eNews for September 28

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View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, September 28 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, October 1, to worship together with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "Clinging to the Streambed." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am. "The book 'Illusions' by Richard Bach contains a parable about creatures who cling to a streambed throughout their existence–and one who dared to let go. This story offers metaphors for how we live our lives and the choices we make. What are you clinging to? What would be the consequences (positive and negative) if you were to let go?" 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 October 1: Clinging to the Streambed October 8: Indigenous People's Day October 15: TBD October 22: Heritage October 29: Dia de los Muertos​   If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out our website sermon archive for sermon video and/or text. Minister’s Column On Monday this week I took my day off to revisit a favorite trail nearby. I have made a regular yearly trip to this particular trail around the spring equinox in March; this time I was hiking just after the autumnal equinox. 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 - CANCELLED October 4 - Drawing Workshop - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 10am - First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm - Movie Night - 4th Saturdays 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. Team Meetings Coordinating Team - Sunday, October 1, at 1:00pm Building Team - Tuesday, October 3, at 6:00pm Worship Team - Tuesday, October 3, at 7:00pm If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form if you haven’t already. Happy Birthday! In October, we celebrate the birthdays of Grace Rollins, Joyce Henricks, Michelle Gawne, and Debbie Reid. For the year to come, we wish them much joy, good health for body and mind, and new (ad)ventures. May it be so. Boot Drive for Kids!  - October 2023  The Social Justice Coordinating Team (SJCT), in coordination with several other local churches, is leading a Boot Drive for Kids to collect new and very gently used boots, any size, for school children and teens. The drive goes for the month of October, and the boots will be donated to Clothing, INC, in time for parents to get boots before winter hits. Please place them in the box provided in the Fellowship Hall by October 31. If you’re not a shopper, any member of the SJCT will be glad to shop for you! First Meeting of Soul Matters Small Group - Tonight at 6:00pm! The first meeting of the new monthly small group will be Thursday, September 28 at 6:00pm. Each month we will follow a different theme: "Welcome" for September and "Heritage" for October. All are welcome. Contact Rev. Drew with any questions. Worship Associates Workshop and Training - September 30 - This Saturday …for anyone interested in this role and for established worship associates Saturday, September 30 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Would you like to be part of leading worship services? If you enjoy the feeling of being in worship, and would like to help create that experience, this workshop is for you. Goals include: Increasing your confidence and skill in public speaking Becoming more comfortable holding sacred space  Reflecting on what makes worship great and what detracts from worship Finding your comfort level in leading readings, chalice lightings, and more Experienced worship associates are invited to deepen your practice and to mentor others; brand new people who have never been in front of the congregation are welcome to explore what being a worship associate feels like.  Coffee and snacks are provided. Let Rev. Drew know if you are coming, or just show up spontaneously. First Friday Potluck – Friday, October 6 Friday, October 6 at 6:30pm Please join us in the UUFCM Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm (doors open at 6:15) for food, conversation, and games! Coffee, hot tea, and water will be provided. If you are able, please bring a dish to pass. Autumn Community Stroll - October 8 Sunday, October 8 at 1:00pm Please join us Sunday, October 8 at 1:00pm for a community stroll and enjoy the turning leaves.  We will meet at 1:00pm at Mill Pond Park in the Adams Street parking lot.  All are welcome. Any questions, contact Annette at 989-400-0173. Social Justice – Setting Intentions!  September, October, November – Hispanics (Hispanic Heritage Month) & Native Americans (Indigenous Peoples Day) We encourage each of you to make an intention and then, preferably, make it public by writing it on our Intention Posters in the Fellowship Hall.  Throughout this “season,” we will hopefully be able to share what each of us is accomplishing to meet our intention!  Please join in our efforts! 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Materials 2023 Indigenous People Day Materials Save the Date for Outdoor Cleanup – October 21 Saturday, October 21 - 10:00am-12:00pm We’re planning to trim the evergreen bushes, clip off the dead lilac flowers, bring in the hoses, empty the rain barrel, pick up sticks, rake, weed, etc. Please come and help out as many hands make the work much lighter! Bring your yard tools if possible. Or if you want to tackle one of these tasks on a different day, contact Norma Bailey ([email protected]) and she will get you situated! Harvest Feast - October 22 Sunday, October 22 - after the service. Our Harvest Feast will be on Sunday, October 22 after the service (setting up on Saturday from 3 - 5:00pm) This is a new date!  More information to follow. Raising Awareness to Fully Fund Michigan’s Schools Despite the new budget, schools across the state still have oversized classes, crumbling buildings, and outdated resources. The money to fully fund our schools exists, but lawmakers must have the courage to make wealthy Michiganders and corporations pay what they owe. Jessica Jernigan is working with the Michigan Education Justice Coalition to encourage legislators to fully fund our public schools. Please find her in the Fellowship Hall before and after services or email her at [email protected] to sign a petition that will be sent to Michigan lawmakers.  • • • Community News • • • Candidate Forum – Today! The League of Women Voters of the Mt. Pleasant Area is sponsoring a candidate forum for the candidates for City Commission.  The forum is Thursday, September 28, at 6:30 pm at the Mt. Pleasant City Hall on Broadway. Griffin Forum at CMU - Shaping LGBTQ+ Policies in Michigan - October 2 Community members are invited to theGriffin Forum on Monday, October 2, 6 - 8:00pm in the Powers Hall Ballroom at Central Michigan University. The Griffin Forum panelists will discuss Michigan's LGBTQ+ policies including Michigan's history and important highlights, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and the path forward. 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. Hispanic Heritage Month – Through October 13 The Multicultural Academic Student Services at Central Michigan University invites all community members to its many events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 13. 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. “Deepening Connections” 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 - Amy Voege 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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