eNews for Thursday, July 9

7/9/2020

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eNews for Thursday, July 9

Worship Matters

This Sunday at 10:30am, we will participate in the all-Michigan UUs worship service in which 17 UU congregations across Michigan will contribute an element to the service. Here is the invitation from the Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church:

“Our beloved community of UU Michiganders and their friends and family will come together in worship on Sunday, July 12th at 10:30 am.

Up to 1000 people may participate via Zoom. The service will also be streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Since there are only 1000 connections on Zoom, you are encouraged to use only one device for each household. Following the service, there will be a state-wide coffee hour gathering. If you do not plan to attend a breakout room after the service, consider watching it via Facebook or YouTube.

Please join us in this precious opportunity like no other to explore hope as we share sacred space across the “Internet of Spirit.”

Download the Order of Service.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 824 8787 4268

One tap mobile
+13017158592,,82487874268#

Audio Only
+1 301 715 8592
Or find your local number:

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

Upcoming Services

July 19: Summer Worship Series: “What positive things have come to you because of the pandemic?”
July 26: “Living in Covenant”
August 2: Summer Worship Series: “In what ways has your understanding of the Black Lives Matter movement changed over time?”
August 9: Summer Worship Series: “What is important to you this year? How have your priorities changed?”

Minister's Column

Read the Minister's Column at uufcm.org/andrew-frantz.

Minister on Vacation to Celebrate Marriage

Drew Frantz and his partner Mary Melaragno are happy to announce that they are getting married in a small ceremony with friends and family. Drew will be on vacation from July 9-17.

Widening the Circle

Access to UUFCM Zoom Services and Events

With all of our Fellowship events on Zoom these days, we want to be sure that all members and friends of UUFCM have access. If you are in need of a device such as a tablet or phone in order to join our events, please let Drew know...and if you have a tablet or phone that you could donate, please let Drew know.

Upcoming Events - with Zoom Links

Click the link to join in!

- Sunday worship
- Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sundays at 12:30pm
- Choir R ehearsal - Sundays at 7pm
- White Fragility Workshop - Mondays at 7pm through July
- UU discussion group - Wednesdays at 10am
- Check-In Circle with Drew - Wednesdays at 4pm Cancelled July 15
- Coffee with Candi - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 5:30pm.
Contact Candi for information.
- Game Night - Wednesdays at 7pm
- W omen’s Circle - 4th Thursdays at 7pm
- Coffee House Open Mic - 1st Fridays at 7pm

Event links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Team Meetings - with Zoom Links

Click the link to join in!

UUFCM Board Meeting - Sunday, July 12 at 1pm
Environmental Team Meeting - Monday, July 13 at 7pm
Building Team Meeting - UUFCM Social Hall, Tuesday, July 14 at 6pm
Social Justice Coordinating Team Meeting - Tuesday, July 14 at 7:30pm
Voting Rights Meeting - Wednesday, July 15 at 4:30pm

Meeting links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Drew’s Ordination Ceremony, July 25 at 2pm

In the Unitarian Universalist tradition, only a Unitarian Universalist congregation has the power to ordain a minister. Drew has completed all the requirements to serve as a minister, but has not taken this step until now. Being ordained means that a minister can take the title of Reverend, can perform weddings, and (in our tradition) can wear a stole.

Drew’s home congregation, the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan will jointly ordain Drew. Everyone at the ordination will be asked to articulate three blessings: what is your blessing for Drew in his work as a UU minister; what is your blessing for yourself; and what is your blessing for the whole world? All are welcome for this ceremony of ordination, held virtually on Zoom.

White Fragility Workshop - Monday, July 13

Adult Religious Education (RE) Class
Carolyn Hancock and Joyce Henricks will facilitate a workshop using the book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo. The goal of this workshop is to help ourselves as white people understand our identity as white people within a racist system, and to work together to develop white stamina in order to be part of the solution. We meet on Mondays via Zoom at 7pm, through July 27. Please read chapters 4 and 5 before class, in order to be prepared for our discussion. Join via Zoom!

We Need to Hear from You If…

…you moved, got a new phone number or an additional email address, etc. We are in the process of updating the Directory, and want to be as accurate and current as possible. So we need your help! Please check your listing here. It is password protected, so if you do not remember the password, contact our administrative assistant, Kirsten at admin@uufcm.org or Gisela at gbmoffit@gmail.com. If you have changes, please contact Kirsten by July 31. Many thanks for your help!

DRE Position Opening Announcement

As many children and families know, this will be Kendra Peffers's final year in the role of Director of Religious Education (DRE) at UUFCM. In preparation for the end of her term in this position (August 31, 2020), we are posting for a replacement to begin in the fall. We want to use this as an opportunity to hear from the members of our congregation to see if there is someone who you believe would be a good fit for this position and to ask for your help in spreading the word. The position's flyer can be viewed here: DRE Flyer. Kendra is also happy to answer any questions related to the position or the RE Program at re.uufcm@gmail.com.

RE News

The RE Program continues to provide religious education over Facebook on the group called UUFCM RE Program (Click here to go to the RE Facebook group). Virtual RE lessons are posted every other week to the Facebook group. Our Kids' Coffee Hour is held every Sunday at 11:45 a.m. over Webex for check-ins, games, and themed activities (click here on Sundays to join the Kids' Coffee Hour; Meeting number: 120 985 4031; Password: RE_Program).

Voting Rights News

Invitation to Join Voting Rights Team

If you would like to get more involved with encouraging voting rights for our congregation and beyond, contact David Wagstaff at 610-220-3359 by phone or text. We could always use more voices and hands.

UU the Vote Challenge!

Your Voting Rights committee is asking you to join us in a challenge to expand the number of people voting in any election, particularly voting absentee. The details:

Be sure you are registered to vote. Check at www.michigan.gov/vote.
Request an absent voter ballot for August 4th and November 3rd and request to be put on the permanent absent voter list. You can request an absent voter ballot online by going in to www.michigan.gov/vote.
Reach out to five people you know well and ask them to request to vote absentee. Ask them if they will also ask five people they know to request to vote absentee. When we succeed with these efforts, we will have had an impact of 1,800 people.
When you have registered online, requested your absent voter ballot, and contacted five people, please send an email to David Wagstaff.

Should you have any questions, please contact Norma Bailey or David Wagstaff.

Support the HEROES Act for Election Assistance

The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act includes $3.6 billion for state and local governments to make their election systems safe for voters and poll workers under pandemic conditions – obtaining supplies and training.

Your Voting Rights committee encourages you to contact your Senators (Stabenow and Peters) asking for their support for the Act.

Environmental Issues News

Environmental Groups & Organizations Near Mt. Pleasant
- Chippewa Watershed Conservatory
- Michigan Consulting & Environmental
- West Michigan Environmental
- Michigan Environmental Council
- Sierra Club
- Citizen’s Climate Lobby - Mt P Chapter

Are You in Need of Assistance?

At this time of social distancing, it is important that we keep in close contact via technology. Drew has encouraged you to reach out to him if you want to talk to him via email or phone/text (minister@uufcm.org; 440.935.0129). Please do so if you need emotional support or to share your concerns. If you are experiencing financial hardship, the minister's discretionary fund may be able to help. Please contact Drew for more information. Assistance from this fund is strictly confidential.

For those of you who are shut in and can’t get groceries or your meds, let Gisela know (gbmoffit@gmail.com; 989.772.1602). We now have 6 volunteers who are willing to pick up your orders for you. Many thanks in advance to those willing to help out.

Volunteers Needed at Clothing, Inc.

Clothing, Inc. is in need of volunteers to sort clothing. They are social distancing and wearing masks as they work. If you are willing to help, go to their website to sign up.

United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund

United Way of Gratiot and Isabella Counties is holding a fundraiser (United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund) to raise $200,000 to help local non-profits respond to the basic necessities that are significant in Isabella County and will continue to be in the coming months due to COVID-19. We are encouraging people to donate directly to the United Way drive or send a check to United Way of Gratiot and Isabella Counties, 524 East Mosher St., Suite 400, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, with “United Way COVID-19 Community Response Fund” in the memo.

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

Take all that you need; give all that you can!

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 Office Hours and Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.

minister@uufcm.org
Phone/text:
440-935-0129

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2020-2021
President: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; president@uufcm.org)
Past-President: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; carol4uufcm@gmail.com)
President Elect: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu)
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: Jennifer Davis (989.280.7010; jenmarsh40@gmail.com)
Trustee: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; jones3aj@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Mel Bailey (989.600.6460; babycatching@gmail.com)

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

Copyright © 2020 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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eNews for Thursday, July 9

eNews for Thursday, July 9