August 26
“Spirituality in Technology” How can we use technology as a tool to enhance our spiritual lives rather than detract from them?  Rev. Connie Grant speaking.
For information on Upcoming Services, click here.

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 UUFoM Board will meet Tuesday August 28 at 7pm.  Major items on the agenda include:

• Options re restructuring the Treasurer’s  responsibilities,
• Amendments of the Board Policy Handbook to make it consistent with the recent by-law amendments and current practices,
• Proposed by-law amendment re procedure to adopt a congregational statement of advocacy (to be tied with a Board Policy regarding public statements on congregational positions),
• Priorities for interim ministry for the coming program year,
• Timing of the next step in our building and infrastructure strategic plan, and
• Minister’s interpretation of two of the areas of accountability adopted at the June Board meeting.

Members are welcome to attend Board meetings.  Questions or comments may be addressed to Sara Clavez, [email protected] or 989-708-0134.
Sara Clavez, President  

Wednesday, August 29 at 7pm
If you are a returning member or interested in joining the choir for the upcoming year, please plan on attending a short meeting at the fellowship. We will pass out materials, collect contact information, discuss the calendar for the year, and do a little singing. Our first full rehearsal will be the Wednesday after Labor Day. See you then.    Andrew Schulz, Choir Director

With the parking lot under construction, let’s avoid tracking dirt into the building. Please take your muddy shoes off as you enter the building and store them in the coatroom.  (If you prefer not to go barefoot, please feel free to bring slippers or a pair of “indoor” shoes.) 
 

The Search Committee is working on several projects, preparing for putting our information online for review by prospective ministers.  You can help us by sending us photos of the Fellowship, members of the congregation engaged in activities there and in the community.  Some activities could be marches, planting along Eastman Ave., playing softball, attending the Serendipity Auction, and other activities that demonstrate our passions and concerns.  Photos of the attractions of Midland and the area would also be helpful.  Please send them to Chris Nakamura at [email protected].  Thank you for taking part in the survey.  Most of you responded and we are analyzing the results so that we can accurately represent our congregation in the Search process.  Some of the results should be up on the UUFOM website soon. 

Both euchre and non-euchre players are welcome at our next Euchre/Game Night FUNdraiser, to be held on Friday, September 28 at 6:30 PM.  This time we’ll experiment with a few additional games if there’s enough interest.  Sign yourself and your game-playing friends up soon!  Light snacks, drinks and dessert will be provided.  $10 per person (and for euchre players, make sure to bring quarters in case you get euchred!).  Signup deadline is Sunday, September 23 for both game-players and childcare. If you have any questions, contact Janelle Dombek or Michaele Malecki. 

Our programs provide a nurturing environment where participants can explore and develop their own personal UU identity and where they can learn more about Unitarian Universalism, its Principles and Sources, values and history. All of our programs contain the following four elements of religious education: community building, spiritual practices, religious exploration, and community service & action.

2018-19 theme: UUnique Journeys
Each component of this year’s program will focus on developing personal and community religious journeys as Unitarian Universalists: who am I? who are we? How do we connect as Unitarian Universalists to each other within our congregation, community, and the world? Children and adults will explore how they and their Unitarian Universalist community answer the questions of how to live and grow together.
 
We will be focused on two types of curricula:
 
#1 Our UU Community: those with a focus on the formation of a loving, supportive community (Community Building & Vision)
 
#2 Our Personal Identities & Values: those with a focus on our personal journeys – seeking or making meaning (Credo Formation)
 
Program Components:
Nursery – up to age 4
Children’s Circles:
            Age 4 – 2^nd Grades
            3^rd – 5^th Grades
Secondary Class: 6^th - 9^th Grade
Coming of Age (Minimum 4 to run)
Adult Credo Formation Class
               

Tapestry of Faith Curricula: https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/

Children’s Circle  (Age 4 to 2^nd Grade)
Tapestry of Faith: Wonderful Welcome (Journey Focus – 16 sessions)
In this program, children identify intangible gifts central to Unitarian Universalism such as friendship, hospitality and fairness, and share these gifts with others.
Tapestry of Faith: Love Surrounds Us (Love Focus – 16 sessions)
This program explores all the Principles in the context of Beloved Community of family/home, school, neighborhood. Participants engage in activities that emphasize the love they feel in community.

Children’s Circle  (3^rd to 5^th  Grade)
Tapestry of Faith: Faithful Journeys (Journey Focus – 16 sessions)
Equips children with language and experiences to develop and articulate a strong Unitarian Universalist faith identity. Through historic and contemporary stories of Unitarian Universalist faith in action, participants embark on a pilgrimage of faith, exploring how Unitarian Universalism translates into life choices and everyday actions. Stories about real people model how participants can activate their own personal agency – their capacity to act faithfully as Unitarian Universalists – in their own lives, and children have regular opportunities to share and affirm their own stories of faithful action.
Tapestry of Faith: Love Connects Us (Love – 16 sessions)
Love Connects Us celebrates important ways Unitarian Universalists live our faith in covenanted community. Moved by love and gathered in spirit, we embrace our responsibility toward one another and the world at large. We encourage one another's search for truth and meaning. We strive to be active in peace-making and other efforts to improve our world.

Secondary Class (6^th – 9^th)
“Lodestones” 
This curriculum focuses on Unitarian Universalism, Diversity, Values, Life & Death From the curriculum: “Lodestone will provide fun and as well as deep teachable moments. There are Teachable Moments and Focusing Questions which provide time for reflection and learning. Lodestone provides a peer group so that as middle schoolers separate from the family in their teen years, they will have a place of values, friendship, open-mindedness and spiritual exploration to call their own.”

Tapestry of Faith: Windows and Mirrors  (Diversity in experience & belief – 16 sessions / 4^th-5^th Grades)
The metaphor of windows and mirrors represents the dynamic relationship among our awareness of self, our perceptions of others, and others’ perceptions of us.

At long last, excavation work for the parking lot project has begun! The project will extend through early October, after which we should have a smooth paved surface with fresh yellow lining, plus a total of six handicap spaces.
 
While the project is underway, we ask that everyone obey all signs and safety barricades, and beware of trucks and heavy equipment. Make sure to especially monitor any children who may visit the area.
 
The project work will occur only on weekdays. We may end up parking on a gravel lot for several Sundays, but the work activity shouldn’t require cancellation of any church business.
 
Here’s what to expect: 

• In mid-August two new rainwater catch basins will be installed in front of the Fellowship, with a 6-foot deep ditch dug to install a pipe connecting them.  This phase will require blocking off much of the area in front of the Fellowship building.
   
• Additional activity will occur sometime in August or September, when a paver crew becomes available to grind the old asphalt layer on the entire parking lot.
   
• Final paving will be done over three days in late September or early October. During these weekdays the entire parking lot will be closed, but the driveway will not be affected so we’ll ask patrons to park on the grass adjacent to it.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tim Wagner or Roy Wedge.

Do you enjoy throwing parties? Do you like organizing events? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you may be interested in the new team for social events here at UUFoM.

We are looking for people who are enthusiastic about bringing people together for community and fun. Perhaps you can plan a game night or a barbecue or a fancy tea party. The possibilities are endless. If this sounds like a group you would like to be a part of, please reach out to Reverend Connie, Shannon Sonoras, or another member of the Engagement Team! 

EXTENDED!!! Please give checks to Linda Rector by August 26.

Do you enjoy listening to Public Radio, specifically Delta Public Radio and CMU Public Radio?

• This is your opportunity to support our Fellowship as well as Public Radio by making a contribution through our annual “Bundling” program.
• You write a contribution check to either or both stations, then we send the checks to the radio stations.
• In return Delta and CMU Public Radio stations advertise the Fellowship on air.
• It’s a win/win opportunity as you’re supporting both the Fellowship and our community radio programs!

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. 

More information about current Covenant Groups can be found on our website.