eNews January 22, 2026

Keep up with what's happening with UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, January 22, 2026 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, January 25, to worship with Rev. Drew on “Trauma and Resilience." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.     Humans experience trauma in many forms and at many levels. A classic book in this field is “What Happened to You?” by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey. While the book focuses on family trauma, the lessons on how we survive and heal from trauma are applicable to other types of trauma as well. These lessons may give us hope as we navigate our own traumas–in the personal sphere and the public sphere. 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   January 25: Trauma and Resilience   In Case You Missed It... Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives.  In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.  Minister’s Column: "“Discernment and Action”   Last Friday (January 16) a call went out, seen in my social media and my email in-box: clergy are called to come to Minneapolis for a day of action and protest this Friday (January 23). The organizers explicitly linked this call to Martin Luther King, saying: MLK called ministers to Selma. We are calling you to Minneapolis.   Ministers use the word “discernment” to mean figuring out something important within ourselves. We speak of “discerning a call to ministry,” for instance. This situation required deep discernment for me. Although I knew this was exactly the kind of action that I have always seen as central to my work as a minister, there were a lot of reasons NOT to go: a long journey on a few days notice, in the middle of a regular work week when I have obligations here; the uncertainty of what the action and its effectiveness might be; and the real danger of arrest, injury, or mistreatment by the ICE agents. More... 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. A Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00pm Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm Sleepy Time Yoga - 3rd Sundays at 6:30pm  Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm  Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm This Saturday! Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Returning April 14 UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom Welcome to UU Orientation - last Sunday of the month at 12:00pm unless otherwise indicated - This Sunday 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 Worship Team Meeting: Thursday, January 22 at 4:30pm Communications Team Meeting: Friday January 23 at 5:30pm Adult RE Team Meeting: Monday, January 26 at 7:00pm Fellowship News Annual All-Congregation Retreat:  “Feeling Connected in the Struggle”  THIS Saturday, January 24, 2026  8:45 coffee 9:00 – 12:00 retreat 12:00 – 1:00 luncheon  Please join us for the annual UUFCM retreat, a chance for the whole congregation to reflect and connect. Our intention this year is to balance social connection and bonding with reflection on what is happening in the world and how it affects us. Movie Night - "Possession" Two modern day literature critics strangers to each other are researching different Victorian poets. Each discovers their respective poets exchanged love letters exposing an illicit affair. What happens next? Join us at the Fellowship Hall January 24th at 7:00 to find out.  Any changes in your life? We are in the process of updating our Directory which will be printed in early February.  It is very important that you let us know if there are any changes you need to make so that we are current. Have you moved, gotten a new phone number, changed your email address, changed your name or had a baby?  Please check the online Directory to see if your current entry is ok or needs to be updated. If you don't remember the password, contact Gisela (link).  Deadline:  Wednesday, January 28.  Thank you! A Path to Membership   A Path to Membership class will be held on Saturday, January 31st from 1-4pm. Please contact Laura for further information. Her info is: 989.772.5512 or [email protected].  Actions You Can Take Today!    Sign up for our Social Justice Interest Survey if you haven’t already – to receive alerts about petitions to sign, members of Congress to call or email, both federal and state.   Sign up for Dial for Democracy. Receive email alerts when it's time to call your lawmakers on legislation or decisions that impact Michigan's democracy. See Community News for how to join.  Put these people into your phone contacts and make at least one phone call or text every day.  They keep track of how many calls/messages they receive.  Senator Gary Peters (202-224-6221) Senator Elissa Slotkin (202-224-4822) US House Representative John Moolenaar (202-225-3561) Michigan Senator Roger Hauck (517-373-1760) Michigan State House Representative Jerry Neyer (517-373-2646) Stay Informed for UUFCM Cancellations   When we decide to cancel or postpone a UUFCM event due to weather--as we did due to last Sunday's snowstorm--we use a cell phone app called Remind to make these announcements. In the case of Sunday morning worship, we make our decision by 8:30 am.  Downloading the Remind app to your phone and signing up just takes a few minutes. Stay informed and prepared this winter! View our full cancellation policy along with instructions for signing up on the Remind app here. Although the Remind app is the best way to stay informed, we also try to send an email and post an announcement on the website and social media. Save the Date for our Community Justice Party on February 21   You are all invited to our fifth bi-annual Community Justice Party on Saturday, February 21, 7-9 pm.  There will be a program in the sanctuary of music, skits, poetry, and a “Guess the Activist” contest highlighting several social justice issues, and then we will meet in the Fellowship Hall for light refreshments and a rousing cake walk!  This was a highlight event in 2024, so be sure to have it on your calendar!  Community News 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.  Film Screening and Discussion Indivisible Protests Continue! Indivisible Central Michigan plans on continuing their weekly Saturday protests at the usual location (corner of Mission and Broadway). The time is 11:00-1:00.  In case of extreme weather, a cancellation email will be sent out by 10:00.  Email [email protected] to get on the email list. Facts on Petitions 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. 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    Tuesdays 10am-noon   Wednesdays 1-3pm and 8-9pm   UUFCM Board of Trustees for 2025-2026 President: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected]) President-Elect: Guy Newland (989.944.0534; newla1g[email protected]) Treasurer: David Allan (989.941.7349; [email protected]) Secretary: Jennifer Davis (989.280.7010; [email protected]) Trustee: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; [email protected]) Trustee: Jennifer Prout (989.400.3130; [email protected]) Trustee:  Matt Collins (616-617-2274; colli2mr@gmail.com) Team and Committee Leaders Adult Religious Education Team - Joyce Henricks Building, Grounds & Safety Team - Norma Bailey Caring Team - Laura McBride Communications Coordinating Team Annie Peters  Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Laura McBride   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. 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