eNews For Thursday, May 16

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View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, May 16 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, May 19, to worship with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "The Jewish Wisdom of Repairing Harm." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.   "Centuries ago, Jewish scholar Maimonides articulated a best practice to repair harm, laid out in five steps and centered on the needs of the victim. Author Danya Ruttenberg explores how this ancient wisdom applies to our lives today–in instances of interpersonal harm as well as institutional harm–in her book 'On Repentance and Repair.' Insights from Maimonides and Rabbi Ruttenberg inform our lives, our congregation, and our nation." Zoom Invitation for Sunday Service: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 402489218 One tap mobile +16468769923,,402489218# Phone - audio only +1 646 876 9923 Upcoming Services May 19 - The Jewish Wisdom of Repairing Harm May 26 - Transgender: Stories of Our Lives If you happen to miss being in worship, please check out Sunday Services on our website for sermon video and/or text. 2023 and prior year sermon video and/or text are located under Sermon Archives. Minister’s Column In the coming weeks, this congregation will be invited to discuss (and vote upon) two foundational documents: the UUFCM covenant will be discussed on May 19, at the annual meeting; the UUA statement of principles and values will be discussed on June 2. Read the column 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. - Welcome to UU Orientation - May Orientation is canceled. Our next Orientation is in June. - 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 - Drawing Workshop - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 10am - First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm - Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm - Monthly Soul Matters Small Group Discussion - Thursday, May 30, at 6:30pm 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. Team Meetings Youth RE - Sunday, May 19, at 3:30pm If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form if you haven’t already. Annual Meeting - Report and Slate of Nominees to the Board of Trustees Mark your calendars! UUFCM will be holding its annual meeting on Sunday, May 19. This important gathering provides an opportunity for our community to come together, reflect on the past year, and look ahead to the future. At the annual meeting, we will be discussing key topics and decisions that will shape the direction of our fellowship in the coming year.  We are pleased to present the slate of nominees for the UUFCM Board of Trustees. Each nominee brings valuable skills, experience, and dedication to our fellowship. We encourage all members to review the information to learn more about the candidates. Your participation in the annual meeting is vital to the continued success and growth of our fellowship. We value your input and encourage you to join us as we come together to shape the future of UUFCM. 2024 Annual Report UPDATED! Agenda, Slate of Nominees, Proposed Budget, and Bylaw Changes President-Elect: Norma Bailey I am a retired CMU faculty member where I prepared teachers to teach at the middle school level. Since retiring in 2014, I have worked with ICRH, the homeless shelter in Mt. Pleasant, have helped organize efforts to get young people engaged in voting, and have participated in various aspects of UUFCM since its founding in 2000. I am particularly passionate about social justice issues, serving on the Social Justice Coordinating Team, and the religious education program for our children, serving on the Youth Religious Education Team; as well, I try to help out wherever I can. I enjoy spending time with my golden retriever Kepa, especially taking walks with her in the woods, and playing softball and pickleball. Treasurer: Terrie Robbie I have been a member of UUFCM for several years.  My wife of 26 years is Leslie Hildebrandt and we have a small Fiber Farm in Shepherd, MI. I have served on the Board as Treasurer for the last three terms, as well as serving as a member of the Communications Team, Building Team, and Fellowship Life Team and assisted with the Web Design Team. I love working with numbers and figuring out how to use technology to make our lives easier. Professionally, I am the Athletic Director at White Pine Middle School in Saginaw, as well as the STEM Coordinator for our district. I love walking, spending time at our home in the Upper Peninsula, reading, planting flowers in the spring, and relaxing with Leslie and our five dogs, three indoor cats, and the rest of our menagerie outside. Two-year Trustee: Annette Pratt I started attending services in the fall of 2004. I was previously a member of the UU Fellowship in Athens, and finding a fairly new Fellowship here in Mt. Pleasant was definitely a plus. I think I became a member that year. I have been a member of the choir since we started it, a member of the Worship Team, the Fellowship Life Coordinating Team, and the Board of Trustees a time or two. I've also served as tech support for the Zoom camera since we began utilizing Zoom during COVID-19. For the last decade, I have been an agent with Bankers Life, and I'm currently a trainer for new agents. I enjoy singing, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and watching movies. I'm also a member of Triskelion, a local belly dancing troupe. One-year Trustee: David Allan I was introduced to UUFCM and to Unitarian Universalism by Laura McBride late in 2021. I began attending regularly and became a member almost two years ago. I serve as a worship associate, greeter, pre-service setup, and offer technical support. I am looking forward to expanding my involvement on the Board of Trustees. Born and raised in Central Pennsylvania (I still consider myself a Pennsylvania boy), I have lived in the Midwest for the last 45 years. I studied chemistry and polymer science and have conducted research on materials, both exotic and mundane, in academic and industrial settings. After 15 years as a research chemist at Dow Chemical, I earned my teaching certificate at CMU. I taught science at the Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy for 11 years, retiring last June. I have two adult sons, one living in Midland and the other in greater Boston. I find great joy in sharing the wonders of nature with others. I am developing skills in metalworking (machining, welding, etc.), and I have a long list of other creative pursuits to tackle. I also enjoy being outside biking, kayaking or canoeing, walking in the woods, playing pickleball—you get the idea. But right now, my biggest project is planning Laura’s and my wedding! UUFCM Notice of Annual Meeting - THIS Sunday This is your official notice of the Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan (UUFCM), which will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024, right after the worship service. This meeting, while open to all members and friends, is the time when the members of the Fellowship will vote on the business of the Fellowship. During the meeting, we will entertain motions regarding the slate of nominees for next year’s Board of Trustees, the proposed 2024-2025 Budget, and a proposal for revising the Bylaws. After the meeting, electronic ballots will be sent to all members and will be due a few days later. Members and friends are welcome at the business meeting, but only members will vote.   Inasmuch as no names were submitted through the alternative nominating process for board member nominations, there will no nominations from the floor.   There is one proposed change to the Bylaws, which is to add the Caring Team to the list of standing teams. Please download and review the document below before the meeting, including the agenda for the annual meeting. At the meeting, you will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have. UPDATED! Agenda, Slate of Nominees, Proposed Budget, and Proposed Bylaw Changes Please come prepared to participate in this most important democratic process of our Fellowship. Since we are a self-governing body, and each member’s vote is important, we will be voting via email, and the specific process will be explained to you at the meeting. Special Plate Collection - This Sunday The May special plate collection is for the Listening Ear Crisis Center which supports people through financial hardships, mental health crises, housing crises and other challenging situations. You can make your online donation to the Social Justice Fund or, if you prefer to write a check, please write it to UUFCM with Listening Ear Crisis Center on the memo line. Two Opportunities to Table for UUFCM! As UUFCM, we will be tabling at the Pop-up Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 1, from 2:00-5:00pm and at the community Juneteenth celebration at Island Park on Wednesday, June 19, from 4:00-8:00pm. We’ll have some printed materials to hand out and, as well, have an opportunity to share about our Fellowship. If you would like to help with either of these opportunities for as little or as much time as you’d like, contact Norma Bailey ([email protected]) for further information. General Assembly Delegates Needed - June 20-23 If you are interested in witnessing and participating in the workings of Unitarian Universalism, our Fellowship needs two delegates to attend the virtual meetings of General Assembly. These sessions will be broadcast at UUFCM for anyone who is interested on the following dates--anyone can attend; only delegates can vote. Thursday, June 20, 1:00pm - 2:00pm; 4:00pm - 6:00pm Friday, June 21, 2:30pm - 6:00pm Saturday, June 22, 2:30pm - 6:00pm Sunday, June 23, 3:00pm - 5:00pm If you are interested in being an attendee, but not a delegate, we have some donated leadership funds that can support attendance. Please contact a member of the Board of Trustees if you are interested in attending or being a UUFCM delegate.   Special Meeting and Vote: Revised Principles and Values - Sunday, June 2 The seven principles that UU's have used for decades have been revised, with a new statement of values and principles centered around Love. To make this change official, a final vote will be taken at General Assembly in June. We will have a special meeting to discuss these changes and the four proposed amendments (see Minister's Column TODAY) and then vote electronically to express our support and/or concerns. All are welcome to discuss; only members may vote. Game Night! - Monday, May 20 We meet on 3rd Mondays from 7-9pm in the UUFCM social hall and have fun with a variety of games decided by consensus. It is a great opportunity to learn new games and meet people with similar interests! Questions? Contact James Scott ([email protected]). Movie Night - Saturday, May 25 All Katharine Graham wanted to be was a housewife. With the death of her husband and father, suddenly she finds herself as the owner of the Post. Her goal is to make it a reputable newspaper reporting high-quality stories. When she is given Daniel Ellsberg's Pentagon Papers, it is an upward battle between her board, President Nixon, and the lawyers to print them. What happens next? Join us Saturday, May 25, at 7:00pm at the Fellowship Hall to watch "The Post." • • • Community News • • • Michigan Voting Rights Act (MI VRA) Virtual Town Hall There will be a Michigan Voting Rights Act Town Hall on May 20, at 6:00pm to explain the proposed legislation, why it's important, how it's different than what exists, and how to make it a reality. While federal voting rights have been gutted, this legislation will provide protection to all of Michigan’s voters from further discrimination. Register for this town hall at virtual townhall on the MI VRA. Pop Up Pride in the Park Saturday, June 1 2:00pm – 5:00pm Broadway Park, 2451 Nish Na Be Anong Rd, Mt Pleasant Join us in celebrating, uplifting, and advocating for our regional 2SLGBTQIA+ community at the 2nd Pop Up Pride in the Park at Broadway Park in Mount Pleasant. Food, games, music, and vendors. Free to attend and all are welcome.  Dial for Democracy Join Voters Not Politician's "Dial for Democracy" List! Activists across the political spectrum can all agree that picking up the phone and calling your elected officials is the most effective way to make your voice heard. In fact, many elected officials and their staff members have stated that a phone call from a constituent holds more weight than an email, tweet, or a fax. By joining VNP's "Dial for Democracy" list, you will receive exclusive alerts when it's time to call your lawmakers on legislation or decisions that impact Michigan's democracy. These alerts will contain info and tips to help you have an easy and productive call to your local lawmaker! If you aren't receiving exclusive Dial for Democracy alerts yet, sign up here. You'll receive alerts when critical legislation is introduced along with your state legislators' contact information and a script to use during your call. Become an Election Worker If you are interested in becoming an election worker in the Mt. Pleasant area, fill out the application and submit it to the appropriate location.  At this time, the City of Mt. Pleasant has enough election workers, but Union Township and the surrounding townships do not.  See Norma Bailey for further information ([email protected]). Free COVID Tests  Get free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests this fall on COVIDTests.gov Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order an additional 4 free at-⁠home tests beginning November 20. If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests. Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping. You can order your test kits 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 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]. Drew’s Contact Information Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text. [email protected]  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 2023-2024 President: Cynthia Damer (989.506.5750; [email protected]) President-Elect: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected]) Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected]) Secretary: Laurie Meadows (989.317.8299; [email protected]) Trustee: Victoria Sladek (989.506.7039; [email protected]) Trustee: Monica Jean (616.443.8782; [email protected]) Trustee: Mary Alsagar (989.330.2226; [email protected]) Team and Committee Leaders Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey Caring Committee - Laura McBride Communications Coordinating Team  Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit   Membership - Laura McBride   Welcome & Hospitality - Gisela Moffit   Social Fun - Jen Prout Social Justice Coordinating Team - Norma Bailey Worship Team - Drew Frantz Youth Religious Education (RE) Team - Norma Bailey 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. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.