eNews 4-16-26

Keep up with what's happening at UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, April 16, 2026 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, April 19, to worship with a message from Rev. Drew on "Earth Day." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.    "Partnership with the natural world and respect for the interdependent web of life are core Unitarian Universalist values. To honor Earth Day, we reflect on these values and how we are called to act for environmental justice. Our worship will be informed by the perspectives of the Artemis II astronauts, who have been moved toward greater reverence for the Earth and her people." 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 April 19: Earth Day April 26: Follow Love 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:  “Pope Leo”   “War is always a defeat for humanity.” -Pope John Paul II This week, our U.S. president is criticizing the current Pope, and then posting an image of himself as Jesus Christ. No person of faith—or of moral character--should be silent about this. The context is that Pope Leo XIV has expressed the Catholic values of peace and compassion, speaking out against the war in Iran and the ICE deportations. This caused President Trump to post a lengthy attack against the Pope….and then, inexplicably, an image of himself as Jesus healing the sick.  Ironically, the Iranian president—our “enemy” in this war—responded with this post: To His Holiness Pope Leo XIV: I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah. 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  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 Worship Team: Thursday April 16 at 4:30pm   Fellowship News Social Justice Special Plate Collection - Sunday, April 19 This Sunday, a collection will be taken to support the Isabella County Soup Kitchen which provides free meals in a warm and safe environment, needed by so many of our community neighbors.  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 Soup Kitchen in the memo.  Are You Digitally Secure? - This Sunday! The Adult RE team is pleased to announce its final presentation of the 2025-2026 church calendar year! Aaron Jones will present a 1-hour entry-level overview of basic digital security, including best practices for passwords, online communication, and identifying and protecting against phishing attempts. Please join us in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, April 19th, after coffee hour. Sleepy Time Yoga - Sunday, April 19 at 6:30pm Join Kelly Lawson for an evening of Yoga Nidra 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. Game Night - Monday, April 20 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, April 21 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. Don't Forget to Turn In Your Pledge Forms!      If you are reading this and haven’t turned in your pledge materials, please do! The stewardship campaign officially ends on April 17. You can return your pledge form to the church by mail or in-person or you can complete the online pledge form linked HERE. After April 17, members of the stewardship team will begin reaching out to people we haven’t heard from. Nobody likes this part of the work, so please return your pledge materials or let us know you don’t intend to pledge so we don’t have to bother you. Fellowship Clean-Up Saturday, April 25 10:00am-noon Rain date: May 2, 10:00am-noon Now that spring is definitely here, we are planning a clean-up of the outside of our building! We’ll pick up sticks, rake, weed, and clean, so please bring rakes, gloves, weeding tools, and clippers; we’ll provide the other materials and snacks! Please text, call, or email any one of the Building Team members – Norma Bailey, Bob Busch, Daniel Davis, Kirsten King and Kurt Roeder, and let us know you’re coming to help beautify our church grounds!  We Are Hiring! Tech Assistant starting June 1 UUFCM is looking for a Technology Assistant for Sunday mornings because Claire Lester has decided to leave this position at the end of May. The starting pay will be $16.25-$18.05 based on experience. Please see full job posting here. Please contact Rev. Drew to apply or to ask any questions. 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? 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). Community News Documentary Film: “Did You Guys Eat?  at Commission on Aging Gender Affirming Care Drive      The Mt. Pleasant Pride Center, supported by a grant from the American Humanist Association that Gracee Day received, is asking for donations for a gender affirming care drive. The Center is collecting clothing (particularly business and formal wear as well as ties and makeup bags); unused/unopened makeup/makeup brushes; hair-styling supplies (curling irons, hair dryers, flat irons, rollers, etc.); new to lightly used men’s shoes in smaller sizes; new to lightly used women’s shoes in wide sizes; tote bags; and binders and bras.  Donations can be placed in the labeled box in the Fellowship Hall. 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 *Phone numbers available in our UUFCM Directory President: Norma Bailey ([email protected]) President-Elect: Guy Newland (newla1g[email protected]) Treasurer: David Allan ([email protected]) Secretary: Jennifer Davis ([email protected]) Trustee: Annette Pratt ([email protected]) Trustee: Jennifer Prout ([email protected]) Trustee:  Matt Collins (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. Copyright © 2025 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.