And that is just the point... how the world, moist and beautiful, calls to each of us to make a new and serious response. That's the big question, the one the world throws at you every morning.
“Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?
~ Mary Oliver
Please considering donating to CMU Public Radio and doing it now, in the fall, as we pool our donations and “buy” some air time. Last year we gathered about $1500 and got two spots/week. Mary Alsager will be in church during September to gather the checks and to answer any questions. Thank you for considering supporting public radio and giving us an advertising voice.
New Adult Education Program Offered This Fall
Guy Newland will start a course called “Search Inside Yourself” on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. The 8 week course will meet Tuesdays and will be 1:15 minutes long. It will focus on mindfulness, meditation, emotional intelligence and loving kindness. It is based on the book of the same title by Chade-Meng Tan and costs $13. If you want to participate, let Guy know no later than Sept. 16 so that he can order the books. It is a great opportunity to learn more about meditation techniques derived from Buddhism.
Worship Matters
Please remember that the celebration of our annual fall ingathering/water service will take place on Sunday, September 14. We invite you to bring a small container of water collected from a special place you visited during summer travels or perhaps from closer to home. Pouring it into a common vessel, we symbolically share our inner and outer journeys.
And...there has been a change in the plans for our Peace Pole dedication. This special event will now take place on Sunday, September 21 – we are planning a multigenerational peace-themed worship service for that morning that will include the dedication of our new peace pole at the closing of worship. It seemed appropriate to have our dedication coincide with the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated this year on September 21.
Upcoming Sunday service themes:
September 7 - Why Religion Matters – Worship Leader: Vicki Chessin
September 14 - The River Flows On: Annual Fall Ingathering-Water Service
September 21 - Circle ‘Round for Peace *International Day of Peace/UUFCM Peace Pole Dedication
September 28 - On Being a Multigenerational Community of Faith
UU Kids' Choir
In anticipation of the dedication of our Peace Pole that our kids worked so long and hard to install, the UU Kids' Choir has begun rehearsals on Sundays 12:00-12:30. We will be performing on Sunday, September 21.
RE Needs Volunteers
September is here, and we are resuming religious education curriculum. We are very excited to be offering diversity and social justice as our theme for this year's programs. We need teachers! All you need to be a successful RE volunteer is to be caring and enthusiastic. We have great curriculum prepared, ready to be placed in helping hands. Each volunteer will be teaching with a partner and time commitments are somewhat flexible. If you have any availability we would love to have your help energizing our youth with a UU's commitment to social justice. Please contact the Director of Religious Education, Roze Finn, with questions at (989) 400-7674 or [email protected].
First Friday Potlucks Are Back!
Laura McBride is kicking off the first themed potluck on Sept. 5th with the theme being Comfort Food Favorites! If you are interested in attending, please go to Perfectpotluck.com and enter coordinator last name: McBride and password: 3619. If you would rather contact Laura with your favorite comfort food, call or email her at 989.772.5512 or [email protected]. Conversation and/or games may follow, so bring your favorites of either or both! See you then!
• • • Community Events • • •
A Global Educational Opportunity Coming to Mt. Pleasant...
Educating and Caring for the Orphaned Children of Rural Kenya
Tuesday, October 7 at 6 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant
Florence Oyosi is the Co-Founder and Director of His Arms Children’s Project, a non-governmental organization (NGO), whose mission it is to organize financial and educational support for orphaned children in the Ekwanda/Maseno area of Western Kenya. In her presentation, Ms. Oyosi will share the struggles of the women and orphaned children there. Using photos and case studies, she will demonstrate how grassroots efforts can lead to improved lives of people living in extreme poverty. For more information, contact Renee Babcock at 989-773-6936 or [email protected]. St. John’s is at the corner of Washington and Maple in Mt. Pleasant. Read the complete flyer announcement here on our website.
Love is the sum of all theology.
~ David O. Rankin
UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2014-2015
President: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; [email protected])
President Elect: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; [email protected])
Past-President: Gisela Moffit (989.772.1602; [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: Jennifer Prout (989.400.3130; [email protected])