Religion at its best is no friend of the status quo. Religion transforms people;
no one touches holy ground and stays the same. Religious leaders stir the pot
by pointing to the contrast between life as it is and life as it should be,
and urging us to close the gap. Religious insights provide the handhold that
people need to criticize injustice, rise above self-interest, and take risks to
provide healing to a wounded world.
~ Dan Hotchkiss
In Worship
The worship theme for this coming Sunday, September 6, will be “The Engaged Soul” – drawing inspiration from a poetic homily by the Rev. Alicia Forde, Dawn will reflect on the practice of paying attention – and the astonishing impact attention can have on the often wayward and damaging assumptions we make and live out in our lives and our relationships. The poetry of Mary Oliver will also make an appearance – we hope you will join us!
“Do this for today…and maybe for tomorrow:
As you move about in the world…notice
your assumptions…notice where you need to pause and breathe deeply.
Notice where you need to
pay attention
But more than that: ask someone –
“What have you seen or noticed today that astonished you?”
And then, open your heart and listen.” ~ Alicia Forde
Follow-up to Last Sunday (8/30) Service
The article by Kenny Wiley that I mentioned in service titled “5 Ways to Support Black Lives Matter” can be found here. Also, if you missed this service or simply want to review the text of the sermon, it is now posted on the UUFCM website.
And a big thank-you to all of you who stayed around after worship last week to listen to what I’ve learned in my struggles with sermon-making this year…and how that all fits it with the work-life balance of a minister. All of your comments, feedback and words of support and affirmation are deeply appreciated! ~ Dawn
Upcoming Services
Sunday, September 13: “Water Service/Fall Ingathering”
This annual multigenerational observance will this year include a focus on water rights and justice.
Sunday, September 20: ‘Unitarian Universalism, Buddhism…and Aristotle?” Sermon written and presented by Joyce Henriks.
Sunday, September 27: “Forgiving the Broken”
“Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly.” ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
UUA 2015-16 “Common Read”
The UUFCM will be taking part in this year’s UUA Common Read of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. You can read more about this book at the UUA website. Books are available now for just $10.00 at the fellowship (see Dawn or designee, when she finds one…) or you can purchase one at Amazon.com. Obtain your copy…or share with a friend…and read it before our study groups begin in October (when the UUA study guide comes out) – stay tuned!
Chemical Sensitivity
We have at least two members who regularly attend worship who suffer from chemical sensitivity to fragrances...and there may be more we’re unaware of. The fragrances we apply to our bodies can cause breathing difficulty for others. You will soon be seeing PSA messages about this posted in strategic places around the UU Center. Let us all be mindful of this concern as we prepare ourselves for worship and group gatherings.
Infant Pantry Collection - September 6
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!
First Friday Potluck - September 11
Due to Labor Day Weekend the First Friday potluck has moved to September 11. More information to follow...
The worship theme for this coming Sunday, September 6, will be “The Engaged Soul” – drawing inspiration from a poetic homily by the Rev. Alicia Forde, Dawn will reflect on the practice of paying attention – and the astonishing impact attention can have on the often wayward and damaging assumptions we make and live out in our lives and our relationships. The poetry of Mary Oliver will also make an appearance – we hope you will join us!
“Do this for today…and maybe for tomorrow:
As you move about in the world…notice
your assumptions…notice where you need to pause and breathe deeply.
Notice where you need to
pay attention
But more than that: ask someone –
“What have you seen or noticed today that astonished you?”
And then, open your heart and listen.” ~ Alicia Forde
Follow-up to Last Sunday (8/30) Service
The article by Kenny Wiley that I mentioned in service titled “5 Ways to Support Black Lives Matter” can be found here. Also, if you missed this service or simply want to review the text of the sermon, it is now posted on the UUFCM website.
And a big thank-you to all of you who stayed around after worship last week to listen to what I’ve learned in my struggles with sermon-making this year…and how that all fits it with the work-life balance of a minister. All of your comments, feedback and words of support and affirmation are deeply appreciated! ~ Dawn
Upcoming Services
Sunday, September 13: “Water Service/Fall Ingathering”
This annual multigenerational observance will this year include a focus on water rights and justice.
Sunday, September 20: ‘Unitarian Universalism, Buddhism…and Aristotle?” Sermon written and presented by Joyce Henriks.
Sunday, September 27: “Forgiving the Broken”
“Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly.” ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
UUA 2015-16 “Common Read”
The UUFCM will be taking part in this year’s UUA Common Read of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. You can read more about this book at the UUA website. Books are available now for just $10.00 at the fellowship (see Dawn or designee, when she finds one…) or you can purchase one at Amazon.com. Obtain your copy…or share with a friend…and read it before our study groups begin in October (when the UUA study guide comes out) – stay tuned!
Chemical Sensitivity
We have at least two members who regularly attend worship who suffer from chemical sensitivity to fragrances...and there may be more we’re unaware of. The fragrances we apply to our bodies can cause breathing difficulty for others. You will soon be seeing PSA messages about this posted in strategic places around the UU Center. Let us all be mindful of this concern as we prepare ourselves for worship and group gatherings.
Infant Pantry Collection - September 6
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!
First Friday Potluck - September 11
Due to Labor Day Weekend the First Friday potluck has moved to September 11. More information to follow...
| Calling All Jedi Masters! RE NEEDS YOU… …for a critical mission: instructing our younglings in mindfulness and the ways of the Force behind all life. The 2015-2016 RE program year is gearing up for launch and we are still in need of volunteer teachers for Sunday mornings. We are also looking for folks to help with various behind-the-scenes tasks for our program, such as light sewing or those handy with tools. And for those Star Wars buffs among you, we could use donations of decor for our room. |  |
Attention Parents and Concerned Family Members of Youth:
Our RE program year will kick off the Sunday after our Ingathering Ceremony. Ingathering will be on September 13th and it is a multigenerational service. We encourage you to bring youth to experience this service. The Kickoff event will be on Sunday, September 20th, immediately following service. Regular RE classes will resume this Sunday. After service we will have a picnic potluck. Hotdogs will be provided, please bring a picnic side to share. We will discuss each of the programs in greater detail and answer all your and your youth's questions about our exciting upcoming programs. We hope you will join us for this opportunity to reconnect and tell our stories from the past summer as we build toward the future. Please contact Roze Bentley (989) 400-7674 with any questions.
Community Action Dialogues on Black Lives Matter - September 15
It is time to talk about a national crisis. Almost weekly, we hear of another incident that begins when a person of color meets with the suspicion of the police or private citizens and ends in violence. A growing movement, under the banner of “Black Lives Matter,” is challenging communities across the country to understand the roles that racial suspicion and racially-targeted criminal justice policies are playing in enforcing the color lines in our own neighborhoods.
Let’s make this moment count by taking steps to make our community a more just, welcoming, and safe place for all people. The Community Action Dialogues starting in September will provide a chance to learn from each other about common experiences of people of color in our communities and how to work together to achieve the community and country we know we can be.
Whether you are a student or a life-long resident, please join the conversation on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 pm at Veterans Memorial Library in downtown Mount Pleasant. This is a project of the Mount Pleasant Area Diversity Group. With questions, please contact Joyce Henricks at [email protected] or 989-773-4709.
September Schedule Changes
Upcoming Social Justice Events
October 11: Crop Walk (details to come)
Our RE program year will kick off the Sunday after our Ingathering Ceremony. Ingathering will be on September 13th and it is a multigenerational service. We encourage you to bring youth to experience this service. The Kickoff event will be on Sunday, September 20th, immediately following service. Regular RE classes will resume this Sunday. After service we will have a picnic potluck. Hotdogs will be provided, please bring a picnic side to share. We will discuss each of the programs in greater detail and answer all your and your youth's questions about our exciting upcoming programs. We hope you will join us for this opportunity to reconnect and tell our stories from the past summer as we build toward the future. Please contact Roze Bentley (989) 400-7674 with any questions.
Community Action Dialogues on Black Lives Matter - September 15
It is time to talk about a national crisis. Almost weekly, we hear of another incident that begins when a person of color meets with the suspicion of the police or private citizens and ends in violence. A growing movement, under the banner of “Black Lives Matter,” is challenging communities across the country to understand the roles that racial suspicion and racially-targeted criminal justice policies are playing in enforcing the color lines in our own neighborhoods.
Let’s make this moment count by taking steps to make our community a more just, welcoming, and safe place for all people. The Community Action Dialogues starting in September will provide a chance to learn from each other about common experiences of people of color in our communities and how to work together to achieve the community and country we know we can be.
Whether you are a student or a life-long resident, please join the conversation on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 pm at Veterans Memorial Library in downtown Mount Pleasant. This is a project of the Mount Pleasant Area Diversity Group. With questions, please contact Joyce Henricks at [email protected] or 989-773-4709.
September Schedule Changes
- Sewing Circle will meet Monday, September 7 (Labor Day), but not on Monday, September 21.
- Movie Night is cancelled for September.
- Due to the Black Lives Matter forum on September 15, Readers’ Theatre will be moved to Tuesday, September 22.
- Ladies Who Lunch will move from Tuesday, September 22 to Tuesday, September 29.
Upcoming Social Justice Events
October 11: Crop Walk (details to come)
| A First “Pride” Experience I went to Lansing for my first ever Pride festival. It was an amazing experience! People, who I could tell had been to a lot of “Prides” before , all of a sudden would get really excited when I told them it was my first “Pride.” My guess is that those people remembered their first “Pride” and how free they felt. I think they were glad to see someone else experiencing that freedom. The freedom to be yourself! ~ Danielle Riley Tracy and Danielle Riley were in Lansing for the Pride Parade on August 29th, and were kind enough to share their pictures and experience. See more… |  |
We gather in worship to find meaning and live more deeply.
Worship creates connections within, among, and beyond us,
calling us to our better selves, calling us to live with wisdom and compassion.
~ from UUA website
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: Capalene Howse (989.488.8714; [email protected])
Trustee: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; [email protected])
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: Capalene Howse (989.488.8714; [email protected])
Trustee: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; [email protected])
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