eNews for Thursday, November 24

11/24/2022

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eNews for Thursday, November 24

Harvest Feast a Success!

The Harvest Feast was well-attended and thoroughly enjoyed by all! It was so good to see one another and have time to visit! Tremendous thanks go to Jen Prout for planning, organizing, setting up, decorating, and cleaning up! Yes, she had some helpers, but it wouldn’t have happened without her leadership. Thanks so much, Jen!

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, November 27 to worship together with Laura McBride and Brigitte Bechtold, who will present “Changing Perceptions of Beauty.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.

“When we allow our perception of beauty to be influenced by culture and the popular media, we see only a small set of people and things as truly beautiful. But we can change our perceptions and recognize that what we love is what is beautiful. The more we love, the more beauty we see.”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday, November 27
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#

Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923

Upcoming Services
December 4: Wonder Through the Eyes of Children

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

Minister’s Column

I am still experiencing shock and mourning two days after hearing the news of the deadly shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs. I learned about the shooting on Sunday morning during the rehearsal time before the worship service. I had already planned a very emotionally heavy service for Transgender Day of Remembrance, the annual occasion to remember and honor the many transgender people who have died from violence in the past year. By the time I began to speak from the pulpit, I hadn’t processed the emotional trauma of this news: 5 dead and 18 wounded at a mass shooting in a gay nightclub; a suspect is in custody. As I shared the news aloud, I heard the gasps from some in the sanctuary who were just learning of it in that moment.…

Read more here.

COVID Update

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 on.
Anyone vaccinated may attend services.
Small groups can meet in person if they wish, or 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 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
- Welcome to UU Orientation - Last Sundays at 12:30 pm
- Sunday Strolls - on pause until spring
- 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;
canceled for November 30, December 4 & 7
- First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm
- Coffee House Open Mic - December 2 at 7:30pm
- Movie Night - December 17 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
Communications Coordinating Team - Monday, November 28 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.

Guest at Your Table

If you would still like to donate to the UUSC Guest at Your Table Program that supports human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world, you can yet do so through this Sunday, November 27. You can put your donation (cash or check made out to UUSC) in the Guest at Your Table box in the foyer or you can donate online to the Social Justice Fund at UUFCM.org.

How to Give Feedback on the Revision of the 7 Principles

While there are currently no more UUA feedback sessions for the proposed changes to the Article II bylaws which include a revision of the seven principles, you can still provide feedback individually here up until November 28. The new draft is now available here.

First Friday Potluck - December 2

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.

Coffee House Open Mic - December 2

Join us on the first Friday of every other month at 7:30pm in hybrid format. We follow an open mic format: anyone can share some music or poetry. Aim for 5 minutes for your song or poem. Signing up ahead of time is encouraged: contact Drew at minister.uufcm.org or 440-935-0129. Get ready for a groovy time!

Give to CMU Public Media, Help the UUFCM!

We are once again collecting for CMU Public Media. In the fall, we pool our resources together in order to purchase air time on CMU Public Radio. Depending on the amount gathered, we get 1-2 ads per week for a good part of the year. Please make your check to “UUFCM,” include in the memo line “for CMU Public Media” and give it to Mary Alsager at church by December 4. A single check for the total collected will be sent to CMU Public Media. Thank you in advance for contributing to this worthy effort – you are appreciated!

Keeping Up with Your Pledge

If you have not been regularly keeping up with your pledge for the 2022-2023 church year, now would be a good time as the calendar year is quickly drawing to a close. If circumstances require you to change your pledge, please contact our treasurer Terrie Robbie. Remember you can send your donation by mail to our treasurer, donate online at UUFCM.org, or put your donation in the basket passed on Sunday mornings.

Movie Screening - December 10

The Anti-Racism Task Force invites you to view and discuss the documentary “Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are) on Saturday, December 10, at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall. The video documents how the Civil War and its aftermath are viewed differently, depending upon who you are and where you live. Here is the trailer to pique your interest!

Movie Night - December 17

It's hard to believe, but at one time Christmas was a minor holiday. Charles Dickens' The Christmas Carol changed that. Dickens had three reasons to write it—money, childhood memories, and to entice charity toward the poor. Come join us to watch Dan Stevens as he plays Charles Dickens and brings to life the wonderful classic The Man Who Invented Christmas.
Join us at 7pm! Snacks will be provided.

• • • Community News • • •

Irene Miller, Holocaust Survivor

No Man’s Land, A Historical Memoir
Tuesday, November 29 at 6pm at the Isabella County Commission on Aging
Join us as we welcome Irene Miller, a Holocaust survivor, author, speaker, and educator who will share her story of courage, determination, and perseverance. Learn more…
Presented by the Chippewa River District Library and the Isabella Commission on Aging

CMU’s Native American Heritage Month Events

November is Native American Heritage month. It is “A time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people." Native American Heritage month also creates a foundation for people to learn about the challenges and struggles that Native peoples have and still face today, both societal and systemic.
Click the graphic for a full-size flyer image.

Should Native Americans Get Preference over White People in Adopting Native Children? The Supreme Court May Decide.

What Is at Stake if the Indian Child Welfare Act Is Overturned?

Opponents of the Indian Child Welfare Act are arguing that the law discriminates on the basis of race. Tribal nations say that misunderstands their political status. Learn more about the lawsuit in this article from CNN.

Indigenous Mixed Media Art Exhibit:
Artist Carla Snyder
(Little River Band of Ottawa Indians)

Bovee University Center: Center for Student Inclusion & Diversity Room 108
Monday-Friday 8am-5pm throughout November

Detroit 2020 – Locked Down, Locked Up, Locked In

Join us for a multi-platform staged reading of this thought-provoking play by the Detroit-area Extra Mile Playwrights Theatre on Sunday, December 4 at 4pm in-person at Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Hills, and live streamed via Zoom.

Hear the personal stories of Detroiters’ experiences during the pandemic year of 2020 with universal themes from that time. The stories prompt audiences to consider what people did and how they coped. How did our own experiences compare with others’ and what have we learned? A talkback with the playwrights will follow the performance.

Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite. There is also a complimentary ticket option for those whose budgets don't stretch to theater events.

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
Office Hours:
Tuesdays 10am-noon
Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm

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: Debbie Reid (989.854.9830; debbiereiduufcm@gmail.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 - Debbie Reid
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 - Carol Rard
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 © 2022 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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