eNews 4-23-26

Keep up with what's happening with UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, April 23, 2026 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, April 26, to worship with a message from Rev. Drew on "Follow Love." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.    "'When love beckons to you follow him, though his ways are hard and steep,' begins the poem On Love by Kahlil Gibran. When we are striving to live our best lives, fulfilling and true to our values, we are following love. It may be romantic love, love of humanity, or some other variation of love–but it calls us to risk everything and go on a journey of faith. Hearing the inner voice calling us toward love is an important spiritual practice." 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 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:  "Hare and Tortoise" Billy Collins is one of my favorite poets. Here is his poem entitled “My Hero:”   Just as the hare is zipping across the finish line, the tortoise has stopped once again by the roadside, this time to stick out his neck and nibble a bit of sweet grass, unlike the previous time when he was distracted by a bee humming in the heart of a wildflower.   It dawned on me after reading this poem that the poet is reversing the outcome of the famous race. It is supposed to be the hare who is slowed down and therefore loses. He is so confident in winning that he takes a nap. So in that original version, the hare represents overconfidence and wasted talent; while the tortoise represents cleverness and determination. In the Billy Collins poem, however, the hare is fast and efficient; the tortoise is slow, distracted, and enjoying life. And the title of the poem, “My Hero,” suggests that the poet values this way of living life more highly: it is more fun and satisfying, and lends to a richer life, to be the tortoise. 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  Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Sundays at 6:30pm  Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm  Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm This Saturday! 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. (There will not be a Welcome to UUFCM class next weekend nor at the end of May. If anyone has questions they are encouraged to contact Laura McBride at 989.772.5512 or [email protected].) 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 Website Taskforce Meeting: Sunday 12:00   Fellowship News Movie Night Saturday, April 25 Good Will Hunting  Matt Damon portrays a troubled teen, who is a math savant, yet failing the lessons of life. Robin Williams is a psychologist trying to reach him before he is sent to jail. This Oscar contender for best picture, came out in 1997. Join us at the Fellowship Hall April 25 at 7:00.   Fellowship Clean-Up This Saturday! 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!  2026 LGBTQ+ Capitol Day on May 13   The 2026 Michigan LGBTQ+ Capitol Day, hosted by Equality Michigan, takes place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. This annual advocacy day connects LGBTQ+ residents with state legislators to discuss critical issues such as health care access, safety, and equality.  Please contact Norma Bailey ([email protected] or at 989-560-3952) if you are interested in attending.  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. You're Invited to a Baby Shower! You are invited to a baby shower!!! Please see the invitation and additional details: We are collecting money to purchase gifts to benefit Rain and the family. If you wish to bring a gift of your own, please do! Otherwise, any contributions are welcome. Laura McBride is collecting money for a community gift and has suggestions from Annie for possible items, if you are interested. The last day to give money is Sunday, May 24th so Laura has time to shop and wrap. We will have a special treat in addition to our usual tasty offerings. Please stay, meet Rain and welcome her into our community. Mt. Pleasant Pride Festival June 20   The 5th annual Mt. Pleasant Pride Festival will be held on Friday, June 20, from 2-5 pm at Broadway Park (2451 Nish Na Anong Drive), and the Social Justice Coordinating Team (SJCT) is co-sponsoring a table with Indivisible Central Michigan.  If you would like to help with the table, please contact any member of the SJCT.  As well, we encourage you to attend the event – an event full of life and love! 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 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. 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