eNews for Thursday, May 15

Keep up with what's happening at UUFCM!

View this email in your browser eNews for Thursday, May 15 UUFCM Annual Meeting - THIS Sunday, May 18 The Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan (UUFCM), will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, right after the worship service. This meeting, while open to all members and friends, is the time when the members of the Fellowship will vote on the business of the Fellowship. Please plan on attending. Here's a link to the 2025 UUFCM Annual Report. Worship Matters We will gather online via Zoom and in person this Sunday, May 18, to worship with Rev. Drew Frantz who will present "Imagination." The Zoom call starts at 10:00am for social time, and the service starts at 10:30am. Followed by the Annual Meeting. "The importance of imagination goes far beyond fantasy stories and children’s tales. When we find our situation to be far from how we want it to be, imagination is necessary to move forward. This is true for our personal lives and for our society. The Fellowship’s annual business meeting follows the service this Sunday–another opportunity to imagine the community we want and to take steps toward that goal." 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 May 25 - Building Your Own Theology June 1 - Pride June 8 - Schooling & Graduation June 15 - Flower Communion June 22 - UUA General Assembly June 29 - Summer Worship Series In Case You Missed It... Many past sermons are available on our website under Sermon Videos and Archives. Here are links to more recent sermons.    "Earth Centered Religion" - April 27, by Rev. Drew Frantz "Springtime Joy" - April 20,  by Rev. Drew Frantz In order to access any services 2024 on, go to the website and click on Worship, then Sunday Services.  Minister’s Column: “Episcopalians Resist” Today NPR ran a story about the Trump administration and the Episcopal Church. While freezing the refugee resettlement program for the rest of the world, Trump made a special allowance for white South Africans to apply for refugee status, bringing them to the United States on a chartered plane and having government officials welcome them. They asked the Episcopal Church to help settle these people in America, as the church has done for 100,000 refugees in recent decades. And this time, the church said No. Read the column here. 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 7pm  Central Michigan Sangha - Tuesdays at 6:45pm Crafty U - 3rd Tuesdays at 10:30am First Friday Potluck - First Fridays at 6:30pm Game Night - 3rd Mondays at 7pm Movie Night - 4th Saturdays at 7pm  Readers Theater - 2nd Tuesdays at 7pm Soul Matters Discussion Group - 4th Thursdays at 6:30pm  UU Discussion Group - Wednesdays at 10am UUFCM Men’s Group - 1st Mondays at 7pm on Zoom UUFCM Women's Circle - On hiatus until further notice Welcome to UU Orientation - 4th Sundays at 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 Team - Sunday, May 18, at 3:30pm Special Plate Collection THIS Sunday: R.I.S.E. (Women’s Aid Service) The special social justice “plate” offering on Sunday, May 18, is for R.I.S.E. (Women's Aid Service,) an agency serving domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in Isabella, Gratiot, and Clare counties. You can donate online to the Social Justice Fund at our website or checks can be sent to our treasurer made out to UUFCM with “R.I.S.E.” indicated in the memo line. Movie Night - Saturday, May 24 He’s never forgiven his daughter-in-law, blaming her for the tragic loss of his son. After years of silence, she unexpectedly reappears—this time with his granddaughter, seeking refuge from an abusive relationship. With some persuasion from his loyal best friend, he reluctantly opens his home. Can the wounds of the past be healed, and can broken relationships find redemption? Join us for An Unfinished Life, a powerful drama starring Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, and Damian Lewis. Saturday, May 24, at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall– All are welcome! UUFCM Is Hiring Administrative Assistant job starts July 1 After working with us for two years, our Administrative Assistant Wendy Altmeier will be moving on at the end of June. We are now posting the job to find her successor. The starting pay is $17.50-$19.40, for seven hours per week, working remotely. The full details are in this job posting, which everyone is encouraged to share. Often the best employees come from word of mouth, so please let Rev. Drew know if you have a person in mind who might be good for this job. It is UUFCM policy that we do not normally hire someone who is a member of the congregation. The application deadline is June 1st, and Rev. Drew will interview candidates along with a representative from the Board of Trustees and the Communications Team. Evaluation of Shared Ministry This is your opportunity to share feedback to improve the congregation.   A team of four members plus the minister is undertaking a yearly review of the work the minister is doing and the work all of us are doing (shared ministry). We have identified these categories as the focus of our evaluation this year: Pastoral Care Worship (Sunday worship and special services) Religious Education: Youth and Adult Administration              A. Communication              B. Governance              C. Supervision of hourly and contract employees For each category, we are asking these overall questions:  What is the minister doing well in this category? How could the minister improve his work in this category? What is the congregation doing well in this category? How could the congregation improve its work in this category? We have identified members of the congregation who have particular insight into these categories and will be contacting them soon to ask more specific questions. If you would like to be interviewed regarding any of these categories, please contact one of the members of the evaluation team. Please let us know by May 26. Evaluation team: Annette Pratt, Norma Bailey, Sierra Burke, Laura McBride, Drew Frantz Save for This Year’s Garage Sale As you are doing any spring housecleaning and come across items you could donate, please hold on to them for the June 12, 13 and 14 sale. You’ll be able to bring your items over to Norma’s house (222 E. Andre Ave.) starting the first week of June. More information in two weeks! If you have questions, please contact Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected]). Scam Alert Several congregants have 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. • • • Community News • • • Read-In to Support Libraries, Museums, and Public Broadcasting - Saturday, May 17 As Thomas Jefferson said, “A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny”. Indivisible MP wants to clearly state that the GOP cutting funding for any of these institutions IS NOT OK. Your Presence and Action Are Needed! Now that the Sex Education Advisory Board of the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools has forwarded a recommendation to the school board by a narrow 6-5 vote, our presence and action are needed.  The recommended grades 4-6 curriculum “Puberty the Wonder Years” has been updated to include gender identity, and there is very likely significant opposition to the revised version. In order to show that there is community support for the updated curriculum, we who believe in the inclusion of all our students need to take action.   What can we do?  There is another public hearing required before the school board can vote to approve the curriculum. This second one will be held on Monday, May 19, 5:00-6:00 pm in the Mt. Pleasant High School Room 111 where you can view the curriculum materials, ask questions, and provide feedback to Linda Boyd, the Assistant Superintendent.  The next, and crucial, step is to attend the school board meeting on Monday, May 19, 6:30 pm in the Mt. Pleasant High School cafeteria, where you can give feedback, and the Board will take its first vote.  The final vote will be on Monday, June 16, also at 6:30 pm in the Mt. Pleasant High School cafeteria, and our presence is vital there, too.Our presence is important so that the Board sees that there is significant community support for the revised curriculum, not just those who may attend in opposition to the adoption of the curriculum. Simply attending these two school board meetings is important to show support, but if you feel comfortable, speaking up in favor of the curriculum (or writing a brief email/letter to the school board) is even better!  What might you say – at the Board meeting or in a written communication? If you reviewed the curriculum at the public hearing, you could comment about how you, as a community member (or parent), feel very comfortable with the material in the updated version.  You could state how you believe that complete and accurate information about human diversity is important for all our students. You might talk about how inclusive curriculum is important so that all our students can feel respected, safe and that they belong.  You decide what you would like to say; it doesn’t have to be long, just affirming and supportive.   Please pass this information on to others in your circle of family and friends who might also like to show their support with their presence and/or voice.   This is a lot of information so if you have questions, please feel free to contact Norma Bailey at 989-560-3952. Urge Congress: Save Public Media Public media is facing multiple serious threats. The White House proposed eliminating federal funding in its annual budget request, issued an Executive Order to block support for PBS and NPR, and plans to claw back funding approved by Congress. Federal funding ensures that local public radio and TV stations can continue to give access to essential educational, local, and cultural programming; trustworthy, in-depth news; and emergency and community-based services.  Our local PBS and NPR affiliate, WCMU Public Media, utilizes four television and eight radio stations to reach over 2 million people across 42 counties within Central and Northern Michigan. Community Service Grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting provide just over 19% of WCMU's annual budget. HOW WE CAN HELP: Please take a moment to visit https://protectmypublicmedia.org and tell Congress to reject the rescissions package and stop the dismantling of public media! PFLAG Meeting - June 1 In support of Pride Month 2025, St. John’s Episcopal Church will host an informational PFLAG meeting with chapter President Tom Brubaker, Sunday, June 1, at 11:30am in their parish hall on Washington. We are invited to attend for coffee and snacks, and we are asked to spread the word.   The Website for the Bay Area PFLAG chapter is https://www.pflagglb.com/ The Resistance Network Recently, the UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) launched the Resistance Network—a mobilization hub designed to take immediate action when civil liberties, democracy, and human rights are at risk. The threats we face are vast, but history shows us that resistance works when we act together. The Resistance Network is an opportunity to live our values as Unitarian Universalists and take collective action.  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, or via the GivePlus Church App. 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 2024-2025 President: Aaron Jones (989.501.0672; [email protected]) President-Elect: Norma Bailey (989.560.3952; [email protected]) Treasurer: Terrie Robbie (989.400.2495; [email protected]) Secretary: Laurie Meadows (989.317.8299; [email protected]) Trustee: Annette Pratt (989.400.0173; [email protected]) Trustee: Monica Jean (616.443.8782; [email protected]) Trustee: David Allan (989.941.7349; [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 - Jessica Jernigan and Monica Jean Fellowship Life Coordinating Team - Gisela Moffit   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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