) This story, however, was about a runner from Kenya, Faith Kipyegon, and her attempt to win her event for the third Olympics in a row.

Read the column here.

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 7pm
Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
Crafty U - 3rd Fridays at 10:30am (starting September 20)
First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm
Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm
UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
UUFCM Women's Circle - TONIGHT!
Welcome to UU Orientation - Last Sundays at 12:30pm

Team Meetings
Caring Committee - Friday, August 16, at 12:00pm
Shared Ministry Team - Wednesday, August 21, at 4:00pm

First Meeting of the UUFCM Women’s Circle - TONIGHT, August 15

The Women's Circle is a program for UUFCM women to get together once a month to discuss whatever the group is interested in.

Our first meeting is TONIGHT, Thursday, August 15, at 7:00pm in the UUFCM Sanctuary. The meeting is open to all UUFCM women. Contact Joyce Henricks (989.400.9743; [email protected]) if you have any questions or need further information.

Special Plate Collection This Sunday – The CCN Food Pantry

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.

Picking Vegetables at George's "Farm!" THIS Saturday, August 17

The Youth RE program is inviting all young people to pick vegetables for the Soup Kitchen at the “farm” of George Lentz on Saturday, August 17. We’ll meet at the church at 9:00am, carpool out together, pick veggies, and have lemonade and snacks together. Please let any member of the Youth RE team know if you plan to join us – Norma Bailey, Carla Jensen, Jennifer Davis and Monica Jean.

Game Night! THIS Monday, August 19

We meet on the 3rd Monday from 7:00-9:00pm 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! Questions? Contact James Scott ([email protected]).

Movie Night - Saturday, August 24

Six and a half years ago, Frank Adler was a carefree bachelor and a philosophy professor. When his sister passed away, Frank took custody of his 6-month-old niece, Mary. He gave up his previous life, moved to Florida, and became a mechanic, always showering Mary with unconditional love.

As Mary grows older, Frank realizes she has no friends and sends her to school. When the school discovers that Mary is gifted, the normal life Frank is determined to provide her is turned upside down. The principal sees Mary as a tool for recognition, and her absentee grandmother views her as a feather in her cap.

Will Frank's unconditional love for Mary withstand the pressures and challenges of conditional love? Join us on Saturday, August 24, at 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall when we watch "Gifted" to find out!

Hospitality Training Session - Saturday, September 14

Are you looking to participate more in our faith community but have limited time? The Hospitality Team is a great place to start! There are no meetings to attend—just a commitment on Sundays to be among the first to welcome our visitors, friends, and members.

Interested in learning more about becoming a greeter, pre-service host, post-service host, or refreshment provider? Join us for a training session on Saturday, September 14, from 10:00am-11:30am at the church. Please let Gisela know or sign up here so we can plan accordingly.

Come Get in “Good Trouble” with Us (John Lewis)!

The Social Justice Coordinating Team invites you to join them in supporting our 5th UU principle of affirming and promoting the democratic process by participating in our letter-writing parties. Working with Vote Forward, we will write letters to citizens in underrepresented communities in Michigan encouraging them to vote in this important election cycle.

All you need to do is come to one or more of our 44 letter-writing parties (see schedule here) –to write a brief statement about why you vote! They will provide the instructions, letters, envelopes, stamps, pens – and lemonade! Come join us to be energized by being part of an engaged community living out our values – making “good trouble!”

Youth RE Team Looking for a Book Shelf

The Youth RE Team is looking for a bookshelf that would hold some tall children’s picture books. If you have one to donate that might work, please contact Norma Bailey at [email protected] or at 989-560-3952.

• • • Community News • • •

Donate Now!

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 (in person and/or Zoom):
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm
Office Hours Zoom Link

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2024-2025
President: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected])
President-Elect: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected])
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected])
Secretary: Laurie Meadows (989.317.8299; [email protected])
Trustee: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; [email protected])
Trustee: Monica Jean (616.443.8782; [email protected])
Trustee: David Allan (989.941.7349; [email protected])

Team and Committee Leaders

Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher
Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey
Caring Committee - Laura McBride
Communications Coordinating Team
Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit
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

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.

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

We need one another. We need the good news of this liberal religion. This community,
our nation and our world need our radical, controversial, countercultural message
that there are questions far, far more important than “what’s in it for me?”

~ James C. Leach

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eNews for 9/17/14

9/17/2014

0 Comments

“If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.”

~ Archbishop Tutu

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eNews for 9/10/14

9/10/2014

Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.

~ Meister Eckhart

eNews for 9/3/14

9/3/2014

And that is just the point... how the world, moist and beautiful, calls to each of us to make a new and serious response. That's the big question, the one the world throws at you every morning.
“Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?

~ Mary Oliver

eNews for 8/26/14

8/26/2014

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.

~ Ovid

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eNews for Thursday, July 3

Worship Matters

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?

Upcoming Services

In Case You Missed It...

Minister’s Column:

Summer Schedule

Minister’s Time Off

Upcoming Events

Infant Pantry Collection – THIS Sunday, July 6

Wedding Announcement & Celebration - Friday, July 4

First Friday Potluck – Friday, July 4

***New Call to Action***

***Call to Action***

Urge the Senate: Save Public Media

Donate Now!

Drew’s Contact Information

Team and Committee Leaders

eNews for Thursday, August 15

Annual UUFCM Picnic - THIS Sunday, August 18

Worship Matters

"This summer has seen historic events in the nation and the world. Within Unitarian Universalism, our General Assembly in June changed the way we express our values. Putting these changes in perspective helps us also to understand what remains the same."

Upcoming Services

Minister’s Column

Upcoming Events

First Meeting of the UUFCM Women’s Circle - TONIGHT, August 15

Special Plate Collection This Sunday – The CCN Food Pantry

Picking Vegetables at George's "Farm!" THIS Saturday, August 17

Game Night! THIS Monday, August 19

Movie Night - Saturday, August 24

Hospitality Training Session - Saturday, September 14

Come Get in “Good Trouble” with Us (John Lewis)!

Youth RE Team Looking for a Book Shelf

• • • Community News • • •

Donate Now!

Drew’s Contact Information

Team and Committee Leaders

Scam Alert

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