eNews for Thursday, July 6

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View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, July 6 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, July 9 to worship together with our minister Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present “Reflections on General Assembly.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.   General Assembly, the annual national gathering of Unitarian Universalists, was held last month in Pittsburgh, PA. Rev. Drew will share two important things from the conference: a vote to move forward on revising the statement of Unitarian Universalist values; and a keynote address on facism in America today. Zoom Invitation for July 9: 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: TBD 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 the General Assembly in Pittsburgh two weeks ago a colleague said to me, “Your picture is featured in a national article about abortion.” I said, “Are you sure?” I have not been interviewed for any article, nor could I imagine someone having my picture. I thought my colleague was mistaken, but she sent me the link and sure enough my picture appears in the heading and again in the body of the article. Here is a link to the full article, published by Politico.com on June 21 and entitled, “The sleeper legal strategy that could topple abortion bans.” 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 This Friday! - 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 UUFCM Board - Sunday, July 9 at 1pm Building - Monday, July 10 at 6pm Adult RE -  Monday, July 10 at 7pm Social Justice Coordinating -  Monday, July 10 at 7pm 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 July 9 and 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) First Friday Potluck - July 7 - This Friday! 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. Adult RE Committee Meeting The Adult RE Committee will be meeting on Monday, July 10, at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. Anyone interested is invited to attend.  School Shoe Drive 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! Happy Birthday! In July, we celebrate the birthdays of Guy Newland, John Campbell, Norma Bailey, Claire Lester, Sharon Rust, and Steve Lifson. For the year to come, we wish them much joy, good health for body and mind, and new (ad)ventures. May it be so. Save the Date! Annual UUFCM Picnic Please join us on Sunday, August 6, 2023, from 12:30-2:30pm for our Annual UUFCM Picnic at Isabella Township Park in Rosebush. More information will follow in the eNews. • • • Community News • • • 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.   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. Copyright © 2023 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.