eNews: November 20th, 2025

Keep up with what's happening at UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, November 20, 2025 Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, November 23, to worship with Rev. Drew who will present  "Nurturing Gratitude." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.   "November is the season of gratitude, and we are reminded that gratitude is a practice, not a feeling. Gratitude is especially important during hard times, and the greatest gratitude is for people, not things. How are you practicing a sense of gratitude in these hard times? Who are the people who have enriched and blessed your life?"   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   November 23: Nurturing Gratitude November 30: Embodying Abundance  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: "The Epstein Files" In today’s news, congress is voting to release the so-called Epstein Files. I am taking a moment to reflect on what this means for all of us. The hope and promise of these files is that they will provide more information and proof of who was guilty and complicit in this enormous, far-reaching, long-lasting, well-funded, highly organized sexual abuse of girls and women. For anyone paying attention, there is already plenty of information showing that rich and powerful men, including American presidents and British royalty, were participants in this morally disgusting and legally criminal activity. 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 Mondays at 6pm  Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm  Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm - resuming in January Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Soul Matters Discussion Group - next meeting to be announced 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  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 No Team Meetings Fellowship News Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience TODAY Thursday, November 20, 7:15 p.m. All are welcome for a special service that honors transgender people and their allies. For 25 years, this day has been set aside to remember the far-too-many transgender victims of violence. Along with this somber commemoration and accompanying call to action, we also celebrate trans joy and resilience--the success and thriving of transgender people courageously finding themselves and living their best lives.  Drop Off Free Calendars   Do you have extra 2026 calendars? Your Social Justice Coordinating Team (SJCT) will collect them to distribute to the residents of local nursing homes for the new year! You can drop them off in the box located by the nursery. Policy Regarding Safer Inclusion of Potential Sex Offenders   On November 9, the UUFCM Board of Trustees approved a revised Policy Regarding Sexual Misconduct that had been approved at the May 10 Board meeting.  After the old policy was shared with the congregation, there were concerns raised by a number of congregants that the original policy was more concerned with the welcome to a sex offender than with the safety of the members of the congregation.  The concerns were shared at a Listening Circle on September 30 and in communication with members of the Safer Congregation Committee.   Based on that feedback, the Safer Congregation Committee revised the original policy and recommended it to the Board, which subsequently approved the revised policy.  The Policy Regarding Safer Inclusion of Potential Sex Offenders is linked HERE.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact any member of the Safer Congregation Committee: Rev. Drew Frantz, Mel Bailey, Norma Bailey, Sierra Burke, Kirsten King, Guy Newland, and Katie Zapoluch. Care Request Form for UUFCM Community The UUFCM Caring Team supports members and friends of the congregation in practical ways such as offering rides to medical appointments, meals for those temporarily unable to cook for themselves, and help with moving. Our ability to help, of course, is limited to the capacity of our volunteers. To facilitate delivery of these helping services, you are invited to fill out this online form on behalf of yourself or others if you want to request such assistance. Cynthia Damer coordinates this effort; others members of the Caring Team are Phoenix Thompson, Lou Ann Ashley, Laura McBride, Victoria Sladek, and Rev. Drew Frantz. Click Here Adult RE:  Book Discussion - This Sunday Week 4 The very moving memorial for Janet Olson reminds us, once again, of the fragility and preciousness of our lives. The reality and inevitability of death remains a challenge for many people. During the first four Sundays of November, at 12:00 after services, Jim Dealing and Nancy Roeder will offer a facilitated discussion of Love and Death:  My Journey Through the Valley of the Shadow  by Forrest Church, pastor at All Souls UU in New York City for thirty years. The book is a series of reflections on death as his fatal cancer returns.  I found it moving and profoundly helpful. We shouldn't wait to come to terms with this reality but, as Church offers, "to live in such a way that our lives prove worth dying for."  This is a perspective that all of us need to learn.  It is not only for elders but for all ages. The book (140 pages in 20 chapters) is available new from the UUA bookstore, or used from Amazon or Thrift Books.  Contact Jim Dealing to indicate interest or if you have any questions.   Thanksgiving Feast: November 27 Thanksgiving is coming up and there will be a feast held at the fellowship hall at UUFCM on Thursday, November 27, 2025 for those who would like to attend Thanksgiving with others. If you are interested in attending, please contact Laura McBride as she will be coordinating the meal. If you would like to cook/donate something for the meal, text/email/call Laura. The potluck meal is planned for 4-6 pm in the fellowship hall on Thanksgiving Day. We still have some available seats, if you are interested. There are a few food items and prep and clean up opportunities available to make the celebration enjoyable for all!  Her contact information is: 989.772.5512 or [email protected]  Welcome to UU: November 30 There will be a Welcome to UU class offered on Sunday, November 30th at noon in the sanctuary. Any interested persons may attend! This is one of two parts to considering becoming a member of UUFCM or at the very least learning more about our fellowship's history and Unitarian Universalism! Please let Laura McBride know if you plan to stay for the 70 minute class. Her contact information is: 989.772.5512 or [email protected]  All are welcome!   Path to Membership - Coming in December A Path to Membership opportunity is being planned for Saturday, December 6th or 13th 2-4:30 pm in the Social Hall. If you are interested in learning more about how UUFCM is organized, volunteer opportunities, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more, please contact Laura McBride or Rev. Drew Frantz. If December doesn't work for you, there will be a second chance in January. Contacts: Laura McBride 989.772.5512 [email protected] Rev. Drew 440.935.0129  [email protected] UUFCM Environmental Protection Corner Jim Moreno attended the Michigan Climate Action Network conference in Lansing in September and brought back a list of agencies that work to protect the environment. We share those with you to peruse to see if you would like to support one or more of them. Michigan Climate Action Network - miclimateaction.org Citizens Climate Lobby Michigan - citizensclimatelobby.org Clean Water Action - www.cleanwater.org Environmental Defense Fund - www.edf.org Oil & Water Don’t Mix - www.oilandwaterdontmix.org Michigan League of Conservation Voters - www.michiganlcv.org Michigan Recycling Coalition - www.Michiganrecycles.org As well, did you know that micro plastics have been found throughout the ocean, on the United States continental divide and even at the Balcony on Mt. Everest (around 8,440 meters or 29,000 feet), which is the highest point yet where microplastics have been found. Microplastics have also been found in fish, vegetables, human breast milk (Journal of Polymers), and arterial plaques in humans (New England Journal of Medicine). While specific health issues have not been tied to microplastics, it’s important to know they are everywhere. Based on this information, your Social Justice Coordinating Team is encouraging you this month to start a habit (if you don’t have it already) to NEVER take a plastic bag from the store when you buy your groceries. Bring cloth or net bags, keeping them in your car or simply by the door when you head out to buy groceries. Community News Chop Wood, Carry Water   Another way that you can continue to make a difference is to contact our senators and representatives, and an easy way to do that is to utilize Chop Wood, Carry Water, a Substack publication which sends daily emails with actions to take, including scripts. This is the link to subscribe:             https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/ 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. Native American Heritage Month Central Michigan University invites community members to its multiple events celebrating Native American Heritage Month.  Click on flyer for events, dates and times. 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:  Team and Committee Leaders Adult Religious Education Team - Jodi Fisher 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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