eNews for Thursday, December 15

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Keep up with all that’s going on at the UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, December 15 Youth RE Holiday Party Cookies were decorated! Fun was had! Worship Matters Blue Holidays Service Saturday, December 17 at 4pm The song says that this is the “happiest time of the year,” but sometimes it is anything but that. Winter holidays come with the expectation of non-stop joy–which can feel like a burden. And for some of us, holidays remind us of painful family memories and of loved ones we’ve lost. All are welcome for a quiet service that acknowledges the difficult feelings around holiday time. Sunday Worship We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, December 18 to worship together with our minister Drew Frantz, who will present “Wonder.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30. In exploring the idea and the practice of Wonder this month, everyone is asked to consider these two questions: Who has taught me the most about Wonder? And: What experience of Wonder has most altered my living and loving? Rather than finding definitive answers, let’s live into the questions and see where they take us. Zoom Invitation for both services: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 402489218 One tap mobile +16468769923,,402489218# Phone - audio only +1 646 876 9923 Upcoming Services December 18: Pagan Yule Service at 6pm December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7pm December 25: Christmas Worship Service in a Box January 1: Burning Bowl If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out our website sermon archive for sermon video and/or text. Minister’s Column A healthy religious community does many important things together: we celebrate and support our children and youth; we gather for regular worship and for holidays; and we honor and remember those in our congregation who have died. The memorial service for Don Rust on Saturday was an important event for the family and for the congregation… Read more here.  COVID Update We continue with hybrid services (in-person/Zoom). Our current policy is that everyone entering the building must be vaccinated (unless exempt), which applies to children also. Masks are optional for worship services and small group meetings.   Singing by the congregation and the choir is allowed with masks on.   Anyone vaccinated may attend services.   Small groups can meet in person if they wish, or continue meeting on Zoom – or do a mixture. This includes all of our teams and the Board itself. We will do our best to publish how meetings are going to be held, and please check with the leader of each meeting if you're not sure.   Indoor eating events are allowed – coffee hour, Friday night potlucks, and our annual Harvest Feast – as long as people are vaccinated. Please be aware that the situation is fluid. We are monitoring the situation frequently, so stay tuned for updates. 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. - Sunday Worship - Welcome to UU Orientation - Sunday, December 18 at 12:30 pm - 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 - First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm - Movie Night - December 17 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. Meetings Social Justice Coordinating Team - Monday, December 19 at 7pm If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form if you haven’t already. Suggestions for Bylaws Changes Any individual UUFCM members who wish to propose changes to the bylaws for consideration at the annual meeting in May may submit written suggestions to Board president Stacey Pattison by January 1, 2023. Holiday Gift for a Homeless Guest As UUFCM, we have signed up to provide a holiday gift for one of this year’s guests at the ICRH homeless shelter. If you would like to donate $5 toward Steve’s gift, please give your contribution to Norma Bailey ([email protected]) by Sunday, December 18. Volunteers Needed at the Homeless Shelter The Isabella County Restoration House (ICRH) is in great need of volunteers to help at the day shelter or in the evenings at the host churches, especially during the holiday season as CMU students are not available over the winter break. Please go to their website to read the descriptions of the shifts and sign up! The guests and the ICRH staff thank you! Movie Night - December 17 It's hard to believe, but at one time Christmas was a minor holiday. Charles Dickens’ The Christmas Carol changed that. Dickens had three reasons to write it—money, childhood memories, and to entice charity toward the poor. Come join us to watch Dan Stevens as he plays Charles Dickens and brings to life the wonderful classic The Man Who Invented Christmas. Join us at 7pm! Snacks will be provided. Special Offering Collection - December 18 This Sunday a collection will be taken to supplement the minister’s discretionary fund which is used to respond to requests from people in the community who might need gas money, money to pay an electric bill, rent assistance, etc. The need has been great this fall, and the discretionary fund balance is low. You can donate online to this fund at our website or checks can be made out to UUFCM with “Discretionary Fund” indicated in the memo line, and sent to UUFCM Treasurer, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48804-0041. Fellowship Life Meeting - December 18 On the third Sunday of every month – immediately following our worship service – the UUFCM Board holds a brief Fellowship Life meeting to update the congregation on current happenings, plans and/or concerns within the congregation. The intention is for the meetings to be kept brief; the hope is for extended conversation to take place following the meeting during the coffee hour time. Please plan to attend. Welcome to UU Orientation - December 18 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. 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: 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. Youth RE Caroling - December 18 This Sunday, the Youth RE Team will be caroling to local congregants. We will gather at the Fellowship on Sunday at 2pm to have some hot chocolate and prepare holiday songs. Families are encouraged to come along and bring their youth and their friends! CUUPs Yule Ritual - December 18 Yule, the winter solstice, is a time of great symbolism and power. It marks the return of the sun, when the days finally begin to get a little longer. It’s also a time to celebrate with family and friends and share the spirit of giving. We will hold the ritual promptly at 6pm, via hybrid (in-person/Zoom), and there will be no potluck. Save the Date! Be sure to save the date on your calendar for our annual all-congregation retreat –Saturday, January 21 – exact times to be determined. The topic will be the draft revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws, which include the 7 Principles. General Assembly 2022 On-Demand Library Now Available The 2022 General Assembly recordings library of over 80 workshops, worship services, and other events is now available to the public. Some recordings are no longer available due to copyright or agreements with the presenters. You can access the recordings 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   Together We Grow! 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:    Tuesdays 10am-noon   Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2022-2023 President: Stacey Pattison (989.330.1832; [email protected]) Past-President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected]) President Elect: Cynthia Damer (989.506.5750; [email protected]) Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected]) Secretary: Elaine Emerick (989.621.6063; [email protected]) Trustee: Victoria Sladek (989.506.7039; [email protected]) Trustee: Debbie Reid (989.854.9830; [email protected]) Trustee: Penny Swart (989.330.3587; [email protected]) Team and Committee Leaders Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey Communications Coordinating Team - Debbie Reid Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit   Membership - Laura McBride   Arms Around - Gisela Moffit   Welcome & Hospitality - Gisela Moffit   Social Fun - Jen Prout Social Justice Coordinating Team - Norma Bailey Worship Team - Drew Frantz Youth Religious Education (RE) Team - Carol Rard Anti-Racism Task Force - Norma Bailey Coronavirus Task Force - Drew Frantz   We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world. Copyright © 2022 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.