eNews for Thursday, August 20

8/20/2020

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eNews for Thursday, August 20

RE Garden

More veggies delivered to the Soup Kitchen!

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom this Sunday, August 23 to worship together with our minister Drew Frantz, who will present “Anti-Racism Faith and Action.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.

“As a faith, Unitarian Universalism is committed to being multicultural, anti-oppression and anti-racist. This was very evident to those of us who attended our national gathering in June. We will share some of our take-aways from that experience and talk about how to move forward.”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday, August 23
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#

Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

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

August 30: Courage
September 6: Renew Your Spirit
September 13: Water Ingathering and RE Kickoff

Minister's Column

Read the Minister’s column at uufcm.org/andrew-frantz.

President’s Report - Guy Newland

At its annual retreat on August 15, held at Fussman Pavilion in Deerfield Park, the Board agreed on five goals for this year: (1) to call a minister (instead of having a contract minister); (2) to establish an effective communications team; (3) to monitor and deal with the impact of the pandemic on our community; (4) to work to improve our shared ministry to one another in a number of diverse ways, including the work of the Committee on Shared Ministry and a variety of small steps to improve inclusion and transparency; and (5) to undertake antiracist initiatives.

A search committee—a revival of last year’s “transition team”—will work on the first goal. Sally Armstrong is organizing and will lead the communications team. We have a task force (Drew, Deb Allore, Kris Los, and Laura McBride) advising on the pandemic. The Committee on Shared Ministry (Drew, Guy, Carolyn Hancock, and Chris Bailey) assesses and advises the Board on how to improve our ministry to one another. There is no official group focusing on the question of what our next step will be as an antiracist community. Several people have a strong interest; we are brainstorming. If you have an idea, shoot it to me! How do we as a gentle, angry people confront the daily outrages of American racism?

At the regular board meeting (Zoom, afternoon of August 15), the Board approved a new contract for Director of Religious Education Kendra Peffers, running through January 10, 2021. We accepted a donation of a beautiful, black metal chalice from Kris Los, and this will soon adorn our Wisconsin door. We also made slight modifications to the existing policy establishing the Committee on Shared Ministry (so as to keep its membership distinct from that of the Board), and we had a “first reading” and discussion of a draft Board Policy on Disruptive Behavior.

Upcoming Events - with Zoom Links

Click the link to join in!

- Sunday worship
- Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sundays at 12:30pm
- Choir R ehearsal - Sundays at 7pm
- Newcomers Gathering - Sunday, September 13 at 12:30pm
- UU discussion group - Wednesdays at 10am
- Check-In Circle with Drew - Wednesdays at 4pm
- Game Night - Wednesdays at 7pm
- Soulful Sundown - 1st Thursdays at 7pm
- W omen’s Circle - 4th Thursdays at 7pm
- Coffee House Open Mic - 1st Fridays at 7pm
- Path to Membership Workshop - Saturday, August 22 at 1pm

Event links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Team Meetings - with Zoom Links

Click the link to join in!

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. Links for the various team meetings will be posted in the eNews and on the UUFCM calendar.

If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form 2020-2021 if you haven’t already.

- Tech Support Team Training - Saturday, August 22 at 3:00pm
- Voting Rights - Wednesday, August 26 at 4:30pm

Event links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Heard at General Assembly…

Several members of our congregation took advantage of this year’s unique opportunity to attend General Assembly online. Those of us who participated will be talking about our experiences during upcoming Sunday services. In the meantime, we’ll be using the eNews to share some of what we learned at GA.

If you attended GA sessions and would like to share your thoughts in the eNews, please send contributions to Jessica Jernigan.

Laura McBride was struck by a number of poems, including “School Prayer” by Diane Ackerman.

In the name of the daybreak
and the eyelids of morning
and the wayfaring moon
and the night when it departs,

I swear I will not dishonor
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messenger of wonder,
as an architect of peace.

In the name of the sun and its mirrors
and the day that embraces it
and the cloud veils drawn over it
and the uttermost night
and the male and the female
and the plants bursting with seed
and the crowning seasons
of the firefly and the apple,

I will honor all life
—wherever and in whatever form
it may dwell—on Earth my home,
and in the mansions of the stars.

George Lentz has a bountiful harvest of vegetables and is willing to share them. Right now he has plenty of tomatoes, kale, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, and more. If you would like to get some of these veggies, just call George at 248-346-4039 to make arrangements to come out and pick.

Path to Membership Workshop - August 22 at 1pm

This workshop is designed for those who feel ready (or even somewhat ready) to make the membership commitment to UUFCM. In this one and a half hour interactive session, we explore the deeper meanings and expectations of membership and shared ministry. Please contact Laura McBride (989.772.5512 or Lmcbride010@gmail.com) by Friday, August 21 if you will attend so we may plan accordingly. Join us via Zoom.

Welcome to UU Orientation - August 30

If you are interested in learning more about UU history, our fellowship’s history, meeting new folks, and exploring the first phase of possibly joining this tradition, please join Laura McBride on Sunday, August 30 at 1:00 p.m. Feel free to eat your lunch and plan for one hour of connection, learning, and relaxation. There is no exam or homework. If you are interested in watching a introductory video regarding our faith, please view this YouTube video by Peter Bowden called Unitarian Universalism: You're Uni-What?. If you have specific questions, please contact Laura at Lmcbride010@gmail.com or call/text 989-772-5512. Join us via Zoom!

Women’s Circle - August 27

We provide a safe and supportive place to explore womanhood and women’s history, discuss issues, get to know one another better, and have fun! We meet on 4th Thursdays only this July and August, but return to meeting on 2nd (check in) and 4th (full meeting) Thursdays at 7pm beginning in September. Summer sessions are mainly to gather, connect and support one another. We will discuss one question that will be presented at the time of the meeting. Join us via Zoom!

RE News

The RE Program continues to provide religious education over Facebook on the group called UUFCM RE Program (Click here to go to the RE Facebook group). Virtual RE lessons are posted every other week to the Facebook group. Our Kids' Coffee Hour is held every Sunday at 11:45 a.m. over Webex for check-ins, games, and themed activities (click here on Sundays to join the Kids' Coffee Hour; Meeting number: 120 985 4031; Password: RE_Program).

Voting Rights News

Job Opportunities!

The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) has just announced two temporary job opportunities to work on Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts, both working from home. Get complete information on our website.
Both the City of Mt. Pleasant and Union Township are hiring election inspectors. Find more information and applications on our website.

Support the HEROES Act for Election Assistance

The HEROES Act includes $3.6 billion for state and local governments to make their election systems safe under pandemic conditions. Contact your senators…

Environmental Issues News

Sierra Club Webinar - Today at 5pm!

The Sierra Club will be hosting a webinar on August 20 at 5 pm featuring Sierra Club members who are leading the fight to shut down Line 5. They will discuss the current state of Line 5 and how you can get involved. Join the webinar here.

Public Hearing on Line 5 - August 24 at 4pm

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) will hold a public hearing on Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 tunnel project next week, on August 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. This hearing comes after the MPSC denied Enbridge’s request for a declaratory ruling that would have granted them permission to carry through with the tunnel project based on decisions made in 1953 for the existing pipeline. Instead, the MPSC has directed that Enbridge’s application for approval to proceed with a proposed Line 5 tunnel undergo a thorough review including public comment.

Because of the expected high level of participation, the MPSC strongly encourages members of the public who wish to make a comment during the public comment portion of the hearing to pre-register by 3 p.m. Monday, August 24 so the proper time limitation arrangements can be made. Members of the public may pre-register by using this registration form or by calling (800) 292-9555.

For more information on either of these events, contact Gabbie Buendia.

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 (minister@uufcm.org; 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 (gbmoffit@gmail.com; 989.772.1602). We now have 6 volunteers who are willing to pick up your orders for you. Many thanks in advance to those willing to help out.

• • • Community News • • •
Voices that Matter: A Conversation on Building Allies in the White Community
The Office of Diversity Education at CMU would like to invite you to attend our Voices That Matter: Building Allies in the White Community, a live Facebook event on Monday, August 24, 2020 at 3:30 pm (EST) – FacebookLive@odecmich. To aid in the facilitation of the panel discussion, we are asking for questions to be submitted utilizing this Google Doc.

Coffee with Candi - Wednesday, August 26
We meet every 2nd & 4th Wednesday at 5:30 pm on Zoom.
Coffee with Candi is a safe, welcoming, nurturing, and loving secular environment to support and empower those later in life LGBTQ+ individuals who are newly out, wanting to come out, and questioning. For more information, contact Candi Tomlinson at 989-506-7477 or CandidlyQueer989@gmail.com.

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

Take all that you need; give all that you can!

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 admin@uufcm.org.

Drew's Office Hours and Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
minister@uufcm.org
Phone/text:
440-935-0129

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2020-2021
President: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; president@uufcm.org)
Past-President: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; carol4uufcm@gmail.com)
President Elect: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu)
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; tlrobbie1@gmail.com)
Co-Treasurer: Jen Prout (989.400.3130; poutyprouty66@yahoo.com)
Secretary: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; becht1bh@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Jennifer Davis (989.280.7010; jenmarsh40@gmail.com)
Trustee: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; jones3aj@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Mel Bailey (989.600.6460; babycatching@gmail.com)

Team and Committee Leaders

Social Justice Coordinating Team - Norma Bailey
Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey
Environmental Issues committee - Daniel Davis
Voting Rights committee - David Wagstaff
Religious Education (RE) Team - Mel Bailey
Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit
Worship Team - Drew Frantz
Corona Virus task force - Drew Frantz
Membership - Laura McBride
Arms Around - Gisela Moffit
Welcome & Hospitality - Gisela Moffit

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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