UUCGT Flash 
November 9, 2017
Vol. 11, Issue 507
 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Service
Lifespan Experience for Children, Youth & Families
Pagan Fair!
Annual Thanksgiving Feast
What's Going on at UUCGT?
FYI
End Note

Congregational Vision

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We are a Congregation creating a better world by nurturing the heart and expanding the mind.
We provide a safe, caring community where all can freely explore diverse religious thought. We work for justice and equality with the power of compassion and compassionate power.
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UUCGT Beacon

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Reflection...

"The really important kind of freedom involves attention,
and awareness,
and discipline,
and effort,
and being able truly to care about other people
and to sacrifice for them,
over and over,
in myriad petty little unsexy ways,
every day." 

- David Foster Wallace
"This Is Water:  Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life"
 
Beloved friends -

In a nutshell, UUCGT is here to care, to share and to repair the world.
In other words, our beloved community's purpose is to help us give and receive care with one another, to share our journeys (through worship, learning, small group ministries, coffee hour, and committees as loci of interest in each other), and to repair the world through social witness, including social justice actions.  

This Sunday, we will have a most beautiful service about giving and receiving care in our UUCGT family.  Three of our members, including Barb Gibson from the Congregational Care Team, will share parts of their journey.  It feel especially appropriate to open this topic up so near the holidays.

A special thanks again to Mark Gustafson who got us all thinking last week, and to everyone who brought treasured books to share. 

Please join us on Sunday.  A reminder that there will be NO SERVICE here at UUCGT on Sunday, November 19 so we can all gather for our Thanksgiving Feast at Twin Lakes.  

In blessing - 

Rabbi Chava 

Sunday Service 
Sunday, November 12
10:30 AM Service:  "Stories of Care-giving & Care-receiving"
Rabbi Chava Bahle, Max Old Bear
This month is National Caregivers Month.  Join Rabbi Chava, Max Old Bear and speakers from the congregation who have been  caregivers or  receivers of care as they reflect on the joys and challenges of the journey.  We will offer a special "Beatitudes for Caregivers" as well.

Lifespan Experience  f or Children,
Youth  and Fam ilies!
Sundays in November for preK-8th grade

We're off to a great start with our first session of "UU & YOU at Hogwarts"! 

The children will be finalizing their "hunger horcrux", culminating with a visit to the Grace Episcopal Pantry after service on November 12.  Handouts with more information have been sent home with children, but parents can contact me if they would like more details regarding the visit.  We will begin our "literacy horcrux" this month as well.

Don't forget to join us out at Twin Lakes on November 19 for our Annual Thanksgiving Potluck!  There will be NO Sunday service at UUCGT that week - instead we will have a brief but lovely service at Twin Lakes.
 
Suggested readings for families/parents this month include:
  • "How to Train Your Dragon" - by Cressida Caldwell                 "How to Train Your Dragon has been touted as the perfect book to reel in your reluctant readers.  It's full of varied text and picture use throughout: maps, lists, songs, stat pages on dragons, rough drawings, even stray blots of ink strewn here and there.  Mixed in with all the laugh-out-loud moments, excitement, danger, dragons, and very uncivilized Vikings, your students will find a real hero's adventure complete with a quest or two, impossible odds, a main character you can't help but like, and a story that will keep the kids thinking (despite themselves) all the way through.  You'll find themes of quintessential initiation rites of childhood; dealing with intimidation by peers, parents, and even teachers; finding the leader within; depending on good friends; discovering strength you didn't know you had; learning to adapt; among many others.  This book can be used as a supplement to a study on early Vikings, Norse mythology, and/or even a fun language unit (due to the many bits of dragonese that will have your students in stitches)". Books & Bunnies Book Review
  • For Parents: "Why Grown-Up Muggles Should Read 'Harry Potter'" by David Busis, NY Times:  http://nyti.ms/2sUZ6sF
 
Friday Night Out!
 November 10, 5:30-9:00pm

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FOOD  DRIVE!

As part of the "Hunger Horcrux" that our elementary and middle school children and youth have been working on, they are collecting canned/dried goods for the Grace Episcopal food pantry.  The donation box is located outside of the kitchen - please donate generously!

Our families will deliver the food in November, and the children/youth will have the opportunity to meet the coordinators of Grace's pantry, as well as learn more about what a food pantry is, and the community that this particular pantry serves.


Food collection will continue until AFTER SERVICE on November 12

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Wednesday Night Program
November 15, 2017
7:00pm

Maura Brennan & Steve Wade, UUCGT Endowment Fund
"Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Endowments"

Pagan Fair!!
Saturday, November 11th 
10am-3pm!
Join us for our 3rd Annual Pagan Fair!
Sponsored by UUCGT CUUPS

This wonderful event will feature a variety of vendors statuary, 
drums,  books,  balms,  candles,  ritual items, and more!  
We will have healers/readers on hand ... and workshops!  Workshops include:  Introduction to Paganism, Creating Sacred Space, "The Sidhe & Me:  Renewing our Kinship with the Faerie Otherworlds" (led by Jeremy Berg)

Come feed your spirit, take some time for self-care, and support local artists/vendors (shop 'til you drop)!

FREE SOUP LUNCH &  CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES!
Sponsored by UUCGT CUUPS
Sign-up for Annual Thanksgiving Feast!

thanksgiving table setting 
Annual Thanksgiving Feast at Twin Lakes Park
Sunday, November 19

Brief Service @ 11:00 AM - Dinner to follow
Bring a dish to share (turkey will be furnished)
$5 per person / $15 for families

You can make reservations by signing up and paying on Sundays
before and after services in the Gathering Space

 (No Sunday Service at UUCGT on November 19)

W hat's Going On At UUCGT?

~ Please Note ~
Contact office@uucgt.org to schedule meetings and events
UUCGT Calendar - Click Here

Meetings & Activities

Facilities Committee:  Friday, November 10, 10:00am, social hall

Friday Night Out:  November 10, 5:30-9:00pm, classrooms

PAGAN FAIR:  Saturday, November 11, 10:00am-3:00pm - Fill Your Cup!

Program Council:  Sunday, November 12, 9:00am, classroom

UU Book Club:  Sunday, November 12, 2:00pm, Stan & Dottie Cain host

Mindfulness Meditation:  Sunday, November 5, 5:00-7:00pm, sanctuary

UUCGT Board Meeting:  Monday, November 13, 5:30pm, classroom

Stretch & Strengthen:  Mondays & Wednesdays, 11:00am

Community Lunch:  Tuesdays - Volunteers meet at 10:30am.  Every week for the past 25 years, UUCGT has provided a free lunch for anyone in the community who would like to come to Friends Church located at Fifth and Oak Streets in Traverse City.  For more information, or to volunteer, call Mary Kiner at 935-3050, or email  marykiner@charter.net

Indivisible GT:  Tuesdays, 12:00 noon, sanctuary

Staff Resources:  Tuesday, November 14, 12:30pm, library

Bridge Group:  Tuesdays, 1:00pm, social hall

Leadership Development:  Tuesday, November 14, 5:00pm, classroom

Finance Committee:  Tuesday, November 14, 5:30pm, office

Lifespan Experience:  Wednesday, November 15, 12:30pm, library

Sunday Services Committee:  Wednesday, November 15, 4:00pm, classroom

Membership Committee:  Wednesday, November 15, 4:15pm, library

Wednesday Potluck:  November 15, 5:30/social, 6:00/supper
All are Welcome!

Wednesday Program:  November 15, 7:00pm, sanctuary.  Maura Brennan and Steve Wade will present:  How Endowments Can Vitalize Church Communities.  Read November Beacon for more information!

Shantideva Fan Club V2.0:  Thursday, November 16, 9:30am
The group will focus on the book, A Fearless Heart, How the Courage to Be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives, by Thupten Jinpa.  Read more here...

F Y I
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Volunteer for Safe Harbor:   UUCGT will be staffing Safe Harbor, at the new Safe Harbor building, this year the week of December 9 through December 16.  At least twenty opportunities are still available as dinner preparers and servers, evening and overnight volunteers and breakfast, morning clean-up volunteers and to provide food and supplies.  Please see  Mike and Sandra McDonald  at the Safe Harbor sign up table in the Gathering Space this Sunday. 

Donated Dinners:    Checking interest level for 6 - 10 Dinner Hosts!  
Are you are interested in hosting a dinner in 2018?  Contact  John Hoffmann by November 15th!  ( Sign-up sheets are typically offered at 
Thanksgiving Dinner - November  19)

Landscaping Team Meeting!  Wednesday, November 29, 5:30pm, classroom.  We've walked and dreamt big dreams.  Now we need to start planning!  Meet with us to get your ideas heard!  We'll organize, discuss some policies, start listing our "section" ideas, and begin prioritizing.  We'll also determine a monthly meeting time:  yup, we'll work through the winter (an excellent planning time for outdoor stuff!).  If you are a snowbird, but want to work with us, let me know, now!   We'll keep you informed throughout, and offer opportunities for input.  Lauren Keinath

December 10, All Music Service - Musicians Needed!
On December 10 we will have an All Music Service.  In addition to the Vocal Ensemble, we will have soloists and small ensembles.  Also, we are in need of wind and string players.  If you have a talent and would like to share, please call the office and leave your name and what instrument you play. You can also call John Bailey at 231-944-6059, email  peracola@gmail.com

Wanted - Church Accompanist
Our long-time accompanist, Margie Hunter, is retiring!  UUCGT is looking for an accompanist to play for Sunday Services and Vocal Ensemble rehearsals on Thursday evenings.  If interested, please call John Bailey at 231-944-6059, email peracola@gmail.com or call the UUCGT office, 231-947-3117, to leave a message.

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Local Community Needs

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 FLASH articles are due by Wednesday noon - office@uucgt.org
BEACON articles are due by the 25th each month - 

End Note...


A blessing
is a circle of light drawn around a person
to protect, heal and strengthen."
~ John O'Donohue
   

 

FLASH articles are due by noon on Wednesday each week

  

UUCGT Office hours:   Mon day - Thursday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm


(231) 947-3117       office@uucgt.org         www.uucgt.org