With or without speech, prayer is born of breath and bones,
and hearts held open to ancient connection.
~ Karen Hering
Our worship theme for this coming Sunday, August 2 is “Living by Heart” – if that sounds familiar, it’s because this is the service Dawn had planned originally for June 21, but shelved in order to focus that Sunday on the aftermath of the mass shooting in Charleston. In this service we will be returning to our summer exploration of spiritual practices - Dawn will be sharing more in depth about her own experience with various spiritual practices, including the discipline of learning poetry by heart. We hope you will join us!
“Spiritual practices…are tools, not ends. They help us to learn to slow down, to pay attention, to focus, or to empty. They are not definitions of spirituality themselves. The deep meaning of spirituality is breath. Breath is the taking in of life-giving essence from the world around us, and the release, in turn, of life-giving essence. It is a metaphor for our interdependencies: the fact that we change and are changed by our environment in a continuous play of creation. Spiritual practices are aimed at helping us understand that connectedness…”
~ Susan Manker-Seale
Missed GA This Year?
Lucky for you, the UUA has many events from the 2015 Portland General Assembly recorded for you to watch online at their website. You can also check out the UUA YouTube channel for more options. Highlights include the annual Ware Lecture featuring Dr. Cornel West, phenomenal worship services (closing worship on Sunday, June 28 was amazing!), a public witness event for climate justice, and much, much more.
Updating Our Directory
In order to keep our directory current, we ask that everyone check his/her entries and send any changes (phone, email, postal address) to Kirsten at ad[email protected] as soon as possible. Thank you for your help in this matter.
Infant Pantry Collection - This Sunday
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. Please contact Tom Moffit ([email protected] or 772-1602) with any questions. Thank you in advance for your generous donations!
CUUPs to Celebrate Lughnasa - Monday, August 3
Lughnasa is the first harvest festival of the year. We celebrate the bounty of late summer that will help us to thrive for another year. 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 6:30 pm and begin our ceremony promptly at 7:00 pm.
First Friday Potluck - August 7
Come one come all – it is time for the August potluck. We are planning on enjoying summertime favorites starting at 6:00 p.m. Whether your favorite is a hot dog or possibly kale, bring your favorite summertime meal item and join us for some fun, fellowship, and possibly a board game. Our host will be Laura McBride. If you would like to sign up, you can access the group meal by clicking here, or by visiting PerfectPotluck.com and locating the schedule by coordinator last name (McBride) and password (2015).
UUFCM to Support Camfed
Last year's adult RE book discussion of Half the Sky - the devastating exposition of the ongoing oppression and exploitation of women around the world - ignited a call to action among the study group participants. One effort that seemed appropriate for us as a UU congregation was to work with an organization committed to providing education for young girls; studies have shown that educating girls is an effective way to reduce their vulnerability and increase the opportunity for economic viability in their lives.
The Board has approved the recommendation that UUFCM adopt Camfed, an organization committed to helping communities around the world provide education for young girls. The program is community-based, with funds provided by Camfed. They provide a newsletter to sponsors, which would keep us up to date on their activities.
Donations may be submitted any time by writing a check to UUFCM with a notation that the money is for Camfed. Periodic requests for donations from the congregation are also planned as we receive information via Camfed newsletters.
Summer Schedule Updates
Sewing Circle (August 3 & 17) and Movie Night (August 8) are back! The Choir is on hiatus until mid-August.
To commit to creating a prophetic congregation today is to grapple with
what it means to take responsibility for co-creating the holy right here on earth.
~ Meg Riley
The deadline for submissions to the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly e-News is
Sunday at 10:00 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: Capalene Howse (989.488.8714; [email protected])
Trustee: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; [email protected])