eNews for Thursday, January 19

1/19/2023

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eNews for Thursday, January 19

Martin Luther King Peace March

Several of us from UUFCM, along with a CMU graduate student from India, marched in the Martin Luther King Peace March on Monday, January 16, carrying our UUFCM banner. After the wet (!) march, we walked to the Fellowship Hall for hot chocolate and a time of reflection. See the Minister’s Column for Rev. Drew’s reflection on the march.

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, January 22 to worship together with our minister Drew Frantz, who will present “Elderhood: Growing in Wisdom and Love.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.

“Becoming an elder is a self-defined moment in life when we decide that we have wisdom and leadership based on our life experience, that we are moved to share with others through love. We will consider the perspective of developmental psychologists as well as theologians, thinking about the place of elders in our families and in our communities.”

Zoom Invitation for January 22:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#

Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services
January 29: An Ever-Changing Faith
February 5: Coming to Terms
February 12: Growing into Our Future

If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out our website sermon archive for sermon video and/or text.

Minister’s Column

On Monday I celebrated Martin Luther King Day with others from this Fellowship at two local events. In the morning, we attended the CommUNITY Peace Brunch at Central Michigan University which featured three student speakers reflecting on the meaning of the day. In the afternoon, we carried our UUFCM banner in the march from the university campus to downtown. We finished the day by warming up with hot chocolate in the UU building, sharing our take-aways from the day’s events…
Read more here.

Staying Safe in COVID and Flu Season

A new variant of COVID is spreading and the risk of influenza in Michigan is high. The best tool to prevent the spread of disease and to limit the severity of infection is to get vaccinated and boosted. At our UUFCM events, masks remain optional and encouraged. Please don't attend if you are sick! The current list of UUFCM COVID policies may be found on our website.

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 - Last Sunday of the month 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
- Coffee House Open Mic - Cancelled until further notice
- Annual All-Congregation Retreat - Saturday, January 21 at 8am

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
Covid Task Force - Sunday, January 22 at 7pm
Communications Coordinating Team - Monday, January 23 at 7:30pm

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

Worship Services Survey

The Worship Team meets regularly to plan services with the purpose of providing high-quality inspiring worship services every Sunday. We are asking for feedback from the congregation on what you love in our worship, what is missing in our worship, and any improvements you might suggest.
We invite you to give us this feedback in one of four ways:

contact one of us directly and explain your thoughts
fill out our survey (12 questions) online with this link
fill out our survey (12 questions) on paper – look for copies in the lobby
join us at a designated table in the fellowship hall after worship on Sunday to talk about worship at the UUFCM

With gratitude from your UUFCM Worship Team:
Norma Bailey, Rev. Drew Frantz, Minister, Jessica Jernigan,
Laura McBride, Jakobe Neal (Director of Religious Education),
and Annette Pratt

UUFCM Board of Trustees Open Positions

At our annual meeting in May, we will have elections for four positions on the UUFCM Board of Trustees. Those positions are: President-Elect, Secretary, and two Trustees.

The President-Elect automatically becomes
President for the following year.
The Secretary position has a tw0-year term.
One Trustee position has a two-year term.
One Trustee position has a one-year term.

If you would like the Nominating Committee to consider you as a possible candidate for one of these four positions, or if you have related questions, please contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu; 989.560.3952) or Cynthia Damer (ckdamer@gmail.com; 989.506.5750) during January.

All-Congregation Annual Retreat and Business Meeting

January 21, 2023, 8am-Noon

Please join us for our annual all-congregation retreat – 8:00 hot breakfast followed by the hybrid meeting at 9:00. We will begin with a brief business meeting regarding the UUFCM bylaw changes that have been emailed to everyone. The topic of the retreat itself will be the draft revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws, which include the 7 Principles. The revision report was published this week and can be read here. The link for you Zoomers to the retreat is on the UUFCM Calendar.

Message from Our New Nursery Room Teacher, Katherine Stillson

Hi everyone!
I am so happy to be joining the UU family! My name is Katherine, and I am currently a third-year student at CMU. I'm from Marshall, Michigan. Marshall is a small town that is about two hours south of Mount Pleasant and is known for its historic downtown. At CMU, I am studying Elementary Education. After graduation, I hope to be a third-grade teacher. Outside of school, I enjoy attending cycling classes, watching sitcoms, and spending time with my friends.

Before coming to the UU, I had worked at a Montessori Preschool in Marshall, Michigan as a Lead Teacher for the two-year-old/ three-year-old room. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to work with young children as well as learn more about the Montessori approach to education. Before receiving this role, I spent lots of hours babysitting for friends and family, and I still continue to do this when I have the time.

I look forward to getting to know everyone!
Katherine

Join Us!

The Adult Religious Education Committee is soliciting new members to join the committee! The committee only meets a few times per year in its new format, so join us with your energy and ideas! We also are looking for ideas for an early Spring program and another for the Fall. Please contact Jodi Fisher (jbfisher121@gmail.com; 989-560-5135) about committee membership interest or program ideas.

Has Your Contact Information Changed?

We are in the process of updating our Directory. If you made any changes since August (postal address, phone number, email, your name, or added children), please check our online version to see if it needs updating. If so, contact Gisela at gbmoffit@gmail.com or Kirsten at admin@uufcm.org before this Sunday, January 22. Contact Gisela for the password if necessary. Thank you very much for helping us to keep the Directory current.

New Need for ICRH Volunteers

The week of January 22-29 ICRH has unexpectedly had a church need to cancel their week of hosting. First Church of Christ has graciously offered the use of their building for that week to house the guests. Although all the meals are now covered, the need is for evening volunteers (7-10pm), overnight volunteers (10pm-3am or 3am-8am, and morning volunteers (7-9am). Please sign up using this link. If you have questions about the volunteer duties, contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu; 989-560-3952).

Share Your Soles!

Our Share Your Soles Campaign is starting to wind down. You only have two more months to clean out your closets (or perhaps your family’s or friends’ closets) to donate any and all shoes/boots, etc., by bringing them to the Fellowship Hall to be donated to Clothing, INC. Let’s aim for 500 by our closing date of March 14!

Share Your Talents
and Join the Fun

As part of our Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, March 18, we are planning a big party in the library annex and are looking for people who want to be part of the entertainment program. We would like UU skits, poetry readings, instrumental performances (sorry, no piano available), songs, dance performances, group games, jugglers, magicians, etc. If you are interested or want more information, contact the co-hosts: Laura McBride or Gisela Moffit.

Movie Night - January 28

The definition of laundromat is “a self-operated, coin-operated washer and dryer system,” right? Well, maybe not, especially when it involves Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, and Antonio Banderas. Join us at 7pm on January 28 for the movie The Laundromat, and see how the “dirty laundry” gets cleaned. This movie is based on true events and does have some strong language. Snacks are provided.

Welcome to UU Orientation - January 29

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; Lmcbride010@gmail.com
Please let Laura know whether you will be attending via Zoom or in-person by the Friday prior to the orientation.

• • • Community News • • •

Martin Luther King, Jr. Week

January 16-20, 2023 at CMU
Annually, the third week in January kicks off the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy with a week of activities organized by the Multicultural Academic Student Services. Most events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Seating is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.
Download the full calendar of events here.

Bigger than Roe: Movie & March

Sunday, January 22, 2:15-5:15pm
Midland Public Library Auditorium
Join Women of Michigan Action Network (WOMAN) to watch the movie Call Jane at the public library auditorium – doors open at 2:15 pm, the movie starts at 2:30 pm, and the march begins around 4:45pm. Bring your protest signs and stay after the movie for the march (weather permitting). We are all born free and equal in dignity and rights. The Supreme Court of the U.S. and the United States Congress have failed in their obligation…
R.S.V.P. now.

Jewish Heritage Week

The community is invited to attend the various events during Jewish Heritage Week, January 23-27. Drew was interviewed and quoted in the most recent CMLife student newspaper regarding the Jewish religion and culture; a copy of the interview is posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.

Free COVID Tests

The US government is again offering free COVID home tests. They also provide an explanation of how to secure additional tests through your insurance.

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 admin@uufcm.org.

Drew’s Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
minister@uufcm.org
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; staceyp555@gmail.com)
Past-President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; normabailey.uufcm@gmail.com)
President Elect: Cynthia Damer (989.506.5750; ckdamer@gmail.com)
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; tlrobbie1@gmail.com)
Secretary: Elaine Emerick (989.621.6063; ebundy84@gmail.com)
Trustee: Victoria Sladek (989.506.7039; victoriasladek@gmail.com)
Trustee: Debbie Reid (989.854.9830; debbiereiduufcm@gmail.com)
Trustee: Penny Swart (989.330.3587; ps.unicm@gmail.com)

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 - Cynthia Damer
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 © 2023 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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