UUCGT Flash 
January 18, 2018
Vol. 12, Issue 517
 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Service
Lifespan Experience for Children, Youth & Families
2018 Directory Reminder
Leadership Development Season Opens
FYI
What's Going On?
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

If you are not receiving our monthly newsletter, the Beacon, and would like to, please contact the office .
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Reflection...

"Some say i f you want success
surround yourself with successful people. 
I say  if you want true and lasting success
surround yourself with people of integrity."
- Charles F. Glassman
Friends,

As we begin a new secular year, many of us set intentions for this new beginning.  This Sunday and next we will explore the work of setting meaningful intention.  I have the privilege of offering the reflective wisdom, and we will learn from Rev. Karen Welch; next week I will return to preach on "The Power of Intentions:  Part 2". 

As we talk about intention, let's remember that one of the most important things we can do to fulfill them is to surround ourselves with positive, loving people who support us in becoming our best selves.
 
Blessings and love - 
Rabbi Chava 

Sunday Service 
Sunday, January 21 - 
Rev. Karen Welch (formerly Karen Mars)
10:30 AM Service:   "The Power of Intention - Part I"
A dictionary defines resolution as "the action of solving."  Therefore, in making New Year's Resolutions, we are focusing on problems in our lives that need "fixing."  
An intention is different.   The dictionary defines intention as "the determination to act in a certain way."
We will be looking at the differnce between the two and how setting an intention can be a positive life changer.
 
Lifespan Experience
f or Children,  Youth  and Fam ilies!

Sundays in January
preK - 8th grade

We welcome 2018 with a new unit in our "UU & YOU at Hogwarts" curriculum!  We will begin our "poverty" horcrux on 1/7/18.  In this unit we will explore what poverty is, and what we can do about it in our own communities.  As part of this effort, we will be collecting items for The Goodwill Housing Support Services "wish list" -  http://bit.ly/2CBbu9x

Please leave items in the collection tub located near the social hall (where we had previously been trying to collect winter clothing items).  We will collect items from the "wish list" through the end of January.

Suggested reading for families/parents this month:

O ur book this month is once again connected to our focus in our "Hogwarts" program - this month we have a book dealing with poverty & hunger.  

"Maddi's Fridge" by Lois Brandt  comes highly recommended, and is the Winner of:
      • 2014 Christopher Award, Books for Young People
      • 2014 ILA Primary Fiction Award
      • 2015 MLA Mitten Award Honor
      • Human Rights in Children's Literature Honor
"...Filled with colorful artwork, this storybook addresses issues of poverty with honesty and sensitivity while instilling important lessons in friendship, empathy, trust, and helping others.  A call to action section, with six effective ways for children to help fight hunger and information on anti-hunger groups, is also included".


Directory Reminder
 
The 2018 UUCGT Congregation Directory of Members and Friends will be formatted soon, many thanks to Jane Watts and Susan Sherman.
We ask all Members and Friends to review your listing in the current 2017 Directory, and notify the office immediately of any changes at office@uucgt.org

Leadership Development Season Opens

The Leadership Development Committee is beginning its process for building a slate of candidates for positions that will be open at the Annual Meeting in June. 

Between now and February 15th, there is an opportunity for any member to suggest candidates for our process.  Please see the more detailed information in the February Beacon to learn how you can participate in this important work.  

You can also contact any member of our committee, which consists of Joe Cook, Judy Myers, Betsy Emdin, Jan Zerbel and Richard Miller.  Our contact information can be found in the Beacon article, in the membership book, or by contacting the office.
 
Joe Cook, LDC Chair

F Y I
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"Art enables us to find ourselves
and lose ourselves at the same time."
- Thomas Merton

UUCGT Art & Exhibition Committee
Invites you to participate in the next UUCGT Art Exhibit!

Here's the plan:
Choose a favorite piece of artwork that is personally meaningful to you,
that you are willing to loan to UUCGT for a couple of months
(February-March) & write a short paragraph on "why it speaks to you"

If you are interested in participating (and we hope you are!),
contact Barb McClellan at 941-2368 or  bingo2755@gmail.com
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UUCGT Stretch & Strengthen Group
Everyone Needs Some Exercise!
exercise
You are WELCOME  to join us on  Mondays & Wednesdays from 11:00 - 12:00 noon!   Contact Judith Briggs, 228-4655 if you have any questions!
  • If you are looking for someone to keep you motivated to exercise;
  • If you are already "working out" 2 or 3 times a week; or just want to learn about strength training;
  • If you are young at heart, or just trying to keep what muscle you have;
  • If you want a quiet place to work out with pleasant music (no blasting Rock);
  • If you want a friendly group of people to work out with - No "pumping iron";
  • If you want a short workout that strengthens all the major muscle groups, but doesn't exhaust you...
ACORD   (Area Council on Religious Diversity) Event @ Library:  
Thursday, January 25, 7:00 pm - "Discussion on Pluralism"
 

February is African American History Month
Sunday, February 11, 1:00-3:00pm program   in collaboration with the Benzie County Historical Society and Empire Area Museum  at the Traverse Area District Library on Woodmere:  "Let Every Voice Be Heard".  See flier here

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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 -

What's Going On ... at UUCGT?

Please contact  office@uucgt.org to schedule meetings and events

Winter is here!
Please check UU calendar or website
to confirm cancellations and/or office hours


Meetings & Activities

Congregational Care Team:  Thursday, January 18, 1:00pm, library

Peacemakers Needleworkers:  Thursdays, 1:30pm, social hall

Meditation Workshop:  Thursdays, 5:30pm, classroom

Vocal Ensemble:  Thursdays, 7:00pm, sanctuary

Community Needs:  Friday, January 19, 3:30pm, library

New Moon Women's Circle:  Saturday, January 20 - for location and time, contact Carolyn Kelly at 392-5761

Mindfulness Meditation:  Sunday, January 21, 5:00pm,  sanctuary  

Stretch & Strengthen:  Monday & Wednesday @ 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 @ noon, sanctuary

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

Wednesday Supper - PIZZA:  January 24, 5:30pm social & 6:00pm supper - pizza, salad, dessert - shared cost.   Gather together to share warmth and fellowship on a winter's evening!

Shantideva Fan Club:  Thursday, January 25, 9:30am, sanctuary

Brewing Community:  Thursday, January 25, 5:00pm at The Workshop in the Warehouse District (Garland Street) - Family-friendly!
 
End Note...

"One could not pluck a flower
without troubling a star."
~ Francis Thompson  

 

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