eNews for Thursday, September 3

9/2/2020

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eNews for Thursday, September 3

Thank You to the Los Family!

Be sure to drive by and see the beautiful metal chalice on our Wisconsin Street door. Designed by son Nathan, crafted by a family friend, and donated to UUFCM by the Los family upon Board acceptance, it is such a lovely symbol of our faith. Thank you so much for your contribution!

Worship Matters

We will gather online via Zoom this Sunday, September 6 to worship together with Norma J. Bailey and Jen Davis, who will present “Renew Your Spirit.” The Zoom call starts at 10:00 for social time, and the service starts at 10:30.

“When we are disheartened by life’s pain and injustice, both personal and of the world, we also need to remember and experience life’s gifts and possibilities by renewing our contact with what is most precious in life. Come join us as we explore what our spirits need right now.”

Zoom Invitation for Sunday, September 6
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

September 13: Water Ingathering and RE Kickoff
September 20: Inner and Outer Renewal
September 27: Faithful Environmentalism

Minister’s Schedule

Drew will be on vacation September 5-12. There will be no Minister’s Column on September 10.

Water Ingathering: Multi-generational Service - September 13

The Water Ingathering is a special service that we do every year in the fall, celebrating water as a symbol of life and connection. Traditionally, people bring a bit of water from a special place and pour it into a common vessel. This year’s service will be on Zoom, and we invite your participation in three ways:

1. Photos

– email to Kendra by September 11
Share your favorite personal photos of playing in water, the beauty of water, the life-giving quality of water. These photos will be shared during the service. Please send photos (hopefully as a JPG or PNG file) to [email protected] and Kendra will collect them. Please do this by Friday September 11.

2. Outdoor Water Drop-Off and Blessing

– before service: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. on September 13
Get up early and stop by the Fellowship building between 8:30-9:30. If you have water you want to share, we will collect it for use in the ceremony. If you want to get sprayed, you will receive the blessing of water dispensed by the sacred spray bottle of UUFCM. Drive-up and walk-up options are both available. This event will be outdoors; rain or shine; masks and safe distance mandatory.

3. Sharing Stories

– During service on September 13
During the service, you may briefly share the significance of the water you are contributing to the common vessel. Children and families can share a story of playing in or enjoying water this summer.

This service is multi-generational, so all ages are welcome to stay for the whole hour. We will also share a blessing of teachers during the service.

Minister's Column

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

Upcoming Events - with Zoom Links

Click the link to join in!

- Sunday worship
- RE Lesson & Kids’s Coffee Hour - Sundays at 10:45am
- Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sundays at 12:30pm
- Choir R ehearsal - Sundays at 7pm
- Newcomers Gathering - Sunday, September 13 at 12:30pm
- UU discussion group - Wednesdays at 10am
- Check-In Circle with Drew - Wednesdays at 4pm (no meeting September 9)
- Game Night - Wednesdays at 7pm
- Soulful Sundown - 1st Thursdays at 7pm
- W omen’s Circle - 4th Thursdays at 7pm
- Coffee House Open Mic - 1st Fridays at 7pm
Event links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

Team Meetings - with Zoom Links

Click the link to join in!

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. Links for the various team meetings will be posted in the eNews and on the UUFCM calendar.

If you are interested in helping any of these teams or committees, please fill out the Volunteer Opportunity Form 2020-2021 if you haven’t already.

- Coordinating Team - September 6 at 1:00pm
- Social Justice Coordinating Team - September 8 at 7:30pm
- Voting Rights - September 9 at 4:30pm

Event links can also be found on the UUFCM Calendar.

RE Garden

And those veggies just keep on coming! Thanks to Elliott Moreno and Roxanne Fleer for picking and delivering to the Soup Kitchen this week!

Soulful Sundown - September 3

Join us on the first Thursday of the month for an uplifting service of songs, drumming, poetry, and reflection, beginning at 7 p.m. All are welcome: all ages, all genders, colors, beliefs. This month’s theme is Renewal. Join us via Zoom.

Coffee House Open Mic - September 4

Bring your favorite beverage and join us for a virtual coffee house on the first Friday of the month at 7:00. We will 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! Join us via Zoom.

Infant Pantry Collection - September 6

We collect donations for the Infant Pantry on the first Sunday of each month. Though the Pantry is currently closed, you can make an online donation on our website. You can also make a check out to CCN (Community Compassion Network) with memo “Infant Pantry,” and send to P.O. Box 237, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48804-0237. Questions? Contact Tom Moffit (989-772-1602; [email protected]).

RE News

Live RE Lessons Start September 6!

Beginning on Sunday, September 6, the Religious Education (RE) Program will begin its live RE lessons over Webex! These weekly lessons will start after the Story for All Ages in the Zoom worship service (around 10:45 a.m.) and will continue in the Webex call until 11:30 a.m. Lessons will include stories, mindfulness activities, discussions, and crafts to do at home that relate to monthly themes. The Kids’ Coffee Hour will immediately follow lessons and continue until 12:15 p.m. Beginning on September 6, children can join the live lessons over Webex by clicking on this link or by using the Meeting Number: 120 921 9385 and password: RE-Program. This Webex information can also be found on UUFCM's calendar. On Sundays when there is a multigenerational service, children will stay in the Zoom service, but the Kids' Coffee Hours will still be held after service over Webex.

RE Kickoff - September 13

Following our multigenerational Water Service on September 13th, the RE Program will be kicking off the start of a new RE year with our RE Kickoff! Immediately after service (around 11:45 a.m.), children are invited to join our Webex call for ice-breakers, games (including one of our much-loved at-home scavenger hunts), and a craft! For this craft, we will be sending out individual "puzzle pieces" for the children to decorate however they wish during the Kickoff! Afterward, these pieces can be turned into the mailbox in front of UUFCM's entrance, and the final design of the puzzle will be revealed when all the pieces are put back together! If you want to make sure your child(ren) receives a piece of the puzzle to decorate at the Kickoff, please contact Kendra at [email protected] with your current street address so that we make sure everyone gets their puzzle piece!

Voting Rights News

Get Ready to Vote on November 3! More Information!

First, check to see if you’re registered at www.michigan.gov/vote. If you aren’t, you can register online at this same website; the deadline to register online is October 19. If you are registered, make sure your address is accurate. You can also check to see if an absentee ballot will be automatically sent to you if you indicated both elections on your original request as well as if you are now on the permanent list to receive absentee ballot applications for future elections. If not, you should receive an application for an absentee ballot from the Secretary of State, or you can request one online. Next week, information on early voting. If you have any questions, contact David Wagstaff or Norma Bailey.

Phone Banking/Text Banking for the Election

If you are interested in phone banking and/or text banking with the MI Interfaith GOTV Action Group (Tuesdays, Thursdays and/or Saturdays), contact MUUSJN’s Interfaith GOTV Campaign Manager, Sharon Pedersen. She will contact you and get you the information about training.

Job Opportunities!

The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) has just announced two temporary job opportunities to work on Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts, both working from home. Get complete information on our website.
Both the City of Mt. Pleasant and Union Township are very much in need of and are hiring election inspectors now. Find more information and applications on our website.

Environmental Issues News

Be a Climate Voter!

The national political conventions signal that the great American political circus is back in full swing. There are plenty of issues vying for our attention, and finding which politicians have the best responses to climate change should be at the top of our lists. Check out these four organizations that do the legwork for you and can help to sort it all out.

Take the Interfaith Power and Light Climate Justice Voter Pledge. Including climate justice as one of the values you consider when deciding how to vote is a way to put love into action.
Michigan League of Conservation Voters holds elected officials accountable to work toward a conservation majority.
Politicians won’t listen until we start voting. It’s time for environmentalists to vote! The Environmental Voter Project wants your voice to be heard on every Election Day
The League of Women Voters helps you Register to Vote, Check Your Voter Registration Status, and Find Out What’s On Your Ballot. Use their voter guide to compare candidates side-by-side and read their views on the important issues in their own words. The voter guide is available once ballots are printed – September 19.

George Lentz has a bountiful harvest of vegetables and is willing to share them. Right now he has plenty of tomatoes, kale, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, and more. If you would like to get some of these veggies, just call George at 248-346-4039 to make arrangements to come out and pick.

Are You in Need of Assistance?

At this time of social distancing, it is important that we keep in close contact via technology. Drew has encouraged you to reach out to him if you want to talk to him via email or phone/text ([email protected]; 440.935.0129). Please do so if you need emotional support or to share your concerns. If you are experiencing financial hardship, the minister's discretionary fund may be able to help. Please contact Drew for more information. Assistance from this fund is strictly confidential.

For those of you who are shut in and can’t get groceries or your meds, let Gisela know ([email protected]; 989.772.1602). We now have 6 volunteers who are willing to pick up your orders for you. Many thanks in advance to those willing to help out.

• • • Community News • • •

Coffee with Candi - Wednesday, September 9
We meet every 2nd & 4th Wednesday at 5:30 pm on Zoom.
Coffee with Candi is a safe, welcoming, nurturing, and loving secular environment to support and empower those later in life LGBTQ+ individuals who are newly out, wanting to come out, and questioning.

The final session in our series on harassment is this Wednesday, September 9. Our guest speaker will present and answer questions on the topic of harassment, discrimination, and negative feedback from family and friends in the coming out process. Mary Jo Schnell is the Executive Director of Out Center of Southwest Michigan, a service and support provider to LGBTQ+ individuals in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties.

For more information, contact Candi Tomlinson at 989-506-7477 or [email protected].

Let Peace Reign Event - Saturday, September 19

The Isabella County Human Rights Committee is celebrating a virtual Let Peace Reign Event on Saturday, September 19, from 5-7 pm. Help celebrate peace, love, solidarity and inclusion by logging on to the Isabella County Human Rights Committee’s Facebook page for this live event featuring poetry, music and speakers to entertain you and move you.

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

Take all that you need; give all that you can!

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 Office Hours and Contact Information

Please contact Drew via email, phone, or text.
[email protected]
Phone/text:
440-935-0129

UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2020-2021
President: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; [email protected])
Past-President: Carol Rard (989.561.2969; [email protected])
President Elect: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected])
Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected])
Co-Treasurer: Jen Prout (989.400.3130; [email protected])
Secretary: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; [email protected])
Trustee: Jennifer Davis (989.280.7010; [email protected])
Trustee: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected])
Trustee: Mel Bailey (989.600.6460; [email protected])

Team and Committee Leaders

Social Justice Coordinating Team - Norma Bailey
Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey
Environmental Issues committee - Daniel Davis
Voting Rights committee - David Wagstaff
Religious Education (RE) Team - Mel Bailey
Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit
Worship Team - Drew Frantz
Corona Virus task force - Drew Frantz
Membership - Laura McBride
Arms Around - Gisela Moffit
Welcome & Hospitality - Gisela Moffit

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

Copyright © 2020 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan. All rights reserved.

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