eNews for November 9

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View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, November 9 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, November 12, to worship together with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "Generosity of Presence." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am. "One of the greatest gifts that we can give to one another is to show up when someone needs us. This is true in family life, in friendship, and in communities of mutual care like a religious congregation. This type of compassionate presence involves setting our own agenda aside and refraining from giving advice—unless it is asked for. Cultivating this type of compassionate presence in our personal lives and in our congregation is a spiritual practice that we can all benefit from."   This is the second in a 3-part series of sermons about generosity this month: generosity of resources; generosity of presence; and generosity of faith. Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 402489218 One tap mobile +16468769923,,402489218# Phone - audio only +1 646 876 9923 Upcoming Services November 12: Generosity of Presence November 19: Generosity of Faith November 26: On Wealth If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out our website sermon archive for sermon video and/or text. Minister’s Column Yesterday was election day: a very quiet one in Mount Pleasant Michigan with just one local race on the ballot; and an important one in neighboring Ohio where a state-wide abortion rights amendment passed with strong support. I am reflecting on the trends in politics and society in this country through a spiritual lens. Read more here. 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. - 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 - Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm - UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am - Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7pm - Drawing Workshop - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 10am  - First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm - Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm (3rd Saturdays at 7pm in November and December) 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. Team Meetings UUFCM Board - Sunday, November 12, at 1pm Social Justice Team - Monday, November 13, at 7pm Building Team - Tuesday, November 14, at 6pm Worship Team - Tuesday, November 14, at 7pm If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form if you haven’t already. November Theme: Generosity This month our Sunday morning worship will include the theme of generosity, identified as a core value of Unitarian Universalism. Here are some questions that everyone is invited to consider: What limits do you put on your generosity? Where do those limits come from? Some say that giving liberates and frees the giver. How might life be trying to free you by asking you to give? What if the secret to generosity is giving to others what we wish to receive? Once per month, a small group meets to discuss questions like these and much more related to the monthly theme. Further questions, resources and activities around generosity can be foundhere. To join the small group, please contact Rev. Drew. Guest At Your Table Donations Last Sunday, Rev. Drew explained that we will again be participating in the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s Guest at Your Table program, and he shared one of the four Stories of Hope organizations. The UUSC Guest at Your Table Program supports human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world; please consider donating to this very effective program. We will be accepting donations at the November 19 worship service; you can also donate online to the  Social Justice Special Plate Collection Fund at our website or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with “Guest at Your Table” indicated in the memo line. Path to Membership Workshop - November 18 Saturday, November 18, at 1:00pm in the Social Hall This workshop is designed for those who want to understand the membership commitment to UUFCM. In this one-and-a-half to two-hour interactive hybrid session, we explore the deeper meanings and expectations of membership and shared ministry. Please contactLaura McBride to sign up. Movie Night - November 18 Nomadland Nomads - people living out of their vehicles traversing the U.S. looking for work. Some are nomads by choice but others like Fern are forced into the lifestyle due to circumstances beyond their control. Join us on November 18, at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall to watch this critically-acclaimed movie. It garnished three Oscars - best picture, best actress, and best director.                                                      Note: November and December movie dates have been moved to the 3rd Saturday of the respective months due to the holidays.  Legacy Giving Explained    Last summer, a Board-appointed task force developed a Gift Acceptance Policy to guide the Board and a brochure explaining various options for donating legacy gifts to the Fellowship.  Both were approved by the Board at their August meeting. The Gift Acceptance Policy can be accessed on our UUFCM website, and the legacy brochure is linked here with hard copies available in the church foyer. • • • Community News • • • Native American Heritage Month - CMU Central Michigan University is celebrating Native American Heritage Month and invites community members to its various events.  Please see a list of the events at https://www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/indigenous-affairs/programs/native-american-heritage-month Native American Heritage Month Activities - Speaker Series The Native Justice Coalition (NJC) is presenting Wednesday night speakers series beginning November 1 and continuing through the month. The virtual speakers series is free and on Zoom, and you can register at Native American Heritage Month Speaker Series registration.   Native American Heritage Month - CMU Central Michigan University is celebrating Native American Heritage Month and invites community members to its various events.  Please see a list of the events at https://www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/indigenous-affairs/programs/native-american-heritage-month We Are Invited... UU Midland's Advanced Care Planning Workshop This Saturday! UUfoM's Pastoral Care team is offering an Advanced Care Planning Workshop on Saturday, November 11, at 11:00 AM at the Midland UU fellowship. Kelly Perry, an Advance Care Planning educator with My Michigan Health, will discuss end of life decisions, advanced directives, power of attorney, and more. There will be time for any questions you may have regarding this topic. Sign up now! We Are Invited... UU Midland - Monthly Saturday Holiday Movies! November 18 | December 16 Join UUFoM on Saturday, November 18, and December 16, as we watch holiday-themed movies at the Midland UU fellowship. YOU choose the movies. Your choices are Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express, or The Santa Clause. Please choose your two favorite movies. Popular vote wins! Vote in our poll for your favorite 2 holiday movies! Native American Heritage Month Activities - Community Gathering NJC will also host a Native American Heritage Month Community Gathering on Saturday, November 11 in Saginaw, MI at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. Advanced Exploration in DEI - November 15-December 31 Registration is open for Central Michigan University’s Fall 2023 course titled Advanced Exploration in DEI which is available to community members. The course runs November 15 – December 31 and is online and self-directed.  Those who complete the course will receive a “Certificate of Completion” through the College for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.  Participants can register at https://forms.gle/cYhST1mma7Qt7Stx5 by November 12. See the attached flyer for further information. Free COVID Tests Available Again The US government is making four free COVID home tests available again upon the asking.  Log onto COVID.gov/tests to order the tests. Also check on the same website to find if there are extended expiration dates for the test kits you already have. 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 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 [email protected]. Drew’s Contact Information Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text. [email protected]  Phone/text: 440-935-0129​ Office Hours (in person and/or Zoom):    Tuesdays 10am-noon   Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm Office Hours Zoom Link UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2023-2024 President: Cynthia Damer (989.506.5750; [email protected]) President Elect: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected]) Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected]) Secretary: Laurie Meadows (989.317.8299; [email protected]) Trustee: Victoria Sladek (989.506.7039; [email protected]) Trustee: Monica Jean (616.443.8782; [email protected]) Trustee: Kevin Daum (989.546.7701; [email protected]) Team and Committee Leaders Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey Communications Coordinating Team Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit   Membership - Laura McBride   Arms Around - Laura McBride   Welcome & Hospitality - Gisela Moffit   Social Fun - Jen Prout Social Justice Coordinating Team - Norma Bailey Worship Team - Drew Frantz Youth Religious Education (RE) Team - Norma Bailey   We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world. 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