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Sunday Morning ONLINE Service at 10:30am
March 29
"Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands" How do we respond to circumstances we've never experienced before -- especially when they call us to new responsibilities and curtail our freedoms? Please join us for an online service to examine our human nature and ways of coping. Led by Eric Severson, Minister.
Please arrive 15 minutes early for Zoom instructions. Here's a video on how to install the Zoom app. Please contact Wendy Altmeier, [email protected], if you have issues connecting or you need help with installing.
For upcoming Sunday Services, click here.
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This Week at the Fellowship
Many teams and groups have decided to meet via Zoom instead of face to face during this time. Please contact your team/group leader if you need further guidance. If you have any questions about upcoming events, please email the office or call 989-631-1162.
All meetings listed below are via Zoom unless stated otherwise.
| Fri 3/27 |
7:00pm |
Bedtime Story |
| Sat 3/28 |
7:00pm |
Evening Tea with the Minister |
| Sun 3/29 |
10:30am |
Sunday Service (Zoom) |
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12:30pm |
LOVE Racial Justice Group |
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1:00pm |
Sunday Religious Education |
| Mon 3/30 |
2:00pm |
Story Time |
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7:00pm |
Bedtime Story |
| Tue 3/31 |
10:00am |
Morning Tea with the Minister |
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2:00pm |
Story Time |
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TBA |
Kids Hanging Out |
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7:00pm |
Engagement Team Meeting |
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7:00pm |
Bedtime Story |
| Wed 4/1 |
12:00pm |
Staff Meeting |
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2:00pm |
Story Time |
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5:00pm |
Three Jewels Sangha Tea and Meditation |
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7:00pm |
Bedtime Story |
| Thu 4/2 |
2:00pm |
Afternoon Tea with the Minister |
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2:00pm |
Story Time |
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TBA |
Kids Hanging Out |
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7:00pm |
Bedtime Story |
| Fri 4/3 |
2:00pm |
Reading Hour |
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7:00pm |
Bedtime Story |
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Calendar
Zoom Links
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A Note from the Board
 Greetings, my people. Interesting ride we’re on, right? And now we’re sheltering at home according to the order from Governor Whitmore. I’ve been reflecting on the last couple of weeks, and here’s what I’ve learned about our community:
- We can survive (more) drastic change.
- We can continue to care for one another even when we can’t physically be together.
- We miss singing together.
- While in-person distancing can be dangerous for the mental health of extroverts, introverts are also feeling the strain of being so separated.
- Old dogs can learn new tricks – two Zoom worship services in as many weeks!
- New dogs can learn old tricks – fewer restaurants, cinemas, gyms, and PTO meetings, and more home-cooked meals, board games, walks outside, and checking on our MVPs (Most Vulnerable Persons).
- This is hard. We are scared. We are better together.
Our journey continues, and the board is in it with you. You’ll see our names on newsletter segments and see our faces on Zoom calls. We’re watching the budget and considering ways it may need to be shifted based on our changing needs. We’re paying attention to how we’re meeting this unforeseen challenge and where we can plug some holes. Do you have a need that’s not being met? Please, let us know.
Friends, I am so very proud of the way we continue to show up for one another.
In Service and with Love,
Shannon Sonoras
Board of Directors, President
[email protected]
989-708-5348
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COVID-19 Pastoral Message from Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray
Check out this video from Unitarian Universalist Association President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray.
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Virtual Meetings
Please add ALL of your meetings to the calendar, whether you are using a Fellowship account or a personal account. Email [email protected] with your meeting name, date and time and your zoom link.
Worship service and Religious Education are scheduled between 10:00am-3:00pm on Sundays. To allow full participation of the congregation in these programs, please schedule meetings outside of this
time block. If you absolutely need to meet during this time, you will need to use a personal free
account.
If you can hold your meeting in 40 minutes or if you can easily stop and restart your meeting,
please use a personal free account.
Fellowship Pro Accounts will be scheduled by the Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Board President, and Office Administrator according to the following guidelines:
- Only one meeting can be scheduled during a specific time period on a particular account.
- Please keep to your assigned time period.
- Heather Cleland-Host, Director of Lifespan Religious Education, handles Religious Education classes, Sangha, and other Religious Education programming. Please contact her if you need a meeting set up.
- Shannon Sonoras, Board President, handles Board Meetings, and board-related functions. Please contact her if you need a meeting set up.
- Wendy Altmeier, Office Administrator, handles Building and Grounds, Sunday Worship, staff meetings, ministry teams,covenant groups, and all others. Please contact her if you need a meeting set up.
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Fellowship Building Access
Under the governor's directive, no one should be in the building except designated persons performing "minimum basic operations." At the Fellowship, this includes
- Eric Severson, Minister
- Sandy Hay, Sexton
- Vicki Rothhaar, Treasurer (mail and check processing)
- Pete Carlson, Finance (donations, deposits)
All other staff and volunteers are working from home. If exceptions need to be made, please contact Eric Severson.
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Serendipity Auction
Information about the Serendipity Auction will be coming in next week's newsletter! If you have an auction item to donate, enter it here: bit.ly/SerendipityAuction.
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Sermon Help
Here's a chance to help your minister with a sermon.
The April 5 topic is: "Hitting the Reset Button" - Big changes in our lives (like the current crisis) can help us see life differently, even liberate us from our routines. We have a chance to rethink our priorities.
What has staying at home taught you about yourself, your routines, and how you cope? What have you come to appreciate? How might your priorities have changed? Please email Eric Severson with your thoughts.
Thank you!
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Virtual Tea with the Minister
Since we are not meeting in person regularly, if you would like to connect casually with our minister, Eric Severson, he will be holding virtual tea sessions via Zoom, per the schedule below. Please add one or more to your calendar if you wish. If you would prefer to schedule a private conversation, click here.
Morning Tea with the Minister: Tuesdays at 10:00am
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/671875462?_ga=2.255680072.1354847327.1583942114-281701554.1582131720
Afternoon Tea with the Minister: Thursdays at 2:00pm
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/194390393?_ga=2.159743997.1354847327.1583942114-281701554.1582131720
Evening Tea with the Minister: Saturdays at 7:00pm
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/784156006?_ga=2.191656170.1354847327.1583942114-281701554.1582131720
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Upcoming Services
March Theme - "Freedom & Responsibility"
March 29
"Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands" How do we respond to circumstances we've never experienced before -- especially when they call us to new responsibilities and curtail our freedoms? Please join us for an online service to examine our human nature and ways of coping. Led by Eric Severson, Minister.
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April Theme - "Liberation"
April 5
"Hitting the Reset Button" Big changes in our lives (like the current crisis) can help us see life differently, even liberate us from our routines. We have a chance to rethink our priorities. Led by Eric Severson, Minister.
April 12
"Our Prophetic Potential" How best can we serve one another and others? Unitarian Universalist minister the Rev. Meg Riley identifies three aspects of a "prophetic congregation." Come reflect on the liberating potential of our faith tradition and imagine what that could look like in our little corner of the world. Led by Eric Severson, Minister.
April 19
To Be Announced.
April 26
"Music Sunday" Music from our homes.
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New Connections
Heather Cleland-Host, Director of Lifefspan Religious Education, is creating Google Classrooms for use by kids to share and post information as well as Sunday classrooms. "Sections" will be available for kids to join. Heather will be sending out classroom join codes.
Hanging out with Friends (K-12) - Available this week. This may be split into an elementary and secondary sessions, but activities will be shared with all.
Religious Paths Exploration - Available by next week. This will have the materials from the lessons on different religions from this year. It will be organized by religion. These will be available both for individual study (older material) and for Sunday classes (newer material).
Story Circle - Available by next week. This will have story based lessons from the lower & upper elementary classes and will organize by theme / moral instead of by religion. This will also be available for individual study (older material) and for Sunday classes (newer material).
Note: any age is welcome to use the materials individually. Classes will continue to be divided by focus (lower elementary and preschool - by theme; and upper elementary and middle school - by religion). More information will be sent in this Friday's Newsletter.
Facebook Groups for Parents - UUFoM Parents Circle. This is a private Facebook group for all parents, grandparents, or other regular caregivers of children of all ages, who are rearing their children with Unitarian Universalist values and who seek support and knowledge from one another. Please join us.
To contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education Heather Cleland-Host, email [email protected] or call 989-423-5932.
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Current Connections
To contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education Heather Cleland-Host, email [email protected] or call 989-423-5932.
1. “Story Time with Friends” (Private Facebook Group) - Mondays-Fridays
Our office assistant, Wendy Altmeier, and Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Heather Cleland-Host, are holding daily story times. (This coming week we are switching to weekdays only.)
2:00pm – “Reading Hour,” with Wendy Altmeier. Children are invited to read to each other.
7:00pm – “Bedtime Story,” hosted by Heather Cleland-Host. Children and adults are invited to sign up for a night and read a story before bedtime. If you are interested, join the Facebook Group and connect with us. If you are interested in reading stories to children, contact Heather.
This site is for sharing ideas for families who are homebound in the Mid-Michigan Region. This is for those moments when we need something to do and are all out of ideas. It is also a place where you can share ideas! Post educational links to resources from your school systems, virtual zoos, and other resources. Offer your ideas for outdoor options, crafts, and activities (especially ones that can be redone or reused). Please feel free to share information about food resources, free internet
providers, and other supportive resources in the area as well!
Parents and children are invited to gather together. We will begin with an orientation and scheduling. We will end with time for children to do an activity together. KIDS: Bring your homemade chalice to share!
Join our Zoom meeting at https://zoom.us/j/264184667
Meeting ID: 264 184 667
Dial in: +1 301 715 8592 US
4. A “Writing as a Spiritual Practice” class is still in the works. Until then, start today by keeping a daily journal. Write down something each day: a poem, a sentence, observations, a funny incident, or just a list. It is up to you!
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2020 General Assembly
Rhode Island Convention Center and Omni Providence (Headquarter Hotel)
Providence, RI
June 24-28, 2020
Adult full-time registration is $400 through March 15.
General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend; congregations must certify annually to send voting delegates.
Early Registration Open!
**If you are interested in becoming a delegate, please contact Shannon Sonoras or Beth Sperry.**
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2020 MidAmerica Regional Assembly - Registration Open
Zoom Meeting
April 18, 2020
Please save the date for our upcoming Regional Assembly, which will be held ONLINE on Saturday, April 18, 2020. Our keynote speaker will be Taquiena Boston, Special Advisor to the UUA President for Institutional Inclusion, Equity, and Change. The day will feature worship, the annual business meeting, lunch, keynote presentation, and select workshops.
Please click below for information about Regional Assembly including pricing, hotel information, our schedule of events, workshop information, how to register, and much more: https://www.uua.org/midamerica/ra/2020.
**If you are interested in becoming a delegate, please contact Shannon Sonoras or Beth Sperry.**
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 Maintenance Requests
If you notice a burned-out light bulb or a needed repair, please fill out a Maintenance Request form, located in the rack outside the main office, and return it to the top slot. Our sexton, Sandy Hay, will fix the problem as soon as possible. Please note that Sandy does not work on Sundays.
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Shannon Sonoras
President
Beth Sperry
President-Elect
Marsha McDonald
Secretary
Vicki Rothhaar
Treasurer
Chris Nakamura
Member-At-Large
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Pastoral Care Ministry Team
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March Contact: Gisela Bailey 989-708-1344
April Contact: Beth Sperry 415-419-1747
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.
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Fellowship Office Hours
Tuesday - 9:30am-2:00pm
Wednesday - 9:30am-2:00pm
Thursday - 9:30am-11:00am
Eric Severson
Minister
Office Hours
Tuesday - Thursday 11:00am-3:00pm
Other times by appointment.
[email protected]
(608) 738-2694
Unavailable Mondays, except in emergencies.
In case of a pastoral emergency, call anytime.
Heather Cleland-Host
Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Office Hours by appointment only
[email protected]
Wendy Altmeier
Office Assistant
Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 9:30am-3:00pm
December Hours
Tuesday-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
Andrew Schulz
Choir Director
Melanie Willison
Accompanist
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