Welcome everything! Welcome all alike what has been, and what never was,
and what we hope may be, to your shelter underneath the holly,
to your places around the Christmas fire, where what is sits open-hearted!
~ Charles Dickens
Please join us tomorrow evening December 24 at 7:00 p.m. for “Carols by Candlelight.” We will gather this night for a special holiday candlelight service - a celebration for all ages woven with poetry, stories and songs of the season. Bring your friends and family for an evening filled with warmth and light.
In Worship
The New Year is upon us again…join us for worship this Sunday, December 27 for our annual observance of the “burning bowl” as we reflect on our lives this past year…and lean forward into tomorrow together.
“Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on,
with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” ~ Hal Borland
New to UU?
If you are a newcomer to our fellowship - or perhaps have been around for a while – and would like to learn more about this fellowship and UUism as a whole, our next Welcome to UU class is scheduled for Sunday, December 27 following worship at 12:15 p.m. These orientation sessions are offered by our minister, Dawn Daniels, every month on the 4th Sunday and are highly recommended – besides being informative, they are particularly helpful if you’re interested in joining this congregation as a member.
Infant Pantry Collection - Sunday, January 3
Donations for the Infant Pantry are collected on the first Sunday of each month. Most needed items are things for baby care - diapers (especially sizes 5 and 6), creams, shampoos,and lotions. Baby food and formula are not needed a this time. If you want to donate money, then the check should be made out to CCN (Community Compassionate Network) with memo “Infant Pantry”. Please contact Tom Moffit ([email protected] or 772-1602) with any questions. Thank you in advance for your generous donations!
Restoration House News
Volunteers are still needed. If you are willing to serve as an intake volunteer from 4:15 to 6:00 any day of the weeks ahead (until the program ends on April 6), please contact Joyce Henricks at 773-4709, or [email protected]. Thank you!
First Friday Potluck - Hosts Needed
We are still in need of hosts for upcoming potlucks. If you are willing to host a potluck, please use this form to sign up to sign-up or email/phone Chris Bauerle directly at [email protected] or 989-330-8457. The upcoming dates include: February 5, March 4, April 1 (really!), May 6, June 3 and August 5. If you enjoy the potlucks, please consider hosting - it is fun and easy!
Affirming Religious Freedom Without Harm: A Community Forum
Sponsored by the Mid-Michigan Interfaith Coalition
Wednesday, January 20 at 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Library Annex
Speaker: Regina Calcagno, Staff for the National LGBTQ Task Force
• What are Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRAs)?
• How do they differ from Religious Freedom (in the Bill of Rights)?
• Why should I and my congregation/faith community care about RFRA laws?
• What can I and my congregation/faith community do about RFRA laws?
Come join us as we learn about and discuss RFRA laws, how they impact us, and how we can talk about our faith and these laws!
Community Justice Party
You are all invited to our “Community Justice Party” fundraiser for MUUSJN (in lieu of a plate collection) on Saturday, January 30, 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. The evening will include a silent auction of social justice items, performances (music, poetry, and readings focused on the three current issue priorities of MUUSJN – Income Inequality (includes classism, racism); LGBT rights/Reproductive Justice; and Environmental Justice (includes water justice). It will also include a youth group bake sale, a cake/dessert walk, and light refreshments. The suggested donation for adults is $10.00 (although more will gratefully be accepted for MUUSJN), and children are free (with child care provided for the nursery).
If you have a social justice item (poster, pin, picture, t-shirt, etc.) that you would like to donate for the silent auction, a social justice performance (song, poetry, reading) that you would like to share, or a cake/dessert that you would like to donate, please contact any one of the four planners (Norma Bailey, Laura Frey, Joyce Henricks, or Jen Prout.
Please feel free to invite your friends and family members who are also interested in social justice for this fun and meaningful social event!
Why not a star? Some bright star shines somewhere in the heavens each time a child is born.
Who knows what it may foretell? Who knows what uncommon life may yet again unfold,
if we but give it a chance?
~ Margaret Gooding
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 Annette Pratt (989-400-0173). 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!
Got News?
The deadline for submissions to the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly e-News is
Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Please send all submissions to [email protected].
UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2015-2016
President: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; [email protected])
President Elect/Past-President: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; [email protected])
Treasurer: David Macleod (989.772.0595; [email protected])
Secretary: Vicki Chessin (989.463.3076; [email protected])
Trustee: Scott Daigle (989.506.5750; [email protected])
Trustee: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; [email protected])
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; [email protected])