eNews for Thursday, February 6

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

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, February 6 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, February 9, to worship with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "Preemptive Radical Inclusion." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am. "While diversity, equity and inclusion have become a primary target of the current United States government, they are all core Unitarian Universalist values. On this Sunday we focus on inclusion, using the work of UU minister CB Beal. Rev. Beal says that preemptive radical inclusion assumes that every group of people who might be included are already present." 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 February 9: Preemptive Radical Inclusion 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.  "Lessons from the Allagash" - February 2, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Responding in Love" - January 26, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Martin Luther King" - January 19, by Rev. Drew Frantz Minister’s Column In today’s news I read that Donald Trump is cancelling billions of dollars in international aid, and that Elon Musk is gaining access to the personal and financial data of millions of Americans. And let’s remember that on his first day, Trump released hundreds of violent criminals from jail. This is a very incomplete list! I could name many other alarming, illegal and immoral things that the MAGA government is doing. 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  NEW: 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 Board of Trustees - Sunday, February 9, at 1:00pm Social Justice Team - Monday, February 10, at 7:00pm Communications Team - Thursday, February 13, at 7:00pm Worship Team - Thursday, February 13, at 7:00pm Valentine Card Swap at UUFCM! ❤️ Join us on Sunday, February 9, before the service for a fun Valentine card exchange! Here’s how it works: Before the Service – Fill out a card to enter the drawing. After the Service – Draw a name to find out who you’ll be making or purchasing a Valentine for. 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. Can't make it on February 9? No problem! Contact Laura McBride at 989-772-5512 (call or text) or [email protected], and she’ll add your name and draw for you. The more, the merrier! □ 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! First Friday Potluck – Friday, February 7 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. UUA Common Read: "Authentic Selves" - 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!  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. UUFCM's Path to Membership Class - February 8 UUFCM's Path to Membership class will be held on Saturday, February 8, at 1:00pm. 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. Building Your Own Theology - Sunday, February 9 This six-week course, co-facilitated by Rev. Drew and Jim Dealing, starts on Sunday at noon. If you signed up to participate, you should have received an email with the details and the first reading assignment. If you didn't sign up, please contact Jim or Drew right away! Readers Theater Resumes! - Tuesday, February 11 Each second Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm, we meet in the fellowship hall and read a play aloud. Roles are assigned and scripts are available about ten days before meeting. No memorization required, but reading play prior to “performance” is strongly advised. Come and satisfy your inner actor! Contact Jim Dealing for more information (989-772-0269). You Are Invited to a Valentine's Party - 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! How to Participate: Bring a dish: Sign up to bring a dessert or appetizer to share. Sign-up sheets will be available on February 2 and 9. Share your talent: Showcase your special skills, such as singing, telling jokes, playing an instrument, performing a skit or poem, juggling, or anything else! Sign-up sheets for talent performances will also be available on February 2 and 9. Questions? Contact: Annette Pratt: 989-400-0173 Gisela Moffit: 989-513-7827 Laura McBride: 989-772-5512 Jen Prout: 989-400-3130 Stay tuned for more to come!!! 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. 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 • • • Daniel’s Polar Plunge!  On Saturday, February 8, Daniel Davis, a member of UUFCM, is doing a polar plunge to help raise money for the Special Olympics of Michigan.  If you are interested in donating to Daniel’s effort, click here. Ways to Donate for CA Wildfires The most impactful way to support disaster response is through financial donation, according to Bishop Wash, director of public relations for the Salvation Army. “Your donation helps meet both immediate and long-term needs. It also enables the purchase of supplies from local vendors, which supports community businesses. During emergencies, 100% of designated gifts are directed toward specific relief efforts.” Monetary donations allow organizations to purchase exactly what is needed in real time, whether it’s blankets, medical supplies, food, or temporary housing. This ensures that the support goes directly where it is most needed.   The following charities have been vetted by NBC News: California Community Foundation California Fire Foundation L.A. Fire Department Foundation Pasadena Humane Society Ventura County Community Foundation American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles Center for Disaster Philanthropy Direct Relief World Central Kitchen 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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