eNews for Thursday, February 13

Keep up with all that’s happening at the UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, February 13 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, February 16, to worship with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "The Edict of Torda." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am. "On February 18, 1568, the king of Transylvania, an early Unitarian, issued a proclamation regarding freedom of religion: the Edict of Torda. As modern-day Unitarian Universalists we celebrate this piece of our history, affirming that religious inclusion is part of our DNA and that there have been progressive governments and rulers throughout many periods of history." Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 402489218 One tap mobile +16468769923,,402489218# Phone - audio only +1 646 876 9923 Budget Hearing - Sunday, February 16 At the Fellowship Life meeting after the worship service on Sunday, February 16, the Board will hold our annual budget hearing where congregants can give initial feedback to the proposed budget for 2025-2026.  Please plan on attending. Upcoming Services February 16: The Edict of Torda February 23: Protest and Persist: Why Giving Up Hope Is Not an Option 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.  "Preemptive Radical Inclusion" - February 9, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Lessons from the Allagash" - February 2, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Responding in Love" - January 26, by Rev. Drew Frantz Minister’s Column Happy birthday! Today is the birthday of the trees.   In the Jewish tradition, the Torah forbids eating fruit from a tree for the first three years, giving it time to mature. A common date was established, therefore, as the birthday of the trees to allow for accurate counting of a tree’s age: the 15th day of the month of Shevat (February 12 on our calendar). This day, Tu B’Shevat, is celebrated with a ritual of fruits. In some celebrations, 12 fruits are named with symbolic significance assigned to each one. Another way to celebrate Tu B’Shevat is to plant a tree. In this way, the holiday is akin to Earth Day. 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 10:30am  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 - 3rd Thursdays at 7pm 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 Communications Team - Thursday, February 13, at 7:00pm Worship Team - Thursday, February 13, at 7:00pm Youth RE Team - Sunday, February 16, at 3:30pm You Are Invited to a Valentine's Party - THIS Saturday, February 15 The Fellowship Life Coordinating Team welcomes you to the Many Shades of Love Valentine's Party! Enjoy an evening of treats and entertainment to share and enjoy! When: Saturday, February 15, 2025, 6:00–9:00pm Where: UUFCM Sanctuary and Social Hall Who: Everyone! Questions? Contact: Annette Pratt: 989-400-0173 Gisela Moffit: 989-513-7827 Laura McBride: 989-772-5512 Jen Prout: 989-400-3130 Valentine Card Swap at UUFCM! ❤️ Share the Love! – Give your Valentine to your recipient at the Many Shades of Love party on February 15 or during the Sunday service on February 16. Happy Valentine's Day! Special Plate Collection This Sunday, February 16 On Sunday, February 16, a special plate collection will be taken to support the work of MUUSJN, the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network. MUUSJN is a very active state-wide network of the 24 Unitarian Universalist congregations and allies in Michigan who work together to prevent harm, protect rights and safeguard our democracy. Its mission is to foster the worth and dignity of people by promoting social justice and community service. You can donate online to the Social Justice Special Plate Collections Fund at our website or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with MUUSJN in the memo. We are also very much encouraging individual people to become members of MUUSJN. The work of the MUUSJN director and the three project organizers employed has led to many accomplishments in 2024 that support our UU values (linked to document here and also posted on our bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall). Thus, when you become a member, you spread your small donation well beyond our UUFCM walls. Game Night - THIS Monday, February 17 We meet on 3rd Mondays from 7-9pm in the UUFCM social hall and have fun with a variety of games decided by consensus. It is a great opportunity to learn new games and meet people with similar interests! Questions? Contact James Scott ([email protected]). UUA Common Read: "Authentic Selves" - THIS Tuesday, February 18 Book discussion group starts Tuesday, February 18, at 7:00pm Additional copies of the book are now available Rev. Drew will lead four sessions exploring the book Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families. This book is the UUA common read for 2024-25, with all UU congregations encouraged to engage with the text. The discussions will follow the UUA discussion guide and will take place on the third Tuesday of the month: February 18, March 18, April 15 and May 20. All are welcome!  Movie Night - Saturday, February 22 Weatherman Phil finds himself trapped, reliving February 2nd over and over again. No matter what he does, every morning at 6:00 AM, the day resets. How can he break free from this endless cycle? Join us on February 22 at 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall when we watch Groundhog Day to find out! Results of Drive to Help Furnish the New Homeless Shelter  Tremendous thank you to everyone who was able to donate to help furnish the new Isabella County Restoration House (ICRH) homeless shelter!  Donations totaled $1611, and we were able to purchase 36 new folding chairs they hadn’t been able to acquire and also sponsor one bunkbed set!  ICRH sends its grateful appreciation for our generosity! Ideas from the All-Congregation Retreat   The list of ideas for individual actions generated at our all-congregation retreat (“Responding in Love to a Threatening World”) is available here. Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations When we decide to cancel or postpone a UUFCM event due to weather--as we did on December 15 for the ice storm--we use a cell phone app called Remind to make these announcements. In the case of Sunday morning worship, we make our decision by 8:30 am. Downloading the Remind app to your phone and signing up just takes a few minutes. Stay informed and prepared this winter! View our full cancellation policy along with instructions for signing up on the Remind app here. • • • Community News • • • CMU Black History Events ICRH Requests for Household Donations for Party for a Purpose   ICRH is holding its annual fundraiser on May 3 and is looking for items for prizes for their paddle auction.  If you have any new or unused item to donate (see list in Fellowship Hall or click here), please see Norma Bailey for delivery.   Wage Peace: A Gentle Art Saturday, March 1, 12:30-4:30pm In-person at Birmingham Unitarian Church and Virtual via Zoom How do we protest illegal and unjust actions in 2025? How can we make ourselves heard in a complex world rife with disinformation and threats of violence? This workshop will explore best practices for creating impactful, peaceful protests. As we face an increasingly hostile and violent social justice climate in 2025, learning how to carry out safe, creative, and successful protests through only non-violent means is vital. The training will cover the importance of visual contrast, creating a lasting message, and exploring various protest methods. Following this training, participants will be equipped with the skills needed to plan their own direct actions that have a lasting impact.  This workshop is led by Julia A. Pulver. Julia is a lifelong UU and member of Birmingham Unitarian Church. She has extensive experience in peaceful protest, political campaigns and democracy organizing. Julia is a dedicated pacifist and peace enthusiast as well as a nursing subject matter expert and patient advocate by trade.   Hosted by Birmingham Unitarian Church in Bloomfield Hills and Michigan UU Social Justice Network. REGISTRATION:  bit.ly/WagePeace2025 UPLIFT Trans/Nonbinary Monthly Virtual Gathering Space Uplift meets virtually on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Their Pastoral Group meets virtually on the 2nd Friday of each month. Click here for more information - https://www.uua.org/lgbtq/transnb. What do we do? Gatherings are a cozy community space where we connect with each other with games and breakout groups, share ideas and stories on all kinds of topics, listen to music and poetry (often by trans/nonbinary+ creators), and much more! PFLAG Great Lakes Bay Region A local chapter of the LGBTQ+ support group Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meets monthly in Saginaw. Their mission is "to create a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them." The meetings are at 4790 ½ Gratiot Road on the third Sunday of the month from 2:00-3:00. Please see Rev. Drew for more information including possible ride sharing from Mount Pleasant. 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. 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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