eNews Thursday, September 18 2025

Keep up with what's happening at UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, September 18, 2025 Rev. Brigitte Bechtold (center) receiving a gift from UUFCM for her ordination as a UU minister. She is a member of this Fellowship and now serves the Beacon UU Congregation in Troy. We are so proud to have someone from our congregation go on to UU ministry! Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, September 21st, to worship with Rev. Drew Frantz who will present  "Truth-telling and the Eternal Child: Education Is Sacred." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am.   "The classroom is a sacred space in two ways. First, it is a place where truth is told, discovered, and refined in the dynamic interplay of students and teachers. Second, the classroom represents a place of safety for the child–the actual children in the classroom, and the child within every human being, the archetype of innocence and wonder. These things we celebrate today." 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 September 21 - Truth-telling and the Eternal Child: Education Is Sacred September 28 - Hope in the Face of Devastation with Guy Newland 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 Shooting of Charlie Kirk"  When I heard about the shooting last week, I sort of knew who Charlie Kirk was. I had heard of him as a right-wing podcaster…from the left-wing podcasters I listen to. In the immediate aftermath of the event, I really appreciated the voices calling for calm and unity—and denouncing all political violence. One message I heard was: “Let’s not hear celebrating from the left regarding this killing. We know that Kirk’s ideas were contrary to what we stand for, but he is a human being who leaves behind a wife and children. If we are celebrating his assassination, we have lost a big piece of our humanity.” 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 - Cancelled for September 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 - September 27th 7:00pm Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm - September 23rd 6:45pm 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 - September 28th 12:00pm 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 Youth RE Meeting - Sunday Sept 21, 3:30pm Fellowship News Special Plate Collection This Sunday  – The Mt. Pleasant Pride Center This Sunday, a collection will be taken to support Mt. Pleasant Pride Center, a volunteer-based community center for LGBTQ+ members and their allies in Mount Pleasant. You can put a donation into the passed plate on Sunday, donate online to the Social Justice Special Plate Collections Fund at our website, or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with Mt. Pleasant Pride Center in the memo.   Safe Congregation Team The Safe Congregation Team has re-convened for the new year with three new members. Our task is to consider the possible inclusion of any people on the sex offender registry in the activities of the Fellowship.  -  last year the board adopted a policy that allows for the possibility of including a sex offender  -  so far, we have NOT gone forward with including anyone on the sex offender registry in our congregation. If we were to do so, every case would be treated individually. We want to make sure we hear from everyone—especially those with concerns—before implementing the policy. Please reach out to anyone on this team, or join us for a listening circle on Tuesday September 30 at 5:00. Scam Alert Several congregants have recently received emails and texts purportedly from UUFCM leadership. If you receive a message that seems suspicious, please remember that we would never solicit money or ask for help in this way, and do not respond to the message. Read more here. CUUPS Mabon Ritual – Sunday, September 21 CUUPs - Covenant of UU Pagans Contact: Annette Pratt  This is the second time of the year to specifically commune with nature. The autumn equinox focuses on the cooler aspects of the summer solstice. The festival is represented by the harvest of corn, along with the other products in your garden that are ready to be harvested. We will hold the ritual promptly at 6:00pm. Readers Theater: Tuesday September 23, 6:45 pm All are welcome. Invitation to a Letter Writing Party The Social Justice Coordinating Team (SJCT) invites you to a letter-writing event on Friday, September 26, 5:30-7:00pm to support a Pennsylvania Supreme Court election coming up on November 5.  We will provide instructions, materials and snacks.  Join us in making a difference with our action!    Movie Night UUFCM Annual Harvest Feast - October 12 Please save the date for the annual harvest feast on Sunday October 12th. Sign up sheets will be in the in fellowship hall starting this Sunday. Save the Date for October Cleanup   Save the date for our outdoor cleanup on Saturday, October 25, 9:30-12:30.  More information later! Community News Choose Your Topic Protest Saturday, September 20, 10-12, on the corner of Mission and Broadway. Indivisible Central Michigan invites everyone to join to protest any and all issues.  There are plenty to choose from! You can drop in and stay as long as you are able, or plan on driving by in support – honking horns are always welcome! Extra signs are available.  Let Peace Reign          In recognition of International Day of Peace, there will be an annual event titled “Let Peace Reign” in the Town Center from 3-6 pm on Saturday, September 20.  There will be a peace walk, local speakers on peace, a moment of silence, and other peace-promoting activities.   All are welcome. ICRH Open House       ICRH (the homeless shelter) is inviting everyone to an open house celebrating the new permanent shelter at 555 N. Main St. on Wednesday, September 24, 4:00-6:00 pm.  The ribbon-cutting will be at 4:00, with guided tours of the building after. Ballot Proposals for November 2026 – Know What You Sign! The League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund has compiled a summary of each of the ballot proposals that are being considered for the November 2026 election.  While the League has not taken a position on all of these yet, they are reminding people to be sure to know what they are signing before they sign.  See the link HERE to the summary. There are two petitions being circulated concerning rules about voting in Michigan, both of which are trying to make it harder for eligible citizens to register to vote, vote at a precinct, and/or vote absentee. In essence, these petitions, if they garner enough signatures, will go on the ballot in the 2026 midterm election requiring people to prove that they are citizens with documents such as birth certificates or passports. Unfortunately, if on the ballot, they will probably pass because many people will not read the complete language but simply vote “yes” because, of course, we want to make sure that only citizens can vote (already a requirement to vote). The action needed by all of us to keep these two issues off the ballot in November 2026 is to educate everyone we know – family, friends, neighbors – to NOT sign these two petitions. If you are asked to sign a petition having anything to do with voting, we urge you to NOT sign. If you would like to do more, please contact Norma Bailey ([email protected]) who can share more information with you and/or give you “decline to sign” flyers to hand out to people. Click HERE for flyer. 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: Marco Muñoz-Fortino (989-600-6738; [email protected]) 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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