eNews for Thursday, January 16

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

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, January 16 People’s March in Lansing on Saturday, January 18 A number of us are going to participate in the People’s March (comparable to the People’s March on Washington, DC) on Saturday, January 18, in Lansing. The march is not about one particular issue but rather to unite people with commonalities that we want to defend and to have our voices be heard. The march will be from 1-3 pm, and we will share rides leaving at 11:00 am from the church. If you would like to join us, register on the link below and then contact Norma Bailey ([email protected]) or at 989-560-3952 for transportation arrangements. https://map.peoplesmarch.com/events/people-s-march-lansing?share=7e563579-87bf-4fe2-b478-ab5eb82fc7f3&source=email-share-button&utm_medium=&utm_source=email Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, January 12, to worship with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "Martin Luther King." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am. "Unitarian Universalists follow the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in envisioning a 'beloved community' where love unites and frees us. On this day every year we celebrate the life and work of Dr. King and re-dedicate ourselves to the version of the American dream he articulated. With Dr. King’s holiday coinciding with the inauguration of Donald Trump, the moment is ripe for reflection and comparison. Where are we today in America? How are we called to carry forth the prophetic work set in motion during the civil rights movement?" 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 January 19: Martin Luther King January 26: Responding in Love 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.  "Guest at Your Table" - November 17, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Gratitude" - November 24, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Bodhi Day" - December 8, by Rev. Drew Frantz Minister’s Column I was nine years old when Jimmy Carter’s term as president began and thirteen when it ended. I remember the gas lines and inflation that marked this period; I remember the Iran hostage crisis; and I remember the Camp David Peace Accords mediated by Carter. An environmental pioneer, Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed on the roof of the White House—which Ronald Reagan later had removed. As the years and decades passed, Carter’s presidency looked better and better in retrospect—and his post-presidency was equally remarkable. His love of peace and social justice continued, with his non-profit center doing outstanding humanitarian work. I once learned a small fact that I will never forget... 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  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, January 16, at 7:00pm Youth RE Team - Sunday, January 19, at 3:30pm Help Furnish the New Homeless Shelter! Isabella County Restoration House (ICRH) is in the final portion of its capital campaign to have a permanent homeless shelter in Mt. Pleasant. They are asking people to “purchase” furnishings for the final renovation of the building – chairs, beds, tables, etc. See attached brochure. If you would like to donate an item by yourself, you can do so by downloading the brochure and sending in your personal donation. However, since our special plate collection for January 19 was already designated for ICRH, your Social Justice Coordinating Team will collect our donations from the plate collection as well as any donations made on our website and determine which item(s) we as UUFCM will donate. Please join us in this effort on Janaury 19! You can also donate online to the  Social Justice Special Plate Collection Fund at our website, or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with “ICRH” indicated in the memo line. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March - This Monday, January 20 The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace March will be held on Monday, January 20, and it will be great for us to have a large number of UUs marching behind our UUFCM banner! The march starts at 3:00pm at the Bovee University Center Rotunda and ends up at the downtown center. We will meet in front of the Art Gallery (next door to the University Center, near the corner of Preston and Franklin) at 2:50pm to line up behind our banner. Dress warm and come join us!  Game Night! - Monday, January 20 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]). Movie Night - Saturday, January 25 Many believe that successful military campaigns stem from meticulous planning and expert intelligence, but sometimes, victory comes down to pure luck. Such was the case in the Pacific Battle of Midway. Join us on January 25 at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall for a screening of Midway. Enjoy an evening of history, drama, and freshly popped popcorn! UUFCM Retreat - Saturday, January 25  Every January we hold our all-congregation retreat for members and friends.  This year, the retreat will be on Saturday, January 25 with a hot breakfast served from 8:00-8:45, and the retreat activities from 9:00-12:00. Our theme this year is "Responding in Love to a Threatening World,” and we will explore the theme with small and large group discussions. What actions can we take individually and collectively as UUFCM to respond in love? Everyone is welcome!  Looking forward to seeing you there! UUFCM needs YOU! Want to get involved, but have little time? We have the perfect opportunity for you to be part of our faith community by volunteering for hospitality on a Sunday when it is convenient for you. We need greeters, pre-service hosts, post-service hosts and refreshment providers. On Saturday, January 25, before and after the congregational retreat, you can sign up for any task you would like to try. Bring your calendars to find the date(s) that would work best for you. For more information contact Gisela ([email protected]). See you there! Directory Update Request We are getting ready to print a new Directory in February. Have there been any changes in your life?  New phone, new email, postal address, or pronouns (optional?)  Please let Gisela ([email protected]) or Wendy ([email protected]) know before Sunday, January 26. Thanks for your help and support! Are You Digitally Secure? The Adult RE team is pleased to announce its first class of 2025! Aaron Jones will present an entry-level overview of basic digital security, including best practices regarding passwords, communicating online, and ways to identify and protect against phishing attempts. Please join us on Sunday, January 26, after coffee hour. For more information, contact Aaron at [email protected]. "Building Your Own Theology" Course Sundays at noon - beginning February 2 Jim Dealing and Rev. Drew will jointly lead a six-week exploration of personal values and beliefs that culminates in creating your own personal statement of belief. Along the way we address our individual religious histories; thoughts about God; life and death; and the purpose of living. We use a modified version of the course laid out in Building Your Own Theology by Richard Gilbert. The book is out of print, so we will provide copies of key passages and exercises. Each of the six meetings includes large and small group discussion, with recommended readings and reflections. We will meet on six Sundays: February 2, 9, 16 and 23; March 2 and 9. Please let Rev. Drew or Jim Dealing know if you are interested in attending. 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. 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. • • • Community News • • • CMU Calendar of Events - Martin Luther King Jr. Week Monday, Jan. 20 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. CommUNITY Peace Brunch: 9:30 a.m., Finch Fieldhouse. Doors open at 9 a.m. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, hosted by the  Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center: noon, Bovee University Center Rotunda. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. CommUNITY Peace March and Vigil: 3 p.m., Bovee University Center Tuesday, Jan. 21 Mission Possible: A Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Showcase: 6 p.m., Bovee University Center Rotunda Wednesday, Jan. 22 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. keynote speaker Diana Patton: 7 p.m., French Auditorium (EHS Building, Room 118) Friday, Jan. 24 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. charity basketball game: 6:30 p.m., Student Activity Center (Courts 5 and 6) 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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