Newsletter 2019-03-07 Week 1 Thursday

*|MC:SUBJECT|*
View this email in your browser
March 7, 2019  
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THIS WEEKEND

Sunday Morning Service at 10:30am

March 10
"Living with Mortality"  The human condition is that we are aware of our own mortality.  How do we respond to what UU minister Forrest Church called “the dual reality of being alive and having to die?”  Rev. Connie Grant speaking.

Click here for upcoming Sunday Worship Services.

Euchre/Game Night FUNdraiser

Friday, March 8 at 6:30pm 

What’s your favorite game, and would you like to play it with UU friends? Both euchre and non-euchre players are welcome at our next Euchre/Game Night FUNdraiser, to be held on Friday, March 8 at 6:30 PM.  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!  If you have any questions, contact Janelle Dombek or Michaele Malecki.

Considering Membership? 

How do people of diverse beliefs become part of one congregation? "UUFoM and You," led by Rev. Connie Grant and representatives of the Welcome and Engagement Teams, will be held on Saturday, March 9, 9:00 - 11:30am.  Please register here.

If you think you have found a spiritual home at UUFoM and are ready to consider becoming a member, or if you are already a member and want to know more, please come!  

UUFoM Parents' Circle Meeting

Sunday, March 10 at 9:15am in UL302
Bagels & childcare provided

The Parents’ Circle is made up of families with children through 12th grade, gathering together for discussions, activities, potlucks, and more.  We also have a private Facebook group for safe sharing.
 
Join us the second Sunday of the month. In March the topic will be “Overscheduled kids” and we’ll meet before service.

Back to top
NEWS OF THE WEEK

2019 Serendipity Auction

   

     
 

   Donate to the Serendipity Auction,

                    will you? Hrmm.


              Follow this link then you must:

             UUFOM 2019 Auction Donation Form


                                Log in today. Yrssss.

                     3/31/19 the submission deadline is.



              Do or do not. (But please DO.) There is no try.


      Available after the 3/24/19 service to offer instructions to the

                        digitally-challenged Vicki will be.


                            
               
                                      Click here for Serendipity Auction Donation Ideas

Back to top
MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE

UPDATES

A Note From the Search Committee

While the search process is continuing, we are unable to give you very much information about our current activities.  However, the documentation we put together to showcase our Fellowship for prospective ministerial candidates is now available to members through the Fellowship website.  Most of our work during 2018, was devoted to assembling our Congregational Record and Search Packet.  We hope you will look them over.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact a member of the Search Committee.

Search Committee Members:  Tom Bailey (chair), Maxine Guettler, Mary Johnson, Sasha King, Chris Nakamura, Tim Wagner

Back to top
UPCOMING EVENTS

"Human Race" Conversation

Sunday, April 7 at 12:00pm in UL302
“Race” is a difficult topic, often avoided for fear of saying something wrong—something stupid—or of offending someone.  It’s increasingly important to face the reality of where we are as a society, and to do something concrete about it.  And maybe that starts with focused conversation that leads to action.

Copies of the book “How to Be Less Stupid About Race” by Crystal Fleming will be available for $16.00 at the Fellowship beginning this Sunday.

We’re all part of one race, the human one.  Let’s keep talking.

RSVP to [email protected] by March 31.  A light lunch will be provided.

May the Fourth Be With You

                                                          

Upcoming Sunday Services

March 3
"Living the Stories of our Lives"  How do we live the stories of our lives, and how do we tell them to ourselves and others?  Rev. Connie Grant speaking.

March 10
"Living with Mortality"  The human condition is that we are aware of our own mortality.  How do we respond to what UU minister Forrest Church called “the dual reality of being alive and having to die?”  Rev. Connie Grant speaking

March 17 
"What Makes a Family?"  A multigenerational service.  Families come in many shapes and sizes, and evolve through stages of life.  Members of some Fellowship families of differing ages and configurations will help us explore the question "What makes a family?"   Rev. Connie Grant leading.                                  

Back to top
LIVING OUR VALUES

Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network Donations

The Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network is a cooperative effort of area churches and other organizations to provide food and supplies to people in Midland County who have emergency needs and are living near or below the Federal poverty level income guidelines. 

At UUFoM, we collect donations on an ongoing basis.  Bring your donations with you when you come to the Fellowship and place them in one of the bins in the UUFoM Donation Center outside the sanctuary, and we will transport them to the Food Pantry. Non-perishable foods, self-care items, paper products and cleaning supplies are accepted.  The Food Pantry is unable to accept any types of medication, including vitamins and over the counter medications. 

Empty Ink Cartridge Collection

UUFoM can receive $1.00 each for recyclable empty ink cartridges. Not all cartridge types are eligible, but please bring to the Fellowship any empty cartridges you have and they will be turned in, with a credit then being issued to the UUFoM for eligible cartridges. Ineligible cartridges will be properly disposed of. This is an on-going collection effort that in the past was facilitated by RG Converse. Please bring in empty cartridges and deposit them in the labeled collection bin in the UUFoM Donation Center outside the sanctuary. If you are allowed to collect empty ink cartridges from your workplace this can greatly increase our return.

Back to top
WIDER UU WORLD ACTIVITIES

Regional Assembly Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2019 MidAmerica Regional Assembly.


This year, our Regional Assembly will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Marriott St. Louis Airport Hotel, April 5-7, 2019.

Please click the following link to find out more information about Regional Assembly including pricing, hotel information, our schedule of events, workshop information, information on volunteering, how to register, and much more: 
https://www.uua.org/midamerica/ra

The theme is “Intersectionalities.” Presentations and workshops will explore identities we encounter and embody, the challenges of social inequality, and tools and skills we need in order to work more effectively with one another, as well as the general “nuts and bolts” of congregational life, such as leadership, stewardship, membership, and religious education. Our Keynote Presenter will be UUA President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. Join us to explore, share, and worship with fellow Unitarian Universalists.

 

 

General Assembly 2019

                    

Registration is open!

If you are interested in serving as a delegate, please contact Sarah Schulz, Board President. 

UU Family Camp & Retreat

Registration for Chalice Sparx Family Camp & Retreat Now Open
 
Registration for Chalice Sparx Family Camp & Retreat is now open. Join us July 11-14 in Sturgis, Michigan for an amazing all ages experience at lovely Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Michigan.

At Chalice Sparx camp and retreat for families you will experience a truly multigenerational community. There are no camp counselors here to whisk away the children separate from their families. Here we learn together, worship together and explore together in a community of all ages – including elders who complete our multigenerational village.

We also have fun together. Swimming, hiking the trails and the labyrinth, canoeing, archery, popcorn popped in a kettle over an open fire, and of course, S’mores and singing camp songs.

Check out the website of our non-profit organization run by Unitarian Universalist religious educators, ministers and lay persons from all over the Midwest: www.chalicesparx.org. Like us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chalicesparx/ and join us July 11-14.
 

Back to top
COMMUNITY EVENTS

Tri Cities Welcome Refugee Group Program

Please join the Tri Cities Welcome Refugee Group in welcoming Michelle Haskell to the
Creative 360 Center at 1517 Bayliss Street, Midland on March 24 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm to share with us the need for assisting children in need of refuge. Michelle serves at Samaritas as Outreach
Team Lead for Refugee Youth Services. She oversees community outreach, foster family
recruitment, and mentor/tutor programming for the refugee youth services program.

Rieek, a SVSU student and refugee from South Sudan, who just recently received legal asylum in the United States, will also speak and share, as he is able, his story of making his way to the United
States as a young person after fleeing war and a stay at a refugee camp in Kenya. 

Back to top
FELLOWSHIP INFORMATION
Fellowship Office Hours
The Fellowship Office will be open Mondays through Thursday from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm.  Please email the office or call 989-631-1162 if you need to get in touch at any other time. 

Fellowship Forms
Fellowship forms are located on the password-protected Member Directory.  Paper copies are available outside of the office in a metal rack.  When you've completed your form, please place it in the green folder at the top of the rack.  If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Fellowship Calendar & Room Reservations
The UUFoM Calendar is located on our website and is accessible to everyone.  The link is located in the left side toolbar.  Please fill out a Reservation form to reserve a room and/or be placed on the calendar.   Forms are also available in the rack outside of the office.  If you have any questions or to schedule a rental (non-Fellowship) event, please contact Wendy Altmeier, Office Assistant. 

 

Member Directory
You can access the Member Directory on the password-protected Member section of the website.  The Member Directory contains names and contact information for all members and pledging friends.  Please notify the office if you need to change your information or you do not wish your information to appear in the online directory.  

Minister's Discretionary Fund
The Minister’s Discretionary Fund was established so that members of the congregation can help others with emergency financial needs, for example to pay a utility bill, buy groceries, or cover a car repair or other critical expense.  The minister maintains an overview of needs in the congregation, and uses judgment to make equitable and appropriate distribution.  If you or someone you know has an emergency need for financial assistance, please contact Rev. Connie Grant. If you wish to make a donation to the fund, please make a check payable to Minister’s Discretionary Fund and give it to Rev. Connie Grant.

Hospitality Groups
Sunday morning hospitality in March is provided by the Pine Group.  Organized by the Engagement Team, hospitality groups are made up of UUFoM members and friends who are asked to help with such tasks as making coffee, bringing snacks, and cleaning up the kitchen; ushering (including passing out orders of service and receiving and counting the offering); and helping the Welcome Team greet people as they come in the door, with special attention to visitors.  Current Hospitality Group listings are on the website. Don’t see your name and would like to be in a Hospitality Group? Contact Christina VanPoucker at [email protected].

Announcements
The Announcements insert in the Order of Service is intended to summarize and serve as a reminder of upcoming activities.  Please email [email protected] with items to be included in the Announcements insert.  Spoken announcements during the Sunday morning worship service need to be brief, of relevance to the entire congregation, and approved in advance by the minister.  From the Worship Team

 

This Week at the Fellowship

Fellowship Office Hours
The Fellowship Office is usually open Mondays through Thursday from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm.  Please email the office or call 989-631-1162 if you need to get in touch at any other time.
 
Thu 3/07 7:00pm CUUPs Dark/New Moon in Pisces Ritual
Fri 3/08 1:00pm LOVE Team Meeting
  6:00pm Euchre & Game Night FUNdraiser
Sat 3/09 9:00am UUFoM & You
Sun 3/10 9:15am UUFoM Parents' Circle Meeting
  10:30am Sunday Service
  6:00pm AA District Business Meeting (Rental)
  7:00pm AA Meeting (Rental)
Mon 3/11 6:00pm Our Examined Lives (Cov Grp)
Wed 3/13 5:00pm Three Jewels Sangha Tea & Meditation
  7:00pm Choir Rehearsal
  8:00pm AA Meeting (Rental)
     
Fri 3/15 10:00am Pastoral Care Team Meeting
  5:00pm Building Reserved for Ministerial Search Committee until 11:00pm
Sat 3/16 9:00am Building Reserved for Ministerial Search Committee until 12:00pm
     

Calendar
Reserve a space.

Pastoral Care Ministry Team 

March Contact:  Gisela Bailey 989-708-1344
Our Pastoral Care Ministry Team is here for you.  We can provide a meal, a ride, some respite or a supportive ear and a cup of coffee.

We maintain a volunteer list where you can identify ways to help a Fellowship member in need.  Please click here to fill out the Pastoral Care Volunteer Form online

Member Directory

You can access the Member Directory on the password-protected Member section of the website.  The Member Directory contains names and contact information for all members and pledging friends.  Please notify the office if you need to change your information or you do not wish your information to appear in the online directory. 

Newsletter

The Weekly Candle Flame is published each Thursday.  Submission deadline is Monday for Thursday publication.  Please send submissions to Wendy Altmeier, Office Assistant, using only this address [email protected].

Fellowship Office

Fellowship Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 9:30am-3:00pm
[email protected]

Rev. Connie Grant
Interim Minister
Office Hours

Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 11am-3pm
[email protected]
(847) 840-8542
In case of a pastoral emergency, call anytime

Heather Cleland-Host
Director of Religious Education

Office Hours by appointment only
[email protected]

 
Wendy Altmeier
Office Assistant

Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 9:30am-3:00pm
[email protected]
989-631-1162


Sandy Hay
Sexton

[email protected]
(918) 698-0311
In case of building emergency, call anytime
Copyright ©2017 UUFoM, All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland
6220 Jefferson Avenue
Midland, MI 48640
989-631-1162

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

 






This email was sent to *|EMAIL|*
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
*|LIST:ADDRESSLINE|*

*|REWARDS|*