eNews 3/5/26

Keep up with what's happening at UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, March 5, 2026 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, March 8, to worship with Rev. Drew on “Paying Attention to God/Beauty/Nature." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.     "Attention may be defined in terms of action–we pay attention to a situation for the purpose of doing something. Or, attention may be defined in terms of connection–we pay attention to something in order to feel more connected. This version of attention is transformative, and is what we need when it comes to our fellow human beings–and to God." 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   March 8: Paying Attention to God/Beauty/Nature   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:  “Righteous Anger”  “I don’t know how to preach the day after bombs fall. I don’t know how to preach when children die and when neighbors are pulled from cars and when trans citizens wake up to find their identities legally erased. But I do know this: If you are not angry about those things, something holy in you has gone numb.”   I found these words on the Facebook page of the United Church of Christ in Northfield, Minnesota. Their post goes on to differentiate between rage and righteous anger: “Rage destroys for the sake of destruction. Righteous anger disrupts in order to restore.” They point to the well-known example of Jesus throwing over the tables of the money-changers in the temple. This is legitimate anger leading to an appropriate action. But Jesus doesn’t stay there smashing tables—he moves on after making his point and doing what he needs to do. Similarly, we must allow our anger to spur us into action, but we shouldn’t wallow in that anger.  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 On hiatus  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 Board Meeting: Sunday March 8 at 1pm Social Justice Team Meeting: Monday March 9 at 5:30pm Fellowship News 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. 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 Paint and Pizza! – Saturday, March 21 Once again, UUFCM will paint and have a banner hung in the Mt. Pleasant downtown area this year. Please join us in a paint and pizza party on Saturday, March 21, at 11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall to paint our banner. Children and adults are welcome, but do wear paint clothes! See Norma Bailey ([email protected]) for more information Stewardship Campaign Kicks Off with a Karaoke Party on March 21!    Our stewardship campaign with the theme of “Guided by Joy” begins March 21! This year, we are trying something different – kicking off the campaign with a “Spring into Joy…Together!” karaoke party on Saturday, March 21, 7-9 pm!! We’ll sing karaoke, learn about the stewardship drive/receive packets and then head down to the Fellowship Hall for sweet and savory snacks.   We certainly hope you can attend the party, but if not, our stewardship packets will be mailed to everyone on March 23 with explanations and directions about how to make your pledge as well as explain the incentives for getting in your pledge card and volunteer form quickly. Please be sure to read the materials right away and take action. If you have questions, contact anyone on the Stewardship Committee – Mary Alsager, Norma Bailey, Drew Frantz, Kelly Lawson, Guy Newland, Darlene Ritchie, Victoria Sladek and Don Socha.  Save the Date! - Saturday, April 25 We’ll have our annual spring clean-up on Saturday, April 25, 10:00 am - noon. Lots of outside work will need many hands! Please put the date on your calendar!    Attend General Assembly Virtually General Assembly (GA) is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business, explore our faith’s theological foundations, and fully embrace our mission and principles. This year, GA will be held virtually.  Would you like to participate or serve as a UUFCM delegate? We have a Leadership Fund that can cover the costs for you. If you're interested in attending, see www.uua.org/ga for information. If you need more details, contact Norma Bailey ([email protected] or 989-560-3952). 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. Community News ICRH Fundraiser – Party for a Purpose     Every spring, the Isabella County Restoration House (ICRH – homeless shelter) holds a Party for a Purpose, ICRH’s one big fundraiser for the year.  It consists of a buffet soup/salad/dessert dinner, silent auction, cash bar and a paddle auction, and a good number of us have attended each year. Last year we filled two tables of ten with UUFCM folks; let’s aim for three this year!  See the linked flyer HERE for more information and contact Norma Bailey if you would like to join us!  ([email protected] or 9989-560-3952)  ICRH Requests for Household Donations for Party for a Purpose   ICRH is holding its annual fundraiser on May 2 and is looking for items for prizes for their paddle auction.  If you have any new or unused item to donate (see list in Fellowship Hall or click here), please see Norma Bailey for delivery. No Kings Day in Mt. Pleasant 11:00 am - 1:00 pm - Between Broomfield and Bluegrass Indivisible Meetings & 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 - Aaron Jones 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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