eNews for Thursday, June 18

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Keep up with all that’s going on at the UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, June 18 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom this Sunday, June 21 to discuss “What do you foresee the new normal will be in our lives (pandemic, Black Lives Matter)?” The Zoom call starts at 10am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.    Zoom Invitation for Sunday, June 21 Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 402489218   One tap mobile +16468769923,,402489218# Phone - audio only +1 646 876 9923   Summer Service Series When Drew is not with us this summer, our worship services will be different, more interactive and intimate, giving us a chance to get to know one another better, similar to what we engaged in last year. After the lighting of the chalice and honoring our joys and concerns, each week, in small random groups, we will engage in discussion of a topic announced in advance – here in the e-News, in service for the following week, and on our website. After the discussion time, the services will close with a song and a closing benediction. The Summer Series services continue on July 19, and August 2 & 9.   There will be two special Sundays, June 28 and July 12, when worship will not be led by our Fellowship. On Sunday, June 28 at 10am, we invite everyone to worship with the UU General Assembly in a worship service live-streamed to the public. On Sunday, July 12 at 10:30am, we will participate in an all-Michigan UUs worship service in which 17 UU congregations across Michigan will contribute an element to the service.   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 June 28: “UU General Assembly Worship Service” at 10am EDT   Next Week Is GA… Drew will be attending the minister's conference and General Assembly all next week, June 22-27. He will not be available for regular Fellowship business but can still be contacted for urgent needs. The weekly minister's check-in circle will not be held June 24 and there will not be a new minister's column that week.   Minister's Column Read the Minister's Column at uufcm.org/andrew-frantz.   Upcoming Events - with Zoom Links Click the link to join in! - Sunday worship   *Please, no one else allowed in the sanctuary during online worship. - UU discussion group - Wednesdays at 10am  - Check-In Circle with Drew - Wednesdays at 4pm (Cancelled June 24) - Coffee with Candi - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 5:30pm.   Contact Candi for information. - Game Night - Wednesdays at 7pm - Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7pm - Women’s Circle - 2nd (informal) and 4th (formal) Thursdays at 7pm Event links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar. Team Meetings - with Zoom Links Click the link to join in! 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. As well, the links for the various team meetings will be posted in the e-News and on the UUFCM calendar. UUFCM Board - Guy Newland Social Justice Coordinating Team, Building team - Norma Bailey Environmental Issues committee - Daniel Davis Voting Rights committee - David Wagstaff Religious Education (RE) Team - Mel Bailey Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit Worship Team - Drew Frantz Corona Virus task force - Drew Frantz Meeting links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar. Special Offering Collection - Sunday, June 21 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. Rather than donating to the minister’s discretionary fund which currently is in good shape, 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.   Your 2020 GA Delegates Laura McBride and Brigitte Bechtold have been chosen by the UUFCM Board of Trustees to vote in the business meetings at this year's General Assembly. Our minister, Drew Frantz also will be voting as ministers are also delegates.  There are two proposed bylaw and rule amendments with one regarding co-moderator vacancies and the second establishing timelines for the Nominating Committee. Additionally, the proposed business resolution has to do with embodying human rights in our divestment decisions by the UUA. There may be additional votes for Actions of Immediate Witness and those are generated during GA.  During the Fellowship Life Meeting Sunday, June 21, 2020 immediately following the service, you may ask questions about the process and learn how to share your views on the topics up for vote this year with the delegates.   Welcome to UU Orientation via Zoom - June 28 If you are interested in learning more about UU history, our fellowship’s history, meeting new folks, and exploring the first phase of possibly joining this tradition, please join Laura McBride on Sunday, June 28 at 12:30 p.m. Feel free to eat your lunch and plan for 1-2 hours of connection, learning, and relaxation. There is no exam or homework. If you are interested in watching a introductory video regarding our faith, please view this YouTube video by Peter Bowden called Unitarian Universalism: You're Uni-What?. If you have specific questions, please contact Laura at Lmcbride010@gmail.com or call/text 989-772-5512. White Fragility Workshop Adult Religious Education (RE) class Carolyn Hancock and Joyce Henricks will facilitate a workshop about the book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo. The group will meet on Mondays via Zoom at 7:00 pm, July 6, 13, 20, and 27. Books can be ordered from Amazon or the UUA Bookstore; the book is currently out of stock with both companies and is being reprinted, so order right away!   Anti-Racism Resources Several years ago, our congregation engaged in some work to learn more about racism in our country – books we read, videos we watched, and displaying a Black Lives Matter banner on our building. Today, especially after what has occurred in the last several weeks, we recognize that we now need to engage in anti-racism work. To that end, we have created opportunities for us to engage in this work.  The Social Justice Coordinating Team (SJCT) recommends the following resources for you to engage in your own anti-racism work: A List of a Variety of Resources (print, video, podcasts, etc.) A Reading list for Various Ages How to Respond to Microaggressions About the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge UUA Examining Whiteness: An Anti-Racist Curriculum An Interview with Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism 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 The COVID-19 crisis is shutting down DMVs, local election offices, and other in-person voter registration hubs nationwide – and if our state legislators don’t respond, this pandemic could prevent countless new voters from making themselves heard in November. Please sign a petition calling on all 50 states to offer online voter registration.   Environmental Issues News Summer Reading We've posted two lists of environmental books - books for kids, and books that changed the world. Be sure to check them out and share them! Thank You Deb! Deb Allore, one of our Environmental Issues committee members, made and installed a rain barrel and compost bin for the youth garden. To find out about composting and what goes in the composting bin and what doesn’t, learn about composting here.   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. Virtual Movie Night – “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” The movie “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” sponsored by the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health (MOASH) and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM), can be viewed at no charge on Tuesday, June 30 at 7pm. The film addresses the issue of abortion for young people in the United States. People must register to participate in the watch party and discussion. Register here. Support the US Postal Service As a result of the coronavirus pandemic and also without current administration support for the US Postal Service, the USPS is in immediate financial trouble. The USPS is a vital component of American society; people depend upon it for medications, paying bills, etc., and it serves everyone in the country. As well, having a fully functioning postal service will be especially crucial as the need for the ability to vote by mail is increased by the pandemic. Find suggestions about how to support the USPS here.   Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington – June 20, 2020 The Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington will be held on June 20, 2020. Modeled after the Poor People’s Campaign envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, and currently led by the Reverend Dr. William Barber and the Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, the digital gathering will demand that both major political parties address the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism by implementing their Moral Agenda. Find further information and sign up here. 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 2019-2020 President: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; president@uufcm.org) Past-President: Mary Alsager (989.773.2595; malsager@yahoo.com) President Elect: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; newla1gm@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: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; janis_shinn@yahoo.com) Trustee: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; jones3aj@cmich.edu) Trustee: Daniel Davis (616.540.4759; daniel.davis515@yahoo.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. Want to change how you receive these emails? 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