eNews for 12/25/13

“Love must be as much a light, as it is a flame.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

A Cup of Joe
Get your Cuppa Joe here!

Sunday Worship
The sermon for this Sunday, December 29th is The Burning Bowl: Welcoming the New Year.
Upcoming services include:
Jan 5: Contending with Dissonance, led by Rev. Joe Cleveland
Jan 12: A Visit to the Border, led by Rev. Joe Cleveland
Jan 19: A service on justice, led by one of our Worship Team members
Jan 26: Fragility Is Life, led by Rev. Joe Cleveland

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!

Coffee House Returns!
It’s time to shake off the winter blues by participating in the UUFCM’s Intergenerational Coffee House Night, Saturday, February 1st 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 five weeks to plan and prepare. Please contact the Social Maven with questions or to sign up at 989.772.5512 or [email protected].

First Friday Potluck
Our monthly gathering to share a meal and have a fun social time together is happening on Friday, January 3 at 6:00 p.m. Victoria Sladek and Laura McBride will be hosting the potluck this month. Simply bring a dish to pass and your week-worn weary self to the UUFCM social hall for nourishment and rejuvenation - at least as much as can be gained from sharing a meal, conversation and laughter with friends. We hope you'll join us!

First Sunday Food Pantry Collection
Great need continues for many people in our own community for assistance in meeting the basic needs of life. Please bring non-perishable food items (canned goods) in addition to sundries such as baby items, paper products and personal care products for donation. Your offerings will be collected by the children at the opening of the worship service on Sunday, January 5. Thank you in advance for caring for our less fortunate neighbors!

Guest at Your Table
On Sunday, November 24, we kicked off our congregation's annual celebration of the tradition of Guest at Your Table, a Unitarian Universalist Service Committee program to advance human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world. 
We are asking that each person or family take a Guest at Your Table box, put it on the table where they eat their meals, each day talk about one of the pictures or stories and then put their extra change in the box. This Sunday, January 5, we will collect all the boxes, count the money, and then send it to the UUSC to fund their efforts.

Our Whole Lives
We are going to offer two age group series this winter, grades K-3 and grades 4-7. The required parent meeting for both groups will be on this Sunday, January 5, from 2-4 p.m. at the Fellowship. Both groups will meet on Sundays, January 12-March 2. The grades K-3 group, led by Laura McBride, will meet in place of the regular RE program, and the grades 4-7 group, led by Mary Alsager and Norma Bailey, will meet from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Much more information will be provided at the required parent meeting. However, if you are interested and/or wish more information, please contact Laura McBride (989-772-5512 or [email protected]) for the grades K-3 program, or Norma Bailey (989-560-3952 or [email protected]) for the grades 4-7 program.

“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” 

~ Maori Proverb

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])