eNews for Thursday, March 26

3/26/2020

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eNews for Thursday, March 26

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom this Sunday, March 29 to worship together with our minister Drew Frantz, who will present “The Wisdom We Don’t Want to Hear.” The Zoom call starts at 10:15 (to get settled) and the service starts at 10:30.

At the end of the call we will break you into small groups for a virtual “coffee hour” as part of the Zoom video conference. Please join us!

“Sometimes we know what is wise even though we don’t want to acknowledge it. Wisdom that comes from parents, doctors, colleagues, and friends sometimes falls in this category. What makes us resistant to wisdom, and how can we open ourselves to greater acceptance?”

Zoom Invitation for This Sunday, March 29

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402 489 218

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Meeting ID: 402489218

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

April 5: Quarantine as a Spiritual Practice
April 12: Making Meaning of Easter

Minister's Column

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

Calendar and Scheduling Updates

The Fellowship is following the governor’s order, which calls for no public or private gatherings of any size until at least April 13.
Online only, via Zoom:
- Sunday worship March 29, April 5, April 12
- Soulful Sundown worship Thursday, April 2
*Please, no one else allowed in the sanctuary during online worship.
- UU discussion group, all committee/team meetings, Women’s Circle, and the new weekly Check-In Circle with Drew on Wednesdays at 4pm.

Cancelled: Circle suppers, First Friday potluck, choir, Buddhist sangha, minister’s office hours, Welcome to UU orientation.

UUFCM Board News

Board elections, consideration of bylaw revisions, and approval of final budget will take place at the annual meeting scheduled for May 17.

The Board-appointed nominating committee (Mary Alsager, Guy Newland, and Chris Bailey) has nominated a slate of candidates for board elections in May. They are: Norma Bailey for President-Elect, Terrie Robbie for Treasurer, Mel Bailey for a one-year term as trustee, and Jen Davis for a two-year term as trustee. Leaving the board will be Mary Alsager, Janis Shinn, and Daniel Davis.

Per Board policy, which will be a proposed addition to the bylaws, there is an alternative nominating procedure. If you would like to run for one of the above mentioned open Board positions, create a petition stating this and have it signed by three other church members. Send this petition to Mary Alsager, chair of the nominating committee, no later than April 19.

The 2020-2021 Stewardship Pledge Packet is available on our website. Please read, consider, and respond prior to Sunday, April 19, 2020. You may also fill out your pledge card or volunteer form online.

RE Online!

The RE Program will provide religious education in the upcoming weeks over Facebook on the group called UUFCM RE Program. A Story for All Ages will be part of our Sunday worship Zoom call every week. Guardians and children who are not already members in the group can request to join by searching for the group in Facebook then answering a couple quick questions. Individual components of our typical RE lessons are continuing to be ironed out (e.g., chalice lighting, a story, a mindfulness activity, a craft, etc.) and will be posted at the end of this week, so please continue to check our Facebook group for posts, updates, and videos. Other parent/family resources will be posted to the group page throughout the week as well. If families have any requests for crafts, activities, resources, or religious education materials designed for family participation, please reach out to Kendra over Facebook or through email at [email protected]. Right after the worship ends, families and children are invited to a special RE call on Webex.

UUFCM Women’s Circle - March 26

We provide a safe and supportive place to explore womanhood and women’s history, discuss issues, get to know one another better, and have fun! This month the topic is 'Self care while trying to care for others', or for those of us who live alone, 'how does one manage in a time of crisis?' We meet on 4th Thursdays from 6:30-8 p.m. via Zoom. Click the Zoom invitation link, and you can sign on just like Sunday Service. Please join us!

Zoom Invitation for Women’s Circle - March 26

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 591 503 883

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Dial by your location: Find your local number

Meeting ID: 591 503 883

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 ([email protected]; 440.935.0129). Please do so if you need emotional support or to share your concerns.

For those of you who are shut in and can’t get groceries or your meds, let Gisela know ([email protected]; 989.772.1602). We have 3 volunteers who are willing to pick up your orders for you. Many thanks in advance to those willing to help out.

Savings from Eating at Home:
Donate to the Peoples Water Board for Water for Detroit

While Governor Whitmer has declared a moratorium on water shutoffs in Detroit and ordered the City to restore water for those residents, unfortunately, the City is moving very slowly. As of March 23, the City has restored water to only 700 households compared to an estimated 9,500 households without water, water so needed to maintain healthy living.

The Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) is encouraging people to donate to the Peoples Water Board (PWB) to help them buy water to distribute to these high-risk low-income people in Detroit. Make your check out to the Eastern Michigan Environmental Action Council (PWB's fiscal agent), write “People's Water Board Water” in the memo line, and send it to Eastern Michigan Environmental Action Council, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit, 4605 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201.

Two MUUSJN Job Opportunities

MUUSJN has two part time job opportunities: a Northern Michigan Justice Organizer ($600/month) and a LGBTQ Justice Organizer ($600/month), and the two positions could be combined. Both positions are ones what can be fulfilled by working at home, using phone and email communications for maximum safety during our current crisis. Click the links above for job descriptions. If you are interested or have questions, call Randy Block, MUUSJN Director, at 248-224-5572 by the end of March.

A Thank You to Drew!

A huge thank you to Drew for his willingness to give up his Sunday off to help us with our Zoom worship services. Last Sunday, March 22, was a lay service Sunday, but Drew, without any reservation, offered to help prepare and deliver this service, particularly using his skills to help us have a meaningful ZOOM worship service. He is now also offering a Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 pm UUFCM check-in circle. It is his dedication and service to us that we are so thankful for. Thank you, Drew!

Environmental Issues Committee News

Here is an article with 20 Green Tips to Improve Your Health and Lifestyle - check it out!

UUFCM Book Club - May 13

The May and June selection is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. We are members of the human species homo sapiens and at one time were one of six human species on earth. How did we win dominance and become who we are today? In the next millennia, who will we become? Delve into our past and learn how it influenced our present. What is our possible future? We’ll meet on Wednesday, May 13 at 1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Feel free to bring a lunch!

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].

Mindfulness in Parking Requested
Let us be mindful to leave the parking spaces directly across from our Wisconsin entrance open for our friends who have mobility issues. Thank you for your consideration.

Pastoral Care Concerns

For support with life's challenges, please contact Drew during his office hours or make an appointment with him. For specific needs such as rides to medical appointments or meals for people recovering from illness or surgery, please contact the Arms Around team via Gisela Moffit at [email protected] or 989-772-1602. Every effort will be made to lessen the burden on the individual or family who is dealing with a difficult circumstance.

Drew's Office Hours and Contact Information

Drew's office hours are suspended until further notice. However, he is reachable at any time via email, phone, or text.

[email protected]
Phone/text:
440-935-0129

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2019-2020
President: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; [email protected])
Past-President: Mary Alsager (989.773.2595; [email protected])
President Elect: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; [email protected])
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected])
Co-Treasurer: Jen Prout (989.400.3130; [email protected])
Secretary: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; [email protected])
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; [email protected])
Trustee: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected])
Trustee: Daniel Davis (616.540.4759; [email protected])

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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