eNews for Thursday, March 3

3/3/2022

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eNews for Thursday, March 3

Candlelight Vigil for Peace in Ukraine

A peace vigil for the people of Ukraine was held outside the Fellowship on Saturday, February 26. Liz Busch organized the gathering, Rev. Drew led a song, and the Rev. Sr. Diane Stier led a prayer. The featured speaker was Masha Smahliuk, a Ukrainian exchange student living in Mt. Pleasant.

If you would like to help Ukraine, here is the document that was handed out at the peace vigil listing organizations that are serving the needs of the people of Ukraine.

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in-person this Sunday, March 6 to worship together with Norma Bailey who will present “Drawing on the Wide Side of the Brain,” by Rev. Rod Richards. The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.

There is still room for more people to worship in-person in March. Contact Norma Bailey if you are interested in coming!

“Rev. Rod Richards challenges Unitarian Universalists to “make the circle wider,” inviting and welcoming others to join us in our faith. But the real challenge is not only that we make room, but how we make room. What does this mean for us at UUFCM?”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday, March 6
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#

Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services
March 13: Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors
March 20: Stewardship: What to Create, What to Release, What to Keep

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

Minister’s Column

You can read the Minister’s Column at uufcm.org/andrew-frantz.

COVID Update

We are resuming hybrid services (in-person/Zoom) through the month of March. If you signed up for in-person services in February and March, you should have received an email indicating which of up to four services you’ve been assigned to attend and how to switch if you need to. Contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) to see if there is yet room for you to attend an in-person service if you didn’t sign up.
Persons appearing unmasked speaking or singing on a Sunday morning will have had a negative COVID-19 antigen test less than 24 hours before appearing before the community.
Right now, small groups of up to ten people can meet in person if they wish, or continue meeting on Zoom – or do a mixture. This includes all of our committees 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.

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

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
- Sunday Stroll - throughout March at 12:30pm
- Welcome to UU Orientation - Last Sundays 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
- Women’s Circle - suspended until further notice

Team Meetings

Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Sunday, March 6 at 1pm
Coronavirus Task Force - Sunday, March 6 at 7pm
Social Justice Coordinating Team - Tuesday, March 8 at 7:30pm

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.

If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form 2021-2022 if you haven’t already.

Infant Pantry Collection - This Sunday

We collect donations for the Infant Pantry on the first Sunday of each month. You can donate online to the Monthly Donations for Infant Pantry on our website or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with Infant Pantry in the memo. Questions? Contact Tom Moffit (989-772-1602;
moffi1tc@cmich.edu).

Sunday Strolls for March

March 6 & 13 - Island Park
Meet at 12:30pm at the pavilion near the main lot on 331 N. Main St.

March 20 & 27 - Millpond Park
Meet at 12:30pm at the pavilion on 607 S. Adams St.

Questions? Call or text Jen Prout at 989-400-3130.

Hello Youth Religious Education Families!

I am incredibly excited to announce that as we enter into the month of March, Youth Religious Education will be moving to a hybrid format (in-person/Zoom). Since the COVID-19 pandemic began back in early 2020, Youth RE has been offered through Zoom. This March 2022, we will open a hybrid option for youth on the Sundays of March 13 and March 20. As we begin to move back into in-person and experiment with the formula after being online for some time, we will continue to do select Sundays in the following months. Those dates for the future months will be announced.

Through this hybrid option, we will begin service in the sanctuary at 10:30am on Sundays, along with the other congregants. After the story for all ages, I and a volunteer from the congregation will lead the children to fellowship hall. At the same time, those participating online will switch to the Religious Education zoom and join the RE service.

Children and youth must be vaccinated and wear their masks in the building at all times. Both in the sanctuary and the fellowship hall, children will be socially distanced from one another for safety. All items and surfaces used during meeting time will be cleaned and sanitized before and after use by the RE Staff.

If your child is interested in coming in person, please email Board President, Norma Bailey at president@uufcm.org! If you would like to join online, the Zoom link is available through the UUFCM calendar – please reach out if you have trouble with either. As we move into this journey of hybrid religious education, I encourage your family to consider either format. The RE Team is incredibly excited to safely begin this process and welcome youth back into the fellowship completely.

Thank you, and kindest regards,
Jakobe Neal, Director of Religious Education

Contact Information and Resources:
Email: re@uufcm.org Phone: 586.438.4008
UUFCM website: uufcm.org

New Online Youth Religious Education Lessons

Since the beginning of 2022, the Religious Education team has been working very hard to create Virtual Learning opportunities for our young ones! During the month of January, we touched on our monthly theme of Living with Intention by branching off topics of Bullying & Learning, Black History, Nature Week, and in February we celebrated LGBTQIA+. Please use the links below to watch any of the lessons – in each video there are musical selections, stories for all ages, mindfulness practices, as well a variety of segments themed to the overall week. These videos are for young ones of all ages, both young and old!

1-9-2022 Online Religious Education “Bullying & Learning”
1-16-2022 Online Religious Education “Black History”
1-30-2022 Online Religious Education “Nature Week”
2-27-2022 Online Religious Education “LGBTQIA+ Celebration”

Voting Rights and What You Can Do

If you missed the Voting Rights and What You Can Do! meeting delineating what is currently happening in Michigan regarding voting rights, voting bills, and ballot initiatives, here are resources and actions that you can take. Should you have questions, feel free to contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu).

Are You the One We’re Looking For?

As we work to expand our outreach within and beyond our fellowship the Communications Coordinating Team (CCT) is looking for a person or persons who are willing to assist with Instagram and Twitter. We are especially interested in finding administrators for both platforms. If you are willing to take on either challenge as an administrator, co-administrator, or are simply willing to lend your expertise and support as a member of the team, please reach out to the CCT. Email Sally Armstrong or call/text 802-477-3275.

Get Your New Directory!

Hard copies of our new Directory are now available at the church. When you join the service in person, you can pick up your copy (blue cover) from the greeter or on the ledge in the foyer. Since the online version will be updated regularly and is password protected, a small sticker with the password is posted inside. Please do not share this with anybody. If you notice inaccuracies, let Gisela know.

Results of the January 22 Congregational Retreat

We have now compiled the results from our congregational retreat on January 22 regarding our multiple suggestions for UUFCM anti-racist efforts. Please review them to see what part you might play in our work. As well, we are looking for people who would form an ad hoc committee to help us plan for action based on these results. If you are interested, please contact Norma Bailey at baile1nj@cmich.edu.

The virtual MidAmerica Regional Assembly is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th, 2022, 10am-2pm ET. The keynote speaker is social justice educator, storyteller and speaker, CB Beal. There will be worship, the annual business meeting, a keynote address, and conversation as well as community break-out rooms. The Board is willing to pay for members to participate virtually using our Leadership Development Funds. If you are interested, please contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) for further information, and visit the MidAmerica Region website to learn more.

Attend GA!

General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Each year UUs gather from across the United States and the world to learn, worship, and conduct the business of the Association through workshops, lectures, events, and worship services. This year’s GA will be held virtually and in-person in Portland, Oregon, June 22-26 with the theme “Meet the Moment: Reimagining Radical Faith Community.”

If you have never been to a GA, the Board is willing to pay for members to participate virtually using our Leadership Development Funds. If you are interested, please contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) for further information, and visit the UUA website to learn more. Of course, if you have attended before, loved it, and found it to be a valuable experience, we encourage you to attend; because GA is virtual again this year, the registration fee is relatively inexpensive at $250.

In March, we celebrate the birthdays of Don Rust, Leslie Hildebrandt, Beth Macleod, Victoria Sladek, Daniel Davis, and Kevin Daum. For the year to come, we wish them much joy, good health for body and mind, and new (ad)ventures. May it be so.

Mother Earth Love

Simple Changes
Make a Difference!
Our knowledge, motivation, and new habits we incorporate into our daily lives can help the
healing of our Mother Earth. Individual actions we take can collectively make a difference.
Please share your stories, comments, and questions

Climate Quiz Night - Tonight at 7pm!

Test your knowledge of climate change solutions on Thursday, March 3, at 7 pm! Presented by the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN)’s Environmental Task Force, the interactive game will engage you in identifying 80 of the best solutions to climate change. You’ll leave the evening with new knowledge and where you fit in as we work to honor and respect our home – Planet Earth.

For more information email BUCSEJ@gmail.com. This event is sponsored by the MUUSJN Environmental Task Force.

ACTIONS:

Register!
Have some fun as you take part in this quiz.
If you ace it - great for you! If you don’t, then you are enlightened to know more!
See you there!

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

Together We Grow!

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

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2021-2022
President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu)
Past-President: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; newla1gm@cmich.edu)
President Elect: Stacey Pattison (989.330.1832; patti1s@cmich.edu)
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; tlrobbie1@gmail.com)
Secretary: Elaine Emerick (989.621.6063; ebundy84@gmail.com)
Trustee: Jennifer Davis (989.280.7010; jenmarsh40@gmail.com)
Trustee: Cynthia Damer (989.506.5750; ckdamer@gmail.com)
Trustee: Jodi Fisher (989.560.5135; jbfisher121@gmail.com)

Team and Committee Leaders

Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey
Communications Team - Sally Armstrong
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
Youth Religious Education (RE) Team - Jenny Kennedy
Worship Team - Drew Frantz
Adult Religious Education committee - Jodi Fisher
Coronavirus task force - Drew Frantz

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

Copyright © 2021 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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