eNews 2/12/2026

Keep up with what's happening at UUFCM!

View this email in your browser 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. 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