the lesson of the falling leaves
the leaves believe
such letting go is love
such love is faith
such faith is grace
and such grace is god
i agree with the leaves
~ Lucile Clifton
Marriage Equality for Michigan
Our hearts and prayers are focused on the ruling to be made today that could open the way for marriage equality in Michigan. Rev. Joe has signed a statement with other Michigan clergy in support of marriage equality. (If you know of a same sex couple who want to go down to the county courthouse for a marriage license and would like some clergy support, let Rev. Joe know!) The ruling will be made some time after 2:30. There is a rally in Detroit at noon today. Thanks to the Michigan UU Social Justice Network for helping organize our efforts!
Great Expectations - Silent Auction Is Near
This Saturday, October 19 from 7-9 p.m. at the UU Center, we will get together for a fun-filled evening with lots of special items and services to bid on. There are many beautiful art pieces (including all of Burnie's pictures currently in the green room), jewelry, special books, CDs, baked goods, ponchos as well as desirable services such as yard work, swim lessons, paddle trips, desserts, massages, riding lesson, French 4-course dinner, 3 days at a cabin and much more! Refreshments will be served. There is no cover charge, so come, bring your friend and your checkbook or cash! It is a wonderful opportunity to get great gifts!
Sunday Worship
The sermon for October 20th is “Seeking My Source for Some Definitive”. What the Indigo Girls sing is "the less I seek my source for some definitive, the closer I am to fine." We'll explore our desire for certitude and the role of doubt and ambiguity in seeking to understand God.
Fellowship Life Meeting
This Sunday after the service, we will have a brief Fellowship Life meeting. Norma Bailey from the Transition Team will explain the upcoming cottage meetings (the purpose, the questions to be discussed, logistics). This will be the last chance to sign up for one of the five scheduled meetings. For more information, see UUFCM Cottage meetings (below).
UUFCM Cottage Meetings
Transition Team announces cottage meetings to begin our interim work
We are now ready for the first of two rounds of "cottage meetings" to understand our past and present as the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan (UUFCM) and to contemplate our future. Our goal is to include as many member voices as possible in discussing who and where we have been, who and where we are now, and who and where we want to be in the future.
For our first round, we have established five "cottage meetings," informal gatherings of 8-10 members, each facilitated by two of the members of the Transition Team, to gather our stories of why we came to the UUFCM, why we continue to come, what the role of the fellowship is in our lives, and what our involvement is with the fellowship.
The dates and places of the gatherings are:
Sunday, October 20, 4:00 - 6:00 pm - home of Justin and Niki Henry
Sunday, October 20, 7:00 - 9:00 pm - home of Scott Daigle and Cynthia Damer
Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm - home of Beth and David Macleod
Friday, October 25, 7:00 - 9:00 pm - home of Gisela and Tom Moffit
Saturday, October 26, 1:30 - 3:30 pm - home of Laura McBride
We are inviting all members to sign up for one of the five gatherings. We will have sign-up sheets available on Sunday morning, October 20, or you can contact Norma Bailey (989-560-3952 or baile1nj@cmich.edu) to sign up. If you have questions about the goals and/or the process for the cottage meetings, you can contact Reverend Joe (989-400-4933 or revjoeuufcm@gmail.com) or any member of the Transition Team (Norma Bailey, Jim Dealing, Laura Frey, Joyce Henricks).
If you are not a member and wish to take part in these conversations, we welcome your participation.
Please contact either Joe or Norma.
RE Event: Chippewa Nature Center’s Nature at Night
Kids of all ages can enjoy the wonders of night time by visiting stations throughout the Visitor Center, exploring topics such as nocturnal insects and frogs and enjoying a few stories around a fire. Kids are encouraged to dress up as their favorite animal to win a prize.
Date: Saturday, October, 26
Time: Families will meet at the fellowship at 5:00 p.m. Carpooling is encouraged. Event takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. in Midland.
Admission: FREE!
Details: Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend this event, but arrangements can be made for children and youth who will not have an adult available. A sleepover at the fellowship for kindergarten through third grade children will begin when the group returns from Midland. Please contact Norma Bailey or Cynthia Damer if you need more information or have any questions.
Interested in Membership?
If you want to find out how to become a UUFCM member or learn more about Unitarianism Universalism, come to the next orientation meeting, which will take place at the UU Center on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. This so-called Path Class will be facilitated by Rev. Joe and Gisela Moffit and will offer an opportunity to learn about the history of Unitarian Universalism (in brief), UUFCM history, its principles, its governance and committee structures and the joining process. Child care will be provided. Please let Gisela know (gbmoffit@gmail.com or 772-1602) by Friday, Nov. 1 if you want to bring your children and/or if you plan to attend so that we can have enough handouts ready. Looking forward to meeting many of you who are new to our fellowship.
How to Reach Rev. Joe
The best way to reach Rev. Joe is by email at RevJoeUUFCM@gmail.com or by calling our Fellowship's office number: 989-400-4933. If your concern is more urgent, you can call or text Rev. Joe directly at 989-941-6013.
Available Upon Request!
In It's Own Time: Forgiveness as a Spiritual Practice by Rev. Maureen Killoran is available upon request from Laura McBride. Laura contacted Rev. Killoran who is allowing the sermon to be shared electronically. Contact Laura McBride with your request and she will email it to you soon! Laura's edress is lmcbride010@gmail.com.
Consignments to Thrift Shop
The ICDC (Isabella Child Development Center) Thrift Shop (307 S. Mission) accepts donations and consignment articles for resale to the community. UUFCM has an account there where we get half of whatever is sold. All of the money earned by the store (save the business expenses) goes to the support of a free pre-school for qualified area youngsters. Your donations and/or consignments are appreciated. The store is open from 10-4 daily. See Tom Moffit for further details.
Searching for Hormonal Balance
If you attend services regularly, you may have noticed that the choir is a bit under-represented by male voices. In the spirit of equality and Hank Graff, we are currently having a "push, pull, drag him in" event. If you know of anyone who might consider being dragged in, please have them join us on Wednesday evening at 7:00 or on Sunday morning at 9:45. If you enjoy singing in the car, in the shower, or at karaoke night please join us. If there are any questions, contact Chris Bauerle at 989-330-8457 or at cchris1111@gmail.com.
••• Community Announcements •••
Soup & Substance Series
This series offers an opportunity for informed discussion on specific topics, complete with with free soup and rolls for attendees. For a complete schedule, click here.
Indigenous Film Screenings
The Ziibiwing Center and the CMU Native American Programs invite the public to free screenings of Stolen Spirits of Haida Gwaii (Wednesday, Nov. 6, 3:30 & 5:30 p.m.) and Black Ash Basketry: A Story of Cultural Resilience(Thursday, Nov. 21, 2:00 & 5:00 p.m.). A Q&A follows each screening. For complete information, see this flyer.
Our hearts and prayers are focused on the ruling to be made today that could open the way for marriage equality in Michigan. Rev. Joe has signed a statement with other Michigan clergy in support of marriage equality. (If you know of a same sex couple who want to go down to the county courthouse for a marriage license and would like some clergy support, let Rev. Joe know!) The ruling will be made some time after 2:30. There is a rally in Detroit at noon today. Thanks to the Michigan UU Social Justice Network for helping organize our efforts!
Great Expectations - Silent Auction Is Near
This Saturday, October 19 from 7-9 p.m. at the UU Center, we will get together for a fun-filled evening with lots of special items and services to bid on. There are many beautiful art pieces (including all of Burnie's pictures currently in the green room), jewelry, special books, CDs, baked goods, ponchos as well as desirable services such as yard work, swim lessons, paddle trips, desserts, massages, riding lesson, French 4-course dinner, 3 days at a cabin and much more! Refreshments will be served. There is no cover charge, so come, bring your friend and your checkbook or cash! It is a wonderful opportunity to get great gifts!
Sunday Worship
The sermon for October 20th is “Seeking My Source for Some Definitive”. What the Indigo Girls sing is "the less I seek my source for some definitive, the closer I am to fine." We'll explore our desire for certitude and the role of doubt and ambiguity in seeking to understand God.
Fellowship Life Meeting
This Sunday after the service, we will have a brief Fellowship Life meeting. Norma Bailey from the Transition Team will explain the upcoming cottage meetings (the purpose, the questions to be discussed, logistics). This will be the last chance to sign up for one of the five scheduled meetings. For more information, see UUFCM Cottage meetings (below).
UUFCM Cottage Meetings
Transition Team announces cottage meetings to begin our interim work
We are now ready for the first of two rounds of "cottage meetings" to understand our past and present as the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan (UUFCM) and to contemplate our future. Our goal is to include as many member voices as possible in discussing who and where we have been, who and where we are now, and who and where we want to be in the future.
For our first round, we have established five "cottage meetings," informal gatherings of 8-10 members, each facilitated by two of the members of the Transition Team, to gather our stories of why we came to the UUFCM, why we continue to come, what the role of the fellowship is in our lives, and what our involvement is with the fellowship.
The dates and places of the gatherings are:
Sunday, October 20, 4:00 - 6:00 pm - home of Justin and Niki Henry
Sunday, October 20, 7:00 - 9:00 pm - home of Scott Daigle and Cynthia Damer
Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm - home of Beth and David Macleod
Friday, October 25, 7:00 - 9:00 pm - home of Gisela and Tom Moffit
Saturday, October 26, 1:30 - 3:30 pm - home of Laura McBride
We are inviting all members to sign up for one of the five gatherings. We will have sign-up sheets available on Sunday morning, October 20, or you can contact Norma Bailey (989-560-3952 or baile1nj@cmich.edu) to sign up. If you have questions about the goals and/or the process for the cottage meetings, you can contact Reverend Joe (989-400-4933 or revjoeuufcm@gmail.com) or any member of the Transition Team (Norma Bailey, Jim Dealing, Laura Frey, Joyce Henricks).
If you are not a member and wish to take part in these conversations, we welcome your participation.
Please contact either Joe or Norma.
RE Event: Chippewa Nature Center’s Nature at Night
Kids of all ages can enjoy the wonders of night time by visiting stations throughout the Visitor Center, exploring topics such as nocturnal insects and frogs and enjoying a few stories around a fire. Kids are encouraged to dress up as their favorite animal to win a prize.
Date: Saturday, October, 26
Time: Families will meet at the fellowship at 5:00 p.m. Carpooling is encouraged. Event takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. in Midland.
Admission: FREE!
Details: Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend this event, but arrangements can be made for children and youth who will not have an adult available. A sleepover at the fellowship for kindergarten through third grade children will begin when the group returns from Midland. Please contact Norma Bailey or Cynthia Damer if you need more information or have any questions.
Interested in Membership?
If you want to find out how to become a UUFCM member or learn more about Unitarianism Universalism, come to the next orientation meeting, which will take place at the UU Center on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. This so-called Path Class will be facilitated by Rev. Joe and Gisela Moffit and will offer an opportunity to learn about the history of Unitarian Universalism (in brief), UUFCM history, its principles, its governance and committee structures and the joining process. Child care will be provided. Please let Gisela know (gbmoffit@gmail.com or 772-1602) by Friday, Nov. 1 if you want to bring your children and/or if you plan to attend so that we can have enough handouts ready. Looking forward to meeting many of you who are new to our fellowship.
How to Reach Rev. Joe
The best way to reach Rev. Joe is by email at RevJoeUUFCM@gmail.com or by calling our Fellowship's office number: 989-400-4933. If your concern is more urgent, you can call or text Rev. Joe directly at 989-941-6013.
Available Upon Request!
In It's Own Time: Forgiveness as a Spiritual Practice by Rev. Maureen Killoran is available upon request from Laura McBride. Laura contacted Rev. Killoran who is allowing the sermon to be shared electronically. Contact Laura McBride with your request and she will email it to you soon! Laura's edress is lmcbride010@gmail.com.
Consignments to Thrift Shop
The ICDC (Isabella Child Development Center) Thrift Shop (307 S. Mission) accepts donations and consignment articles for resale to the community. UUFCM has an account there where we get half of whatever is sold. All of the money earned by the store (save the business expenses) goes to the support of a free pre-school for qualified area youngsters. Your donations and/or consignments are appreciated. The store is open from 10-4 daily. See Tom Moffit for further details.
Searching for Hormonal Balance
If you attend services regularly, you may have noticed that the choir is a bit under-represented by male voices. In the spirit of equality and Hank Graff, we are currently having a "push, pull, drag him in" event. If you know of anyone who might consider being dragged in, please have them join us on Wednesday evening at 7:00 or on Sunday morning at 9:45. If you enjoy singing in the car, in the shower, or at karaoke night please join us. If there are any questions, contact Chris Bauerle at 989-330-8457 or at cchris1111@gmail.com.
••• Community Announcements •••
Soup & Substance Series
This series offers an opportunity for informed discussion on specific topics, complete with with free soup and rolls for attendees. For a complete schedule, click here.
Indigenous Film Screenings
The Ziibiwing Center and the CMU Native American Programs invite the public to free screenings of Stolen Spirits of Haida Gwaii (Wednesday, Nov. 6, 3:30 & 5:30 p.m.) and Black Ash Basketry: A Story of Cultural Resilience(Thursday, Nov. 21, 2:00 & 5:00 p.m.). A Q&A follows each screening. For complete information, see this flyer.
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