September 15
“Olly Olly Oxen Free!” All you who are out, come home free! We will examine some of the foundations of Unitarian Universalism and why we keep coming back to this spiritual home. Eric Severson leading.

For upcoming Sunday Services, click here.

Our Stewardship month is off to a great start! Stewardship conversations are underway, and we hope you’ll take advantage of one to learn more about UUFoM and share your thoughts. If you haven’t been approached for a conversation by this Sunday, please contact Janelle Dombek to request one.
 
At this point we’ve received pledge forms from just over 25% of our members and friends, with their combined pledges totaling $75,340 toward our target of $178,000. If you haven’t pledged yet, please do so soon. 

Click here for the online form.
 
Also, consider contributing a dish (click here) or volunteering for our Commitment Sunday celebration (click here)  on September 29.  
 
Thank you for supporting our Fellowship!
 

A luncheon is planned for Sunday, September 29, in celebration of our commitment to the upcoming year.  The Engagement Team will be providing a main dish of pulled pork, while Estella Thomas will provide vegetarian stir fry.  Below are some of the items we would like to provide during our potluck. 

Please sign up here! 

Vegetarian Main Dish - Jackfruit

8 Salads - Coleslaw, Fruit Salad, Pasta Salad, Tossed Salad, Dairy-Free Salad, Gluten-Free Salad, Nut-Free Salad

10 Desserts - Cookies, Brownies, Dairy-Free Dessert, Gluten-Free Dessert, Nut-Free Dessert

Lemonade
 

Fall Clean-Up for the UUFoM Building and Grounds
Saturday October 12 
Morning shift:  9:00am - 12:00pm
Afternoon shift:  1:00pm - 4:00pm 

There are  two workshifts available. You can sign up for either or both shifts. There will be a Buildings & Grounds Team Meeting during lunch, 12:00-1:00pm. All are welcome to attend the meeting.  

What work is planned for the Fall Clean-Up?  The key work to be done involves various aspects of the Grounds and making our Fellowship a better place. Depending on response, we plan to focus on the areas listed below. If no one signs up for a focus group, that job may not get done this time around. So if you want to see it done, join the fun. 

Focus work groups: 
1. The Playground and play structures. These are the areas used by children from our community. Replace the landscaping weed barriers: remove weeds, move large amounts of gravel, replace the weed barriers, then put the gravel back over the weed barrier.

In addition, our Sexton, Sandy Hay, has volunteered to improve the wooden play structures by driving in nails and screws that have become hazards. 

If this is your desired focus, sign up, bring yard and hand tools to help. 

2. The Vegetable Garden on the north side. Remove dead plants in preparation for winter. 

3. The Memorial Garden. General weeding and cleanup is needed. This is a sacred space.

4. Trash Removal and picking up sticks. No special skills required, just a need for general cleanup. 

5. General trimming and weeding of the landscaped areas at the driveway, Fellowship sign and building entryway. 

6. Gutter and Roof Cleaning.  Remove debris from the roof of the building.  Acrophobics need not apply!

7. Finally, we would like to remove some of the invasive Buckthorn plants that are invading our grounds. As the name implies, they are very sharp and thorny! 

Sign up for one or more of the above groups.  

Please plan to bring yard tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves & safety glasses.

Bring snacks, a sack lunch, water bottles and weather appropriate clothing. The building will be open for restrooms and cold water.

We need help in the kitchen on Saturday, September 21, to prepare pasties for the Pasty Sale on Sunday, September 22. 

Responsibilities include cutting vegetables, blending the filling mixture, making crust, assembling the pasties, timing the pasties in the ovens, wrapping finished pasties, doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen, among other jobs.  Six or more per shift will work out well. You can sign up here or on the sheet at the Fellowship.

Please have all ingredients to the Fellowship kitchen by Sunday, September 15, with the exception of the ground beef and pork.  The ground meat (FRESH – NOT FROZEN) should be in the Fellowship refrigerator by Saturday, September 21.  

Click here to place your order or sign up in advance at the Fellowship to purchase traditional (beef and pork mix) or vegetarian (lentils with olive and sesame seed oil) pasties for $5 each!

Visit our website for more information about pledging!

The pledge campaign to support our UUFoM 2020 budget has begun! An introductory email was sent in August, and the pledge packet was emailed earlier this week—make sure to read these important communications.  Here’s how the timeline will look:
 
Early in September, the pledge packet email was sent out.  It contained information about the proposed budget, giving guidelines, and a pledge form for you to fill out online or print, complete and turn in.  Like last year, we will need all members to return a pledge form, even if your financial circumstances don’t allow you to make a financial commitment to the Fellowship for next year.
 
By September 15, you should have been contacted by one of our Conversation Stewards to have a discussion.  If you want to have a conversation but have NOT been contacted by then, please reach out to Janelle Dombek at [email protected] and she’ll make sure that you get one.
 
On September 29, Commitment Sunday, we’ll need all pledge forms to be turned in.  And on that date, we’ll celebrate with a big luncheon, a performance by our very own Sound Explorers, and an introduction of candidates for next year’s Board.

Current Members

Chair: Catherine Young
Co-chair: Linda Rector
Members at large: Judy Donahue, Linda Bozzelli, Jean Sarantos, Michaele Malecki, Roxanne LaForest

The Welcome Team meets every quarter following Sunday service.  The purpose of the Welcome Team is to welcome visitors to services, act as hosts during their visit and provide answers to any questions they may have. The team also elicits information from visitors, offering them the opportunity to receive further communications from the Fellowship. Volunteered visitor information is recorded in a log book.

If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Catherine Young at [email protected].

We collect donations on an ongoing basis for the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network.  Place your donations in one of the bins 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.  Thank you!

Pests are trying to invade the Fellowship!  Please do not leave any open food packages or containers on the kitchen counters or anywhere else in the Fellowship building.  Before you leave the building, please take any trash containing food waste to the large trash bin outside the back door.