eNews for Thursday, July 13

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View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, July 13 Wendy Altmeier with her kids - Dom and Katy. Welcome Wendy! We are excited to announce that Wendy Altmeier has accepted a contract as UUFCM Administrative Assistant.  Her first day was July 1. She will be primarily working with the Newsletter, Order of Service and other administrative tasks.  Wendy moved to Midland over 15 years ago. She previously lived in Philadelphia and worked for the National Office of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as their Database Administrator. She moved to Midland with her son, Dominic, for better educational opportunities for him. She has a plethora of non-profit experience as the former Database & Technology Manager at Cancer Services and the former Development Administrator for The Children's Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region, both in Midland. She is currently the Office Administrator for the UU Fellowship of Midland for the past six years. Wendy lives in Midland with her kids (Dominic and Katy) and a few furry companions. In her spare time, she loves to read, spend time with her kids, and create horrendous art projects. She is excited to be here and get to know everyone! Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, July 16 to worship together with Laura McBride, who will present “The Spiritual Discipline of Love” by Rev. Phil Lund. The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30. "When our 3rd principle says, “encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations,” what does it mean? Does it apply only to individuals, or to the entire congregation? If Unitarian Universalism is to remain relevant, perhaps it’s time for us to embrace the spiritual discipline of love and move from a spirituality of “me” to one of “we.”" Zoom Invitation for July 16: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 402489218 One tap mobile +16468769923,,402489218# Phone - audio only +1 646 876 9923 Upcoming Services July 16: The Spiritual Discipline of Love July 23: Every Body Is a Good Body July 30: TBD   If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out our website sermon archive for sermon video and/or text. Minister on Study Leave Rev. Drew will be on study leave July 10-16, then on vacation through August 6. During this time off from regular duties, Drew is still available for urgent business as needed. Texting 440-935-0129 is the best way to reach Rev. Drew. Minister’s Column At General Assembly last month, a vote was taken to approve the changes to Article 2 of the bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association—the statement of values and principles that UU’s agree upon. More than 2,000 delegates voted, representing UU congregations from all 50 states. The vote was 86% in favor. Read more 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. - Sunday Worship - Summer Worship Series through August 13 - Welcome to UU Orientation - Last Sundays at 12:30pm (resuming in July) - 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 - Summer Break - resumes August 2 - Drawing Workshop - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 10am - First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm - Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm 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. If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form if you haven’t already. Summer Schedule Simplified Worship Welcome to summer! Through August 13, Sunday morning services will be slightly simpler with no choir and no children’s story. However, childcare and activities will be provided. Six services during the summer will be led by lay worship leaders Laura McBride, Norma Bailey and Jessica Jernigan; two will be led by Rev. Drew Frantz.   Minister’s Time Off Rev. Drew takes six weeks of time off during the summer months, and is also away for a full week at General Assembly. He will be here to lead worship on August 13. Although regular office hours are suspended for the summer, you may still contact Drew with any urgent Fellowship business if needed, or with significant pastoral care needs. Texting 440-935-0129 is the best way to reach Rev. Drew. UUFCM is Hiring! UUFCM is looking to hire a new Director of Religious Education. If you know anyone interested and qualified, please encourage them to apply, as the best employees sometimes are recruited by word of mouth. UUFCM policy states that we usually do not hire members of the congregation to be employees. Applications and inquiries should go to Rev. Drew. The job posting is here and on our website: Job posting for Director of Religious Education (6-10 hours per week starting August 15) Special Collection Plate This Sunday - The Care Store The special social justice “plate” offering on July 16 is for The Care Store, a local  agency that works with over 35 social service agencies, schools, and churches in Isabella County to provide people with much needed personal hygiene and household cleaning products. You can donate online to the  Social Justice Fund at our website or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with “The Care Store” indicated in the memo line. Caulkers Needed The Building and Grounds Team is planning on caulking all the windows in the UUFCM building to reduce heat loss.  If you have experience caulking, please contact Norma Bailey ([email protected]) or Jen Prout ([email protected]). School Shoe Drive - Only Two Weeks Left! The Social Justice Coordinating Team (SJCT), in coordination with five other local churches, is leading a School Shoe Drive to collect new and very gently used tennis shoes and casual shoes, any size, for school children.  The drive goes for the month of July, and the shoes will be donated to Clothing, INC, in time for parents to get shoes in August before school starts up.  Please place them in the box provided in the Fellowship Hall by July 31.  If you’re not a shopper, any member of the SJCT will be glad to shop for you! Save the Date! Annual UUFCM Picnic Please join us on Sunday, August 6, 2023, from 1-4:00pm for our Annual UUFCM Picnic at Isabella Township Park in Rosebush. More information will follow in the eNews. • • • Community News • • • "Sound of Freedom" - Recommended Movie Jennifer Davis and Norma Bailey highly recommend the movie “Sound of Freedom,” now showing at Celebration Cinema. “Sound of Freedom” is the amazing true story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent, who quit his job in order to devote his life to rescuing children from global sex traffickers. The link to the trailer is below.           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt0kp4VW1cI We Are Invited! UU Fellowship of Midland Summer Fun Day/Weekend Saturday, July 22 Herrick Recreational Area (near Clare) There will be: a free breakfast at a park pavilion the pavilion will be available all day after breakfast hiking, games, swimming, kayaking, and other activities a bonfire and social event in the evening Herrick offers tent sites, cabins, and RV sites. If you wish to camp, you must make your own reservations with Isabella County Parks & Recreation. Please let UUFoM know that you are coming by signing uphere. Signing up helps us plan what to bring. We'll provide a breakfast on Saturday morning -- pancakes, and probably scrambled eggs and some breakfast meat. If you'll be there for breakfast and you have diet restrictions, please email Ellen Severson at [email protected].   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. “Deepening Connections” 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 2023-2024 President: Cynthia Damer (989.506.5750; [email protected]) President Elect: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected]) Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected]) Secretary: Laurie Meadows (989.317.8299; [email protected]) Trustee: Victoria Sladek (989.506.7039; [email protected]) Trustee: Monica Jean (616.443.8782; [email protected]) Trustee: Kevin Daum (989.546.7701; [email protected]) Team and Committee Leaders Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey Communications Coordinating Team - Amy Voege 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 - Norma Bailey Anti-Racism Task Force - Norma Bailey   We are a religious community guided by love, transforming our lives and our world. 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