eNews For Thursday, April 25

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View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, April 25 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, April 28, to worship with Laura McBride and Stacey Pattison, who will present "Poetry Service." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.   "During this interactive service, friends and members of the congregation are sharing their own poems or a favorite by another poet. Hear these poems read in their own voices, with brief introductions, too. This will be in lieu of a regular sermon message. We will hold the Stewardship Incentive Raffle, too." 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 28 - Poetry Service May 5 - Religious Pluralism May 12 - Mother's Day April Youth Religious Education Classes April 28 - Earth Day Outdoors The UU kids will be planting pollinator seeds for their garden, as well as placing their feeders out for our feathered friends! If you dig it, come get dirty with us! If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out Sunday Services on our website for sermon video and/or text. 2023 and prior year sermon video and/or text are located under Sermon Archives. Minister’s Column Today is Passover. The holiday started last night (Monday) at sunset. One of the high holidays of Judaism, Passover celebrates the exodus of Jews from Egypt, synonymous with their escape from slavery into freedom. As a Gentile (non-Jew), I have experienced a Passover seder only a few times. The ritual connection to the exodus is powerful. As a Unitarian Universalist minister, I am called to honor holidays from religious traditions around the world and to contemplate their meaning—both within their original religious context as well as in the broader context of human life. 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. - 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 - Monthly Soul Matters Small Group Discussion - Tonight, April 25, at 6:30pm 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 No meetings this week! If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form if you haven’t already. Stewardship Campaign Update Although the Stewardship Campaign officially ended on April 21, please turn in your pledge by mail, online, or in the Sunday offering plate as soon as possible. The UUFCM Board will make possible adjustments to the proposed budget very soon.  Fellowship Clean-Up - THIS Saturday, April 27 Saturday, April 27, 10:00am-noon Rain date: May 4, 10:00am-noon Now that spring is definitely here, we are planning a clean-up of the outside of our building! We’ll pick up sticks, rake, weed, edge sidewalks, and wash windows, so please bring rakes, gloves, weeding tools, and clippers; we’ll provide the other materials and snacks! Please text, call, or email any one of the Building Team members – Norma Bailey, Daniel Davis, or Kurt Roeder, and let us know you’re coming to help beautify our church grounds! Movie Night - THIS Saturday, April 27 Join us on April 27, at 7:00pm as we watch Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti portray a crusty, prep school teacher who must spend the Christmas holiday supervising some students who have nowhere to go in The Holdovers. Between the students and the head cook, it's sure to be a contrary time.  Welcome to UU Orientation – THIS Sunday, April 28 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 12:30 pm. Sessions run approximately an hour and a half. For more info or to register for Welcome to UU, contact: Laura McBride: 989.772.5512 [email protected] First Friday Potluck – Friday, May 3 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. Book Discussion Group - May 5 and May 12 The Adult RE Team and Reverend Drew are offering a book discussion group using the UUA Common Read “On Repentance and Repair” for two sessions - Sunday, May 5 and May 12, at noon in the sanctuary. See Drew to get your copy of the book.  Beltane Ritual - Sunday, May 5 The Beltane Ritual will take place on Sunday May 5, at 6:00pm. Beltane is a celebration of the earth and nature and marks the start of the traditional planting season. In ancient times farmers would build bonfires at night and walk their cattle between the flames, to ensure protection and fertility for the coming season. Beltane fires are still celebrated in Scotland, through the Beltane Fire Society. Traditionally associated with fertility and sexuality, modern Beltane Celebrations are an opportunity to take time for yourself, give thanks to the earth for its bounty and blessings. There will not be a potluck after the ritual. Path to Membership Workshop - Saturday, May 11 Contact: Laura McBride 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 contact Laura McBride to sign up and request childcare if needed for our next workshop on Saturday, May 11, at 1:00pm.  • • • Community News • • • Pop Up Pride in the Park Saturday, June 1 2:00pm – 5:00pm Broadway Park, 2451 Nish Na Be Anong Rd, Mt Pleasant Join us in celebrating, uplifting, and advocating for our regional 2SLGBTQIA+ community at the 2nd Pop Up Pride in the Park at Broadway Park in Mount Pleasant. Food, games, music, and vendors. Free to attend and all are welcome.  Dial for Democracy Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List! Activists across the political spectrum can all agree that picking up the phone and calling your elected officials is the most effective way to make your voice heard. In fact, many elected officials and their staff members have stated that a phone call from a constituent holds more weight than an email, tweet, or a fax. By joining VNP's "Dial for Democracy" list, you will receive exclusive alerts when it's time to call your lawmakers on legislation or decisions that impact Michigan's democracy. These alerts will contain info and tips to help you have an easy and productive call to your local lawmaker! If you aren't receiving exclusive Dial for Democracy alerts yet, sign up here. You'll receive alerts when critical legislation is introduced along with your state legislators' contact information and a script to use during your call. Become an Election Worker If you are interested in becoming an election worker in the Mt. Pleasant area, fill out the application and submit it to the appropriate location.  At this time, the City of Mt. Pleasant has enough election workers, but Union Township and the surrounding townships do not.  See Norma Bailey for further information ([email protected]). Free COVID Tests  Get free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests this fall on COVIDTests.gov Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order an additional 4 free at-⁠home tests beginning November 20. If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests. Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping. You can order your test kits HERE. 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: Mary Alsagar (989.330.2226; [email protected]) Team and Committee Leaders Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey Caring Committee - Laura McBride Communications Coordinating Team  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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