eNews for Thursday, March 16

3/16/2023

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eNews for Thursday, March 16

Bravo to Our Joyful Noise Choir!

Thanks to our Joyful Noise Choir for the musical worship service they provided on Sunday, March 12! They performed a 7-part musical interpretation of the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism, composed for our Fellowship by Dr. David Wolfson who was also in attendance on Zoom on Sunday. Special thanks to our pianist Beth Macleod who played thousands of notes beautifully!

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, March 19 to worship together with our minister Rev. Drew Frantz who will present “UUFCM 20th Anniversary Celebration.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.

“On this day we celebrate the 20-year anniversary of our Fellowship being officially chartered. The worship service will feature the world premiere of a hymn composed especially for this occasion. A special guest, Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley, will offer the morning message, and we will take time to honor many of the leaders who have served the Fellowship in its history.”

Zoom Invitation for March 19

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#

Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services
March 26: Playing with the Fire of Anger
April 2: What’s Love Got to Do with It?

If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out our website sermon archive for sermon video and/or text.

Minister’s Column

“The dream of one world is our North Star,
the light we follow no matter where we are,
the dream of justice liberty and peace for all.
If we only keep that star in view,
we know for sure our course is true…”

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
- Welcome to UU Orientation - Last Sunday of the month 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 - Wednesdays at 7pm
- First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
- 20th Anniversary Party - Saturday, March 18 at 4pm at the Library Annex
- Movie Night - Saturday, March 25 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
Youth RE Team - Sunday, March 19 at 6:30pm
Communications Coordinating Team - Monday, March 20 at 7:30pm

If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form if you haven’t already.

Stewardship Campaign Begins March 20!

Our stewardship campaign with the theme of “Deepening Connections” begins March 20! This year, we are trying something different – providing incentives for people to turn in their pledge form early, increase their pledge amount, and/or pledge for the first time. Our stewardship packets will be mailed to everyone on March 20 with explanations and directions about how to make your pledge as well as explain these incentives. Please be sure to read the materials right away and take action. If you have questions, contact anyone on the Stewardship Committee – Mary Alsager, Norma Bailey, Drew Frantz, Gisela Moffit, Darlene Ritchie, and Amy Voege.

Welcome to Our New Members!

On Sunday, March 12 we welcomed eight new members to the fellowship: Phoenix Thompson, Daria Kingman, Jane Douglas, David Allan, Kurt and Nancy Roeder, and Darlene Ritchie. Not pictured: Amy Voege

Come to the Anniversary Party!

Our UUFCM 20-year anniversary celebration party is taking place on Saturday, March 18, from 4-7pm in the Libary Annex. There will be games, mixers, refreshments, slide shows, and other entertainment. Please come join the fun!

Bring in Your Button
to Add to the UUFCM Banner

This banner hangs in our sanctuary. It has been carried and displayed at large UU gatherings such as General Assembly.

The banner was created by Linda Spyke and other quilters in the Fellowship years ago. Their vision was that every person in the congregation would bring in a button to be sewn on the banner that would represent them, but this vision was never completed.

Please bring in a button representing you on Sunday, March 19 to be added to this banner. We will collect the buttons as part of our special 20th Anniversary Service, and in the weeks that follow we will have opportunities for everyone to help with the sewing.

Special Plate Collection - This Sunday

The special social justice “plate” offering on March 19 is for R.I.S.E. (formerly Women's Aid Service), an agency serving domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in Isabella, Gratiot, and Clare counties. You can donate online to the Social Justice Fund on our website or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with “R.I.S.E.” indicated in the memo line.

We Did It!

We collectively donated a total of 500 pairs of shoes and boots during our Share Your Soles campaign, with 87 pairs coming in this month! Thanks to everyone who donated. Clothing, INC has expressed their deep appreciation for our efforts.

Movie Night - March 25

Gentrification is transforming less affluent neighborhoods at the expense of existing residents. Is there any way locals can protect themselves? Join us Saturday, March 25 at 7pm in the fellowship hall for The Milagro Beanfield War – to see how a small village, a Concertina angel/spirit, and a down-and-out lawyer take on the system.

Dinners for ICRH

We will be providing dinners for the homeless shelter guests at St. John’s on Sunday, March 26; Tuesday, March 28; and Saturday, April 1. If you are interested in helping, please contact Joyce Henricks.

CUUPs Ostara Ritual - March 26

Covenant of UU Pagans

Ostara is a pagan celebration of the Spring Equinox. It is a ritual that welcomes the full promise of Spring and the turning of the wheel towards the Summer Solstice.

We will hold the ritual promptly at 6pm, via hybrid (in-person/Zoom), and there will be no potluck.

Thanks to Laura McBride and Jennifer Prout who did touch-up painting this past week to spruce up our building!

Would You Like to Attend General Assembly This Year?

General Assembly, the annual gathering of our Unitarian Universalist faith, this year will be June 21-25 in person in Pittsburgh or virtually. We have some donated leadership funds that can support attendance, so if you are interested in attending, either in person or virtually, contact Stacey Pattison (staceyp555@gmail.com).

COVID Policy and Information

We continue with hybrid services (in-person/Zoom). Our current policy is that everyone entering the building must be vaccinated (unless exempt), which applies to children also. Masks are optional for worship services and small group meetings.
Singing by the congregation and the choir is allowed with masks optional.
Anyone vaccinated may attend services.
Small groups can meet in person if they wish, continue meeting on Zoom – or do a mixture. This includes all of our teams and the Board itself. We will do our best to publish how meetings are going to be held, and please check with the leader of each meeting if you’re not sure.
Indoor eating events are allowed – coffee hour, Friday night potlucks, and our annual Harvest Feast – as long as people are vaccinated.

Please be aware that the situation is fluid. We are monitoring the situation frequently, so stay tuned for update

The current list of UUFCM COVID policies may be found on our website.

Extension of COVID Test Expiration Dates

Learn about the extended COVID test expiration dates of your at-home tests. Scroll to the bottom for the paragraph with two bullet points!

Free COVID Tests

The US government is again offering free COVID home tests. They also provide an explanation of how to secure additional tests through your insurance.

• • • Community News • • •

Mamma Mia!

Mt. Pleasant High School
March 16-18 at 7pm & March 19 at 2pm
Come see our own Jolie Damer-Daigle perform. This show has lots of big dancing numbers and all your favorite ABBA songs. Tickets are available online at mpfinearts.ludus.com. To give Jolie credit, buy your tickets by February 27 and enter her name when you are buying tickets online. The tickets are assigned seating, so get the good seats now!

Conversations That Matter:
Is Womanhood a Right?

Thursday, March 23, 5-7pm
CMU UC Rotunda

Please join us for a robust dialogue on “Is Womanhood a Right?” There are multiple perspectives on this topic; however, there is no clear answer.

Dr. JoEllen DeLucia, English professor and the current chair of the Women and Gender Studies program, will provide the foundation for the dialogue. Dinner will be provided. Registration is required. Click here to rsvp.

Party for a Purpose!

Everyone is invited to the Party for a Purpose, the Isabella County Restoration House’s (ICRH) major fundraising event, on Saturday evening, April 15, doors open at 5pm. It’s a paddle auction, dinner, cash bar, and fun! Tickets are available by check or cash or online with a credit card at ICRHFundaising@icrhouse.org. Download the flyer for more details. If you’re not sure what a paddle auction is, ask Norma Bailey or Joyce Henricks.

8^th Annual Diversity Symposium

Wednesday & Thursday, April 26 and 27
9am-4pm each day in CMU’s
UC Terrace Rooms and Rotunda

Wednesday:
• Cost of Poverty Experience
• Lunch Keynote: Dr. Jonathan Metzl

Thursday:
• Brunch with “Real Dialogue”

Both days include research-based presentations by students, faculty, and staff. Lunch and a continental breakfast will be served.
Register here. Contact ode@cmich.edu or (989) 774-7318 with any questions.

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

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 Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
minister@uufcm.org
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 2022-2023
President: Stacey Pattison (989.330.1832; staceyp555@gmail.com)
Past-President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; normabailey.uufcm@gmail.com)
President Elect: Cynthia Damer (989.506.5750; ckdamer@gmail.com)
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; tlrobbie1@gmail.com)
Secretary: Elaine Emerick (989.621.6063; ebundy84@gmail.com)
Trustee: Victoria Sladek (989.506.7039; victoriasladek@gmail.com)
Trustee: Mary Alsager (989.3302226; malsager@yahoo.com)
Trustee: Penny Swart (989.330.3587; ps.unicm@gmail.com)

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 - Cynthia Damer
Anti-Racism Task Force - Norma Bailey
Coronavirus Task Force - Drew Frantz

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.

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