eNews for Thursday, April 24

Keep up with what's happening at UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, April 24 Concert a Great Success!  On Saturday, April 19, “A Simple Thing,” a local indie folk-Americana group made up of Daniel Davis, Claire Lester, Cynthia Damer and Chris Olson, played a mix of original songs and favorite covers to a mixed crowd of family members, friends and UUFCM folks.  The concert was well-received, and $363 of donations were made to the church general fund!  Thank you, band! Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, April 27, to worship with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "Earth-Centered Religion." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am. "A core piece of Unitarian Universalism is connection with our natural environment. Yet in many ways, we are a religion of thinking and ideas, and of human relationships. Other religious traditions are more earth-centered and less intellectual. What are you looking for in religion–connection to God and heaven? Being grounded in the cycles of nature? This Sunday we explore how our tradition fits in the context of earth-centered religions." 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 April 27 - Earth-Centered Religion May 4 - “The Poor You Will Always Have with You” Why? In Case You Missed It... Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives. Here are links to more recent sermons.    "Practice of Joy" - April 6, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Generosity" - March 16, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Lessons From Grief" - March 9, by Rev. Drew Frantz In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.  Minister’s Column I heard the news yesterday that the Pope had died, and on the day after Easter. The timing seems ironic at first—death juxtaposed with the celebration of life and re-birth. Yet today I read a piece of writing from the Pope himself a couple of months ago: it talked about the inevitability of death (human wisdom for any spiritually mature person, especially for an elder) and about the joyful certainty of life everlasting in heaven (a belief specific to his religion, and shared by some others). Viewed in that light, the timing of this pope’s death was fitting. Read the column 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. A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7pm  Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 11am First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm  Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Soul Matters Discussion Group - 4th Thursdays at 6:30pm  UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom UUFCM Women's Circle - On hiatus until further notice Welcome to UU Orientation - 4th Sundays at 12:00pm  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 Adult RE Team - Monday, April 28 Town Hall and Spring Clean-up Information - THIS Saturday, April 26 Town Hall (10:00am-12:00pm in the Sanctuary) Recently, Drew was approached by someone interested in joining our Fellowship who disclosed that they are on the sex offender registry. Drew immediately reached out to our President, Aaron Jones, and President Elect, Norma Bailey, to discuss the situation. After careful consideration, it was decided that this person should not attend the Fellowship until we have a formal policy in place. At the next Board meeting, the issue was addressed, and a path forward was established. Recognizing that children’s safety is a priority for us all, Drew reached out to parents to keep them informed. The Board formed a special Safe Congregation Team to develop a policy framework on this matter. To ensure we are handling this responsibly, both Drew and the Board have sought guidance from Lisa Presley of the UUA Mid-America Region. As part of this process, it was recommended that we hold a special town hall event to present the proposed policy and invite input from the congregation. This event will take place on Saturday, April 26th, at 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary. We encourage everyone to attend, share their thoughts, and be part of this important conversation. Please contact Rev. Drew with any questions about this matter. He will share what he can within the bounds of confidentiality.  Lunch  (12:00-1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall) Spring Clean-Up (1:00pm-3:00pm Outdoors) Every year in the spring we have a spring clean-up where we spruce up the outside of our building! We’ll pick up sticks, rake, weed, edge sidewalks, trim bushes, get the hoses out, and wash windows, so please bring rakes, gloves, weeding tools, and clippers; we’ll provide the other materials. Movie Night - THIS Saturday, April 26 Technology is banned—by religious command. Superstition is nurtured—by those in power. Questioning authority? Forbidden. Sound familiar? It may echo today’s headlines, but this is Battle for Terra—a gripping sci-fi story set in the aftermath of humanity’s self-destruction. After Earth, Mars, and Venus are lost to war and greed, the last survivors drift through space aboard the aging ship "Ark", desperate for a new home. They find Terra—a lush planet already inhabited by a peaceful, agricultural society whose values are built on the very principles the Ark once abandoned. The solution? Extermination.  Join us Saturday, April 26, to see the outcome. Stewardship Campaign 2025  Ends Sunday, April 27 Our stewardship campaign which began with our stewardship luncheon on Sunday, April 6, now has 45 pledges turned in!  Our drive officially ends on this Sunday, April 27, so please be sure to turn in your pledge form and volunteer form by then.  You can bring the forms to church on Sunday and put them in the offertory basket, mail them to our treasurer, or go online to our website to fill them out. If you have misplaced the materials we sent in the mail, or if you have questions, contact anyone on the Stewardship Committee - Norma Bailey, Cynthia Damer, Drew Frantz, Jim Moreno, and Daria Kingman. Welcome to UU Orientation - THIS Sunday, April 27 Contact: Laura McBride We meet both in person in the fellowship hall and via Zoom. 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, typically on the last Sunday at 12:00 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 at 989.772.5512; [email protected]. Please let Laura know whether you will be attending via Zoom or in-person by the Friday prior to the orientation.   First Friday Potluck – Friday, May 2 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. Save for This Year’s Garage Sale Every two years in the spring, we hold an all-Fellowship garage sale with profits dedicated to a variety of projects. As you are doing any spring housecleaning and come across items you could donate, please hold on to them for the mid-June sale. If you have questions, please contact Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected]). Statewide LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day Kelly Lawson and Sierra Burke are planning on attending the Statewide LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day in Lansing on Wednesday, May 14. Please contact Kelly ([email protected]) or Sierra ([email protected]) to arrange for carpooling. See information in Community News. Happy Birthday In May, we celebrate the birthdays of Nancy Roeder, Felix Jones, Cynthia Damer, Kate Swier, Jodi Fisher, Rob Peters, Larry Hall, Hal Downs, Helenan Cavalieri, Phoenix Thompson, and Mary Alsager. For the year to come, we wish them much joy, good health for body and mind, and new (ad)ventures. May it be so. “We Believe…” Yard Signs for Sale  We still have a few yard signs for people to purchase with “We believe..” on them.  The signs (with metal stands) sell for $12 each. If you wish to purchase one, please give Norma Bailey $12 in cash or a check written out to UUFCM, with yard sign in the memo line.  Scam Alert Several congregants have received emails and texts purportedly from UUFCM leadership. If you receive a message that seems suspicious, please remember that we would never solicit money or ask for help in this way, and do not respond to the message. Read more here. Do Something MORE! In the February 23 sermon “Protest and Persist: Giving Up Hope Is Not an Option,” Norma Bailey mentioned several actions that each of us could take to help make a difference.   Continue to participate in the April 21-27 General Mills boycott. Sign up for our Social Justice Interest Survey if you haven’t already – to receive alerts about petitions to sign, members of Congress to call or email, both federal and state.  Put these people into your phone contacts and make at least one phone call or text every day.  They keep track of how many calls/messages they receive.   Senator Gary Peters (202-224-6221) Senator Elissa Slotkin (202-224-4822) US House Representative John Moolenaar (202-225-3561) Michigan Senator Roger Hauck (517-373-1760) Michigan State House Representative Jerry Neyer (517-373-2646) Particularly speak up against the SAVE Act (federal) and HJR B (state) which are being debated and ultimately voted on in the US Congress and in our state legislature. These would require documentary proof in person to register (or reregister if you move) to vote! The SAVE Act is being voted on in the Senate soon. Call Senators Peters and Slotkin! • • • Community News • • • The Resistance Network Recently, the UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) launched the Resistance Network—a mobilization hub designed to take immediate action when civil liberties, democracy, and human rights are at risk. The threats we face are vast, but history shows us that resistance works when we act together. The Resistance Network is an opportunity to live our values as Unitarian Universalists and take collective action.  Research Webinar: A Difficult Story-Understanding Indian Boarding Schools in Michigan - Tuesday, April 29 Join us for a powerful webinar focused on the history and lasting impact of Indian boarding schools in the state of Michigan. This virtual event will feature a special guest speaker, Dr. Eric Hemenway, Director of Repatriation, Archives, and Records for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Waganakising, who will share insights, stories, and reflections that illuminate this critical chapter in our shared history. This is a unique opportunity to reflect, learn, and engage with this important part of history. Whether you're a student, educator, community member, or simply curious, we invite you to be part of the conversation. Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Location: Zoom Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EaOIqS5VTl-VKKUTYQb4uA#/registration Statewide LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day Date: May 14, 2025 Location: Lansing Join Equality Michigan and the Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission on Wednesday, May 14, for Capitol Day in Lansing. This is your opportunity to speak face to face with lawmakers about the issues that matter most to our community - from healthcare access to safety and equality for all. This is our most important Capitol Day yet. Our elected officials need to hear from you. They need to know that protecting trans people from dangerous political attacks is imperative, and we will not back down.    Every voice must be heard, and LGBTQ+ people from every district across Michigan must be represented. Click here to sign up now. Special Election for City Commission in August Want to run for City Commission? Know someone who should run? The City of Mt. Pleasant will have a special election to choose a new commissioner on August 5. Nominating packets are available at the City Clerk's office (320 W. Broadway Street). The filing deadline is 4pm on Tuesday, April 22. 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 2024-2025 President: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected]) President-Elect: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected]) Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected]) Secretary: Laurie Meadows (989.317.8299; [email protected]) Trustee: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; [email protected]) Trustee: Monica Jean (616.443.8782; [email protected]) Trustee: David Allan (989.941.7349; [email protected]) Team and Committee Leaders Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey Caring Team - Laura McBride Communications Coordinating Team - Jessica Jernigan and Monica Jean Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit   Membership - 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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