eNews for February 17

2/17/2022

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eNews for Thursday, February 17

Notice of UUFCM Budget Hearing

At the regular Fellowship Life meeting after service this Sunday, February 20, there will be a hearing on the draft UUFCM budget for 2022-2023. This hearing allows all members and friends to ask questions and/or make comments about the proposed budget. Please join us!

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom this Sunday, February 20 to worship together with our minister Rev. Drew Frantz who will present “Black Elk, Native American Mystic.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.

“Black Elk was a spiritual leader of the Ogalala Sioux tribe, who narrated “Black Elk Speaks” in 1931, near the end of his life. This account of his life and his religious visions is one of the most important texts in Native American Spirituality. What can we learn from Black Elk’s words today? How does mysticism fit into Unitarian Universalist belief and practice?”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday, February 20
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#

Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services
February 27: Lent and the Spiritual Practice of Self-Denial

If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out our website sermon archive for sermon video and/or text.

Minister’s Column

You can read the Minister’s Column at uufcm.org/andrew-frantz.

COVID Update

We are resuming hybrid services (in-person/Zoom) through the month of March. If you signed up for in-person services in February and March, you should have received an email indicating which of up to four services you’ve been assigned to attend and how to switch if you need to. Contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) to see if there is yet room for you to attend an in-person service if you didn’t sign up.
Persons appearing unmasked speaking or singing on a Sunday morning will have had a negative COVID-19 antigen test less than 24 hours before appearing before the community.
Right now, small groups of up to ten people can meet in person if they wish, or continue meeting on Zoom – or do a mixture. This includes all of our committees and the Board itself. We will do our best to publish how meetings are going to be held, and please check with the leader of each meeting if you're not sure.

Please be aware that the situation is fluid. We are monitoring the situation frequently, so stay tuned for updates.

Upcoming Events

Most meetings and events are hybrid (in-person/Zoom). Please contact the event or meeting leader if you are not sure. Event and meeting details and links can be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

- Sunday worship
- Sunday Stroll - suspended until further notice
- Welcome to UU Orientation - Last Sundays at 12:30pm
- UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom
- Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm - cancelled for February 21
- Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
- UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am
- Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7pm
- Women’s Circle - suspended until further notice

Team Meetings

Website Committee - Thursday, February 17 at 7:30pm
Youth RE Team - Sunday, February 20 at 7pm
Communications Team - Monday, February 21 at 7pm

All members and friends are welcome to attend our UUFCM Board meeting as well as the various team meetings that occur monthly. If you are interested in attending any specific team meeting, please contact the team leader for information.

If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form 2021-2022 if you haven’t already.

Fellowship Life Meeting - This Sunday

On the third Sunday of every month – immediately following our worship service – the UUFCM Board holds a brief Fellowship Life meeting to update the congregation on current happenings, plans and/or concerns within the congregation. The intention is for the meetings to be kept brief; the hope is for extended conversation to take place following the meeting during the coffee hour time. We will hold our budget hearing this Sunday, as well as share with you the results of the work we all did at the retreat on January 22. Please plan to attend.

Special Offering Collection - This Sunday

On Sunday a special plate collection will be taken to support the work of MUUSJN, the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network. MUUSJN is a very active state-wide network of the 26 Unitarian Universalist congregations and allies in Michigan who work together for progressive change. Its mission is to foster the worth and dignity of people by promoting social justice and community service. You can donate online to the Social Justice Special Plate Collections Fund at our website or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with MUUSJN in the memo.

We are also very much encouraging individual people to become members of MUUSJN. The work of the MUUSJN director and the three project organizers we employ has led to many accomplishments each year that support our UU values. Thus, when you become a member, you spread your small donation well beyond our UUFCM walls.

Welcome to UU Orientation - February 27

This orientation is geared to newcomers, visitors, and those seeking to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and this UU fellowship. It is offered every month both in person in the fellowship hall and via Zoom on the last Sunday at 12:30 pm. Sessions run approximately an hour and a half.

If you are interested in watching an introductory video regarding our faith, please view this YouTube video by Peter Bowden called Unitarian Universalism: You're Uni-What?.

For more info or to register for Welcome to UU, contact:
Laura McBride: 989.772.5512 Lmcbride010@gmail.com
Please let Laura know whether you will be attending via Zoom or in-person by the Friday prior to the orientation.

Voting Rights and What You Can Do!

March 1 at 7pm

The Social Justice Coordinating Team and the Adult Religious Education Committee invite you to an information-leading-to-action meeting sharing what is currently happening in Michigan regarding voting rights, voting bills and ballot initiatives. Guided by materials from the League of Women Voters (LWV) of the Mt. Pleasant Area, we will learn about petitions that would make voting more difficult and those that would increase access to voting. Most importantly, we will discuss what each of us can, and must, do to help maintain voting and our democracy here and in other parts of Michigan, thus supporting voting rights for ourselves as well as for multiple marginalized people in Michigan. Please plan to attend this important kick-off to UUFCM’s voting rights work on Tuesday, March 1, at 7pm on Zoom. Find the link on the UUFCM calendar.

The virtual MidAmerica Regional Assembly is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th, 2022, 10am-2pm ET. The keynote speaker is social justice educator, storyteller and speaker, CB Beal. There will be worship, the annual business meeting, a keynote address, and conversation as well as community break-out rooms. The Board is willing to pay for members to participate virtually using our Leadership Development Funds. If you are interested, please contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) for further information, and visit the MidAmerica Region website to learn more.

Attend GA!

General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Each year UUs gather from across the United States and the world to learn, worship, and conduct the business of the Association through workshops, lectures, events, and worship services. This year’s GA will be held virtually and in-person in Portland, Oregon, June 22-26 with the theme “Meet the Moment: Reimagining Radical Faith Community.”

If you have never been to a GA, the Board is willing to pay for members to participate virtually using our Leadership Development Funds. If you are interested, please contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) for further information, and visit the UUA website to learn more. Of course, if you have attended before, loved it, and found it to be a valuable experience, we encourage you to attend; because GA is virtual again this year, the registration fee is relatively inexpensive at $250.

Focused Events and Groups Survey

As a follow-up to our original survey, we are interested in more specifics about the groups and activities the congregation as a whole would like to participate in. Please take a moment to complete this follow-up survey. It is intended to narrow the focus of our previous survey so we can move forward with offerings. Indicating interest in a group or activity does not mean that you are “signing up” or expected to attend.

Now Hiring!

Tech Assistant for Sunday Worship – $15/hour starting immediately

We are advertising for the Tech Assistant position now (see below). If you know someone who might be a good fit, please contact Drew. Thank you!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is seeking a technical assistant for Sunday morning worship. The main hours would be 9:00-noon on Sunday mornings (rehearsal and worship time), with additional hours occasionally. The rate of pay is $15.00 per hour.

The technical assistant’s job is to run videos, slides, and other aspects of the Zoom worship service, as well as other technical support. Good computer and internet skills, including Zoom and Google Docs, are required.

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is a multi-faith congregation and a fair and equitable employer. We welcome applications from people of any gender, race, sexuality, or ability status. Please contact Rev. Andrew Frantz (minister@uufcm.org) to apply.

Mother Earth Love

Simple Changes Make a Difference!

Our knowledge, motivation, and new habits we incorporate in our daily lives can help the healing of our Mother Earth. Individual actions we take can collectively make a difference. Please share your stories, comments, and questions.

What is your personal connection to the health of our Great Lakes? How does Enbridge Pipeline 5 and the proposed tunnel interact with our efforts to fight climate change? What do you believe? What can you do? Please click here for more information on Pipeline 5, with suggested ACTIONS for you to take.

• • • Community News • • •

Protecting the Great Lakes Ecosystem

Tuesday, February 22 at 7pm

The Clarke Historical Library at CMU announced the first of its Online Speaker Series for spring 2022 – Protecting the Great Lakes Ecosystem. Jim Diana, an emeritus professor from UofM will speak about the effectiveness of Great Lakes environmental regulations in "protecting this incredible ecosystem.” The program is free, but you will need to register to receive the link.

United Way 10-Day Equity Challenge

February 14-18 & 21-25, 2021
The Equity Challenge is an interactive digital resource for individuals to take it upon themselves to deepen their understanding of, and willingness to confront, racism. Lifting our voice to take action begins with awareness.
As a participant in the Equity Challenge, you will receive an email prompt on weekdays during February 14-25. These will include a short reading, a video or audio file that challenges you to learn about a new topic, such as personal racial identity, understanding privilege, bias, segregation, and more. Participants are encouraged to take about ten to fifteen minutes each day with the material in the prompt. Interested? Register here.

Black History Month at CMU:
A Mindful Approach

Throughout February
The Office of Multicultural Academic Student Services is hosting events during the month of February, including movie viewings, guest speakers, informational sessions and more. See this events calendar, or the description of the events for complete information.

Southern Poverty Law Center’s Calendar of Black History Month Events

Check out SPLC’s calendar of virtual events and resources below to explore Black excellence in all facets of life. We hope that you see not only the resilience of Black culture across time, space, and hardship, but also the connectedness between Black communities and all of our communities and cultures.

Donate Now!

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan is funded solely by its members and friends.

For your convenience, you can make a donation electronically with the button below, or via the GivePlus Church App. Please consider the option of offsetting the cost to the Fellowship for providing the convenience of making an online donation.

If you prefer not to donate electronically, you may also write a check payable to UUFCM and send it to: UUFCM, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0041

Together We Grow!

Got News?
The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly eNews
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to admin@uufcm.org.

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
minister@uufcm.org
Phone/text: 440-935-0129

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2021-2022
President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu)
Past-President: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; newla1gm@cmich.edu)
President Elect: Stacey Pattison (989.330.1832; patti1s@cmich.edu)
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; tlrobbie1@gmail.com)
Secretary: Elaine Emerick (989.621.6063; ebundy84@gmail.com)
Trustee: Jennifer Davis (989.280.7010; jenmarsh40@gmail.com)
Trustee: Cynthia Damer (989.506.5750; ckdamer@gmail.com)
Trustee: Jodi Fisher (989.560.5135; jbfisher121@gmail.com)

Team and Committee Leaders

Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey
Communications Team - Sally Armstrong
Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit
Membership - Laura McBride
Arms Around - Gisela Moffit
Welcome & Hospitality - Gisela Moffit
Social Fun - Jen Prout
Social Justice Coordinating Team - Norma Bailey
Youth Religious Education (RE) Team - Jenny Kennedy
Worship Team - Drew Frantz
Adult Religious Education committee - Jodi Fisher
Coronavirus task force - Drew Frantz

We are a
religious community
guided by love,
transforming our lives
and our world.

Copyright © 2021 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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