eNews for Thursday, July 27

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View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, July 27 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, July 30, to worship together with Norma Bailey, who will present “This Time When We Might Be Flying” by Rev. Dr. Megan Foley. The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am. "As we continue to move forward past the pandemic into our future, Rev. Dr. Megan Foley asks, “What’s next for your congregation? What’s next for Unitarian Universalism?” In her sermon, she explores the opportunities that this era can 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 July 30: This Time When We Might Be Flying August 6: TBD August 13: TBD August 20: TBD If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out our website sermon archive for sermon video and/or text. Welcome to UU Orientation - July 30 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 12:30pm. Sessions run approximately an hour and a half. For more info or to register for Welcome to UU, contact: Laura McBride: 989.772.5512 [email protected] Please let Laura know whether you will be attending via Zoom or in person by the Friday prior to the orientation. Minister on Study Leave Rev. Drew is on vacation and will be back in the office on August 8. 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 There is no minister’s column this week because Rev. Drew is away on vacation. He will be back in the office on August 8. Read previous columns 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 - 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. Team Meetings Building Team -Tuesday, August 1 at 6pm 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) Tragic Loss of Chris Bailey Chris Bailey, pictured here with his wife Nancy White, died suddenly and unexpectedly this week. Chris and Nancy are both founding members of UUFCM. We are all shocked and saddened by this loss. Arrangements for a memorial service will be shared when they are available. Until then, we hold Nancy and everyone who loves Chris in support and love. Happy Birthday! In August, we celebrate the birthdays of Penny Swart, Terrie Robbie, Liz Dealing, Joyce Riddick, Bob Clason, and Betty McBride. For the year to come, we wish them much joy, good health for body and mind, and new (ad)ventures. May it be so. Lammas Ritual - July 30 In Earth-based traditions, Lammas is usually celebrated on August 1, honoring the first harvest of the season. The days are starting to grow shorter, but the weather is at its peak of warmth and sunshine.  We invite those of you who are interested to participate. We hold the ritual promptly at 6:00pm, in hybrid format (in-person/Zoom). There will be no potluck. Make Joyful Noise! The Joyful Noise Choir will begin rehearsals for the fall on Wednesday, August 2, at 7:00pm. If you like to sing – even if you don’t read music – now would be a perfect time to join us as we are beginning to learn new music! Contact Norma Bailey at 989-560-3952 or [email protected] if you have questions. First Friday Potluck - August 4 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. Annual UUFCM Picnic - Sunday, August 6 UUFCM Annual Potluck Picnic is fast approaching! It will again be held on Sunday, August 6 from 1-4:00pm at the Rosebush Park enclosed pavilion. We are looking for set-up helpers from 12-1:00pm and clean-up helpers form 3:30-4ish pm. We are providing burgers, dogs, a vegetarian option, beverages, chips and a dessert of some kind. We are looking for people to bring dishes to pass. There are sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall or you can call/text Jen Prout at 989.400.3130. There will be cornhole and ladder ball games, and softball equipment for anyone interested. Looking forward to seeing you all there!  Please RSVP by signing up on the sheets in the Fellowship Hall or by call/text to Jen Prout at 989.400.3130. If there are any questions or dietary concerns, please let Jen know.  Thank you, Social Fun Trio (Jen Prout, Annette Pratt and Kris Los) Picking Vegetables at George's "Farm!" The Youth RE program is inviting all young people to pick vegetables for the Soup Kitchen at the “farm” of George Lentz on Saturday, August 12.  We’ll meet at the church at 9:00am, car pool out together, pick veggies, and have lemonade and snacks together.  Please let any member of the Youth RE team know if you plan to join us – Norma Bailey, Carla Jensen, Jennifer Davis and Monica Jean. Adult RE Fall Classes The Adult RE Team is thinking about hosting another "Building Your Own Theology" class series if there is enough interest. Would you like to attend this series, possibly offered in the fall? If so, please email Jim Dealing at [email protected] or Jodi Fisher at [email protected]. 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 - Final Weekend! 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! • • • 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 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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