eNews for Thursday, April 2

4/2/2020

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eNews for Thursday, April 2

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom this Sunday, April 5 to worship together with our minister Drew Frantz, who will present “Quarantine as a Spiritual Practice.” The Zoom call starts at 10:15 (to get settled) and the service starts at 10:30.

At the end of the call we will break you into small groups for a virtual “coffee hour” as part of the Zoom video conference. Please join us!

“In the midst of several weeks of isolation and social distancing, what are we learning about ourselves and each other? How do keep ourselves healthy in spirit, and how can we view this experience as an opportunity for growth?”

Zoom Invitation for This Sunday, March 29

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402 489 218

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If you happen to miss being in worship, the texts to previous sermon messages (and some of the readings as well) can be found in our website sermon archive.

Upcoming Services

April 12: Making Meaning of Easter

Minister's Column

Read the Minister's Column at uufcm.org/andrew-frantz.

Calendar and Scheduling Updates

The Fellowship is following the governor’s order, which calls for no public or private gatherings of any size through April 30.

Online only, via Zoom:
- Sunday worship April 5, April 12
- Soulful Sundown worship Thursday, April 2
*Please, no one else allowed in the sanctuary during online worship.
- UU discussion group, all committee/team meetings, Women’s Circle, and the new weekly Check-In Circle with Drew on Wednesdays at 4pm.

Cancelled: Circle suppers, First Friday Potluck, choir, Buddhist sangha, minister’s office hours, Welcome to UU orientation.

Online Pledging and Giving to UUFCM

For the convenience of our UUFCM members and friends, we now offer you the capacity to securely pledge and donate online at our website.

Pledging for the 2020-2021 Year

You may fill out your pledge card or volunteer form online, and download the Stewardship Packet for complete information about our budgetary planning. So as to plan for next year, we need all pledges by April 19.

Donating online

You may now make secure online contributions to UUFCM. When you do so, there is a small percentage fee/cost to the church, depending upon whether you use your checking/savings account or a credit card. Please consider offsetting this cost when you donate. Two hints to minimizing this cost: donate from your checking/savings account rather than from your credit card (higher percentage) and donate monthly rather than weekly. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our treasurer Terrie Robbie at [email protected].

RE Online!

The RE Program is providing religious education over Facebook on the group called UUFCM RE Program (Click here to go to the RE Facebook group). Guardians and children who are not already members in the group can request to join by clicking the link or searching for the group in Facebook. People who are not already members in the group will be prompted to answer a couple quick screening questions before joining. Virtual RE lessons will be posted to the group every week. These lessons will include a theme reflection, a story, a mindfulness exercise, and an activity. Other parent/family resources will be posted to the group page throughout the week as well. If families have any requests for crafts, activities, resources, or religious education materials designed for family participation, please reach out to Kendra over Facebook or through email at [email protected]. A Story for All Ages will also be part of our Sunday worship Zoom call every week. In addition, right after the worship ends, families and children are invited to a special RE call on Webex for a Kids' Coffee Hour every Sunday (Click here on Sundays to join the Kids' Coffee Hour ).

Infant Pantry Collection - April 5

We collect donations for the Infant Pantry on the first Sunday of each month. Though the Pantry is closed through April 8, you can make an online donation on our website. You can also make a check out to CCN (Community Compassion Network) with memo “Infant Pantry,” and send to P.O. Box 237, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48804-0237. Questions? Contact Tom Moffit (989-772-1602; [email protected]).

Are You in Need of Assistance?

At this time of social distancing, it is important that we keep in close contact via technology. Drew has encouraged you to reach out to him if you want to talk to him via email or phone/text ([email protected]; 440.935.0129). Please do so if you need emotional support or to share your concerns. If you are experiencing financial hardship, the minister's discretionary fund may be able to help. Please contact Drew for more information. Assistance from this fund is strictly confidential.

For those of you who are shut in and can’t get groceries or your meds, let Gisela know ([email protected]; 989.772.1602). We have 3 volunteers who are willing to pick up your orders for you. Many thanks in advance to those willing to help out.

A Suggestion of a Way to Help People

Here’s an idea of something we might be able to do to help some of our more vulnerable citizens who are struggling with the loss of work because of the shelter in place edict. If you have someone who normally cuts your hair, or comes in to clean your house, or gives you a massage, and if you have that money available to send, how about sending those people a check for those services on a recurring basis until these people are back to work. There may be other services that you can think of too; please share them with Norma Bailey ([email protected] or 989-560-3952) who will add them to the e-News next time.

Fill Out Our Social Justice Interest Survey

Because much social justice work is being done on-line during the coronavirus pandemic, the Social Justice Coordinating Team encourages those of you who have not filled out our Social Justice Interest Survey to do so. The survey allows us to directly alert members and friends, who might have an interest in a specific issue, to act on that issue – sign a letter or petition, write to a Congressperson, attend a Webinar, etc. To this end, we ask that you fill out our short online survey. If you’re not sure if you are already on a specific list, just fill out another survey or contact Norma to check.

Savings from Eating at Home:
Donate to the People’s Water Board for Water for Detroit

While Governor Whitmer has declared a moratorium on water shutoffs in Detroit and ordered the City to restore water for those residents, unfortunately, the City is moving very slowly. As of March 29, the City has restored water to only 1,000 households compared to an estimated 9,500 households without water, water so needed to maintain healthy living.

The Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) is encouraging people to donate to the People’s Water Board (PWB) to help them buy water to distribute to these high-risk low-income people in Detroit. Make your check out to the Eastern Michigan Environmental Action Council (PWB's fiscal agent), write “People’s Water Board Water” in the memo line, and send it to Eastern Michigan Environmental Action Council, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit, 4605 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201.

Two MUUSJN Job Opportunities

MUUSJN has two part time job opportunities: a Northern Michigan Justice Organizer ($600/month) and a LGBTQ Justice Organizer ($600/month), and the two positions could be combined. Both positions are ones what can be fulfilled by working at home, using phone and email communications for maximum safety during our current crisis. Click the links above for job descriptions. If you are interested or have questions, call Randy Block, MUUSJN Director, at 248-224-5572.

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].

Mindfulness in Parking Requested
Let us be mindful to leave the parking spaces directly across from our Wisconsin entrance open for our friends who have mobility issues. Thank you for your consideration.

Pastoral Care Concerns

For support with life's challenges, please contact Drew during his office hours or make an appointment with him. For specific needs such as rides to medical appointments or meals for people recovering from illness or surgery, please contact the Arms Around team via Gisela Moffit at [email protected] or 989-772-1602. Every effort will be made to lessen the burden on the individual or family who is dealing with a difficult circumstance.

Drew's Office Hours and Contact Information

Drew's office hours are suspended until further notice. However, he is reachable at any time via email, phone, or text.

[email protected]
Phone/text:
440-935-0129

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2019-2020
President: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; [email protected])
Past-President: Mary Alsager (989.773.2595; [email protected])
President Elect: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; [email protected])
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected])
Co-Treasurer: Jen Prout (989.400.3130; [email protected])
Secretary: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; [email protected])
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; [email protected])
Trustee: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected])
Trustee: Daniel Davis (616.540.4759; [email protected])

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

Copyright © 2020 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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