UUCGT Flash 
October 20, 2016
Vol. 10, Issue 452
 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Service
Lifespan Experience for Children, Youth & Families
President's Corner
UU Social Justice Action
Pagan Fair
What's Going on at UUCGT?
UUCGT Thanksgiving Dinner
FYI
Photo Finish
Congregational Vision
UU Logo
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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Reflection. ..

"In our Unitarian Universalist tradition,
what is required of those who prepare and deliver sermons?
What does it mean to offer wisdom and hope
to members of a gathered community?  
These are great responsibilities. 
Each worship service is a unique moment in a congregation's life." 
                                     -  Erika Hewett,  The Shared Pulpit:  A Sermon for Lay People
 
Friends  -
This Sunday you have a wonderful opportunity to experience one of the great strengths of this congregation:  a lay-led Sunday service and speaker, Ryan Hannon from Safe Harbor, whose guests we are hosting here next month.

We don't do lay-led services only so the senior spiritual leader has a Sunday off (for which she is grateful, by the way).  It is a deeper philosophical choice about honoring the vision of our members.  Our skilled, generous volunteers spend many hours creating a Sunday experience that allows different voices, talents and interests of our members to be front and center.

It is not easy to lead worship (or gathering):  it takes a great deal of time, courage and preparation - for both professionals and lay leaders.   
So while I am deeply grateful for the Sunday away from the pulpit so I can refresh and renew, lay led services are not just that:  they are part of the fabric of how this community sees itself.  

As Erika Hewitt writes, "Gathering for an hour on Sunday, though, is a physical reminder of the community we've chosen to call home.  Worship is both a calling forth of our best selves and an expression of acceptance of people as they are."

Let's therefore celebrate our honoring of the skills and talents of our members.

I look forward to being with you when I return from a week of teaching in Nebraska!

In blessing - 
Rabbi Chava 

Sunday Service 
Sunday, October 23

No 9:00 a.m. Program

10:30 a.m. Service:  "Making a Safe Harbor" and "Diwali"
   Lay-led service
Ryan Hannon of Safe Harbor will relate his experiences working with homeless people in our area.   Ryan is the Street Outreach Coordinator at Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan.  This organization's purpose is to connect people on the street who are experiencing homelessness with the resources to end homelessness.  He has served in that position for the past nine years and has been an employee of Goodwill for twelve years.  Ryan has been an invited speaker at several conferences seeking to end homelessness nationwide. 

We also look to our friends from the Hindu tradition this week - they begin their festival of Diwali on 10/28 and celebrate until 11/1 this calendar year. Diwali or Deepavali is one of the most prominent and famous Hindu festivals of India, celebrated with great gusto and fervor.  In Sanskrit, the word 'Deepavali' means "rows of lights" so this festival is also known as "Festival of Lights".  People around the world mark this festival by making vibrant rangolis, lighting lamps called 'diyas', distributing sweets, exchanging gifts between friends and relatives, and burning crackers.  Not only is this a celebration of good over evil, but it is a time when individuals are generous of time and treasure, giving not only to their friends and family, but to their neighbors in need.

Lifespan Experience  f or Children and Youth (and Families!)
Sunday Service:  10:30 a.m.  

Sunday programming for Children and Youth throughout the 2016 - 2017 program year will complement the Sunday Services in our efforts to move closer to congregational thematic ministry.  This thematic calendar will be exploring the Six Source traditions, and considering wisdom from around the world. 

Sundays in October
The theme for the month of October for both Sunday Services as well as Children's Programming preK-5th grade will focus on "Loving the Stranger" which will launch us into our second annual "Socktober" campaign, and lessons based on "Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome".  
Not familiar with "Socktober" or Kid President?  Check out these links: 
Kid President -  http://kidpresident.com/

Suggested readings for families/parents this month include:
  • Unitarian Universalism Is a Really Long Name, by Jennifer Dant
  • Everybody is Important - A Kids' Guide to Our Seven Principles, by Jennifer Dant
  • Sunday and Every Day - My Little Book of Unitarian Universalism, edited by Patricia Frevert
T his month, our youth will explore creating a lesson for the younger children for November, and think about the lessons they have to offer to those around them.

President's Corner - Linda Fletcher

Last week we took a look at the Membership Committee, how it is structured and functions, and we also briefly introduced some of the fabulous people who keep this critical congregational function constantly on track.
 
This week we will look at a different kind of committee.  This is not a permanent committee like the ones we have explored thus far, but a temporary committee which has formed to complete a specific function.  The task at hand is to organize the annual UUCGT Thanksgiving Potluck Feast for the congregation. ... read more here


Victoria Gallup & Carol Ritter

Social Justice Action Event - Milliken Auditorium

Presentation by Irene Miller
Friday, October 21, 7:00 pm
Free event, reserved seating

Irene Miller, a Holocaust survivor, will take you on a survival journey little written and known about.  You will sleep in the winter under an open sky on the no man's land; you will freeze in a Siberian labor camp where the bears come to your door front...

To reserve seats, visit:   http://bit.ly/2cE2Klg

We are SO excited to announce our Workshop and Ritual schedule for PAGAN FAIR on Saturday, 10/22!

10:00 - 10:15 am            Opening Ritual
10:30 - 11:15 am            Kitchen Witchery and Food Magic
11:30 am - 12:15 pm        Paganism 101!
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm              BREAK
 1:45 - 2:30 pm              Introduction to The Sidhe: 
                                 Wisdom from the Celtic Otherworlds
 2:45 - 3:00 pm              Closing Ritual

 
W hat's Going On At UUCGT?

Click  HERE for UUCGT Website Calendar
Activities are also listed in the Order of Service & Beacon
Please contact the office to schedule Committee meetings & events
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Wednesday Night Supper:   Wednesday, October 26, 5:30 pm social,  6:00 pm dinner.  $5/adult & $3/children under 10.  Join in community for a delicious meal & fellowship!

UU Book Club:  Sunday, November 13, 2:00 pm
Title:  "Circling the Sun" by Paula McClain - Mark Gustafson, host


With many thanks to everyone who helped out last weekend!

Fall Clean-Up extended!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon 

Bring leaf rakes, wheelbarrows, window washing equipment
...and your Smile!
Contact Dave Halsted at 409-0854

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Safe Harbor Volunteer Sign-Up!

UUCGT will be hosting Safe Harbor 
Saturday, November 26 through the morning of Saturday, December 3

Volunteer sign up will start this Sunday, October 23.  
There are opportunities to sign up to volunteer as meal providers/servers, evening hosts, overnight monitors and morning breakfast/clean-up crew for some of the days; and also to set up on Saturday morning, November 26 and clean up on Saturday morning, December 3.   We will also need volunteers to provide food and supply items.  
We need everyone's support to make this work.  For further information contact Mike or Sandra McDonald, or 935-3759.

cornacopia

Annual UUCGT Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner!
Sunday, November 20 @ 12 Noon
Gilbert Lodge, Twin Lakes Park on N. Long Lake Road

Come & Enjoy the Fellowship of Family & Friends!

Bring:  Casse role or dessert to share for 8-10 people
& your own place settings & beverage
Turkey & smashed potatoes, coffee & apple juice provided

Tickets:   Adults $5 each / Children $3 each / Family $15
Stop by the Turkey Table after Sunday Services
to buy tickets & to volunteer!

F Y I
    
 We are happy to introduce our "Child/Youth of the Month" Program! 
Each month we will give special attention to a child or youth from our UUCGT community!  picture of them will be featured in the social hall, along with a little bit about them.  Interested in more information?  Click HERE or contact Sarah .

 We are collecting!!  We are collecting containers of this size and type for an art project BEFORE 10/21 (today!)!  If you have any, please drop them off in the white bag near Sarah's cubby in the office.  Thank you! 

We are also looking for small/med Rubbermaid-type storage tubs with lids. If you have any that you are able to donate, please contact Sarah .
 
 Socktober is back!    Every night in the United States an estimated 600,000 people live on the streets.  This October, SoulPancake and Kid President want 2 million people to prove that even the smallest acts of love, like donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors who are homeless.
Our UUCGT UU Youngers Class will be  collecting socks  throughout the month of October to be donated to the Goodwill Inn.  The Goodwill Inn will make sure they are distributed to the people and programs that need them most in our community.  Last year we donated more than 200 pairs of socks, infant - adult!!  Our collection box is located outside of the kitchen near the social hall.  Please click HERE  for more information, and contact  Sarah  with questions.


  Wednesday, November 9th, 7:00 PM
Showing of Ken Burns & Artemis Joukowsky's documentary, "Defying the Nazis:  The Sharps War".  Film about the Sharps, husband and wife UUs, who risked their lives to rescue people from the Holocaust.
Film will be presented following Wednesday Supper.

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Local Community Needs

Photo Finish...



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