July 15

"EcoTheism: A Fact-Based Creation Myth" Science, ecology, theology, and inspiration must creatively dance and give birth to something new if humanity is to survive the 21st century. Science-based inspiration calls to us in these times of climate chaos, political turmoil, economic unrest, and other large-scale challenges - offering tools and spiritual practices for staying sane, sober, and empowered in chaotic and contracting times. Rev. Michael Dowd, Guest Speaker

The Rev. Michael Dowd is a bestselling eco-theologian and pro-science, pro-future ‘evangelist’ whose work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Newsweek, TEDx, national television, and at the United Nations. He and his wife, science writer and climate activist, Connie Barlow, have spoken to some 2,500 groups across North America since 2002.  

 Upcoming Services

Children's Religious Education - "Summer Fun" Extended Nursery care (through Kindergarten age) will be located downstairs in the Nursery Room LL101. Older children will be in the Youth Room LL104.

The General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations was held in Kansas City Missouri June 20-24.  Sara Clavez, Heather Cleland-Host, Shannon Sonoras and Rev. Connie Grant attended all or part of the sessions. This was not an election year for officers of the Association, so the main business focused on selecting a Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSA) and passing Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW).  In addition, there were several by-laws amendments on the agenda.

By majority vote of the delegates, the chosen CSA was "Undoing Intersectional White Supremacy".  For the full wording of the resolution including resources for study follow this link www.uua/org  Workshops related to this topic will be offered at GA next year and a draft Statement of Conscience incorporating comments from congregations will be presented for a vote in 2020.

Three Action of Immediate Witness resolutions were presented and passed:  End Family Separation and Detention of Asylum Seekers and Abolish ICE, End Prisons for Profit:  Dismantle Predatory Medical Care Practices in Prisons, and We Are All Related:  Solidarity Now with Indigenous Water Protectors.  Full text of these resolutions can be seen at www.uua/org/ga/

By-laws changes included substituting people for women and men and substituting they and them for her and him thus recognizing our understanding that gender is a continuum rather than binary.  Other by-law amendments shortened the CSA process from four to three years and changed by-laws to fit with the policy governance model currently in use.  Full text of the UUA By-laws can be found at: www.uua.org/bylaws
Next year GA will be in Spokane, Washington.  In addition to business sessions there will be many interesting workshops and worship opportunities.  Will this be your first GA?

FREE Program: “Pro-Future Realism: Big Picture Inspiration for Chaotic Times”, (a.k.a., “Sacred Science, Evolving Religion: Ecology as the Heart of Theology”)
with Rev. Michael Dowd

Sunday, July 15 at 3:00pm at UUFoM.

Child care will be provided.

This program, geared for adults and teens, builds on Rev. Dowd’s two TEDx talks and material in his bridge-building book, Thank God for Evolution, which was endorsed by 6 Nobel Prize-winning scientists, noted skeptics and atheists, and by religious leaders across the spectrum. Grounded in an ecological interpretation of Big History, this program centers on fidelity to the future and how to stay sane, sober, and inspired to act locally and become ever more resilient in chaotic and contracting times.

DESCRIPTION: A “deep sustainability” interpretation of Big History is vital for staying sane, sober, and inspired in contracting and confusing times. An evidence-based “sacred realism” can help us accept what is inevitable, avoid what is futile, and be a blessing to friends, family, and community in an uncertain world. Given our impact on Earth’s climate, the seas, and other species, we are already in the early stages of, what could be called, The Great Reckoning. The good news is that this could also be The Great Homecoming: The prodigal species, after squandering our inheritance, comes home to Reality. This dynamic, multi-media presentation bridges the gap between head and heart and celebrates the convergence of science, inspiration, and sustainability.

Rev. Michael Dowd is a bestselling eco-theologian and pro-science, pro-future ‘evangelist’ whose work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Newsweek, Discover, and on television nationally. Michael and his science writer, evolutionary educator, and fellow climate activist wife, Connie Barlow, have spoken to some 2,500 groups throughout North America since 2002, including nearly 500 UU churches. Their work has been featured on the cover of the UU WORLD twice, in 1997 and again in 2006.

Michael has delivered two TEDx talks and a program at the United Nations. He has also conducted an acclaimed online conversation series: “The Future Is Calling Us to Greatness. At the 2016 General Assembly, Michael and Connie were honored as “UU Religious Humanists of the Year”.

Sign up here if you'd like to attend!

July 22
"Becoming Global Citizens" What was it that encouraged each of us to try to have an impact on the world, however great or small; and what will our children need from us to grow into the same caring adults? Kathy Kinkema, Speaker

Kathy Kinkema

Your Search Committee is continuing to meet regularly in preparation for calling a new minister. We are looking forward to reviewing your Survey responses. This will help us to understand who we are as a congregation and what qualities our new minister should have. We are also continuing to prepare our congregational packet to present ourselves to prospective candidates. Please complete your survey as this is your opportunity to express your opinions and your concerns in this important step in the evolution of our congregation.

UUA is providing us with a workshop and Sunday service called Beyond Categorical Thinking. It is designed to broaden our thinking about what types of candidates we may call to be our minister. The date for this program will be announced soon. Plan to attend. We are sure to learn a lot about ourselves and the exciting future we can create.

The UUFoM Congregational Survey closed on July 10.  Please return all paper surveys by this Sunday, July 15. 

Sign up HERE!

Would you like to strengthen your connections with others at UUFoM and enhance your participation in the Fellowship, while deepening your own spiritual life? Join a Covenant Group!

A Covenant Group consists of up to ten people who gather around an interest, affinity, or activity to meet regularly over time for spiritual growth, community building, and congregational participation.  Group members practice deep listening as they share what’s going on in their lives, getting to know each other and themselves.  Group meetings follow a specified format, and each group is led by a trained facilitator who also participates in an ongoing facilitators’ group.  Each group establishes covenants including ground rules for the group’s relationship and interaction, commitment to welcome new members to the group, and service to the Fellowship and the community. 

All groups meet at the Fellowship unless otherwise specified.  Members, friends, and potential members of the Fellowship are welcome to join a covenant group.  To register, please complete a registration form and return it to [email protected] or to the box under the Events! bulletin board at the Fellowship.

Contact respective facilitators with questions about a specific group.  Contact Rev. Grant ([email protected]) with general questions or to discuss becoming a covenant group facilitator.

Creating a Spiritual Autobiography Through Art
We will use all kinds of artistic media, including but not limited to paint, fabric, clay, movement, and written words to create and share our own spiritual autobiographies as we nurture and support one another both in times of celebration and joy and times of challenge! You need not be an artist to find and use your creative side.  Goals include deepening and challenging our own spiritual understandings and where Unitarian Universalist thinking fits in.  Meets second Sundays of the month, 12:15 – 2:15 pm, beginning June 10.  Facilitator Cathy French, [email protected].

Our Examined Lives
Using various sources of inspiration, from poems to quotations to music to books, we’ll connect, deepen and expand together as we share about our lives, perspectives, wishes, and dreams.  Meets at Shannon’s Midland home, second Mondays of the month, beginning June 11, 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  Maximum seven members.  Facilitator Shannon Sonoras, 989-708-5348 (text or call).

Heart Songs
Is there a song in your heart or a sound track in the back of your mind?  We will join in informal singing of the songs that speak from our hearts and to our hearts. Meets every other week through the summer, Wednesdays from June 13 through August 8, 6:30 – 8:30 pm.  This short-term group can accommodate an unlimited number.  Facilitator Sara Clavez, [email protected].

Where Do We Go from Here?
How will we live the rest of our lives with as much quality as possible?  How will we consider the choices and decisions we will probably need to make about our lives in the next 20 or so years?  We’ll discuss and share our feelings about such topics as living with illnesses, various housing options, and end-of-life possibilities.  The group will decide what we want to learn more about and go from there.  Meets third Wednesdays of the month, beginning June 20, 4:00 – 5:30 pm.  Facilitator Linda Rector, [email protected].

“Cakes for the Queen of Heaven”
How would your life have been different if you had grown up with a female image of the divine? “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” is a woman-honoring workshop series of feminist theology that examines pre-Judeo-Christian cultures that worshiped the female as divine. More than Goddess 101, “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” examines important elements of today’s women’s lives:  personal, interpersonal and societal. Meets June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 12, December 10, January 28, February 25, March 25, April 22, and May 27 in 2018-2019, 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  Facilitator Christina VanPoucker, [email protected].

The Books We Carry with Us
Informed by the books (fiction or non-fiction) that have informed us on our life journeys, we will share ideas and feelings on up-to-the-minute and age-old topics.  Participants will be invited to suggest books that have influenced their lives.  Meets at Amy’s Midland home, second Tuesdays of the month, beginning July 10, 6:30 – 8:00 pm.  Maximum eight members.  Facilitator Amy Rogers, 989-750-6989.