The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for.
And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance
but live right in it, under its roof.
~ Barbara Kingsolver
| 2017 MUUSJN Social Justice Activist Award In November our congregation was honored to nominate our own Vicki Chessin for the 2017 MUUSJN Social Justice Activist Award. You can read our nomination letter here. |  |
Worship Matters
This coming Sunday, December 24 provides two opportunities to gather in worship. Our Sunday morning service will continue our exploration of what it means to be a people of hope with a message titled “Radical Hope.” We will also gather Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. for our holiday “Carols by Candlelight” service. Join us for one or the other or both – but please plan to join us!
Parents/Guardians of our children and youth please note: For both this Sunday and next week’s service on December 31 there will be no RE classes held during the service. Our children and youth are welcome in worship (activity packets will be made available for wiggly fingers) and childcare will be available
if needed.
You can read more about our monthly theme as well as explore some supplemental resources here.
And if you happen to miss being in worship on any given Sunday, the texts to previous sermon messages (and some of the readings as well) can be found in our website sermon archive.
Upcoming Services
December Worship Theme: What Does It Mean to Be a People of Hope?
December 31: “The Burning Bowl – Welcoming the New Year” Lay Leader: Ricky Courlander
January 2018 Worship Theme: What Does It Mean to Be a People of Intention?
January 7: “Intention vs. Resolution”
Lost Boy Found!
In case you've not seen or heard the news, the missing 13-year-old boy lifted up in joys and sorrows last Sunday - Ashton Terrill-Leathers, grandson of Margui Terrill - has been found safe and sound! Thank you to all who helped by passing out fliers and spreading the word. Please continue to hold Ashton and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
UU World Recommended Read
The winter quarter edition of UU World Magazine is full of wonderful articles, but it contains one piece that resonates well with much of our worship theme this month – it is titled “Grateful for the Dark” – check it out!
Poor People’s Campaign – Justice Warriors Needed
A nationwide effort has been initiated to continue the work begun by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Led in our time by the Rev. Dr. William Barber and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, the Poor People’s Campaign – A National Call for Moral Revival – was officially launched on December 4 at the National Press Club.
Brought to our attention by recently-retired CMU professor, Dr. Joyce Baugh, there are several ways for us to participate in the PPC in the coming months. Our minister has information to share that will be made available this coming Sunday, but the most efficient way is to visit the website and explore there the various ways to participate and complete the provided sign-up form. https://poorpeoplescampaign.org/
Find Out Where You Stand on Your Pledge
If you would like to find out where you stand on payments on your pledge to UUFCM before the end of the 2017 year, please contact Ricky Courlander (989-772-4457; magicwalnut@charter.net).
Calendar Updates
Welcome to UU - cancelled for December 24 - see you on January 28!
Ladies Who Lunch - cancelled for December 26 - see you on January 23!
Sewing Circle and Game Night - cancelled for January 1 - see you on January 15!
Church Clean-up Campaign - December 28/29
We need volunteers to help us clean up the church before the start of the new year. We will be cleaning inside windows, washing walls, sanitizing the toys in the infant room, organizing the kitchen cupboards, etc. Please sign-up in the Coffee Community Center for Thursday, December 28th and/or Friday, December 29th. We will be working from 10:00-4:00, with lunch from 12:30-1:30. If you would like to provide soup, bread or a dessert for our meal, you can sign up for that, as well. Please bring any cleaning supplies that you would like to, but that is not required. We look forward to working and dining together! Thank you.
First Friday Potluck - January 5
Join us for our January First Friday communal nosh! Jen Prout will be hosting, and the theme is Dare to Be Daring! Bring something you've never tried before. We will also be celebrating the January birthdays of Janis Shinn, Liz Dealing, Mel Bailey, Stacey Pattison, Doris Hall, and Dawn Daniels. The potluck begins at 6:30 p.m. - helping hands are welcome at 6:15 p.m. to assist with set-up preparations.
We need hosts for upcoming potlucks! If you are willing to host a potluck, please contact Jen Prout
(989-400-3130 or poutyprouty66@yahoo.com) or George Lentz (248-346-4039 or geolentz@gmail.com). Upcoming dates include: February 2, March 2, April 6, and May 4. If you enjoy the potlucks, please consider hosting - it is fun and easy!
Dish Towel Mystery
While many of us enjoy a good mystery, this particular one is simply inconvenient. Please help us solve the mystery of the rapidly depleting supply of dish towels and dish rags that have gone missing from our kitchen. We suspect the culprit is a forgetfulness that may have overcome the kindly souls that take our towels and rags home to launder after church gatherings. We need to remedy this forgetting – please return our towels and rags to their rightful kitchen home. Thank you!
To Whom Should We Give Our End-of-Year Donations?
Your Social Justice Coordinating Team would like to suggest that your donations in the holiday and end-of-year giving season be given to meet local, national, and global needs with a focus on advocacy for change locally, nationally, and internationally for global justice and peace. We believe that our donations should not only provide balm for the wounds of injustice but also should change the conditions that create injustice and poverty. We have created a document with further information and some suggested organizations that support justice.
Remind-er - In Case You Missed It!
Please add this app to your smartphone, laptop, or ipad/tablet...REMIND! This is the method we will use to notify you of fellowship service closings and event announcements. You will be getting an invitation from Laura McBride. If you want it sent to an email address versus a cell phone number, let Laura know. Add the app to your technology of choice. Direct questions and requests to Laura McBride at 989.772.5512 or Lmcbride010@gmail.com.
Please Think Before You Spritz
This message is a request for mindfulness as well as an effort to raise awareness. There are people who attend services and other activities at our fellowship who have fragrance allergies/chemical sensitivities. Being in close proximity (which is difficult to avoid in our small space) to folks wearing cologne, perfume - even heavily scented soaps/shampoos - can cause a range of uncomfortable symptomatic reactions. While we like to think of ourselves as a diverse bouquet as a faith community, the literal mixing of so many different scents (as opposed to the metaphorical mixing) can be a health hazard for some of us. We ask that you keep this in mind when considering your choice of personal care/hygienic applications. Thank you!
This coming Sunday, December 24 provides two opportunities to gather in worship. Our Sunday morning service will continue our exploration of what it means to be a people of hope with a message titled “Radical Hope.” We will also gather Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. for our holiday “Carols by Candlelight” service. Join us for one or the other or both – but please plan to join us!
Parents/Guardians of our children and youth please note: For both this Sunday and next week’s service on December 31 there will be no RE classes held during the service. Our children and youth are welcome in worship (activity packets will be made available for wiggly fingers) and childcare will be available
if needed.
You can read more about our monthly theme as well as explore some supplemental resources here.
And if you happen to miss being in worship on any given Sunday, the texts to previous sermon messages (and some of the readings as well) can be found in our website sermon archive.
Upcoming Services
December Worship Theme: What Does It Mean to Be a People of Hope?
December 31: “The Burning Bowl – Welcoming the New Year” Lay Leader: Ricky Courlander
January 2018 Worship Theme: What Does It Mean to Be a People of Intention?
January 7: “Intention vs. Resolution”
Lost Boy Found!
In case you've not seen or heard the news, the missing 13-year-old boy lifted up in joys and sorrows last Sunday - Ashton Terrill-Leathers, grandson of Margui Terrill - has been found safe and sound! Thank you to all who helped by passing out fliers and spreading the word. Please continue to hold Ashton and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
UU World Recommended Read
The winter quarter edition of UU World Magazine is full of wonderful articles, but it contains one piece that resonates well with much of our worship theme this month – it is titled “Grateful for the Dark” – check it out!
Poor People’s Campaign – Justice Warriors Needed
A nationwide effort has been initiated to continue the work begun by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Led in our time by the Rev. Dr. William Barber and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, the Poor People’s Campaign – A National Call for Moral Revival – was officially launched on December 4 at the National Press Club.
Brought to our attention by recently-retired CMU professor, Dr. Joyce Baugh, there are several ways for us to participate in the PPC in the coming months. Our minister has information to share that will be made available this coming Sunday, but the most efficient way is to visit the website and explore there the various ways to participate and complete the provided sign-up form. https://poorpeoplescampaign.org/
Find Out Where You Stand on Your Pledge
If you would like to find out where you stand on payments on your pledge to UUFCM before the end of the 2017 year, please contact Ricky Courlander (989-772-4457; magicwalnut@charter.net).
Calendar Updates
Welcome to UU - cancelled for December 24 - see you on January 28!
Ladies Who Lunch - cancelled for December 26 - see you on January 23!
Sewing Circle and Game Night - cancelled for January 1 - see you on January 15!
Church Clean-up Campaign - December 28/29
We need volunteers to help us clean up the church before the start of the new year. We will be cleaning inside windows, washing walls, sanitizing the toys in the infant room, organizing the kitchen cupboards, etc. Please sign-up in the Coffee Community Center for Thursday, December 28th and/or Friday, December 29th. We will be working from 10:00-4:00, with lunch from 12:30-1:30. If you would like to provide soup, bread or a dessert for our meal, you can sign up for that, as well. Please bring any cleaning supplies that you would like to, but that is not required. We look forward to working and dining together! Thank you.
First Friday Potluck - January 5
Join us for our January First Friday communal nosh! Jen Prout will be hosting, and the theme is Dare to Be Daring! Bring something you've never tried before. We will also be celebrating the January birthdays of Janis Shinn, Liz Dealing, Mel Bailey, Stacey Pattison, Doris Hall, and Dawn Daniels. The potluck begins at 6:30 p.m. - helping hands are welcome at 6:15 p.m. to assist with set-up preparations.
We need hosts for upcoming potlucks! If you are willing to host a potluck, please contact Jen Prout
(989-400-3130 or poutyprouty66@yahoo.com) or George Lentz (248-346-4039 or geolentz@gmail.com). Upcoming dates include: February 2, March 2, April 6, and May 4. If you enjoy the potlucks, please consider hosting - it is fun and easy!
Dish Towel Mystery
While many of us enjoy a good mystery, this particular one is simply inconvenient. Please help us solve the mystery of the rapidly depleting supply of dish towels and dish rags that have gone missing from our kitchen. We suspect the culprit is a forgetfulness that may have overcome the kindly souls that take our towels and rags home to launder after church gatherings. We need to remedy this forgetting – please return our towels and rags to their rightful kitchen home. Thank you!
To Whom Should We Give Our End-of-Year Donations?
Your Social Justice Coordinating Team would like to suggest that your donations in the holiday and end-of-year giving season be given to meet local, national, and global needs with a focus on advocacy for change locally, nationally, and internationally for global justice and peace. We believe that our donations should not only provide balm for the wounds of injustice but also should change the conditions that create injustice and poverty. We have created a document with further information and some suggested organizations that support justice.
Remind-er - In Case You Missed It!
Please add this app to your smartphone, laptop, or ipad/tablet...REMIND! This is the method we will use to notify you of fellowship service closings and event announcements. You will be getting an invitation from Laura McBride. If you want it sent to an email address versus a cell phone number, let Laura know. Add the app to your technology of choice. Direct questions and requests to Laura McBride at 989.772.5512 or Lmcbride010@gmail.com.
Please Think Before You Spritz
This message is a request for mindfulness as well as an effort to raise awareness. There are people who attend services and other activities at our fellowship who have fragrance allergies/chemical sensitivities. Being in close proximity (which is difficult to avoid in our small space) to folks wearing cologne, perfume - even heavily scented soaps/shampoos - can cause a range of uncomfortable symptomatic reactions. While we like to think of ourselves as a diverse bouquet as a faith community, the literal mixing of so many different scents (as opposed to the metaphorical mixing) can be a health hazard for some of us. We ask that you keep this in mind when considering your choice of personal care/hygienic applications. Thank you!
I still value hope, but I see it as only part of what’s required, a starting point.
Think of it as the match but not the tinder or the blaze. To matter, to change the world,
you also need devotion and will and you need to act. Hope is only where it begins.
~ Rebecca Solnit
Mindfulness in Parking Requested
Let us be mindful to leave the parking spaces directly across from our Wisconsin entrance open
for our friends who have mobility issues. Thank you for your consideration.
Got News?
The deadline for submissions to the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly e-News is
Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Please send all submissions to admin@uufcm.org.
Service Cancellation Policy
In case of inclement weather, a decision to cancel the service will be made by 9 a.m. There are multiple ways to learn the status of a Sunday service in our snowy months. Members and friends may request to join the
Remind app and receive cancellation news via a text or email. In addition, an announcement will be posted on Facebook as well as sent directly via email. Those who are not online will be phoned. If you have questions, call Laura McBride (989-772-5512). We hope we won't have to resort to this very often, but we live in Michigan after all, so we need to be prepared!
UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2017-2018
President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu)
Past-President: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; lmcbride010@gmail.com)
President Elect: Mary Alsager (989.773.2595; malsager@yahoo.com)
Treasurer: Chris Bailey (989.775.8257)
Assistant Treasurer: Ricky Courlander (989.772.4457; magicwalnut@charter.net)
Secretary: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; becht1bh@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; janis_shinn@yahoo.com)
Trustee: Joyce Henricks (989.400.9743; joyce.henricks@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Ethan Kolek (413.387.7321; ethank3535@gmail.com)
Let us be mindful to leave the parking spaces directly across from our Wisconsin entrance open
for our friends who have mobility issues. Thank you for your consideration.
Got News?
The deadline for submissions to the Order of Service Insert and the UUFCM weekly e-News is
Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Please send all submissions to admin@uufcm.org.
Service Cancellation Policy
In case of inclement weather, a decision to cancel the service will be made by 9 a.m. There are multiple ways to learn the status of a Sunday service in our snowy months. Members and friends may request to join the
Remind app and receive cancellation news via a text or email. In addition, an announcement will be posted on Facebook as well as sent directly via email. Those who are not online will be phoned. If you have questions, call Laura McBride (989-772-5512). We hope we won't have to resort to this very often, but we live in Michigan after all, so we need to be prepared!
UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2017-2018
President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; baile1nj@cmich.edu)
Past-President: Laura McBride (989.772.5512; lmcbride010@gmail.com)
President Elect: Mary Alsager (989.773.2595; malsager@yahoo.com)
Treasurer: Chris Bailey (989.775.8257)
Assistant Treasurer: Ricky Courlander (989.772.4457; magicwalnut@charter.net)
Secretary: Brigitte Bechtold (989.954.1123; becht1bh@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Janis Shinn (989.400.3724; janis_shinn@yahoo.com)
Trustee: Joyce Henricks (989.400.9743; joyce.henricks@cmich.edu)
Trustee: Ethan Kolek (413.387.7321; ethank3535@gmail.com)
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