eNews for Thursday, January 31

1/31/2019

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eNews for Thursday, January 31

We need each other. Each of us is responsible for what happens on this earth. We are each absolutely essential, each totally irreplaceable. Each of us is the swing vote in the bitter election battle now being waged between our best and our worst possibilities.

~ Leonard Peltier

All-Congregation Retreat Report

At our all-congregation retreat held on Saturday, January 26, an excellent turn-out of members and friends helped us begin the process of moving forward into our new future without Dawn Daniels as our minister. After explanations of various ministerial options, the membership voted to have the Transition Team apply to the UUA for a full-time, one-year renewable contract minister. Once that decision was made, the Team then led several interactive small-group activities which addressed questions that will need to be answered in the application process: How do we describe ourselves? How do we live our values? Who do we want to be in five years? What roles would we want our minister to play? How do we define good preaching and worship? While there were lots of variations in the responses to these questions, a number of themes emerged which will guide the Team in writing our application. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact any member of the Transition Team (Norma Bailey, Jim Dealing, Laura McBride, Guy Newland, and Katie Zapoluch).

We would like to thank all those people who made the retreat such a success. The hot breakfast provided by the UU Board was an excellent start to the morning! The Transition Team did a great job presenting information and leading us in the small-group activities while several members were invaluable facilitators of the small-group discussions. And everyone who attended the retreat contributed so much – their questions, their ideas, their support, and their help with all the clean-up! The heart and soul of UUFCM is alive and well!

Worship Matters

We will gather this Sunday, February 3 to worship together with Norma J. Bailey presenting a sermon titled “Rise and Shine,” by Rev. Lissa Anne Gundlach – we hope you will join us.

“…acknowledging Black History month in these times is more critical than ever.” ~ Lissa Anne Gundlach

If you happen to miss being in worship on any given Sunday, the texts to previous sermon messages (and some of the readings as well) can be found in our website sermon archive.

Upcoming Services

February 10: A Republic – If You Can Keep It!, presented by Guy Newland
February 17: The Challenge of Climate Change: The Time Is Now, presented by Jim Dealing
February 24: The Rocky Shores of Memory, presented by Tom Moffit

First Friday Potluck - February 1

Matt Cavalieri is hosting, and the theme is 'Foods You L❤️VE. We will also be celebrating the February birthdays of Annette Pratt, George Lentz, Alexis Calhoun, Kris Los, Laura McBride, and Glenn Lewandos. The potluck begins at 6:30 p.m. - helping hands are welcome at 6:15 p.m. to assist with set-up preparations.

Infant Pantry Collection

Donations for the Infant Pantry are collected on the first Sunday of each month. Most needed items are things for baby care - diapers and pull-ups in sizes 4, 5 or 6, creams, shampoos, lotions, and baby food in jars. To donate money, make the check out to CCN (Community Compassionate Network) with memo “Infant Pantry.” Contact Tom Moffit (989-772-1602; moffi1tc@cmich.edu) with questions.

CUUPs - Covenant of UU Pagans - Imbolc Ritual

Imbolc, also known as Candlemas and Groundhog's Day, marks the middle of Winter and holds the promise of Spring. It is a festival of spiritual purification and dedication. We invite those interested in participating in this ritual to join us at 3:00 pm today.

RE News

Next month, the RE Team will be holding a Valentine's Day Celebration at UUFCM from 4:15-6:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 16th. All youth are welcome to join us in making cookies, playing games, doing crafts, and decorating Valentines for the congregation!

Volunteer for ICRH

ICRH is always in need of volunteers – afternoons for the day shelter, 4:00-6:30 for intake, and evenings, overnights and mornings at the various churches. Go to ICRHouse.org to sign up to volunteer. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) or Joyce Henricks (henri1je@cmich.edu).

UUFCM Family Dance - Saturday, February 16!

On Saturday, February 16, from 6-10 p.m. at Jameson Hall (just east of Isabella Road off Pickard on Bud Street), all members, friends and guests of UUFCM are invited to a family dance. There is no cost other than there will be a basket at the door to accept donations to cover the rental of the building. Bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic beverage if you would like. The DJ would like to set up the play list ahead of time, so if you have any requests of music that you would like to dance to, please send or give your list to Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) or Jen Prout (poutyprouty66@yahoo.com). Polish up those dancing shoes!

MidAmerica Regional Assembly - Save the Date

The MidAmerica Regional Assembly will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, April 5-7, 2019. The keynote address will be presented by UUA President, Susan Frederick-Gray, and there will be multiple workshops. If you are interested in attending (with support from the Fellowship), contact Norma Bailey at 989-560-3952 or at baile1nj@cmich.edu).

A Hearty Farewell Party for Dawn!

A hearty thank you to all for making Dawn’s Farewell Party such a success – an excellent send-off to someone who has been such an important part of us for many years. Thanks to the Coordinating Team for organizing all the activities - the Ode to Dawn song, the testimonials, the presents, the Messages in the Bottle, the questions for the pastor (lots from the kids!) and all the delicious food and drink. A special thank you to Kris Los who single-handedly set up the foods/drinks and made them look pretty!

Stones on the Road – Dear Beloveds…

“We have to have a manner of embodying that to which we would point.”
~ Guy Newland, in sermon “Something on the Way” 3/25/18

If I have achieved nothing else here, my hope is that I have managed to embody in some portion that to which I have pointed. I found the above quote as I was preparing for my final sermon reflection this past Sunday – Guy’s message is well worth revisiting – you can find it in our website sermon archive.

I open this missive with thoughts of embodiment because I find myself in this moment so completely bereft of my ability to convey with words my love and gratitude to you all. So, I will put aside the internal pressure I feel to compose something artful for the ages, and simply provide you a brief list of closing thoughts:

Thank you so very much for the wonderful farewell celebration bash on Sunday – please know that I was so very overwhelmed by the expressions of your love and generosity that my brain was barely functioning…I offer this in explanation for my obvious inability to respond well to the whole “Questions for Dawn” segment of the party. The old synapses just weren’t firing properly.
While I haven’t as yet worked my way through the “Messages in a Bottle” gift – I did notice that many of the scrolled messages appear to be written on paper with the image of a map on the reverse side. Remember my final story I shared in service on Sunday…about the boy who pieced back together a map of the world? I can’t express how happy that little piece of confluence makes me!
“Stones on the Road” has been a theme that I have returned to again and again throughout my work here at UUFCM – one regret I have is that I didn’t do a better job of keeping up with the periodic written ministerial missives (titled, of course, “Stones on the Road”) that I had planned to provide you in addition to my weekly sermon reflections. You’ll see on the website the pitiful number of offerings I’ve managed. I’m thinking now that possibly that intention will come to fruition in the form of a blog somewhere down the road…
Speaking of stones – I don’t believe I’ve ever told you this – the stones that we use each week as part of our joys and sorrows ritual…those originally were my stones, stones I have gathered on my travels through the years. Years ago, when we transitioned from candle lighting to using stones and water for our ritual, I brought in my stones for us to use. Those stones are part of the community now. They are my gift to you.

“If memory had a voice, it wouldn’t sing
“Remember me.”
It would call out,
“Don’t forget who you are.”
~ Soul Matters Sharing Circle

There is a song that has been circling through me over the last several months here – I’d never heard this song before stumbling on it in the course of doing my weekly worship prep research. It seems to have crossed my path just so I may offer it to you now as benediction to my time here with you. Recorded at the 2012 Last Night Brattleboro (VT) event, please listen to “Here Is My Home” by Si Kahn.

Good friends, from whom we now must part
   Where are we bound?
Your hands and voices lift my heart
   Here is my home

Chorus:
Come darkness, come night
   Where are we bound?
Come morning, come light
   Here is my home

For those who work in harmony
   Where are we bound?
Can learn to live in unity
   Here is my home

If we can join ourselves in song
   Where are we bound?
Our hearts will live when we are gone
   Here is my home

The spirit that finds music here
   Where are we bound?
Will sing forever in the air
   Here is my home

• • • Community News • • •

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Open House
The Great Lakes Bay Region group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is holding an Open House on Sunday, February 10 at 3:30-5 pm at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saginaw. More information is available on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.

Black History Month
at CMU
Be sure to check out the various events on campus for Black History Month

When I care to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision – then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.

~ Audre Lorde

Got News?
The deadline for submissions to
the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly e-News
is Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Please send all submissions to admin@uufcm.org.

Mindfulness in Parking Requested
Let us be mindful to leave the parking spaces directly across from our Wisconsin entrance open for our friends who have mobility issues. Thank you for your consideration.

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2018-2019
President: Mary Alsager (989.773.2595; malsager@yahoo.com)
Past-President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu)
President Elect: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; cprard@gmail.com)
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; tlrobbie1@gmail.com)
Co-Treasurer: Jen Prout (989.400.3130; poutyprouty66@yahoo.com)
Secretary: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; becht1bh@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; janis_shinn@yahoo.com)
Trustee: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; jones3aj@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Carolyn Hancock (517.881.6006; hancock60@yahoo.com)

We are a
religious community
guided by love,
transforming our lives
and our world.

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