eNews for Thursday, May 2

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View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, May 2 Saturday Clean-Up a Success! Thank you to Norma Bailey, Jim Dealing, Jennifer Davis, Daniel Davis, Janet Olson, Darlene Ritchie, Gisela Moffit, Kurt Roeder, and Kirsten King for all their work on Saturday, April 27, cleaning up and beautifying our grounds! Beds were cleaned out, bushes trimmed, lawns raked, sidewalks edged, and the rain barrel and hoses put out, and we enjoyed lemonade, cookies, and great conversation! Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, May 5, to worship with Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present "Religious Pluralism." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.   "A defining feature of Unitarian Universalism is that we are multi-religious. Our congregations contain people from different religious traditions (Christian, Buddhist, and Jewish, for example); and people of different religious beliefs (atheist and theist, for example). We are a stronger community the more we share our traditions and beliefs with one another: learning, agreeing and disagreeing in love." 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 5 - Religious Pluralism May 12 - Mother's Day 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 news this week is a series of university student protests against Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. This prompted me to look up the statement on the conflict from the Unitarian Universalist Association, and to reflect on war and protest in general. 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 - 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 - 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 Coordinating Team - Sunday, May 5, at 12:00pm Building Team - Monday, May 6, at 6:00pm 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 Update Although the Stewardship Campaign officially ended on April 21, please turn in your pledge by mail, online, or in the Sunday offering plate as soon as possible. The UUFCM Board will make possible adjustments to the proposed budget very soon.   UUFCM Notice of Annual Meeting 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. 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. Happy Birthday! In May, we celebrate the birthdays of Nancy Roeder, Felix Jones, Laura Campbell, Scott Daigle, Cynthia Damer, Kate Swier, Jodi Fisher, Larry Hall, Hal Downs, Helenan Cavalieri, Phoenix Thompson, and Mary Alsager. For the year to come, we wish them much joy, good health for body and mind, and new (ad)ventures. May it be so. First Friday Potluck – This Friday, May 3 Please join us in the UUFCM Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm (doors open at 6:15) for food, conversation, and games! Coffee, hot tea, and water will be provided. If you are able, please bring a dish to pass. Book Discussion Group - May 5 and May 12 The Adult RE Team and Reverend Drew are offering a book discussion group using the UUA Common Read “On Repentance and Repair” for two sessions - Sunday, May 5 and May 12, at noon in the sanctuary. See Drew to get your copy of the book.  Beltane Ritual - This Sunday, May 5 The Beltane Ritual will take place on Sunday, May 5, at 6:00pm. Beltane is a celebration of the earth and nature and marks the start of the traditional planting season. In ancient times farmers would build bonfires at night and walk their cattle between the flames, to ensure protection and fertility for the coming season. Beltane fires are still celebrated in Scotland, through the Beltane Fire Society. Traditionally associated with fertility and sexuality, modern Beltane Celebrations are an opportunity to take time for yourself, give thanks to the earth for its bounty and blessings. There will not be a potluck after the ritual. Path to Membership Workshop - Saturday, May 11 Contact: Laura McBride This workshop is designed for those who want to understand the membership commitment to UUFCM. In this one-and-a-half to two-hour interactive hybrid session, we explore the deeper meanings and expectations of membership and shared ministry. Please contact Laura McBride to sign up and request childcare if needed for our next workshop on Saturday, May 11, at 1:00pm.  • • • Community News • • • 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.