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eNews for Thursday, October 14

10/14/2021

 
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eNews for Thursday, October 14

The rain barrel is put to bed for the season. A big thank you to Justin!

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom and in-person this Sunday, October 17 to worship together with our minister Rev. Drew Frantz, who will present “The Wisdom of Finding the Mother Tree.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.
 

“Finding the Mother Tree” is the title of a book by Suzanne Simard, which explores how trees are connected biologically in symbiotic networks – and how this compares to human relationships. Scientifically, this is fascinating. Spiritually, this invites us to contemplate relationships and to lean into our connections.


Zoom Invitation for Sunday, October 17
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 402489218

One tap mobile
+16468769923,,402489218#

Phone - audio only
+1 646 876 9923
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
October 24: United Nations Sunday
October 31: Day of the Dead
 

Minister’s Column

Read the Minister’s column at uufcm.org/andrew-frantz. 

COVID Update

  • We are continuing hybrid services (in person/Zoom)
    throughout the month of October.
     If you signed up for in-person services in October, you should have received an email indicating which two services you’ve been assigned to attend and how to switch if you need to. Contact Norma Bailey (baile1nj@cmich.edu) if you’re unsure.
     
  • Right now, small groups 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.
While the Board of Trustees has approved policies for Fellowship gatherings as we seek to reconnect in person safely, 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 12:30pm
- UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm
- Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm
- UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am at UUFCM
- Adult RE Series on Retirement - Wednesdays in October at 7pm
- Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7pm
- Soulful Sundown - 1st Thursdays at 7pm
- Women’s Circle - 4th Thursdays at 7pm
- Coffee House Open Mic - 1st Fridays at 7pm

Team Meetings

Worship Team - Friday, October 15 at 7pm
Youth RE Team - Sunday, October 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.

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.

Special Offering Collection - October 17

This Sunday a collection will be taken to supplement the minister’s discretionary fund which is used to respond to requests from people in the community who might need gas money, money to pay an electric bill, a night in a hotel, etc. You can donate online to this fund at our website or checks can be made out to UUFCM with “Discretionary Fund” indicated in the memo line, and sent to UUFCM Treasurer, P.O. Box 41, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48804-0041.

Fellowship Life Meeting - Sunday, October 17

On the third Sunday of every month – immediately following our worship service – the UUFCM Board holds a brief Fellowship Life meeting to update the congregation on current happenings, plans and/or concerns within the congregation. The intention is for the meetings to be kept brief; the hope is for extended conversation to take place following the meeting during the coffee hour time. Please plan to attend. There will be a COVID update, and we are announcing our Congregational Harvest Home Meals.

Adult Religious Education (RE) Offering Announced

In 2020, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), our national organization, published “Widening the Circle of Concern: Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change” analyzing structural and systemic racism and white supremacy culture within Unitarian Universalism and making recommendations to advance long-term cultural and institutional change.
 
In 2021, the Fifth Principle Project, a grassroots initiative of Unitarian Universalists who want to reinvigorate the right of conscience and renew the democratic process in the governing of the denomination, published “Used to Be UU:  The Systemic Attack on UU Liberalism – What You Need to Know and What You Need to Do,” contending that the UUA leadership has lost touch with the spirit of its mission to serve the member congregations of the Association and is no longer listening to the voices of everyday UUs.
 
Both of these books, directly and indirectly, speak to the proposal to have an eighth principle and to re-examine the current seven principles. 
 
Since our congregation will have our annual congregational retreat in January to discuss, and ultimately vote to either approve or not approve an eighth principle for our congregational vote at the next General Assembly, we would like to propose an Adult RE offering which would involve participants reading both of these books independently and then meeting once, at most twice, to share responses to the ideas. This would afford more of us to be knowledgeable to better discuss the question of the eighth principle at the retreat.
 
If you are interested in participating in this offering, please contact Stacey Pattison (patti1s@cmich.edu) by Sunday, October 24, so that we can order the books right away, giving time to read and with the intent of having the conversation in November (just before Thanksgiving) or the first week of December, at a time agreed upon by participants. The cost of the books is $16.00 and $12.50 respectively, shipping to be paid by UUFCM, with scholarships available for those congregants for whom this could be a financial burden. If you prefer not to buy the books but are interested in listening to the discussion, you are welcome to join us when we meet.

Welcome to UU Orientation - Sunday, October 24

This orientation is geared to newcomers, visitors, and those seeking to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and this UU fellowship. It is offered every month both in person in the fellowship hall and via Zoom usually on the last Sunday at 12:30 pm. Due to Halloween and a personal commitment, our end of the month welcome class will be Oct. 24th! Sessions run approximately an hour and a half. If you are interested in watching an introductory video regarding our faith, please view this YouTube video by Peter Bowden called Unitarian Universalism: You're Uni-What? For more info or to register for Welcome to UU, contact: Laura McBride: 989.772.5512 Lmcbride010@gmail.com

UUFCM Flower Connection

This is the time of year when we start cleaning up our gardens, removing wilted and half-dead flowers and the ever-present weeds. Instead of throwing them all out, could you cut off the seed heads of perennial flowers and save the seeds in bags labeled with the names of the flowers? Get them to Gisela by December so that we can share them in the spring and make our connections with one another visible in our gardens. 

Social Justice News: Voting Rights

Information on Voter Suppression Ballot Initiative

Secure MI Vote submitted an initiative petition, a proposed law, to the State Board of Canvassers, which approved the summary’s wording of it. Signature gathering may have commenced on Oct. 1. The initiative would suppress voting insofar as it:
  • mandates that people disclose partial Social Security numbers when registering to vote.
  • restricts options for registered voters to verify their identity. Acceptable forms of photo ID would include a driver’s license, state ID card, passport, military ID, tribal ID, or student ID issued by a university, junior college, or community college.
  • requires voters applying for an absentee ballot to include their driver’s license or state ID number, along with the last four digits of their Social Security number, on their application.
  • prohibits election officials from sending or providing absentee applications unless asked.
  • spends $3 million providing free photo identification.
  • bans charitable contributions, including volunteer time, to help administer elections.
  • allows the Legislature to adopt the law without a vote of the people and block a peoples’ referendum vote after adoption.
Protect voters’ rights! Decline to sign!

React to the Redistricting Maps in October

The Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission (MICRC) needs your input about its draft maps in October—this is the month when the MICRC can still tweak its maps. By November, the public will only be able to urge the MICRC to use one or another entire set of maps, that is Set A or Set B for State House districts, for example.

9/30-10/1 - MICRC will vote on DRAFT maps.
10/4 - Draft maps available
10/18-10/26 - Public hearings, including 10/18 in Grand Rapids, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 1-3:30 & 5-8pm.
Other hearings: 10/20 in Detroit, 10/21 in Lansing, 10/25 in Gaylord, 10/26 in Flint. All 1-3:30 and 5-8pm.

One may testify at a hearing in person or virtually, and provide input at any time via the MICRC’s portal.

11/5 - MICRC will vote on proposed maps. (Public may comment for 45 days but only yes or no for an entire set of maps.)

12/30 - First date MICRC may vote on final maps.

How to Help Maintain Democracy

One of the easiest things you can do is sign up for Voters Not Politicians’ “Dial for Democracy” action. They alert you when legislative action is going to occur in Lansing and give you talking points and the link to send your message. Super easy – it takes ten minutes to complete – and it makes a difference!

• • • Community News • • •

Smithsonian Voting Rights Exhibit at Veterans Memorial Library
October 9 - November 17, 2021. Hours vary.
Voices and Votes 
is based on a major exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. This Museum on Main Street adaption will have many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photos: educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games and additional footage, photos, and information; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voters memorabilia, and protest material. Find more information about the traveling exhibition here.

WCMU is hosting two film screening events – you are invited!

We hope to see you at our free exclusive film screenings and panel discussions.
Tuesday, October 26th at 6 p.m. at the CMU Park Library Auditorium
WCMU Public Media, in partnership with the Chippewa River District Library, will be hosting an in-person film screening and panel discussion of the PBS film, “American Creed.” 

Learn what it means to be American from different points of view and investigate the idea of a unifying American creed. We will also take a look into our own visions of America’s promise across deepening divides.
 
Space is limited; reserve your spot at https://bit.ly/AmericanCreedWCMU.
Monday, November 8th at 7pm
We invite you to a virtual exclusive screening and conversation of the new PBS series, “American Veteran,” a four-part documentary series tracing the veteran experience across the arc of American history and exploring the present-day divide between civilian and veteran communities. From the citizen-soldiers returning from the Revolution to today’s warrior class, it is a deeply moving story, illuminating the veteran experience and drawing civilian viewers into an unfamiliar culture. To learn more about the series, visit PBS.org/AmericanVeteran.
 
To RSVP, please visit bit.ly/AmericanVeteranRegistration

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.
Donate button
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 Office Hours and 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 - Joyce Henricks
Coronavirus task force - Drew Frantz








 

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Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m.
Upcoming Services:
February 5: Coming to Terms
February 12: Growing into Our Future


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