eNews for 1/22/14

“In order to love alike, we need not think alike.” 

~ Frances David 

Sunday Worship
The sermon for this Sunday, January 26th is Fragility Is Life.


Special Meeting after Sunday's Service
Right after the coffee hour, there will be the first of four monthly meetings on the transition process.​ 
We'll meet from 12:30-2:00 p.m., with lunch provided. This is an exciting time when we get to imagine new possibilities!. More information is posted on our website.​ We hope you will want to be involved in shaping the future of our fellowship.​ Everyone is welcome.

You ​Are Invited to STAND ON THE SIDE OF LOVE!   
Use this link – http://standingonthesideoflove.org/blog/join-me-in-raleigh – to see the call to all UUs to join Peter Morales, president of the UUA, in Raleigh, ​North ​Carolina for a march on Saturday February 8. Vicki Chessin will be traveling to Raleigh on Friday, February 7, to worship with the UU congregation Friday night and attend the march on Saturday. She will fly back on Sunday morning. Consider joining her. If you are interested in details: email Vicki at​ ​[email protected] or text her cell 989-560​-4614 in the next few days. 

Memorial Service for Valerie Stephens
This Saturday, January 25 at 2 p.m. at Clark Funeral Home, there will be a memorial service for Valerie, beloved founding member of our fellowship. Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life and remember this extraordinarily talented woman who used her special gifts to help others with their lifes' problems. Everyone is cordially invited to attend this special gathering. 

Guest at Your Table Boxes
If you still have your Guest at Your Table box, please bring it to service this Sunday, January 26, at the latest! The middle school group is going to count the money to send in to the UUSC, and they are eager to get started! Thank you!

New Membership Orientation Class
On February 1st at 9 a.m. at the UU Center, the next "Path to Membership" class will take place. If you are interested in learning more about the history of Unitarianism and Universalism, the history of our fellowship, our 7 Principles, governance structure and how you can get involved to make a difference, come to this special event. Rev. Joe Cleveland and Membership chair, Gisela Moffit, will be the facilitators. Child care will be provided. Let us know by this Sunday, January 26th, if you plan to attend so that we can secure enough child caretakers and handouts.

CUUPS • Imbolc 2014
Imbolc, also known as Candlemas and Groundhog's Day occurs at the beginning of February. It marks the middle of Winter and holds the promise of Spring. It is a festival of spiritual purification and dedication. We invite those of you who are interested in participating in this ritual to bring an item of food or drink to share at the potluck that follows the ceremony. We will gather at UUFCM at 6:30 pm and begin our ceremony promptly at 7:00 pm., Saturday, February 1st.

Remembering Margaret
Margaret's two daughters and one granddaughter will be in town at the end of the month, so we are planning an open house on February 2 after the service at the library annex for the fellowship, Margaret's family and close friends. We want to honor her memory and share stories about this wonderful woman who touched so many of our lives. Start thinking about what you would like to share. Details are still being worked out and will be announced next week. The official Memorial Service for the entire community is still planned for the end of May, but this will be a more intimate time for recollection and sharing of memories of the woman who was a teacher, a Rosie the Riveter, a good friend and a life-long UU. But she was also very humble and did things that nobody knew about​, so this will be the time to learn more about her and honor her legacy.

2000 Years of Heresy
What is Unitarian Universalism? Where might it be headed? One of the best ways to start answering these questions is by exploring where Unitarian Universalism came from. Rev. Joe will lead this adult religious exploration series based on a 6-part film that features stories – often funny and always entertaining – that not only reveal but revel in the real lives of people who were so often choosing to live their lives according to beliefs that went against the prevailing beliefs of their time and culture. Each session will offer as much time for discussion as we'll spend watching the films. ​We will be able to relate our own wrestling with religious ideas to the stories we hear from the films and Rev. Joe.

The first session will be offered twice. Once on Sunday, February 2, from 3:00-5:00 and again on Tuesday, February 4, from 7:00-9:00. If childcare would enable you to attend, please contact Rev. Joe and we will do our best to arrange it!

You can learn more about the films from this UU World article, as well as at ​ this site, 
where you will find a timeline and a list of recommended reading where you can continue and deepen your exploration.

RE Activity
Please join us at the Family Winterfest at Cran-Hill Ranch on Sunday, February 9th from 2-8:00 p.m. for a free community open house. All rentals and activities are free. Activities include tubing, horse-drawn wagon rides, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing, broom ball, pony rides and ice skating (please bring your own skates). More information about Cran-Hill Ranch can be found on their website: www.cranhillranch.com. Please contact Niki for more information or to arrange transportation.

Coffee House Returns: New Date!
It’s time to shake off the winter blues by participating in the UUFCM’s Intergenerational Coffee House Night, Saturday, February 15th at 7:00 p.m.! We are hoping that you will share your talent of music, song, writing, acting, magic, juggling, acrobats, comedy, and/or storytelling. There are probably other things that could be performed but this writer is not very imaginative. Please sign up at church or send an email to me with the name of the participant(s), name of the act (if you have one), and the type of performance it is (singing, poetry reading, musical instrument, pantomime) to assist in setting up the order of performers. If you are willing to help set up, clean up, or bring some snacks, sign up sheets will be available as well.You have nearly a whole month to plan and prepare! Please contact the Social Maven with questions or to sign up at 989.772.5512 or [email protected].

Updating Our Directory
If you have changed your name, postal/email address or phone number(s), please let our Administrative Assistant know as soon as possible ([email protected]). We want to be current when we have hard copies printed in February. Thanks for your help!

Service Cancellation Policy
In case of inclement weather, a decision to cancel the service will be made by 9 a.m. An announcement will be posted on our web site (uufcm.org) and on Facebook as well as sent directly via email. Those who are not online will be phoned. If you have questions, call Rev. Joe (989-941-6013) or Gisela (989-772-1602). We hope we won't have to resort to this very often, but we live in Michigan after all, so we need to be prepared!


••• Community Announcements •••
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week 2014
Central Michigan University has planned a series of events to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., January 16 through January 24, 2013. This year's focus is on the theme “Celebration Through Service”. For a description and schedule of events, click here.

“Our every action has a universal dimension, a potential impact on others’ happiness.” 

~ His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama 

The deadline for submissions to the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly e-News is Tuesday at 5 p.m. Please send all submissions to [email protected]

Important Contacts
Have a suggestion? a problem? a question? We can help!
Building Manager: Tina Christy (989.506.2985; [email protected])
Caring Committee: Mary Alsager (989.773.2595; [email protected])
Children’s RE Committee: Bill Tinsley (989.488.8505; [email protected])
Hospitality: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected]), Laura McBride (989.772.5512; [email protected])
Membership: Gisela Moffit (989.772.1602; [email protected])
Social Action: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected])
Social Fun: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; [email protected])
Stewardship: Grace Rollins (989.772.1204; [email protected])
Transition Team: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected])
Worship Team: Vicki Chessin (989.463.3076; [email protected])