eNews for 12/30/15

Aren't we enlarged  by the scale of what we're able  to desire?
Everything,  the choir insists,  might flame;
inside these wrappings  burns another, brighter life,  quickened, now,  by song:
hear how  it cascades, in overlapping,  lapidary waves of praise?
Still time.  Still time to change.

~ Mark Doty

​A New Year's Message...
As I prepare to head down to Indiana for my next intensive dose of seminary education, I stumbled across this article from one of my favorite writers, Parker Palmer, that I want to share with you all. Let us put our hearts and minds to revolution this New Year! 
In peace and love, 
Dawn

No Choir Rehearsal – Wednesday, 12/30
There will be no choir rehearsal this evening nor this coming Sunday morning. Wednesday rehearsals will begin again on January 6.

Minister’s Schedule
Our minister is off to Richmond, Indiana this weekend for a two-week intensive seminary course – “Interfaith Dialogue” at Earlham School of Religion. She will return on January 15 and will be back in worship with us on the 17th. Any requests for care or assistance in her absence should be directed to Gisela Moffit, 989.772.1602 or by email at gbmoffit@gmail.com. 

In Worship
We are very blessed in this faith community to have cultivated a “pulpit of many voices” over the years that includes a talented team of lay service planners and lay worship leaders who both coordinate and lead worship in our minister’s absence. This is truly a shared ministry! This Sunday, January 3, Tom Moffit will share the story of the Magi and explore the real gifts of the spirit. Please join us!

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 (moffi1tc@cmich.edu or 772-1602) with any questions. Thank you in advance for your generous donations!

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!

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 joyce.henricks@cmich.edu. 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 cchris1111@gmail.com 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!

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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 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 admin@uufcm.org.

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2015-2016
President: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; ampratt@cybersingerscafe.com)
President Elect/Past-President: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; lmcbride010@gmail.com)
Treasurer: David Macleod (989.772.0595; macle1d@cmich.edu)
Secretary: Vicki Chessin (989.463.3076; vechessin@aol.com)
Trustee: Scott Daigle (989.506.5750; sndaigle@gmail.com)
Trustee: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; cprard@gmail.com)
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; janis_shinn@yahoo.com)